Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 36

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 36

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St. Catharine's church, Roman Catholic, at Addison, was organized in 1854, by Father Cunningham, the zealous priest at St. Mary's, at Corning. The parish included all the Catholic families of the vicinity, and from its earliest history this church has grown and enlarged. The church edifice was built in 1854, but not until 1866 was Addison made a separate charge. The elegant new edifice in Curtis Square was erected in 1887. This church and parish are under the' pastoral care of Rev. Father M. Noonan.

The First Baptist church of Addison was organized May 6, 1869, under the faithful efforts of Rev. C. W. Brooks. The first pastor, how- ever, was Rev. S. D. Merrick, who settled in October, 1869. During

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his pastorate the "chapel " was built (in 1871). The total membership in this church is 146, and the church property is valued at about $3, 500. The present pastor is Rev. W. A. Billings.

The Evangelical Lutheran church of Avoca was originally organized April 9, 1842, and after a period of about twenty-five years was sub- stantially reorganized, adopting, on the latter occasion, a new constitu- tion. The church was regularly incorporated July 26, 1868, since which time it has been one of the permanent institutions of the Conhocton valley. The comfortable church edifice was dedicated January, 1870.

The Baptist church of Avoca was organized January 13, 1847, with thirty-three constituent mrmbers. Rev. Horace Spencer was the first pastor. The early meetings of the society were held in a school house and other convenient buildings, and not until the year 1852 was a church home erected. This church numbers eighty-eight members, and is attached to the Steuben Association. The pastor is Rev. J. E. · Wilson.

The Methodist Episcopal church at Avoca is one of the largest socie- ties of the town and vicinity, and in its history dates back almost to the days of pioneership in the town, although a regular organization was not effected until a comparatively recent date. The church now num- bers 115 members and fifty-five probationers, including those of a joint charge in an adjoining town. The pastor of both churches is Rev. W. E. Searles.

The Presbyterian church of Cohocton dates back in its history to the primitive and informal meetings held in the town as early as the year 1802, although it was not until October 8, 1809, that an organization was effected, and then Congregational in form of government. On the Ioth of April, 1823, the church became Presbyterian. On April 6, 1810, Elijah Parker was chosen deacon. Revs. Aaron C. Collins and Abijah Warren were among the first preachers engaged, and in 1818, Robert Hubbard was pastor, being followed in that capacity by Revs. William Stone, Aaron C. Collins, Statham Clary and others. On Feb- ruary 3, 1830, the first meeting house was erected, and the second was built during the summer and fall of the year 1872. This church is to- day one of the largest in the town. Its pastor is Rev. Mr. Swan.

The Methodist Episcopal church in the town of Cohocton in its his-

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tory, from first to last, has comprised three distinct organizations and the same number of houses of worship. The mother church, known as the M. E. church of Cohocton, was organized in 1829 while the church at North Cohocton dates its earliest meetings as far back as 1816, though not then fully organized. The class from which sprung the Lent Hill M. E. church was formed in 1831, and the meeting house was built in 1834. The society was known as the " First Union Soci- ety of Cohocton and Prattsburg." The church house for the society first mentioned was provided soon after 1830, and the building was substantially remodeled in 1872. This church seems to have experi- enced many changes during the period of its history. It was reorgan- ized in 1845, and was made a separate charge ("Liberty charge "), in 1873. According to the Conference report there are two Methodist charges in the town, at Cohocton and North Cohocton, respectively. Of the first the pastor is Rev. T. F. Parker, and of the latter, Rev. D. C. Nye.

The First Universalist church of Cohocton was regularly organized in September, 1859, although for a number of years previous to that time those of this faith had held meetings in the town. A meeting house was begun in 1860 and completed and dedicated in 1863. The pastor of this church is Rev. H. P. Morrell.

The Catholic church (St. Peters) of Cohocton, was erected in 1861. Rev. Father M. Steger was the first missionary priest to read mass in the town. The present priest in charge is Rev. Father M. Krischel.

St. Paul's church, German Lutheran, of Cohocton was organized in 1861, by former members of the Lutheran church at Perkinsville. The newly formed society at once erected a small house of worship, and also chose as trustees Philip Zimmer, Henry Schuriegel, Henry Hengle and Philip Bortz. The present pastor of this church is Rev. Mr. Pfeffer.

The Evangelical Lutheran Zion church of Cohocton was an offshoot from St. Paul's church, formed in 1869 by members of the old society who severed their relations from it. The meeting house was built dur- ing the same year. The pastor is Rev. Mr. Rummell.

The Free Methodist church at Atlanta is under the pastoral care of Rev. M. S. Babcock.

The Wesleyan Methodist church at North Cohocton is under the pas- toral care of Rev. W. F. Dutcher,

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The Presbyterlan church of Painted Post was organized about 1835, and the church edifice was built in 1840. This was the first religious society in the village and has had a continuous existence to the present time. The pastor is Rev. J. Robinson.

The Methodist Episcopal church at Painted Post was organized about the year 1850 and at the same time a church home was built. This is now a large church numbering 200 full members and probationers, with a proportionally large Sunday school. The present pastor is Rev. Arthur Osborne.

The Baptist church of Erwin, at Painted Post, was organized in 1854, and in 1860 a chruch was erected. The present membership is eighty- eight. Pastor, Rev. C. G. Dilworth.

The Baptist church of Hornby dates its history back to the year 1820, when Elder Beebe preached and labored in this missionary field, hold- ing services on Nash Hill. However, it was not until several years later that a formal organization was effected. The Baptist families in the society number about thirty-five members, and the church property is valued at $2,000. The present pastor of the local church and society is Rev. O. N. Fletcher.

The Presbyterian church of Hornby was organized at the Knowlton school house, September 14, 1831, by a committee from the Presbytery of Bath. The original members numbered twenty-one, who were re- ceived into the church by Rev. B. B. Smith. The first pastor, however, was Rev Mr. Barton. A substantial church edifice was built in 1852, located at Hornby village.

The Wesleyan Methodist church at Dyke, in the town of Hornby, was organized in 1843, and for several held meetings in the Knowlton school house; and still later in the Presbyterian meeting house. On March 4, 1877, the society dedicated a new church edifice near the lit- tle hamlet now called Dyke.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Hornby was organized as a class in 1843, by Rev. James Hall. The church was divided, a por- tion of its members withdrawing and forming the Wesleyan so- ciety. A Methodist Episcopal reorganization was effected about 1863, under the leadership of Rev. A. H. Shurtliff and A. P. McCabe, the latter being class leader. Meetings were held in the church edifices

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of other denominations for several years. This society does not now report to the annual conference.

The First Baptist church of Lindley was organized June 13, 1841, under the missionary labors of that indefatigable worker, Rev. Thomas Sheardown, but despite of the efforts in its behalf the society existed less than a quarter of a century, and was dissolved about 1864

The Free Methodist church of Lindley was organized in 1866, and a church edifice was built at Lindleytown within the next two years. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Kelly.

The Independent church of Lindley was organized May 20, 1875, with about fifty constituent members. In 1877 the society became Baptist in religious doctrine. It does not now report to the association.

The Methodist Episcopal church in Lindley was organized at the Center in 1850, but did not become a separate charge until 1866. Still later another church of the same denomination was formed at Lindley, and two charges existed in the town. The church at Presho, and also that at Lindley, are under the pastorate of Rev. E. D. Compton.

The Methodist Episcopal church in Rathbone comprises two charges and two organized societies, the one at Rathboneville, under the care of Rev. J. W. Miller, and the other at Cameron Mills, an auxiliary charge. The first class in this vicinity was formed about 1831, and in 1845 the " Town Line church " was erected. A class was formed in Rathboneville about the same time, and in 1850 a church edifice was built.

The Roman Catholic church at Cameron Mills is an outmission from Addison and is attended by Father M. Noonan.

The Methodist Episcopal church in Tuscarora dates its history back to about the year 1825, although not until 1833 was a class formed. The first meeting house was built in 1849, but was subsequently aban- doned. The church in the town now forms a part of four charges, South Addison, Addison Hill, Orr Hill, and one other. The total membership is 186, with forty-five probationers. The pastor is Rev. R. S. Clark.

The Free-Will Baptist church of Tuscarora wasorganized in 1826, with nineteen members, as a Free-Communion church, but changed to Free- Will character in 1842. The church edifice in the valley was built in

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1847, and was repaired in 1866, and again in 1886. The pastor is Rev. Mr. Streeter. Baptist meetings are also held in the southeast part of the town, and a society has been formed there.

(For history of the churches of Corning, see city chapter.)

BIOGRAPHICAL.

WILLIAM FINDLAY ROGERS.

GEN. WILLIAM FINDLAY ROGERS, superintendent of the New York State Soldiers, and Sailors' Home at Bath, was born in the town of Forks, near Easton, Pa., March 1, 1820, and is a son of Hon. Thomas J. Rogers, who came from Waterford, North of Ireland, to this country with his father, Joseph, in 1786, settling in Philadelphia, where the latter engaged in manufacturing. Thomas J. Rogers learned the printer's trade and subsequently compiled a Biographical Dictionary for use in public schools. He represented the old Tenth Pennsylvania Legion in Congress three terms and served as brigadier-general of the State militia in the war of 1812, marching with his command to a point near Baltimore to repulse a threatened attack of the British. He was a life-long Democrat, and died in 1832, aged fifty-two. His wife was Mary Win- ters, daughter of Christian Winters, of Easton, Pa.

Gen. William F. Rogers, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools and early learned the printer's trade at Easton, Pa., whence he removed to Phila- delphia. In 1846 he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and entered the office of the Buffalo Courier. There he became an active and prominent member of the local militia, which he joined in 1846, and rose through all the regular gradations from private to major-general, a position he held until the division system was abolished. At the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861 he volunteered with his company (Co. C, 74th Regt.) in the Union cause for ninety days, but the secretary of war declined troops for that period, and he immediately enlisted in the 21st N. Y. Vol. Inf., which was composed of ten companies and organized at Elmira, and of which he was elected colonel. Leaving Elmira on June 8, 1861, the regiment with Colonel Rogers at its head proceeded to Washington and camped at Kalorama Heights, whence they crossed Long Bridge and took station at Fort Runyan. There the gallant colonel was placed in command and remained until after the battle of First Bull Run. The organization then moved to Arlington Heights, where it was brigaded with the 20th N. Y. Militia and 23d and 35th N. Y. Inf. under General Wadsworth. . At the open- ing of the campaign in March, 1862, they marched to Centerville, which they found evacuated, and returned to Alexandria to take steamers for the Peninsula, but this plan was changed. While Mcclellan was advancing up the Peninsula Colonel Rogers's detachment returned toward Centerville under McDowell, but before the march was completed turned toward Washington, the rebels having made a dem- onstration on that city. Colonel Rogers participated with his command in the Mary-

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

land and Virginia campaigns and was mustered out with the regiment in Buffalo in in May 1863.

At about the same time he was appointed commissioner of enrollment for the 30th New York Congressional district and soon afterward received the appointment of provost-marshal with headquarters in Buffalo, from which he was relieved for politi- cal reasons at the close of the year 1863. In 1864 he was appointed auditor of the city; in 1866 he was chosen comptroller; and in 1868 he was elected mayor. While mayor of Buffalo he was instrumental in establishing the present beautiful park system, one of the finest in the United States, and in his official capacity appointed the first Board of Park Commissioners, thirteen in number, of which he was ex officio a member, and of which he was made the first president. At the close of his term as mayor he was elected secretary and treasurer of that board and held those posi- tions until he resigned in 1887. He was also secretary and treasurer of the Buffalo State Hospital while that institution was in process of construction and resigned those offices in the fall of 1885. In 1885 General Rogers was elected to the 48th Con- gress, and during his term was chairman of the Committee on Printing and a mem- ber of the Committee on War Claims.

In October, 1887, he was elected by the board of trustees superintendent of the New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Bath, which position he still holds, and where he has since resided. He was one of the founders of that institution in 1879, a member of the committee charged with selecting the site, a member of the building committee, and one of its trustees from its inception until 1887. The Home was originally started by the G. A. R. of the State. Voluntary subscriptions were solicited from the different G. A. R. Posts and the people, and about $80,000 were contributed. The town of Bath donated the farm upon which the institution is located and $10,000 additional to the building fund. A portion of the present hos- pital and barracks A, B, and C were partially completed when the funds were ex- hausted. The G. A. R. commissioners then went before the Legislature and pro- posed that the State complete the home and maintain it as a State institution, which proposition was accepted. Since then the State has maintained it, the U. S. govern- ment contributing $1 per capita for the average number of inmates in each year.

General Rogers has been president of the State Military Association and is past department commander of the G. A. R. He was the organizer and charter member of Chapin Post, No. 2, G. A. R. of Buffalo, the second post organized in the State, and is a member of Bidwell-Wilkinson Post, No. 9, of Buffalo. He is a member and past master of Hiram and Demolay Lodges, F. & A. M., past high priest of Buffalo Chapter, No. 73, R. A. M., and past commander of Lake Erie Commandery, No. 20, K. T. He was married, first, to Miss Caroline M. Waldron, of Honesdale, Pa., who died in 1846. He married, second, in 1849, Miss Phebe Demoney, of Buffalo, who died at the Soldiers' Home in Bath in October, 1890. By his first marriage General Rogers had one son. Franklin, a printer of Washington. His second wife bore him three children: Mary W. (Mrs. William C. Brown), of New York city; Florence N. (Mrs. Charles N. Armstrong), of Buffalo; and Thomas J., a prominent civil engineer of Buffalo, who was engineer In charge of the Soldiers' Home during the laying out of the grounds and construction of the reservoir and water works.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

FRANKLIN J. MARSHAL.

FRANKLIN J. MARSHAL, only surviving son of the late Gen. Otto Frederick Marshal (which see), was born on the Marshal homestead in Wheeler, Steuben county, where he has spent his active life, on November 25, 1829, and received his education in the public schools of his native town and at Alfred University in Allegany county. He succeeded his distinguished father upon the paternal farm and worthily continued the laudable enterprises inaugurated by that pioneer. He became a progressive farmer, an extensive breeder of thoroughbred merino sheep, and latterly a heavy grower of tobacco, carrying on all these various interests with great sagacity and ability. He was one of the earliest tobacco growers in town, and established a busi- ness in this line which has more recently been largely increased by his only son, Otto F., the present supervisor of Wheeler.

Mr. Marshal inherited the native characteristics of the German race. Enterpris- ing, public-spirited, and honest, liberally endowed with the attributes which marked his father's notable career, he chose the life of a husbandman with innate knowledge of its requirements, and succeeded beyond the average degree. He attained the dis- tinction of a representative farmer and won the approbation of all classes of citizens. He has long been an active and influential member of the Steuben County Agricul- tural Society, and for one year served as its president. His advice upon various mat- ters has been frequently sought and freely given, and his friends are numbered by the score. For many years he was an influential factor in politics, often a delegate to political conventions and for several years supervisor of his town, serving with credit and fidelity.

October 17, 1854, Mr. Marshal was married to Miss Valora E. Smith, of Avoca, Steuben county, by whom he has two children: Dollie V. and Otto F. The latter was born on the Marshal homestead in Wheeler on August 5, 1860, and obtained his education at the Franklin Academy in Prattsburg. He has spent his life upon the original farm, where he is heavily interested in growing tobacco and breeding regis- tered merino sheep. He is a member of the Steuben County Agricultural Society, and is serving his fourth term as supervisor of Wheeler.

JOHN G. KELLY, M. D.

DR. JOHN G. KELLY was born in Bergen, Genesee county, N. Y., February 12, 1857, the third son of a family of seven children of James Kelly, a farmer and stock breeder of Genesee county. He was educated in the common school, Bergen High School and Brockport State Normal School, where he taught school two terms in the academic department. He took up the study of medicine in the fall of 1881, enter- ing the medical department of the University of Buffalo from the Normal School, and graduating from that institution February 26, 1884. He was interne in the Sis- ters' Hospital of Buffalo the last two years of his medical school attendance, and April, 1884, came to Hornellsville, where he has since been engaged in regular prac- tice of his profession, and has won the highest esteem and respect of his numerous

LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY.

friends and acquaintances. In 1888 he became identified with the drug firm of George T. Reed & Co., now composed of G. T. Reed, Franklin D. Sherwood and Dr. J. G. Kelly. He is a member of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical Asso- ciation, Steuben County Medical Association, the Erie Railway Surgeons' Associa- tion and the New York State Railway Surgeons' Association. He is the chancellor of Branch 33, C. M. B. A., and ex-president of the A. O. H., and was a delegate to the State Convention in 1894. June 1, 1887, he married Theresa Henneberg, of Port Jervis, N. Y., by whom he has five children. In politics the doctor is a Democrat, and represented the Third Ward in the Board of Alderman in 1891-92; was health officer in 1886-87. He is chairman of the Democratic City Committee at the present time. He has been president of the St. James Mercy Hospital staff of physicians since its organization ; also he is one of the trustees of the hospital.

JOHN D. CONDERMAN.

JOHN D. CONDERMAN was born in Warren, Herkimer county, N. Y., September 30, 1820. He was the son of Adam J. and Elizabeth Conderman who were of Dutch Protestant descent. His forefathers were among a colony of Dutch who left their country on account of religious persecution. Their fleets became separated in their voyage to this country, some landing on the coast of New England, the others enter- ing New York harbor from whence they migrated up the Hudson and out the Mo- hawk locating in Herkimer county.

In 1834 Adam J. Conderman together with his family consisting of his wife and ten children, five sons, Abraham, David, John D., Caleband Hiram, and five daugh- ters, Mary, Margaret, Eliza, Rachel and Catherine, moved to what was known as Dutch street in the town of Fremont, Steuben county, N. Y., where his family grew up and where he spent the major portion of his remaining days, dying at the home of his son John D., at the age of eighty-six. He fought in the war of 1812 and his father, John Conderman, the namesake of John D., was an officer in the Revolu- tionary war.

John D. Conderman, at the age of twenty-six, married Aseneth Spaulding, daugh- ter of George and Elizabeth Spaulding, then residents of the town of Howard, N. Y., and purchasing a farm on the cross road from Dutch street to what was known as the Big Creek Post-office, erected a log house and began life in common with pioneers of that day.

Here he lived and raised his family consisting of four sons. Frank Conderman, who is the present owner of a large farm on Dutch street which has never been owned out of the Conderman family, being settled by John Conderman in 1815. Lavurn D. Conderman who now resides in Fremont Center, and who also is the owner of a large farm adjoining his father's old homestead. Charles Conderman, a practicing attorney and counsellor at law in Hornellsville, and George Conderman, a practicing physi- cian and surgeon in Hornellsville.

John D. Conderman was a man of exemplary habits, very energetic and industrious, possessed of a very keen intellect and extra good judgment and being blessed with a

BIOGRAPHICAL.

wife who proved herself a helpmate, always willing and capable of doing her share in their voyage through life and to whose foresight and good counsel a large share of their ultimate happiness and success was due, passed a life of almost continued success resulting in the accumulation of a goodly fortune as a result of their toil.

He never sought political distinction but was always looked upon as one of the staunchest and representative men of the town, so much so that his home was made the headquarters of salesman and drovers who availed themselves of his judgment in buying all kinds of stock but more especially to horses, for horses being one of his hobbies of life, his farm was always well stocked with the finest horses that the coun- try afforded. This business, though obsolete now, was one of considerable moment in those days, and was a means of profit which together with good management and economy soon made him the owner of 1,000 acres of Fremont's choicest lands.

During the Anti-Renter Insurrection his ideas of justice would not permit him to sympathize with them in their position taken, thus provoking their wrath which was aggravated by their appreciating the strength his influence might have exerted if directed in their interest, they threatened him with all kinds of bodily and personal injury, as the burning of buildings, etc., and even did go so far as to shoot his horses while running in the pastures. But right triumphed at last, for while they were spending their time and means fighting their claims he had paid for his home and several farms besides.

In 1874 he removed to Hornellsville, N. Y., where his remaining days were pleas- antly spent in looking after his large property interests and educating his sons. He died July 17, 1890, leaving his widow and four sons to survive him.

MARTIN PINNEY.

MARTIN PINNEY, a life-long leading citizen of northern Steuben and for more than half a century one of the foremost residents of Prattsburg, was born in that town on the farm now owned by Purlee Fisher on the 16th of April, 1826. His father, Aaron Pinney, son of Philander, was born in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., August 28, 1801, and came to Prattsburg in 1822, where he married Miss Sophronia, adopted daughter of Jeduthan Higby; in 1854 he removed to the village, where his wife died in 1872, and where his death occurred in 1881. He was supervisor of the town sev- eral years. Martin Pinney was the eldest of their nine children, and was reared on the paternal farm, where as a youth he worked summers, teaching school winters. At the Franklin Academy, where he finished his education, he bore the reputation of a progressive and faithful student. At an early age he began his long and success- ful mercantile career as a clerk at Bath and Avon, and in the fall of 1853 he returned to Prattsburg, where he established himself in business in the old " Kremlin Block " in partnership with William B. Boyd and James J. Hotchkin under the firm name of W. B. Boyd & Co. Upon the death of Mr. Hotchkin and the retirement of Mr. Boyd two years later, Mr. Pinney formed a partnership with H. B. Williams, as Pinney & Williams, which continued a long time. In 1860-61 he built the handsome brick Pinney block and carried on a successful mercantile trade there from April 1, 1861, for twenty-eight years.

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Landmarks of Steuben County, New York, Part 36

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