USA > New York > Onondaga County > Jordan > Our church and her interests : being a souvenir of the past history and a survey of the present and future interests of the First Presbyterian Church of Jordan, Onondaga Co., N. Y. . . . > Part 7
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" Every little child, white and black, seemed to know him, and I was very " often touched by the sweetness of his greeting to them, as we would be walk- " ing along the street together. Every day, in his cheery way, he would meet " me with his greeting, 'Happy on the journey ;' and when he was in my study, " where I was glad that he seemed to love to come, he appeared to have lost the " tie that bound him to earth-cares, and to be reaching on to the life before " him -holding earth only as it was represented by his friends, whom he dearly " loved, and by the children of his Sunday schools.
" The third chapter of John was his especial delight, and he read it very " often, and talked of it to me with the utmost enthusiasm. 'How can any one " read it,' he would say, 'and keep from the new birth in Jesus ?' Giving a " Testament, one day, to a poor woman on whom we called together, and whom " he had been helping financially, he said, 'I have carried that Testament a good " many years. It is old, but there have been a good many prayers over it. " You will find it opening easiest to the third chapter of John. Read that, if " you don't read anything else. Read it as I have, and it will do you the " good it has done me." Then, turning to me, he said, 'You know I always " want them to read that chapter. If they get that, they get it all.' It made " me think of the good old John himself, who, when the younger disciples " expostulated with him for saying over and over again, 'Little children, love " each other,' replied, 'It is the whole law !'
" When at last Father Morris died, it seemed to be only the natural going to " God of a life that had really been with Him for a long time, and that was " ripe for that exaltation. As for the few last weeks he sat in his chair power-
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" less to move or to speak, I used to say over to myself those lines which he " illustrated :
"'Only waiting till the shadows Are a little longer grown ; Only waiting till the glimmer Of the day's last beam is flown ; Then from out the gathering darkness Holy, deathless stars shall rise, By whose light my soul shall gladly Tread its pathway to the skies.'
" So died (if death it is) this good old man, and. the colored children of the " Sunday schools wept over his grave. Of him we say, as Motley of William " of Orange, 'When he died, little children cried in the streets.' He has left " to us and to you, as to his family, a precious legacy of holy love and of " effectual prayer. Affectionately, your Brother,
" EDWARD ANDERSON, Pastor."
Well may a beloved daughter write of such an one, " He left " a richer legacy than silver or gold in a consistent christian life." His wife,
Betsy Morris,
was one of the family of Coltons, of Onondaga, N. Y., where she was born June 15, 1794. She was married to Charles Mor- ris at Pompey Hill, December 29, 1813, and after forty-six years of happy life with him and an excellent family, passed on before him . July 14, 1859, sixteen years in advance of his departure. She died at Springville, Erie county, N. Y. She was a worthy member of our church for seventeen years during her residence here.
" No, no, it is not dying, Heaven's citizen to be ; A crown immortal wearing, And rest unbroken sharing, From care and conflict free !"
Sidney Ar. Horton.
Born in Suffield, Connecticut, July 5, 1799. Died at Jackson, Michigan, June 18, 1847, aged 48 years. He was mar- ried to Louisa Wainwright, of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, February 9, 1825. The family removed to Jordan in 1827,
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where Mr. Norton erected a fulling mill, on the site of Garrison & Taylor's present bedstead factory, where he carried on busi- ness many years. He was an active supporter of the earliest religious meetings and enterprises ; joined the church at its organization ; was clerk of the first Board of Trustees in 1829, and for many years filled, with honor and efficiency, the position of Trustee ; was elected and ordained Deacon of the church in 1832, and filled the office faithfully until death. He was a man of firm principle and faithful life. He was ardently attached to Presbyterianism, and his interests were bound up in our church and Society. Mrs. Norton was as faithful an Episcopalian, in which denominational faith her seven daughters were trained and are now steadfast.
As long as Jordan Presbyterian church exists, or is remem- bered, Mr. Norton, with his coadjutors and kindred spirits, Dag- gett and Greene, will be identified with her history and reminis- cences. He died while on a visit to Jackson, Michigan, leaving a widow who died about a year ago. Miss Caroline Norton is the only one of the family now resident in Jordan. She resides in the homestead on the Point.
" His toils are past ; his labors done ; And he is fully blest : He fought the fight, the victory won, And entered into rest.
" Then let our sorrows cease to flow- God has recalled his own ; And let our hearts, in every woe, Still say, 'THY WILL BE DONE.''
The Otis Family
came from Massachusetts to this State quite early, and were among the pioneers of Onondaga county. Among their ances- tors is James Otis of Revolutionary renown. In 1761, when King George made a desperate attempt to enforce his odious Importation Act of 1733 upon the colonies, he was one who stoutly resisted, by word and deed, the unjust imposition. In Ridpath's new History of the United States, mention is thus
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made of him : "James Otis, an able and temperate man, " pleaded eloquently for colonial rights, and denounced the par- " liamentary acts as unconstitutional. The address was a mas- " terly defense of the people, and prodneed a profound sensation " throughout the colonies."
The Jordan Otises settled here in 1816. They came from Fabius to Elbridge in 1812, and from Elbridge to this village. The family have always been active supporters of the church, and a goodly number are now in fellowship with us. Those now connected with the church and congregation are : Mrs. Herod Otis and her family ; Isaac C., who is one of the present Board of Trustees ; Sara, Elinor, and Lavinia (Mrs. Dauchy).
ISAAC OTIS-Grandfather of I. C. Otis, was born September 19, 1768. Died in Jordan September 3, 1854, aged 86 years. He became a member of the church soon after its organization, and continued so until his decease. At the time the church ex- tended a call to the Rev. Washington Thacher, he rode on horse- back to Onondaga to present and urge the same. As stated in the church history, he gave two parsonages to the Society, and always liberally supported the enterprises of the church. When his mind failed, through age and infirmnity, he remembered his Bible and his Savior, and would respond to mention of them before that of other concerns. His last intelligent utterance was a glad recognition of a favorite Scriptural passage and response thereto. He was buried in Jordan cemetery September 5, 1854, the funeral services being conducted by the Rev. Immer N. Crittenden, his discourse being founded on Numbers xxiii, 10 : " Let me die the death of the righteous."
" Safe in the home of Jesus, safe from corroding care ; Safe from the world's temptations, sin cannot vex him there. Free from the blight of sorrow, free from all doubts and fears, Ended are all his trials, and 'wiped away' his tears."
HEROD OTIS-Born in Fabius, Onondaga county, August 12, 1804. Died in Jordan, November 7, 1875, aged 71 years. In 1828, he was united in marriage with Miss Sara Coonley, of Coeymans, Albany county, a descendant of a family of Quakers of that name. She is one of the few original members trans-
1
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ferred from Elbridge church who are now living. In early life Mr. Otis united with this church. "For nearly half a century " his home was the resort of the clergy, and they were ever wel. " come to its hospitality. He was decidedly a home man. His " life was chiefly spent in the bosom of his family. He was uni- " versally esteemed for uncompromising integrity to truth and " honesty." He was buried in the family vault in Jordan ceme- tery, his funeral being largely attended. The Rev. Alfred P. Botsford, of Port Jervis, and J. Edward Close, pastor of this church, officiated.
ORPHA OTIS-(See obituaries of " The McClure Family.)
ALPHA OTIS-Daughter of Isaac Otis, Sr., was born in Fabius, January 2, 1801, and died February 13, 1836, aged 35 years. She has "gone up out of great tribulation, and washed her " robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
OLIVE (Mrs. Remson)-Daughter of Isaac Otis, Sr., was born in Fabius, May 10, 1806. Died in Cazenovia, June 14, 1869. In the autumn of 1832 she was married to John S. Remson, Esq., a native of Cazenovia, but then residing in Montgomery, Alabama. Removing thence to Mobile, New Orleans, and thence to Cazenovia. Mrs. Remson was an early member of this church, active and exemplary here. She was much beloved wherever she resided. In Cazenovia, where her last days were spent, she will be long remembered by a large circle of friends ; an active member of the church there, and constant attendant upon the prayer meetings. She was one of " the excellent of the earth."
The only other survivor of this family, who was also a mem- ber of this church, is Mrs. Sayles, of Clyde. -
The name of Otis will always be honorably identified with the interests of this village, and especially of the Presbyterian church.
Jennie ghelps.
Born in 1848. Died in Jordan, October 8, 1873, aged 25 years. While we recall our aged friends who have passed away,
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whose memories are fragrant and inspiring, we would think ten- derly and lovingly of younger members. Let them group around this one. We copy her obituary from the Jordan Transcript of October 16, 1873 :
" PHELPS .- In this village, on Wednesday, October 8, Jennie Phelps, " granddaughter of Silas Mann, in the 25th year of her age.
" Last Friday afternoon we met at the Presbyterian church to pay the last " token of love and respect to her memory. She had for a long time been suffer- " ing from consumption, and of late it was noticed by her friends that she grew " weaker day by day, till on Wednesday evening her 'tired nature sank to that " long repose which knows no waking here.' Her years among us were few, and to " those outside the circle of her immediate acquaintance they may have attracted " no attention. Yet the home and social circle knew how greatly they were " enriched by her honest and holy efforts, and feel that a pleasant and happy " christian spirit has gone. She was a member of the Presbyterian church and " Sabbath school, and the tokens of their love for her were manifested by the " floral offerings so abundantly displayed at her funeral. In the Sunday school, " last Sabbath, the following was adopted as their expression of sympathy :
" ' As it has been the will of "Our Father in Heaven " to remove from us " one of our number-Miss Jennie Phelps, one who, while in health, was in " regular attendance at our Sunday school, and one who made manifest her "interest for its welfare-we, the members of this Sabbath school, wish to " offer our heartfelt sympathy to those who miss her daily presence. We, too, " shall miss her.'"
Her esteemed grandparents, Deacon and Mrs. Mann, also her aunt, Martha Mann, are with us to-day-friends and fellow- workers in the cause she loved, and of like good report among us.
idelia B. gach,
wife of Mr. W. M. Pack, was one of the oldest members of the church, which she joined at 14 years of age. She was an active worker in the church, especially attentive in arranging sociables, donations and other parties, and an efficient helper in the early Sewing Societies. After six years' sickness she died of con- sumption, September 30, 1872, aged 53 years, having been a member of the church for nearly forty years. Of six children, only two survive-Charles, who is now in the postoffice, and his brother, living in the west. Two died quite young-one at three and the other at five years of age-of scarlet fever. The only daughter, FRANCES R., died November 13, 1853, of consumption,
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of which disease also died ROSELLE, December 27, 1875, aged 31 years. The family have always been constant attendants at the Presbyterian church. Mr. W. M. Pack, who has lived in Jordan over sixty years, is yet a regular worshipper with us.
Samuel Lowers
died December 25, 1831, aged 56 years.
Letie Lowers,
his wife, one of the oldest members of the church, was born in Massachusetts in 1787, and died in Irving, Barry co., Mich., Feb- ruary 17, 1874, at the residence of her son. The Powers family, with which she was connected by marriage, were among the earliest settlers in Jordan ; and several of the family have been connected with the church, but they have all removed or are deceased. Mrs. Caroline Daggett, one of our present members, married one of the Powers family for her first husband.
The following obituary of Lefie Powers appeared in the Irving paper the week following her decease :
" GONE TO REST."
" On Sunday last the remains of Mrs. Lefie Powers, familiarly known as
" 'Grandma Powers,' of Irving, were followed to their last resting place by a " large concourse of friends and relatives of the deceased.
" She had been for some time helpless and her death was looked for by all " who knew her as likely to occur at any moment. She is one of the few that " have passed away without the torture of disease, she having no pain or sick- " ness, but a gradual wearing out of the physical energies and vitality until the " sands of her life, as it were, were run, and she sank to a quiet and peaceful "rest. Mrs. Powers' life was an exemplary one from childhood, and through " the long term of her life she had never forgotten the lessons taught her by "her Puritan ancestors in the state of Massachusetts in which she was born. " The last ten years of her life were passed with her son, who has (with the " other members of the family) done all in their power to make the last years of " her life happy. She was at the time of her death 85 years and 11 months old, " and passed away leaving the assurance that she was prepared for eternity."
" A SHOCK OF CORN FULLY RIPE."
Sarah Dr. E. Lowers,
only daughter of Charles and Sarah Powers, died in Jordan February 15, 1842, aged 24 years. " Seldom has death removed
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" one more generally beloved or more sincerely mourned. The " parents are bereft of a dutiful daughter ; the brother, of a de- " voted sister ; and friends, of one who was 'constant and true.' " But though deeply afflicted, we have the unspeakable consola-
" tion of knowing that she was fully prepared for the great and " final change, and that death was to her a passport to a blessed " immortality."*
Tililliam Richards
was an early member and active supporter of our Society. He was Trustee, Collector and Clerk in 1834 and onward; and in 1854 was elected and ordained elder-which office he filled until his death in November, 1859. His wife, son and daughter were also connected with us. The two former are now residing in St. Louis. They are remembered and respected by a large circle of friends. Of Mr. Richards' decease, the brief but significant record by his pastor, Mr. Dunning, upon the books he had him- self kept up to the time of his decease, runs thus : "November, " 1859, William Richards, an Elder, and Clerk of the Session, " was removed by death. He died in the triumphs of faith, " relying safely on Jesus."
The Stevens Family. I.
There were two families of this name, from which members who had joined the Elbridge church were transferred to this at its organization. Thomas Stevens, our oldest male member of the church now living, belongs to one of these ; Mrs. Wagner is a descendant of the other. The former removed to Elbridge from Salem and Hebron, Washington county, and of them the following have been members of the church, and are deceased :
JOHN STEVENS -Brother of Thomas, died September 10, 1833, aged 38 years. He was transferred from Elbridge church at the organization of this, and remained a consistent and exemplary Christian till his death. His wife,
*From an obituary sketch by her pastor, Rev. Washington Thacher.
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ELEANOR STEVENS-Has already been referred to in " The Carson Family " obituaries.
ELIZA CLARK STEVENS-First wife of Thomas Stevens, came here from Skaneateles in 1832, and was a consistent and earnest member until her death, September 23, 1848 .. Her funeral dis- course was delivered by Dr. Mattoon, of Elbridge. She was "ready to depart and be with Christ." She was the mother of five children, two of whom died in infancy. Edmund B. fell a victim to the war. He died at Winchester hospital, in Virginia, 1864, aged 22 years. Sarah (wife of Henry Daggett, now re- siding in Brookfield, Missouri-both members till their removal thence) and Washington Thacher (named after the first settled pastor of the church) survive. The latter is one of our present Board of Trustees. His father, Mr. Thomas Stevens, has filled that position for many terms, and has always been actively en- gaged in sustaining the interests of the church.
The Stevens Family. II.
MATILDA STEVENS-Wife of Robert Stevens, came originally from Massachusetts. She was born in Deerfield, in 1787, and died in Jordan, April 13, 1858. The following is copied from the Jordan Transcript of April 15 :
" DIED-In this village, on the 13th instant, Mrs Matilda Stevens, aged 71 " years. Funeral service this afternoon, at the Presbyterian church.
" Mrs. S. was born in Deerfield, and in early life emigrated to this town. She " has been a member of the Presbyterian church many years-first in Elbridge, " and then one of the original members of the church in this village. She was " a consistent follower of Christ ; she loved the house of God and place of " prayer, and would make great sacrifices to attend. She was favored with a " calm and unhesitating assurance of the rest of Heaven through her Redeemer, " and one of her last dying utterances was, 'All is well ;' then, closing her eyes, " she quietly passed away."
" 'So fades a summer cloud away ; So sinks the gale when storms are o'er ; So gently shuts the eye of day ; So dies a wave along the shore.'"
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Her children call her blessed, for she taught them in the way of life. Of these, Augustus, Alonzo, Charles, George, Ann and Caroline have united with us. Mrs. Wagner remains here. The others are residing elsewhere, except
CHARLES A. STEPHENS-Who died in Jordan, April 8, 1850, after an illness of thirty hours, at the age of 22 years. Of his death, the Jordan Tribune of April 24, 1850, says :
" Amiable, talented and pious, he had secured a large place in the affections " of this community, and his removal will long be mourned by a large circle, " whose tears flow in sympathy with the bereaved mother and family."
Among other resolutions of respect and sympathy, the follow- ing by the Jordan Lyceum, of which he was a member, indicates the high regard in which he was held :
" Resolved, That in the sudden and unlooked-for death of Charles A. Stevens, " the members of the Jordan Lyceum have been deprived of a literary brother, " an ornament of their social circle, and a friend endeared by the many virtues " that insured him the respect of numerous friends and a large circle of " acquaintances."
E. Rockwell Fragoner.
Born August 23, 1844. Died August 13, 1864. Was one of the brave boys who fell in the cause of the Union. He was a member of our church, and "a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
The Tillard Family
are of Scotch descent and have been connected with this village from about 1820. The members of the family, now resident in Jordan, and connected with the church, are JANE, widow of Archibald Ward (formerly Carson), her son, DEACON . THOMAS C. WARD (with his wife Jane Ward), and her daughter MRS. PAMELA BARNES. The following, who have been members of our church, are deceased :
ARCHIBALD WARD-Son of John Ward, born February 28, 1795, and died June 19, 1850. John Ward served in the war of the revolution. His son (the subject of this obituary) in the war of 1812. He became a member of this church in 1833, and
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from that time to his death, was enabled, by divine grace and personal fidelity, to honor his profession by a godly walk and conversation. He was extensively known and universally esteemed for his kind and christian deportment, his noble and generous principles. His last words were those of kind advice and christian admonition to his children. He died of disease of the heart, at the same place, on the same day, and but thirty minutes after that of his beloved daughter, whose obituary fol- lows. The funeral of the father and daughter took place at the same time, attended by a large concourse of friends and relatives. It was a sad and touching scene of sorrow, lit up, nevertheless, with a bright and beautiful hope.
MARY K. BALDWIN-Daughter of Archibald and Jane Ward, and wife of David B. Baldwin, died on Wednesday, June 19, 1850, aged 28 years, of consumption.
" Mrs. B. by her sweet and gentle manners, her kindness and " affection, was endeared to the hearts of all who knew her, and " severe indeed is the wound inflicted upon the hearts of relatives " and friends who grieve over her removal from them. Her " sufferings were protracted and severe, yet, never through her " whole sickness, did the slightest murmer escape her lips. With " christian patience and resignation she awaited the pleasure of " her heavenly Father, in whom she trusted while in health. " Her mind was calm and peaceful, her confidence in God " unshaken; and while those who so deeply mourn her loss, sor. " row for her absence, they have the best assurance and conso- " lation left them, that if they walk in the path where she has " walked, there will, by and by, be a happy re-union with her " in that blessed land where parting and sorrow shall never " be known."
Only two days before, June 17, 1850, Mrs. Baldwin lost her babe, nine months old, Edward A. Baldwin. He died of dropsy on the brain.
" There is no flock, however watched and tended, But one dead lamb is there! There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended, But has one vacant chair !
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" The air is full of farewells to the dying, And mournings for the dead ; The heart of Rachel, for her children crying, Will not be comforted.
"Let us be patient ! These severe afflictions, Not from the ground arise, But often-times celestial benedictions Assume this dark disguise.
" There is no Death! what seems so is transition : This life of mortal breath Is but a suburb of the life elysian, Whose portal we call Death.
" We will be patient, and assuage the feeling We may not wholly stay ; By silence sanctifying, not concealing The grief that must have way."
" THE LAST ENEMY THAT SHALL BE DESTROYED IS DEATH !"
" AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY MORE PAIN ; FOR THE FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY."
" WHEREFORE COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS."
Notes from or Concerning 1
ormer
Ministers now fibing.
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Rotes from or Concerning
ormer
Ministers now Living.
Rev. George Malarner,
now of Canaan, Columbia county, N. Y., supplied this pulpit in 1831 and 1832, and as he was for a number of years pastor of the Weedsport Presbyterian church, his relations with this church have been frequent and friendly. On leaving here he went to Ohio ; was called thence to Weedsport ; left there in 1842 ; was recalled to Weedsport in 1850, and continued pastor there for ten years. He is now 76 years of age, actively and earnestly en- gaged in the Master's service yet, regularly supplying two village churches. From his letter of greeting, we extract the following :
" Those five months, from November 12, 1831, to April 19, 1832, were not "spent in vain. I enjoyed them ; I think the people enjoyed them ; and, " although I cannot furnish statistical results, my conviction is, that the Lord " added to the church some of such as were to be saved." * * *
" My intercourse with the good people of Jordan (while I was located at " Weedsport) was frequent, and always delightful. On the 19th of October, " 1858, it was my pleasant duty to moderate and preach at that meeting of " your Society that made out the call for Rev. Richard Dunning, and at the " time of his installation, a few days after, to give him the charge, according to " presbyterial usage on such occasions. With this brother (now in glory, I " trust) it was my privilege to exchange frequently during his pastorate, and to " be with him and his people during some seasons of special interest and effort. " But my last service, if I mistake not, was on Sabbath, August 10, 1862, a few * *
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