USA > New York > Tioga County > Owego > Owego. Some account of the early settlement of the village in Tioga County, N.Y., called Ah-wa-ga by the Indians, which name was corrupted by gradual evolution into Owago, Owego, Owegy and finally Owego > Part 39
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The church was built by contract by John T. Corchran, of this village. The corner stone was laid Oct. 31 by the rector, Rev. James H. Kidder, acting as bishop's deputy, assisted by nine clergymen from other churches. The consecration services were held Jan. 25, 1894, Rt. Rev. F. D. Huntington, bishop of the diocese of Central New York, officiating, assisted by bishop Wm. A. Leonard, of Ohio, the rector, Rev. J. H. Kidder, and seventeen other clergymen. The church is built of blue stone and is 90 by 75 feet in size. The inner walls are of cream-colored brick, the floors of Georgia pine wood, and the pews of oak. The total cost was $12,800, exclusive of the seats, the heating apparatus, and the furnishing. The furniture, etc., were the gifts of various persons as memorials to de- parted relatives.
ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
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The old church was sold to Jeremiah Towsand, who sold the pews and tore down the building, which he used in building a house in McMaster street.
The first rectory of St. Paul's church was built on land sold to the church by Mrs. Eliza M. Clizbe for $500 March 9, 1846. The lot was on the west side of Academy street. The house was of Gothic ar- chitecture with a very high sloping roof above the first story and with a basement. It was sold in October, 1861, to James P. Lovejoy, and after his death it was again sold in Febru- ary, 1866, to Dr. E. A. Mayor. Mr. Mayor removed the roof and in its place built a second story to the house and surmounted it with a Mansard roof.
In February, 1897, the society pur- chased of Thomas C. Platt for $1,600 a house which stood east of and adjoin- ing the old church, which was occu- pied as a rectory. This house had been rented as a rectory after the sale of the property in Academy street. It was occupied as a rectory until a new one was built in 1902, when it was sold to Charles G. Carter, who re- moved it to his lot on the west side of Central avenue.
The present rectory was built in the summer of 1902 on the ground where the old church and rectory had stood. The architects were Bragdon & Hill- man, of Rochester, and it was built at a cost of $2,785 by John T. Corchran.
February 2, 1842, John Redman Coxe, M. D., of Philadelphia, proprie- tor of the tract of land south of the Susquehanna river in the towns of Owego and Nichols, known as Coxe's patent, deeded to the rector, wardens,
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and vestry of St. Paul's church a part of lot No. 190 in this tract, containing a little more than 52 acres, in trust, the income to be applied to the main- tenance of St. Paul's church so long as it should be a church.
The rectors of St. Paul's church since its organization have been as follows:
Rev. John Baily, May, 1838-May, 1840.
Rev. Isaac Swart, July 26, 1840- March 21, 1841.
Rev. Alfred Louderback, Aug. 29, 1841-April 15, 1844.
Rev. George Watson, Oct. 5, 1844- Oct. 1, 1854.
Rev. James Rankine, Oct. 1, 1854- April 7, 1861.
Rev. Morelle Fowler, April 14, 1861- April, 1863.
Rev. George D. Johnson, April 6, 1863-April 3, 1866.
Rev. Thomas W. Street, Dec. 27, 1866-July 1, 1868.
Rev. James H. Kidder, Aug. 1, 1868-
Rev. George Watson was an Eng- lishman. He resigned the rectorate of St. Paul's church in July, 1854, to take effect on the first of the following October, having accepted a call to St .- Paul's church at Norwalk, Ohio. He died at Norwalk, Nov. 15, 1870, aged 68 years.
Rev. James Rankine, who succeeded Mr. Watson, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Nov. 5, 1827. He came with his parents to the United States in 1835, the family settling at Canan- daigua, N. Y. He was graduated from Union college in 1846. He pursued the preparatory studies for holy or- ders under Dr. Williams, the rector of St. George's church at Schenectady, and when Dr. Williams was called to the presidency of Trinity college in 1849 Mr. Rankine accompanied him
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there. where he was at first a tutor and afterward assistant professor of mathematics. June 11, 1850, he was ordained deacon. He resigned his position in Trinity college to become rector of St. Paul's church in Septem- ber, 1854. He remained at Owego six years. In April, 1861, he was ap- pointed head of the senior department of the diocesan training school (now known as the Delancey divinity school) and rector of St. Peter's chapel at Geneva, N. Y. In 1868 he assumed the presidency of Hobart col- lege. He served two years when his health failed and he resigned the presidency and returned to his old position in the divinity school and St .- Peter's parish, where he remained un- til his death on Dec. 16, 1896.
Rev. Morelle Fowler, who succeeded Mr. Rankine as rector of St. Paul's, assumed his duties April 14, 1861. He was a graduate of Berkely divinity school at Middletown, Conn. He came after his graduation to Owego. He re- mained here two years. He resigned in April, 1863, having accepted a call to the Episcopal church at Batavia, N. Y. He remained there until the sun- mer of 1870 when he resigned on ac- count of ill health and went to Salt Lake City to assume the pastorate of a church there. In February, 1871, he returned east, to accompanyhis family from New London, Conn., to Salt Lake City. While on their way to Utah he and his wife with their three children were all killed in a terrible railroad accident, which happened Feb. 6 on t .. e Hudson River railroad, eight miles below Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in which twenty-one persons were killed. The axle of an oil train broke, throwing
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the wreckage against a drawbridge in face of the express train, which crashed into it, the whole catching fire.
Rev. George D. Johnson was born at Stratford, Conn., in June, 1834. He was a great grandson of Jonathan Ed- wards, the first president of Princeton college, and of Samuel Johnson, the first president of Kings college. He was graduated from Trinity college in 1854. He came to Owego from Darien, Conn., in April, 1863, and was rector of St. Paul's two years. In April, 1865, he went to New Rochelle, N. Y., where he lived until March, 1867, when he accepted a call to a church in Boston, Mass. He became rector of Christ church at New Brighton, N. Y., in 1875. At the time of his death on August 28, 1906, he was pastor emeri- tus of that church and archdeacon.
Rev. Thomas W. Street came to Owego from New Brunswick, N. J., where he was curate of St. Andrews's church, and became pastor of St .- Paul's in June, 1866. He resigned in the summer of 1868.
Rev. James Holwell Kidder came to Owego from Unadilla, N. Y., hav- ing been called to the rectorate of St. Paul's parish Aug. 1, 1868. Mr. Kidder was born at Portland, Maine. He was graduated from the gen- eral theological
seminary in New York city in 1860; ordained deacon at St. Luke's church, Port- land, the same year, and priest at Eastport, Maine, in June 1861. He was in charge of St. Thomas's church at Camden, Me., until November, 1860, and afterward of Christ church at Eastport about three years. Then he entered on the rectorship of St. Mat-
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thew's church at Unadilla, N. Y., July 1, 1863. Five years later, on Aug. 1. 1868, he became rector of St. Paul's church at Owego. Mr. Kidder has been now (1909) forty-one years rector of St. Paul's and has not been an hour out of the active ministry since he was ordained.
REV. JAMES H. KIDDER.
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Some Account of St. Patrick's Catho- lic Church, Its Property, and Its Pastors from about the Year 1842 to the Present Time.
There were no Roman Catholics at Owego for several years after the first settlement of the village. About the year 1842, when the New York & Erie railroad was projected, laborers on the road, mostly Catholics from Ireland. came here to assist in the work of driving, the piles, on which it was in- tended to lay the tracks. These piles were not used, but gradually decayed and within a few years after the road had been constructed to Owego on a solid gravel bea in 1849 they had all gradually ยท decayed and disappeared.
The first missionary through here was James F. Hourigan, who came on horseback. Rev. James V. O'Reilly, who was pastor of the church at Friendsville, Pa., and had spiritual charge of several missions in Pennsyl- vania and New York, afterward came here about four times a year and cele- brated high mass.
August 17, 1842, Charles Pumpelly deeded as a gift to Right Rev. John Hughes and his successors in the ministry, in trust for the Catholic con- gregation of Owego, a part of village lot No. 29, containing half an acre of land, This lot, which is mentioned in the deed as "the Catholic church lot," is east of the road which extends north from Erie street and turns west up on the hill to Prospect street. This lot, for several years and until St .- Joseph's cemetery in the town of Ti- oga was laid out, was the Catholic cemetery.
In the deed given by Mr. Pumpelly the land conveyed is described as that
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"upon which is now being erected the Catholic church, for a site for which said land is granted, to be used for that purpose and a burying ground and for no other purpose whatever." This reference to a church is the only knowledge any one of the present das has of any church having ever been built on the lot, and its existence is beyond the recollection of the oldest inhabitants. It was, probably, a small building and must have been removed or torn down soon afterward. There is a story that the first Catholic ser- vices were held in a small frame building, which stood on the site of the present church in east Main street. This is an error.
The first regular church services of which anything is now positively known were held at the home of David Connelly in Paige street. Mr. Con- nelly was a tailor, a man who was held in respect by the people of the village, and a leading man in church affairs. His house was on the east side of Paige street, the second house south of East Temple street, and is still standing there. Mr. Connelly lived there with his wife, his son, and three daughters. He bought the property in March, 1838, of Michael Conklin. He built a second story to the back part of this house, to be used as a place to hold religious services, access to which was obtained by a stairway, which he built outside the house. Here Father O'Reilly held services, and afterward Rev. Andrew Doyle, who was appointed pastor of St. Pat- rick's church at Binghamton in 1843 by Bishop John Hughes, came here occasionally until May 1, 1844, when he was called to assist the pastor of
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St. James's church in New York city.
Rev. John Sheridan came in 1844, and he was the first resident pastor here. He was also in charge of the missions at Ithaca and Watkins. Father Sheridan remained here six years, and during his sojourn here, and mainly through his efforts, a new church was built.
The New York and Erie railroad was completed to Owego in 1849. While the road was building many Catholics came here as laborers, and after the road was in operation many others cante as employes of the road and became permanent residents of Owego. The congregation of the church was thereby increased to such an extent that it was decided to build a church. The ground on which St .- Patrick's church now stands on the south side of east Main street was owned by Thomas Farrington, who sold it on a contract to Father Sheri- dan in 1848, and a wooden church was immediately erected thereon. Oct. 9, 1849, the lot, which contained 64 square rods of land was deeded by judge Farrington for $545.50 to Father Sheridan.
Father Sheridan was succeeded in August, 1850, by Rev. Michael Cree- don, who in 1851 was succeeded by Rev. P. Mallon, who officiated until January, 1852, when Rev. James T. McManus came. Rev. Nicholas Byrne came in December, 1858, and remained here two years. In 1859, during his pastorate the parochial school house was built in the rear of the church.
Rev. Joseph Butler was pastor from 1860 .to August, 1862. He established the society known as the "Sodality of the Living Rosary," the object being to
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supply the altar with candles and flowers. In 1868, during the pastorate of Rev. Francis Clark, the society of "The Sacred Heart of Jesus" was or- ganized, and in 1870 the "Children of Mercy." During Father Clark's so- journ here, from 1863 to 1871, many improvements were made. He caused the church to be enlarged in the sum- mer of 1863. A new steeple was added to the edifice and a bell placed there- in. The convent of the Sisters of Mercy was instituted in 1865, the name of which was changed to St .- Joseph's Orphan Asylum in April, 1870, during Father Clark's pastorate.
In the summer of 1875 about $3,000 were spent in repairing, repainting, and otherwise improving the church edifice. In November, 1855, the house and lot west of and adjoining the church were purchased of Thomas Evans by the Catholic society. This was occupied as the parochial resi- dence until 1869. Aug. 30 in this year Richard H. Sackett sold to John Hard- man the house and lot west of the parochial residence, which Mr. Hard- man on Oct. 1 transferred to the so- ciety. This property is now occupied as the pastor's residence and the building betwen it and the church by the Sisters of Mercy.
The cemetery lot in Goodrich settle ment in the town of Tioga, containing four and eight-tenths acres of land and known as St. Joseph's cemetery, was purchased of Henry W. Camp Feb. 1, 1868, for $1,000, and the old cemetery in this village was abandoned as a burial place.
The old wooden church proving inadequate to the needs of an increas- ing congregation, a new brick church
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ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
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was built in 1890. Subscriptions to a fund for building the new church were begun by Rev. James Rogers about the year 1876. He collected about $4,000, to which in 1887, Rev. F. D. Johnson had added about $6,000 more. The church was dedicated Sunday, Dec. 7, 1890, by Rt. Rev. Stephen Vincent Ryan, of Buffalo, assisted by twelve priests from other churches. The bishop preached the dedication ser- mon. The new church cost about $30,000. It was built by James Sulli- van. It is 129 by 58 feet in size, con- structed of brick and cut stone, and surmounted by a steeple 131 feet high. When Rev. John J. Sheridan assumed the pastorate of this church in June, 1899, there was an indebtedness of about $11,000 on the property. In the summer of 1908, through his efforts, the entire debt was paid.
The following is a list of the resi- dent pastors of St. Patrick's church since its organization :
Rev. John Sheridan, May 1, 1844- August, 1850.
Rev. Michael Creedon, August, 1850- 1851.
Rev. P. Mallon, 1851-January, 1852.
Rev. James T. McManus, January, 1852-December, 1858.
Rev. Nicholas Byrne, December, 1858-1860.
Rev. Joseph Butler, 1860-August, 1862.
Rev. S. Bonaventure Corney, August, 1862-April, 1863.
Rev. Francis Clark, June, 1863-Jan- uary, 1871.
Rev. James Rogers, January, 1871- April, 1877.
Rev. John O'Mara, April, 1877-Octo- ber, 1883.
Rev. Thomas D. Johnson, November, 1883-September, 1893.
Rev. Martin Ryan, October, 1893- May, 1895.
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Rev. John J. Sheridan, June, 1899- July, 1909.
Rev. George V. Burns, July, 1909-
Rev. James T. McManus was born in county Cavan, Ireland, in 1821 and studied for the priesthood at Cavan college. He came to America in IS4S and graduated from the Catholic semi- nary at Fordham, N. Y., in 1851. His first pastorate was a church in Buffalo He came to Owego as pastor of St .- Patrick's church in 1851, and also had charge of the parishes at Waverly and Ithaca. He was here eight years until December, 1858, when he was trans- ferred to the church of St. Francis de- Sales at Geneva, N. Y. Thence in April, 1862, he was transferred to the church of St. Mary's at Rochester, N. Y. Seven months later he was again transferred to Geneva. where he remained until his death on June 29, 1890, a period of thirty-one years. In 1886 he succeeded Rev. James M. Early as Vicar-General of the diocese. Dec. 18, 1889, he received the honorary title of Monseigneur from Bishop Mc- Quade by order of the Pope, making him a member of the papal household.
Rev. Joseph Butler came here in 1860. From Owego he was transferred to Troy in August, 1862.
Rev. Francis Clark care to Owego in January, 1863. Under his ministry the church was enlarged, a school and convent were established,a new cenie- tery was laid out, and a parochial resi- dence purchased. He left Owegoin Jan- uary, 1871, to become parish priest of the church of SS. Peter and Paul at Elmira and rural dean. He was later, at his own request, transferred to St .- Ann's church at Hornell. While in charge of that parish he fell from a
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buggy and sustained a serious injury to his hip, incapacitating him from pastoral work. He died in Buffalo Angust 8, 1890, aged 64 years.
Rev. James Rogers came to Owego from Buffalo in 1871. In April, 1877, he was transferred to the church of the Immaculate Conception in Buffalo. During his sojourn in Owego there was a church debt of $7,000, which he caused to be paid. He died in Buffalo Aug. 26, 1893, aged 51 years.
Rev. John O'Mara was born in county Clare, Ireland, Dec. 25, 1836. He was made an orphan in his youth and was reared and educated by rela- tives. He came to America when twenty years of age and completed his studies for the ministry. He was or- dained a priest in 1859, and afterward had charge of churches at Rochester, Buffalo, Medina, and Lockport. He came to Owego from Buffalo, where he was pastor of the church of the Immaculate Conception, in April, 1887. During his residence here he had charge of the parish at Newark Valley and caused the church to be built there in the fall of 1880. He died while pastor of St. Patrick's church on Oct. 27, 1883, and his body was buried in St. Joseph's cemetery in the town of Tioga.
During Father O'Mara's residence here, Rev. James Hilary Leddy was his assistant, three or four years. Father Leddy was born in New York city. He went from Owego in August, 1880, to Gowanda, N. Y., where he re- mained six years. He was afterward ai Holley, N. Y .. eleven years, and went thence to Warsaw, N. Y., in August, 1878. He died at the age of 64 years at Warsaw May 13, 1901,
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from the result of injuries received by falling into an excavation in the Erie railroad depot at Lockport one night, while returning home from Buffalo.
Rev. Thomas D. Johnson was pastor of St. Patrick's church ten years. He came here in November, 1553. He was born in county Cavan. Ireland, in 1850, and was educated at Manyooth college, near Dublin. He came to America in 1873 and entered Niagara University in 1974, and was graduated therefrom the next year. After his ordination he remained for some time at Corning. N. Y., as a curate in Dean Colgan's parish. He was afterward pastor of the church at Lewiston, N. Y., and in ISS4 became an assistant to Father Cunningham, pastor of SS. Peter and Paul's church at Elmira Upon the death of Father O'Mara, he was sent to Owego. The present church was built during his ministry here. In 1590 he made a trip to his old home in Ireland for the benefit of his health, which did not Improve. He died at Elmira Sept. 17. 1593 HIS body was brought to Owego and buried in St. Joseph's cemetery
Rev. Martin Ryan was born In Ire. land. He came to America In 1963. He was ordained In ISTI at Niagara Falls and was afterward pastor snc- cessively of SS Peter and Paul's church at Elmira, St. Catherine's church at Addison, and of St. Mary of the Lake's church at Watkins for fourteen years. He came from Wat- kins to Owego upon the death of Father Johnson. In May. 1895. he sailed for Ireland, having received an indefinite leave of absence on account of ill health. He never returned. dying there Jan. 9. 1909.
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After Father Ryan's departure for Ireland in 1895, Rev. James Moriarty came to Owego to take charge of St .- Patrick's church.
When Rev. John J. Sheridan came here in the summer of 1899, he had just been graduated from St. Ber- nard's seminary at Rochester. He had been previously graduated from Canaisius college at Buffalo and St .- Bonaventure's college at Allegany, Pa. He was sent here from the Syra- cuse diocese as administrator of the parish pending the appointment of a regular pastor, and he served with such eminent satisfaction that he re- mained here ten years. In June, 1909, he was transferred to Syracuse, where he was soon afterward appointed pas- tor of St. Lucy's church. Father Sheridan was born at Binghamton. When he assumed charge of St. Pat- rick's church it was burdened with a debt of about $11,000, which was paid through his exertions.
Rev. George V. Burns, the present pastor of St. Patrick's church was born in Buffalo, April 4, 1873. He was educated in Rochester at St. An- drews's preparatory seminary and St .- Bernard's seminary. He was ordained June 11, 1898, and was thereupon ap- pointed second assistant at the cathe- dral. Two years later he was ap- pointed first assistant and officiated eight and one-half years and was then appointed pastor of the Catholic church at Phelps, N. Y. While at Phelps he was appointed by Bishop Hickey as superintendent of the paro- chial schools of this diocese. He as- sumed charge of St. Patrick's church in this village July 9, 1909.
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Some Account of the Schools for Young Ladies at Owego from the Days when Miss Juliette Camp Opened the Owego Female Semi- nary in 1828 to the Establishment of the Seminary in East Front Street, where, Among Others, Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood Was Principal.
In the summer of 1815 Charles Pun- pelly built a large house for his resi- dence on the north side of Front street where the houses of Howard J. Mead and Miss Anna M. Dean are now. The lot was eighty feet wide on that street and extended back the full width to Main street. The house was of wood, painted white, and was the largest and most pretentious of any that had been built at that time in the village. It stood about fifteen feet. back from the sidewalk, near the west end of the lot, and on the east side was a large yard covered with a grove of tall trees. Mr. Pumpelly lived in this house until 1841, when he purchased the brick house in west Front street now owned by James Forsyth of his brother, Har- mon Pumpelly, and removed thereto. The old residence was occupied as a seminary and boarding school from 1843 to 1865.
Several years previous to this time Miss Juliette M. Camp, who later be- came the wife of Joseph M. Ely, in 1828 opened a school for young ladies, which she styled the "Owego Female Seminary." She did not board her pupils, but in her advertisement she announced that "board may be ob- tained in respectable families in this village."
Miss Camp had previously spent considerable time in an infant school
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at Utica, to acquaint herself with the methods of teaching employed there, and in 1830 she converted her young ladies' seminary into a children's school, and she had between forty and fifty pupils. Miss Eliza S. Ripley, a daughter of John Ripley, was Miss Camp's assistant. Miss Ripley was several years later married to Ebene- zer Woodbridge and has been for many years living at Dixon, Ill.
In the spring of 1843 Mrs. Mary Palmer, of Factoryville (now east Wa- verly), and Miss Eunice S. Williams rented the Pumpelly residence and es- tablished a boarding and day school for young ladies there, which they called the "Owego Female Seminary." Miss Palmer was principal of the school and Miss Williams had charge of the boarding department. There were two terms of 22 weeks each year, or four quarters of 11 weeks each. The price of board and tuition was $125 a year, and in an advertise- ment in the Gazette it was announced that "from country patrons a portion of pay for board will be received in produce at market prices." Day scholars in the elementary depart- ments were charged $2 a year, in the middle department $3.50, and in the high department $5. Miss Williams died soon after this school was opened at the home of her father at Norwich, Conn., in October, 1843.
Fearing, probably, that the opening of the seminary would be detrimental to the success of the Owego academy by taking therefrom some of the young ladies in the girls' department, the academy trustees started another school in opposition to that of Mrs.
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Palmer in the summer of IS43, which they styled the "Owego Female Insti- tute," and they placed at its head Prof. and Mrs. Joseph M. Ely. Mr. Ely was at this time principal of the academy. He had been teaching tem years in New York city and returned to Owego to assume direction of the academy, with the institute for young ladies connected therewith.
The new female institute was not kept at the academy but at Mr. Ely's house. At the opening of this insti- tute it was announced that if liberal patronage should be given a new building would be erected the next year for the school. The building was not erected. The school was opened in the house that was owned and had been occupied by Jonathan Platt, Mr. Platt having removed to the "Vesper Cliff" property in the town of Tioga. The charge for boarders for a term of eleven weeks was $25 and for day scholars $5.
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