USA > New York > Oneida County > Camden > Pioneer history of Camden, Oneida County, New York > Part 29
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It appears that a bell was not secured at the time desired. for. October, 1826, "the Trustees of this Society are directed to pro- cure a bell for the meeting house, to weigh 700 pounds, or there- abouts, and that they adopt the most expedient method to ac- complish the same." Mr. John A. Bettis of Cedar Rapids, la., sends us the following account of its arrival and adjustment: "It was in 1825 or 1826 that a bell was purchased for the Con- gregational Church. When said bell arrived in town, people were so elated over it. that they must manage in some way to hear it. Esquire Wood's log cart was placed on the Green near the church. It had large wheels and a high axle. The bell was drawn up underneath, a heavy rope tied to the end of the tongue. when it was ready for use. Any one that desired to ring it could do so. Crowds gathered about and it was kept going for some time. Finally Uncle Eliasaph Doolittle, a strong, heavy man. thought to try its loudest tone, and gave it a pull with the force of his whole strength. The bell must have been defective, for it cracked. That settled the matter of a bell in the church, for a while at least. It was lowered and sent back to be recast. and in due time another one came. This remained unused until it was hung in the belfry. Soon it was announced that it would be raised on a certain day. Everybody gathered about to witness the feat of placing it in position. Tilly (Tillotson) Barnes superintended
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THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
the job. The tackle was placed, and when all was made ready Mr. Barnes gave orders: "Weak men stand back, Strong men take the rope!" and mounting astride the bell it was hoisted into place without accident, Mr. Barnes guarding it from contact with the sides of the belfry. There it bung and did duty till the burn- ing of the church in 1867. This was the first bell of which there is record. It was rung and tolled for divine service, for deaths. fires, marking the hours of time as they passed, warning people to repair to their homes-a veritable voice in the community. In 1827 they vote to re-seat the church. In 1828 it is recorded: "Voted to have the bell rung at noon, and at nine o'clock in the evening during the week." We have heard it said that "curfew used to ring in Camden," and this verifies the statement. In 1828 the Rev. Henry Smith, stricken with fever, is removed by death and in 1829 they call the Rev. Lewis Loss, "voting to give him 600 salary, 1/2 in grain and 1/2 in cash." He came pursuant to the call, remaining a year and a half. We imagine that it was hard to please the congregation after the pastorate of one so gifted as Reverend Smith. However, a powerful revival of re- ligion took place under his preaching and many were "joined unto the church." We copy a clause from the Rev. Ethan Cur- tiss' "Historic Discourse" of the church: "This revival was peculiar on account of the pungent convictions of its subjects. Men and women of the strongest nerve were prostrated on the floor, both at home and in the house of worship, and Christians were often called up at midnight to pray with and guide them to the Savior. A portion of the church, both male and female, manifested great faith and power with God, and obtained signal answers to prayer. The Masonic excitement was prevailing at this time and greatly hindered the work. A convert who was a Mason, offering himself for church membership, objections were made, and the church was compelled to act in the case. The Masonic brethren were required to abstain from the meetings of the lodges, which created dissension, in consequence of which Mr. Loss felt constrained to ask for dismission at the end of the year. This was reluctantly granted."
Following Rev. Loss, the Rev. William Luck occupied the pulpit for a few months, and was succeeded by the Rev. John 26
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Barton, who labored among the people eight years with encour- agement and success-from 1836 to 1845. In 1836 it was "voted to raise $1,000 to use in altering the house, taking out the pews and making slips, changing the galleries and making a new pul- pit ; building on a porch and making a session room above; and after the necessary amount shall have been raised, the Trustees be instructed to make contract for such repairs." In December, 1836, we conclude it was so far done that meetings were held. In Dec. the "Trustees are instructed to insure the meeting house." In 1839 they raise "fifty dollars for singing and discontinue the ring- ing of the bell except for church service, but in 1840 return to the ringing of the curfew." In this same year they buy a new Bible and psalm book for the pulpit. In 1842 they vote to pay Mr. Doolittle twenty-five dollars to conduct the singing, and Mr. Pryor fifteen dollars to play the flute with the choir for one scar. In 1843, "Voted to tender thanks to the Young Ladies' Sewing Society, for their liberality in furnishing blinds for the meeting house and lamps and trimming for the pulpit." In Oc- tober, 1845, they call Rev. Richard Kirk to watch over the flock. In this year "a committee was appointed to make arrangements to build a parsonage house or to circulate a subscription for that object. In 1846, forty years after the gift was made to the society, the Trustees are instructed to record the deed of the Public Green, to survey it and clear it of all encroachments. In 1847 they "fence the Green and pay Horace Dunbar fifteen dol- lars for a clock." We suppose the fence which at present is about the door yard of Mr. Robert Craig's house, is what re- mains of that old "Green" fence. In 1849 it is "Voted that the Trustees take efficient means to shingle the meeting house: also to plaster and paint the inside. Also the partition be removed and a chapel be built." November 26, 1849, they vote to pay a salary of seven hundred dollars. Bad boys disturb the meeting, and if they further offend their names will be announced from the desk. This same year "Miss Hannah Smith presents a Bible to this society, of which her father, Rev. Henry Smith. was for- merly pastor." In 1854. "Voted to raise money to put a fur- nace into the church," and in 1855, "That the Trustees proceed
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THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
to pay for the same, and are recommended to take an indemni- fying bond that it shall heat the house when a new chimney shall have been built." In the same year they call the Rev. Henry Budge, at a salary of $700 a year. In 1857, "It is decided to invest the legacy of Sylvester Pond to be a permanent fund, loaned out at interest, said interest to be used annually for the benefit of sd. society." They vote unanimously in 1859. to call the Rev. Budge at a salary of eight hundred dollars a year, but he decides not to accept. The Rev. George B. Rowley is called, and comes to be their pastor. This first "Book of Records" has brought us down to 1859, and here a new book begins. The most important items it contains we have copied, at least those we thought would be of the greatest interest to the general reader. We have followed it from its first beginnings through about sixty years of its history, to the point where they have a well equipped, permanent house of worship.
The twenty-second day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty- seven, the disastrous fire occurred which destroyed many build- ings in Camden, and the old Congregational Church was one. About the time of the building of the present edifice differences arose in the congregation not easily adjusted, and the Presby- terian Church was established. The present house of worship. the "First Congregational Church," was erected in 1868. and its first pastor was the Rev. Ethan Curtiss, in 1868, who con- tinued with them nineteen years. It is at present a flourishing church, under the leadership of the Rev. Edward Evans, with a large membership. The work of the church has been blessed in many ways, ever tending upward and onward with steady progress. .
SUCCESSION OF PASTORS FROM 1800 TO 1807. Giving the date of their settlement and dismissal.
Rev. Ebenezer Leavenworth, Dec. 6, 1809-Oct. 13, 1813. Rev. Henry Smith, Oct. 8, 1817-July 19, 1828. Rev. Lewis H. Loss, Nov. 11, 1829 ---- Jan. 26. 1831. Rev. William Lusk, Feb. 19, 1834 -- 1835. Rev. John Barton, 1836 -- Jan. 20. 1845.
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Rev. R. R. Kirk. Oct. 7. 1845 -- Sept., 1849. Rev. E. G. Townsend. 1850-July 6, 1852. Rev. H. H. Morgan. Nov. 1, 1852-May, 1853. Rev. Henry Budge. 1855-1859.
Rev. George B. Rowley, July 1. 1859-July 1, 1864. Rev. W. S. Franklin, Oct. 31, 1865-May 14. 1867. Rev. Ethan Curtiss, Oct. 14, 1868-Nov. 5. 1887. Rev. M. L. Dalton, April 1, 1888-April 1, 1891. Rev. Robert Tufft, June 1, 1891-April 1, 1892. Rev. W. F. Berger, Oct. 1, 1892 --- May 1, 1895. Rev. Edward Evans, Nov. 18, 1895-Present pastor.
1
Old Town Hall, M. E. Church and Parsonage.
METHODISM IN CAMDEN .- 1801-1882.
Historical Discourse of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Cam- den, Delivered by Rev. H. M. Danforth, Jan. 15, 1882. With a list of the Pastors from 1801, and the Present Officials of the Church.
Methodism, as a distinct form of church life and polity, dates from the revival of religion in England, under the labors of the Wesleys.in 1729. The Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States was formally organized in 1784.
The first information we have of Methodism in the town of Camden comes to us from Mrs. Phoebe Park, a former resident of Camden, and a member of the church as early as, or previous to 1818. She related to me what she could recall of the early history of the church. It is as follows:
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THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
"In the summer of 1801, Mrs. Esther Park and Mrs. Harris walked from Camden to Western, a distance of eighteen miles, to attend a quarterly meeting. At that meeting they met the Rev. David Dunham, a circuit preacher, and invited him to come to Camden and preach. He came that summer, and formed a class of five persons : their names are as follows: Mrs. Esther Park, Mrs. Harris, Oliver Case and wife, and a Mrs. Fish, sister of Mrs. Ilarris. Oliver Case was the first male mem- ber. At that time there was no conference in these parts: the preachers were sent out as missionaries from the Baltimore Con- ference. There was what was called the "Herkimer Circuit." and the preachers on that circuit traveled four hundred miles to meet their appointments. In 1803 the Rev. William Keith and Rev. Henry Willis traveled the circuit, and when the weather was favorable they visited Camden once in four weeks." That the Methodists did commence their labors in the town as early as the time mentioned by Mrs. Park we learn from another source. In 1802, Rev. John Taylor was sent by the Missionary Society of New Hampshire to visit the Black River country, and in his printed journal we find this:
"Camden, Tuesday. Aug. 24 .- The people of this town are said to be all Congregationalists but two. This people will, however. well united at present, very soon be divided by the Methodists."
To return to Mrs. Park's statement: "In 1803 there was a revival, and a number were added to the church or class. some on what wasthen called 'The Flat.'and someon Preston Hill. Among those on the Flat were Mr. Lemuel Corey, who lived on the Deacon Laney place. Lemuel Corey and all his family were converted, and his son Zadock was an exhorter. Among those on Preston Hill was Caleb Preston, who was licensed to preach In 1804 they held their first quarterly meeting in a log barn on Preston Hill." And Mrs. Park was of the opinion that this was the only quarterly meeting held until 1810. "From 1803 until 1806 Lorenzo Dow traveled through this part of the country and preached. In 1804 and 1805. Rev. Knowlton and Rev. Paddock preached to the class. There were only two Methodist sermons preached in the village of Camden until the church was
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built, in 1822, one at the funeral of Mrs. Collins, preached by Rev. Eliakim Stoddard, in the Congregational Church, the other ly Rev. A. G. Gifford, at the burial of Mrs. Israel Stoddard. Previous to 1810 there was a revival which spread throughout the country, and many were added to the class. Among them were Martin Tyler and wife, Zadock Kord and wife, Mr. Barker and wife, Jesse Blake and wife, Lyman Sterd- man and wife, Mr. Humphrey and wife, Caleb Preston's family and Eliphalet Johnson and family. In 1810 a class was formed on Preston Hill, consisting of the following: Eliakim Stoddard, Caleb Preston, E. Barker, Jesse Blake, Russel John- son, Ephraim Sanford, Hannah Tuthill, Lois Stoddard. Jehiel Higgins, Sally Castle, Temperance Sanford; later, the names of Jesse P'enfield 'and wife, John Bryan and wife and others whose names we do not get. In 1810 the second quarterly meeting was held in a little building which stood by the roadside, opposite the old Israel Stoddard home, (now owned by John N. Stod- dard). In 1818 George S. Park and two of his sisters, Solon Cook, Isaac Allen, with many others, united with the class. In 1812 and 1813. Rev. Charles Giles traveled the Western Circuit and preached in Camden. Rev. E. Lambert. Samuel Lowery, Isaac Puffer, Rev. Stebbins. Rev. Corey, Rev. Soten, George Harmon. Rev. Pomeroy and Rev. Halstead were some of the preachers who labored in Camden previous to 1831. The first P'residing Elder was Rev. William Case. The first camp-meet- ing in this part of the country was held in Vienna, in 1811. In 1816 Rev. Eliakim Stoddard, a local preacher, moved from Vienna and settled in Camden, and became one of the leading members of the new society, as the records will show."
This is the portion of the history as given by Mrs. Park. The first official record commences in 1820, and is as follows: (11 the first page of the Trustees' Book we find this pledge:
"We, the undersigned, having attached ourselves to the Methodist Episcopal Society in Camden, agreeable to the stat- utes of the State of New York, in such case made and provided for the regulation of religious societies, as contained in the
REV. ELIAKIM STODDARD.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF
seventh quetion ( i said act, do hereby engage to support the Methodist ministry, agreeable to the discipline of said church.
Heman Byington. Silvanus Wilson.
Ezra S. Park. Clerk for said Society. Camden. Sept. 10, 1820."
The record of the first meeting reads as follows: At a meet- ing of the male members and congregation of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the town of Camden. according to due notice given (and in conformity to the statutes of the State of New York in such case made and provided). the sixteenth day of October. in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty, to take into consideration the expediency of erecting a house of worship of Almighty God, and for appointing trus- tees and other officers of the same. At this meeting James Low- den and Martin Tyler were elected Presidents: Eliakim Stod- dard, Jehiel Higgins. Sage Park, David Kimm, Timothy Hyde. Lyman Steadman. Eliphalet Johnson. Matthew Thompson, Stephen Kinne, were elected trustees under the title and forever hereafter to be known by the name of the Trustees of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church in the town of Camden. As witness our hands and scals the day and year first above written.
James Lowden. [L. S.]
Martin Tyler. [L. S.]
I certify the above written organization to be a true copy of the original, as transcribed by me.
Ezra S. Park.
Clerk of the above stated Church and Society.
Oneida County. ss.
On this, the toth day of October. 1820. personally appeared before me James Lowden and Martin Tyler, to me known to be the persons within named as Presidents, and duly acknowledged the execution of the same, and that the within certificate was made agreeable to the statutes in such case made and provided. Let the same be recorded.
Israel Stoddard, Commissioner.
THE TOWN OF CANDEN.
Clerk's Office. Oneida County. ss.
Recorded this eighteenth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and twenty, in Book A of Religions Societies, pages 117. 118.
Thomas Bloodgood. Clerk.
At a meeting of the male members of the Methodist Finisco. pal Church in Camden, held in the Brick School-house, on the 23d day of October. 1820, the trustees were authorized to pur- chase a site for said house of worship.
At an adjourned meeting, held on the first Monday in No- vember. 1820. at the Brick School-house, the trustees reported that a site had been purchased for the church in the village of Camden, and the land staked out. The report was accepted. The land was purchased from Joel and Abel Collins, and there are two different deeds, the first from Joel Collins giving the trustees, for the sum of twenty dollars, a piece of land in the town of Camden, fifty feet on a parallel with the public square. containing about twelve rods of land. This deed was acknowl- edged before Israel Stoddard, Commissioner. October 24. 1820.
The second deed was given by Abel Collins, granting to the trustees, for the sum of thirty dollars, a part of lot number fifty- two. containing about thirty rods of land. This deed was ac- knowledged before Samuel Morse, Commissioner, on the 30th day of November, 1821, and recorded in the County Clerk's office the 12th day of August. 1823. at two o'clock p. m., in Book F. F. of Deeds. pages 509 and 510.
Eliasaph Dorchester. Clerk.
Another deed. given to the trustees by Thomas D. Penfield in 1854, adds to the church lot about nine rods of land, for which they paid eighty-five dollars.
At the time the trustees were authorized to locate and pur- chase a site for the church, the strength of the society was on Preston Ilill, and efforts were made to locate the church there.
At a meeting held February 5. 1821, at the house of Kann. Park, a committee was appointed to procure timber and other materials for the building of a church. A contract for building the church was made with Joel B. Smith. The house
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was 40x50 feet, and Mr. Smith bound himself to have it enclosed and the outside work finished by the 15th day of September, 1821. He further bound himself to provide pike poles, sag poles, scaffold poles and ladders, and the trustees bound them- selves to invite the hands and furnish liquor for the raising.
At a meeting held in the school-house on Preston Hill. De- cember 31, 1821, Jesse Blake was elected trustee in the place of Stephen Kinnie, and at the same meeting the trustees were in. structed to contract for the finishing of the church. In May, 1822, a contract was made with Joel B. Smith to finish the inside of the church, for which he was to receive the sum of six hin- dred dollars. He was to have it ready for plastering by the first day of October, 1822. At this time the following were the trustees :
First Class-Isaac Allen, Ephraim Sanford. Jesse Penfield. Second Class-E. Humphrey, Lyman Steadman, Eliphalet Johnson.
Third Class-Eliakim Stoddard, Sage Park. Jehiel Higgins.
The church was dedicated in the spring of 1823. The sermon for the occasion was preached by the Rev. Charles Giles, at that time Presiding Elder of Oneida District. The text was Prov- erbs 9 : 1, 2: "Wisdom has builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars; she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine: she hath also furnished her table." The building of the church was a great undertaking for the young society, not one of them rich in worldly things, yet rich in faith and filled with zeal for the cause of God. So self-sacrificing were they that some gave their last cow to help pay the church debt.
In 1822 Heman Byington and Silvanus Wilson connected themselves with the society. From June, 1823, to 1827, therc are no records of the doings of the society. We learn that dur- ing the years 1825 and 1826 powerful revival meetings were held every day and evening in both churches in Camden and in the school-house on Preston Hill, at which time a large number united with the churches. Previous to 1826, Rev. Alason Gif- ford and James Brown traveled the circuit and preached at Camden. In 1827 Rev. Beach preached to the society.
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THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
On the 20th day of October, 1827, there was a meeting of the male members of the society for the purpose of incorporating themselves according to the act to provide for the incorporation of religious societies. George Harmon and Eliakim Stoddard were chosen to preside: Eliakim Stoddard. Abner Preston and William Plumb were elected trustees. The society to be incor- porated should be called the First Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the town of Camden, Oneida County, State of New York.
This act, signed and certified to by George Harmon and Eliakim Stoddard, before Samuel Morse, Commissioner. At- test. Ephraim Sanford, Clerk. Recorded in the Oneida County Clerk's office, Nov. 27, 1827, at one o'clock p. m., in Book .1. pages 177. 178.
J. M. Ostrom, Clerk.
In 1828 and 1829 Jehiel Higgins and Jeremiah Bailey were elected trustees. At the same meeting they adopted rules to govern the renting and sale of the horse-sheds which had been erected at the church. The purpose was to keep the sheds in the hands of the society. The following respecting the erecting of the sheds, was related by Solon Cook: The society having secured a desirable location for their church, and land sufficient for a parsonage, jealousy was awakened in the hearts of some. and they conceived a plan to depreciate the value of the site. After the frame of the church was up the jealous ones had the street surveyed and marked out, running south of the church, dividing the lot, leaving two narrow strips on each side. This looked discouraging for the young society; but after advising with Judge Stoddard, a number of the men went into the woods about three miles from Camden, and in one day felled the trees. hewed them and framed the timbers for a long horse-shed. The next night they put it on wagons, drew it to the village and put up the sheds across the east side of their lot, and in the morning. when the inhabitants of the quiet village were astir, there stood the heavy frame of the shed across the new wished-for street.
In 1831, Camden was made a station at the session of the Oneida Conference in Lowville. Rev. George Gary was P're-
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PIONEER HISTORY (1
siding Elder, and Rev. Robert Fox was appointed to Camden; Rev. Eliakim Stoddard, local preacher: Asa Blakeslee and Michael Donovan, exhorters: Solon Cook, Eleazer Peck, Eliasaph Barker, Isaac Palmer, Bros. Gifford and Loveland, leaders. Ephraim Sanford and Asa Blakeslee recognized as stewards. they having been stewards on the circuit. Solon Cook, Jeremiah Bailey and John Cady were added to the Board of Stewards.
Rev. Goodwin Stoddard was appointed to Camden in 1832. Solon Cook and Jeremiah Bailey were elected trustees, and Sam- tel Rowells, Isaac Crawford, Nathan Thompson, John Wilson, Jr., E. Gifford, and H. H. Gifford were leaders, David Target and David Tremain were leaders, and this year their classes were connected with the Vienna circuit.
In 1833 a camp meeting was held in Florence. Florence at this time was connected with Camden, but set off to Williams- town circuit in September. We judge of the strength of the society at this time by the following record found in the steward's book: "Sunday. 19th of September. 137 members partook of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper."
July, 1834. George Gary, presiding elder: Rev. Eliakim Stod- dard, preacher in charge: Elijah Gaylord, exhorter: Truman Spencer, steward: Jesse Blake and Lyman Hungerford, leaders. In December the name of Silas Sears appears as an exhorter. In 1835 Rev. E. Bowen was presiding elder; Rev. E. Stoddard. pastor. In 1836 Rev. Reuben Reynolds was employed by the presiding elder to preach in Camden until the return of Rev. C. Danforth from the South, where he had gone for his health. On his return, finding the work well supplied by Bro. Reynolds, Rev. Danforth returned to the South, and after a few years died at St. Augustine, Florida. Rev. Reynolds served two years. In 1832 M. D. Sanford united with the church, and is still a meni- ber. In 1836 the Black River Conference was organized, and at its session in September Rev. A. Blackman was appointed to Camden, serving one year. T. D. Penfield and I. Stoddard united with the church in 1836, and are members at the present time (1882.) These two brothers, with George Elden and M. D. San- ford, have served the church as official members for forty-four
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THE TOWN OF CANDEN.
years. The Sabbath School report for 1838 is as follows: Scholars, 50; number of teachers, 11; William Tuthill. Superin- tendent.
The records show that Ezra S. Park was the first clerk of the Board of Trustees, serving for seven years; Ephraim Sanford served as clerk for eleven years, and Truman Spencer served for seventeen years. Ephraim Sanford was secretary of Quarterly Conference and Recording Steward for thirty years.
At the Quarterly Conference held June 9, 1838, Rev. E. Gay- lord was recommended for admission to the annual conference. Henry Voorhees' name appears as trustee. In 1839. T. D. Pen- field as leader. In 1839. Rev. E. W. R. Allen was pastor, serv- ing one year. In 1840, Rev. G. C. Woodruff was appointed to Camden, serving two years, closing in 1842. The Sabbath School reported in 1841. 90 scholars: 13 teachers. This year the official list was as follows: Rev. A. Adams, presiding Elder: Rev. G. C Woodruff. pastor: Rev. E. Stoddard. local deacon; E. Gay- lord, Silas Sears, local preachers; Solon Cook, Jeremiah Bailey, T. Spencer. E. Higgins, stewards: 11. 11. Gifford. J. Higgins, H. Rodgers, T. D. Penfield, William S. Tuthill, HI. Voorhees. C. Woodruff, leaders; E. Sanford, secretary. The following reso- lutions were passed.
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