USA > New York > Niagara County > Souvenir history of Niagara County, New York : commemorative of the 25th anniversary of the Pioneer Association of Niagara County > Part 8
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But so far as we have testimony from the records the Gospel as proclaimed by Methodists was not to spill over upon us from the South, but was to come directly from the East. In 1816 there were four circuits west of the Genesee River, and one of these, a new one, was called Ridgeway, and which covered, doubtless, all of the present Niagara County and much more. Two years later (1818) the Reverend Zachariah Paddock was appointed, with Reverend Parker Buell, to this field. They crossed the Genesee River at Rochester, and came westward by the Ridge Road asearch for their charge. They ran into it unexpectedly in the town of Murray, Orleans County. The Ridgeway circuit ex- tended then from Clarkson Corners, east of Murray, to the Niagara River on the west-a distance of full sixty miles -- and taking in, on an average, about eight miles on each side of the Ridge Road, "the north side being little else," Mr. Paddock says, "than an unbroken forest, without roads, quite down to the shore of Lake Ontario." (See Conable's History of Genesee Conference.) To go round this charge required a ride of nearly 300 miles ; each preacher delivering forty-five sermons every four weeks, or over eleven sermons per week. Several appointments were added to the circuit during the year 1818, according to the custom of Method- ism in those days. Otherwise how could it grow?
But the honor of hewing out in the rough this Ridge- way Circuit belongs to the Reverend Daniel Shepardson, who, during the years 1816-17, traversed the region from the Genesee River to the Niagara. Doubtless this man must be credited with the founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Lockport. Once in four weeks he swung round to that center, preaching at a school house two and a half miles east of the city, and also at Warren's Corners. "Pre- cisely where the City of Lockport now stands," says the Reverend Zachariah Paddock, writing of his experiences in the year 1818, "I got down from my horse under the shade of the trees, gathered nuts, read my Bible, and prayed and prepared for my appointment some eight or ten miles away. There was not, probably, a single house within a mile of the spot.'
The heroic itinerants went thus from settlement to set- tlement, preaching in cabins where they could be secured, and in more pretentious places as they sprung into being, until Methodism covered the land, coming to be at length- so James Schouler, the historian, declares-"emphatically the church of the American common people."
The difficulties encountered by the pioneer preachers were not alone those arising from pioneer conditions, and
the natural antagonism of the human heart to religious truth. There was also opposition, and sometimes real per- secution, from those of other religious "persuasions," and Methodism had to fight its way to the front in Niagara County as in other places. Interdenominational comity is a reality now which scarcely had a foreshadowing then. In those days Ephraim envied Judah and Judah vexed Ephraim, each seeking to
"Prove his doctrine orthodox By apostolic blows and knocks."
To the Methodist the Calvinist slandered God by the "decrees," while to the Calvanist the Methodist was the rep- resentative of a dangerous Pelagianism which dishonored God's sovereignty, and taught a monstrous presumption- that a man might know that his sins were forgiven. And so on round the list of contending sects. An instance or two may help us to understand denominational relationships of that day, and better to appreciate present conditions. Rev- erend Mr. Paddock, before quoted, relates for Conable's History of Genesee Conference, some experiences of an un- pleasant nature. He says that the Methodist Episcopal Church, and its ministers in particular, were regarded as "blind leaders of the blind." At Lewiston, then the west end of Ridgeway Circuit, every effort was made to keep the circuit riders out of the little academy, which was about the only place in which a meeting could be held by any denomi- nation. The Reverend Mr. S., pastor of the Church, and by no means a bad man, would find himself ander the necessity of changing his appointment from one hour in the day to another so as to meet some special emergency, but generally in such a way as to keep out these Methodist in- terlopers. By the time the itinerant had changed the plan of his circuit so as to harmonize with the new state of facts. the Lewiston wheel would turn back again, thus necessi- tating another change in the plan of the circuit, or obliging the Methodist preacher to take a belligerent attitude, which he was reluctant to do.
A few years later, years of much Methodist expansion in the territory, there appeared in the Boston Recorder and Telegram (October 19, 1827), an anonymous article com- plaining of the religious destitution existing in the towns of Niagara, Porter, Wilson, Newfane and Pendleton. The writer declared that they were all destitute of the ministra- tions of the Gospel from any denomination, though these sheep scattered about were famishing for the bread of life. The Reverend Wilbur Hoag was then in charge of the Lew- iston Circuit, which embraced the towns specified. He flew to the defense of his work. Among other things he said : "It is true that these towns are destitute of regular
preaching. But what of that ? Are they therefore heathen? If it were made certain that neither the Metho- dists nor the Baptists were embraced in the phrase 'every denomination ;' that their preaching was not a 'ministration of the Gospel:' their meetings were no 'public means of grace ;' their doctrines were shameless error ;' if they (the preachers of a given denomination) were the only ministers of Christ, and their doctrines the only food which could pre- serve Christ's sheep from 'hungering and famishing:' if they were the ministers with whom wisdom should die, and all others were 'the folly of foolishness,' I would not have con- troverted the statement which they have given of the above- named towns." Mr. Hoag then goes on to show the work done by the Methodist preachers in the towns named, de- claring that there were thirty-nine sermons preached by Methodist preachers in the five towns each month, besides stated preaching in Porter and Newfane by the Baptists.
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
These are specimens of the religious amenities of those crude and rude days. Doubtless the discourtesies were not all on one side. They rarely are.
Let us be thankful that "the thoughts of men are wi- dened with the process of the suns," and that now there is a real denominational sympathy and co-operation unknown to the fathers.
And still there is room for improvement.
Figures exponential of growth are always interesting, always provided we do not have too many of them. "Figures," said Bailie Nichol Jarvie, in Rob Roy, "is the only true demonstrable root of human knowledge." Let the following figures speak of the work of Methodism in the territory under consideration :
In 1818 Ridgeway Circuit had 331 communicants, and probably not a single church building or "preacher's house." By 1833 Lockport alone had 199 communicants; Middle- port, 532, and Lewiston, 357.
Some of the statistical items given in the minutes of the Genesee Conference for the year 1901 are: Communicants, 2,532; Sunday School enrollment, 3,414; number of churches, 27; parsonages, 15; church property, $151,600; cash salaries paid, $15,126; benevolences, $3,243.
It should be noted that from 1855 to 1865, and even later, the Methodism of this region was much disturbed and weakened by the discussion, and ecclesiastical trials, result- ing in the organization of the body known as Free Metho- dists, now an earnest and respectable denomination, though not of rapid growth. An earlier company of seced- ers took the name of Wesleyan Methodists, and they now constitute an excellent company, though comparatively few in numbers, of the Methodist contingent of Niagara County.
Niagara County has always been a portion of the Meth- odist territory known as Genesee Conference, since the or- ganization of that conference in 1810. Up to that time, so far as the region had any recognition at all, it was a part of the Susquehanna, and, later, the Genesee District of the Philadelphia Conference. After 1807 till 1810, when the new conference was born, it was known simply as Holland Purchase Mission. The new conference seems to have con- tinued the name Susquehanna as the apellation of the dis- trict, with Gideon Draper for its Presiding Elder. There were two other districts and Presiding Elders in the infant conference, namely, Cayuga District, William Case in charge; and Upper Canada District, Henry Ryan in charge. Ryan was a mighty man, though erratic. He has representatives still in the Methodist field, Bishop Charles H. Fowler, of Buffalo, being a grandson. The Reverends H. Ryan, Griffin and Sumner C. Smith, all of whom were pastors in various places within Niagara County, the first- named having been also presiding elder, were grandsons of Henry Ryan. They were sons of Isaac B. Smith, also a Methodist preacher within the bounds of the county, and whose remains lie in the cemetery at Pekin. In 1821 the alien name Susquehanna was retired and the name Erie took its place, and the famous Glezen Fillmore took his conspic- uous position at the head of the district. Any place would be conspicuous where he was, for "where he sat was always head of the table." But, in 1825, the name Erie in turn gave way, and the district was called Buffalo until the year 1844, when, with Samuel Luckey at its head, it was given its pres- ent and proper designation, Niagara. Some of the chief men of Methodism have been connected with this territory in one capacity or another. The Seagers, Micah and Schuy- ler ; Israel Chamberlayne ; "Chapter-and-verse Puffer :" Elea- zer Thomas, killed in the Custer massacre; John B. Went-
worth, Sanford Hunt, Thomas Carleton, James E. Bills, E. E. Chambers and many besides, were strong men and lifted up axes upon the great trees with mighty results. Of the thirty or more who have held the responsible post of presid- ing elder, aside from the present incumbent, the Reverend M. R. Webster, D. D., there remain exactly a half dozen, the oldest of whom is the Reverend William Scism, the only one who resides now within the bounds of Niagara County. The others have gone over into the unseen holy. "They rest from their labors and their works do follow them."
Presbyterian Church.
BY REVS. ROBERT NORTON AND ERASTUS W. TWICHELL.
The churches that comprise Niagara Presbytery were originally planted by missionary labor. Western New York, and Ohio, as well, are indebted to the Connecticut Home Missionary Society. This organization is the oldest of all kindred organizations on this continent. It was formed in 1774, and formally incorporated in 1788. Its efforts were wisely conducted, and most fruitful in results.
It may be noted at this point that the Connecticut church was Congregational. Such it was, in name, while, in fact, it was more than semi-Presbyterian. Its platform was unanimously signed in 1708 by "The United Ministers, for-
REV. ROBERT NORTON.
merly called Presbyterian and Congregational," and re- mains unchanged at the present date.
The spirit of commingling and co-operation has al- ways marked our churches, and none are ashamed of their ancestry, or the State that nourished their infancy.
They were a little tardy in the formation of their Pres- bytery, but moved vigorously when the best time had ar- rived.
EARLY DAYS OF THE PRESBYTERY.
In 1823 they were organized, and in 1824 their first meeting was convened at Gasport. Rev. David Smith, pastor at Lewiston, was moderator, and preached from Ne- hemiah ii: 20: "The God of Heaven, He will prosper us; therefore, we, His servants, will arise and build." Ever since the organization was secured the spirit of fraternity and co-operation has held sway. The older churches were in the farming towns, and they held their ground with a firm
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
grasp. Lockport was just rising into notice, while these country towns were firm and vigorous long before the trees were cut on her now busy Main Street.
The year when Presbytery organized was the birth year of the first Presbyterian Church of Lockport. Meantime the church of the Second Ward was in embryo, and was not fully organized till a somewhat later date.
This was a period of the greatest political and financial unrest. Party spirit was fierce, both in theory and action. The great conflict over slavery brooded above us like a storm cloud. In the very midst of political furor, and the crash of financial schemes, the spirit of God breathed upon us the hush of revival power.
There were faithful pastors in our churches, but in a special way Dr. William C. Wisner came to the forefront.
REV. ERASTUS W. TWICHELL.
His pastorate of forty-two years began with sweeping re- vivals, both in city and country. At first he was pastor of the Second Church of Lockport. During his first five years much of his time was spent in evangelistic work among other churches. Financial disaster almost wrecked the Sec- ond Presbyterian Church of Lockport. Very reluctantly they consented to the removal of Dr. Wisner to the First Presbyterian Church of the city, and thus began his longest pastorate of over thirty years. To describe Dr. Wisner is impossible. His natural physique was most unfortunate. His infirmities were severe; and yet God's grace wrought triumphs through him, and thousands were won for Christ. His wisdom as a pastor was equalled only by his wisdom as a Presbyterial leader. His advice was sought on all sides, and he made few, if any, mistakes. It was an era of con- troversies, and his co-presbyters always found him a safe leader. He won their hearts while guiding their policy. He lived to see and rejoice in the reunion of the divided forces of the Presbyterian Church.
Niagara Presbytery has maintained a steady but sub- stantial growth for seventy-nine years. The numbers of its churches has doubled. Instead of seven we now number fourteen. The drift of population has been from the smaller to the larger towns and cities. Some of the strong- holds of spiritual life have weakened, while others have largely grown in numbers and strength. They have a vig- orous and devoted ministry, and they are sending forth their sons to build up new churches in the mighty West, even as
they themselves were begotten from the bosom of Puritan New England.
Lewiston has the oldest church building, which was commenced in 1820, when the walls were built and roofed. In this building, without windows or "slips," the church worshipped for some time, and it was not completed until after 1825. Lockport Second Presbyterian Church has the next oldest building, which was erected in 1837. Both of these buildings are of stone and stand in outline essentially the same as when built, though inside changes and improve- ments have been made. They are both types of pioneer architecture.
THE FOURTEEN CHURCHES.
The Indian Church at Tuscarora is the oldest of all the Presbyterian churches in the county. In 1806 it had seven members. It was the fruit of missionary labor among the Indians, and has been sustained largely by the Foreign and Home Missionary Boards of the Church, and has always been small in numbers. During the last years considerable progress has been made ; a new church edifice has been built and the membership is fifty-six. Samuel Jacobs was for years the great man in the church. He was a real type of his race, humble and lowly, and yet a wonderful man. He acted as elder and deacon and sexton, and he preached, as he said, "the best he could." He was always at the meet- ings of the Presbytery, and Presbytery always honored him by an offering for his expenses and a little more. Even if his words were few, and even if he did often fall asleep, his presence was highly prized. He died in 1898, full of years and good works.
The Presbyterian Church at Lewiston is the oldest of all the other churches except that of the Indians. It was organized in January, 1817. Aaron Childs and John Rob- inson were the first elders. In September, 1818, Rev. David M. Smith was ordained and installed pastor of the church, and thus the church had the first regularly installed pastor of eleven years, and was a leader in all the work in the Pres- bytery. He was influential in organizing the church at Wil- son and the First Church of Lockport, and also the church at Cambria and Niagara Falls First Church. He was the first Moderator of Presbytery. (It should be noted that the old Presbytery of Niagara was organized in 1817, and in- cluded all of Western New York, and that when the Pres- bytery was divided Buffalo in some way claimed to be the original Presbytery, and retained the books, though it was generous enough to give us the name.) This church has always been one of the sound and substantial churches. In 1898 Rev. L. G. Marsh closed his pastorate of seventeen years. At present the church is ministered to by Rev. J. W. Ross, of Rochester, and has 112 members, with 133 in the Sunday School. Total contributions in 1902 were $2,774.
The Presbyterian Church of Wilson was organized Jan- uary 18, 1819, in the house of John Holmes. There were only six members. John and Daniel Holmes were ordained elders. The first religious services were held in a school house, in 1817, when John Holmes called the neighbors to- gether, and after prayer and singing he read a sermon from the text, Romans i: xvi. These services were continued and resulted in the organization of the church. The first church building was erected in 1834. at the cost of $2.500. This edifice was twice enlarged, and finally burned July 10. 1894. In the winter of 1834-5 Deacon Holmes went to West Troy and brought home in his sleigh a church bell which weighed 700 pounds. It was rung at the dedication, Feb-
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SOUVENIR HISTORY OF NIAGARA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
ruary 12. The Sunday School was organized in 1820 and has never taken a vacation. The Woman's Missionary So- ciety was organized over seventy years ago, and still con- tinues its good work. Undoubtedly this Woman's Mis- sionary Society is by far the oldest missionary society in this part of the State, and, perhaps, in the State. Rev. G. W. Hubbard, who new resides in Albion, had the longest pastorate, seven years, from 1860 to 1867. For many years this church was one of the strong village churches in the county. Four missionaries and seven ministers have been sent out from the congregation. A modern and substantial brick church edifice, which cost $8,000, was dedicated in December, 1898. Rev. E. L. Tiffany is the stated supply of the church. There are eighty-two members, 179 in the Sunday School, and last year the total contributions were $1,349.
Lockport First Presbyterian Church was organized in January, 1823, with thirty members. In September of the same year the Sunday School was organized in the log school house, where the services were then held. Very soon a church edifice was erected on the lot where the Court House now stands. About 1830 a "commodious" brick church was erected on the corner of Church and Ontario streets. In 1855 this was torn down and the present large auditorium was built, at a cost of over $20,000. The chapel and Sunday School rooms were built in 1876, at a cost of $12,800. As the fruit of the remarkable revival of 1842-43 120 united with the church at one time. In 1869, after the Hammond meetings, 218 united in one day. These revivals gave the church its standing and influence. Most of the strongest lawyers and business men in the city became members of the church. Few churches can name four such pastors as Dr. William C. Wisner, J. N. Freeman, Maltbie D. Babcock and Anthony H. Evans. Rev. B. M. Nyce, who is a worthy successor of these worthy men, has been pastor of the church six years. The present membership of the church is 792, with 593 in the Sunday School, and total con- tributions of $8,600.
The Youngstown Presbyterian Church was organized in 1823, with six or eight members. The village at that time consisted of about a dozen houses, three of which were taverns. In September, 1837, the church edifice, which cost $2,600, was dedicated. The growth of the church was such that it was necessary to enlarge the building in 1843. In 1897, at a cost of over $7,000, the edifice was rebuilt and the plan changed, giving a beautiful and modern church edifice. This church has sent forth five of her sons into the ministry. Rev. D. H. Rohrabaugh is the stated supply of the church, which has ninety-six members, with 130 in the Sunday School and the contributions $1,281.
Somerset Presbyterian Church was organized January 26, 1824, in the house of Stephen Sherwood. Services were held in the rooms over the store of James Matthews and in the school house until the church was dedicated, in 1840. In 1860 extensive repairs were made, and in 1878 the Thayre memorial chapel and parlors were added to the front of the original building. In the great revival of 1842 all the children in the Sunday School over 12 years of age became members of the church. Rev. G. W. Newman is the present minister of the church, which has forty-seven mem- bers and seventy-five in the Sunday School. Contributions, $882.
Niagara Falls First Presbyterian Church was organized April 2, 1824. The stone church edifice, which is still in use (the plans are perfected for remodeling and enlarging it), was built in 1849, at a cost of $8,000. The chapel was
built about twenty-five years ago, and cost $5,000. Albert H. Porter was an elder from September, 1831, till his death, January 3, 1888. Rev. A. S. Bacon has ministered to the church over twelve years, which is the longest pastorate in the history of the church. The membership is 468, with 412 in the Sunday School, and contributions of $5,012.
Lockport Second Presbyterian Church was organized January 29, 1832, with twelve members. The church edi- fice cost $5,000. The history of the church recounts a long series of brave struggles against great difficulties. In 1846 the church edifice was sold on mortgage, but on December 30, of the same year, the church was reorganized under the name of The Second Ward Presbyterian Church, and the property was transferred by the purchasers to the new so- ciety. For years the church and Sunday School were small, but in 1854 Dr. Helmer became superintendent of the Sun- day School, and under his zealous work, with the active as- sistance of Horatio Kilborne, better days came. Dr. Hel- mer continued his efficient work forty-four years, which ev- idently is a longer term of service than any other Sunday School superintendent in the county has been able to give to the work. In 1858-61, and again in 1877-93 (with the ex- ception of two years), Rev. Robert Norton was the self- denying and devoted pastor. He is still the esteemed friend of the church, and to him the church owes much. Under the ministry of Rev. E. P. Marvin, 1865-1877, the church had its greatest prosperity, and a goodly number were ad- ded. Since June, 1897, Rev. E. W. Twichell has been the pastor. The present membership of the church is 100, with 207 in the Sunday School, and total contributions of $1,295.
Middleport Presbyterian Chaurch was organized June II, 1833. The church edifice was erected in 1845. By re- moval of many of the members, the people became discour- aged during the war and no services were held. Finally the building was sold by Presbytery to St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church. In 1888 the church was reorganized with thirteen members. The proceeds from the sale of the old church were appropriated toward building a new edifice, which was completed and dedicated in January, 1889. Rev. J. C. Mechlin has been pastor of the church nearly five years. The present membership is forty, with ninety in the Sunday School, and contributions $527.
Mapleton Presbyterian Church was organized in 1846, and the church edifice was erected soon after. It was formed in part by members from the two old churches of Pendleton and Chalmers. . It is one of few churches which has succeeded in a purely country parish. Rev. H. C. Chad- sey has been pastor of the church nearly eight years. The membership is fifty-eight, with sixty-six in the Sunday School. Total contributions $704.
Wright's Corners Presbyterian Church was organized in 1872, and the substantial brick edifice was erected about the same time. This church is the fruit of the labor of Rev. E. P. Marvin, who was its minister until 1888. Rev. J. Em- ory Fisher is now the stated supply. The membership is forty-five, Sunday School ninety-two, and the contributions $906.
Calvary Presbyterian Church of Lockport was organ- ized in 1878. This church also is the fruit of the labor of Rev. E. P. Marvin, who ministered to it until 1892. Rev. Newton Wray is now the stated supply. The membership is eighty-four, with 140 in the Sunday School, and contri- butions $814.
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