USA > New York > Chautauqua County > Ellicott > The early history of the town of Ellicott, Chautauqua County, N.Y. > Part 23
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Jesse Smith is frequently spoken of in this volume. He was a son-in-law of Captain Horatio Dix and father of Major Gilbert D. Smith, spoken of in Chap. 9. Jesse Smith and wife both died a few years ago in Panama, where they had resided for several years pre- viously.
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young men working in the saw mill. They were as- sisted by a few ladies. In June, 1816, Mr. Spencer again visited the place and stayed several days. It was now ascertained that the number of professors had increased since his former visit and he advised the formation of a church. At this organization, the church consisted of nine members, viz., Joseph Dix, Jacob Fenton and Lois Fenton, Oliver Higley and Lu- cretia Higley, Ebenezer Sherwin, Milton Sherwin, Ab- ner Hazeltine and Daniel Hazeltine." [All now dead (1887) except Milton Sherwin.]
For several years after the organization, Mr. Spen- cer visited twice a year or oftener, and occasionally ministers from other boards, or traveling through the country gave us calls. Those who came most fre- quently were the Rev. Timothy Alden, the first Presi- dent of Allegheny College, and the Rev. Mr. Chase of Centerville, Pennsylvania. Mr. Chase was a cousin of Bishop Chase of Illinois and uncle of Chief Justice Chase.
Mr. Spencer was in many respects a remarkable man, and it is fitting there should be some memorial of his life and labors. He was born at Spencertown, in the town of Austerlitz, Columbia county. The first settlers in that region came from Southern Massachu- setts and Northern Connecticut. Among them the Spencers were prominent, and gave their name to the principal settlement, when a flourishing Congrega- tional church was formed, over which several doctors in divinity have presided. He was of the same fami- ly as the Hon. Ambrose Spencer, and nearly related to the late Joshua A. Spencer. He arrived at man- hood in the stirring times of the revolution and was a participant in the events of that period. He served
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early and long in our armies, first in the troops of Massachusetts and afterwards in those of his native state. He entered as a private, rose to be an officer, and served some time as the aid of the gallant Colonel Wiletts. He used to say when interrogated about his education, that he was educated in the continental army. Although his education was limited he wrote and spoke English with great accuracy. He had much intellectual acuteness and was noted for the keenness of his wit. As a preacher he was remarkably clear and logical, always making himself distinctly understood. In 1819 there was a considerable revival here and in the neighboring towns. Rev. Phineas Camp, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Westfield, Elder Davis and some other Baptist preachers visited this region, preaching to the people. Elder Davis was an old neighbor to some of the members in Vermont, and preached statedly for a time by special arrangement. On the twenty-second day of October; 1821, a meeting of the members of the church and others was held pur- suant to notice for the purpose of organizing a relig- ious corporation, under the statutes of the state. That object was accomplished, the corporation taking the name of the First Congregational church of James- town. The first trustees were William Deland, Daniel Hazeltine and Samuel A. Brown. From 1821 to 1824 public worship was regularly observed in the Acad- emy, though generally without preaching. Many at- tempts were made to procure a stated supply by a minister of our denomination, none of which were suc- cessful. As a last resort, in the summer of 1824, some of the members of the church united with other per- sons in employing the Rev. Rufus Murray of the Pro- testant Episcopal church, then residing in Mayville,
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to supply us one-half the the time during the season of navigation on the lake. While matters were in this shape, one of the members being at Warren on busi- ness, there met the Rev. Isaac Eddy, who was on a visit to his brother at that place, and invited him to Jamestown. Mr. Eddy remained several weeks, re- ceived a call and afterwards remained for several years, preaching with much acceptance, and greatly reviving the church. During his pastorate many of our prom- inent young people and some leading citizens, among whom was Judge Foote, gave evidence of conversion, and were afterwards received into communion.
The progress of the church was onward; there was scarcely a communion season without additions. The village grew rapidly, and the surrounding coun- try was prosperous. Mr. Eddy was a faithful pastor, and perhaps at no other time was the discipline of the church so strictly enforced. The church from being dependent on foreign aid, became self-supporting. In the fall of 1827 an association was formed for erect- ing a meeting house. In this enterprise no one was more active than Alvin Plumb, Esq., then a young and prosperous merchant in the village. Up to this time the old Academy, which had ceased to be used as a school house, was the place of worship. It was some- what re-modeled and fitted up with a rude gallery, but was wholly inadequate. After considerable debate as to location, size and form, the frame was raised the lat- ter part of June, 1828, but was not finished until De- cember, 1829. It was, when completed, the best church edifice in the county.
"But Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked. A portion of the church, including some who had been brought into it by Mr. Eddy's instrumentality, about this time made
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the discovery that Mr. Eddy was an unlearned man, that he had become old and was behind the times, and it began to be said that he should not preach in the new house. The time for dedication was approaching and a neighboring minister was spoken of by many as the preacher, on that occasion. The acting trustee, a man of much financial ability, reported that he was unable to raise the salary for the current year. Upon this announcement Mr. Plumb and Dr. Hazeltine, members of the society, but not of the church, said if the sheep would not pay their minister, the gouts would undertake it. They got up a subscription for the re- ported deficiency, which was filled in a day with a handsome surplus. Although the salary was raised, the state of things was not agreeable to a man of Mr. Eddy's temperament, and at the close of the year he tendered his resignation, which was accepted. Upon the retirement of Mr. Eddy, the Rev. Erastus J. Gillett was invited to supply the pulpit. He was at first a Baptist preacher, but came here a zealous Presbyterian, seeming to believe that his mission was to presbyteri- anize the church. When he came the church and soci- ety had become strong. The business of the place had greatly increased, and the village was assuming a com- manding position.
People flocked to the place for various reasons, among whom were many professors of religion, who cast in their lot with us. The summer of 1831 was a season of general revival throughout the country, and our church shared in the glorious work. On the second of October in that year, forty-eight were admitted to the church. Nearly all of them were re- ceived on the profession of their faith. This is the greatest number ever received at one time to our com- munion. The church was now strong in numbers, in
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influence, and in the means of supporting its institu- tions, but with all this prosperity, there was evidently a want of harmony. As early as August 5, 1820, a prominent member gave notice that he should at some subsequent meeting move for a division of the church. The same member was afterwards a leader in the di- vision that occurred. About this time the great con- flict between the old and new school parties in the Presbyterian church wasat its height. Barnes and the elder Beecher were arraigned as heretics, and the whole subject was an engrossing topic among evangelical Christians. Mr. Gillett was a zealous new school man, and in private interviews with leading members used to argue the importance of our becoming Presbyteri- ans, on the ground that it would add more strength to the new school party. There were also frequent re- marks that another church was wanted in the eastern part of the village, which then, as well as more recent- ly, was supposed to grow much faster than other por- tions of it. This constant talk about Presbyterianism and another church, no doubt helped to prepare the way for what afterwards followed. On the 12th of September, 1833, Messrs. Foote and Wait, both of whom had been brought up Congregationalists, had an entry made upon the records that they were Presbyte- rians."
"In speaking of the division of the church which occurred In 1834, I am aware that I am treading on debatable ground. Perhaps not exactly 'between burn- ing plough shares,' but I am apprehensive that the fires which heated them are not wholly extinguished. I am aware, also, that very different versions have been given, both of the cause and the facts of that division. It has been said, even, that we seceded from the Pres-
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byterians. How that could be, when we never were a Presbyterian church, and remained what we were, at the formation, it is difficult to conceive. Still, it was even quite common in some circles to speak of us as the seceders. Some attributed the cause of our divis- ion to a controversy which at one time existed in the church in respect to Free Masonry. That controversy, no doubt, caused some of the alienation of feeling that existed, but when the division came, it was not 'on that line.' Several of those who had been or were Free Masons, remained with us, whilst others of the same class went with the Presbyterians. By others, the di- vision was attributed to alienated feelings growing out of the dismission of the Rev. Mr. Eddy, and opposition to his successor. It is very likely Mr. Eddy's dismis- sion intensified in some minds, the ill-feeling that ex- isted. With regard to Mr. Gillett, had he been less zealous for Presbyterianism, and said less about a di- vision of the church, he would not have been opposed. What opposition there was to him, and there was not much previous to the separation, was mainly on those grounds. It is also a fact that when the separation came, some who had been active in bringing about. Mr. Eddy's dismission remained firm adherents of the old church, whilst some of Mr. Eddy's friends and even some members of his family went with those who left. The principal cause of the division, and without which it would not have occurred, was the desire on the part. of a few leading minds, the pastor included, to revolu- . tionize the church, and by making it distinctively Presbyterian, to transfer the government of the church from the majority to a select few, who could be more readily managed. They intended, undoubtedly, to re- tain the records, the ecclesiastical corporation, the
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church edifice, and the prestige of the old church. Most likely they expected that the strong Congrega- tionalists, rather than surrender them, would eventual- ly submit to the desired change. Their motives to di- vide, I always believed, were arguments in terrorem. "But the crisis came at last. Judge Foote, on the twelfth of September. 1833, the same day on which he had his name entered on the minutes as a Presbyter- ian, offered a resolution in these words: ‘Resolved, that the book of constitutions of the Presbyterian church of the United States should be observed by this church, so far as it is consistent with a Congregational church, on the plan of Union between Presbyterian and Congregational churches under the Buffalo Pres- bytery.'
"Of course the introduction of the resolution caused a sensation; and the more, as Mr. Gillett had pre- viously been in the habit of taking with him The Book, as it was called, to church meetings and citing its rules and directions. A counter resolution was im- mediately offered by Daniel Hazeltine, to the effect that the connection between the church and Presby- tery be dissolved and measures taken to form an Asso- ciation. Action was not then pressed upon either res- olution. On the fifth of December following, a new clerk was appointed, who presented a charge against one of the members upon 'common fame and general rumor,' no one appearing as an accuser. Objections were made to the reception of this complaint, unless some accuser appeared on the record, it not being ac- cording to Congregational usage it was urged, to in- vestigate charges founded on common fame. The complaint was, however, received, and a committe ap- pointed to prosecute the alleged offender, and the
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meeting adjourned to the eighteenth of the same month, at 10 a. m. On that day, after the transaction of some other business. the resolution proposed by Mr. Daniel Hazeltine was called up, and the question thereon taken by yeas and nays and lost, twenty-two voting in favor, and the same number against the reso- lution. The resolution of Judge Foote in relation to the Presbyterian book was also taken up and lost. The case of discipline on the charge of 'common fame' was then taken up and the accused being present, it was moved that he be required to answer. This was
opposed on the grounds that there was no responsible accuser and that the previous steps of gospel labor had not been taken. The motion to require the accuser to plead, as the matter then stood, was lost. Judge Foote then moved that the church observe the rules of the Presbyterian church, in cases when we have no rules to govern us. This motion was put and lost. When the motion was decided, Mr. Gillett, who had the Book in his hands, threw it down and said with much em- phasis; 'we have no law, no rules to guide us. How am I to moderate the meeting?' The quick reply of Deacon Garfield was, 'For mercy's sake, Mr. Gillett, let us do then as the carly settlers in Connecticut resolved to do, be governed by the laws of God, until we have better.' The results which were obtained caused a deep sensation. They were undoubtedly unexpected by those who wished a change. The time and circum- stances under which the votes were taken were sup- posed to be favorable for a different termination. Those who desired a different result had selected their own time and manner for bringing it about, and they supposed that some obstacles that might be in the way were removed, an old member, decidedly Congrega-
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tional, being absent. The then clerk of the church was of the Presbyterian party. His entry in the records in respect to the last motion of Judge Foote, is as fol- lows; 'Motion after discussion being put was lost.' He then adds; ‘Taking into consideration existing cir- cumstances and contending opinions, as to church government, they being such as to paralyze all efforts to discipline, it was deemed necessary that steps be taken preparatory to a division of the church. Accord- ingly committees were chosen to adopt measures for a division of church and society property, etc.' The following persons were chosen as such committee. Those on the Congregational side were Daniel Hazel- tine, William M. Eddy and James Carey. Those on the side wishing to remain with Buffalo Presbytery were Elial T. Foote, Joseph Wait and Elias Haven. The meeting, after the choice of a delegate to Presby- tery, adjourned to the twenty-fifth of the same month. "On that day the church again met. Propos- itions for division were made by both parties, neither of which were accepted. It was then moved that the voice of the church on the expediency of a division should be taken. This done and the yeas and nays being called for, twenty voted that it was expedient and twelve that it was not. These propositions are not spread upon the record, but the substance of them was, that the Congregationalists should, within a spec- ified time, pay to the Presbyterians a stipulated sum, supposed to be half the value of the church grounds, purchase all the pews of such pew holders as preferred to sell at the prices originally placed upon them, and permit the Presbyterians to use the house until the terms were complied with. As soon as it was ascer- tained that the Congregationalists would carry out
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the arrangement on their part, fifty-four members of the church were by its pastor organized as a Presby- terian church. Several others shortly after took let- ters of dismission to the new church.
"Upon the character of this transaction, we do not propose to comment. Whether it was in accordance with Christian principles, or was affected by legitimate means, or was in conformity with Presbyterian usages, we shall not attempt to decide. The new church was not formed by the Presbytery, but was received into it after its organization. That the division was unneces- sary and uncalled for at the time, and would not have occurred, if the prudent course pursued by Father Eddy After had been continued, we are quite confident. many attempts, in various directions, to get a minister, Mr. Taylor was at length induced to come, and was in- stalled and remained two years, faithfully and accepta- ably discharging the duties of his office. He then he- lieved it to be his duty to return to New England, and we were again left to take care of ourselves. We at length secured the services of the Rev. Edwin Parmely, who was then preaching occasionally at Ashville in what would be called an irregular way, that is, he had received no license from any ecclesiastical body, but felt impelled to do what he did, to induce his fellow men to repent and believe, Some of our people hear- ing a good account of him, invited him to spend a few Sabbaths with us. His preaching was acceptable and the Association soon gave him a formal license. He was soon after installed our pastor. After being with us a few years he contracted a bronchial affection which rendered it impossible for him to speak so as to be heard in our church, and compelled him to resign. On Mr. Parmly's leaving us, we were for a time with-
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out a minister ; Mr. S. H. Elliott, a member of the New Haven seminary, supplied us for a few weeks, and gave us encouragement that he would return; he did not return, but sent in his place the Rev. Owen Street. Several were twice disappointed in him-first that it was not Mr. Elliott who came-and then, that they found themselves liking Mr. Street better than they did Mr. Elliott.
"But we are getting a little too near the present time to enlarge. Mr. Street remained with us nine years ; his pastorate was a season of prosperity ; our number and our strength increased, the old debt was obliterated, and we again felt strong. Our minister was a favorite in the community, and perhaps greater harmony has at no time prevailed. The only charge we have against Mr. Street is that he stole away from us unawares, as did Jacob from Laban, the Syrian ; and although he did not like his prototype take away our daughters, he did carry with him the affections of the people. Mr. Street was in a few months succeeded by the Rev. Sylvanus P. Marvin of Saybrook, Conn., a recent graduate from the New Haven seminary, who remained five years and a half. As might be expected from a descendant of the Mathers, coming from the place from which the celebra ed platform took its name, he was a good pastor, and faithful ; he was a friend of order, and came and went in an orderly man- ner.
"We have performed the duty assigned us. It has been pleasant to recall the memories of years long past, and to bring in review the scenes and actors of former times. To us it has been indeed a labor of love; it is a pleasure to think and to speak of former associates, and to notice the kindly dealings of our heavenly Father.
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We have great reason to be grateful for the numerous favors and blessings which he has bestowed upon us. Through his goodness our ways have been ways of pleasantness, and our paths peace. Since the great contest in 1834 which rent us asunder, we have had few jars and have known little of jealousies, heart burnings or embittered feelings. We are at peace with our neighbors of other denominations, and we can meet and pray with them as brethren. The matters about which we differ are not often mentioned, except in a friendly spirit. Of our Presbyterian brethren who went from us, but few remain, and towards those who do, we trust we entertain none but friendly feelings. A new generation has arisen among them, even more fully than with us, and we certainly do not hold them accountable for any acts of their predecessors, which in our judgment were wrong. Substantially, we be- believe, ' Ephraim has ceased to envy Judah, and Ju- dah to vex Ephraim.' The separation that occurred was painful at the time, but no doubt has been over- ruled for good."
At the time this division took place there stood on the south side of Second street and facing Spring street, a large two-story, wooden building. This build- ing was erected by a company for merchandizing, and was divided into three stores. The east store was orig- inally occupied by Titus Kellogg & Co., for dry goods, etc., the center one by Luther Lakin for hardware, and the west by Havens & Grout as a dry goods store. At the time in review none of these stores were occupied. The second story of this building, which was large and spacious, was very soon converted into a place for the meetings of the Presbyterian church. The entrance
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was through the center store, at the back end of which were stairs ascending, one to the east and the other to the west to the assembly room above. The congrega- tion was sufficient to fairly fill this large room. Nearly all of the young people went with the Presbyterians.
Mr. Gillett for a long time had been our teacher of Latin and Greek, and we could not forsake our old preceptor, and was ranked by our much respected uncles with the seceders. In 1834 the Presbyterians built a large, commodious church on the corner of Cherry and Third streets, where the present beautiful church now stands. The edifice erected in 1834 was destroyed by fire in 1877. The Congregationalists in 1868 built the large brick church on Third street be- yond Prendergast avenue, where they now worship. The old building was sold, and after passing through various hands and uses, was also destroyed by fire. Mr. Geo. W. Tew then purchased the lots and erected thereon the fine residence in which he now lives.
Mr. Gillett remained the pastor of the Presbyterian church for several years. He was a man of influence, much loved and respected by his church and congre- gation. He built the house yet standing on the south- west corner of Prendergast avenue and Fourth street, and resided there many years. He finally went west, first to Fon du Lac in Wisconsin, afterwards was a pro- fessor of chemistry in a college at Kenosha in Iowa where he died a few years ago. He was a man of en- ergy and a good preacher.
The following history of the organization of the Methodist Episcopal church in Ellicott, and especially of the trouble which rent the church asunder, is from the pen of that ready writer and close observer Elijah
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Bishop, a life-long, active and prominent member of that church.
Mr. Bishop commences at the organization of the first class in Worksburg in 1814, of which Edward Work, James and John Willson, John Arthur, Wm. Staples and their wives were the members. He gives a long and accurate list of the presiding elders and of the preachers from that time, with the dates of their service up to the present time. This long list, if space permits, will be given in our appendix. In the por- tion we exclude, Mr. Bishop states that in 1820 Phele- tus Parkus being preacher and E. Work secretary, a legal society was formed in order to secure a deed of twenty-five acres of land donated by the Holland Land Company to the first legally organized church in the town of Ellicott, and that this donation was received by this organization. In 1843 Moses Hill was the preacher in Jamestown and J. J. Steadman presiding elder. Mr. Bishop continues :
"Here comes in the causes of the formation and history of the Wesleyan church. I reluctantly enter into its history, but as it is not generally understood I am in duty bound to write it truthfully, divested of any ill feeling to those who were the actors. The preacher (Moses Hill) had lived here before, went away, was converted, became a preacher and was sent here, where he took great pains to improve the singing in public worship ; a teacher was hired, he joined the singing class. To help the music a musical instru- ment was added in public services. All went well unil action was taken in the conference against the use of instrumental music in public worship. The presiding elder, (J. J. Steadman) came and directed the preacher to order the instrument out of the choir, which he did.
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