I 
 
 
 
CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 FROM 
 
Cornell University Library 
 BX6480.F85 F85 
 
 olin 
 
 3 1924 029 452 756 
 
The original of tliis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029452756 
 
FREDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
1808-1908 
 
 Centennial History 
 
 of the 
 
 Fredonia Baptist Church 
 
 ^redonia. New York 
 (Organized October 20, 1808) 
 
 © 
 
 The Matthews-Northrup Works 
 Buffalo, N. Y. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 IN" the preparation of the Centennial His- 
 tory of the Fredonia Baptist Church, 
 the underlying and it is believed the con- 
 trolling purpose of the compiler has been to be 
 accurate, sympathetic, and in a proper and 
 reverent sense, dignified. 
 
 As to accuracy, preference has been given 
 to the printed records. Access has been had 
 to the thirty-two minutes of the Erie Associa- 
 tion; to the forty-one minutes of the Har- 
 mony Association (kindness of Rev. A. D. 
 Bush) ; to the twenty-eight minutes of the 
 present Chautauqua Association. Of the 
 minutes of the first (or old) Chautauqua Asso- 
 ciation, 1823-1847, have had all except two 
 years, 1844 and 1846. 
 
 On the point of a sympathetic appreciation 
 of the work, if a greater relative amount of 
 space has been given the period 1808-1823, it 
 is because it was felt that the time had fuUy 
 come to give for that early pioneer period a 
 fuller statement than had heretofore been 
 made. The only regret is, that instead of a 
 few chapters, an entire volume could not have 
 been given to the story of devotion, fidelity, 
 and self sacrifice of the nine constituent mem- 
 
bers. The first pastor and officers who in the 
 wilderness, laid the foundations and kept the 
 ordinances of our noble Church — the first 
 Baptist Church in all Northern Chautauqua. 
 
 On the point of a reverent and dignified 
 treatment of the subject, the sketches of the 
 several pastors and individual members are the 
 work of almost as many hands, as are the 
 number of historic sketches given. We believe 
 them to be worthy to be regarded as the care- 
 ful, painstaking result of, in most cases, an 
 intimate acquaintance — a conscientious and 
 loving appreciation. 
 
 As to certain controverted questions, it has 
 not been thought best at this distance, to give 
 any full discussion, much less, any attempted 
 settlement on topics in regard to which, at the 
 time (three-quarters of a century ago), good 
 men differed, but differed as Christian breth- 
 ren. 
 
 For the kindly sympathy of many of our 
 citizens, both in Fredonia and elsewhere; for 
 the many instances of material aid in the se- 
 lection of suitable material, and especially for 
 the generous and noble gift, which greatly 
 relieved the church of a financial burden, sin- 
 cere thanks and a grateful acknowledgment 
 is hereby rendered. 
 
 S. S. Ceissey. 
 
PARTIAL LIST OF SUBJECTS 
 
 1. Holland Purchase and Early Missions. 
 
 2. Biographical Sketch of Judge Zattu Gushing and Mrs. 
 Sophia Williams, two constituent members, and sketch 
 of Ebenezer Webster, deacon. 
 
 3. Biographical and professional sketch of each pastor 
 from 1811 to 1908. 
 
 4. Complete lists of all officers — Church clerks, dea- 
 cons, Sunday School superintendents, and personal 
 notice of some prominent members. 
 
 5 . Meetings of all Baptist Associations ever held in the 
 county. Place, date, and name of moderator. 
 
 6. Date of organization and name of first pastor, of each 
 Baptist Church in the county. 
 
 7. Fredonia Baptist Sunday School work from 1848. 
 Details by years from I860. 
 
 8. Home and Foreign Missionary work of the church. 
 Sketch of Cyrus A. Chilcott — missionary baptised at 
 Fredonia and educated in our schools. 
 
 9. Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. Offi- 
 cers from organization in 1889. 
 
 10. Fredonia Baptist Church and temperance work. 
 Sketch of memorable crusade. 
 
 11. Obituary record past fifty years and earlier. 
 
HISTORY FREDONIA BAPTIST 
 CHURCH 
 
 THE HOLLAND PUECHASE AND EARLY MISSION- 
 ARY WORK 
 
 THE original charter of Massachusetts 
 gave to that commonwealth a title to 
 aU the land between its north and south 
 boundaries west, with a subsequent charter 
 granted New York, at a conference December 
 16, 1786. It was agreed upon that Massachu- 
 setts should have the pre-emption right to a 
 tract of 6,000,000 acres west of a line on the 
 meridian of Washington, passing through 
 Seneca Lake and Geneva to Sodus Bay on 
 Lake Ontario. In 1787 Massachusetts sold 
 this tract of land, 6,000,000 acres, to Oliver 
 Phelps and Nathaniel Graham for $1,000,000. 
 
 Two-thirds of this purchase was abandoned 
 by Phelps and Graham, and reverted to Mas- 
 sachusetts. 
 
 Subsequently this was sold to Robert Morris 
 and excepting a strip on the eastern border, 
 was by him transferred to the " Holland Pur- 
 chase." This comprised all lands west of a 
 line running north and south through the 
 State, near the eastern border of Orleans 
 County. 
 
EARLY MISSIONS IN WESTERN NETT YORK 
 
 In 1800 Rev. Elkanah Holmes was sent to 
 the Tuscarora and Seneca Indians in Western 
 New York by the Missionary Society of New 
 York. 
 
 Mr. Hohnes was a Baptist minister of great 
 zeal and tactful in his methods. He Jived 
 among the Indians several years. 
 
 In September, 1806, Elder RosweU Bur- 
 rows of the Mystic Church, Connecticut, was 
 sent by the Groten Union Conference on a 
 missionary tour to " The Northwestern Fron- 
 tier." Reaching Batavia he was entertained 
 by Deacon Rice, whose wife was a sister of 
 Rev. John Leland. At Buif alo — " Inquir- 
 ing for Baptists, he learned that there were 
 none in the village, nor anyone who made a 
 profession of religion." He preached to a 
 large assembly in Crowe's tavern. From 
 Buffalo he passed on to Eighteen-Mile Creek 
 where he found about sixty families within a 
 circuit of ten miles. There had never been a 
 sermon preached nor religious meeting held in 
 the place. 
 
 Here he found six or eight professors and 
 united them by covenant for worship and 
 watchcare. 
 
 His next place for labor was Canadaway 
 Creek, now Fredonia. This had been but re- 
 cently settled. He was cordially welcomed 
 
and on Sunday, the day after his arrival, 
 preached to a deeply interested assembly, some 
 of whom came six or eight miles on ox-carts. 
 Before he returned he visited Elder Holmes 
 and reported the Mission with the Tuscaroras 
 as a success. 
 
 In the fall of 1809 Elder Hezekiah East- 
 man made a tour of " The Holland Purchase." 
 He got lost in the " Nine-Mile Woods " and 
 after considerable suffering at last came to a 
 house. " On the next day came to the lake 
 (Erie) and with great difficulty passed around 
 the point. The wind and waves were so high, 
 and I got so wet and cold, and I thought I 
 must perish, but after riding eight miles in 
 this condition I came to a house, got some re- 
 freshments and then rode to Canadaway (Fre- 
 donia) and met Elders Butler and Handy." 
 
 On the tenth of October Elders Eastman, 
 Roots, Butler, and Handy met as a council 
 with a church (West EUery) on Chautauqua 
 Lake. This church presented Brother Jones 
 as a candidate for ordination. 
 
 After due examination the council agreed to 
 set him apart to the work of the ministry and 
 he was ordained. 
 
 No reference to the early missionary work in 
 this part of the Holland Purchase should omit 
 one missionary of whom we give a pen picture, 
 drawn by one who had often heard him preach. 
 
 8 
 
From 1810 to 1820, or later. Rev. John 
 Spencer, a Congregationalist, was the pio- 
 neer minister. Priest Spencer, as he was 
 called, entered all parts of the county where 
 could be assembled three or more f anuhes, and 
 preached nearly every evening. He was at that 
 time probably over fifty years old, of middle 
 stature, silver-gray locks, well trimmed, black 
 eyes, prominent nose, and weU formed fea- 
 tures. His dress was ancient — knee and shoe 
 buckles, short breeches and long stockings — a 
 dress which at that period attracted attention, 
 as it had nearly passed out of date. Inde- 
 pendence in thought, word, and deed, was 
 characteristic. He was remarkable for the 
 sharp twinkle of the eye, which always pre- 
 ceded some witty reproof. His sermons were 
 short, practical, correct, and impressive. His 
 manner of delivery was singular — commenc- 
 ing short sentences, he would speak the first 
 words slowly and very distinctly, and hasten 
 the close, accenting strongly the last words. 
 Especially was this the case in his prayers. 
 Children noticed the set formula with which 
 he closed every petition. His toils over, the 
 rough ways of a new country ended only with 
 his heavenly summons he soon finished his 
 course, and his earthly remains quietly repose 
 near the roadside in the town of Sheridan. 
 
 The Holland Purchase Baptist Conference 
 
was organized in 1810. The first minutes 
 were published in 1812. In 1817 the name 
 was changed to the Holland Purchase Baptist 
 Association. From 1810-1820 much missionary 
 labor in this county was done by Elder Handy 
 and also by Judge Gushing, who had been 
 licensed to preach. 
 
 Mr. HoUis Thompson in the history of 
 the Stockton Church (1876) says: 
 
 " These meetings thus early established were 
 regularly maintained, Samuel Crissey taking 
 an active part, and often taking texts of Scrip- 
 ture, though he would not call it preaching. 
 Deacon Sylvester Higby of Ellery and Judge 
 Gushing of Fredonia visited them and 
 preached greatly to the acceptance and edifica- 
 tion of aU, for there were judges and deacons 
 that preached in those days." 
 
 On the 19th of January, 1817, there were 
 the first baptisms, the candidates being Heze- 
 kiah Vial, Horace Thompson, Patty Thomp- 
 son, Elder Joy Handy administering the ordi- 
 nance. On March 12th the church in Stock- 
 ton was recognized, the Pomfret delegates 
 being Elder Joy Handy, Thomas Bull, Eliph- 
 alet Burnham, and Ebenezer Webster. 
 
 10 
 
FREDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH PARSONAGE 
 
1808-1819 
 
 IN the year 1808 all of what is now Chau- 
 tauqua County was divided into two 
 towns, Pomfret and Chautauqua. 
 
 The year 1808 was a notable one in its rec- 
 ord of important events. In that year the 
 Central Park of Fredonia, the gift of Heze- 
 kiah Barker, was cleared of stumps and de- 
 bris and made ready to become a thing of 
 beauty and joy for the peoples of coming 
 generations. In that year two Baptist 
 churches, one in Chautauqua and one in Pom- 
 fret, were organized. With the single excep- 
 tion of the Presbyterian church of Westfield, 
 they were the first churches of any denomina- 
 tion in the county. 
 
 On the 20th day of October, 1808, nine per- 
 sons were by a council duly called recognized as 
 the Pomfret Baptist Church. Their names 
 were Zattu Cushing, Rachel Cushing, Eliph- 
 alet Burnham, Rhoda Burnham, WiUiam 
 Gould, John Van Tassel, Benjamin Barrett, 
 Sophia Williams, and Silence Barton. 
 
 The councU met in a barn. They met there 
 for the reason that a barn was then the best, 
 most commodious room. 
 
 Frame dwellings, church edifices with spires 
 11 
 
pointing heavenward, cushioned pews, organ 
 music, were things yet to be. Indeed, it was 
 some years before the village, nestled on either 
 side of the Canadaway, was to be christened 
 Fredonia. 
 
 In both a material and a spiritual sense, the 
 year 1808 became historic. That year our 
 East and West Park, now surrounded by 
 churches, hotels, library, and stores, was 
 cleared of trees and stumps. 
 
 That year the first religious organization in 
 the town was to have its birth. Surely it is fit- 
 ting that the church and the park, thus united 
 in their birthday, shall remain inseparable, the 
 one as a spot of physical beauty, the other a 
 place of worship of the Most High, a guiding 
 star to wanderers seeking the celestial city. 
 
 Two years later, 1810, the first Presbyterian 
 Church was organized. Religious meetings 
 had been held for nearly three years before the 
 formal organization of the church. 
 
 In November, 1805, is- this record: 
 
 " A number of Baptist brethren having re- 
 moved to this wilderness, where we have no 
 knowledge that there was ever a religious as- 
 semblage before, whose number was small, con- 
 sisting of five brethren and four sisters, 
 thought proper to meet on Sunday to recom- 
 mend the cause of Christ and confirm each 
 other in the faith." The next entries are : 
 
 12 
 
" 1806, the Lord blessing their labors, one 
 more was added to the church." 
 
 " March 14, 1807. The members agreed to 
 meet every last Saturday in each month to 
 renew the covenant." 
 
 " October 12, 1808. At a meeting at Brother 
 Zattu Cushing's the brethren agreed to send 
 for a council to see if they could fellowship us 
 as a church in sister relations. Accordingly, 
 a letter was sent to Elder Joel Butler, Elder 
 Hezekiah Eastman, and Elder Joy Handy." 
 
 A voliune would be none too much to give 
 the life history of this little band of nine dis- 
 ciples of the Master; truly, there were giants 
 in those days. Mr. O. W. Johnson gives the 
 following: 
 
 " I cannot ia this connection omit several 
 incidents of Mrs. Sophia WiUiams, whom I 
 have before mentioned as one of the first mem- 
 bers of the Baptist church. She will illustrate 
 the character of the women of that day. Dur- 
 ing the year 1813 her husband carried the mail 
 weekly between Erie and Buffalo. He ar- 
 rived with it from Erie, sick and unable to sit 
 upon his horse. She gathered hemlock boughs 
 and gave him a sweat, then took the mail and 
 set out on horseback with it for Buffalo." 
 
 It was in breaking up in the spring, when 
 all the streams were swollen by the freshet far 
 beyond their natural limits. She plunged her 
 
 13 
 
horse into the angry flood, swam it across the 
 Cattaraugus, the Eighteen-Mile and the Buf- 
 falo creek, holding the mail above the 
 water, and delivered it at Buffalo in 
 time. She passed through the territory 
 of two tribes of Indians suspected of 
 hostility. Wild beasts still hovered around 
 the path she traveled, A few years later a 
 daughter of hers, who had married a Doctor 
 Whaley and had emigrated to Southern Indi- 
 ana, wrote home that she and her husband and 
 children were all sick; that there was no chance 
 for them there but death. This brave woman 
 took a span of horses and a lumber wagon, and 
 set out alone to rescue them. Her journey 
 was hundreds of miles through an almost im- 
 broken wilderness. Sometimes she fomid a 
 house at night, sometimes she slept in the wil- 
 derness with no shelter but the heavens, with 
 no protector but the God who always watched 
 over his saints. She crossed rivers where the 
 horses had to swim and draw the wagon after 
 them, but she returned safely with her idols. 
 When the names of the heroines of history are 
 collected and assigned their places, high on the 
 roll justice with a pencil of light, will write 
 the name of Sophia Williams, the Chautau- 
 qua heroine. 
 
 ELDER JOY HANDY 
 
 The church was greatly blessed in the labors 
 
 14 
 
— 1811-1822 — of the first pastor. Elder Joy 
 Handy. 
 
 While the ofiicial records are few, and there 
 is no portrait in existence, enough appears to 
 enable us to frame a picture of the most happy 
 and long-continued relation between pastor 
 and people. 
 
 On the one side we see the faithful, tmtiring, 
 loving service of the man of God — on the 
 other side a hearty, loving appreciation by the 
 people of his charge. As moderator at the As- 
 sociational meetings, as corresponding secre- 
 tary, as preacher and pastor, it is always — "Our 
 beloved Elder Handy." As indicating the 
 regard in which he was held by the entire com- 
 munity, Rev. C. Burgess (Presbyterian) in a 
 paper relating to the early religious history of 
 the times, quotes this remark as having been 
 made : — " It does one good to see Elder Joy 
 Handy walk the streets of Fredonia." 
 
 Two of his sons became Baptist ministers — 
 Rev. Jairus Handy and Rev. Alfred Handy. 
 A granddaughter, Mrs. Harriet Daniel is now 
 a worthy member of this church. 
 
 Meetings of the Holland Purchase Associa- 
 tion were held: 1815, at Hambiu-g; 1816, at 
 Middlebury; 1817, at Hanover; 1818, at Eden; 
 1819, at Hamburg. 
 
 The meeting of 1817 at Hanover was the 
 first association ever held in what is now Chau- 
 
 15 
 
tauqua County. The delegates from Pomf ret 
 were Joy Handy, pastor; Ebenezer Webster, 
 and Martin Eastwood. 
 
 Hanover delegates were Samuel S. Burdick, 
 Joseph Lull, Christopher McManus. Dele- 
 gates from Chautauqua were John Putnam, 
 Sylvester Higbie, Henry Walker. 
 
 Joy Handy was chosen moderator and Wil- 
 liam Pattison, clerk. 
 
 Omitting the statistical table, we give in full 
 the minutes. Capital letters are as in the orig- 
 inal. 
 
 MINUTES. 
 Hanover, Wednesday, August 27, 1817. 
 
 At 10 o'clock, A. M., the Holland Purchase Baptist 
 Conference met agreeably to appointment : and 
 
 1. The Meeting was opened by prayer, by Elder 
 Ebenezer Smith. 
 
 2. Made choice of a Moderator and Clerk. 
 
 3. Letters from the several Churches were called for, 
 and the following List taken, in which Ordained Ministers' 
 names are in Italic, and Churches not represented are 
 marked thus t 
 
 4 . Came forward from the Ontario Association — Elder 
 Jeremiah Irons, and Elder Elnathan Finch — Letters from 
 the Ontario Association, brought forward and read with 
 the minutes. From Cayuga, Deacon James Stanchff, with 
 minutes and letter, the letter being read, the Brethren 
 from the aforesaid Associations, together, with the aged 
 Elder Ebenezer Smith, late from Massachusetts, and 
 Brother Jesse Brown, from Ontario, were invited to a seat 
 with us. 
 
 After a few moments intermission, we were solemnly ad- 
 dressed by Elder Jeremiah Irons, from I. Thessalonians 
 V. 12 and 13. 
 
 16 
 
5. Appointed Messengers to Corresponding Associa- 
 tions. — To the Ontario, Elder Titus Gillet, and Brother 
 John Grover. 
 
 6. To the Cayuga Association, Elder Elias Harmon, 
 and Brother John Grover. 
 
 7. We cordially acknowledge the reception of the 
 minutes of the Madison Association, and wish to open a 
 correspondence with them as soon as may be convenient. 
 
 8. Having received a friendly letter from, and the 
 minutes of, the Beaver Association, in the state of Ohio, 
 and finding it inconvenient to send Messengers to them at 
 present — Voted that our moderator send them a friendly 
 epistolary reply, accompanying the minutes of our 
 Association. 
 
 9- Appointed our next Aimual Meeting to be holden 
 with the first church of Eden, in the county of Niagara, 
 at a Schoolhouse, near Esquire Stannard's on the 2d Wed- 
 nesday of June next, at 10 o'clock, A. M. 
 
 10. Adjourned till to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock. 
 
 11. Thursday morning, 8 o'clock, met according to 
 adjournment opened by singing and prayer. 
 
 12. Elder Andrew Sherburn, a missionary from the 
 District of Maine, being present, was invited to a seat 
 with us. 
 
 13. Voted that our Conference in future be known by 
 the name of the Holland Purchase Baptist Association." 
 
 14.. Voted that Elder Joy Handy be appointed to 
 superintend the printing of our minutes the present year. 
 
 15. Voted to adopt the Confession of Faith and Plat- 
 form of the Ontario Association as ours, and that it be 
 printed with our minutes. 
 
 16. Voted, to accept of the Circular and Corresponding 
 Letter, which was presented and read. 
 
 17. Appointed Brother William Pattison, to write the 
 Circular and Corresponding Letter, for the next year. 
 
 18. The object of Foreign Missions was brought to 
 view, and the following sums were contributed: 
 
 1 Church in Sheldon, $2.00 
 
 Attica, 1.00 
 
 17 
 
Hanover, Church and Society . . . f4.00 
 
 2 Middlebury, 3.06 
 
 Hamburgh, 2.87* 
 
 Willink, 2.00 
 
 Pomfret, 3.6Zi 
 
 Isaac Hall, 25 
 
 Elder E. Smith, ^ 
 
 |19-06 
 
 18. Delivered the monies contributed into the hands 
 of our beloved Brother Elder Joy Handy, to be forwarded 
 by him to the suitable Board of Reception. 
 
 19- Dismissed about 12 o'clock a short time, when we 
 again returned to the^uties before us. 
 
 After singing and addressing the Throne of Grace, we 
 were pleasingly entertained with a solemn and animating 
 Discourse, on the great points of Christian Duties, from 
 I. Cor. xvi, ch. 13, 14 ver. by our aged and venerable 
 Father, Elder Ebenezer Smith, which was followed by a 
 soul-strengthening and comforting discourse by Elder 
 Andrew Sherbum, a Missionary from the Massachusetts 
 Baptist Missionary Society, from Heb. 11. ch. 1. ver. 
 
 Closed by Exhortation Prayer and Praise. 
 
 On the last page of the Minutes for 1819 is the following: 
 
 JOHN A. LAZELL, 
 
 Has just published and for sale, at his Book Store and 
 Bindery, center of the village, Buffalo, a 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 Preached at the Lai Bazar Chapel, Calcutta, on Lord's 
 Day, September 27, 1812, previous to the administration 
 of the ordinance of Baptism. With many quotations from 
 Paedobaptist authors. 
 
 By Adoniram Judson, A. M. To which is added, 
 
 A LETTER, 
 
 Addressed to the Rev. Enoch Pond, of Ward, Mass. on 
 the Insinuations and Charges contained in his Reply to Mr. 
 Judson's Sermon on Baptism. — By the Rev. Samuel Nott 
 Jr., late Missionary to India. 
 July 16, 1819. 
 
 18 
 
HON. Z. GUSHING 
 
Under date of November 9j 1813 is this record — 'At 
 a meeting at brother John Van Tassell's, Elder Handy, 
 moderator — 1st, voted that brother Zattu Gushing serve 
 the church as deacon." At a church meeting March 5th, 
 1816, Ebenezer Webster was elected a deacon, and Aug. 
 3, 1816 Judge Gushing was licensed to preach, which he 
 did at Canadaway or Fredonia, also at Bull's Mills now 
 Laona and in other neighborhoods. 
 
 In December 18l6 Elijah Devine was elected deacon, 
 and April 14, 1821 Nathaniel Crosby was elected deacon. 
 
 ZATTU CUSHING 
 
 Judge Zattu Gushing was born at Plymouth 
 Rock, Massachusetts, in 1770, and was one of 
 thirteen children born to Nathaniel and Lydia 
 Gushing. He received but a meager educa- 
 tion, the schools of that day being primitive 
 and their course of study limited in extent, 
 but his natural industry, energy, self-reliance, 
 and integrity were of more value to him than 
 schools. At an early age he was apprenticed 
 to a ship carpenter, and when he mastered that 
 trade, he followed it for some time at Boston. 
 The work, however, was not congenial to his 
 nature and he decided to exchange it for a 
 farmer's hfe and for the purpose moved to 
 Balston, Saratoga Gounty, where he married 
 Rachel Buckingham and then removed to Paris, 
 Oneida Gounty, and took up a tract of land in 
 the forest, from which he made a farm. In 
 1799 he was employed to go to Presque Isle, 
 adjacent to Erie, Pennsylvania, for the pur- 
 pose of superintending the construction of a 
 
 19 
 
ship. When it was completed it was chris- 
 tened the " Good Intent," and was the first ves- 
 sel of noteworthy size built on Lake Erie. She 
 was lost with all on board in 1805. In return- 
 ing from the scene of his labors, one of his 
 horses strayed, and while attempting to secure 
 it, night came upon him and he passed the night 
 upon the lands where twenty years later he 
 built him a home. Having had excellent oppor- 
 tunities for examining the lands of that locality, 
 he determined to locate there, and in February, 
 1805, he moved his family to the site where 
 now stands the town of Fredonia. Two yoke 
 of oxen, each drawing a sled, were the convey- 
 ances used and it took three weeks to perform 
 the journey that may now be made in twice as 
 many hours. At the time Mr. Gushing had 
 eight children: Walter, Lydia, married Dr. 
 Squire White; Milton B. Zattu, Catharine, 
 married Philo H. Stevens ; Lucinda, the widow 
 of William Barker; Alonzo, and Rachel, who 
 married Mr. Tupper. 
 
 Zattu Gushing was eminently a pious man, 
 a Baptist of unswerving devotion, and his first 
 thought upon reaching here was to establish a 
 church. In 1811, when the organization of the 
 county was completed, Mr. Gushing was ap- 
 pointed the first judge and he wore the ermine 
 until 1822. At the battle of Buffalo he 
 served as a private and was highly indignant 
 
 20 
 
feeling that with a competent commander, the 
 result might have been different. On the 
 fourth of July, 1812, a celebration was held at 
 Judge Cushing's farm, he himself being the 
 orator. Ere long the report of a cannon and 
 the rattle of musketry showed the presence of 
 an enemy at the mouth of the creek. Jumping 
 from his high rough rostrum, the speaker was 
 the first at the scene of action ready for de- 
 fense. In August, 1816, a great sorrow fell 
 upon his household, the mother of his children, 
 who had been the light of his home and shared 
 his trials, his joys, his sorrows, and his hopes, 
 was called away. Never before in the history 
 of the village had so large and sorrowing a 
 funeral been known. In 1817 he married 
 Eunice Elderkin, a native of the town of Bur- 
 lington, Otsego County. In 1826, just after 
 the Erie Canal was opened for navigation, in 
 company with Joseph Sprague, Mr. Cushing 
 built a canal boat. It was built on the flats 
 at the foot of Fort Hill, and was named the 
 " Fredonia Enterprise." To draw the boat to the 
 water required one hundred yoke of oxen, and 
 after it was launched, they loaded it with 
 wheat, and the steamer " Lake Superior " 
 towed it to Buffalo. In 1823 he was foremost 
 in establishing the Fredonia academy and until 
 his death, was one of its most liberal support- 
 ers. January 13, 1839, after a long experi- 
 
 21 
 
ence of physical suffering which he patiently 
 endured. Judge Zattu Gushing passed peace- 
 fully away. 
 
 When the battle of life was over, his peace- 
 ful triumph commenced. At the next term of 
 court, upon the motion of Judge Wallace, the 
 bar of this county procured his portrait to be 
 suspended in the courthouse above the bench 
 where judges sit. Guarded with tender care, 
 it still remains there and will for ages to come, 
 as a proper memorial of as pure a man and up- 
 right a judge as ever dispensed justice in any 
 tribunal. By his second marriage Judge 
 Gushing had four more children. The only 
 daughter, Sarah M. L., died. The oldest boys 
 were living in the west and his daughters by 
 his first wife were happily married and lived 
 near him. The youngest sons, Judson E. 
 Addison G., and Frank, were at home, the 
 pleasure of his declining years. All of them 
 are now passed away. 
 
 Zattu Gushing was the grandfather of 
 Alonzo Gushing, who was killed at the battle 
 of Gettysburg, who, although twice wounded, 
 was standing by his gun imtil the fatal leaden 
 missUe struck him down; and of Lieutenant 
 Gommander William B. Gushing who by re- 
 peated and successful deeds of valor and patri- 
 otic devotion, stands breast to breast with Paul 
 Jones and Gommodore Perry, and whose name 
 
 22 
 
MRS. SOPHIA WILLIAMS 
 
will stand bright and fresh in the hearts of the 
 American people as long as marble and metal 
 hold their shape and this great Republic re- 
 mains intact. 
 
 MES. SOPHIA MORTON WILLIAMS 
 
 Of this remarkable woman, one of the con- 
 stituent members of the Fredonia Baptist 
 church, through the kindness of friends in 
 Buffalo, the following is given: 
 
 Sophia Morton was born September 25, 
 1776. She died April 13, 1854. 
 
 The Morton family was distinguished. A 
 brother. Rev. Salmon Morton, " preached in a 
 small log schoolhouse in Madison, N. Y., and 
 was one of the thirteen who afterward founded 
 and secured the charter of Madison University 
 (now Colgate University) ." 
 
 Another brother was Elisha Morton (Bap- 
 tist) of Adams, N. Y. Mrs. Samuel Berry 
 (Baptist) was a sister. Rev. Charles Morton 
 was a nephew. Richard WiUiams was born in 
 East Hartford, Conn., in July, 1773; he died 
 September 20, 1822, and was laid to rest in the 
 Fredonia burying ground (in East Main 
 street) , a place he helped to select in 1807, when 
 the first death occurred — his little niece of six 
 years, Haninah Woodcock, daughter of Oliver 
 Woodcock. 
 
 Richard WiUiams and Sophia Morton were 
 
 23 
 
married in Sangerfield township, Oneida 
 County, November 1, 1794. 
 
 Richard Williams and family and Oliver 
 Woodcock and family (Mrs. Asenath Wil- 
 liams Woodcock) both came at the same time 
 from Sangerfield to Fredonia, June 1, 1807. 
 Each family had six children. 
 
 The annals of pioneer history rarely show so 
 worthy and noble a record as does that of the 
 family of, as a writer puts it, " Our Sophia 
 WiUiams." 
 
 The historic story of her carrying the mail 
 during the sickness of her husband is told on 
 another page. 
 
 Of her daughter,Mrs. Eliza WilliamsMorgan, 
 a note says, "Mrs. Eliza Morgan was 'the babe' 
 carried by her mother, Mrs. Sophia WiUiams, 
 when she carried the mail from Erie to Buffalo." 
 
 Of this daughter and another daughter 
 Mrs. Sophia Williams Harris, the record is 
 that " they were devoted and beloved members 
 of the Washington Street Baptist church in 
 Buffalo for over half a century." 
 
 Thus the grown-up daughters of this sainted 
 wife and mother, moving with their husbands 
 (one a deacon) to another field, helped make it 
 possible for Dr. John Gordon, in an address, 
 January, 1886, to say — "Six churches have 
 been planted by the membership of the old 
 (Washington Street) church." 
 
 24 
 
EBENEZER WEBSTER 
 
 Ebenezer Webster was born March 16, 1767. 
 He died April 20, 1863. He was buried in 
 Webster Street Cemetery. His early home 
 was in Connecticut, where he was married to 
 Roxy Ann Benjamin, sister of David Benja- 
 min. He was chosen Deacon of the Baptist 
 church, August 3, 1816. Ebenezer Webster 
 and Martin Eastwood were the two lay dele- 
 gates to the " HoUand Purchase Baptist Con- 
 ference " held at Hanover, August 27-28, 1817. 
 The original deed of the land on which the 
 present house of worship stands, was given by 
 Stephen Savage to Zattu Gushing, Ebenezer 
 Webster and Nathaniel Crosby, as trustees. 
 
 The descendants of Ebenezer Webster in- 
 clude a large number of prominent families 
 and business men of Fredonia and vicinity. 
 
 The following biographical sketch by Albert 
 N. Colburn. 
 
 Ebenezer Webster who was living 
 in New Hartford, Conn., in 1790, came 
 here prior to the War of 1812, with 
 his brothers, Joseph, Horace and Eh 
 and David Benjamin. Another brother, 
 Ezekiel started with them but died on the road 
 with small pox. Ebenezer Webster was a shoe- 
 maker and carried on a shop, located on Main 
 Street, in the Village of Fredonia, on lands 
 now owned by Anna Jones, part way up the 
 
 25 
 
West Hill, and when the principal settlement 
 was on the west side of Canadaway Creek. He, 
 with his brothers, took up lands on Webster 
 street. His farm was the one now owned by 
 J. Erskine Webster. Joseph located on the 
 L. Slade Barber place; Horace on the Fox 
 place, latterly known as the Sage farm; Eli 
 on the Champlin Barber place. 
 
 Ebenezer had the following children: 
 Nancy, Benjamin Barlow's mother; Electa, 
 who was born September 16, 1799, at Farm- 
 ington. Conn., and married James Norton, and 
 died February 16, 1862, grandmother of 
 Albert N. Colburn; Russell, grandfather of 
 Will Webster; Amelia, unmarried; Emily, 
 who married Edward Howard, Frank W. 
 Howard's mother; Esther, who married Rev. 
 Allison, a Baptist minister, located in Han- 
 over; Benjamin, — J. Erskine Webster's 
 father, and Fidelia, who married Timothy 
 Newton, and died at Nauvoo, 111." 
 
 The above was copied from the Family Bible 
 and does not show the exact time of their ar- 
 rival here, but Ebenezer took the place of his 
 younger brother, Horace, when called upon 
 to defend the frontier in the War of 1812, and 
 the fight at Buffalo, between the British and 
 Indians and our forces. 
 
 Apropos of this affair, is the well authenti- 
 cated " potato incident." The soldiers, who in 
 
 26 
 
1812, were called from this section to the de- 
 fense of Buffalo (then only a small village) 
 had no commissary stores, except such as they 
 carried with them or were able to forage by the 
 way. When Buffalo was burned and the 
 American forces had to fall back, Ebenezer 
 Webster found himself with a knapsack full 
 of potatoes. Being rather a small man, he 
 found his load of this valuable food product 
 a decided hindrance to his efforts to keep pace 
 with his valiant, but just then, hastily fleeing 
 neighbors. Calling a comrade to his aid, he 
 ordered him to rip open the knapsack, which 
 was done and the potatoes were prudently 
 abandoned to the enemy. 
 
 James Norton, who married Electa Web- 
 ster, was a carpenter and joiner by trade and 
 assisted in building the first Baptist church 
 building, built in 1823-1824, also the present 
 Colburn Bros, grist mill built in 1827-1828. 
 He also built the first barn in Buffalo after 
 Buffalo village was destroyed by fire in the 
 War of 1812. 
 
 Ebenezer Webster's father was a Revolu- 
 tionary soldier, and the son, Ebenezer with his 
 brother, crossed the mountains on foot, to carry 
 some commissary supplies to their father there 
 in winter quarters. 
 
 27 
 
IN PIONEER DAYS 
 
 WHAT PEKEY^S VICTORY (1813) MEANT TO A 
 FREDONIA HOME 
 
 (.Written by Mra. Sophia Harris, daughter of Mrs. Sophia Williams) 
 (Fredonia Censor) 
 
 IN the spring of 1807, my father changed his 
 farm for land on the Holland Purchase, 
 then thought to be the farthest place mor- 
 tals could ever go. The man father ex- 
 changed lands with, had been out and selected 
 his land in Chautauqua County, (now Fre- 
 donia) and had cleared a few acres, and got 
 part of it into wheat, and part into corn and 
 potatoes. " Father started to move June 1, 
 1807." My uncle, Oliver Woodcock, also 
 came. 
 
 The ox teams and our goods and stock were 
 in charge of my two eldest brothers, and Uncle 
 Oliver Woodcock and his two sons. My Aunt 
 W. and her four little children rode with 
 father's family in their carriage, father driv- 
 ing the horses. We reached Buffalo and 
 waited some days for the ox-teams. 
 
 At that time there was a vessel that ran 
 from Buffalo to the mouth of Canadaway 
 Creek, and the goods were sent by water, as it 
 was almost impossible to get through from 
 Buffalo to Fredonia. We were nearly a week 
 getting through. (We stayed all night at 
 Hezekiah Barker's who then kept the tavern 
 there.). 
 
 28 
 
My father was a benevolent, persevering 
 man, and he soon saw there was much to be 
 done, before the new settlers could have even 
 the most common comforts of life. First, 
 they must have bread, and to have it, a mill 
 must be built. My father and Hezekiah Bar- 
 ker joined to build the mill and selected a site 
 where the bridge now crosses the creek, in your 
 beautiful village, and what few men and boys 
 there were, turned out to build the dam. My 
 father, Richard Williams, then lived two miles 
 down the creek, from where they decided to 
 build the mill. 
 
 When the road was laid out through the vil- 
 lage, my father built a house and moved into it^ 
 and cormnenced keeping a public house, on the 
 West side of the creek, as Mr. Barker kept on 
 the East side. 
 
 My father carried the mail from Buffalo to 
 Erie, before and during the War. My oldest 
 brother used to carry it on horseback. He en- 
 hsted in Buffalo as a recruiting officer, and a 
 nvmaber of young men went with him. He 
 went with Commodore Perry to battle, and 
 never returned. He was killed on the ship 
 " Lawrence " and his mangled body found a 
 grave in Lake Erie. Till then, my father 
 stood the hardships and privations of a new 
 country, bravely. Possessed of a noble nature, 
 he was ready to help the stranger, the poor 
 
 29 
 
and aflflicted, and none sought his aid in vain. 
 But, my poor brother's death broke his spirits 
 and crushed life's prospects. He never re- 
 covered from the shock of the irreparable loss. 
 He lived on, but an altered man. 
 
 After the war of 1812 was over, my father 
 exchanged his farm in Fredonia, for a farm in 
 Portland — 9 miles from the village (Part 
 of it was owned in 1873, by Lincoln Fay). 
 There he remained till Sept. 20th, 1822, 
 when death released him from his life's labors, 
 and his lifeless clay was laid to rest in Fredonia 
 burying ground (on East Main St.), a 
 place he helped to select in 1807, when the first 
 death occurred. 
 
 Another sad scene is engraven on memory's 
 page. It was the day my brother brought the 
 news of Perry's battle and victory. We knew 
 there had been a battle, for we heard the report 
 of the cannon; although so far away and every 
 man and woman was all anxiety as to the re- 
 sult. Mother had been very busy all day with 
 her work — she seemed to be in such a hurry. 
 My aunt said to her " What makes you hurry 
 so? You don't stop a moment." Mother 
 answered, " I want to get through before the 
 mail comes, for it may be, I can't work then." 
 She seemed to have a presentiment of my 
 brother's death. 
 
 Towards evening most of the neighboring 
 
 30 
 
men had collected on father's platform, to be 
 in time for the news. Soon my brother was 
 seen coming, and the news was spread. " The 
 mail is coming " was enough. Mother ran to 
 the door, as he rode up, and said, " Elijah, is 
 Abner killed or wounded? " " He is not 
 wounded, mother," was the reply, and he 
 handed her a letter from Commodore Perry, 
 telling of his bravery in fighting, after he was 
 wounded; till finally he was cut in two by a 
 cannon ball. The scene that followed, I can- 
 not attempt to describe. It was a house of 
 mourning and rejoicing. My father and 
 mother, hand in hand, walked through the 
 house; out the back door; through the garden 
 into his peach orchard, and sat down on a log. 
 There they gave vent to their pent-up grief. 
 I followed them and stood by my mother, and 
 such a prayer as she prayed to her God, that 
 he would give them strength to bear up under 
 that crushing blow, I never heard before. 
 How many times that peach orchard, my 
 father and mother sitting on that log, and her 
 prayers, have come up before me, with all the 
 clearness of yesterday. I feel that I cannot 
 do justice to her memory, for when I look 
 back, all through her life, she was always the 
 same persevering woman — always doing 
 good; visiting the sick; helping the needy, and 
 giving of her substance to the poor and needy, 
 
 31 
 
wherever she found them. How many times, 
 have I known her to get her work done, and 
 then go to take care of some sick one through 
 the night, and come home in the morning to 
 get breakfast. I have known her, when 
 father was sick, to go with the mail from Fre- 
 donia to Buffalo and back home, riding on one 
 horse and carrying the mail on another, and 
 swimming her horses through Cattaraugus 
 and Eighteen-Mile Creeks. I heard her tell 
 of, once, when she got to Buffalo Creek, it was 
 almost dark, and the water was high, and she 
 did not know what to do. She saw some In- 
 dians in a canoe, and calling to them, they 
 carried her over, and she made her horses swim, 
 holding on to their bridles. 
 
 I need not say more for most of her life 
 was spent in Fredonia and vicinity and she 
 was known to most of the early inhabitants. 
 She was a good mother; a conscientious, pious 
 Christian, and her end was peace. 
 
 She died April 13th, 1854 and was laid by the 
 side of my father, in Fredonia's " old burying 
 ground." 
 
 32 
 
THE FIRST DEATH AND FUNERAL 
 
 IN FREDONIA: FIRST SCHOOL: 
 
 FIRST FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 CELEBRATION 
 
 (JVo?» Fredonia Censor^ June 18th^ 187S) 
 
 From Mre. Ursula H. Ashley, of Savannah, Mo. in 187S, a niece of 
 Mrs. Bichard Williams. 
 
 MRS. URSULA ASHLEY joined 
 the Baptist Church in Fredonia; Rev. 
 Joy Handy, pastor; Thomas Ball, 
 clerk. She was then 17. She moved to Ohio 
 in 1819. Her letter, dated June 1873 says: — 
 " My mother, Asenath Williams, was mar- 
 ried in Whitetown to my father, Ohver 
 Woodcock. They remained on a farm in 
 Sangerfleld tOl they had six children, ithen 
 started for the HoUand Purchase, then called 
 "The great Eldorado of the West." (My 
 father exchanged his cart and oxen for 700 
 acres of land in the Wilderness) . It was said, 
 there were only six families in Pomfret Town- 
 ship (then comprising our 2d. Assembly Dis- 
 trict) when they arrived in 1806." 
 
 Richard WiUiams and family; Oliver Wood- 
 cock and family and James Morgan and fam- 
 ily, were aU related and aU came together to 
 Chautauqua County. When they stopped in 
 Buffalo in 1806, they could stand on one spot, 
 and count every house in that village. Were 
 four days from Buffalo to Fredonia. After 
 the oxen were rested, Mr. Woodcock was dele- 
 
 33 
 
gated to go to LeBoeuf, sixty miles distant, 
 in Pennsylvania, to buy grain and get it 
 ground. 
 
 Our house was built of logs; one door of 
 plank, hewed out with a broad-axe ; no window, 
 low roof; stone fire-place, hemlock bark roof, 
 and the floor of hemlock bark — the whole 
 only 18 feet square. It was chinked on 
 the outside with clay, and the family of eight, 
 considered themselves quite snug that winter. 
 
 In the Fall of 1806, Father joined Heze- 
 kiah Barker in building a grist mill. 
 
 THE FIRST DEATH AND FUNERAL IN FREDONIA 
 
 In Oct. sister Hannah, six years old, 
 was killed. The children were out for nuts, 
 where a man was clearing, and a tree fell on 
 little Hannah, crushing her head. The horror 
 of that day, nearly killed poor mother (Mrs. 
 Ohver Woodcock.) The hands at the null, 
 made a cofiin and painted it black with pulver- 
 ized charcoal, mixed with grease. They car- 
 ried the little one, through dense woods to our 
 present burying ground, where she was laid 
 to rest under a large hemlock tree. 
 
 THE FIRST SCHOOL IN FREDONIA 
 
 The neighbors requested Mrs. Woodcock to 
 teach the children that Winter, and she did so. 
 It was the first school in Pomfret, and had 16 
 children. 
 
 34 
 
The spring of 1807, Mr. Woodcock went to 
 Batavia Land Office and entered 100 acres, 
 a mile and a half west of Fredonia, and buUt a 
 log house on it (20 x 24) with a good floor and 
 window and stone chimney, and second story 
 reached by a ladder. (Mr. Woodcock and 
 his son, cleared three acres that Winter, and had 
 land ready for wheat the following Fall.) 
 
 THE riEST FOURTH OF JULY IN FREDONIA 
 
 The country settled so fast, that in 1809, 
 they made a raise to celebrate the 4th. of 
 July. OKver Woodcock and Hezekiah Bar- 
 ker provided for the dinner in a long bower, 
 so that all who could attend, (less than 200) 
 could sit at table. A stage was erected, on 
 which were 13 ladies, dressed in white, 
 with blue sashes; the clergy; orator; all the 
 revolutionary veterans, and the music, which 
 was a fife and drvmi. The biU of fare was 
 beef, baked in stone ovens ; hght bread ; pump- 
 kin pies ; loaf cake sweetened with maple sugar, 
 early peas, potatoes, and stewed gooseberries. 
 (The seasons were earlier then.) 
 
 (As Wm. Risley has recorded; no cellars 
 were needed — only four inches of earth over 
 vegetables, to prevent freezing, and two 
 crops could be grown and ripened on the same 
 land in one season.) 
 
 The matrons had their pewter plates scoured 
 
 35 
 
as bright as silver, and sent in to set the table 
 with. That was the best that could be done 
 in those days, and I defy the globe to produce 
 a happier set than we were, scattered around 
 in Chautauqua county. 
 
 (Solomon Chadwick was the only resident 
 of Dunkirk, then. Most of the goods that 
 came, being landed at the mouth of the creek, 
 in charge of Mr. Barney Cole.") 
 
 36 
 
» 
 o 
 
 M 
 P 
 
 a 
 o 
 
 z 
 
 H 
 O 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 El 
 m 
 
 M 
 
 m 
 
 K 
 H 
 
1820 — 1829 
 
 Pastors — 1820-21, Elder Joy Handy. 
 1822-1829 —Elisha Tucker D. D. Clerk — Name not 
 in minutes. 
 
 Meetings of Association. 
 
 1820 — Second church in Hanover. 
 
 1821 — 
 
 1822 — Eden; 1823 — Laona ; 1824 Fredonia ; 1825 
 — North East, Pa; 
 
 1 826 — Stockton ; 1827 — Forestville ; 
 
 1828 — Fredonia; 1829 — Forestville. 
 
 List of delegates for 1823 — Elisha Tucker, Joy Handy, 
 Pearson Crosby, Zattu Cushing, Nathaniel Crosby, Reu- 
 ben Buck, Benjamin Randall. 
 
 Additional names of delegates at other meetings — 
 Jairus Handy, Charles Morton, Levi Tucker, Rufus Lang- 
 don, Loring Crosby, Ebenezer Webster, J. Douglass, 
 David J. Matteson, James Hull, John Z. Saxton. Total 
 membership by years— 1822 — 63; 1823 — 102; 1824 
 
 — 117; 1825 — 124; 1826 — 123; 1827—153; 1828 
 
 — 160; 1829 — 169. 
 
 FROM 1820 to 1829 was a period of com- 
 paratively rapid settlement of the 
 county. In the eight years 1822-29, the 
 church received by baptism 33 — by letter, 63. 
 In 1828, the association was represented by 
 23 churches; in 1829, 13 of the churches were 
 not represented. 
 
 This division of the churches lasted until 
 1834, when at the meeting in AshvUle 30 
 churches sent delegates with a total member- 
 ship of 2167. 
 
 37 
 
Mr. Madison in his history says — 
 
 "Aug. 12, 1822, Rev. Ehsha Tucker was 
 called to be the second pastor of the First Bap- 
 tist Church of Pomfret." 
 
 July 22, 1823, he was sent by the church to 
 New York, Boston, Salem, Providence etc., 
 to soHcit " Material aid " for the finishing of 
 the meeting house — the old frame edifice — 
 The first church built in the county. This was 
 taken down about 1851-52 for the purpose 
 of erecting the present brick church on the 
 same site. 
 
 A copy of the original deed of the land on 
 which the first church building stood reads as 
 follows : 
 
 " Stephen Savage by John Crane his at- 
 torney. To Zattu Cushing, Ebenezer Web- 
 ster and Nathaniel Crosby Trustees, etc. 
 
 Certain piece or parcel of land on the road 
 leading from said village (Fredonia) to Dun- 
 kirk, and being the corner opposite the "Acad- 
 emy." 
 
 " Beginning at the stake standing in the hne 
 of said road, four rods southwesterly of the 
 southwest corner of the old schoolhouse, thence 
 running northwestwardly, on the line of said 
 road, eight rods to a stake: thence, southwest- 
 wardly at an angle of ninety degrees with the 
 last mentioned line, fifty-six feet to a stake, 
 thence southeastwardly on a line parallel with 
 
 38 
 
o £ -3 
 
 ui 
 
 -a 
 a 
 
 •B .a s 
 
 .3 
 
 i. .^■.. 
 
the first mentioned line, eight rods to a stake 
 standing in the line of the commons: thence, 
 northwestwardly on the line of the commons 
 fifty-six feet to the place of beginning. 
 
 " Being the southeast corner of a lot of land 
 of about two acres heretofore conveyed by 
 Joseph Plimab and Deborah his wife to the 
 party of the first part." 
 
 The slips in this first meeting house were 
 sold as witness the following : 
 
 " Know all men, by these presents. That 
 for and in consideration of the sum of Four- 
 teen dollars to them in hand paid, the Trustees 
 of the First Baptist Society, have bargained 
 and sold, unto Benjamin Walworth of Fre- 
 donia, Chautauqua Co., his heirs and as- 
 signs, the certain Slip in the Baptist Meeting- 
 House, in the village of Fredonia, known and 
 distinguished by No. 28 for his own proper 
 use and benefit. 
 
 Given under our hands and seals, at Pom- 
 fret, the Seventeenth day of April in the years 
 of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
 Twenty- Six. 
 
 Maetin D. Harmon 
 John Z. Saxton 
 
 \ Trustees." 
 
 ELISHA TUCKER 
 
 Rev. Elisha Tucker D. D., pastor of the 
 Fredonia Baptist Church, 1823 to 1829, was, 
 during this formative period, in the early his- 
 
 39 
 
tory, an influential, and even a commanding 
 figure. He was Moderator at the formation 
 of the first Chautauqua Association. He was 
 also, Moderator for 1825, 1826, and 1827. 
 He was a man of fine personal appearance, 
 pleasing address, and an able preacher. In 
 the early, and sometimes troublous times with 
 the first Baptist churches, the counsels and 
 help of Dr. Tucker, were greatly valued. His 
 next pastorate, after leaving Fredonia, was 
 with the Washington Street Baptist Church 
 in Buffalo, 1831 to 1836. 
 
 C. W. Brooks, in the " Century of Missions 
 in the Empire State " says: — " The growth of 
 our resources, both physical and moral, has 
 more than kept pace with the increase of our 
 nmnbers. Why such growth? It has been 
 very largely due to the character of the first 
 and second generations of our Baptist minis- 
 ters." Of the ministers of the second gener- 
 ation, he says : — " They included such ministers 
 as Alfred Bennett, Nathaniel Kendrick, Daniel 
 HascaU, John Peck, Caleb Douglass, John 
 Blodgett, Lewis Leonard, Cornelious P. 
 Wycoff, Elon Galusha, John Smitzer, Bar- 
 tholomew T. Welch, Stephen H. Cone, Oliver 
 C. Comstock and Elisha Tucker." 
 
 Rev. Elisha Tucker D. D. died December 
 29, 1853. 
 
 40 
 
IN THE OLD (MAIN STREET) 
 CEMETERY 
 
 IT lies on a slightly roUing elevation of 
 ground; soil, dry typical main road 
 gravel; overlooking to the South and 
 West, a large part of the Village. 
 
 When, by the accidental fall of a tree, a 
 young life of only six years was crushed out, 
 and the settlers, for the first time, were brought 
 to the fact and necessity of a burying ground, 
 httle wonder that they made choice here; 
 Nature made this a beautiful spot. What- 
 ever other place in Fredonia may be omitted, 
 let no visitor fail to visit the Old Cemetery. 
 
 Reverently let us enter. What names are 
 recorded here? The hst includes such names 
 as : — Handy, Cushing, White, Adams, Rood, 
 Risley, Abell, Williams, Barker and many 
 others. 
 
 Not to all men is it given to become " Build- 
 ers of Empires." For these men, who simply 
 did what they could, impartial history records 
 that from the foundations wisely laid by their 
 labors and sacrifices time has developed great 
 results. " If you would see his mommaent, 
 look around you ". In all that goes to make 
 the streets, parks, public buildings, schools, 
 
 41 
 
churches and homes healthful, attractive, 
 quiet, beautiful — all honor to these first 
 buUders of the Village that is, perchance, the 
 City that is to be. 
 
 SOME EPITAPHS IN THE OLD CEMETEEY 
 
 " Rev. Joy Handy, died July 5, 1838. Aged 
 66 years. During 36 years teacher of the 
 Bible and for 15 years pastor of the Baptist 
 Church in Fredonia. " For he was a good 
 man " Acts 11-24." 
 
 " Sacred to the memory of Hon. Zattu 
 Gushing, who departed this life Jan 11 1839 
 in the 69th year of his life. 
 
 " Blessed are the dead who die in the 
 Lord " 
 
 "Dr. Squire White 1785-1857. His wife 
 Sally Barker 1795-1823. His wife Lydia C. 
 Cushing 1798-1886." 
 
 " Abner M. Williams — " His hfe he gave 
 to his Country, his body to the deep." 
 
 Note — This was the young man, son of 
 Richard and Sophia WUliams, who was kUled 
 1813 in the battle of Lake Erie. 
 
 "Richard Williams Born July 6 1773 
 Died Sept 20 1822 Sophia Morton, his wife. 
 Born Sept 25 1776 Died April 13 1854 " 
 
 " In Memory of Hezekiah Barker who died 
 July 5 1834 in the 78th year of his 
 age." 
 
 42 
 
Note: — this was the donor, to the Village, 
 of Lafayette Park. 
 
 "Levi Risley 1805-1889. Elijah Risley 
 Died Jan 8th 1870 Aged 82 yrs 8 months." 
 
 Note : — These two, with Wilham Risley, 
 were the founders of the first seed gardens in 
 Fredonia. 
 
 " The grave of Rev. Jairus Handy Born 
 April 30 1803; haptised June 1st 1825; Or- 
 dained August 30th 1826; Died Nov 7th 1831. 
 " Let the Judgment pronounce his worth ". 
 
 43 
 
1830-1839 
 
 Pastors — 1830 — Rev. David Bernard; 1831-33 — no 
 names given in the minutes; 1834-35 — Rev. Jira D. Cole; 
 1836-37 Rev. B. N. Leach; 1839 — Rev. John F- Bishop. 
 
 Meetings of the Association — 1830 — Carroll; 1831 — 
 Laona; 1832 — Portland; 1833 — Stockton; 1834 — Ash- 
 ville; 1835 — Mayville; 1836 — Harmony; 1837 — Forest- 
 ville; 1838 — Forestville; 1839 — Leon. 
 
 1832 — Delegates — Zattu Gushing, J. Adams, Thomas 
 Morton, J. W. Couch. 
 
 1833 — Delegates — Zattu Gushing, Thomas Morton, 
 Caleb Ward. 
 
 IN the first half of the period,— 1830-1839, 
 nearly or quite all of the churches of the 
 Association were the subjects of dissen- 
 sions on a topic then uppermost in the public 
 mind. Mr. J. A. Parsons of Forestville, a 
 Baptist brother of a judicial temperament in 
 his history (1872) of the Forestville church 
 says: 
 
 " It is my duty in this brief record to men- 
 tion one event in the history of the church, that 
 we would all perhaps be willing to forget. 
 
 About the year 1831, the church became di- 
 vided, making two separate churches. I will 
 not now give the causes which made this im- 
 happy separation, suffice it to say, that many 
 good honest Christian people went with each 
 branch, and after nearly three years of separa- 
 tion came together; forgetting their past dif- 
 
 44 
 
.^^w^^i 
 
 
 Jj^g^ % 
 
 \ 
 
 Vvii«iiN^-'| 
 
 \ 
 
 ^HiF^' ^^^«^ 
 
 sHI^ 
 
 ^^I^H^^^K ^"^^s^"?"^' 
 
 ^Bbk ' 
 
 r IH 
 
 
 i^B^^ 
 
 i 
 
 EEV. DAVID BERNARD 
 
ferences; and forgiving all supposed griev- 
 ances; and on the fourth day of February 
 1834 the two branches were united. 
 
 A quite similar experience was that of the 
 Fredonia church. After the storm — sun- 
 shine. The years immediately following the 
 imfortunate dissension of 1829-33, were un- 
 usually favored with revivals and large addi- 
 tions. The record of baptisms is — 1834 — 
 56; 1836 — 5; 1837 — 93, 1838 — 54, or 208 
 in all bringing the total membership in 1838 up 
 to 246. 
 
 DAVm BEB.NAKD 
 
 David Bernard, born in Utica, Oneida 
 Co., N. Y., Dec. 26, 1878. Read law 
 with Hon. Felix Grundy, in Nashville, Tenn., 
 1819-1820. Baptised in 1821, in Utica and 
 joined the Broad Street Church, Rev. E. P. 
 Willey, pastor, 1822 and 1823 in Columbia 
 College, Washington, D, C. Licensed to 
 preach by Broad Street Church, Utica, April, 
 1822. Ordained by a large council at Still- 
 water, N". Y., June 1, 1822. Pastor of that 
 church, one year; Covington two years; War- 
 saw two and one-half years; thence to Chau- 
 tauqua, Fredonia, Jamestown and Busti, 
 N. Y. From there to the Sixteenth Baptist 
 Church, New York City. From New York 
 City to Bedford, N. Y.; to Norristown, 
 Penna.; to Penfield, N. Y., to Elyria, 
 
 45 
 
Ohio; to Akron, Ohio, and to Chautau- 
 qua, N. Y. 
 
 In Chautauqua County, Rev. David Bernard 
 was pastor of the Fredonia Church in 1830 ; of 
 Laona Church in 1831, and on the organiza- 
 tion of the Baptist Church in Jamestown in 
 1832. In the History of the Busti Baptist 
 Church (1878) by Rev. A. W. Bush: — 
 " Rev. David Bernard became pastor of the 
 church in August, 1832, preaching here every 
 fourth Sunday. His ministry was blessed. 
 Several were converted and eighteen baptised. 
 Twenty years afterward, he was pastor here 
 again. * * * May 1, 1852 Elder David 
 Bernard was engaged as pastor. He re- 
 mained nearly four years. He was a power- 
 ful preacher. In the Spring of 1853, there 
 began a precious revival. Over thirty were 
 baptised into the church in 1853 and 1854. 
 Among them were James Sunderland, now 
 pastor of the First Baptist Church, Ottvunwa, 
 Iowa, who was baptised March 27, 1853, and 
 A. S. Bush, baptised the same day, licensed to 
 preach, by his church, September 20, 1855, and 
 now pastor at Arcade, N. Y. 
 
 Rev. Bernard was engaged in Bible agency 
 for 12 years, and assisted in revising some of 
 the books of the Bible. He baptised hun- 
 dreds of converts and was instrvmiental in 
 bringing thousands to Christ. Died July 1, 
 
 46 
 
1876 at Troy, N. Y., and was buried there in 
 beautiful Oakwood Cemetery. 
 
 He married Harriet BiUuigs of Saratoga, 
 N. Y. born February 26, 1807. She died 
 January 8, 1890, at Busti, N. Y., and was 
 buried in Troy, N. Y. 
 
 There were seven children: Of which Augus- 
 tus Newton, David BiUings, Charles Brock- 
 way, Franldin Livingston, and Mary Eliza- 
 beth, wife of Dr. Henry Hall of Jamestown, 
 N. Y., are not living. Harriet A. Bernard 
 Coburn, wife of Dr. Edward S. Coburn, now 
 of Troy, N. Y. Emma Sherwood Bernard, 
 is a resident of New Haven, Conn. 
 
 Mrs. Harriet BUlings Bernard was a 
 woman of rare personal and social gifts. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Bernard are pleasantly remembered 
 by many friends in Chautauqua county. 
 
 47 
 
ORGANIZATION OF DUNKIRK 
 BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
 {Taken from a historical sermon, preached in Dunkirk by 
 Rev. C. B. Parsons) 
 
 THE organization of the Baptist Church 
 in Dunkirk was accomphshed in the 
 following manner : — There were mem- 
 bers of the Baptist Church in Fredonia, living 
 in Dunkirk, who, feeling that they were de- 
 prived, at times, of rehgious privileges, 
 thought it their duty to organize themselves 
 into a church, if thought advisable by the 
 church, at Fredonia. They, therefore, laid 
 their request before that body; permission was 
 granted and a council was called to sit in the 
 village of Dunkirk, on the 17th of March, 
 1830. This council, as appears from its 
 records, was composed of fifteen delegates 
 from Baptist churches in Fredonia, Mayville 
 and Ripley. The ministers comprising it 
 were : — Jairus Handy and his father, Joy 
 Handy, Elisha Tucker, Waslungton Wind- 
 sor, and Jonathan Haskell. These were re- 
 markable men; pioneer ministers in this 
 county; of such sterling piety, self -forgetting 
 zeal for Christ's cause, and notable intellectual 
 vigor, that before their labor ceased in this 
 region, it was understood that the Baptist 
 Church in Chautauqua County was decidedly 
 in the advance of all other Christian denomi- 
 nations. 
 
 48 
 
For some reason, after hearing the wishes 
 of the brethren and sisters at Dunkirk, and 
 examining the articles of faith which they had 
 adopted, the council adjourned till May 5, 
 1830, when the little band was recognized as 
 the First Baptist Church of Dunkirk. The 
 names of the persons thus united, were : — 
 
 From Fredonia: — Benjamin F. Robbins, 
 James Hale, Moseley W. Abell, Abel Brown, 
 John Bond, James Barnaby, Daniel Bowen, 
 Levi Parson, Cordelia Teft, Uarian Robbins, 
 Nancy Church, Lavina Gates, Celinda Teft, 
 Ninett Bond, Elizabeth Fink, Eunice Ray- 
 mond, Susan Barnaby, Lucy Bowen, Lucy 
 Parsons, Abigail Woodcock. 
 
 From Coventry and Green: — Betsy Farns- 
 worth. 
 
 From Nelson: — Henry W. Ayers. 
 
 In all, there were twenty-two members of 
 the church, organized at this time, and twenty 
 of them were from the Fredonia Church. 
 
 JIEAH D. COLE 
 
 Jirah D. Cole, D. D., who for six years was 
 corresponding secretary of the State Mission- 
 ary Convention, was born in Catskill, N. Y. 
 January 4, 1802. His own account of his con- 
 version (February 25, 1821) says: " On the 
 following Lord's Day, March 4th, my father 
 and I and five others were baptised. In about 
 sixteen months I was licensed to preach, and in 
 
 49 
 
August, 1822, was received at the seminary 
 in Hamilton." 
 
 While in the seminary he was active in form- 
 ing a missionary society, the third one of the 
 kind in the United States. He graduated in 
 1826, and was ordained at Ogden, N. Y., Sep- 
 tember 12, 1827. He served as pastor or sup- 
 ply of the following churches in New York: 
 Greenville, Ogden, Fredonia, Second Roches- 
 ter, Parma, Fabius, Ithaca, Whitesborough, 
 and Nunda. 
 
 During the last two pastorates he served the 
 Missionary Convention as corresponding sec- 
 retary, from 1844 to 1850. This service was 
 given at a time when the Convention was pass- 
 ing an important crisis. Such men as Elon 
 Galusha and John Peck had retired from their 
 positions in its counsels ; the reaction from the 
 great revival of 1843 was being seriously felt, 
 and the relations with the Home Mission Soci- 
 ety were broken up. It was providential that 
 such a man as Dr. Cole was willing to take this 
 important position, which he filled with credit 
 to himself and greatly to the efficiency of the 
 work. 
 
 In 1850 he accepted the appointment of the 
 Missionary Union as general agent for the 
 Northwestern District with headquarters at 
 Chicago. In this service he continued seven 
 and one half years. 
 
 50 
 
In 1860 he again entered the pastorate, serv- 
 ing the churches at Barry, 111., Valparaiso, 
 Ind., Galva, Cordova, Atlanta, Lockport, 
 Rosette, and Neponsett, 111. This was his last 
 pastorate. In 1882 he retired from active 
 service in the ministry, and in February, 1883, 
 in the city of Chicago, passed quietly to his 
 eternal rest. 
 
 Doctor Cole was a man of great physical 
 endurance, possessed a clear mind, and was an 
 indefatigable worker. He rendered impor- 
 tant service with his pen, not only as secretary, 
 but as author and compiler of several works; 
 and was a frequent contributor to denomina- 
 tional periodicals. Few men in his day per- 
 formed more valuable service or left a better 
 record. 
 
 51 
 
1840-1849 
 
 FROM 1839 to Feb. 12, 1848, the 
 church was divided, one part meeting in 
 the meeting house and the other in the 
 Academy on the Opposite side of the street. 
 Pastors in one division were, 1840-1845 Rev. 
 John F. Bishop; 1846-1847 Rev. B. C. Wil- 
 loughby and Rev. S. P. Way. 
 
 The pastors in the division meeting in the 
 Academy were Rev, J. L. Richmond, Rev. A. 
 C. Barrell, Rev. Alfred Handy and Rev. 
 Ebenezer Loomis. 
 
 Mr. Madison in his history (1871) says: 
 
 " The usual alterations occurred in each of 
 the two bodies claiming to be the first Baptist 
 church in Pomf ret, but as I have not had access 
 to the records, I cannot give the statistics." 
 
 L. B. Grant was clerk of one division and 
 David Barrell clerk of the other. The basis 
 for a settlement was written by Rev. S. P.Way 
 and concurred in by a conference of ministers. 
 
 The basis was submitted to each body Feb. 
 12th, the day of covenant meeting. Each 
 separately adopted it, and then adjourned to 
 meet in the church Feb. 14, 1848, when on 
 motion of Dea. J. R. Parker it was mutually 
 adopted. 
 
 52 
 
Ebenezer Webster, John Hamilton, Sen. and 
 Joel R. Parker were elected deacons of the 
 church as now united. 
 
 A little later Almond Z. Madison was 
 elected clerk and treasurer. The first cove- 
 nant meeting occurred on Saturday, March 
 4th, when four recent converts were received 
 for baptism and membership. These were 
 baptised by Rev. B. C. WUloughby March 
 5. Rev. A. C. Barrell preached the same 
 afternoon, and the two ministers joined in the 
 administration of the Lord's Supper. 
 
 May 13, 1849, Rev. Salem T. Griswold be- 
 came pastor, remaining until August 9, 1850. 
 
 Meetings of the Association, 1840 — Sin- 
 clairville ; 1841 — Stockton ; 1842 — Forest- 
 ville; 1843 — Clear Creek; 1844 — EUery 
 Centre; 1845 — Silver Creek; 1846 — Sheri- 
 dan; 1847 — Fredonia; 1848-1849 — Stockton. 
 
 At a meeting at ForestviUe, 1842, the 
 church was represented by Rev. J. L. Rich- 
 mond, pastor and as delegates by A. D. Berry, 
 D. Sweet, A. Taylor, J. E. Norcross, J. 
 Moore, J. Hamilton ; number of members, 90. 
 
 At the meeting at Silver Creek (Angel Set- 
 tlement) in 1845 the church was represented 
 by Rev. John F. Bishop as pastor, and as dele- 
 gates, Dea. John MiUer, B. WiUoughby, 
 John Forbes, David Saxton, Lewis B. Grant; 
 number of members 282. 
 
 S3 
 
On June 21, 1829 a part of the 1st Pom- 
 fret church was set off by a council and the 
 2nd Baptist church in Pomfret was organized 
 at Laona. 
 
 May 1st, 1830 another part was set off by a 
 council and the Baptist Church in Dunkirk 
 was organized. 
 
 This dismissal of members to other Baptist 
 churches in adjoining towns as well as per- 
 haps other causes, resulted in reducing the 
 membership from 346 in 1838 to 210 in 1849. 
 
 BLISS C. WILLOUGHBY 
 
 Rev. B. C. Willoughby passed away July 
 28, 1906 at the advanced age of ninety-nine 
 years, six months and five days. His usual 
 vigor of both body and mind continued until 
 within a few years of the time of his decease. 
 He was known as a man of energy, persis- 
 tence and courage, characterized by strong 
 convictions, will power and enthusiasm. His 
 life, in a measure, both spiritually and tempo- 
 rally, was a success. 
 
 At 24 years of age he accepted Christ 
 as his redeemer and master, and at once 
 entered upon his service. After much fasting 
 and prayer, he felt assured that it was the 
 Lord's wiU that he should engage in the work 
 of the ministry, though conscious of unworthi- 
 ness and sensible of unfitness. 
 
 54 
 
He planned for special preparations at 
 Hamilton, but his purposes were providenti- 
 ally prevented from materializing, and his 
 special culture hmited to a few months under 
 the instruction of Rev. WiUiam Arthur, father 
 of ex-President Arthur, and a short time at 
 Wyoming Academy. 
 
 On returning to his home at Rutledge, Cat- 
 taraugus Co., and having received a license 
 to preach from the Wyoming Baptist church, 
 he began without delay to preach as he had op- 
 portimity; but it was not long before churches 
 asked for his service. From that time on he 
 worked with churches zealously, satisfactorily 
 and successfully. 
 
 The churches favored with his leadership 
 were Clear Creek, Cherry Creek, Randolph, 
 Fredonia, Stockton, Sheridan Centre, Eden, 
 Warren, Meadville, Pleasantville, Sinclairville, 
 Kennedy, Union City, and ISTapoli. 
 
 His time was largely spent with feeble, de- 
 clining, divided and discouraged churches, — 
 some of which, under the blessing of God, he 
 was instrumental in saving, apparently from 
 impending ruin, and generally infusing new 
 life, arousing to action, uniting discordant ele- 
 ments, buUding churches, enlarging congrega- 
 tions, increasing membership by baptisms, 
 and gaining the confidence of the community. 
 
 He acknowledged the efficient aid of a de- 
 
 55 
 
voted wife, who, though for some time a 
 staunch Presbyterian, became convinced after 
 special study of the Divine Word, that Baptist 
 doctrines were scriptural, and therefore joined 
 the Baptist Church. 
 
 Much time and hard work were devoted to 
 the preparation of his sermons, and he was 
 much in prayer for the blessing of God upon 
 his efforts. He preached the gospel as he be- 
 heved, according to the will of God and not 
 to please the people. He was tactful, saga- 
 cious, enthusiastic and a great worker. 
 
 It seems that he did not hesitate to take the 
 pastoral charge of any church, whatever its 
 condition, however forbidding its prospects. 
 His support did not trouble him, what the 
 church lacked in furnishing he supplied. He 
 served churches to build them up and glorify 
 God, and quit when he thought his work was 
 done. His work shows that success in the 
 ministry depends chiefly upon the Holy Spirit 
 and hard work. 
 
 J. A. Pickard, A. Dickson, jN". Crissey, com- 
 mittee to prepare obituary. 
 
 ALMOND C. BAERELL 
 
 Rev. Almon C. Barrell was of Scotch and 
 English descent. He was the oldest child of 
 Christian parents, who settled in northern New 
 York when it was a dense wilderness. He was 
 
 56 
 
REV. A. C. BARRELL 
 
born in Gouverneur, St. Lawrence Co., New 
 York, July 15th, 1813 and spent all his 
 life of nearly ninety years in his native State. 
 Working on his father's farm and attending 
 the neighborhood school, Mr. Barrell passed his 
 boyhood days. Later he was one of the first 
 class of pupils in the Gouverneur Academy. 
 When he was seventeen years of age, he was 
 converted and united with the Baptist Church 
 of Gouverneur, of which his father was an or- 
 dained deacon. 
 
 Soon after entering the Church, Mr. Barrell 
 decided to dedicate his life to the Christian 
 ministry. He, therefore, in 1836, entered the 
 Hamilton Theological Seminary, where, with 
 much self-sacrifice, and arduous labor, he pre- 
 pared himself for his holy calling. In 1837 
 he was hcensed to preach, by the Baptist 
 church in Hartford, N. Y. 
 
 The strenuous effort to gain an education, 
 resulted in illness, which obliged him to leave 
 the Seminary before his course of study was 
 complete. Greatly disappointed, he went to 
 Fredonia, N. Y., to recuperate and be with 
 friends. After a few months of rest, he was 
 able to preach at Laona, N. Y., and here Feb- 
 ruary 7, 1839, he was ordained as a minister of 
 the gospel and at the same time and place, was 
 married to Keziah E. Barber, of Fredonia, 
 N. Y. 
 
 57 
 
Mr. Barrell remained with the Laona church 
 about two years, where his work was greatly 
 blessed. The congregation increased in mem- 
 bers, a Sunday School was organized and the 
 moral tone of the entire community greatly 
 uphfted. 
 
 From Laona he removed to Fredonia, where 
 he served the church about three years. Then 
 followed a short pastorate at East Aurora, 
 N. Y. ; when, at the earnest request of the Fre- 
 donia Church, he returned there and again be- 
 came their pastor, from 1844-1848. Mr. Barrell 
 always referred to these years as the most crit- 
 ical in his ministry. The church had become 
 much weakened by division, but, under his 
 wise and careful guidance, it grew once more 
 into a united and harmonious body. Al- 
 though greatly desiring that he should con- 
 tinue to be their pastor, Mr. Barrell, believing 
 that the best interests of the church would be 
 promoted, by a stranger, resigned and went to 
 Warsaw, where he remained only one year and 
 a half. 
 
 From 1849-1855 Mr. Barrell was pastor of 
 the Baptist church in Leroy. Here his wife 
 died, leaving one son, George W. Barrell. 
 Two years later, Mr. Barrell was married to 
 Miss Selena L. Johnson, of Fredonia. From 
 Leroy, Mr. Barrell went, in 1855, to Albion, 
 where he gave the best years of his hfe. A 
 
 58 
 
church was built and dedicated, free of debt, 
 and a large number were added to the member- 
 ship. Mr. Barrell remained with this church 
 eight years. As a result of the changes 
 brought by the Civil War, family ties made it 
 seem imperative to him, to resign, at much 
 sacrifice to himself, his Albion pastorate; and 
 for three years, he devoted himself to the care 
 of others. In 1866 Mr. BarreU resumed his 
 pastoral work with the Ogden Baptist Church, 
 and continued it until 1872, when failing health 
 compelled him reluctantly to lay aside the work 
 he loved so well. 
 
 He removed to Albion in 1872, where he 
 spent the remainder of his life, an inspiration 
 to all who knew him — a noble. Christian 
 gentleman. 
 
 Rarely has one passed his declining years in 
 a commimity and left so many sweet and 
 lasting memories of a beautiful hfe. His 
 genial spirit and the perfect sincerity of his 
 purpose to be of service to others, could but 
 attract yoxmg and old to him. He was pos- 
 sessed of excellent judgment and as a pastor, 
 or friend, was often appealed to for advice and 
 counsel. 
 
 Mr. Barrell was called an ideal pastor. He 
 loved to preach the gospel, and many were won 
 to the Saviour, through his influence. His face 
 and voice expressed the kindliness he felt in 
 
 59 
 
his heart; and those in trouble were comforted 
 and helped under his ministrations. He 
 shared the burdens others carried, and his rare 
 words of sympathy and his prayers brought 
 renewed courage to those in sorrow. 
 
 Mr. Barrell was devoted to the interests of 
 the Albion church — helpful and beloved. His 
 last pastor spoke of him as " simply a delight 
 to him." With his mission of service here fin- 
 ished, with the faith of a little child, and with 
 that perfect love that casteth out fear, he en- 
 tered, on the morning of October 28, 1902, into 
 the presence of his Redeemer, to go out no 
 more forever. 
 
 REV. SATEM T. GRISWOLD 
 
 He died in Greenfield, Ohio, August 22nd in 
 his 71st year. He was born in Penfield, N. Y., 
 July 4th 1813. Jan 7th 1840, he was married 
 to Miss Minerva P. Durf ee, who survives him. 
 He first experienced the joys of salvation in 
 1829, and became a promising member of 
 the Baptist Church in his native town. He 
 was licensed to preach by his home church in- 
 1833, and soon after went to Madison Uni- 
 versity to prepare for more efficient work in 
 the Gospel ministry. He remained at Madi- 
 son three years, when he was ordained in Clin- 
 ton, Canada West. His second pastorate was 
 at Marion, N. Y. Here he remained five 
 
 60 
 
REV. S. T. GRISWOLD 
 
years, and some 200 persons were added to this 
 church in this time. He was next settled over 
 the Baptist Church in Fairport, and from there 
 he went to Fredonia, where he found the 
 Church much divided, but left them working 
 harmoniously and faithfully. In 1852 he re- 
 moved to Ohio, and settled with the Church at 
 Lancaster. This pastorate lasted two years. 
 In 1857 he removed to Columbus, where he 
 bought property, and resided for about seven- 
 teen years. During this time he supplied the 
 Baptist Churches at West Jefferson and Jer- 
 sey, and at intervals was agent for the Ameri- 
 can Baptist Foreign Missionary Society. His 
 next pastorate was at Johnstown, and while 
 there, in 1862, he enhsted as Chaplain in the 
 Fortieth Regiment Ohio Volimteers. He was 
 in the army not quite two years when the 
 war closed. In the constant exposure of a 
 Southern tramp he contracted the disease that 
 led to the fatal paralysis. When he entered 
 the army he was a rare specimen of a sound, 
 healthy man. In January 1872 he was called 
 from Johnstown to Greenfield, where he re- 
 mained for seven years, during which over sev- 
 enty persons were received into the Church. 
 From Greenfield he removed to Washington- 
 Court-House and remained a year and a half, 
 when he was stricken with paralysis, and his 
 formal pastoral work was ended. He re- 
 el 
 
turned to Greenfield, and after two years of 
 patient waiting his happy spirit took its flight. 
 His loved and faithful wife lived to mourn his 
 departure. 
 
 He was a man of sterling character and 
 sound judgment. He had a good report of 
 all who knew him. As a preacher he was 
 strong and scholarly, not afraid of the counsel 
 of God, nor to declare it to men. He had 
 clung with aU the force of his nature, yet he 
 was kind and gentle towards those of opposite 
 minds. As a friend he was genial and re- 
 freshing. He was pre-eminently a man of 
 heavenly mind, full of the gospel, full of com- 
 fort, and with a mind cheerful and bright. 
 His sick-room was ht up by a confidence and 
 trust that knew no doubting. Never a mur- 
 mur escaped his lips through aU the long 
 months of waiting. His funeral sermon was 
 preached, by request, from 2 Tim. 1: 12, by 
 Rev. J. L. Smith, his pastor. 
 
 Minerva P. Griswold, widow of Rev. S. T. 
 Griswold, was born in New York State, April 
 30th, 1819. At the age of 11 years she became 
 convinced of sin, and soon after found evi- 
 dence that she had given her heart to Jesus. 
 At 16 she united with the Baptist Church 
 at Penfield, Monroe County, N. Y. Five 
 years later, Jan. 7th 1840 she was married to 
 Rev. Salem T. Griswold. In 1852, she with 
 
 62 
 
her husband, left New York and came to Ohio. 
 On his settlement in Greenfield in 1872, as 
 pastor of the First Baptist Church, she be- 
 came a resident of this place. At the close of 
 his pastorate in 1879, they removed first to one 
 and then another adjoining town after a lapse 
 of two or three years, returned to find here 
 their permanent home. She was left a widow, 
 Aug 22 1883, and died at her residence, corner 
 Sixth and Lafayette Streets, Greenfield Oct. 
 11 1889. 
 
 Mrs. Griswold was a Christian woman of 
 notable grace and strength of character, spir- 
 itually minded, and abundant in good works. 
 As a church member she was faithful, earnest, 
 benevolent and active almost beyond her 
 strength. As pastor's wife she was a de- 
 voted, untiring helpmeet both in the care of 
 their home, which was always a model of 
 neatness, and in the cares of the Church, shar- 
 ing with her husband intelligently, bravely and 
 with fervent spirit the many trials, anxieties 
 and arduous labors which are a part of the 
 heritage of the pastoral calling. S. F. M. 
 
 63 
 
1850-1859 
 
 PASTORS 
 
 1850 — S. T. Griswold. 
 
 1851-1855, A. Kingsbury. 
 
 1856-1857, Chas. N. Chandler. 
 
 1858-1859, A. Wheelock, D. D. 
 
 Church Clerk — A. Z. Madison. 
 
 S. S. Superintendent — John Hamilton, Jr. 
 
 MEETING OF ERIE ASSOCIATION 
 
 1850 — CherryCreek; 1851 — Fredonia; 1852 — Nash- 
 ville; 1853 — Randolph; 1854 — Ellmgton; 1855 — Stock- 
 ton; 1856 — Fredonia; 1857 — Cherry Creek; 1858 — 
 Sinclairville ; 1859 — Forestville. 
 
 REVIVAL OF 1851-1852 
 
 IT was a time of great spiritual declension 
 in the churches; but a few, devout, soul- 
 burdened men determined to meet each 
 afternoon and, continuing in prayer^ " wait for 
 the blessing." 
 
 A terrible storm raged day after day and the 
 snow was drifted high around the church, but, 
 nothing daunted, they took turns in shoveling 
 paths and building the wood fire. Thus they 
 met, and prayed, and waited. Towards the 
 close of the second week, the storm abating, 
 others began to attend. Soon the awakening 
 spread throughout the entire community and 
 the country around. Sixty-five persons were 
 received into the Baptist church, and there 
 
 64 
 
REV. A. KINGSBURY 
 
were also large accessions to the Presbyterian 
 and Methodist churches. 
 
 The continued praying and confident wait- 
 ing of that handful of consecrated men, de- 
 spite the storm and discouraging outlook, re- 
 calls the Hay- Stack meeting one hundred 
 years ago, at WiUiamstown, Mass. In one 
 case the prayers were for Fredonia; in the 
 other, for the heathen world. 
 
 Those God-honoring men. Rev. Arnold 
 Kingsbury, Pastor, Messrs. John Hamilton, 
 Jr., Dwight A. Woodruff, Joel R. Parker 
 and Thomas B. Sweet, have gone beyond the 
 reach of earthly praise, and to God alone, if 
 they were here, they would give all the glory; 
 stUl, — when such men there are, and through 
 such manifestation of faith they so honor 
 Christ and so bless the Church, they deserve the 
 Church's acknowledgment. — Mes. J. H. Jr. 
 
 REV. A. KINGSBURY THE RECORD OF A NOBLE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 Died, in Fredonia, N. Y., June 8, 1893, Rev. 
 A. Kingsbury, in his eightieth year. 
 
 His youth was passed in a New England 
 home, under the shadow of the Green Moun- 
 tains, in the state severe of climate, infertile 
 of soU, yielding scanty export of food prod- 
 ucts, but sending forth her full share of men 
 of mind and destiny. There were thirteen 
 
 6S 
 
children under the parental roof, seven sons 
 and six daughters. Four of the sons became 
 ministers and the fifth barely missed the pulpit 
 that he might make an excellent deacon. Con- 
 verted at sixteen and following the prevailing 
 family inclination he early began to exhort, 
 and soon after, by an irresistible evolution, to 
 preach. 
 
 Fifty-six years ago last May he married 
 Corneha M. Stone and the next day he was 
 ordained to the Baptist ministry. They were 
 two red letter days. In the one he solemnly 
 entered the noblest profession known to 
 men, and in the other he secured what every 
 minister needs, a loyal, accomplished, conse- 
 crated wife. His first pastorates were in New 
 Hampshire and Vermont. Besides regular 
 pastoral service, he engaged much in special 
 evangelistic work. Going to Winfield, N. Y., 
 to hold protracted meetings, he received and 
 accepted a call to the pastorate there. His 
 next fields were Pittsfield, Mass., Saratoga 
 Springs and Albany. While at Saratoga 
 there was a severe visitation of cholera. Fear- 
 less of danger he gave personal care to the 
 sick and for the time being the parsonage be- 
 came a hospital. It was during these last pas- 
 torates that he formed the acquaintance and 
 friendship of such men as Francis Wayland, 
 George B. Ide, and ex-Governor Briggs. 
 
 66 
 
At the capitol city he received an invitation 
 to visit Fredonia. He came, staid two weeks, 
 with the result that Dea. Barrell, on his way 
 to New York to buy goods, stopped off at 
 Albany and notified the family, saying in his 
 cordial, enthusiastic way, " we shall certainly 
 keep him." In the year after his settlement 
 here there was a great revival, upwards of one 
 hundred uniting by profession and by letter. 
 As so often occurs this spiritual upbuilding was 
 followed by a material advance and the next 
 year the present church edifice was built. His 
 subsequent pastorates were Adrian, Mich., El- 
 bridge, N. Y., and Jamestown, Stockton and 
 Cassadaga, in this county. As a preacher his 
 characteristics are weU known. He selected 
 strong doctrinal proof texts. He took broad, 
 comprehensive views of Bible doctrine. " He 
 preferred," he said, " to sail down the middle 
 of the stream, avoiding the shallows and eddies 
 of near shore currents." His statements were 
 clear and logical, his illustrations feUcitous, 
 his memory of remarkable tenacity. He could 
 readily repeat many of Watt's hymns and 
 copious selections from the poets. In the tem- 
 perance reform he gave addresses as long ago 
 as the Washingtonian Movement, and was a 
 life-long worker in the cause. His success as a 
 pastor is shown by the fact that he was thrice 
 called for the second time to the pastorate of 
 
 67 
 
churches he had served. His sympathetic nature 
 peculiarly fitted him to speak words of comfort 
 to the mourner, and few clergymen ever lived 
 in this county who have officiated at so many 
 funerals. In his last days, enfeebled by age 
 and disease, it was very hard for him to decline 
 the frequent calls made to minister the last 
 sad rites of the dead. Some of his addresses 
 on these occasions were masterpieces of con- 
 densed thought and real eloquence. 
 
 But the end must come, and a noble lif ework 
 as pastor, counselor, evangehst, and sympathiz- 
 ing friend, must draw to a close. At the be- 
 ginning of one of the rare June days his spirit 
 took its flight and he calmly and sweetly fell 
 asleep in Jesus. It became his to enter upon 
 the glorious reality of the future life, the bliss- 
 ful immortality of the righteous dead, so 
 long his favorite theme of study and ad- 
 dress. 
 
 The funeral services were held Sunday af- 
 ternoon, in the Baptist church. Remarks 
 were made by his pastor C. E. Smith, D. D., 
 Rev. J. H. Miller and Dr. F. B. Pahner. Rev. 
 G. O. King offered the closing prayer. The 
 exercises were simple, impressive and appro- 
 priate to the character of the deceased. The 
 musical selections were admirably rendered by 
 the church choir. From out of town there 
 were present Mr. and Mrs. Newton Crissey, of 
 
 68 
 
REV. A. WHEELOCK, D. D. 
 
Jamestown, Mr. J. D. Crissey and Mrs. S. M. 
 Crissey, of Stockton. 
 
 Rev. Kingsbury leaves a widow and three 
 children: Mrs. Ella K, Crissey, Miss Mary 
 Kingsbury, and William S. Kingsbury. 
 Richard Watson, the oldest child, died, aged 
 twelve, at the time the family lived in Winfield, 
 N. Y. Newton K. Crissey, of Fredonia, is 
 the only grandchild. Newton K. Crissey died 
 July, 1900, at Fort Wayne, Ind. — C. 
 
 EEV. ALONZO WHEELOCK, D. D. 
 
 Alonzo Wheelock was born in Fish-Creek- 
 Flats, Oneida county, N. Y., February 7, 1804. 
 
 He graduated from the Hamilton Literary 
 and Theological Institute at Hamilton, 'N. Y., 
 in 1833. He also received an A. M. in 1846 
 and D. D. in 1857, the name at both dates 
 being Madison University. He entered the 
 Seminary at Hamilton from Panton, Ver- 
 mont. He worked his way through school, 
 having no pecuniary assistance from anyone. 
 His first pastorate was at Delphi, N. Y., where 
 he was ordained. His next pastorate was at 
 Owego, N. Y. He was pastor at Norwich, 
 1838-1840. He was pastor of Sixteenth 
 Street, New York City, 1840-1850; at El- 
 bridge, N. Y., 1850-1853; at Fredonia, N. Y., 
 1857-1861; at Piqua, Ohio, 1863-1864. This 
 was his last pastorate. He hved in Fredonia 
 
 69 
 
from 1864 to the time of his death, February 
 25, 1873. 
 
 He married Esther Wells, June 6, 1833. 
 She died and he married Elizabeth Maria 
 Bacon, November 7, 1836. By his second 
 marriage there were two daughters, Mary 
 Ester Wheelock, born in Owego, Aug. 9, 
 1838, and Lillian Wheelock, now Mrs. Judge 
 Johnston, of Piqua, Ohio. Mary E. Wheel- 
 ock married J. J. Parker of Fredonia, N. Y. 
 
 Dr. WTieelock was an excellent pastor, a 
 safe, discreet, counsellor, and a most careful 
 and critical student of the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 At the regular weekly prayer meetings his 
 expositions of the chapter read were always of 
 remarkable freshness of treatment, lucidity of 
 analysis, and simplicity of expression. 
 
 While pastor in New York City, he was sent 
 as a delegate to a World's Convention in Lon- 
 don, England. 
 
 Elizabeth M. B. Wheelock was born March 
 6, 1815, in Leroy, N. Y. (or Rochester, N. Y.) . 
 She died at the home of J. J. Parker, Fredonia, 
 N. Y., February 1, 1891. 
 
 JOHN HAMILTON^ JR. 
 
 John Hamilton, Jr., was born in the tovm 
 of Hope, Hamilton county, N. Y., July 5, 
 1827. He was of Scotch and French Hugue- 
 not descent. In his boyhood he moved with 
 
 70 
 
JOHN HAMILTON, JR. 
 
his parents, Dea. John Hamilton, of Provi- 
 dence, R. I., and Olive J. Millard, to Chautau- 
 qua county, and lived for a time at Milford 
 and Van Buren. After attending the West- 
 field Academy, he entered the mercantile busi- 
 ness and was a prominent merchant of Fre- 
 donia for eighteen years. Later his business 
 was for many years in New York City. 
 
 During a portion of this time he resided at 
 Orange, N. J. In 1880 he returned to Fre- 
 donia, and made this village his home until the 
 time of his death, March 22, 1898. 
 
 Mr. Hamilton married, February 18, 1849, 
 Augusta E. C. Ely, daughter of Rev. Judah 
 Ely, of Lyme, Conn., and Irene Stetson, of 
 Boston, Mass. Their children are Mary 
 Angehne, of Fredonia; Irene Stetson, wife of 
 Professor Edward S. Burgess, Ph. D., of New 
 York City; George Stetson, of Buffalo, 
 N. Y., and Theodore Ely, Ph. D., a graduate 
 of Harvard University. 
 
 Mr. Hamilton united with the Baptist 
 Church of Fredonia in 1839. For eighteen 
 years he was superintendent of the Sunday 
 School, during which period more than three 
 hundred of his pupils became members of the 
 Baptist or of other churches. One of the most 
 remarkable revivals in the history of Fredonia 
 was inaugurated by the daily prayer meetings 
 held by the pastor. Rev. A. Kingsbury, to- 
 
 71 
 
gether with Mr. Hamilton and a few other 
 consecrated men. He also maintained, for ten 
 years, a Sabbath School in Laona. 
 
 During his residence in New York City he 
 was a leader in the mission and Sunday School 
 work, and did valiant service in raising the 
 fallen and in leading young and old to Christ. 
 At one time he, with other Christian 
 workers, conducted prayer meetings at 
 the most notorious saloon in the city, 
 and it was there that Jerry MacAuley was 
 converted. 
 
 Mr. Hamilton was a man of rare gifts and 
 charming personality. He was universally 
 respected and beloved. His intense loyalty to 
 Christ and the church; his intelligent interest 
 in the church's duties and doings ; his profound 
 reverence for the Word of God, and acciu*ate 
 knowledge of its teachings; his scrupulous 
 business integrity; his liberal views and large- 
 hearted charity towards others — these and 
 other qualities made him stand out a conspicu- 
 ous example of a man all whose energies of 
 body and mind were consecrated to the service 
 of Christ and the welfare of mankind. His 
 whole life was irradiated with the love which 
 transfigures. 
 
 The following from the New York Exam- 
 iner, April 14, 1898, was written by Rev. Ed- 
 ward Judson, D. D., pastor of the Baptist 
 
 72 
 
church of Orange, N. J., of which Mr. Ham- 
 ilton had been a member: — 
 
 " The death of Mr. Hamilton, at his home 
 in Fredonia, N. Y., on March 22d, has caused 
 me painful surprise. He was one of my 
 helpers in the North Orange church, 
 a man of large inteUigence, warm sym- 
 pathy, kindly manners, and deep Christian 
 devotion. He was a life member of the 
 American Baptist Missionary Union, the 
 American Baptist Home Mission Society, the 
 American Foreign Bible Society, and the 
 American Sunday School Union. During his 
 long residence in New York, as a dry-goods 
 merchant, he won the respect of all who knew 
 him, by his uprightness, geniality, and busi- 
 ness ability. And besides this, he was deeply 
 interested in every form of Christian philan- 
 thropy — in the work among the prisoners and 
 the street Arabs, at the Five Points House of 
 Industry, and in behalf of the Home for the 
 Friendless. He did good work as a lay 
 preacher. He was superintendent of the 
 Bethlehem mission, assistant of the Howard 
 mission, and secretary and treasurer of the 
 New York City Sunday School Association. 
 By a hf e fruitful in good works he adorned 
 the faith which he openly professed — a fine 
 illustration of the poet's words : — 
 
 " ' A heart at leisure from itself. 
 To soothe and sympathize.' " 
 
 73 
 
1860-1869 
 
 Pastors — 1860 —A. Wheelock, D. D. ; 1861-62 — Rev. 
 Geo. D. Downey; 1863-1868 — Rev. Howard M. Jones; 
 1 869 — Rev. Charles Thompson. 
 
 Church Clerk — A. Z. Madison. 
 
 Meeting of Association — I860 — EUery Center; I86I 
 
 — Nashville ; 1 862 — Stockton ; 1 863 — Randolph ; 1 864 — 
 Fredonia; 1865 — Forestville; 1866— Cherry Creek;1867 
 
 — Sinclairville ; 1868 — Stockton; I869 — Kennedy. 
 
 JOEL R. PARKER 
 
 DEACON JOEL K. PAEKER WAS BORN IN BOONE- 
 VILLEj N. Y. FEBRUARY 16TH.j 1812 
 
 DIED IN EEEDONIAj N. Y. FEBRUARY 14TH. 1862 
 
 (Siographical Sketch by Rev. A. Wheelock, D. D.) 
 
 DEACON PARKER'S death plunged 
 the whole community in grief. He 
 was one of our principal business men, 
 held an important place in every beneficent en- 
 terprise, and was one of the most loved ones 
 of the church of which he was a member, and 
 indeed of all the churches in the place. The 
 old and the young, the rich and the poor, the 
 professor of religion and the non-professor, 
 aU alike lamented his death, and all felt that 
 they had lost a friend. A large concourse 
 from this and the adjoining towns, with sev- 
 eral clergymen, attended his funeral. Rev. 
 A. Wheelock, his former pastor, spoke from 
 
 74 
 
J. E. PARKER 
 
Phil, i, 21. " For to me to live is Christ, and 
 to die is gain." A sentiment exemplified in 
 the christian hf e of our departed friend. 
 
 Dea. Parker was possessed of a sound and 
 discriminating mind, a large and benevolent 
 heart, and a charitable and forgiving disposi- 
 tion. However great the provocation he could 
 not hold a grudge, or cherish revenge. He 
 would often apologize where others would 
 severely censure. In the church, though great 
 in the confidence and affections of aU, he was 
 ever meek and retiring — full of condescen- 
 sion. Though fuU of business, he always 
 filled his place in the social gatherings of the 
 church, and took part in its worship. When 
 his seat was vacant, we always expected he was 
 sick or out of town. He possessed large 
 means, and used it hberally for the support of 
 the Gospel at home and abroad. In the busi- 
 ness of the church and in its discipline, his 
 judgment was most valuable. 
 
 The following resolutions of the Directors 
 of the " Fredonia Bank ", shows the estimate 
 in which he was held as a business man: 
 
 " It having pleased God, by a very sudden 
 and unexpected stroke of His hand, to remove 
 from this world and from his connection with 
 this Board, our friend and brother, Joel R. 
 Parker, Vice-President of this Bank, we offer 
 this tribute to his memory: 
 
 75 
 
Resolyed^ That in the death of Joel R. 
 Parker this Board loses an amiable and genial 
 companion, a very capable, judicious and effi- 
 cient officer, and an associate, whose careful 
 counsels have contributed very largely to the 
 prosperity and success of this institution. 
 
 ResolveDj That in his business intercourse 
 with the world, in his connection with the 
 church to which he was attached, in his social 
 relations with the citizens of this village, in his 
 unostentatious and liberal contributions, from 
 his abundant means, to all objects of charity or 
 purposes of patriotism, and his proverbial lib- 
 erality to the poor, he exemplified the charac- 
 ter of the true man — and that he possessed in 
 an eminent degree that indispensable qual- 
 ity of character, unyielding integrity; and that 
 we bear of him, in the highest sense, the testi- 
 mony which Luke bore of Barnabas, " He was 
 a good man." 
 
 ResolveDj That we tender to the family of 
 the deceased our sincere sympathy in this their 
 sore affiction, and commend them to the keep- 
 ing of Him " who tempers the wind to the 
 shorn lamb ", 
 
 Joel R. Parker married Lovina Scott, Jan- 
 uary 12th 1837. Their children — Julius 
 Joel, Julia Lovina (Mrs. Julia P. Clark) were 
 born Feb 9, 1838. Calista Lucy Parker born 
 April 1st 1841 (Mrs. C. L. P. Brown) died in 
 
 76 
 
EEV. HOWARD M. JONES 
 
Springfield, Mo. March 1st 1898. Cornelius 
 Walter Parker born May 16th 1842, died Nov 
 27 1864 in hospital at Beaufort, S. C, Pulaski 
 Martin Parker, born March 9th 1844, died 
 Nov 17th 1906 — Henry Christopher, born 
 Sept 24 1846, died Oct 29th 1847. 
 
 HOWAIID MALCOM JONES 
 
 The Rev, Howard Malcom Jones was born 
 in Bangkok, Siam, July 19th, 1834. His 
 father. Rev. John Taylor Jones, D. D., was 
 for many years a missionary. When Howard 
 was about four years of age, his mother died 
 of Asiatic Cholera, and the father sent his son 
 and daughter, two years younger, to this coun- 
 try to be educated and cared for by an aunt. 
 He graduated at Brown University in 1853. 
 During his college course he accepted Jesus 
 Christ as his personal Saviour and soon after 
 he entered Newton Theological Seminary, 
 graduating in 1857. He visited Egypt and 
 the Holy Land and other countries in Europe. 
 His first pastorate was at Schoolcraft, Mich., 
 During this pastorate he married the eldest 
 daughter of Dr. S. F. Smith, author of our 
 national hymn, America, and many others. He 
 had pastorates in Racine, Wis., Fredonia, New 
 York, Bristol, R. I., Shelburne Falls, Mass. 
 In 1883, he came to Albert Lea, Minn., where 
 his wife died in 1885, leaving one son, Harry 
 
 77 
 
W. Jones, now an architect, of Minneapolis. 
 He was married a second time and this wife 
 and a daughter, Gladys, survive him. He had 
 pastorates in Fairfield, Cedar Falls, LeMars, 
 Clear Lake, Iowa, and in LeSeur, Minn. His 
 tastes were literary and he wrote much for the 
 rehgious press and for literary reviews. He 
 traveled extensively in Europe, Egypt and the 
 Holy Land. He died at his home at Cedar 
 Falls, Iowa, of Brights disease, Feb. 28, 1903. 
 His loss was deeply felt by the communities in 
 which he lived in his later life as he believed 
 thoroughly in practicing what he preached and 
 followed as near as possible the example of his 
 Divine Master in becoming a blessing to his 
 feUowmen. 
 
 STORY or THE BELL 
 
 Diary 1866 of Deacon David Barrell. 
 
 Tuesday, July 24 — Took the first Bus for 
 Dunkirk, Buffalo and Troy. Spent the 
 night with RusseU and Maria at Adams 
 Basin, N. Y. 
 
 Wednesday, July 25 — Maria called me up 
 when she had my breakfast ready to take the 
 early train via Brockport to Rochester and 
 so on to Troy. Arrived in Troy in P. M., 
 stopped at Mansion House; went directly 
 about my business looking for a beU for our 
 church. 
 
 Thursday, July 26 — After full investigation 
 
 78 
 
and finding no bell of size and tone desired, 
 
 engaged Jones & Co to cast one. Quite 
 
 pleased with the arrangements made with 
 
 them, 
 Monday August 13th — Our Church bell 
 
 that I purchased in Troy arrived this 
 
 A.M. 
 Tuesday, Aug. 14th — Mr. Burch, of the firm 
 
 of Jones & Co of Troy, came this A. M., to 
 
 raise the bell at Church. I went to work 
 
 with him and just at night got it up and safe 
 
 on timbers in the tower. 
 Wednesday, Aug. 15th — Mr. Grant worked 
 
 at church and they got the bell hung and 
 
 rung it at noon. A beautiful sounding beU. 
 
 In P. M., paid Mr. B., for it and he left for 
 
 home. 
 Monday, Aug. 20th — Mr. Grant went to 
 
 work with Mr. Wolf ers at the church steps, 
 
 buUding them all anew. 
 Sunday — Sept 2nd — I obeyed the summons 
 
 of our new bell and went to church in A. M., 
 
 and commimion in P. M. 
 Sunday — June 7th 1868 — Our fine bell in 
 
 church was cracked in ringing at 10 o'clock 
 
 this A. M. 
 Monday — June 8th — worked most the day 
 
 in church tower examining beU. Decided it 
 
 is cracked, though we can find no place. 
 Monday — June 15th — Received letter from 
 
 79 
 
Jones & Co., Troy (they commenced tearing 
 out basement of Church to-day) . 
 
 Tuesday — June 16th — G. IST. M., found 
 crack in our church bell. 
 
 Thursday — June 18th — Wrote Jones & Co., 
 of Troy. 
 
 Friday — July 3rd — Received a very satis- 
 factory letter from Jones & Co., about bell. 
 
 Thursday — July 9th — Received letter from 
 Jones & Co., of Troy. 
 
 Monday — July 13th — Wrote Jones & Co. 
 
 Friday — July 24th — Received bill of bell 
 from Troy. 
 
 Monday — July 27th — At evening heard 
 our Church bell had arrived at Dunkirk. 
 Sent telegram to Jones & Co. 
 
 Tuesday — July 28th — Got the bell from 
 Dunkirk and things together for raising it. 
 
 Thursday — July 30th — Jones came at 9 A. 
 M. Went to work and lowered the old bell 
 and raised and hung the new one. All fin- 
 ished in P. M., and settled with Mr. Jones 
 and he returned at evening. 
 
 Friday — July 31st — Finished up things in 
 tower of church in A. M. and shipped off 
 the old bell. 
 
 80 
 
REV. CHARLES THOMPSON 
 
1870-1879 
 
 Pastors — 1 870-72 — Rev. Charles Thompson ; 1873-79 
 
 — Rev. Lester Williams, Jr. 
 
 Clerk — 1870-79 — A. Z. Madison. 
 
 S. S. Superintendent— 1870-73 — S. S.Crissey; 1874-78 
 
 — Mrs. L. K. Lathrop; 1879 — Dr. F- B. Palmer. 
 Meetings of Association. 
 
 1870 — Dunkirk; 1871— EUery; 1872 — Randolph; 
 1873 — Forestville; 1874 — Cherry Creek; 1875— Fre- 
 donia; 1876 — Stockton; 1877— Ellery; 1878— Dunkirk; 
 1 879 — Point Chautauqua. 
 
 Meetings Baptist S. S. Convention. 
 
 1870 — Westfield; 1871 — Jamestown; 1872 — Fredonia. 
 
 REV. CHARLES THOMPSON 
 
 ( Written by A. Z. Madison) 
 
 FATHER THOMPSON was born in 
 Dublin, Ireland. He was converted in 
 early life, and preached the gospel for 
 twenty-eight years in England, Ireland and 
 Wales. He came to this country when fifty 
 years of age. His first settlement here as a 
 pastor was with the 2nd Baptist church in 
 Rochester, N. Y. He subsequently spent 
 eighteen years in the West laboring in Ottawa 
 111. Iowa City and Washington, la. His 
 last pastorate was in Fredonia. 
 
 The members of his church for more than 
 three years were enriched by his instructions 
 and the counsels of his ripe experience and 
 
 81 
 
knowledge of Divine truth. He was a min- 
 ister of the gospel for fifty-seven years, as a 
 preacher he was plain pointed, pungent, and 
 clearly presented truth to the hearts and con- 
 sciences of men. He loved the doctrines of 
 grace and founded all his hopes on the finished 
 work of Christ. 
 
 His end was peaceful. The last words he 
 was heard to utter were "O death! come 
 through Christ my Lord." This ended his long 
 and useful life. May the mantle of this 
 Elijah fall on many an Elisha. 
 
 REV. LESTER WILLIAMS^ JR. 
 
 Rev. Lester WiUiams, eldest son of Lester 
 and Cynthia Becker WiUiams, was horn in 
 West Springfield, Massachusetts, July 24th 
 1823. He fitted for College with the late 
 Rev. Sandford Lawton, of Springfield, and 
 was graduated from Amherst College in the 
 class of 1844. After leaving CoUege, he 
 studied Law with E. D. Beach of Springfield 
 and was admitted to the Bar in 1846. Upon 
 his admission to the Bar, Mr. WiUiams went 
 to KnoxviUe, Tenn., and continued to practice 
 his profession there until 1848. Becoming 
 converted in that year, he took up the study 
 of Theology and for the two foUowing years 
 continued to study and preach. Leaving 
 Tennessee in 1851, he was ordained at Russell, 
 
 82 
 
Massachusetts, in August of that year, and 
 served the Baptist church there as pastor for 
 three years. Subsequently he was pastor of 
 the Baptist Churches at West Townsend, 
 Mass., for six years; at Holden, Mass., for 
 six years; at Oswego, N. Y, for four years; 
 and at Fredonia, N. Y. for seven years, from 
 1873 to 1880. 
 
 In 1866 Mr. Williams again went South 
 and became Superintendent of the Colored 
 Refugee Home at Camp Nelson, Ky. He also 
 served as Chaplain of the Mississippi Consti- 
 tutional Convention in 1868. 
 
 After leaving Fredonia in 1880, his last pas- 
 torate, Mr. Williams spent the remaining five 
 years of his life in his native town. West 
 Springfield Mass. During those last years, 
 his time was occupied with many and varied 
 activities, — caring for his widowed mother; 
 managing the estate left by his father; preach- 
 ing as supply for neighboring churches; serv- 
 ing the Town on the School Board for four 
 years, much of the time as Chairman of the 
 Board ; oflBciating during his last year as Chap- 
 lain of the Hampden County Jail. He died 
 October 24 1885 as the result of an accident 
 upon the railroad. 
 
 Mr. Williams was twice married; Sept 26th 
 184)8 to Frances L., daughter of WiUiam 
 Clough, who died in Holden Sept 7th 1861; 
 
 83 
 
and October 9th 1862, to Ann E., daughter of 
 Waterman G. Warren of Holden. 
 
 Mr. Williams was unusually tall, erect in 
 carriage and dignified in manner. " He was 
 a man of vigorous mind, original thought and 
 effective address. His preaching had char- 
 acteristics peculiar to itself. He never trav- 
 eled in any beaten path, but in his unfolding 
 of the Scripture generally brought forth some- 
 thing unobserved by others. If, occasionally, 
 his labored thinking could not find clear ex- 
 pression to convey his mind to another, yet for 
 the most part he exhibited the power of a 
 logical and instructive teacher. At times, he 
 rose into flights of most impressive eloquence, 
 and stirred the hearts of his hearers with most 
 penetrating force. He was a man of sobriety 
 and dignity and worth ; a man to be respected 
 in every relation of life. He had clean lips 
 and hands and heart, and was a lover of all 
 good men."* 
 
 * Minutes of Massachusetts Conference of Baptist Ministers, 1886. 
 
 84 
 
REV. LESTER WILLIAMS, JR. 
 
THE MEMORABLE CRUSiUDE 
 OF 1873 
 
 IT began in the audience room of the Fre- 
 donia Baptist Church. The date, Decem- 
 ber 14, 1873. 
 
 There was an appointment for a union, 
 temperance, Sunday evening service. The ad- 
 dress was by a noted temperance speaker and 
 reformer; Dr. Dio Lewis. Probably not a 
 single person of that large audience, went 
 there, anticipating any special result. 
 
 Fredonia had been for many years, given 
 over to her rum idols. The programme had 
 been, that while " temperance meetings would 
 come and go, the saloon went on forever". 
 Sometimes it occurs that even temperance 
 meetings, as weU as individuals, " build wiser 
 than they know ", and such, in the providence 
 of God, was to be this meeting. 
 
 In the course of his address. Dr. Lewis 
 outlined the plan of making the saloons the 
 special subjects of visitation and appeal, by an 
 organized band of women christian temperance 
 workers. He gave several instances of good 
 results from such efforts. The aU-around dis- 
 cussion, which followed this address, was 
 marked by an enthusiasm never to be f orgot- 
 
 85 
 
ten. Mr. Orson Stiles, the first speaker called 
 on, responded with one of his characteristic, 
 magnetic talks. He pledged himself and his 
 wife to the work. 
 
 The Baptist pastor, Rev. Lester Williams 
 Jr., true to his Massachusetts blood, and great 
 hearted sympathy for those suffering from 
 strong drink, advised immediate action. " The 
 time to strike, is when the iron is hot ". 
 
 Rev. A. L. Benton, the able and influential 
 pastor of the Presbyterian Church; Rev. 
 Randolph, pastor of the M. E. Church — the 
 church always foremost in temperance work, 
 — heartily agreed with former speakers. Dr. 
 Armstrong and Prof. Sanford of the Normal 
 School; Messrs. L. A. Barmore and E. W. 
 Meacham, each made telling remarks. The 
 result was, that before the meeting adjourned, 
 an organization of women was made and it was 
 agreed to begin the next day — Monday. 
 
 Monday morning ushered in the first bright 
 day that has been seen here for a long time, 
 and Rev. Mr. Williams' remark that they could 
 see the smile of God in the open heavens, did 
 not seem extravagant. There were at least 
 three hundred men and women on hand at the 
 hour appointed and after prayer, singing by 
 Prof. Riggs and exhortations by speakers of 
 both sexes, the ladies withdrew to the rooms 
 below and arranged the details of their march. 
 
 86 
 
The men present continued in prayer and con- 
 sultation, when it was suggested that those 
 present pledge their support in dollars and 
 cents. The following names were given to a 
 pledge to pay the necessary percentage of the 
 sum set opposite their names, sustaining the 
 movement. The sums were $1,000 each, so 
 we merely give the names as follows : — John 
 Hamilton, Jr., Geo. W. Lewis, Dr. E. M. 
 Pettit, Alva Colburn, C. L. Mark, Geo. H. 
 White, Alex. Morian, Dr. Dio Lewis, H. R. 
 Sanford, Rev. L. Wilhams, Jr., Rev. A. L. 
 Benton, E. Davis, S. S. Crissey, Rev. R. F. 
 Randolph, G. N. Frazine, Otis HaU, G, C. 
 Hutchinson, Frank Pier, Orrin Doolittle, J. 
 M. Tiffany & Son, L. A. Barmore, O. Stiles, 
 B. F. Skinner. Temperance meetings were 
 arranged for every Sunday night and prayer 
 meetings every night till the work should be 
 
 aCCOmphshed. {Fredonia Censor Dec. 17, 187S) 
 
 The women were reported to have adopted 
 their appeal and to be terribly in earnest, de- 
 termined to persevere, and the meeting ad- 
 journed with prayer. 
 
 It was about half past twelve when the pro- 
 cession of ladies came forth from the basement 
 of the Baptist church, and a fine looking pro- 
 cession it was, as they quietly walked across 
 the park, Mrs. Judge Barker and Mrs. Rev. L. 
 
 87 
 
Williams at the head. There were over 
 a hundred in the line, comprising wives 
 of our most respected citizens, venerable 
 and revered matrons as well as many 
 young ladies. 
 
 Down the steps of the Taylor House saloon 
 filed the determined band and nearly fiUed the 
 room. The proprietors, Messrs. M. H., W. 
 W. and D. Taylor were all present and Mrs. 
 Judge Barker immediately informed the 
 head of the firm, the object of their visit, 
 namely to appeal to them personally to cease 
 the sale of intoxicating hquors. Mrs. Wil- 
 Uams then read the appeal as follows; — 
 
 In the name of God and humanity, we make 
 our appeal: — 
 
 Knowing, as we do, that the sale of intoxi- 
 cating liquors is the parent of every misery, 
 prohfic in aU woe, in this life and the next, 
 potent alone in evU, blighting every fair hope, 
 desolating families, the chief incentive to 
 crime, these, the mothers, wives and daughters, 
 representing the moral and religious sentiment 
 of our town, to save the loved members of our 
 household from the temptations of strong 
 drink, from acquiring an appetite for it and 
 to rescue, if possible, those that have already 
 acquired it, do earnestly request that you wiU 
 pledge yourself to cease the traffic here in 
 those drinks forthwith and forever. We will 
 
 88 
 
also add the hope that you will abolish your 
 gaming tables. 
 
 A hymn was sung to Pleyel's sweet air, then 
 all joined in the Lord's prayer. Mrs. Tre- 
 maine, a venerable and gifted woman, fol- 
 lowed with a prayer which in its impressive 
 earnestness and christian tenderness, seemed 
 inspired. 
 
 Mrs. Barker then asked Mr. Taylor if he 
 would not accede to their appeal. He said he 
 was not prepared to answer. He believed in 
 temperance, does not drink himself, but felt 
 obliged to keep it in his hotel. If he were not 
 keeping hotel, would be as strong as they. 
 The ladies said they did not come for argu- 
 ment, but urged him by the promises of God 
 to head their pledge. Mr. Taylor finally said 
 " If the rest will close their places, I'll close 
 mine;" at which he was heartily cheered. " I 
 mean the drug stores too ", he added, which 
 amendment was accepted. 
 
 The women visited all the places in the vil- 
 lage where intoxicating liquors were sold, and 
 in the main, they were courteously received. 
 
 Monday evening a prayer meeting was held, 
 word being received that one of the drug stores 
 had acceded to the proposition, not to sell any 
 more spirituous liquors, to be used as a bever- 
 age. Daily visitations continued during the 
 week and the next Monday afternoon, the 
 
 89 
 
women met and organized with the following 
 pledge. 
 
 We, the undersigned women of Fredonia, 
 feeling that God has laid upon us a work to 
 do in the cause of temperance, do hereby 
 pledge ourselves to united and continuous 
 effort to suppress the traffic in intoxicating 
 liquors in our vUlage, trntil this work be accom- 
 phshed; and that we will stand ready for 
 united effort upon any renewal of the traffic. 
 We will also do what we can to alleviate the 
 woes of drunkards' families, and to rescue 
 from drunkenness, those who are pursuing its 
 ways. 
 
 This society shall be known as " The 
 Women's Christian Temperance Union of 
 Fredonia ". 
 
 90 
 
LEWIS B. GRANT 
 
1880-1889 
 
 Pastors— 1880-84. — Rev. Malcolm MacGregor; 1885-9 
 
 — Rev. Charles E. Smith D. D. 
 Clerk — 1880-89 — A. Z. Madison. 
 
 S. S. Superintendents — 1880-81 — Dr. F. B. Palmer; 
 1882 — A. F. Jenks; 1883-85 — George Tate; 1886-87 
 
 — Dr. F. B. Palmer; 1888-89 — Prof. F. N. Jewett. 
 
 MEETINGS or THE ASSOCIATION 
 
 1880-84 — Point Chautauqua; 1885 — Forestville; 1886 
 
 — Panama; 1887 — Jamestown; 1888 — Broeton; 1889 
 
 — Cherry Creek. 
 
 LEWIS B. GRANT 
 
 1EWIS B. GRANT was born October 
 J 17, 1809. He died March 16, 1884. 
 Mr. Grant's ancestors were of Scottish 
 descent. His father, John Grant, was born 
 September 13, 1785. His mother, Clarissa 
 Wooster was born Nov. 13, 1782. His parents 
 were married in 1807. 
 
 Julia Ann Forbes was born March 20, 1821. 
 L. B. Grant and Juha A. Forbes were mar- 
 ried June 19, 1836. 
 
 L. B. Grant's native town was Smithville, 
 Chenango County, N. Y. His school days 
 ended with a few years' study of medicine, 
 which he finally relinquished, accepting a situ- 
 ation as salesman in a store in Oxford, which 
 he held three years. In 1831 he left his native 
 county and engaged himself as chief clerk for 
 
 91 
 
Camp & Colville at Forestville in this county. 
 This place he occupied for eight years, so much 
 to the satisfaction of his employers that he was 
 offered one half of the stock as a gift if he 
 would enter the firm as a partner. 
 
 In 1839 he came to Fredonia and engaged in 
 trade with his father-in-law, Col. John Forbes, 
 and his brother-in-law, D. S. Forbes, under the 
 firm name of J. Forbes & Co., thus commenc- 
 ing a mercantile career which lasted over forty 
 years. After this firm was dissolved, Mr. 
 Grant was in trade alone nearly two years. 
 Then the firm of Grant, Forbes & Co., was 
 formed, consisting of L. B. Grant, Elias 
 Forbes, John M. Grant, and John B. Forbes. 
 This partnership continued five years with one 
 store at Fredonia and one at Jamestown, when 
 Mr. Grant bought out the interest of his part- 
 ners in the Fredonia store in 1853, and con- 
 tinued the business alone imtU Dec. 1st, 1879. 
 He had then reached his three score and ten, 
 with health impaired by constant application, 
 and retired to enjoy his well earned competence, 
 and the consciousness of a well spent life. But 
 the rest was short. The unremitting vigilance 
 and the intense care of a long and monotonous 
 business career, without recreation, had so ex- 
 hausted his vital forces, that his decline could 
 not be arrested. 
 
 During his residence in Forestville, Mr. 
 
 92 
 
Grant made a public profession of his faith in 
 Christ, uniting with the Baptist church at that 
 place, and since his removal to Fredonia, the 
 Baptist church here, for the past forty-five 
 years, has found him one of its most generous 
 and devoted members. 
 
 He led a blameless and quiet life, devoted 
 almost entirely to three objects: — his business, 
 his home and his church. — Verily he was " Dili- 
 gent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the 
 Lord." While noted for humility and meek- 
 ness, he had a faith which could not be shaken, 
 and convictions of duty, from which he could 
 not be swerved. 
 
 Those who knew him, always knew where to 
 find him. His gifts to the church and other 
 rehgious institutions were large and numerous, 
 during his whole fife, and the last time he wrote 
 his name, it was to sign, together with his wife, 
 a deed conveying the commodious residence ad- 
 joining his own on Main Street, as a gift to 
 the Baptist church, for a parsonage. His 
 work was well done, and last Sunday morning, 
 about the ringing of the second bell, his usual 
 time to walk quietly down to church, he as 
 peacefully and quietly took his departure for 
 the church triumphant. 
 
 Mrs. Lewis B. Grant died Feb. 7, 1887. 
 
 93 
 
EEV. MALCOLM MACGEEGORj D. D. 
 
 Malcolm MacGregor was born in Osgoods, 
 Ontario, Canada, November 27, 1842. Ht 
 was baptized by Rev. W. R. Anderson, ir 
 Breadalbane, Ont. Jime, 1854; experienced a 
 call to preach the gospel, under the ministry of 
 Daniel McPhail; completed the prescribed 
 course for students for the ministry, in Wood- 
 stock College, under President R. A. Fife in 
 the Spring of 1868, and in June of that yeai 
 was ordained. For twelve years, in his native 
 province, he did pastoral work in KempviQe, 
 Smith Falls, and Georgetown churches, and 
 evangelistic and fostering work in connection 
 with the Convention East. From the Spring 
 of 1880, to the close of 1890, he labored in the 
 State of New York; first as pastor 1880-1884 
 of the First Baptist Church at Fredonia, N. Y. 
 and then of the Riverside Church, New York 
 City. From New York, he went to Jackson- 
 ville, Florida, where he was for four years pas- 
 tor of the First Baptist Church. From 1895 
 to 1908, he made his headquarters in Atlanta, 
 Ga. whUe he was engaged in evangelistic work 
 in many states. 
 
 Dr. MacGregor died in Atlanta, April 23, 
 1908, after an illness of one month. A letter 
 received from Atlanta, May 21, last, states 
 that his surviving family are the widow and 
 two daughters, then in Atlanta, and a son, 
 
 94 
 
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 REV. MALCOLM MacGREGOR 
 
DAVID BARRELL 
 
Will, married and living in New York 
 City. 
 
 For the past thirteen years, Dr. MacGregor, 
 besides doing evangelistic work, gained a high 
 reputation in the lecture field. One of his lec- 
 tures. " Nationality in Wit and Humor " was 
 delivered in Fredonia, and also upon the Chau- 
 tauqua Assembly Platform. 
 
 DAVID BAERELL 
 
 Deacon David BarreU, born Dec. 22, 1803, 
 in Hartford, Washington County, New York. 
 Died Jan. 3, 1888, in Pasadena, California. 
 Buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Fredonia, 
 N. Y. 
 
 " I have great cause for thankfulness that 
 I may enter upon a new year under such 
 favorable circumstances. I hope I may have 
 wisdom to use what is committed to my care, 
 with prudence, and as may best promote the 
 interests of my family and friends and honor 
 God." 
 (Close of the year 1860, diary of D. BarreU) 
 
 (Biographical Sketch by A. Z. Madison) 
 
 David BarreU was the fourth son of Deacon 
 Colbun BarreU of Hartford, Washington 
 County, N. Y. He was born near South 
 Hartford viUage, on the 22d. of December, 
 1803, on the farm homestead. His education 
 was received wholly in the Common school, and 
 
 95 
 
in one of the best of Christian famihes. He 
 worked on the farm imtil about 17 or 18 and 
 was then, for some three years, a clerk in the 
 store of Benjamin Hyde (the father of the 
 late L. L. Hyde of Dunkirk), in the North 
 Hartford Village. At the close of his clerk- 
 ship, in 1825, he left Hartford and went to 
 Gouverneur, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and was 
 taken in as a partner in a store, by the firm of 
 Rowley & Madison. (The latter being A. Z. 
 Madison of this village). A few months 
 later, the senior partner left this firm and the 
 name was changed to Madison & Barrell. Sub- 
 sequently, some years later, he had a store of 
 his own in same village, and did considerable 
 business. About 1829, he removed to the old 
 village of Evans Center, Erie Co., and did 
 more business in seUing goods. About 1836 
 he removed to Fredonia, where he again sold 
 goods for many years and was well known as 
 a merchant and a successful business man. 
 He was converted to Christ in his youth, be- 
 fore leaving his native town, and has since 
 been known as a uniform christian. He re- 
 turned to Hartford in 1826 and married Miss 
 Clarinda Yale, a niece of David Doane. He 
 outlived aU his father's family and also his 
 own; his father, and mother, five brothers, and 
 two sisters, and his wife and four children, aU 
 having preceded him. All his brothers and 
 
 96 
 
sisters were professed christians, and among 
 them, were one minister, four deacons, and 
 one minister's wife. His wife and daughter 
 (the only child that lived to maturity) were 
 professors of religion. This daughter, be- 
 came the wife of Salem Kennedy of Buffalo. 
 She died many years ago, but a warm attach- 
 ment between Col. BarreU and Mr. Kennedy 
 has ever remained, and Col. B. made his home 
 with " Salem ", as he always called him, before 
 leaving for California, the last time. He 
 held several offices, both military and civil, and 
 was active in the discharge of duties inctmi- 
 bent. While in Gouverneur, he was made 
 Captain of a military company, of which A. Z. 
 Madison was Lieutenant, and in Fredonia, was 
 Captain of the Fredonia Guards, and was 
 afterward made Colonel of nulitia. In the cam- 
 paign of 1840, he went with his company to 
 Fort Meigs, where was celebrated the famous 
 battle of Tippecanoe, fought by Gen. Harri- 
 son, Nov. 7, 1811, against the Indians. He 
 was one of the first trustees of Forest Hill 
 Cemetery, and for more than twenty years 
 its Secretary and Superintendent. 
 
 97 
 
1890-1899 
 
 Pastors— 1890-99 — Rev. Charles E. Smith, D. D. 
 
 Clerk— 1890-91 — A. Z. Madison; 1892-98 — E. J. 
 Crissey; 1899 — Chas. O. Mason. 
 
 S. S. Superintendent— 1890-93 — F. S. Lyon; 1894— 
 E. J. Crissey; 1895 — Chas. L. Goulding; 1896-99 — 
 Chas. O. Mason. 
 
 Meetings of the Association. 
 
 1890 — Fredonia; 1891 — Forestville; 1892— James- 
 town; 1893 — Ripley; 1894 — Busti; 1895 — Randolph; 
 1896 — Panama; 1897 — Findley's Lake; 1898 — Stock- 
 ton; 1899 — Cherry Creek. 
 
 ALMOND Z. MADISON 
 
 ALMOND Z. MADISON was born in 
 Hebron, Washington County, N. Y., 
 August 17, 1803. He died in Fre- 
 donia, N. Y. March 2, 1892. Mr, Madison in 
 early hf e made a profession of rehgion, was 
 baptized in 1832 and united with the Baptist 
 church. Before coming to Fredonia he was 
 for several years the clerk of the Baptist 
 church in Gouverneur, N. Y. In 1842 he came 
 to Fredonia, N. Y., where his friend David 
 Barrell then was established in business. In 
 1848 on the reunion of the two factions of the 
 church, he was made the clerk of the Fredonia 
 Baptist Church, which office he held until 1890 
 a period of 43 years. It is believed that this is 
 the longest period of continued service of any 
 
 98 
 
A. Z. MADISON 
 
officer of the church in its entire history of 100 
 years. 
 
 Mr. Madison was an earnest, devoted and 
 wholly consecrated christian. His faithful 
 painstaking business habits, his accuracy in 
 details, peculiarly fitted him to be the model 
 church clerk. 
 
 It is to his faithfulness and care in making 
 and preserving the records that the historian 
 of this Centenary volume is largely indebted 
 for much valuable material. The sketch of 
 one pastor — Rev. Charles Thompson, is 
 wholly the work of his pen. Mr. Madison was 
 keenly interested in public affairs and was the 
 able Secretary and Treasurer of the Fredonia 
 Academy, from Jan. 7, 1869 till its close, an 
 institution the predecessor and in a sense the 
 forerunner of our noble State Normal 
 School. 
 
 Many a poor boy struggling for the attain- 
 ment of a better education in the " Old Acad- 
 emy " will remember the friendly smile and 
 hand shake of the worthy secretary of that time 
 honored institution. Into the sacred precincts 
 of the pleasant home on Green street, the bi- 
 ographer may well pause before entering. It 
 was a christian home. The two sons became 
 eminently respected and successful men of 
 business. The daughter, a graduate of Fre- 
 donia schools, on the death of both her parents 
 
 99 
 
made her home with her brother, the late James 
 H. Madison, in Buffalo. 
 
 His pastor, Rev. C. E. Smith, D. D., says of 
 Mr. Madison — " He was a remarkable in- 
 stance of undiminished ability and faithful 
 service to the very end of his long and very use- 
 ful Hfe." 
 
 Mr. Madison married Deborah Rowley of 
 Gouverneur, N. Y., May 1st 1825. Their 
 sons : — James H. Madison, born March 6th, 
 1826, died June 23 1899. John R. Madison, 
 born February 21 1829, died October 10th 
 1898. Deborah Rowley Madison, died Gouv- 
 erneur July 21 1832. 
 
 June 23 1839 Mr. Madison married Maria 
 T. Vary (born January 19 1814) of Gouver- 
 neur, N. Y. Their daughter, Sarah M. Madi- 
 son was born June 19 1843 Fredonia N. Y. 
 Maria T. V. Madisbn died at Fredonia N". Y. 
 March 2 1892. 
 
 REV. CHARLES E. SMITH, D. D. 
 
 Charles E. Smith was born Jan. 22d, 1835, 
 at Fall River, Massachusetts. He was the son 
 of Philip and Roby Smith, much loved and 
 honored members of the First Baptist Church, 
 in which his father, long held the office of dea- 
 con. This church was, and still is, one of the 
 strongest and most influential in the old Bay 
 State. Its pastors were men of high order 
 
 100 
 
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 REV. CHARLES E. SMITH, D. D. 
 
and the standard of character maintained by 
 its membership was such as to produce, in the 
 mind of a child, the utmost confidence and 
 veneration. 
 
 Converted at the age of fifteen, he was bap- 
 tized by Rev. A. P. Mason D. D., long a dis- 
 trict secretary of the American Baptist Home 
 Mission Society, At the age of twenty-one, he 
 entered Rochester University, with the secret 
 purpose to prepare for the ministry, but on 
 the very night he left home, the church licensed 
 him to preach the gospel, and thus informed 
 him of its conviction regarding his duty. 
 After a college course of four years, followed 
 by three years in Rochester Theological Semi- 
 nary, he began his ministry as pastor of the 
 First Baptist Church of Pawtucket, R. I. 
 in August, 1863, and was soon after 
 ordained by a council of the Rhode Island 
 chm-ches. 
 
 He was married Feb. 17th, 1864 to Catherine 
 A. Kimball daughter of Morris and Louisa 
 Kimball of Fulton, N". Y. 
 
 This pastorate was followed by others in 
 Cincinnati, Ohio, New Haven, Conn., Syra- 
 cuse, N. Y. and finally at Fredonia, N. Y. 
 The first call which he received from this 
 church, in the Autumn of 1884, was not ac- 
 cepted, but a second call, in the succeeding 
 Winter, convinced him of the divine will, and 
 
 101 
 
he entered upon his pastorate about the middle 
 of January 1885. 
 
 The first year of his pastorate was memo- 
 rable for more than one reason. The Fellow- 
 ship Meeting, which was to be for so many 
 years, such a delightful and profitable occasion 
 to the church, was instituted on April 4th. 
 1885. Mr. Smith had originated such an an- 
 nual gathering in his previous pastorate in 
 Syracuse, and had found it so profitable, that 
 he lost no time in proposing it to the brethren 
 and sisters in Fredonia. It was called a 
 " Covenant and Fellowship, or Partnership 
 Meeting ", marked the beginning of the finan- 
 cial year, and was celebrated on Saturday 
 afternoon, with appropriate religious exercises ; 
 the calling of the church roU, with responses 
 from those present, and letters from absent 
 members, and finally by a supper in the church 
 parlors, of which all members of the congre- 
 gation were invited to partake. The new in- 
 stitution was at once a great success, and has 
 ever since continued one of the most interest- 
 ing and valuable features of the activity of 
 the church. 
 
 During the Summer of the same year, the 
 church edifice was repaired and improved at 
 the expense of about a thousand dollars. The 
 walls and ceiling of the audience room were 
 re- frescoed; the wood work stained and var- 
 
 102 
 
nished, and the aisles and pews carpeted. When 
 the work was completed, all felt that we had a 
 far more beautiful and appropriate place of 
 worship. 
 
 The first baptism by the new pastor, was 
 that of Miss Jennie M. Merrill, May 3d. 1885. 
 The whole number of members received during 
 his entire pastorate, was 250, of whom 133 
 were by baptism. 
 
 The Rev. Lester WiUiams, a former pastor 
 of the church, having died at Springfield, 
 Mass. appropriate memorial services were held 
 on Nov. 6th. 1885. 
 
 From the outset, Mr. Smith made an effort 
 to estabhsh increasingly cordial relations with 
 the pastors and sister churches of the village, 
 and this resulted in a union of the Baptist, 
 Methodist and Presbyterian churches, for an 
 evangelistic series of meetings, in the Spring 
 of 1886. The services of Rev. E. E. David- 
 son were obtained to conduct the meetings, 
 which continued from April 4th. to May 11th., 
 and resulted in much quickening of the 
 churches, and many additions. On June 24th. 
 the hand of fellowship was given by the pastor 
 to 24 new members, and others were received 
 on subsequent Sabbaths. 
 
 The esteem felt for Rev. E. E. Davidson 
 was such that he was again invited by these 
 churches to conduct evangelistic meetings in 
 
 103 
 
1893. These meetings began April 9th. lasting 
 three weeks, and were fruitful in conversions. 
 
 A third union in evangehstic work was en- 
 tered into by the three churches in 1897, and 
 the Rev. M. S. Rees conducted the meetings, 
 with marked success. The fraternal spirit 
 evinced and produced by these united labors, 
 resulted in joint evangelistic services at other 
 times under the leadership of the pastors, and 
 in a united Sabbath afternoon service, during 
 the Summer months, which has become a well 
 established institution. 
 
 Early in his ministry, the pastor thought 
 that the work done by the Ladies' Aid Society 
 could be better done by a considerable change 
 in its method of organization. He called the 
 ladies of the congregation together; made 
 known his views, and asked them to permit him 
 to substitute a plan of his own. With their 
 unanimous and cordial agreement, they were 
 distributed into eight sections alphabetically, 
 each with its own chairman and treasurer, and 
 a general treasurer to have oversight of aU; 
 these officers to be appointed by the pastor. 
 This plan proved a great improvement; 
 yielded much larger financial results and was 
 adhered to, substantially through the greater 
 portion of Mr. Smith's pastorate. 
 
 In September 1886, the time of the Cove- 
 nant meeting was changed from Saturday 
 
 104 
 
afternoon to Thursday evening. The change 
 was unfortunate in regard to the country 
 members, but the brethren in the village, who 
 had rarely attended the meeting, were now 
 able to be present. 
 
 Sept. 8th, 1887, Mr. Thomas Elgar was li- 
 censed to preach the gospel. He soon became 
 widely known as the " Prison Evangelist ", 
 having visited prisons and preached to pris- 
 oners in many states of the Union; held evan- 
 gehstic services in many towns and cities, and 
 has been the means of the conversion of many 
 persons. He has always shown the warmest 
 gratitude and love towards the dear church 
 which encouraged him to begin his mission. 
 
 Dea. BarreU died Jan. 3d. 1888 in Cali- 
 fornia, and upon the arrival of his remains in 
 Fredonia, was appropriately honored with a 
 memorial service, in which his hfe-long devo- 
 tion to the church, was fitly acknowledged. 
 He crowned his devotion by a legacy amount- 
 ing to about $2,500. 
 
 Franklin S. Lyon was chosen deacon, Dec. 
 5th. 1890. A man of remarkably strong char- 
 acter, fervent piety and life-long experience 
 as a successful teacher, he was eminently fitted 
 for the ofiice, and was ideal in the perform- 
 ance of its duties as long as health continued. 
 
 In 1891, the pastor was honored by his Alma 
 Mater, the University of Rochester, with the 
 
 lOS 
 
additional degree to those already received, of 
 Doctor of Divinity. 
 
 The Rev. A. Kingsbury, a greatly respected 
 and loved ex-pastor of the church, died in Fre- 
 donia, June 8th. 1893. It was during his pas- 
 torate, and largely through his influence, that 
 the present house of worship, was erected, and 
 the church enjoyed his counsels, through his 
 later years. 
 
 In 1895, Brother Thomas Elgar expressed 
 a desire for ordination, and accordingly a 
 council was called, which gave a unanimous 
 approval, and the ordination occurred on Dec. 
 17th. 
 
 In 1892, on March 2d. Bro. A. Z. Madison, 
 who for many years had been a painstaking 
 and scrupulously accurate clerk of the church,, 
 passed to his reward, at the age of 89. He 
 was a remarkable instance of undiminished 
 abihty and faithful service, to the very end of 
 his long and useful life. 
 
 Our venerable and beloved Dea. Buck ended 
 life by an extremely painful sickness, which 
 he endured with great resignation, on August 
 16th. 1892. 
 
 Bro. William W. Barker who had been a 
 child of our Sabbath School, and of the church, 
 and as such, had won the respect and esteem of 
 the brotherhood, was licensed to preach the 
 gospel, Oct. 2d. 1898. 
 
 106 
 
In January, 1900, the pastor conducted re- 
 vival meetings, as before, several times during 
 his ministry — sometimes with, and sometimes 
 without assistance. At one time. Rev. G. O. 
 King participated; at another. Rev. Thomas 
 Elgar. On this occasion, he called to his aid, 
 the efficient services of Rev. W. P. HeUings 
 D. D. 
 
 At the end of the month of March 1900, Dr. 
 Smith finally closed his pastorate. Three 
 years before; on May 13th. 1897, he had re- 
 signed but the church had refused to accept the 
 resignation, and induced him to take a six 
 months' vacation, and then resume his duties. 
 But, on Feb. 25th. 1900, he again resigned; 
 this time peremptorily, and the church ac- 
 cepted his resignation, and passed exceedingly 
 appreciative and regretful resolutions. He 
 preached his last sermon as pastor, March 
 25th. 1900, from Phil. 4: 6. 
 
 It may be added here to his personal record, 
 what wiQ be mentioned again in its proper 
 place, that the church afterward honored him 
 by electing him " Pastor Emeritus ", thus per- 
 petuating indefinitely, in some degree, the de- 
 lightful relation which has so long existed be- 
 tween this pastor and his people. 
 
 The family of Dr. and Mrs, Smith consists 
 of an only daughter — Grace. In the earher 
 years of the Fredonia pastorate, she married a 
 
 107 
 
prominent physician of the village — Dr. Nel- 
 son G. Richmond. There are three grandchil- 
 dren living. Early in life Miss Grace showed 
 marked literary tastes and gave evidence of 
 a high order of talent for authorship. For 
 several years past, her contributions to the 
 Ladies Home Journal, and other standard 
 papers have made the signature " Grace S. 
 Richmond " widely known and appreciated, as 
 one of the most successful writers of American 
 fiction. 
 
REV. A. L. JAMISON 
 
1900-1908 
 
 Pastors — 1900-1905 — David Lee Jamison. I906-O8 
 — Merritt J. Winchester. 
 
 Clerk— 1 900-08 — Chas. L. Goulding. 
 
 S. S. Superintendents — 1 900-03 — Chas. O. Mason; 
 1904-08 — Chas. L. Goulding. 
 
 Meetings of the Association — 19OO — Frewsburg; 
 1 90 1 — Brocton ; 1 902 — Fredonia ; 1903 — Forestville ; 
 1904 — Jamestown; 1905 — Westfield; I906 — Cherry 
 Creek; 1 907 —Dunkirk; 19O8 — North East, Pa. 
 
 DAVID LEE JAMISON 
 
 DAVID LEE JAMISON first saw the 
 light of day among the hills of West 
 Virginia, October 15, 1867. 
 
 He was born of Scotch-Irish parentage. 
 At the age of twenty years he completed his 
 college course, receiving %e degree of A. B. 
 at the University of Wes^Firginia. A few 
 years later he completed the law course at the 
 same institution of learning and was given the 
 degree of LL. B. He then spent one year in 
 special studies in the Columbia Law School, 
 of New York City. Returning to his native 
 state he practiced law in the city of Parkers- 
 burg, W. Va., three years, winning recogni- 
 tion in his profession. 
 
 He took an active interest in politics being 
 an ardent Democrat. During one campaign 
 
 109 
 
he " stumped " the Congressional district for 
 his party. After he had been in the practice 
 of the law for two years, his name was pro- 
 posed in the Democratic County Convention 
 for the office of District Attorney. He lacked 
 only two votes of receiving the nomination, 
 and the nomination by the Democratic party 
 insured election. 
 
 He was also active in church work, and when 
 the " State Union " of the " Baptist Young 
 People's Union " was formed, he was chosen 
 its first President, which oflBce he held untU he 
 left the state. 
 
 In 1894 Mr. Jamison decided to quit the 
 practice of the law and enter the gospel min- 
 istry. He therefore entered the Divinity 
 School of the University of Chicago. After 
 a year spent in theological studies, he was 
 called to the pastorate of the First Baptist 
 church of Gas City, Indiana. 
 
 Before entering upon the pastorate he re- 
 turned to West Virginia and was ordained to 
 the ministry by a councU called by the First 
 Baptist church of Parkersburg, of which he 
 was a member. 
 
 Shortly after being ordained, Mr. Jamison 
 was united in marriage to Miss Janet Browse, 
 daughter of Hon. Robert H. Browse, of the 
 same state. 
 
 The Indiana pastorate continued for three 
 
 110 
 
REV. M. J. WINCHESTER 
 
years. During this pastorate a new church 
 building was erected and dedicated, the former 
 building having been destroyed by fire; and the 
 membership of the church was more than 
 doubled. 
 
 He resigned to complete his theological 
 studies at the Rochester Theological Seminary. 
 He entered that institution in the fall of 1898 
 and finished the course in May of 1900. Af- 
 ter graduation Mr. Jamison supplied the pul- 
 pit of the Second Baptist church of Rochester, 
 N. Y., for three months, the pastor being ab- 
 sent on account of Ul health. 
 
 Having in the mean time, accepted a call to 
 the pastorate of the Fredonia church, he came 
 to Fredonia September first, 1900, and entered 
 upon the pastorate which continued through a 
 period of five years. In that time one hundred 
 and ninety-four members were added to the 
 chm*ch, one hundred twenty-two of whom were 
 received by baptism. Seventy new families 
 became identified with the church in member- 
 ship. 
 
 September first, 1905, Mr. Jamison closed 
 his work with this church, to accept a call ex- 
 tended by the first Baptist church of Albion, 
 N". Y., where he is at the present engaged. 
 
 MEEEITT JOEL, WINCHESTEE 
 
 The subject of this sketch was born 
 at Pawlet, Rutland Co., Vt., April 23, 
 
 111 
 
1868. His father's name was Horace Win- 
 chester; the maiden name of his mother 
 was Maria Simons. The father died when the 
 son was seven years old. Three years later, 
 the mother and her brother, removed to a farm 
 near Truthville, Washmgton Co., N. Y. The 
 family attended the North Granville Baptist 
 Church. It is worthy of note that this church, 
 though possibly never exceeding two hundred 
 in membership, and generally much smaller, in 
 its more than a century of life, has sent twenty- 
 two young men into the ministry of our de- 
 nomination. In the Winter preceding his 
 thirteenth birthday, the lad gave his heart to 
 Christ and united with the church. He at- 
 tended the district school, and the Granville 
 Military Academy at North Granville. He 
 was graduated in June, 1885 as valedictorian 
 of his class. 
 
 A year was spent in teaching and in various 
 work. In September, 1886, he entered Wil- 
 liams College and graduated from there, four 
 years later. In a class of seventy- four mem- 
 bers, he was the eleventh man in standing, and 
 was elected to the local chapter of the 
 *. B. K. 
 
 A position was secured as teacher of Mathe- 
 matics in an institution known as the Alabama 
 Military Academy, at HuntsviUe, Ala. The 
 year after graduation from college was spent 
 
 112 
 
in teaching. During the Autumn, the Hunts- 
 ville Baptist Church became pastorless and 
 Mr. Winchester was invited to supply in the 
 pulpit for several Sabbaths. He was licensed 
 to preach by this church. In the Summer of 
 1891 he was appointed Associational Mission- 
 ary of Liberty Association, in which, the 
 Huntsville Church is located. His work con- 
 sisted of visiting the small country churches 
 of the Association, both in Alabama and Ten- 
 nessee, and assisting the pastors in evangelical 
 services. It was thought that he might be re- 
 quired to perform the duties of a fuUy or- 
 dained minister; accordingly a council was 
 called by the church in Huntsville and he was 
 set apart to the Gospel ministry, on August 14, 
 1891. The balance of August and a portion 
 of September, were spent in the work, with 
 good success. Over one hundred persons pro- 
 fessed conversion, and were baptized into the 
 membership of the churches. 
 
 In October, Mr. Winchester went to the 
 Southern Baptist Theological Seminary at 
 Louisville, Ky., to pursue his theological 
 studies. At the close of the scholastic year, 
 he became the student pastor of the church at 
 Hemlock, N. Y. In September 1892, he 
 entered the Middle Year class of Rochester 
 Theological Seminary, but continued to supply 
 the church at Hemlock until November of the 
 
 113 
 
next year. During that period the church re- 
 ceived fourteen members by baptism. 
 
 He was graduated from the Seminary in 
 May 1894, and went at once to Elbridge, N. Y. 
 to become the pastor of the church in that 
 village. A pleasant pastorate of nearly 
 twelve years followed. Unity prevailed 
 throughout the entire period. One hundred 
 and fifty-eight persons were baptized and the 
 membership increased, in spite of a diminish- 
 ing population, from one hundred and seventy, 
 to more than two hundred and fifty. 
 
 On December 3, 1895, Mr. Winchester mar- 
 ried Miss Ella Cynthia Brown of Elbridge. 
 A daughter was born to them November 23, 
 1897, to brighten their home. The Summer of 
 1905 was spent in foreign travel. 
 
 Mr. Winchester was unanimously called to 
 the pastorate of the Fredonia Baptist Church 
 in February and began work on April 1, 1906. 
 The relation happily continues in this the cen- 
 tennial year of the church. United and hope- 
 ful pastor and people anticipate the future. 
 
 EEV. G. O. KING 
 
 Rev. G. O. King prepared for college at the 
 Connecticut Literary Institution, Suffield, 
 Conn.; graduated at Brown University and 
 Rochester Theological Seminary. His first 
 pastorate was at Jamestown, N. Y. He was 
 
 114 
 
at three diiferent times, acting pastor of the 
 Ninth Street Baptist Church of Cincinnati, 
 Ohio, and acting pastor also, for two and one 
 half years, of the Euclid Avenue Baptist 
 Church of Cleveland, Ohio, and for six years, 
 pastor of the Willson Avenue Baptist Church, 
 and for seven years, pastor of the Logan Ave- 
 nue (now Cedar Ave,) Baptist Church of that 
 city. During these Cleveland pastorates, he 
 was a member of the Boards of Trustees of 
 the Cleveland Baptist Union, the Ohio Baptist 
 Convention, and Denison University; and was 
 for three successive years. President of the 
 Ohio Baptist Convention. He also served as 
 chairman of BuUding Committee and Superin- 
 tendent of Construction, for four Baptist 
 Houses of Worship, and one W. C. T. U. 
 Friendly Inn, while pastor in Cleveland. 
 
 After leaving Cleveland, he was, for one 
 year, pastor of the First Baptist Church of 
 Springfield, Ohio. 
 
 Mrs. King graduated from the Connecticut 
 Literary Institution of Sufiield, Conn. For 
 several years she was a teacher in Massachu- 
 setts, and since her marriage, has always been 
 intimately associated with her husband in his 
 work. 
 
 During his pastorate with the Willson Ave- 
 nue and Logan Avenue churches, she was, in 
 each of them. Assistant Superintendent of the 
 
 lis 
 
Sunday School, and President of the Women's 
 Missionary Society. 
 
 She was, for several years, also President of 
 the Women's Missionary Society of the Cleve- 
 land Baptist Association, and a member of the 
 Board of Trustees of the Women's Baptist 
 Missionary Society of Ohio, and actively en- 
 gaged in Associational and State Sunday 
 School, and missionary enterprises. 
 
 REV. J. J. KEYES 
 
 Rev. J. J. Keyes, after many years of serv- 
 ice, retired from the pastorate in 1902 and 
 has since resided in Fredonia. He and Mrs, 
 Keyes are members of the Fredonia Baptist 
 Church. 
 
 Mr. Keyes has held pastorates in Elmira, 
 Dunkirk, Buffalo, Cazenovia and other towns 
 in the State. His last pastorate was in Caze- 
 novia. Since his retirement, he has served as 
 permanent supply and acting pastor, in Hor- 
 neU and Ithaca, besides preaching often in 
 cities and villages contiguous to Fredonia, 
 
 FRANKLIN SMITH LYON 
 
 Franklin Smith Lyon was born at Buck- 
 land, Mass. Feb. 27, 1819, and died at Fre- 
 donia, New York, March 16, 1906. His early 
 life was spent in Western New York. He 
 was the son of Aaron Lyon and Armilla Alden 
 
 116 
 
Lyon, and eighth in hne from John Alden. 
 He was a nephew of Mary Lyon, founder of 
 Mt. Holyoke; the educator whose talents and 
 constructive genius, have deservedly placed her 
 name in the Temple of Fame. 
 
 Aaron Lyon was a man of sterling worth, 
 a deacon in the church, a pioneer in the reli- 
 gious and civic life of Chautauqua Coimty. Of 
 his eight daughters and two sons, several were 
 noted for ambition and persistence in gaining 
 an education. Four daughters attended Mt. 
 Holyoke and Lucy, the oldest, a woman of re- 
 markable attainments, taught there. She was 
 married to Edward Lord and went as mission- 
 ary to China. After her death, he married a 
 younger sister, Freelove, who also went to the 
 missionary field. Nancy Lyon married Jesse 
 Purinton, once pastor of the ForestvUle Bap- 
 tist Church. Six sisters married preachers. 
 
 Frankhn Lyon attended Fredonia Acad- 
 emy, Madison (now Colgate) University, and 
 Rochester University, where he was graduated 
 in 1852. His Aunt, Mary Lyon, was a help 
 and inspiration to him in seeking an education. 
 He taught, first in the Indian Territory, fitting 
 Cherokee boys for college. After teaching 
 eight years in Albion Academy, he resigned 
 the principalship to care for his parents. 
 Elected to the West Virginia University chair 
 of English, in 1867, he was active in building 
 
 117 
 
up what is now a large institution ; serving also 
 as Vice President, and acting President. He 
 remained there until 1885, with three years of 
 absence. One was spent in Michigan, in charge 
 of a Baptist school, founded by his sister, 
 Rosina Dayfoot, and for two years, he was 
 agent to the Creek Indians — years of interest 
 and valuable service. In 1885 he was ap- 
 pointed president of Broaddus Female Col- 
 lege, a Baptist school at Clarksburg, West Vir- 
 ginia, and in 1888 he retired to Fredonia, New 
 York, near his early home. He married in 
 1853, Harriet Amanda Johnson, a woman 
 whose beautiful life was spent in quiet, 
 unselfish work for others. They had 
 four daughters. Harriet married Prof. F. 
 N. Jewett, head of the Science Department, 
 Fredonia Normal School. Florence married 
 Rev. D. B. Purinton, formerly President 
 of Denison University, and now Presi- 
 dent of West Virginia University. Mary 
 married Prof. G. B. Foster, professor of Com- 
 parative Religions in Chicago University. 
 Elizabeth the youngest daughter, unmarried, 
 making her home with her sister Mrs. Jewett 
 in Fredonia. 
 
 Professor Lyon was always a great church 
 worker, helping to buUd up churches in Stock- 
 ton and Cassadaga; also in West Virginia. 
 He served the Fredonia Baptist Church as 
 
 118 
 
DR. FRANCIS B. PALMER 
 
teacher of a Bible class, Sunday School Super- 
 intendent, trustee and deacon; attended serv- 
 ices faithfully, even during his last nine years 
 of total blindness. His character was marked 
 by fearlessness ; a strong sense of right, duty, 
 justice, and his influence over students, for 
 good, was wonderful. 
 
 FEANCIS B. PALMER 
 
 Francis B. Palmer was born in the town of 
 Parma, Monroe County, N. Y., of parents 
 who came from New London County, Conn., 
 about the close of the first quarter of last 
 century. His paternal grandfather was a 
 Baptist minister, as were several of the sons 
 and sons-in-law. His mother's father was Cal- 
 vin Bolles, a business man, of MontviUe, 
 Conn., related to the Bolles family of Mass. 
 
 Dr. Palmer attended a country district 
 school the summer and winter terms from his 
 fourth to his eighth year, and after that winter 
 terms only, with one exception, until his seven- 
 teenth year, but in this school he took all the 
 work necessary to fit him for college — except 
 Latin and Greek. Summers were spent on his 
 father's farm as were aU his vacations except 
 one until he was graduated from college. One 
 term was spent in Brockport CoUegiate Insti- 
 tute, and his preparation in Latin and Greek 
 was made under private instruction. 
 
 119 
 
He entered Rochester University the last 
 term of Freshman year 1854-1855, and was 
 graduated from the arts course in 1858. He 
 afterward received the degrees of A. M., and 
 Ph. D., in his junior year, although he had 
 studied Greek less than three years, he took the 
 first junior prize in Greek for an examination 
 in Plutarch's De Sera Numinis Vindicta, 
 Bishop Mclllvain of Rhode Island, being the 
 examiner. In his senior year a second senior 
 prize, for an essay on the Classical Element in 
 the poetry of Milton was divided between El- 
 well S. Otis, now Major General Otis of the 
 U. S. Army, retired, and himself, Ex-Presi- 
 dent Fillmore acting as one of the judges. In 
 1861 he was graduated from the Rochester 
 Seminary. 
 
 He united with the Baptist Church in Parma 
 in his eighteenth year and was ordained to the 
 ministry by the same church in 1862. 
 
 From 1861 to the close of 1905-6 he was con- 
 tinuously engaged in teaching and served 
 a hundred days of the summer of 1864 in the 
 army. He was principal of High Schools in 
 Menasha and Appleton, Wis., was Professor 
 in Lawrence University in Appleton two 
 years, having the Natural Sciences one year 
 during the absence of the President who had 
 those subjects, and having the Greek the sec- 
 ond year. He continued the Greek the next 
 
 120 
 
two years in Wayland University Wisconsin. 
 For eleven years he was principal of the Aca- 
 demic Department, first of the Normal School 
 of Fredonia and then at Brockport, having 
 the Pedagogics and Practice in charge two 
 years, and teaching Greek and Latin the rest 
 of the time. From November 1878 to the 
 close of the year 1905-6 he was Principal of 
 the Normal School at Fredonia. 
 
 Since graduation from the Theological Sem- 
 inary he has preached occasionally, sometimes 
 acting as stated supply but he has never had a 
 settled pastorate. While in Brockport he was 
 asked to lead the Student's prayer-meeting 
 which he did the last years of his teaching there, 
 and during the last four years not a class went 
 out that did not number every graduate from 
 the Normal Department as a professed Chris- 
 tian. And the lives of the many who made 
 profession during those years have shown a 
 constancy and sincerity that have seldom been 
 equalled for universality in any similar body of 
 Christians. Among the most cherished remi- 
 niscences brought out in letters from former 
 pupils in Brockport and Fredonia alike, are the 
 expressions of gratitude for the lessons learned 
 in the Student's Prayer-meetings. 
 
 On coming to Fredonia with his family he 
 united with the Church here and has served 
 most of the time as Superintendent of the Sun- 
 
 121 
 
day School, as Sunday School teacher, as Trus- 
 tee, or as leader of a Teacher's Bible Class. 
 
 Besides writing much for educational and 
 religious journals and reviews he is author of 
 Science of Education and Thoughts on the 
 Lord's Prayer. 
 
 122 
 
Y. P. S. C. E. OF THE FREDONIA, 
 N. Y. BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
 THE Young Peoples Christian Endeavor 
 Society of the Baptist Church of Fre- 
 donia, N. Y. was organized in 1889. 
 As far as can be seen, the Christian Endeavor 
 Society, during the earlier years of its history, 
 does not differ greatly from its present method 
 of working. It has ever been on the outlook, 
 to keep in touch with the yoimg people of the 
 Church and to get them interested. The 
 prayer meeting committee arrange for the 
 Sunday evening meetings. The calling com- 
 mittee have, and do endeavor to call on the sick 
 and elderly people in the church. The society 
 has always contributed to the work of the State 
 Conventions, and to missions. Last year, 
 1907, February was set apart as a month of 
 self denial, and boxes were given to individual 
 members. Together with what was taken 
 from the Missionary fund of the Society, 
 somethiag over thirty doUars ($30) was sent 
 away for mission work (The largest sum ever 
 given at one time to missions). Ten dollars 
 ($10) was raised two or three years ago for the 
 quarter century centennial of the Christian 
 Endeavor Society. For some time, the soci- 
 
 123 
 
ety has paid half of the expenses of the weekly 
 bulletins of the church. But, this present year 
 they are meeting the entire expense. 
 
 THE PLEDGE 
 
 " FOE CHKIST AND THE CHUKCH " 
 
 Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for 
 strength, I promise Him that I will strive 
 to do whatever He would hke to have me do; 
 that I will make it the rule of my life to pray 
 and to read the Bible every day and to support 
 my own church in every way, especially by at- 
 tending all her regular Sunday and mid-week 
 services, unless prevented by some reason which 
 I can conscientiously give to my Saviour; and 
 that just so far as I know how, throughout my 
 whole hfe, I will endeavor to lead a Christian 
 life. As an active member, I promise to be 
 true to all my duties, to be present and to take 
 some part, aside from singing, in every Chris- 
 tian Endeavor prayer meeting, unless hindered 
 by some reason which I can conscientiously 
 give to my Lord and Master. If obliged to 
 be absent from the monthly consecration meet- 
 ing of the Society, I wiU, if possible, send at 
 least a verse of Scripture to be read in response 
 to my name at the roll call. 
 
 " We Are Laborers Together With God " 
 
 124 
 
LIST OF OFFICERS 
 
 October 1889 
 Pres't — E. J. Crissey, Sec'y — Matie Sackett. 
 
 April 1890 
 Pres't — E. J. Crissey, Sec'y — Matie Sackett. 
 
 October 1890 
 Pres't — E. J. Crissey, Sec'y — Matie Sackett. 
 
 March 1891 
 Pres't —Jay Willard, Sec'y — EUa Davis. 
 
 October 1891 
 Pres't — JuUa Harris, Sec'y — Anna Nourse. 
 
 October 1892 
 Pres't — Anna Nourse, Sec'y — Ruth Perrin. 
 
 September 189S 
 Pres't — Miss Jessie Morian, Sec'y — Mr. Brooks. 
 
 April 1894 
 Pres't — Mr. Raynor, Sec'y — Jessie Morian. 
 
 October 1894 
 Pres't — Miss Lyon, Sec'y — Mr. Ellsworth. 
 
 April 1895 
 Pres't — Lena Potter, Sec'y — Julia Harris. 
 
 October 1895 
 Pres't — Lena Potter, Sec'y — JuUa Harris. 
 
 April 1896 
 Pres't — Lena Potter, Sec'y — Julia Harris. 
 
 October 1896 
 Pres't — E. J. Moran, Sec'y — Mrs. Florence Raymond. 
 
 April 1897 
 Pres't — O. W. Fargo, Sec'y — Mrs. Raymond. 
 
 October 1897 
 Pres't — Lena Potter, Sec'y — Clara Britton. 
 
 125 
 
May 1898 
 Pres't — Lena Potter, Sec'y — Watee Shaw. 
 
 November 1898 
 Pres't — Anna Nourse, Sec'y — Ella Bronson. 
 
 April 1899 
 Pres't — D. G. Sackett, Sec'y — Watee Shaw. 
 
 October 1899 
 Pres't — Wesley Taylor, Sec'y — Dora Barker. 
 
 April 1900 
 Pres't — Carrie Dailey, Sec'y — Hattie Huff 
 
 September 1900 
 Pres't — Carrie Dailey, Sec'y — Hattie Huflf. 
 
 April 1901 
 Pres't — Mrs. Florence Raymond, Sec'y — Anna Haskin. 
 
 September 1901 
 Pres't — Mrs. Florence Raymond, Sec'y — Anna Haskin. 
 
 February/ 1902 
 Pres't — Albert Colbum, Sec'y — Anna Haskin. 
 
 September 1902 
 Pres't — Bertha Holcomb, Secy — Alice Munger. 
 
 March 190S 
 Pres't — Michael Gerres, Sec'y — Mrs. Geo. Blood. 
 
 August 1903 
 Pres't — Michael Gerres, Sec'y — Margaret Sadon. 
 
 March 1904 
 Pres't — Michael Gerres, Sec'y — Anna Haskin. 
 
 September 190^. 
 Pres't — George Moran, Sec'y — Nellie Hough. 
 
 March 1905 
 Pres't — R. C.WeUs, Sec'y —George Britton. 
 
 September 1905 
 Pres't — R. C. Wells, Sec'y — Benna Vincent. 
 
 126 
 
March 1906 
 Pres't — R. C. WeUs, Sec'y —Anna Haskin. 
 
 August 1906 
 Pres't — Mary Cranston, Sec'y — Elizabeth Poate. 
 
 March 19m 
 Pres't — Mary Cranston, Sec'y — Anna Haskin. 
 
 August 1907 
 Pres't — Charles Fargo, Sec'y — Anna Haskin. 
 
 March 1908 
 Pres't — Charles Fargo, Sec'y — Martha Husted. 
 
 For 1904, the Society of Christian Endeavor 
 report total membership, 65; average attendr 
 ance, 23; expenses $18.30. Junior Superin- 
 tendent, Mrs. D. L. Jamison. 
 
 For 1905, Corresponding Secretary, Miss 
 Hattie Blood; average attendance, 35; ex- 
 penses, $15 ; benevolence $3.00. 
 
 For 1906, average attendance, 29; expenses 
 $33.00; Benevolence, $10.00. 
 
 For 1907, average attendance, 30; expenses 
 $30.00 ; benevolence $40.00 ; total membership, 
 60. 
 
 127 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS 
 
 RECORDS as to the first Sunday Schools 
 ^ in the Baptist Churches of the county, 
 are singularly deficient. The brief his- 
 tory given of each of the following : — Ohvet, 
 Mayville, Sherman, Panama, and Busti 
 churches, gives no data. 
 
 At a church social held at the home of Mr. 
 A. C. Guild, Fredonia on Christmas Eve 1858, 
 Mr. A. Z. Madison, on behalf of the Sabbath 
 School, made a presentation of Olshausen's 
 Commentaries, to the Superintendent. This 
 was the first American, revised from the fourth 
 German Edition, by Dr. A. C. Kendrick. The 
 books were inscribed — " These six volumes 
 Olshausen's Commentary are respectfully pre- 
 sented, this 25th of December, 1858 to Mr. 
 John Hamilton Jr., Superintendent of the 
 Baptist Sabbath School, Fredonia, as a shght 
 acknowledgment of their regard and apprecia- 
 tion of his services for the last ten years, by a 
 number of the teachers and friends of said 
 school." 
 
 The records show that Mr. Hamilton suc- 
 ceeded his father, John Hamilton Sr., as 
 Superintendent. The early methods, both in 
 Sunday School, as also in church worship, were 
 
 128 
 
very plain and simple. It became a necessity, 
 owing to the widely scattered membership of the 
 early days, to have the preaching service fore- 
 noon and afternoon, with the evening meeting, 
 a prayer meeting. The Sunday School would 
 be held at the noon intermission, between the 
 two preaching services. 
 
 The regular, unvarying program for the 
 classes, was to commit to memory seven verses 
 each week, which would be repeated to the 
 teacher. The lesson was never read by, or be- 
 fore the class. Scholars who could not, or pos- 
 sibly would not (unaided) learn the lesson, 
 were aided by their parents. Lessons were not 
 selected at random, but a certain book, as for 
 example, the Gospel of St. John was gone 
 through with, chapter by chapter, from the 
 first verse to the last verse. 
 
 During the long term in which Mr. Hamil- 
 ton was the Superintendent, the Fredonia 
 school greatly prospered. For his service, the 
 church and Sunday School gave him a life 
 membership in the American Baptist Home 
 Mission Society, in 1851 and another life 
 membership in the American Sunday School 
 Union, in 1855. 
 
 Prior to 1861 the minutes give no statistics 
 of the work of Sunday Schools. At the an- 
 nual meeting of the Association in 1860, 
 Rev. Emerson Mills, Rev. H. H. Phelps and 
 
 129 
 
Harlow Crissey were appointed a committee to 
 take into consideration the subject of the in- 
 terests of Sunday Schools. The committee re- 
 ported at the Semi- Annual meeting of the As- 
 sociation at Cherry Creek, Feb. 1861 and the 
 " Sunday School Convention of the Erie Bap- 
 tist Association " was organized with the usual 
 Constitution formula. 
 
 Art. 4, says — " No person shall be a dele- 
 gate to this convention unless he is in- 
 terested in the cause of Sunday Schools at 
 home". 
 
 At the first meeting of the Convention at 
 Nashville Tuesday evening Sept 3, 1861, the 
 officers chosen were President D. Barrell, Fre- 
 donia; Vice President Rev. O. Putnam, Clear 
 Creek; Secretary, Rev. E. Mills, ForestvUle; 
 Treasurer HoUis Thompson, Stockton. 
 
 Fredonia reported John Hamilton Jr., 
 Superintendent and 100 scholars. 
 
 Dunkirk, L. Parsons Superintendent, 54 
 scholars. Cassadaga, Charles Phillips, Super- 
 intendent, 50 scholars. Regarding Fredonia 
 a note says — " This school raised $12.80 for 
 missions, $11.36 for Young Reapers, $25, to 
 replenish library, $10, of mission fund sent 
 a hbrary to Kansas. One hundred volumes 
 were sent to Warren Pa., three bible classes." 
 J. Hamilton, Superintendent of Laona Mis- 
 sion School, 60 scholars. The second annual 
 
 130 
 
meeting of the Sunday school convention was 
 September 2, 1862 at Stockton. 
 
 Fredonia reported 225 scholars, 15 teachers, 
 100 volumes in library. Another Mission 
 school was reported at Cordova, Thos. B. 
 Sweet, Superintendent, 30 scholars, 5 teachers. 
 J. Hamilton Jr. was elected president, Chas. 
 Phillips vice-president. 
 
 At the third annual meeting at Randolph 
 Sept. 1, 1863, the only changes in the officers 
 of 1862 were Rev. G. D. Downey, secretary, 
 D. BarreU, treasurer. Fredonia reported 220 
 scholars, 16 teachers. Sheridan and Ark- 
 wright school reported Edson I. Wilcox, 
 superintendent. 
 
 At the fourth meeting at Fredonia, Sept. 6, 
 1864, the delegates were Mrs. Helen Barker, 
 Miss Nora Guild, S. S. Crissey, Clarence 
 Lewis. At the 5th annual meeting at Forest- 
 viUe, Sept 5, 1865, Fredonia reported T. B. 
 Sweet, superintendent, 217 scholars, 16 teach- 
 ers. The sixth annual meeting of the S. 
 School convention was at Cherry Creek, Sept 
 4, 1866. Fredonia reported superintendent J. 
 Hamilton, Jr., 247 scholars, 17 teachers, 280 
 volumes in library. On motion of Rev. H. M. 
 Jones, the 6th and 7th articles of the Consti- 
 tution were amended to read — 
 
 Aet. 6 — There shall be an annual meeting 
 of this convention on the first Wednesday in 
 
 131 
 
June at 1:30 P. M. when officers shall be 
 elected. Letters from schools read. Ad- 
 dresses delivered, or any other appropriate 
 business transacted. 
 
 Aet. 7 — There shall also be a semi-annual 
 meeting on the evening of the first day of the 
 session of the Erie Annual Association at 
 which no person shall speak more than five 
 minutes at one time, without the consent of 
 the Convention. 
 
 The first anniversary of the Chautauqua 
 county Sunday school convention was held in 
 Brocton, May 5-6, 1868. It was composed of 
 the Sunday schools of both Erie and Harmony 
 Association. Twenty-three schools were rep- 
 resented with a total of teachers and scholars 
 of 2809. 
 
 Fredonia had 257 scholars, 15 teachers, nimi- 
 ber of volumes in library 280, benevolent con- 
 tributions, $113.35. 
 
 The second anniversary was in Sherman 
 June 2, 1869. Rev. L. J. Fisher conducted a 
 map concert, subject " Sacred Waters." To 
 the Fredonia school the subject was — " Egean 
 Sea " and the scholars taking part were Emma 
 Frazine, Ahce Story, Mina C. Connelly, 
 Estelle Lewis. 
 
 The Fredonia letter says : — 
 
 Rev. H. M. Jones, for six years our be- 
 loved pastor closed his labors April 1st. Dur- 
 
 132 
 
ing the year, 10 of the children of the Sunday 
 school have been baptised into the fellowship 
 of the church. Have a new Lecture room, 
 with convenient rooms adjoining for Bible and 
 infant classes. Have a penny collection each 
 Sabbath for missionary objects, a strawberry 
 festival for home expenses, teachers' meetings 
 during the whole and children's prayer meet- 
 ings during a part of the year. Speak highly 
 of the influence of 80 copies of the " Mace- 
 donian Record ", distributed regularly among 
 the congregation. 
 
 In 1870 the convention met in Westfield. 
 
 The fourth anniversary of the Chautauqua 
 County Baptist Sunday School Convention, 
 was held with the first Baptist Church in 
 Jamestown, N. Y., commencing Tuesday, 
 June 20, 1871, at 2 o'clock, P. M. After sing- 
 ing, reading of scriptures and prayer, listened 
 to the President's address by Rev. G. O. King, 
 Pastor of the Jamestown Church. 
 
 Tuesday evening a concert exercise was 
 given by the Jamestown Sabbath School; 
 theme — The Battle of Life. The plan of 
 this exercise, arranged by the pastor, was in 
 good taste, its execution by the school led by 
 the superintendent, Bro. J. Preston, admirable. 
 The scripture selections were well memorized, 
 and repeated even by the youngest scholars so 
 as to be perfectly understood by the congrega- 
 
 133 
 
tion present. Near the close, the spirited 
 poem by Coxe 
 
 " We are living, we are dwelling, 
 in a grand and awful time," 
 was recited with great appropriateness and 
 effect. 
 
 In 1880 the S. S. Convention met June 8-10 
 at Frewsburg, N. Y. Fredonia reported: — 
 Superintendent, Dr. F. B. Palmer, number of 
 officers and teachers, 22; whole number, 215; 
 average attendance, 128; benevolence, $27.19. 
 
 Meeting of 1881 was at Busti, N. Y. Dr. 
 Palmer, Superintendent. Baptized, 6. Be- 
 nevolence, $36.88. 
 
 Meeting 1882 at North East, Pa., A. F. 
 Jenks, Superintendent; average attendance, 
 120; Benevolence, $31.41. 
 
 1883 — Stockton, June 12-13. Rev. Mal- 
 com MacGregor was President and Dr. A. B. 
 Hice, Secretary. Resolution 4 reads : — " That 
 we urgently recommend to our Sunday School 
 officers and teachers, that as examples of 
 christian virtue, they abstain from the prac- 
 tice of Sunday visiting or other forms of Sab- 
 bath breaking ; the use of tobacco in any form, 
 the practice of social wine drinking, or dancing 
 or card playing. Fredonia reported: — 
 George Tate Superintendent; 13 baptisms, 
 money contributed, $79.43. 
 
 1884 — Cherry Creek, June 10-12. Fre- 
 
 134 
 
donia reported — Officers and teachers 24, 
 average attendance 120; baptisms 19; benevo- 
 lence, $26.68. 
 
 1885 — Panama June 9-11. Fredonia re- 
 ported — Superintendent Dr. F. B. Pahner; 
 Officers and teachers 27; number of scholars 
 170; benevolence $44.32. 
 
 1886 — Westfield June 15-17. Wednesday 
 afternoon Miss Elizabeth Richardson of Fre- 
 donia read an interesting and profitable essay 
 on "Methods of Teaching". Dr. C. E. 
 Smith preached the closing sermon from the 
 text " But we are come unto Mount Zion ". 
 
 1887 — Findley's Lake June 21-22 (Statis- 
 tics not printed in the minutes). Dr. F. B. 
 Palmer, of Fredonia, elected President for en- 
 suing year. 
 
 1888 — Frewsburg, N. Y., June 20-21. 
 Thursday evening Prof. F. N. Jewett, of Fre- 
 donia gave interesting stereopticon views of 
 Palestine. Fredonia reported — Superin- 
 tendent Prof. F. N. Jewett; Benevolence, 
 $16.82. 
 
 1889 — Portland June 4-6. Fredonia re- 
 ported — Superintendent Prof. Franklin N. 
 Jewett; average attendance 136; benevolence, 
 $34.56. 
 
 1890 — Kennedy Jime 3-5. Fredonia re- 
 ported — Superintendent Franklin S. Lyon; 
 baptisms 4; benevolence $41.77. 
 
 135 
 
(Note — In all cases these reports for benev- 
 olence do not include the sums used for the 
 support of the school, which in 1890 was 
 $93.19.) 
 
 1891 — Brocton June 9-10. Fredonia re- 
 ported — Superintendent F. S. Lyon; bap- 
 tisms 2; benevolence $22.73. 
 
 1892 — North East, Pa. June 7-8. Resolu- 
 tion No. 4 — " Resolved that it is the sense of 
 this Convention that the sale of intoxicants as 
 a beverage is a crime against God and man, 
 and ought to be prohibited by law, and this 
 applies especially to the Columbian Exposition 
 grounds at Chicago ". Fredonia reported — 
 average attendance 121 ; benevolence $23.16. 
 
 1893 — Mayville June 6-7. Fredonia re- 
 ported — Superintendent F. S. Lyon; aver- 
 age attendance 114; benevolence $43.66. 
 
 1894 — Frewsburg June 4-5. Wednesday 
 afternoon there were two discussions : — 
 " How to kill the Sunday School " led by Rev. 
 A. Knight. " How to help the Sunday 
 School " led by Rev. C. Boorman. Fredonia 
 reported E. J. Crissey Supt., average attend- 
 ance 125 ; cost of support of S. S., $80.00. 
 
 1895 — The Twenty-eighth Session of the 
 Chautauqua Baptist Sunday School Conven- 
 tion, and the First session of the Baptist 
 Young Peoples Societies met at Forestville 
 June 13-14. Fredonia reported — Supt. 
 
 136 
 
Charles L. Goulding; Officers and Teachers 
 22; Scholars 184; support of School $60.63. 
 
 1896 — Convention met in Jamestown June 
 2-3. Wednesday at 10:30. Rev. G. O. King 
 of Fredonia, gave an address. " The Sunday- 
 School — Its Objects", Fredonia reported 
 — Superintendent Charles O, Mason; united 
 with the Church 9; cost of support of School 
 $58.00. 
 
 1897 — Westfield June 1-2. Fredonia re- 
 ported — Cost of support of School $61.57 
 benevolence $82.19; united with the Church 16. 
 
 1898 — Brocton June 7-8. Passed resolu- 
 tions against " Legalized hquor traffic," 
 against " Sunday excursions, bicycle riding 
 for pleasure on the Sabbath," against " Cel- 
 eron as a place of resort for pic-nics or excur- 
 sions ". Fredonia reported — Superintend- 
 ent Charles O. Mason. 
 
 1899 — Randolph June 6-7. President 
 Rev. A. D. Bush, Secretary Anna L. Crissey. 
 Fredonia reported — Charles O. Mason 
 Superintendent; Officers and Teachers 27; 
 scholars 246. Cost of School $86.64 ; benevo- 
 lence $30.60. 
 
 1900 — Busti, N. Y. June 5-6. Address 
 " How can we induce our young men to stay in 
 the Sunday School " — Rev. Ernest Knight. 
 Address — " How can we interest our Sunday 
 Schools in Missions " Miss Kate Knight. 
 
 137 
 
Fredonia reported — cost of support $116.48; 
 benevolence $44.86. 
 
 1901 — Ripley June 4-5. Address "The 
 importance of the practical as well as the theo- 
 retical in teaching the lesson " Rev. D. L. 
 Jamison of Fredonia. Officers and teachers 
 20; scholars 240; average attendance 145; 
 benevolence $41.70. 
 
 1902 — Stockton June 3-4. It was at this 
 meeting decided to hold the next annual meet- 
 ing in conjunction with the meeting of the 
 Chautauqua Baptist Association. 
 
 This decision closed the June series of Sep- 
 arate Sunday School Conventions which for 
 thirty-five years had been uniformly well at- 
 tended and of interest. In 1903 C. O. Mason 
 was Superintendent. 
 
 For the five years 1904-1908 Mr. C. L. Gould- 
 ing has been the Superintendent. For 1907 
 Fredonia Baptist SS reports — Teachers 22; 
 Scholars 288; average attendance 170; ex- 
 penses $142.80; number united with Church 8. 
 Benevolence $35.31. 
 
 138 
 
THE FREDONIA BAPTIST SUNDAY 
 SCHOOL 
 
 REPORT OF SECRETARY AND TREASURER MAY l6 , IQOS 
 
 Superintendent, Charles L. Goulding, 
 Assistant Superintendent, O. W. Fargo, 
 Secretary and Treasurer, Edith I. Lewis. 
 
 OUR Sunday School is in a very prosper- 
 ous condition. The school is graded 
 and there are three organized Bible 
 Classes: — The Baracca, for young men; 
 teacher, Miss Mary Cranston. The Philatha, 
 for young women, taught by Miss Elizabeth 
 Lyon. The Berean, for both sexes, taught by 
 Mrs. J. J. Keyes. The Bereans have a total 
 membership of 60. 
 
 A large Bible class for older people is taught 
 by Dr. C. E. Smith. 
 
 The Intermediate department consists of ten 
 fine classes — five girls and five boys, which 
 are taught respectively by: — 
 
 GIRLS CLASSES BOYS CLASSES 
 
 Mrs. Carrie Flint Miss Alice Munger 
 
 Mrs. G. O. King Mr. O. W. Fargo 
 
 Mrs. O. W. Fargo Mr. Oscar Smith 
 
 Mrs. C. L. Goulding Miss Amelia Spencer 
 
 Miss Frances Sadon Mr. Thomas Vidal 
 
 Twelve from this department, decided re- 
 cently, to follow their Lord in baptism. 
 
 139 
 
The Primary department is under the super- 
 vision of Miss Hattie E. Blood. She has five 
 assistant teachers : — 
 
 Miss Mabel Slaght Miss Gladys Gibbs 
 
 Miss Julia Winchester Mrs. Merritt J. Winchester 
 
 Miss Ahce Sardeson 
 
 The Home department has an enroUment of 
 forty. Mrs. Dr. F. B. Pahner is Superintend- 
 ent. A Cradle Roll has recently been organ- 
 ised, so that the children, too young to attend 
 Sunday School, may nevertheless, know some- 
 thing about it. 
 
 We observe Rally Day and Children's Day 
 "with appropriate exercises and this year, we 
 observed Decision Day, having with us, on that 
 day, Rev. G. Frank Johnson, pastor-at-large 
 of the Association. 
 
 Union teacher's meetings, conducted by Dr. 
 F. B. Palmer, are held each week, with the 
 Methodist and Presbyterian teachers. 
 
 During the year, the pastor organized what 
 is known as the " Go to church Club ". The 
 requirements for membership are that the 
 scholar attend twelve church services during 
 the quarter, either morning or evening. At the 
 end of the quarter, a social time is in order, to 
 which only the members are entitled to go. 
 Two of these socials have already been given, 
 and were very enjoyable affairs. 
 
 The last quarter in 1906, a method of inter- 
 
 140 
 
esting the children in regular attendance at 
 Sunday School, was introduced. This is the 
 giving of a pin to each child who comes every 
 Sunday during the quarter. The pin to be 
 worn that quarter and exchanged for one of a 
 better quahty, at the end of the quarter if the 
 child does not miss a Sunday. The last pin, a 
 sohd gold one, is given at the end of six quar- 
 ters and may be kept. This method has 
 proved very successful. 
 
 At present there are twenty five officers and 
 teachers, and 295 scholars enrolled. 
 
 The average attendance since Jan. 1, 1908, 
 has been 199. 
 
 TREASURER'S REPORT, APRIL 1, 19O8 
 
 RECEIPTS 
 
 DISBURSEMENTS 
 
 Sunday CoUections, $168.11 
 Home Department, 7.84 
 Other sources, . . 63.68 
 
 Supplies, . . . 1124.26 
 Xmas and Picnic, 48.75 
 Benevolences, . . 62.00 
 State and County 
 
 Conventions, . 4.00 
 Bal., Apr. 1, 1908, .62 
 
 8239.63 $239.63 
 
 Edith Irma Lewis, 
 
 Secretary and Treasurer. 
 
 141 
 
HISTORY OF BAPTIST ASSOCIA- 
 TIONS 
 
 THE Fredonia Church has been connected 
 with four Associations — namely: 
 1810-1822 — Holland Purchase Bap- 
 tist Association. 
 1823-1847 — Chautauqua Baptist Association. 
 1848-1878 — Erie Baptist Association. 
 1879-1908 — Chautauqua Baptist Association. 
 In 1839 the first (or old) Chautauqua Asso- 
 ciation was divided, a part taking the name of 
 the Harmony Association. 
 
 In the minutes, 1838, of the Chautauqua 
 Association it says — " Heard the report of 
 the committee appointed at the last session. 
 The Committee recommend a division of this 
 body, making Chautauqua Lake the line leav- 
 ing Jamestown, Mayville and Westfield in the 
 west part, — adopted ." 
 
 HOLLAND PURCHASE ASSOCIATION 
 
 This was organized in 1810. The first pub- 
 lished minutes were in 1812. The name was 
 " HoUand Purchase Baptist Conference" until 
 1817 when it was changed to HoUand Pur- 
 chase Baptist Association. The earliest min- 
 utes we have found were for 1815 when the 
 meeting was in Hamburg, N. Y. 
 
 142 
 
S. S. CRISSEY 
 
Thirteen churches were represented with 
 only two ministers present and a membership 
 of 402. The circular letter says — " We de- 
 sire to return thanks to the great Author of our 
 Spirits, that allowed to meet in peace, and that 
 encouraging intelligence is received from most 
 of our churches". 
 
 The history (1867) of the Harmony Asso- 
 ciation says: — " The territory now embraced 
 within the bounds of the Harmony, Erie, Cat- 
 taraugus, Allegany, Genesee, Genesee River 
 and parts of Livingston and Niagara Associa- 
 tions were originally all within the limits of 
 the Holland Purchase Baptist Association". 
 
 THE CHAUTAUQUA ASSOCIATION 
 
 The Chautauqua association was organized 
 in 1823, with seventeen churches, eight or- 
 dained ministers and a total membership of 
 808. The association met at Laona, then the 
 2nd Baptist Church of Pomfret. Ehsha 
 Tucker D. D. was chosen Moderator and 
 Nathaniel Crosby, Clerk. 
 
 HARMONY ASSOCIATION 
 
 The Harmony Association was organized in 
 1839, the first session being held at Busti, N. Y. 
 There were twenty churches, seventeen or- 
 dained ministers and a total membership of 
 1419. 
 
 143 
 
The church having the largest membership 
 was Mayville, 206, the second largest Panama, 
 192. 
 
 Rev. Orrin Dodge was chosen Moderator 
 and A. Chapin, Clerk, J. C. Breed Assistant 
 Clerk, J. B. Burrows, Treasurer. 
 
 THE ERIE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION 
 
 The Erie Baptist Association was organized 
 at Forestville Sept. 5-7-1848. It was com- 
 posed of the union of the churches left in the 
 Chautauqua body, after the organization of the 
 Harmony Association with the churches com- 
 posing the Connewango Association. Four- 
 teen churches were represented namely: Cassa- 
 daga. Cherry Creek, Clear Creek, Dayton, El- 
 lery, ForestviUe, 1st Hanover, 2nd Hanover, 
 Leon, Poland, 1st Perrysburg, Randolph, Sin- 
 clairville, 2nd Stockton. The churches of 1st 
 Pomfret, Sheridan and Laona joined the 
 association in 1849. 
 
 THE (present) CHAUTAUQUA ASSOCIATION 
 
 Was formed in 1879 at Point Chautauqua of 
 the united Erie and Harmony Associations. 
 Harmony had fourteen churches and Erie, 17 
 churches. The total membership of the two 
 bodies being 2814 with twenty-six pastors. 
 
 Ui 
 
MEETINGS CHAUTAUQUA BAP- 
 TIST ASSOCIATION 
 
 1823-1847 
 
 DATE PLACE MODERATOR 
 
 1823. Laona, N. Y., Rev. Elisha Tucker, D. D. 
 
 1824. Fredonia, N. Y., . . . . Rev. Chas. LaHatt 
 
 1825. GibbonsviUe, Pa., .... Rev. EUsha Tucker, D. D. 
 
 1826. Stockton, N. Y., . . . . Rev. Elisha Tucker, D. D. 
 
 1827. Forestville, N. Y Rev. Elisha Tucker, D. D. 
 
 1828. Fredonia, N. Y Rev. Washington Winsor 
 
 1829. Forestville, N. Y., . . . . Rev. Washington Winsor 
 
 1830. Carroll, N. Y., Rev. Chas. LaHatt 
 
 1831. Laona, N. Y., Rev. Chas. LaHatt 
 
 1832. Portland, N. Y Rev. Ebenezer Harrington 
 
 1833. Stockton, N. Y Rev. Joseph W. Sawyer 
 
 1834. Ashville, N. Y Rev. Joseph W. Sawyer 
 
 183fi. MayviUe, N. Y., . . . . 
 
 1836. Harmony, N. Y Rev. Joseph W. Sawyer 
 
 1837. Forestville, N. Y Rev. B. U. Leach 
 
 1838. Fredonia, N. Y., .... Rev. Washington Winsor 
 
 1839. Leon, N. Y., 
 
 1840. Sinclairyille, N. Y Rev. J. Scofield 
 
 1841. Stockton, N. Y Rev. Alonzo Frink 
 
 1842. Forestville, N. Y Rev. J. Johnson 
 
 1843. Clear Creek, N. Y., . . . Rev. A. Frink 
 1844. 
 
 1846. Silver Creek, N. Y., . . . Rev. J. C. Allison 
 1846. 
 
 1847. Fredonia, N. Y., . . . . Rev. S. P. Way 
 
 145 
 
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 146 
 

 
 
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 147 
 
MEETINGS CHAUTAUQUA BAP- 
 TIST ASSOCIATION 
 
 COMBINED KRIE AND HAEMONY 
 
 DATE PLACE MODERATOR 
 
 1880. Point Chautauqua, N. Y., . Rev. Wm. P. Decker 
 
 1881. Point Chautauqua, N. Y., . Rev. C. B. Parsons 
 
 1882. Point Chautauqua, N. Y., . Rev. I. Child 
 
 1883. Point Chautauqua, N. Y., . Rev. R. Harvey 
 
 1884. Point Chautauqua, N. Y., . Rev. A. LeRoy 
 
 1885. Forestville, N. Y Rev. Thomas Seyse 
 
 1886. Panama, N. Y Dea. G. W. Griffin 
 
 1887. Jamestown, N. Y., . . . Rev. A. M. Tennant 
 
 1888. Brocton, N. Y., .... Rev. Alexander MacGowan 
 
 1889. Cherry Creek, N. Y., . . Rev. J. H. MiUer 
 
 1890. Fredonia, N. Y., . . . . Rev. B. E. Hilhnan 
 
 1891. Forestville, N. Y Rev. A. E. Waffle, D. D. 
 
 1892. Jamestown, N. Y Rev. A. D. Bush 
 
 1893. Ripley, N. Y Rev. C. E. Smith, D. D. 
 
 1894. Busti, N. Y., Rev. H. N. Cornish 
 
 1895. Randolph, N. Y Rev. J. S. Blandin 
 
 1896. Panama, N. Y., . . . . Rev. T. P. Poate 
 
 1897. Findley's Lake, N. Y., . . Rev. A. M. Tennant 
 
 1898. Stockton, N. Y Rev. W. P. Hellings 
 
 1899. Cherry Creek, N. Y., . . Rev. A. D. Bush 
 
 1900. Frewsburg, N. Y., . . . Rev. Dr. F. B. Pahner 
 
 1901. Brocton, N. Y., . . . . Rev. Dr. F. B. Palmer 
 
 1902. Fredonia, N. Y., . . . . Rev. A. R. Spencer 
 
 1903. Forestville, N. Y., . . . Rev. D. L. Jamison 
 
 1904. Jamestown, N. Y Geo. R. Butts 
 
 1905. Westfield, N. Y Rev. A. A. Reed 
 
 1906. Cherry Creek, N. Y., . . Rev. W. J. Ford, Ph. D. 
 
 1907. Dunkirk, N. Y., . . . . Rev. D. L. Martin 
 
 148 
 
ORGANIZATION OF BAPTIST 
 CHURCHES 
 
 KAME OF CHUKCH 
 
 Chautauqua (Olivet), 
 
 Fredonia 
 
 Nashville, .... 
 Ellery Center, . . 
 
 Stockton 
 
 Panama, .... 
 Forestville, . . . 
 
 Busti, 
 
 Brocton, .... 
 
 Mayville 
 
 Ripley, 
 
 Sherman, .... 
 Ashville, .... 
 
 ClTmer, 
 
 Farmington, Pa., 
 Westfield, .... 
 Harbor Creek, Pa., . 
 Jamestown, . . . 
 North Harmony, . . 
 Frewsburg, . . . 
 West Portland, . . 
 North East, . . . 
 Cassadaga, .... 
 Cherry Creek, . . 
 Findley Lake, . . 
 Jamestown (Swedish), 
 Jamestown (Calvary), 
 Falconer, .... 
 
 WHEN ORQANIZED riHST FASTOa 
 
 October 10, 1808, . Edman Jones 
 
 October 20, 1808, . Joy Handy 
 
 1811, James Bennett 
 
 March 8, 1817,. . Asa Turner 
 
 March 13, 1817, . Ebenezer Smith 
 
 May 14, 1817, . . Simeon Powers 
 
 December 13, 1817, James Bennett 
 
 August 30, 1819, . Paul Davis 
 September 20, 1819, 
 
 1820, Asa Turner 
 
 1826, 
 
 August 29, 1827, . Orange Spencer 
 
 1828, 
 
 February, 1829, . Samuel Alvord 
 
 February 21, 1831, Nelson Gage 
 
 May 10, 1831, . . Chas. LaHatt 
 
 1831 or 1832, . . Orange Spencer 
 
 May 24, 1832, . . David Bernard 
 
 April 6, 1833, . . Wm. Butts 
 
 1838, A. Stone 
 
 June 22, 1842, . . Chas. LaHatt 
 
 1858, 
 
 1834 
 
 1831, 
 
 1866, 
 
 1884 
 
 1902 D. H. Denison 
 
 1906, G. Frank Johnson 
 
 149 
 
FREDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
 MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS 
 
 
 <u a 
 
 -g . 
 
 ^ i 
 
 1 . 
 
 -s 
 
 
 ■gs 
 
 Years 
 
 Receiv 
 by 
 Baptis 
 
 Receiv 
 by 
 Lette 
 
 
 Dismisf 
 by 
 Lette 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 8-^ 
 II 
 
 1822 
 
 ' 
 
 7 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 63 
 
 1823 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 , 
 
 1824 
 
 '5 
 
 '7 
 
 
 "4 
 
 '2 
 
 3 
 
 169 
 
 1825 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 
 , 
 
 1826 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 
 123 
 
 1827 
 
 15 
 
 20 
 
 '2 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 
 153 
 
 1828 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 166 
 
 1829 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 '3 
 
 169 
 
 1830 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 
 i 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 
 176 
 
 1831 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . . 
 
 1832 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 '3 
 
 i 
 
 
 80 
 
 1833 
 
 
 3 
 
 'i 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 69 
 
 1834 
 
 56 
 
 14 
 
 
 14 
 
 'i 
 
 
 207 
 
 1835 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1836 
 
 '5 
 
 is 
 
 
 ii 
 
 
 i 
 
 227 
 
 1837 
 
 93 
 
 34 
 
 "i 
 
 28 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 322 
 
 1838 
 
 54 
 
 26 
 
 
 50 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 346 
 
 1849 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 210 
 
 1850 
 
 5 
 
 13 
 
 
 14 
 
 17 
 
 2 
 
 195 
 
 1851 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 6 
 
 195 
 
 1852 
 
 65 
 
 11 
 
 '3 
 
 18 
 
 
 3 
 
 252 
 
 1863 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 
 21 
 
 
 6 
 
 248 
 
 1854 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 '2 
 
 4 
 
 "i 
 
 5 
 
 244 
 
 1855 
 
 
 12 
 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 235 
 
 1856 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1857 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 . 
 
 . . 
 
 . . 
 
 . . . 
 
 1858 
 
 61 
 
 19 
 
 'e 
 
 9 
 
 
 5 
 
 273 
 
 1859 
 
 1 
 
 13 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 264 
 
 1860 
 
 2 
 
 14 
 
 
 13 
 
 
 7 
 
 260 
 
 1861 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 
 12 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 250 
 
 1862 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 7 
 
 251 
 
 1863 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 'i 
 
 16 
 
 
 3 
 
 238 
 
 1864 
 
 26 
 
 17 
 
 2 
 
 17 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 258 
 
 1865 
 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 20 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 237 
 
 1866 
 
 9 
 
 13 
 
 
 15 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 238 
 
 1867 
 
 31 
 
 14 
 
 5 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 273 
 
 1868 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 . 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 262 
 
 1869 
 
 13 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 256 
 
 1870 
 
 
 13 
 
 , 
 
 11 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 254 
 
 1871 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 
 3 
 
 263 
 
 1872 
 
 12 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 '2 
 
 5 
 
 269 
 
 150 
 
FREDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH 
 
 MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS CONTINUED 
 
 Years 
 
 eeived 
 
 by 
 
 ptism 
 
 eeived 
 
 by 
 
 etter 
 
 eeived 
 
 hv 
 
 s 
 
 missed 
 
 by 
 
 etter 
 
 1 
 
 -2 
 ■p 
 
 .La r-t 
 
 
 (S « 
 
 ^ ^« 
 
 
 s ^ 
 
 
 &^ 
 
 1873 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 11 
 
 272 
 
 1874 
 
 24 
 
 7 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 5 
 
 297 
 
 1875 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 3 
 
 298 
 
 1876 
 
 5 
 
 6 5 
 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 300 
 
 1877 
 
 8 
 
 9 2 
 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 304 
 
 1878 
 
 11 
 
 6 : 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 7 
 
 312 
 
 1879 
 
 3 
 
 1 5 
 
 
 9 
 
 i 
 
 4 
 
 304 
 
 1880 
 
 6 
 
 3 ] 
 
 
 7 
 
 37 
 
 5 
 
 265 
 
 1881 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 260 
 
 1882 
 
 10 
 
 5 
 
 
 11 
 
 
 4 
 
 258 
 
 1883 
 
 6 
 
 8 ] 
 
 
 5 
 
 i 
 
 7 
 
 259 
 
 1884 
 
 21 
 
 1 ] 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 5 
 
 274 
 
 1885 
 
 3 
 
 14 ] 
 
 
 15 
 
 
 5 
 
 272 
 
 1886 
 
 35 
 
 18 
 
 
 12 
 
 _ 
 
 1 
 
 312 
 
 1887 
 
 2 
 
 8 ] 
 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 311 
 
 1888 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 
 13 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 302 
 
 1889 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 
 6 
 
 , , 
 
 5 
 
 301 
 
 1890 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 4 
 
 288 
 
 1891 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 5 
 
 281 
 
 1892 
 
 . 
 
 14 
 
 
 5 
 
 '3 
 
 9 
 
 278 
 
 1893 
 
 3i 
 
 9 
 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 303 
 
 1894 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 4 
 
 308 
 
 1895 
 
 5 
 
 2 ] 
 
 
 8 
 
 i 
 
 6 
 
 302 
 
 1896 
 
 11 
 
 9 ; 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 316 
 
 1897 
 
 17 
 
 7 
 
 
 5 
 
 , , 
 
 2 
 
 331 
 
 1898 
 
 1 
 
 2 : 
 
 
 7 
 
 . 
 
 6 
 
 324 
 
 1899 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 
 8 
 
 14 
 
 8 
 
 304 
 
 1900 
 
 13 
 
 6 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 2 
 
 314 
 
 1901 
 
 40 
 
 5 : 
 
 
 13 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 338 
 
 1902 
 
 25 
 
 12 
 
 
 15 
 
 8 
 
 4 
 
 345 
 
 1903 
 
 19 
 
 11 
 
 
 4 
 
 , , 
 
 1 
 
 370 
 
 1904 
 
 8 
 
 16 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 13 
 
 383 
 
 1905 
 
 30 
 
 10 
 
 
 14 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 408 
 
 1906 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 19 
 
 
 7 
 
 391 
 
 1907 
 
 8 
 
 16 
 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 393 
 
 Note. — ^The dates given above are tor the Association year — from August 
 to August — for example: for 1807, the year is from August 1896, to August 
 1897. 
 
 151 
 
FREDONIA CHURCHES OF OTHER 
 DENOMINATIONS 
 
 DATE OF organization; CONSTITUENT MEM- 
 BERS; FIRST PASTOR 
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 This Church was organized Saturday Sept. 
 29, 1810. The place is said to have been the 
 house of Asa French on the West HiE. The 
 constituent members were: — Benj amine 
 Barnes, Israel Loomis, Isaac Barnes, Samuel 
 Marsh, Norman Goodwin, Asa French, Mark 
 Stacey, Phoebe Risley, Hannah Loomis, Jane 
 French, Lucina Goodrich, Persis Chadwick. 
 Rev. John Spencer was pastor 1810-1817. 
 
 TRINITY CHURCH 
 
 Organized Aug 1 1822. Gen. Ehjah Ris- 
 ley presiding. Meeting opened with prayer 
 by Elder Bailey, a Christian minister. Title 
 " Trinity Church " proposed by Watts Wilson. 
 
 The first Vestry : — Wardens ; — Michael 
 Hinman, Watts Wilson. 
 
 Vestrymen: — Mr. Bartholomew, John 
 Crane, Benjamin Douglas, PhUlip Fellows, 
 Nathan Hempstead, Joseph G. Hermance, 
 Jacob Houghton, Abiram Orton, Gen. Elijah 
 Risley, Joseph Rood, Israel Smith, Leverett 
 Todd. 
 
 152 
 
The first service : — July 7th 1822. Rev. 
 Messrs. Babcock, of Buffalo, and Benjamine 
 Dorr of Lansingburg officiating. 
 
 First Rector, elect : — Sep 5 1822, Rev. 
 Alanson W. Welton, of Detroit, called. Ac- 
 cepted, but died before taking charge. 
 
 Admitted to Diocese of New York Oct 15 
 1822. 
 
 The First Rector: — About Sept 1823, the 
 Rev. David Brown. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
 
 {Historical Record by Rev. J. Boyd Espy) 
 
 In 1805 the First Methodist Episcopal 
 itinerant made his appearance in Fredonia, 
 N. Y. In 1811 Rev. Ehjah Metcalf appointed 
 preacher in charge of Chautauqua Circuit, or- 
 ganized a Class as part of the Ohio Confer- 
 ence. The members constituting this Society 
 were: Justus Hinman and wife, Daniel Gould 
 and wife, William Ensign and wife, Jeremiah 
 Baldwin and wife and a few others. In 1812 
 Benjamin Paddock was appointed pastor. 
 
 EEEE METHODIST CHURCH 
 
 Incorporated in 1880. Constituent mem- 
 bers : — Curtis Davis, William Corwin, Eliza- 
 beth Corwin, Martha Aldrich, Mary Arm- 
 strong, William Cairnes, John Akin, Mrs. 
 John Akin, Dell Akin, Jennie Akin, John 
 Munger. 
 
 153 '' 
 
First Trustees: — William Corwin, John 
 Akin, William Cairnes. 
 
 First Pastor: — Rev. W. W. Brown. 
 Church on Free Street. 
 
 GERMANIA EVA^iTGELICAL LUTHEBAN 
 ZION CHURCH 
 
 Incorporated Nov. 15 1887. Chtirch (on 
 Houghton Street) dedicated May 27 1888. 
 
 Constituent members : — Frederick Ehmke, 
 Frederick Sahloff, Henrich Gollnitz, Earl 
 Luck, Hellmut Luck, Henrich Moller, Lud- 
 wig Sahloff, Carl Dankert, William Steitz, 
 August Bredlow, William Griese, Christian 
 Wassmund. 
 
 First Pastor: — William Broacker. 
 
 CHURCH OF CHRIST 
 
 Date Dec 7 1879. First Pastor Rev. L. S. 
 Brown. 
 
 Constituent members : — Mrs. Josie G. 
 Brown, George W. Lewis, David Ransom, 
 James Fuller, David N. Thayer, George W. 
 Briggs, John Jackson, Mrs. G. W. Briggs, 
 Joel N. Straight and Mrs. Joel N. Straight 
 and eight others. 
 
 Church, corner of Free and Day Streets. 
 
 154 
 
MISSIONS 
 
 Rev. Adoniram Judson and his wife Ann H. 
 Judson, on February 19, 1812 sailed from 
 Salem, Mass. in the " Caravan " Capt. Hurd, 
 and arrived at Rangoon, July 13, 1813. This 
 event marks the beginning of Baptist missions 
 in Burma. From the first, the interest in 
 this mission, on the part of Baptist churches in 
 this section was spontaneous and intense. The 
 records do not show the gifts of the individual 
 churches, but the result of the missionary col- 
 lections, taken at the Annual meetings of the 
 Associations are given. 
 
 In 1825 the 1st Pomfret Church and Society 
 reported that their collections went for the aid 
 of three young brethren, whom they had 
 Hcensed to preach and who were in the Hamil- 
 ton Theological Seminary. 
 
 At the meeting of the Association, 1826, 
 held in Stockton, we find this record: — Re- 
 solved — That Elder Jairus Handy deliver a 
 missionary discourse to-morrow morning at 10 
 o'clock; and that a collection be taken to be 
 equally divided between the Burman Mission 
 and the " Carey Station " under the superin- 
 tendence of Br. McCoy. This last was a home 
 mission among the Ottawas, 
 
 iss 
 
The discourse was from the text — " Who 
 hath despised the day of small things", and the 
 collection was $9.63. 
 
 In 1827 the collection following the mission- 
 ary discourse was $17.08. 
 
 In 1828 the collection for the Carey Station 
 was $19.96, and the collection for the Burman 
 mission $10.08. 
 
 In 1829 collection for Carey Station 
 $3.79; collection for Burman mission 
 $10.94. 
 
 At the meeting at Ashville 1834, the record 
 is : — " Agreeable to appointment yesterday. 
 Rev. J. D. Cole delivered a sermon from 
 Psahn 4:3. " But know that the Lord hath 
 set apart, him that is Godly, for himself ". 
 After which a collection of $23.48, two 
 Buckles, two pair Earrings, and two Finger 
 Rings were taken for the Home Mission. At 
 the same meeting, a sister gave one string 
 Gold Beads. 
 
 In 1849, the year after the re-union of the 
 Fredonia Church, the total benevolence of the 
 Erie Association, was $359.72. Fredonia 
 gave $144.63. Four years later, in 1853, the 
 amount for the Association $501.81. Fre- 
 donia gave $199.50. 
 
 In 1879 Total benevolence for the Erie As- 
 sociation $829.57. Fredonia, $270.60. For 
 the same year, total benevolence of the Har- 
 
 156 
 
mony Association $525.26; Jamestown $139.- 
 25; Panama $134.54. 
 
 A noteworthy feature in the missionary 
 work of the Fredonia Church, as it is of nearly 
 all the churches, is the part taken by Women's 
 Missionary Societies. 
 
 The Woman's Missionary iSociety of the 
 Chautauqua Baptist Association was organ- 
 ized in 1898. It was not until 1900 that the 
 minutes of the Annual Meeting were pub- 
 lished. The third annual meeting was held at 
 Forestville, May 1, 1900. The society con- 
 vened at 2 P. M. and was called to order by 
 Mrs. F. B. Palmer of Fredonia. Miss Kate 
 Knight, Burma, gave an address — " Some 
 of my experiences as a missionary." 
 
 The fourth annual meeting was held at 
 Cherry Creek, May 14, 1901. Committee on 
 nominations reported — Foreign Missionary, 
 President, Mrs. Cornell, Fredonia; Vice Presi- 
 dent, Mrs. Palmer; Home Missions, Presi- 
 dent Mrs. Spencer, Forestville; Vice Presi- 
 dent, Mrs. Davis, Forestville; Recording 
 Sec'y, Miss Morian, Cherry Creek ; Treasurer, 
 Miss Carrie Dixon, Jamestown. 
 
 In 1903 the May meeting of the Mission- 
 ary Society, and also of the Sunday School 
 Convention, were omitted and the Societies 
 met with the Association at Forestville, 
 August 25 — 26 — 27. The leading mis- 
 
 157 
 
sionary contributions of the Fredonia Church, 
 including all departments, were — State Mis- 
 sions, $71.12; Home Missions, $202.12; For- 
 eign Missions, $242.70. 
 
 April 1, 1905 — Report of Woman's Mis- 
 sion Circle, by Mrs. Harriet Daniels. Have 
 sustained monthly meetings, with an average 
 attendance of twelve. Have been studying 
 about Japan. The Society has raised for for- 
 eign missions, $48.81; for home missions, 
 $80.70; and goods valued at $179.75. 
 
 REV. CYEUS A. CHILCOTT 
 
 Cyrus A. Chilcott attended the Fredonia 
 Academy, and later was in Rochester Uni- 
 versity. In April 1864, he received an ap- 
 pointment as Missionary to Siam. He was 
 ordained in Fredonia, N. Y., July 20, 1864; 
 sailed from New York, August 13, 1864. 
 
 Dr. Wm. Dean, founder of the Bangkok 
 Mission, was present at the ordination. 
 
 At the Missionary JubUee of the American 
 Baptist Missionary Union, held in Phila- 
 delphia, May, 1864, Mr. Chilcott said: — 
 " Here in the presence of this large, already 
 wearied, but patient congregation, surrounded 
 by these venerable fathers in Israel, whose 
 silvery locks, attest the long years of their 
 faithful services, in the cause of Christ, and 
 whose experience so richly qualifies them to 
 
 158 
 
speak to our edification. I find that I, almost 
 a novice, in this work, have little claim upon a 
 moment of your valuable time. I simply 
 stand here as one of the least among aU the 
 prophets, and rejoice in the prospect of soon 
 being permitted to visit heathen lands, and 
 there repeat the story of the Cross, in the ears 
 of those who have never yet been gladdened by 
 even so much as the name of Jesus. May your 
 prayers accompany me." — " Died, at the Bap- 
 tist Mission at Bangkok, Siam, Dec. 30, 1865, 
 Rev. Cyrus A. ChUcott in the 30th year of his 
 age". 
 
 REVIVALS AND BAPTISMS 
 
 " Down to the sacred wave, 
 The Lord of Life was led. 
 And he who came, our souls to save. 
 In Jordan bowed his head. 
 
 It was a Sunday in June and there was to be 
 a baptism by the Fredonia Baptist Church. 
 So perfect were the conditions of weather and 
 the roads, that it was decided to visit the Lake 
 for administering the ordinance. The spot 
 selected, was near the farm residence (of a 
 member) lying between Point Gratiot and Van 
 Buren. The spot and all the surroundings 
 were ideal. The clean, gently shelving beach, 
 the steady but not unpleasant inflowing waves 
 
 159 
 
of the Lake, and when the choir began singing 
 Wesley's incomparable hymn — 
 
 " Jesus lover of my soul, 
 " Let me to thy bosom fly, 
 " While the nearer waters roll, 
 
 there was a solemn and beautiful reahsm, 
 rarely witnessed in an always impressive 
 ordinance. 
 
 For the first fifty years and more, in its his- 
 tory, baptism was administered in the river, or 
 nearby lakes of this County. 
 
 Baptisms foUow revivals. 
 
 For five years, the baptismal record of the 
 Fredonia Baptist Church, has exceeded 50 
 each year. The list is 1834-56; 1837-93; 
 1838-54; 1852-65; 1858-61. 
 
 If we take six year periods, the baptisms 
 1834-39, were 208. 1900-05 were 135. 
 
 In the Harmony Association, the year 1842 
 was remarkable for revivals. There were added 
 by baptism — Jamestown 103; — Busti 79; — 
 Clymer 84 ; West Portland 70 ; — Frewsbiu-g 
 54. 
 
 JOHN F. BISHOP 
 
 In March 1838 Rev. John F. Bishop re- 
 ceived a call to the pastorate which was ac- 
 cepted. There was a revival that year and one 
 of the largest additions by baptism in any year 
 
 160 
 
REV. GEO. D. DOWNEY 
 
in the history of the Church. After the di- 
 vision in 1839 he remained as pastor of the 
 part of the church which worshiped in the 
 meeting house and was active in pastoral and 
 church work. We have not been able to get 
 any account of his early life nor of his theo- 
 logical education. It is evident that Fredonia 
 was not his first pastorate. His residence in 
 Fredonia was on West Main street (West 
 HUl) . He is spoken of by old residents as a 
 man of fine address and an able preacher. He 
 remained as pastor untU 1845. 
 
 In 1846 Rev. B. C. Willoughby became pas- 
 tor of that part of the church. 
 
 In 1848 the imfortunate division of the 
 church was happily settled. Each of the pas- 
 tors resigned and in 1849 Rev. S. T. Griswold 
 was called to the pastorate. 
 
 GEORGE D. DOWNEY 
 
 Rev. Geo. D. Dovsmey, a recent graduate 
 from the Theological Seminary, received a call 
 to the pastorate in 1861. A council of Ordina- 
 tion was called and he was ordained Thursday 
 Oct. 24th. On October 13th the change was 
 made from a sermon Sunday afternoon to an 
 evening sermon. On the Thanksgiving fol- 
 lowing, Rev. DowTiey preached the sermon in 
 the M. E. Church. 
 
 Rev. Downey's pastorate was very pleasant 
 
 161 
 
but of short duration. On Sunday Feb 1st 
 1863 he preached his valedictory to a large 
 congregation. 
 
 REV. JAIKUS HANDY 
 
 Jairus Handy was born April 30, 1803. 
 When his father, Rev. Joy Handy, in 1811, 
 became pastor of the Fredonia Baptist Church, 
 Jairus was a lad, eight years old. In early life, 
 he gave evidence of unusual talent. Mr. 
 Devillo A. White remembers him. Mr. White 
 says that Jairus Handy entered his father's 
 (Dr. S. White) office for the study of medi- 
 cine. This was in the early twenties. In due 
 time the young medical student was catechised 
 as to his proficiency in medical studies. The 
 result was a failure. " See here " said the 
 kind hearted doctor, " I fear you are studying 
 for the wrong profession. You ought to be a 
 preacher, rather than a doctor." " A 
 preacher," replied the astonished student, 
 " why, I am not even a member of the church." 
 Subsequent events justified Dr. White's con- 
 clusion. Jairus Handy was baptized June 1st, 
 1825. He took a short course of study (aided 
 by the Fredonia Church) in Hamilton Theo- 
 logical Seminary and August 30th, 1826 was 
 ordained as pastor of the MayviUe Church. 
 The history (1876) of the Mayville Church, 
 says — " Elder LaHatt remained with the 
 
 162 
 
church as pastor until September, 1826, when 
 he was succeeded by Elder Jairus Handy, a 
 young man from the Seminary at Hamilton, 
 N. Y. During his pastorate, which continued 
 for five years, the church was greatly blessed 
 with many very valuable accessions. He es- 
 tabUshed prayer meetings and caused the 
 church to set apart days of fasting and prayer. 
 
 Elder Handy was a noble man, fuU of en- 
 ergy, fervent in prayer, walking before the 
 world and the Church of God with uprightness. 
 Long wiU his memory be cherished." 
 
 From Mayville, in the FaU of 1830, Rev. 
 Handy went to Buffalo and a revival, with 
 large accessions followed. He died Nov. 7th. 
 1831. The moniiment to his memory, in the 
 East Main Street Cemetery, was erected by 
 the Buffalo Church. 
 
 REV. ALFEED HANDY 
 
 Alfred Handy was another of the sons of 
 Elder Joy Handy to enter the sacred profes- 
 sion. With his brother Jairus, he was for a 
 brief period in the Seminary at Hamilton. He 
 was pastor of the church in Warren, Pa. 1843- 
 44 ; of the Jamestown, N". Y. church, 1845-46. 
 He was moderator of the Harmony Associa- 
 tion at the MayviUe session 1844, and was 
 Moderator of the Erie Association, at the 
 Forestville session, 1848. 
 
 163 
 
REV. C. N. CHANDIiEE 
 
 Rev. C. N. Chandler began his labors as 
 pastor Sunday Oct. 7, 1855. Rev, Chandler 
 and wife Elizabeth D. Chandler brought let- 
 ters from the church in Ehnira N. Y. 
 
 There was a baptism the afternoon of his 
 first Sabbath as pastor. 
 
 As the Fredonia Church was not represented 
 during his pastorate in the Erie Association, 
 no report of membership statistics is available. 
 His labors with the church closed Nov. 30, 
 1856. At the covenant meeting preceding, 
 letters of dismission were voted himself and 
 Mrs. Chandler. 
 
 ELIZABETH BOND 
 
 Elizabeth Bond was born in Kinderhook, 
 N. Y., September 10th, 1797 and when two 
 years removed with her parents to Sandy HUl, 
 Washington County, N. Y. When ten years 
 old, her mother died and she became house- 
 keeper for the family. She attended school 
 later in Troy. 
 
 In 1818, she came with her brother, William 
 Bond to Dunkirk, then considered the far west. 
 The journey then required 16 days. 
 
 March 4th, 1819 she was married to Adam 
 Fink, who had come to Dunkirk in 1817 and 
 was a skilled manufacturer of edge tools. His 
 
 164 
 
blacksmith shop was at the northeast corner 
 of Central Avenue and Third Street and his 
 home occupied all the ground bounded by Cen- 
 tral Avenue on the west, Third Street on the 
 south, Washington Avenue on the east, and 
 Second Street on the north. He cleared this 
 ground with his own labor and with axes of his 
 own manufacture. On this ground were his 
 house, barn, orchard, and garden, the black- 
 smith shop, and a wheatfield. 
 
 He later removed to a farm in Bennett 
 Road where both he and his wife died, he in 
 his 90th year and she when 84. Their graves 
 are in Forest Hill cemetery, surrounded by a 
 beautiful evergreen hedge. 
 
 The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fink was the 
 first within what are the limits of the Town of 
 Dunkirk. 
 
 In 1822, Mrs. Fink became a member of the 
 Baptist Church in Fredonia, where she was 
 baptized in Fredonia when the Rev. Elisha 
 Tucker was pastor of the Church in Fredonia. 
 Upon the 5th of May 1830, she was one of 
 14 persons who constituted the First Bap- 
 tist Church of Dunkirk. In her later years, 
 she sometimes spoke with pleasure of the times 
 when she used to walk on the corduroy road to 
 attend the Baptist meeting in Fredonia and 
 not feel it any hardship to do so. Upon such 
 occasions, she sometimes carried a child, which 
 
 165 
 
she gladly did rather than miss a covenant 
 meeting. 
 
 Of her nine children, seven of vt^hom reached 
 manhood and womanhood, only one is living, 
 Charles E. Fink of New York. Several 
 grand children are living. 
 
 166 
 
IN THE DAYS OF THE CIVIL WAR 
 
 [Diary of D. Barrell) 
 
 1861 — April 11 — Intense anxiety about 
 news from Charleston S. C. — Looks war- 
 like. 
 
 — April 12 — Civil war commenced in 
 Charleston. Fort Smnter attacked. 
 
 1865 — April 10 — The news of the surrender 
 of Lee and his army to Gen. Grant yester- 
 day P. M. — the whole land is in a blaze of 
 rejoicing — Jubilee meeting in Concert 
 HaU in evening. 
 
 1865 — April 13 — The papers filled with ac- 
 counts of the rejoicing over the triumph of 
 our army. — It is thought the war is virtually 
 at an end. 
 
 1865 — Saturday April 15 — Oh, what 
 strange, sad intelligence reaches us this 
 morning! Our noble president Abraham 
 Lincoln was assassinated last night — Shot 
 at 10 o'clock last evening, died at 7/^ o'clock 
 this morning. Secretary Seward also 
 stabbed at the same hour — but alive. 
 Sunday April 16 — A solemn mournful 
 Sabbath. The weather cheerless, gloomy 
 and our hearts still more so. Our church 
 and others draped in mourning. 
 Mr. Seward still alive — assassin known but 
 not arrested. 
 
 167 
 
Wednesday April 19 — Stores all closed until 
 after the services for the funeral of our 
 late President Lincoln, held at Washington 
 at 12 o'clock. A union meeting held at 
 Baptist Church at 12 M. Church crowded 
 to overflowing. 
 
 Thursday April 20 — The body of Presi- 
 dent Lincoln in Buffalo to-day — Passed 
 through Dunkirk in the night. 
 
 EBEE M. PETTIT 
 
 Dr. Eber M. Pettit was born in 1802. He 
 died in 1885. 
 
 He was the son of Dr. James Pettit one of 
 the pioneer settlers of Fredonia. For several 
 years Dr. Pettit was the agent of the United 
 States Government, in charge of the interests 
 of the Indians of the Cattaraugus Reservation, 
 and resided at Versailles. In 1861 or 2, he re- 
 moved to Fredonia and became actively en- 
 gaged in the manufacture and sale of a propri- 
 etary medicine. 
 
 The family at once became a valuable ac- 
 cession to the Baptist Church. While in Ver- 
 sailles the doctor had been Superintendent of a 
 Sunday School. In Fredonia his daughter 
 Mrs. D. R. Barker was the superintendent of 
 the primary department. Mrs. Barker was a 
 refined lovely Christian worker. Early in life 
 
 168 
 
her daughter Dora united with the church by 
 baptism. 
 
 Her husband was the founder and donor 
 to the village of the Darwin R. Barker Public 
 Library. 
 
 Dr. Pettit had abundant means and was 
 a liberal supporter of the church expenses. 
 
 Dr. Pettit had most earnest and profound 
 sympathies with the oppressed African race, 
 and his personal work as conductor of the 
 " underground-railroad " aiding fugitives 
 from bondage on their way to Canada and 
 freedom, is an important chapter in the career 
 of an upright. God-fearing, noble man. 
 
 The Barker-Pettit home on Central Avenue 
 was full of sunshine, beautiful with flowers, 
 and in season and out, generous with hospi- 
 tality. 
 
 Mrs. Euretta S. Pettit died in 1873. 
 
 169 
 
PERSONAL MENTION 
 
 Miss Dora Barker (Mrs. Arthur Boss) of 
 Fredonia, Home Missions, Director of the 
 Women's Missionary Society, made the annual 
 report at the May meetings 1900-02 and after 
 the time was changed, made the report as direc- 
 tor, at the Associational Meetings 1903 to 1906 
 inclusive. 
 
 Dea. Horace P. Perrin of Fredonia, Presi- 
 dent, 1908 of the Chautauqua Baptist Associ- 
 ation, and chairman of the committee on Cen- 
 tennial History, accompanied by Mrs. Perrin, 
 made a visit to friends on the Pacific Coast, re- 
 turning in June last. 
 
 In 1864 during the pastorate of Rev. How- 
 ard M. Jones, the Fredonia Baptist Sunday 
 School undertook the support of a little res- 
 cued Chinese Slave girl in the girl's orphan 
 school at Ningpo China. The girl to be named 
 Mary Jones after the pastor's wife. 
 
 From an early period, the Fredonia Church 
 has been highly favored by the presence and 
 membership of clergymen, whose main life 
 work has been in other fields. 
 
 We mention Rev. Pearson Crosby, Rev. W. 
 H. Husted, Rev. A. LuU, Rev. G. O. King, 
 Rev. J. J. Keyes. The last two named, are 
 members of the committee on programmes, for 
 Centennial week. 
 
 170 
 
Dr. A. Wheelock and Rev. A. Kingsbury, 
 ex-pastors, each, after having had other pas- 
 torates, returned to make, for some years, their 
 home in Fredonia. 
 
 During the first three months of 1897 dur- 
 ing the absence of the Pastor, the pulpit was 
 supplied by Rev. G. O. King. 
 
 Dr. S. r. Smith, poet and preacher, made a 
 pleasant visit to Fredonia and occupied the 
 pulpit one Sabbath. This was during the pas- 
 torate of Rev, H. M. Jones, his son-in-law. 
 
 Harry Jones of Minneapolis, only son of 
 Rev. H. M. Jones, was one of the speakers at 
 the recent Oklahoma-City Convention. It is 
 not improbable that he may be with us at our 
 October Centennial. 
 
 The first Annual Banquet of the Baptist 
 Married Men's Association was held in the 
 Church parlors, Feb. 17, 1904. Covers were 
 laid for fifty. 
 
 For the three months of March, April and 
 May 1904, Rev. D. L. Jamison was voted 
 leave of absence to visit the Holy Land. His 
 first sermon, on his return was Sunday, 
 June 19. 
 
 Pastors supplying the pulpit, other than 
 resident ministers, during the absence of Rev. 
 Jamison, were Rev. W- L. Durgan, Cuba, 
 N. Y. ; Rev. P. L. PoweU, LeRoy, N. Y. ; Rev. 
 Robert Scott, Buffalo; Rev. T. G. Cass, 
 
 171 
 
Olean; Rev. G. G. Johnson, Buffalo; Rev. M. 
 H. Day, Dunkirk; Rev. Geo. D. Knight, East 
 Aurora, N. Y. 
 
 The text of the first sermon by Rev. H. M. 
 Jones — Ps. 61: 2 — "Lead me to the rock 
 that is higher than I ". 
 
 Text of the last sermon by Rev. M. Mac- 
 Gregor — Romans — 16 : 20 — The " grace 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 
 Amen". 
 
 Text of remarkable sermon (thrice re- 
 peated) by Rev. Charles Thompson — Luke 
 23: 23 — "The place which is called Calvary ". 
 
 Text of first sermon by Rev. D. L. Jamison 
 — 1 Corinthians — 12 : 27 " Now ye are the 
 body of Christ and members in particular ". 
 
 Text of the first sermon of Rev. M. J. Win- 
 chester — Colossians, 4:18 — " Remember my 
 bonds ". 
 
 On Fellowship Day 1904, Rev. O. P. Gif- 
 ford D. D. of Buffalo, preached a discourse. 
 S. S. Crissey read a brief history of the Church. 
 
 For the years 1856-1857 the Fredonia 
 Church was a member of the Buffalo Baptist 
 Association. After the settlement of Dr. 
 Wheelock as pastor, the membership with the 
 Erie Association was resumed. 
 
 Rev. D. L. Jamison tendered his resignation 
 Sunday morning, June 25, 1905, to take effect 
 Sept. 1. 
 
 172 
 
On the following Thursday evening voted 
 that there be added to the church record, the 
 following minutes : — Resolved — That Rev. 
 D. L. Jamison has filled the office of teacher, 
 guide and friend to this church; with distin- 
 guished ability, unflagging zeal and unselfish 
 devotion to our personal and spiritual welfare. 
 
 We mention now, in contemplating the sev- 
 erance of his relations to the church, as the re- 
 sult of his labors; the growth of the church; 
 its unity of spirit in its bonds of peace. Now^ 
 that a conclusion has been reached, not accord- 
 ing to oxu- will, but as our Heavenly Father di- 
 rects, we accept it as due to our faith and 
 obedience, wishing happiness to our beloved 
 pastor and family and the largest measure of 
 success to crown his labors. 
 
 At the communion Service June 4, 1905, the 
 church elected Rev. C. E. Smith D. D., Pastor 
 Emeritus, and on the following Wednesday 
 evening, tendered him a reception in the 
 Church parlors. 
 
 By invitation of the Pulpit Committee, the 
 pulpit was supplied on the following Sab- 
 baths : — 
 
 Oct. 8, 1905, Rev. J. L. Ray, Ph. S. of Nor- 
 wich, N. Y. 
 
 Oct. 29, — Rev. Robert Scott of Buffalo. 
 
 Nov. 26 — Rev. John J. Barbour of Mum- 
 ford, N. Y. 
 
 173 
 
Dec. 10 — Rev. Eugene Haines of Coopers- 
 town, N. Y. 
 
 Dec. 31 — Rev. Babbitt of Buffalo, 
 
 N". Y. 
 
 Jan. 7 — Rev. Babbitt of Buffalo, 
 
 N. Y. 
 
 Jan. 14-21 — Rev. S. A. Perrine of Trenton 
 Jet., N. J. 
 
 At the church meeting Jan. 23, the record is 
 " The church being unable to issue a caU to any 
 of the ministers who have supplied the pulpit ", 
 voted that the committee continue their work. 
 
 Note — The vote at this meeting, does not 
 include the name of Rev. Robert Scott of 
 Buffalo, who declined to give his name for the 
 pastorate of the church. Ed. — On invitation 
 of the Committee, the pulpit was supplied Feb. 
 11 by Rev. M. J. Winchester of Elbridge, 
 N. Y. 
 
 After the Prayer Meeting Feb. 15, the 
 church gave Rev. M. J. Winchester an unani- 
 mous caU to the pastorate, which was accepted. 
 Rev. Winchester preached his first sermon as 
 pastor, Sunday, April 1, 1906. 
 
 174 
 
DEACONS 
 
 Zatta Gushing 1813-1839 
 
 Ebenezer Webster 1816-1863 
 
 Elijah Devine 1816- 
 
 Nathaniel Crosby 1821- 
 
 John Hamilton Sr 1848 
 
 Joel R. Parker 1848-1862 
 
 David Barrell 1862-1888 
 
 Thomas B. Sweet 1862-1888 
 
 Joel Traverse 1862- 
 
 Samuel S. Crissey 1862-1875 
 
 Washington Crocker 1866- 
 
 Eber M. Pettit 1866-1885 
 
 Horace P. Perrin 1880-1908 
 
 H. A. Buck 1875-1892 
 
 Dayton H, Morgan 1886-1906 
 
 Edward J. Crissey 1886-1901 
 
 P. S. West 1897-1908 
 
 G. E. Belden 1897-1908 
 
 W. T. Benjamine 1901-1908 
 
 Chas. L. Golding 1901-1908 
 
 George Cranston 1906-1908 
 
 Edson I. Wilcox 1880-1908 
 
 175 
 
PRESENT OFFICERS 
 
 Pastor 
 Rev. Meeeitt J. Winchestee 
 
 Pastor Emeritus 
 
 Ret. Chaeles E. Smith, D. D. 
 
 Cleric 
 
 Chaeles L. Goitlding 
 
 Treasurer 
 
 Clinton 0. Taebox 
 
 President Y. P. S. C. E. 
 
 Chaeles Faego 
 
 President Men's Association 
 
 R. C. Wells 
 
 President Ladies' Aid Society 
 
 Mes. F. B. Palmee 
 
 President Wornen's Missionary Society 
 
 Mes. Haeeiet Daniel 
 
 Chorister 
 
 H. J. Humpstone 
 
 Organist 
 
 Miss Geace Baemoee 
 
 Historia/n 
 
 Samuel S. Ceissey 
 
 Trustees 
 
 Geoege W. Blood, Thos. Moean, Duane L. 
 
 Sackett, Peeston G. Cato, Maesena 
 
 MuNGEE, LeRoy S. Allnatt 
 
 176 
 
Supt. Sunday School 
 
 Chakles L. Goulding 
 
 Asst. Supt. S. S. 
 
 O. W. Fasgo 
 
 Deacons 
 
 HoEACE P. Pekein, p. C. West, G. E. Belden, 
 
 W. T. Benjamin, Chaeles L. Gotilding 
 
 Geoege Ceanston 
 
 Committee Church History 
 
 H. P. Peeein, 0. W. Faego, Chas. L. 
 
 GouLDiNG, Mes. Haeeiet Daniei,, 
 
 S. S. Ceissey 
 
 Committee Programme Centennial Week 
 
 Rev. M. J. WiNCHESTEE, Rev. C. E. Smith, D. D. 
 
 Rev. G. 0. King, Rev. J. J. Keyes, De. F. B. Paimee 
 
 177 
 
IN MEMORIAM 
 
 1870 — Esther Geer, Abigail G. Osborne, 
 Walter R. Wilcox, John Champlin. 
 
 1871 — Lucy L. Lord, Edmund Hunt, John 
 L. Kazer. 
 
 1872 — Cynthia Fisher, Mrs. Mariah T. 
 Madison, Abbie Eaton, Mrs. Mary M. Par- 
 ker, Wm. Porter. 
 
 1873 — Mrs. Amy Baldwin — 80 ; Mrs. Asen- 
 ath Morrison, Maria Sisson, Mrs. Charlotte 
 Green, Mrs. Lydia Barker, Mrs. Eliza Por- 
 ter, Rev. Alonzo Wheelock D. D., Eliza 
 Kapple, Mrs. Elizabeth Howes, Mrs. 
 Euretta S. Pettit, Mrs. Belle Wright. 
 
 1874 — Mary L. Hart, Epenetus Winsor, 
 Carohne McAllister, Angehne Parsons. 
 
 1875 — Mrs. C. H. Parsons, Mary Taylor, 
 Rev. Charles Thompson — 80. 
 
 1876 — Mrs. A. Perrin. 
 
 1877 — None. 
 
 1878 — Rowland Porter, Mrs. Orpha Burritt, 
 Mrs. Cordeha E. Stanley, Mrs. Harriet R. 
 Wilcox, Elizabeth Moore, Charlotte Saff ord, 
 Mrs. PoUy Champlain Woodruif — 92. 
 
 1879 — C. E. Barclay, B. Merrill, Mrs. A. L. 
 Matteson, Mrs. F. Rosseter. 
 
 178 
 
1880 — Theron E. Van Scoter — 22; Mrs. E. 
 Taylor. 
 
 1881 — Joseph Sweet, Chatfield H. Parsons, 
 Lucy Geer, Sally Winsor, Artemas Perrin, 
 Clarinda BarreU, AEce Thompson, widow 
 of the late Rev. Charles Thompson. 
 
 1882 — Joseph Moir — 70; Lorin Colburn — 
 87; Berton W. Crocker — 32; Anson Por- 
 ter — 60. 
 
 1883 — Elisha Rossiter — 82; Mary A. 
 Woodruif — 60; Sarah Ann Haskin, Eliza 
 W. Lewis — 62; Mary P. Smith, Ehzabeth 
 Bissell — 73; Angelina Martin, 50. 
 
 1884 — Elizabeth Hart — 30; Mariette Mor- 
 rison 67; Lewis B. Grant 74; Phineas Gates 
 
 — 83; Franc H. Lull — 27. 
 
 1885 — Mrs. Florette Shaver — 28; Mrs. 
 Naomi Miller — 90; Mrs. AuriUa Draper 
 
 — 75; Dea. Eber M. Pettit — 83; Mrs. 
 Mary Wheelock — 47. 
 
 1886 — Mrs. Amanda R. Walker, — 83. 
 
 1887 — Helen E. Willard; Mrs. Julia F. 
 Grant, Wm Higgins, Mathew Fuller — 65. 
 
 1888 — Dea. David Barrell, Harriet Osborne, 
 Frances A. Sackett, Margaret Handy, 
 Margaret Morian, Malinda Brown. 
 
 1889 — Richard Van Scoter, Hannah Porter, 
 Minnie M. Berg, Emmiline Bond. 
 
 1890 — Roswell B. Morgan, Mary E. Van 
 Scoter, Martha D. D. Martin, Joanna Gahm, 
 
 179 
 
Laura N. Hart, Susan Rowe, Josie H. 
 Dewitt. 
 1891— Effie E. Hutchinson, Elizabeth M. 
 Wheelock, Miranda M. Guild, Anna A. 
 Damon, Lucy Payne. 
 
 1892 — A. Z. Madison — 89 ; Dea. H. A. Buck, 
 80; Mrs. Beulah J. Noble — 52; Timothy 
 Starr — 90 ; Clarence S. Lewis — 46 ; Annie 
 A. Reed — 32 ; Mrs. Irene A. Frazine — 67 ; 
 E. T. Willard — 86. 
 
 1893 — Mrs. Maria Green — 74; Mrs. Roxy 
 Morgan — 81; Mrs. Louisa Stephens — 83; 
 Rev. A. Kingsbury — 80; Mrs. Emily 
 Daily — 74; Mrs. Mary Higgins — 69; 
 Mrs. Charlotte Porter — 60. 
 
 1894 — Jerusha White — 93; Mrs. Nancy 
 McClanathan — 83; Mrs. Mary Ann Gates 
 — 84 ; Mrs. Mary Wright — 65. 
 
 1895 — Ida Jolls, Mary Ann Wright, Harriet 
 M. EUsworth, Evangeline K. Adams, 
 Tabitha Eddy, Martha C. Bowdish. 
 
 1896 — Mrs. Harriet M. Ellsworth — 52 ; 
 Mrs. Augusta H. Barmore — 67; Mary A. 
 Draper — 58; Laura S. Wiggins — 78. 
 
 1897 — Jessica AOnot- 68; Ehza Willard 
 — 66. 
 
 1898 — Will L. Adkin — 22; Mrs. Amanda 
 Wilcox — 69; Pricilla Collins — 66; Mrs. 
 Mary R. Crosby — 53; Mrs. Almira Web- 
 ster — 84. 
 
 180 
 
1899 — Mrs. Mary A. Kendall, Byron S. 
 Clark — 49 ; Joel W. Parker 32 ; Mrs. Caro- 
 line Jones — 78; Darwin L. Shepard — 58; 
 Mrs. Malinda Grant — 72 ; Eleanor Crissey 
 — 16; Mrs. Alice A. Kendall. 
 
 1900 — Mrs. H. A. Lyon — 70; Newton K. 
 Crissey — 27. 
 
 1901 — Lydia Douglass — 19; Mrs. Willard 
 Webster — 78; Mrs. Elizabeth Wilbur — 
 84; David S. Wright — 76; Mrs. Hannah 
 Tefft, 91; Viola Ruland, Cordelia C. Brad- 
 ford — 80. 
 
 1902 — Mrs. Julia Sackett — 36; Mrs. O. H. 
 Buck — 85 ; Mrs. A. M. Gibbs — 81 ; Mrs. 
 A. E. Clute — 66; Thomas Osborne — 68; 
 Miss M. J. Morgan; Miss M. Bowdish. 
 
 1903 — Lavantia Goddard. 
 
 1904 — Dorliska Manley — 76; Miss Fannie 
 A. Caryer; Mrs. Alice Harris — 68; Mrs. 
 Cornelia Kingsbury — 84; Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Sweet — 77; Henry A. Morrison — 70; 
 Mrs. Rachel Morian — 75; Mrs. Enuly B. 
 Thompson — 73 ; Sobieski Burt — 91 ; 
 Alonzo D. Lewis — 77; Mabel Van Daake 
 — 16; Gresham Gibbs, Mrs. Katherine E. 
 Straight — 33. 
 
 1905 — Mrs. Elizabeth Green — 72; Mrs. 
 Clara Wheelock — 52; Mrs. Sophronia 
 Webster — 85. 
 
 1906 — Daniel P. Topliff — 58 ; Mrs. Almena 
 
 181 
 
S. Parker — 79; Isaac H. Damon — 85; 
 Mrs. Hannah I. Edwards — 68; Eric A. 
 Berg — 48; Mrs. Sabrie A. Kendall — 65; 
 Prof. Franklin S. Lyon — 87. 
 1907 — Mrs. Susan Straight — 25; Mrs. 
 Amanda D. Graham — 69; Richard T. 
 Tunstall — 63; Elizabeth Roesch — 46; 
 Mrs. Anna Lewis — 63; Mrs. Harriett 
 DeWitt — 87; Mrs. EUen Halligreen — 
 77; Mrs. Frederick Moir — 55; Mrs. Lydia 
 A. Martin — 79. 
 
 182 
 
INDEX 
 
 PASB 
 
 Title Page, 1 
 
 Introduction, 34 
 
 Partial List of Subjects, 5 
 
 History Fredonia Baptist Church: 
 
 The Holland Purchase and Early Missionary Work, 6-10 
 
 1808-1819, 11_14 
 
 Elder Joy Handy, 14-16 
 
 Minutes, 16-19 
 
 Zattu Gushing, 19-23 
 
 Mrs. Sophia Morton Williams, 23, 24 
 
 Ebenezer Webster, 25-27 
 
 In Pioneer Days : 
 
 What Perry's Victory Meant to a Fredonia Home, 28-32 
 
 The First Death and Funeral in Fredonia: First 
 
 School : First Fourth of July Celebration, . . 33-36 
 
 1820-1829, 37-39 
 
 Elisha Tucker, 39,40 
 
 In the Old (Main Street) Cemetery, .... 41-43 
 
 1830-1839, 44,46 
 
 David Bernard, 45-47 
 
 Organization of Dunkirk Baptist Church, ... 48, 49 
 
 Jirah D. Cole, 49-51 
 
 1840-1849, 52-54 
 
 Bliss C. Willoughby, 54r-56 
 
 Ahnond C. Barrell, 66-60 
 
 Rev. Salem T. Griswold, 60-63 
 
 1850-1859, 64 
 
 Revival of 1851, 1862, 64, 65 
 
 Rev. A. Kingsbury — The Record of a Noble Life, 65-69 
 
 Rev. Alonzo Wheelock, D. D., 69, 70 
 
 183 
 
PAQB 
 
 John Hamilton, Jr., 70-73 
 
 1860-1869, 74 
 
 Deacon Joel R. Parker 74-77 
 
 Howard Malcom Jones, 77, 78 
 
 Story of the BeU, from Diary of Deacon Barrell, 78-80 
 
 1870-1879, 81 
 
 Rev. Charles Thompson, 81, 82 
 
 Rev. Lester Williams, Jr., 82-84 
 
 The Memorable Crusade of 1873, 85-90 
 
 1880-1889, 91 
 
 Lewis B. Grant, 91-93 
 
 Rev. Malcolm MacGregor, 94, 95 
 
 Deacon Barrell, 95-97 
 
 1890-1899, 98 
 
 Almond Z. Madison, 98-100 
 
 Rev. Charles E. Smith, D. D., 100-108 
 
 1900-1908, 109 
 
 David Lee Jamison, 109-111 
 
 Merritt Joel Winchester, 111-114 
 
 Rev. G. 0. King, 114H16 
 
 Rev. J. J. Keyes, 116 
 
 Franklin Smith Lyon, 116-119 
 
 Francis B. Pahner, 119-122 
 
 Y. P. S. C. of the Fredonia, N. Y., Baptist Church, 123, 124 
 
 The Pledge, 124 
 
 List of Officers, 125-127 
 
 Sunday Schools, 128-138 
 
 The Fredonia Baptist Sunday School, .... 139-141 
 
 History of Baptist Associations, 142 
 
 HoUand Purchase Association, 142 
 
 The Chautauqua Association, 143 
 
 Harmony Association, 143 
 
 The Erie Baptist Association, 144 
 
 The (Present) Chautauqua Association, . . . 144 
 
 184 
 
Meetings Chautauqua Baptist Association, . . 145 
 
 Meetings of Erie and Harmony Associations, . . 146, 147 
 
 Meetings Chautauqua Baptist Association, . . 148 
 
 Organization of Baptist Churches, 149 
 
 Membership Statistics Fredonia Baptist Church, . 150, 151 
 
 Fredonia Churches of Other Denominations, . . 152-155 
 
 Missions, 155-158 
 
 Rev. Cyrus A. Chilcott, 158, 159 
 
 Revivals and Baptisms, 169, 160 
 
 John F. Bishop, 160, 161 
 
 George D. Downey, 161, 162 
 
 Rev. Jairus Handy, 162, 163 
 
 Rev. Alfred Handy, 163 
 
 Rev. C. N. Chandler, 164 
 
 Elizabeth Bond, 164r-166 
 
 In the Days of the Civil War, 167,168 
 
 Eber M. Pettit, 168,169 
 
 Personal Mention, 170-174 
 
 Deacons, 175 
 
 Present Officers, 176,177 
 
 In Memoriam, 178-182 
 
 185