A History of Oneonta from its earliest settlement to the present time by Dudley M. Campbell. Oneonta, NY G. W. Fairchild & Co. 1906 Transcribed & Contributed by Sandy Goodspeed

Chapter IX. RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN ONEONTA.

The first church organization was effected by the Presbyterians. The first meeting was held at the house of Frederick BROWN, January 24, 1800, when John HOUGHTAILING, Henry SCRAMLING, John VANDERWERKER, and James DIETZ were chosen elders; William MORENUS, David SCRAMLING, Aaron BARNES, and James QUACKENBUSH were chosen deacons. The following are the names of the ministers of the church with dates of service: Wm. FISHER, 1923-33; Wm. CLARK, 1833-37; Jos. W. PADDOCK, 1837-42; Fordyce HARRINGTON, 1943-45; Gaius M. BLODGETT, 1945-- (Reorganization); Eliphalet M. SPENCER, 1849-52; Wm. B. CHRISTOPHER, 1952-54; Wm. BALDWIN, 1854-62; Geo. O. PHELPS, 1863-69; H. H. ALLEN, 1969-87; Charles G. MATTESON, 1887-88; John H. BRANDOW, 1888-94; Newton M. HALL, 1896-99; J. C. RUSSELL, D. D., 1800--

The next church organization was by the Methodist Episcopals. The first steps towards forming a society were taken by Nathan BENNETT, Silas WASHBURN, David T. EVANS, David FAIRCHILD, and David T. CLARK. This society had no house of worship for many years, and held their meetings in the village school house. The first church edifice was built in 1844. In 1868-9 a new and larger meeting house was built and finished at a cost of $12,000. Rev. George ELLIOTT and Rev. Wm. McDONALD were the first preachers. Subsequent ministers have been: Rev. C. G. ROBINSON, 1854-56; Rev. W. G. QUEAL, 1856-58; Rev. S. M. STONE, 1858- 59; Rev. D. P. PENDELL, 1859-61; Rev. Geo. Parsons, 1961-63; Rev. P. Y. HUGHSTON, 1963-65; Rev. H. N. VanDUSEN, 1865-67; Rev. R. W. PEBBLES, 1867-70; Rev. Austin GRIFFIN, 1870-72; Rev. I. N. PARDEE, 1872-75; Rev. W. B. WESTLAKE, 1875-78; Rev. Y. Z. SMITH, 1878-79; Rev. A. B. RICHARDSON, 1879-82; Rev. D. C. OLMSTEAD, 1882-85; Rev. A. B. RICHARDSON, 1885- 88; Rev. O. H. McANULTY, 1888-93; Rev. John E. BONE, 1893-96; Rev. H. E. McDERMOTT, 1896-01; Rev. John B. SWEET, 1901-02; Rev. Henry TUCKLEY, 1902-05; Rev. John H. BICKFORD, 1905--

The presiding elders in charge here have been: Rev. Wm. N. COBB, 1869-72; Rev. Henry WHEELER, 1873-75; Rev. H. R. CLARK, 1876-79; Rev. F. L. HILLIS, 1880-83; Rev. J. N. LEE, 1884- 87; Rev. Wm. H. OLIN, 1888-89; Rev. T. P. HALSTEAD, 1889-91; Rev. A. J. VanCLEFT, 1891-96; Rev. Austin GRIFFIN, 1897-98; Rev. Truman F. HALL, 1898-03; Rev. Austin GRIFFIN, 1903--

The First Baptist society was organized April 6, 1833. At a meeting called for that purpose, David YAGER was chosen moderator and James SLADE clerk. April 24, 1883, a council was held, of which Elder Alex. SMITH, of Franklin, was moderator, and Elder KINGSLEY, of Meredith, clerk. The pastors have been D. B. CRANE, 1833-35; Rev. John SMITH, 1836-48; Rev. H. CLARK, 1848-49; Rev. A. B. EARLE, 1849-53; Rev. E. WESTCOTT, 1854- 57; Rev. John SMITH, 1858-65; Rev. A. REYNOLDS, 1865-70; Rev. Geo. R. BURNSIDE, 1871-74; Rev. H. BROTHERTON, 1874-80; Rev. P. D. ROOT, 1880-82; Rev. E. D. CLOUGH, 1883-86; Rev. A. B. COATS, 1886-91; Rev. C. C. PIERCE, 1891-96; Rev. E. J. FARLEY, 1896--.

The Free Baptist Church society was formed at the Emmons school house Feb. 25, 1856.* The council consisted of Revs. A. WING, D. GREEN, O. T. MOULTON, and laymen Joseph JENKS and Harvey MACKEY. The meeting house was built in 1857. The pastors have been Rev. O. T. MOULTON, 1856-61; Rev. H. STRICKLAND, 1862; Rev. E. CROWELL, 1864-68; Rev. G. P. RAMSEY, 1868-72; Rev. O. T. MOULTON, 1872-75; Rev. Peter SCAMLING, 1875; Rev. M. .C. BROWN, 1875-78; Rev. D. C. WHEELER, 1878; Rev. David BOYD, 1880-83; Rev. C. A. GLEASON, 1883-87; Rev. A. E. WILSON, 1887-96; Rev. Chas. S. PENDLETON, 1896--.

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*A Free Baptist church had been built at the Plains many years before.

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The first Episcopal services were held in 1839, by the Rev. Andrew HALL, a missionary to Oneonta. At first the society met in the school-house of the village, and afterwards built a chapel on the lot now occupied by a part of the Central Hotel. The clergy have been as follows: Rev. Andrew HALL, 1839; Rev. Stephen PARKER, 1855; Rev. D. S. TUTTLE, 1864-65; Rev. E. N. GODDARD, 1865; Rev. Mr. FOOTE, and Rev. Mr. FERGUSON, 1866-67; Rev. Mr. LIGHTHIPE, 1870; Rev. Mr. FITZGERALD, 1873-74; Rev. J. H. SMITH, 1874; Rev. J. B. COLHOUN, 1875-78; Rev. J. B. HUBBS, 1880-81; Rev. C. D. FLAGLER, 1882-85; Rev. Daniel DUROE, 1885-89; Rev. E. A. HARTMAN, 1889-92; Rev. J. E. BOLD, 1892- 1900; Rev. T. G. M'GONIGLE, 1900-04; Rev. J. R. LACEY, 1904--.

The "First Universalist Society: of Oneonta was formed Dec. 12, 1877. The meeting house was built in 1878-79. The pastors have been Rev. L. F. PORTER, 1877-81; Rev. H. Kirk WHITE, 1882-84; Rev. B. BRANNING, 1884-85; Rev. E. F. TEMPLE, 1885-89; Rev. J. C. F. GRUMBINE, 1889; Rev. Charles E. HALL, 1889-90; Rev. W. L. STONE, 1891-92; Rev. E. F. TEMPLE, 1892-95; Rev. L. L. GREENE, 1896-1903; Rev. G. E. HUNTLEY, 1903-05; Rev. W. D. POTTER, 1905--.

Through the efforts of H. D. NELSON, A. R. GIBBS and Charles L. WILBUR, the United Presbyterian Church was organized May 5, 1889, when the first services were held under the ministration of Rev. J. R. FRAZIER, and five persons were received into membership, viz: James DOUGHERTY, Elizabeth DOUGHERTY, Benjamin TIFFANY, Mrs. H. D. NELSON, Sarah STRANAHAN, and since the first ministrations of Rev. Mr. Frazier, the following pastors have been in charge: Rev. Leslie E. HAWK, 1889-94; Rev. Robert L. WELCH, 1894-1901; Rev. Thos. F. B. SMITH, 1901-05. The society has erected a fine church edifice on Dietz street, and is steadily increasing in membership.

The Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in Oneonta in May, 1903. Rev. Henry MANKEN was called to the pastorate, and the society now owns the former Baptist church on Grove street, where the meetings are regularly held.

The First Church of Christ Scientist, was organized April 11, 1894, with fourteen charter members. In connection with its place of meeting it has a well supplied reading room which is open every week day from 2 to 5 p. m.

Catholic services were conducted in Oneonta by Rev. J. J. BROSNAHAN, of Cobleskill, till July, 1883, when the Bishop created a new parish at this place and appointed Rev. J. H. MANEY (of St. Mary's Church, Albany), its pastor. The society, which took the name of St. Mary's, erected a handsome church edifice in 1884, upon the south-east corner of Main and Grand streets. Father Maney was succeeded as resident pastor by Rev. D. E. MURPHY in August, 1892. The latter spent over twelve years in the service of St. Mary's church, devoting himself with the utmost self-denial to its interests. Under his pastorate the membership was largely increased, and it now numbers about 500 souls. Father Murphy died in November, 1904, and was succeeded in June, 1905, by Rev. John McCARTHY the present incumbent.

Besides the churches in the village of Oneonta, there were also four other church organizations in town-a Methodist Episcopal church at the Plains, forming one charge with the church at Laurens, and two churches at West Oneonta, a First Baptist and a Free Baptist society. Both are prosperous churches of good membership, with settled pastors. The fourth church, Methodist Episcopal, is near the upper reservoir, on the Oneonta creek. Rev. Henry R. GIFFORD has for many years been its pastor.



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