Pioneer Oswego County Preachers and Their Churches

This essay was originally published in the 1940 OCHS Yearbook. Please note that this essay was published over 80 years ago. While still useful for general education, language may be outdated and at times offensive. The Oswego County Historical Society does not stand by the language used in this essay. All photos were added in 2024 when this article was uploaded to the web. To view the original document, please visit NYHeritage.org.

Paper Presented Before Oswego Historical Society February 13, 1940 By Leon N. Brown

The first permanent settlers came into Oswego County following the Revolutionary War, the year 1791 marking this point in the County history. During the next few years homes were built and settlements grew up at Redfield, Constantia, Vera Cruz, (Texas), Mexico, Pulaski, Sandy Creek, Oswego and along the Oswego River Valley. These early settlers came mostly from Connecticut, Vermont, the Mohawk Valley and other earlier settled sections of New York State. Many of the first settlers were Revolutionary War soldiers, a few were ordained ministers, a good share of them poor and in large part Protestant, or at least Protestant by inclination. The country was a wilderness of forest; there were no roads, other than Indian trails, no means of communication, and all of the hardships of the pioneer were suffered. Churchill writes: “It is a somewhat remarkable circumstance, in view of the history of Oswego village itself, and the fact that settlement began at several other points in the County prior to 1800, that a church society was organized in the town of Redfield as early as 1802, that there’ was not a church edifice in the county until 1823, when a small one was erected at Colosse—this may seem to indicate a backward condition of religious sentiment in the county, but the fact is, religious services were held throughout the county as early as other sections of the State, when compared with dates of settlement and the religious sentiment and subservience to the teachings of religion were as prevalent here as elsewhere.” 

Itinerant Preachers Followed Settlers

Following the first settlements came itinerant and circuit riding preachers on horseback and on foot, sent out as missionaries to the new country. These fearless men who came were largely Congregationalists, Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists. The Congregationalists. were educated men, graduates of New England colleges. They held services in homes, school houses and mills, sleeping and eating wherever they were welcome. The gray clad Methodists and the itinerant Baptists were of equal zeal, stern, severe and uncomprising, but often without the educational qualifications of the Congregationalists. These early, preachers never shirked a necessary hardship nor avoided a duty. Peter Cartwright described the early frontier preacher vividly: “A Methodist preacher in those days when he felt that God had called him to preach, instead of hunting up a college or a Bibical [sic] institute hunted up a hardy pony or a horse and some travelling apparatus, and with his library always at hand, namely the Bible, Hymn Book, and Discipline, he started, and with a text that never wore out or grew stale, he cried, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!’ In this way he went through storms of wind, hail, snow and rain; climbed hills and mountains, traversed valleys, plunged through swamps, swam swollen streams, lay out at night, wet, weary and hungry, held his horse by the bridle all night, or tied him to a limb, slept with saddle 15 blanket for a bed, his saddle or saddle bags for his pillow, and his old big coat or blanket, if he had any, for covering.”

Circuit Riders Found Few Roads

Rev. Nathan Dutton, who came to Champion soon after 1800 relates in his diary of riding from Adams, Jefferson County to Ellisburg and then to Redfield in 1806 over an intolerable road, where he arrived, much fatigued and, on his knees, thanked God his life had been spared during the long ride through the forests. Today, when Oswego county may be traversed from north to south in an hour and east to west in less than two hours by automobile, the obstacles confronting the traveler a hundred and forty years ago are not easily visualized. Scriba’s roads from Rotterdam to Vera Cruz and Camden to Rotterdam were built early in the century. Previous to 1808 there were no roads passable with a wagon in the towns of Mexico or Parish, nor any other town north or east except Williamstown and Redfield. A post route was established in 1806 from Onondaga Hollow to the village of Hannibal and in 1804 a road was cut through the woods from Oswego to Cato; but it was not until 1811 that the legislature authorized a public road to be laid out from the court house in Onondaga to Oswego village. Other roads developed as the county grew in population, but easy travel was retarded for a number of years.

Rev. John Taylor, a Presbyterian missionary, visited Mexico in 1802, describing conditions as follows: ‘Preached to about 40 people September 2nd. The most I can say is that they behaved with tolerable decency. Three or four left the house sermon time. Gave one Bible and half a dozen catechisms to such persons as I thought would receive them. The people are in general nothing— arians or fatalists, or Methodists and Baptists, who are worst of all.”

Early Services at Mexico

In 1808 Jonothan Huestis, a young Methodist preacher, came riding into Mexico with Bible and Hymn books in his saddle bags and preached the first Methodist sermon in the town of Mexico. The preaching occurred at the home of Mrs. Leonard Ames, whose husband, Leonard Ames, was one of the first settlers in the town. Rev. Ira Fairbanks, in 1811 was appointed to the Mexico circuit by the New York Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Rueben Farley was his colleague. This circuit then embraced a large territory—a part of Sandy Creek, Redfield, Camden, Williamstown, Salmon River, Richland and Mexico and as far west as Oswego Falls, “having to pass through a twelve mile dense wilderness twice every time around the circuit.” In a written report to the Conference Fairbanks states: “I received $25.00 quarterly that year, and at the end of the year I owed nothing. We lived with the people. When they had venison, we had it. When they had salmon we shared with them. We received about 100 on probation.”

At the request of one man who came ten miles to hear preaching, Fairbanks traveled ten miles through the woods on Salmon River and found a people without religion and abounding in quarrels. A Methodist Class was started and evidence of his good work is found in several churches which were later established in that locality. He is recorded as having preached in the settlement of Pekin in the town of Orwell in 1811. Bishop Francis Asbury. “Methodist Prophet of the Long Road.” is reputed to have traveled from Kingston, Canada to Racket’s Harbor on July 15th, 1811, then following the old military road through Redfield, and thence along down the Salmon River to Pekin. Williamstown, Camden and Rome. 16 The Bishop’s published journal records that he crossed from Kingston to Sacket’s harbor, rode 38 miles to Porter’s Tavern and on July 18th, “got safe to Paris,” where he was to conduct a Conference. His journal give no further details. Rev. Henry BoeTim, who accompanied Asbury, records the trip from Canada to Sacket’s Harbor and to a Central New York destination, but he does not mention the route.

Early Oswego Preachers

Reverends Case and Gillet preached at Fort Ontario in 1815 and Rev. Chandley Lambert preached in Oswego prior to the War of 1812. Other itinerant Methodist preachers recorded as having preached in the village of Oswego were, Rev. Elias Bowen 1815, Rev. George Gray [sic] and Luther Bishop 1816. In September 1817 Mrs. Catherine Hawley, “mother of Methodism in Oswego,” heard that a two days meeting was to be conducted five miles southeast of the village. With’ Mary Cooley she walked the distance to find Revs. James Hazen, Amos Perry and Enoch Barnes conducting the meeting. She begged that they come and preach “in benighted Oswego, where there was neither church nor minister.” She was apparently wrong here, because the Presbyterians had already held intermittent services and organized a church. However, as a result of her invitation Rev. Enoch Barnes came to the settlement, a class was formed and the First Methodist Church of Oswego came into being.

George Gary and Chandley Lambert are listed as pioneer North Country preachers. George Gary was later a District Superintendent, or Presiding Elder and he left this vicinity to become a pioneer missionary to the Oregon Territory. Known among his followers as Father Lambert, Chandley Lambert is said to have preached with equal zeal against the devil, the Congregationalists, the Baptists and especially the Universalists. Before coming into Oswego County he had been assigned to Northern New York. The following is taken from his journal: “I came from the New York Conference in 1807 to the Black River Country. Received my appointment from Bishop Asbury to the St. Lawrence circuit.” Rev. T. T. Rowe, historian of the First Methodist Church, Oswego, wrote this concerning Lambert, “He was an inflexible man, a good disiplinarian, and powerful preacher—a fine example of the pioneer preacher.”

First Services in Fulton

Another appointment to the Mexico Circuit was Rev. Tuller, who came from Cortland, preaching in Fulton as early as 1809, marking the beginning of Methodist work there. From Fulton he traveled around the circuit, preaching in Oswego, Mexico, Sandy Creek and Sacket’s Harbor. Among other pioneer preachers who visited Fulton were Enoch Barnes, James Hazen and Nathan Reeder. Rev. George White was another of the Methodist circuit preachers, later living in the village of Orwell.

In 1823 the “disiplinary allowance” or salary was $100 for a young man and $200 for a married man, serving Methodist congregations in Oswego County. There were funeral sermons preached in the town of Sandy Creek in 1806 for the wife of a Mr. Knickerbocker, who settled about three miles northeast of Lacona; in 1807 over the remains of Mrs. Elias Howe and in 1808 at the burial of a Mr. Brown; but there are no records of who conducted the services. Soon after this, Elder Bishop, a Methodist and Elder Osgood, Baptist, both intinerant preachers, visited settlements in Sandy Creek and preached at various times. Baptism of children meant much to the early citizens and the story is told that an intinerant preacher 17 coming to Oswego on an unexpected mission was urged to stay and perform the rite by a settler. He told the preacher that besides his children he could find several others thus giving him the opportunity “of doing a dammed good job.” Two intinerant preachers found their way to the settlement a t Union Villiage (now Fruit Valley) and sermons were preached there between 1811 and 1813. One of these visiting preachers was Rev. Roswell Beckwith, a Baptist, the other a Methodist named Gillett.

First County Church at Redfield

While the early preachers were mostly traveling evangelists or circuit riders, some came into the county as permanent settlers. Col. Amos Johnson and his brother, Rev. Joshua, settled at Redfield Square either in 1800 or 1801. The Colonel opened the second tavern in the town, while his ministerial brother, of the Congregational faith, organized the first church in Oswego County in 1802 with fourteen members. This was five years before the Colosse church was established and fourteen years before the formation of a church in the village of Oswego. Rev. Johnson al=o taueht the first school in Redfield. of which we have anv record. He served +he Redfield church twelve to fifteen years, preaching in the school house or home: for it was not until 1829 that a small church was built at the Square when the Rev. William Stone was the minister. 

Second Church Formed in 1807

In 1803 Elder Gamaliel Barnes built the first log house, the first barn and later the first frame house in the town of Parish. Barnes was 46 years old at the time, a Baptist preacher, and had served in the Revolutionary war. With his son-in-law, Stephen D. Morse, he came into Oswego County from Otsego, by way ot Camden and Amboy. Sunday June 15th, 1806 he preached at the home of Amos Williams, after which a meeting was held resulting in the formation of the Baptist church of Mexico, the first church in the town of Mexico, the first Baptist church in the county and the second of any denomination, the date of the final church authorization being October 15th, 1807. Some twenty-five years later the name was changed to Colosse Baptist Church.

Elder Asaph Graves, a Vermonter by birth and an ordained preacher of the Baptist Church came into Palermo in 1813, settling about a mile east of Palermo Center. He was one of the first eight members of the First Baptist Church of Palermo, organized in 1817.

Christopher Martin settled in what is now the village of Cleveland in February 1821. He was a Vermonter and had lived in Williamstown, Mass., where he united with the Methodist Episcopal church. Soon after his arrival in Cleveland he started a Methodist class, the first regular service being held in the summer of 1822 at his house with Rev. Keys, a Methodist preacher, officiating. In 1833 Mr. Martin was “licensed to exhort,” and in 1839 to preach: He also taught the first school in the eastern end of the county in an old log dwelling on the Vanderkamp farm.

Pulaski Church Organized in 1811

Rev. Oliver Leavitt, the first pastor of the Congregational Church of Pulaski, accompanied a colony which came from Pawlett, Vt. The church was organized January 22nd, 1811 at the home of Erastus Kellog, but the society was started in a preliminary association of nine persons in Pawlett, who met for that purpose before their departure for Oswego County. Rev. Leavitt was installed as pastor December 24th, 1811 remaining until August 27th, 1818. We find that he was zealous in his travels, for he preached at various times at New Haven, Fulton, Mexico, Central Square and Sandy Creek. In 1819 he became pastor of the Congregational church at Volney, remaining their [sic] until 1827. While he was pastor there, a branch of the Volney church was instituted at Jenning’s Corners (Palermo Center) and here also Oliver Leavitt ministered.

A Church Founding Pair

Rev. John Dunlap and Rev. David R. Dixon, Congregationalists, were the first preachers at Volney. The church there, which was the fifth church organized in the county, was organized in June 1812. Dunlap and Dixon were present and instrumental in the formation of the Congregational Church at New Haven, June 30th, 1817.

Rev. Dixon, whose name is mentioned in connection with the Congregational church at Mexico, visited Hannibal on December 4th, 1816 for the purpose of forming a Presbyterian Church there. With him was the Rev. Henry Smith, sent out by the Oneida Female Missionary Society, who preached from the text, Matthew, Chapter 25, 1 to 12th verses. John Dunlap also conducted the meeting held June 13th, 1818 at the home of the widow Perry, Fulton, at which time the First Presbyterian Church was formed. Within a month of this time twelve children were baptized. He also, with Oliver Leavitt, preached at Sandy Creek on different occasions from 1817 to 1822.

Oswego’s “Old First” Church

Rev. David R. Dixon, who has been mentioned in connection with both Congregational and Presbyterian churches, assisted Rev. John Davenport, of Onondaga, in the organization of the First Presbyterian Church in Oswego, November 21st, 1816. This was the first church to be formed in the village of Oswego, the meeting being held in the first school house, which stood at the northeast corner of West Seneca and Third Streets. There the congregation worshipped until 1825. when a church building was erected near the center of Franklin Square, (West Park) being a wooden structure 54 x 80 feet and costing $6,000.

In 1808 Rev. Simeon Waterman and Rev. Cleveland were sent into Oswego County by the Connecticut Missionary Society. As a result the First Presbyterian Church of Mexico was instituted in the barn of Shubel Alfred August 20th, 1810, the membership being composed entirely of women. In May 1811, the First Congregational Society of Mexico was organized, but in 1818 the name Congregational was replaced by Presbyterian. The present Presbyterian church of Mexico, an offshoot of the first church, was organized May 5th, 1829, instituted February 24th, 1830, when Rev. Oliver Leavitt, with Revs. Oliver Ayer and Ralph Robinson, was present and officiated. Rev. Oliver Ayer in 1829 was elected president of the Oswego county auxiliary of the American Bible Society, which was a successor to the Oswego County Bible Society, organized in Pulaski in 1826. In 1823 Fellowship Masonic Lodge No. 288, of Pulaski, voted to invite him to address the Lodge on St. John’s Day, June 24th.

Churchill states that Rev. William Stone, later pastor at Redfield, organized a Congregational Church in Williamstown in 1805, which later took the Presbyterian form. He later writes that the Presbyterian church was organized, probably in 1817. The earlier date of 1805, which he uses, may be a mistake, as this would make the Williamstown church the second one organized in the county, preceding the Colosse date by a year, unless the Congregational organization had such a short life that it was not taken into account.

Founded Three County Churches

Rev. S. W. Leonard, born in 1800, native of Shrewsbury, Vt. and graduate of Williams College labored along the north shore of Oneida Lake. The Presbyterian Church at Constantia was organized in 1851 under his leadership, although a Congregational church existed there before 1835. A church at Cleveland was also started as a result of his efforts, but later ceased to exist. In 1849 a Presbyterian church at Whig Hall (Town of West Monroe) was started by Rev. Leonard. The building has been gone many years, but some of the timbers are still to be seen on a road from the north leading into the village of West Monroe. A woman living in the village recently told me that she had heard some mighty powerful preaching in the Whig Hill Church when she was a girl. At the time of his death in 1886, Rev. Leonard was the oldest Mason in Oswego County.

In Hastings a Presbyterian Church was started prior to 1835, but twenty-one years later because of decrease in membership closed its doors, yet in 1888 the Presbyterians again formed a church there.

Grace Presbyterian Church in Oswego was organized in 1872 with Rev. Henry H. Stebbins as pastor. The union of this church in 1936 with the First Presbyterian Church is but a recent development in local church history.

Although a number of rural Presbyterian churches were formed throughout the county, for various reasons, many of them had a short life and soon passed out of the picture.

The work of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches in the early days was closely related. In fact, the two churches had been drawn together because of conditions in England from 1662 on, the history of the Congregational church being bound up with the development of the Protestant Reformation in England. The period from 1800 to 1850 was marked by close union in missionary expansion with the Presbyterians. In doctrine the two bodies were in practical agreement and this is shown by the adoption of “a Plan of Union” in 1801 to govern the missionary work of the two churches. When the westward emigration from New England demanded some organized agency to follow the settlers, the New England Congregationalists felt that the more closely organized Presbyterian system fitted the needs of isolated settlements best. Apparently they were not guided by any strong feeling of denominationalism, because in the end the results accrued far more to the Presbyterians than to their own church.

Denominational Co-operation

In Oswego County both Congregational and Presbyterian churches were organized by Congregational ministers. Also there are a number of instances of church organizations changing from one form to the other. An example is the church at Hannibal. Organized as Presbyterian, the church voted in January 1817, “that this church make application to unite with the Presbytery of Onondaga”, but on May 10th, 1820, the church voted, “to apply to Presbytery to have leave to adopt the Congretional [sic] mode of church government” and again in January 1822, “voted that Cephas S. Kent attend the next session of Presbytery and apply for leave to govern the church in the Congregational form”. Evidently permission was grated [sic] for the history of the church states: “February 20th, 1822, voted that having obtained leave of Presbytery to administer discipline according to the form of Congregational churches—Job C. Conger be deacon”. In spite of this action the church still remained in connection with Presbytery, sent delegates to its meetings, and submitted minutes for its approval, apparently in accordance with the Plan of Union referred to previously.

The First Congregational Society of Phoenix was incorporated in April 1837 and constituted by Rev. John Eastman with twenty members, but in 1842 a connection was effected with the Presbytery of Oswego under the “plan of union”, the church, however, retaining the Congregational form of government. They continued to operate under this plan until January 3rd, 1863, when connection with the Presbytery was dissolved and in September of the same year united with the Oswego Congregational Association.

To a certain extent the Congregational Church of Oswego might be used as another example of the change in form from one to the other as between the Congregational and the Presbyterian form. Under the guidance of Rev. Luther Myrick the First Congregational Church of Oswego came into being April 1, 1833, following a meeting held in the old court house. The financial panic of 1836-37 crippled its finances, and in 1838 it was dissolved. But in January of the year previous, the Second Presbyterian Church of Oswego had been formed and in 1842 a church building was dedicated. Yet in 1856 this society disbanded, and the present Congregational Church of Oswego, meeting in the Second Presbyterian building on February 20, 1857, organized.

Today with our churches working harmoniously together and uniting in many projects, it is perhaps hard for us to realize the differences, friction and controversy that existed in the early days between the Methodists and Calvinistic churches. Catherine Hawley, in her history, written in 1852, states that Rev. Mr. Davenport, Presbyterian missionary to the village of Oswego, coming into her home saw a copy of the Methodist Discipline on the table. Laying his hands on the book, he opened it and cried, “That book rips up the foundation of Christianity. Do you believe that book?” “I verily believe its every doctrine,” she replied. The argument that followed grew so warm that he left never to be her guest again.

Men and women took their religion seriously and many bitter arguments over Calvinism resulted, sometimes disrupting the peace of an entire village. An example, Rev. Sheldon, father of Dr. Edward S. Sheldon founder of the Oswego Normal School, told his son, “I do not expect to see the Wesleys in heaven.”

Methodists Found Fifty Churches

No other church has been so active in forming new churches in Oswego County as the Methodist Episcopal. Following the visit of the first circuit rider to the County nearly fifty churches of the denomination have been established, several of which have already been mentioned. Methodist work started in Pulaski in 1811. James Trumbull states that when he came into Pulaski in 1811 the Methodists held services in the house of John Ingersoll and in Pliny Jones’ Bar Room, which was located a mile south of the village.

The church at Amboy Center was started prior to 1834, the building being erected in that year. Methodist services were held at Mallory in 1833, Central Square 1830, Parish 1815, Gilbert’s Mills 1826. At Denton Corners (Palermo) the Methodist church was organized as the Anti-Slavery Methodist Episcopal Church. The church at Minetto dates back to November 15th, 1848.

Class Meeting System

The “Class meeting” system was a strong factor in pioneer Methodist work. Many classes were formed in various sections of the county as a result of the visit of a preacher. The class meeting was the only religious service for weeks at a time, as the circuit rider visited outlying settlements only occasionally. As the population grew “the class” developed into a church, so that many actual Methodist dates, preceded the date of the formation of a church by several years. The last session of the Oneida Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church was held in Oswego in 1835. The next year the Black River Conference, predecessor of the present Northern New York Conference, was organized in Watertown August 1st to 8th. In 1838, the first session of the new Conference was held at First Church, Fulton, with Bishop Morris presiding.

In a paper of this kind, necessarily limited, it is not possible to go into detail concerning the history of any individual church, nor to record when every church started in the county. The Baptists were very active in every section of the county, forming churches in Sandy Creek in 1820, Fulton 1817, South Richland 1817, Palermo 1817, Hannibal 1817, Hastings 1826, Mexico 1832, New Haven 1820, and Port Ontario 1850. Rev. Nathaniel Gitteau, “a very acceptable preacher,” formed the Baptists of Pulaski into a class in 1828 and presided as a temporary minister for a few years. Prior to the formation of this church, Rev. Gitteau was responsible for calling together in 1828 probably the first conference of Oswego County churches, when a Baptist Conference was held in Pulaski, attended by delegates from Baptist Churches or groups at Richland, New Haven, Sandy Creek and Ellisburgh.

Oswego Baptist Churches

The First Baptist Church of Oswego was organized with 11 members March 13, 1828, meetings being held for a time in a school house. In 1831 a church was built in the East Park. In the old City Hall on Water Street on May 3, 1852 the West Baptist church of Oswego was formed by members of First Church who resided on the West side of the river. The Baptist Church at Southwest Oswego has served the community slightly over one hundred years; for it was in 1839 that the church was organized with Rev. Edward Lawton as the first pastor.

Questions of church policy, particularly Communion, led to the establishment of the Free Will or Free Baptist Church in New Hampshire in 1779-1780, based on a belief in open communion. A “Free” church was organized at North Scriba January 7, 1828 as “Free Communion”, dissolved December 13, 1831 and later organized as the Free Baptist Church. Other Free-Will Baptists churches were organized at Amboy in 1824, under the efforts of Rev. Truman Gillett, Carley’s Mills 1832, Parish 1858 and Phoenix 1846. According to Dr. E. D. Kohlstedt, the Free Baptist Church united with the Northern Baptist Church in 1911.

Christ Church, Oswego, Founded In 1822

The first Episcopal work in the county was begun by Rev. Amos Pardee, a missionary, in 1822, when Christ Church was organized in Oswego February 26. Rev. Pardee left about a year later and services were held by lay readers until 1827 when Rev. John McCarty was appointed missionary for this county and part of Onondaga. The corner stone of a church building was laid by Rev. McCarty May 9th 1828 at the southeast corner of what is now Franklin Square. The building was consecrated January 25th, 1829 by Bishop Hobart, Rev. Mr. McCarty remaining as rector for nineteen years.

June 22, 1835, the Rev. John McCarty, of Oswego, organized the Zion Protestant Episcopal Church at Fulton. The first religious organization in the town of Granby was St. Luke’s Episcopal mission formed as early as 1838 under the direction of Rev. G. B. Engle. Sometime later this mission was united with Zion Church in Fultion [sic], and in 1861 the building, erected in 1842, was sold to the Methodists.

Pulaski and Mexico Episcopal Churches

At the Court House in Pulaski St. James Protestant Episcopal Church was organized August 10, 1846. Rt. Rev. William Heathcote DeLancey, Bishop of Western New York, consecrated the church edifice February 27, 1850. The framed Declaration of Consecration, signed by Bishop DeLancey, yet hangs in the church. Two years later Grace Episcopal Church of Mexico was formed in the town hall, December 4, 1848, but the corner stone of the church building was not laid until June 22, 1871 by Bishop Hutington.

Episcopal members of Christ Church, Oswego, living on the east side of the river, desirous of having their own place of worship, organized the Church of the Evangelists July 28, 1850. The corner stone of the present church at East Second and Oneida streets was laid July 1, 1851, although the consecration service was not held until July 17, 1865, when the service was conducted by Bishop A. Cleveland Coxe.

Other Episcopal work in the county included the establishment of Emanuel Church at Phoenix, April 11th, 1871, with Rev. Almon Gregory as first rector. This church had a short existence. Rev. James Stoddard was the first rector of St. James Protestant Episcopal Church of Cleveland, organized July 22, 1867. Through the very persistent efforts of Mary E. Henderson, Immanuel Mission at Sand Bank, now Altmar, was instituted in 1876.

St. Paul’s County’s First Catholic Church

From this small start the Roman Catholic Church in Oswego county has steadily grown in membership and influence. About 1840, in the vicinity of Colosse, quite a French settlement sprang up. Most of the settlers were from the eastern part of France and a few were natives of Alsace-Lorraine. They arrived in poor circumstances, but by thrift and perserverance, became prosperous. One of their first efforts was the formation of a Roman Catholic Church, the building still standing on French Street, about two miles southwest of Colosse and surrounded by an interesting old cemetery. Although the church in Mexico now meets the needs of the Roman Catholics in the vicinity, services are still held in the old Colosse church during the summer and fall months.

About this same time many French-Canadians had settled in Oswego and about 1848, Rev. F. F. Foltier, a Frenchman by birth, was sent to the village to minister to their religious needs. The present Oswego parish of St. Mary’s is the result of Father Foltier’s efforts. The first church building was consecrated by Cardinal McCloskey in 1850.

Walked From Fulton For Confirmation

In the biographical sketch of the life of the late Cornelius S. Murphy, it is recorded that he was born in Oswego, but later moved to Fulton. At that time there was no Catholic Church in Fulton, but occasional services were held in private homes. When Bishop McCloskey of Albany came to Oswego to hold confirmation services, Murphy with forty-two other Fulton Catholics walked the entire distance to Oswego to be confirmed in St. Paul’s Church.

Fulton Catholics Organized In 1850

In 1850, Father Michael Kelly, pastor of St. Paul’s, Oswego, began regular services in Fulton and the Church of the Immaculate Conception was instituted, but it was not until 1858 that a house of worship was consecrated by Bishop McCloskey, later to become a Cardinal. Rev. James Smith was the first regularly appointed priest.

The Piguet family settled in the town of Hastings in 1828, coming directly from France. Other settlers were French Canadians and that locality came to be known as “Little France.” At the request of these early pious settlers, Father Yates came from Syracuse and held the first mass in Piguet’s barn. Services were held from that time on intermittently and later a church was built.

The Catholics of Cleveland were served ar an out-mission from Rome for several years, but in October 1875 Bishop McNierney confirmed 170 persons and consecrated the cemetery. The first church was built under the pastorate of Rev. Patrick J. Birmingham.

Three Other Oswego Parishes

In 1869 Bishop Conroy sent Rev. J. F. Lowrey to form a parish in the southwest part of Oswego to meet the needs of a rapidly growing Catholic population. The Bishop saw his expectations realized when he came to Oswego July 14, 1872 and dedicated the Church of St. John the Evangelist.

St. Louis French Catholic Church was organized as a separate parish in December 1870, under the direction of Rev. John F. X. Pelletier of Quebec. Roman Catholic missions or churches at Williamstown, Altmar, Redfield, Minetto, Pheonix [sic], Pulaski and other parishes of Fulton and Oswego came as later developments.

Universalists At Fulton

In 1825 Rev. S. R. Smith, a Universalist minister, came from Clinton, N. Y. under the auspices of Alfred Sabin and preached in the school house in Fulton. In 1831 Rev. Matthew Bullard conducted similar services and in 1832 a church was organized. The Rev. O. Whiston was installed as the first pastor of a Universalist church in the village of Mexico at the school house April 12, 1832, the Society having twenty-four members. This origional organization became extinct in 1849, but was later revived. A Universalist Chuch existed in Oswego prior to 1857, for in that year the society purchased the building from Christ Episcopal church in Franklin Square. Later this organization ceased to exist, but a Universalist church was later organized in Oswego, known as the Church of Our Father, December 28th, 1882. This church, also passed out of existence, the building built by them now being occupied by St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. The first Universalist Society of Schroeppel, at Pennellville, was not organized until 1870, but the only church of that denomination in Oswego still functioning is the church at Central Square.

Other Methodist Sects

Other branches of Methodism were also active in the county. The Wesleyan Methodistian offshoot from the Methodist Episcopal Church formed in Utica in 1843 on the anti-slavery and nonepiscopal basis, perfected organizations in Boylston in 1845, only two years after formation of the mother church, and later in Central Square, Prattham, Texas, Fulton, Sandy Creek and Pine Meadows. However, today only the churches at Boylston, Sandy Creek and Pine Meadows are still in existence.

A Free Methodist church was organized in Fulton in 1869, while the church in Oswego of that denomination, formed February 27, 1877, had a short life.

The Methodist Protestant church grew out of a desire on the part of many Methodist for lay representation in the governing bodies of the church. Although this principal of lay representation was first promoted in 1821, the new church did not become organized until November 2, 1830 in Baltimore. This church, now merged with two other Methodist bodies in the Methodist church, had classes or churches at Sand Bank, Dugway, North Boylston, Bardeen’s Corners, North Scriba, Bundy’s Crossing, Oswego Town and Fulton.

Churchill states that the Reformed Methodists instituted a class and held services at Bowen’s Corners many years ago. There seems to be no record to substantiate this statement. In 1871, Rev. John Newcomb, a Methodist Protestant preacher, held services in the school house at Bowen’s Corners and apparently a class had already been formed. In those days Bowen’s Corners was one of seven appointments (all school houses), functioning under the name of “Hannibal circuit”. The strongest point seems to have been North Hannibal. The present church at Bowen’s Corners was not built until 1884.

Early Lutheran Activity

image: St. Paul’s German Lutheran Church, c. mid 20th century. Oswego County Historical Society – Building Photos Collection

Quakers At Bernhard’s Bay

Elder John Bedell and his wife, who was also a minister, were influential in the founding of a Society of Friends at Bernhard’s Bay in 1846, with twelve members. Johnson in 1877 records that the church had four members. The church ceased to exist some time later.

There have been Seventh Day Adventists in the county from time-to-time, having churches and conducting meetings at Fulton, West Monroe, Williamstown , Cleveland, Oswego, Roosevelt Corners and other communities.

In 1847 an African Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in Oswego with thiry-four members. It has long since passed and no other colored congregation has succeeded it at any point in the county.

The Church of Christ, Disciples, under the preaching of Elder John Encell was organized May 1st, 1874 in Richland. Missionary work of this organization resulted in a church at Vorea, while services are now held also at Gilbert’s Mills, in a former Free Baptist church, by a preacher of the Disciples denomination.

From the time of the organization of the first church in Redfield in 1802, the county steadily grew until the population in 1840 was 43,619. With the growth of population came an increase in commerce and business, marked particularly by a general prosperity from 1830 to 1837. During these forty years the religious life of the county kept pace with the general advancement in material things, for there were about sixty churches organized during this period and many church buildings erected, while many more were built during the next forty years. Although today we may doubt the wisdom of our forefathers in organizing and building what seem to have been rival churches in small communities resulting in an overchurched condition, we must pay tribute to their faith, perseverance and sacrifice.

Early Interiors Forbidding

The early church buildings were usually rude structures, rectangular in shape, with a belfry or tower, wherever the congregation could afford it. The interiors were bare and unadorned. At first there were benches, but gradually pews were introduced. These old meeting houses were often times the center of the community life, secular as well as religious. At first there were no stoves, but set about the building were huge iron kettles. The good people of the neighborhood brought in coals from their own fire places to fill the kettles before service and thus provided some degree of warmth. As the congregations grew in numbers and prosperity many of the original buildings were replaced with more substantial edifices, 26 while fire in many instances caused destruction, but the fortitude and generosity of the membership found means of building anew. Although some of the early organizations passed out of existence for various reasons and others were merged with stronger societies, most of the churches organized in the first forty years are still in existence and making their contributions to the religious life of Oswego County Communities, many of the churches having celebrated their first century anniversaries with appropriate ceremonies.

Confined mostly to the first 60 or 70 years of church development in Oswego County this paper has been limited in scope. A more complete paper would give information and detail which has necessarily not been recorded here. While many of the pioneer workers in the religious field have been mentioned, there are scores of others who contributed much to church and community who have been left out. Stirring revivals, preaching missions, evangelistic services, church conferences, camp meetings and other incidents have made history and left their marks. Perhaps some future paper should treat of further church development and deal with leaders who stand out in the religious records of the county. While this paper has dealt primarily with the church organization itself, a future paper might well deal with the church buildings, treating some of the outstanding churches, both from the historical and descriptive view points. 

Bibliography

• Crisfield Johnson, “History of Oswego County, N. Y.”
• Churchill, “Landmarks of Oswego County”
• Landon, “History of the North Country”
• Mrs. Mattie B. Baker, “History of Mexico Methodism”
• B. W. Rice, “The Church and Society”, a history of the Presbyterian Church at Hannibal
• Mrs. Nellie Crouch, “A History of the First Baptist Church of Oswego, N. Y.”
• Rev. T. Trelease Rowe, “Sketch of First Methodist Episcopal Church, Oswego, N. Y.”
• George F. Shepherd, “History of Black River Conference”