TOWN OP CAMPBELL. 



213 



soon as the church was built. Some special services were 

 held immediately after the dedication, in which he was as- 

 sisted by Rev. John Barton, then of Painted Post. On the 

 evening of Nov. 12, 1833, Mr. Barton had for his subject, 

 " The Fiery Flying Serpents." That was the night of the 

 great meteoric shower, and one of his hearers who retired 

 to rest full of the sermon, awoke in the night and saw the 

 wonderful display. The long trails of light left behind by 

 the meteors instantly suggested the '' Fiery Flying Ser- 

 pents," and for a moment he supposed the old plague had 

 come again. Then recollecting what the Scriptures say in 

 regard to the falling of the stars from heaven, he changed 

 his mind, and, hastily running to a neighbor's house, 

 aroused him with the awful alarm that we had come to the 

 judgment-day. Few were so much alarmed at the sight, 

 but nearly the whole town was up and gazing with a certain 

 feeling of awe at an exhibition so unheard of, so impreesive, 

 and so grand. 



At the first communion in the new church, Dec. 15, 1833, 

 there was an accession of four persons, on confession of faith. 

 One of the four was Philip Gettur, who built the church ; 

 another was Jane, his wife ; the third was Elijah Dawley, 

 since removed to Wisconsin ; and the fourth was Ruth 

 Stewart, deceased. 



The first death in the church was that of Mrs. Sally 

 Williams, wife of John Williams, of Cooper's Plains, who 

 left this world in hope, Feb. 13, 1834. 



Rev. Charles Goodrich was the immediate successor of 

 Mr. Bushnell, and entered upon his work in January, 1835, 

 and continued about two years. During his ministry there 

 was a powerful revival at Mead's Creek, the influence of 

 which extended into this congregation. Mr. Goodrich was 

 assisted in the work by Rev. Mr. White, of Pulteney, N. Y., 

 a brother of Rev. President White, deceased, of Wabash 

 College. 



In this congregation the work was greatly assisted by the 

 presence of Mr. Azariah Gregory, a man of extended in- 

 formation, devoted piety, and considerable gift of speech. 

 He died in Chicago about a year later. 



The next pastor was Rev. James Hotchkin, an admirable 

 specimen of the clergy of the olden time. He stood erect, 

 full six feet high, and well proportioned, had a fine fore- 

 head, crowned with hair as white as snow ; was educated, 

 correct, dignified, genial, orthodox ; and when he fell a- 

 preaching or a-praying kept straight on to the end of his 

 subject, without the slightest regard to the whims of his 

 congregation or the tokens of passing time. His wife, too, 

 was a woman of great dignity and fine character, and the 

 bare presence of such people was elevating and refining. 



The next pastor was a man of very opposite peculiarities. 

 He had a particular antipathy against people who fell asleep 

 in church. Pausing in his sermon, as he saw a man nod- 

 ding, he would say, " Brother A, won't you wake up Brother 

 B ?" At other times he would call out as if the raftmen 

 present were losing their lumber. With all these peculi- 

 arities, however, he was a man of a good deal of ability, of 

 a good, kind heart, and one who seemed intent on doing 

 faithful service. 



Next in the order of pastors came Rev. E. D. Wells, of 

 LawTenceville, Pa. His ministry began in November, 1841, 



and closed in June following, on account of his failing 

 health. Then Rev. Lewis Hamilton was called in to assist 

 in a series of services, and the whole ripened up into a revival 

 of religion. The favorable acquaintance thus formed with 

 Mr. Hamilton led to his being invited to take the place 

 made vacant by the retirement of Mr. W^ells. 



In 1844, Mr. Hamilton was succeeded by Rev. Ebenezer 

 Everett. He was a plain man, but quite a scholar, a serious 

 preacher, and a man of kind heart. 



In 1846, Mr. Hamilton was called back and was installed 

 pastor. In 1849 he resigned, and Rev. B. F. Pratt became 

 pastor. 



In the winter of 1859 and 1860, Mr. Pratt's health having 

 failed, he was assisted for a time in his work by Rev. H. M. 

 Johnson. Special services were instituted, and at once the 

 work of the Lord began to revive. On the 15th of Janu- 

 ary, 14 persons were received into the church, by profession ; 

 in April following, 15 more ; and among the 29 new mem- 

 bers were several persons who were at once set forward to 

 take a prominent part in church affairs. Of these, one de- 

 serves particular mention ; I mean the noble young man, 

 Capt. J. Forrest Knox, who was ordained to the eldership 

 in June, 1862, who directly after went into the army, and 

 gave the world the benefit of a Christian example there. 

 He fell, bravely fighting for his country. 



Of the more recent accessions, and of the several ministers 

 who have served since the retirement of Mr. Pratt, we have 

 not been furnished with sufficient data. The church is in 

 a prosperous condition, and has a fine new edifice, which 

 was finished and dedicated on the 4th of February, 1868. 



CAMPBELL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



x\mong the influential early families who were allied with 

 the Methodist faith and form of worship in this town were 

 those of Robert Bonham and Samuel Cook. Some of the 

 ladies of these families organized the first Sunday-school, 

 and, with the help of such others as they could enlist, kept 

 the school open the year round. Says Rev. Dr. Campbell, 

 " The Methodist people, with characteristic promptness, had 

 brought in their circuit preachers and organized in some 

 form as early as 1827 or 1828." From this period services 

 were held with more or less regularity in the school-house, 

 and different ministers, circuit preachers, and visiting clergy- 

 men officiated from time to time. 



In 1858, Rev. S. M. Merritt, of the Savona charge, con- 

 ducted a revival here, which resulted in a general religious 

 awakening, and many were converted whose preference of 

 church membership was with the Presbyterians, and who 

 joined that church at the close of the revival. 



In 1869 the society purchased the old church edifice of 

 the Presbyterians, and remodeled and refitted it into a neat 

 and commodious house of worship. It was dedicated Jan. 

 21, 1869, the sermon being preached by Rev. Mr. Searles, 

 of Auburn. J. P. Knox and J. M. Bemis donated the 

 lot. The building and repairs cost about $2500. 



The present trustees are Squire Knowles, John K. Ford, 

 Henry Thorp, Theodore Barrett, and Charles Barrett. Rev. 

 J. C. Stevens, pastor. 



The present church membership is about 100 ; Sunday- 

 school, 50. 



