232 



HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



ter, and Mrs. Benoni Johnson were among the first mem- 

 bers. The organization ceased to exist about 1854. 



THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



William and Martha Hubbard, who came to Caton in 

 1831, were the first Methodists in the town. Thomas 

 Wheat, a local preacher, formed the first class, in the year 

 1833, in the old East school-house (now No. 4), where the 

 first meetings were held. The first members were William 

 and Martha Hubbard, Elizabeth Hubbard, Lewis Gridley, 

 Julia Griffin, Priscilla Darrow (colored). Afterwards, 

 Amos Bonham, James Davison, Elias Babcock, Enos 

 Smith and wife, Amzi English and wife, William and Jesse 

 Harrison became members. In 1838 their meetings were 

 held in the North school-house, on the corner of Salter 

 Steele's (now Philip Hubbard's) farm. Rev. Chandler 

 Wheeler preaching Wednesday evenings once in two weeks. 

 Afterwards, meetings were held in Elias Babcock's wagon- 

 house. In 1839 meetings were held in the Presbyterian 

 church. 



After a powerful revival under Chandler Wheeler, in 

 1838, the old Methodist Episcopal church was commenced. 

 It was occupied as a place of worship in 1840, but was not 

 dedicated until 1842, 0. Trowbridge, pastor. Enos Smith, 

 Amzi English, and Lewis Gridley were the building com- 

 mittee, who, with Amos Bonham, secured subscriptions. 

 Levi Toby gave the church land. 



The new church was dedicated Jan. 16, 1868, Rev. 

 Henry Harpst, pastor. It cost $6100. 



Since the first class was organized, in 1833, thirty-four 

 preachers, with their assistants, have successively proclaimed 

 the gospel here. Six years of pioneer work in school-houses, 

 one year in the old Presbyterian church, twenty-eight in the 

 old Methodist Episcopal church, and nine in the new, make 

 up the forty-four years of our history. 



Pastors from 1832 to 1878.— Joseph Pearsall, 1832; 

 Joseph Chatman, 1833; Wm. Hosmer, 1835; Nathan 

 Fellows, 1835 ; Marshall St. Johns, 1835 ; Ira Bronson, 

 1836 ; Noble Palmeter, 1836 ; Ira Bronson, 1837 ; S. M. 

 Gorton, 1837. Place of meeting, the old East school- 

 house, now No. 4. 



Chandler Wheeler, 1838 ; Chas. Davis, 1838. North 

 school-house. First church begun. 



Ambrose Abbott, 1839. In Presbyterian church. 

 Chas. S. Davis, 1840 (old church occupied) ; A. Hard, 

 1841; C. L. Brown, 1841; 0. Trowbridge, 1842 (old 

 church dedicated); L V. Mapes, 1843; E. B. Fuller, 

 1844; E. E. Chambers, 1846; Chas. Nash, 1846; T. B. 

 Hudson, 1847; John Wiley, 1847 ; Alva Jones, 1848 

 (Caton a station) ; Job Golden, 1849 ; A. H. ShurtlefF, 

 1850 ; Curtis Graham, 1851 (first parsonage bought) ; 

 Levi Wood, 1852; J. Jerolamon, 1854; Stephen Merritt, 

 1856 ; J. Everett, 1857 ; Chas. Bush, 1859 ; H. Wisner, 

 1861 ; J. Robinson, 1863 ; J. H. Austin, 1864 ; H. Row- 

 land, 1866; H. Harpst, 1867 (present parsonage bought); 

 S. H. Auldridge, 1869 ; J. Jerolamon, 1872 ; M. F. De 

 Witt, 1873; Wm. W. Hunt, 1875; J. B. Bradbury, 

 1876-78. 



The earliest preachers are spoken of as valiant, earnest 

 men, and were warmly welcomed in their semi-monthly 



visits. They then had large circuits, much travel and 

 labor, with little salary. The local interests were carried 

 forward by the class-leader, who was then the real pastor, 

 while the preacher hurried from place to place, scattering 

 the gospel seed as he went. There are six classes formed 

 in various parts of the town, under separate leaders. Pres- 

 ent membership, about 200. 



Class-Leaders.--^. D. Davis, Henry Farran, E. Hill, 

 Arad Hunt, L. R. Wheeler, R. Emory. 



Stewards. — Henry Russell, H. Davenport, Jas. Gilbert, 

 B.L.Gregory, Earl Hill, Frank Howe, Jonas Johnson, 

 Arad Hunt, Jas. Marcy. 



District Steward. — Bruce L. Gregory. 



Recording Steward. — Jonas Johnson. 



Trustees.—^. D. Davis, Geo. Brown, T. Rhodes, E. Hill, 

 H. Davenport. 



President of the Board. — N. D. Davis. 



Clerk. — Geo. Brown. 



Treasurer. — Thomas S. Rhodes. 



Rev. Arthur Wescott was a missionary worker ready to 

 go anywhere, and in his earnest, vigorous way drawing large 

 audiences, and leaving a name never to be forgotten. He 

 preached in Caton from 1835 until his death in 1870. 



THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH 



has a class of some 15 members, at Barnard's Mill, which 

 was organized in 1865, and is supplied from Lindley and 

 Gibson. Class-Leader, Justus Reed ; Stewards, Mrs. John 

 Havens, Lewis Wood. 



THE CATON BAPTIST CHURCH. 



This church was organized at the house of Nelson Wol- 

 cott, Aug. 23, 1832, as the First Baptist Church of Painted 

 Post. Among the first members were Thomas, Ebenezer 

 A., Betsey, and Betsey Ann Miller, Nelson, Charles, and 

 Mrs. Elizabeth Wolcott, Russell and Eunice Stanton, Syl- 

 vester and Ada Martin, Philo Rowley, W. E. Brace, Anna 

 ChampHn, Catherine Butcher, Lois Babcock, Lucy Berry, 

 Abigail J. Brown, and Sarah Babcock. First Trustees, 

 Elias R. Babcock, Charles Wolcott, Ebenezer A. Miller. 

 The pastors were supplied from other charges for a number 

 of years. Among the regular pastors are for 1841, Rev. 

 W. A. Brown ; 1843-47, 1. Woodworth ; 1849, N. Prince ; 

 1853, W. Jones; 1854, D. T. Lockwood ; 1856, N. 

 Prince; 1857-63, S. M. Brookman ; 1864, J. H. Miles; 

 1867-70, S. D. Merrick; 1872-73, A. Dickinson. William 

 Sharp, the present pastor, settled in 1874. Present Trus- 

 tees, William B. Miller, James Davison, John Ford. 

 Deacons, William B. Miller, Orrin Gridley, Dubois Schutt, 

 Edmond Strouse. Present membership, 86. Mrs. Wolcott, 

 aged eighty-seven, is the only one of the original members 

 now living. In 1842 the church was made a separate 

 charge. The first church was located on the brow of the 

 hill west, overlooking the village, its location being still 

 marked by the old cemetery where many of its earlier 

 members have been gathered to rest. The present building 

 was erected in 1852, and is valued at $4000. 



