266 



HISTOKY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



was circulated by the pastor, llev. J. T. Arnold. He was 

 not only pastor, but the successful financier of the enter- 

 prise. The church is a commodious brick structure, with 

 a capacity for seating about 700, and has recently been re- 

 modeled and refitted at a cost of about $1200. 



Rev. Dr. William Hosmer, pastor of this church in 1835, 

 has since been for many years editor and manager of the 

 Northern Christian Advocate and Northern Independent, 

 at Auburn, N. Y. 



ST. mart's (catholic) church. 



The first services of the Catholic Church were held in 

 Corning in 1812, by Rev. Patrick Bradley, then residing at 

 Geneva, N. Y. x\t that time there were not more than 

 three or four Catholic families residing in the place. Rev. 

 Mr. Bradley visited Corning about three or four times a 

 year, till 1845 or 1846, when he was succeeded by Rev. 

 John Sheridan, from Owego, who visited the place five or 

 six times a year, till the year 1847. From this time till 

 1849 services w^ere held about once a month. The com- 

 mencement of the Erie Railway at this time began to in- 

 crease the Catholic population of Corning, but they were 

 chiefly poor laboring men. 



In 1849, Rev. Mr. Sheridan commenced the erection of 

 a small frame church, and when it was finished, Corning 

 was visited monthly from Elmira till the year 1850, in 

 which year Rev. John Boyle and Rev. Mr. Cunningham, 

 of Elmira, paid visits to the parish monthly, and sometimes 

 twice a month, till 1852. Rev. Mr. Cunningham was then 

 appointed the first resident clergyman of Corning, and 

 remained till December, 1860, visiting the missions at Ad- 

 dison and Bath. During his time the little church at 

 Corning was considerably enlarged, and a church built at 

 Addison. The Catholics of Corning also built a school- 

 house during this year. 



In December, 1860, Rev. Peter Colgan was appointed 

 pastor of the Corning mission, including the villages of 

 Corning and Addison, and vicinity. He immediately took 

 measures for the pern>anent establishment and effective sup- 

 port of the Catholic school, calling a meeting Dec. 16, 1860, 

 at which a committee was appointed, the village divided 

 into several small districts, and the heads of Catholic fam- 

 ilies taxed according to their means to support the school, 

 to which proposition the entire congregation agreed. In- 

 temperance was also declared to be an evil which was de- 

 stroying the peace and happiness of many families, and a 

 temperance society was organized, Jan. 13, 1861. Also, 

 at the same time, a benevolent society was formed. 



The first confirmation was held by the Rt.-Rev. Bishop, 

 October 5, 1862, twelve adult persons being confirmed. 

 St. Mary's Cemetery was at the same time consecrated by 

 the bishop. 



Nov. 22, 1863, Rt.-Rev. Bishop Timon visited the 

 church and confirmed 112 persons. 



On the 10th of June, 1866, the corner-stone of the new 

 St. Mary's church was laid, and during the same day Rt.- 

 Rev. Bishop Timon confirmed 203 persons. 



The cost of the new St. Mary's church was about 

 $65,000, including the parochial residence. It is not yet 

 finished in accordance with the original plan, the spire not 



being built at this writing (Feb., 1879). The Catholic 

 population of Corning is about 2000 ; about 500 more are 

 included in the country part of the parish, which embraces 

 Big Flats, Caton, Hornby, Lindley, and part of Erwin. A 

 large frame building has been erected for the school, which, 

 in October, 1862, Rev. Mr. Colgan succeeded in placing 

 under the State law, so as to entitle to a share of the State 

 and district money. The attendance at the school is 380 

 pupils, and it employs 5 teachers. In 1868, St. Joseph's 

 Orphan Asylum was opened in a small frame building, pur- 

 chased by Rev. Mr. Colgan, in September, 1864. The Sis- 

 ters of Mercy, who have charge of the orphanage, are also 

 teachers of the female department of the school. 



In 1873 the State Arsenal building was sold by the State, 

 and was purchased by Rev. Mr. Colgan, with the site, in- 

 cluding four acres of land, at a cost of $12,000, and con- 

 verted into an asylum and convent, where the Sisters reside. 

 An additional sum of $3000 was expended in fitting up 

 the place. Ten orphans are now in the asylum, where they 

 are cared for till places can be had for them in good families, 

 when they are sent out and others taken in their stead. 



BAPTIST church. 



The Baptist Church of Corning was organized Aug. 24, 

 1842, with 24 original members. E. D. Fish and D. Baker 

 were chosen deacons, and J. Clark clerk. 



The church edifice was erected, and dedicated May 8, 



1850. 



Since the organization of the church the following pas- 

 tors have officiated : Rev. B. R. Swich, Rev. Luke Davis, 

 Rev. A. H. Starkweather, Rev. Charles Morton, Rev. H. F. 

 Hill, Rev. George Starkweather, Rev. Mr. Barnes, Rev. 

 D. Van Alstine, Rev. F. R. Fowler, and Rev. James P. 

 Thoms, the present pastor. 



The present membership of the church is 137 ; Sunday- 

 school, 139. 



There is also a Free-Will Baptist Church in Corning, 

 which was organized in 1865. 



PHYSICIANS. 



The first physician who settled at Corning was Dr. Wil- 

 liam Turbell, who is still a resident of the village. Dr. 

 Turbell was born at Southampton, Long Island, in the 

 year 1798, and is a graduate of the College of Physicians 

 and Surgeons of New York, in the class of 1826. 



Dr. Seely Brownell was the next physician, who prac- 

 ticed a few years, and was succeeded by Dr. N. M. Her- 

 rington in September, 1844. 



Dr. Corbett Peebles, who had formerly practiced in 

 Knoxville, came to Corning about 1842. He practiced 

 till about April 1, 1844, when he removed to Big Flats, 

 where he has since resided. 



Dr. Hoffman was also an early practitioner in Corning. 

 He practiced here a short time in 1844. 



Dr. N. M. Herrington, who is still in active practice in 

 the village, came here as a physician in September, 1844. 

 He was born in Burlington, Otsego Co., N. Y , in 1812, 

 and graduated at Castleton, Vt., in 1837. He has been 

 a constant practitioner in this village for more than thirty- 

 four years. 



