TOWN OF HOWARD. 



339 



plat of ground now owned by Aaron McConnell. It shows 

 the ravages of time, and before many years it will pass 

 away as have done its founders. There was great pleasure 

 manifested by the settlers by reason of this enterprise, for 

 until that time all the products of the soil that could be 

 spared found a market only in Bath, or some other distant 

 point ; but when this store was opened they found a ready 

 exchange, and could procure the necessaries of life almost 

 at their own door, giving in exchange anything they had to 

 spare. This was the only store in Howard until 1831, when 

 Calvin Whitwood, a man of enterprise, settled there. He 

 at once constructed the store now owned by Abel R. Hig- 

 gins. This store for many years was called the W^hitwood 

 Store. Whitwood continued in the business some years, 

 when he took in a partner, James Alley. They continued in 

 business some time, when Whitwood transferred his interest 

 to James and George Alley; they enlarging their trade 

 accumulated property fast, so that after a few years, by 

 good, discreet management, they were enabled to erect a 

 grist-mill. They erected the mill about one and a half 

 miles east of Howard village. The erection of the mill 

 was a much-needed enterprise, and opened up a new source 

 of benefit to its projectors. The Alleys did not remain in 

 Howard but a few years to enjoy the fruits of their well- 

 earned respect and prosperity, but sold their interest in the 

 store to Aaron McConnell, the youngest son of Charles 

 McConnell, who continued business at the old store for 

 many years, accumulating a competence for life. The mill 

 property was sold to Alonzo Graves, since which time the 

 store has been owned by several diiFerent parties, Martin 

 V. Strait being the present owner. William Lilly became 

 a resident in 1837, and erected the store now owned by the 

 Henry Baldwin estate, this making the third store in the 

 little village of Howard. 



The first school that was taught in town was in a little 

 log school-house, which stood near the present residence of 

 Aaron McConnell. This house was used for a number of 

 years, when it was supplanted by a frame building. 



About the time the school was commenced in the village 

 there was also a school opened in Towlesville, these two 

 schools being the only schools taught in the town for a 

 number of years, although after 1820 there were schools 

 organized, and the inhabitants of Howard have always 

 manifested a commendable zeal in promoting the cause of 

 education. In carrying out that desire aji academy was 

 built in 1835. The academy building stood on the oppo- 

 site side of the highway leading past the Baptist church, 

 and a short distance above the church. One Dupark was 

 the principal, with a corps of good, competent teachers. 

 The school was well attended, and supported by the inhab- 

 itants for a number of years, but it has been abandoned as 

 a school and the building converted into part of a hotel. 



There are sixteen or seventeen school districts in the 

 town, having good schools, well attended. Of the Howard 

 village school it may be said that few towns have a more 

 commodious school building, and their corps of teachers 

 will rank among the first. 



In the early days of Howard the religious sentiment was 

 largely composed of the Christian denomination, and their 

 ministers were missionaries, holding their meetings in pri- 



vate dwellings, barns, and the little log school-houses. 

 Elder Buzzel was one of the first ministers who preached 

 in this town. After a few years communicants of other 

 denominations began to supplant the Christian persuasion, 

 and to-day there are left only a very few believers of that 

 order. The leading denominations of Howard are the 

 Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists, — there being two 

 Baptist churches, one in Towlesville and the other in How- 

 ard village. There is also a Presbyterian church in the 

 village, and a Methodist church in Towlesville, all being 

 good, active churches. The Baptist Church in the village 

 of Howard was organized Feb. 6, 1826. The number of 

 members at the time of its organization was nine, — five 

 male and four female communicants. The number of 

 members added to the church since their organization has 

 been 457. . Rev. B. B. Brigham was their first pastor, who 

 commenced his services soon after the organization, and 

 closed his labors Nov. 28, 1829. The church held its 

 stated meetings in the different school-houses and private 

 dwellings until 1835, when they erected their present 

 house of worship, which they repaired during the year of 

 1877, making it a convenient, permanent, and beautiful 

 edifice in which to worship. 



The following are the names of the pastors who served 

 that people from the first organization to the present time : 

 Rev. B. B. Brigham, G. Gowdy, Rufus Peet, Chas. Ran- 

 dall, Daniel M. Root, M. Rowley, D. Carr, E. G. Spencer, 

 C. G. Smith. Rev. E. Mosher settled March 1, 1851, and 

 closed his labors Aug. 29, 1858. He truly was a man of 

 God. Elder Easterbrook, Rev. Wm. Entwistle, Rev. Jas. 

 Andrews, Rev. J. B. Randall, Rev. Wm. P. Omans, Rev. 

 A. Tilden, Rev. M. H. Dewitt, Rev. J. French, Rev. L. J. 

 Lusk, who commenced his pastoral services April 1, 1875, 

 and is their present pastor. The church has been blessed 

 under his care, and he is much honored and loved by his 

 people. No records were kept of the first officers of the 

 church, but Reuben F. Ferris was one of the first dea- 

 cons of the church, and he was truly a man in every way 

 qualified for the high and sacred trust ; living and prac- 

 ticing that which he professed. They sustain a fine Sab- 

 bath-school of about 75 teachers and scholars. The church 

 is not wanting in benevolence and a missionary spirit. They 

 have a good parsonage. The church property is worth 

 $6000. 



PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



The Presbyterian Church of Howard was organized a 

 short time before the Baptist Church, and built their 

 church edifice in 1834. The church recently repaired 

 their edifice, making it a commodious and beautiful struc- 

 ture. This church since its organization has made good 

 advancement, and now numbers about 100 communicants. 

 They have been fortunate in procuring the services of able 

 pastors, and those who have been endued with the Spirit 

 of Him whom they sought to honor. They have for many 

 years sustained a good Sabbath-school, the fruits of which 

 have been visibly manifest by the addition to their church. 

 They have a good and comfortable parsonage. The value 

 of the church property is about $6000. The churches of 

 Towlesville built their edifices many years after the build- 

 ins of the church edifice in Howard village. Both 



