(From A Scrapbook)
IX.
First Presbyterian Church.
Alexandria.
(An undated article from unknown source)
On Aug. 11, 1821, that pioneer missionary worker, Rev. Nathaniel Dutton, perfected the religious work he had started in the early settlement at Plessis, by organizing a church which bore the legal name of the First Presbyterian Church of Alexandria. He had seven members to enroll. They were: Aaron Goddard, James Carnegie, Elizabeth Carnegie, Cynthia Merrill, Polly Young and Sally Hoadley. The next day, Aug. 12, the minister administered the Lord’s Supper to the little company, probably the first time this religious observance was held in the town of Alexandria.
A year or so later the organization elected David J. Weeks and Aaron Goddard as elders and they were ordained, the first on July 4, 1824, and the latter on Sept. 5 of the same year. The meetings were held largely in private homes until the union church building was erected in 1833 and it was at this time that Jason Clark, one of the leading men in Jefferson county, was elected an elder and appointed clerk of the church board.
Before this time Mr. Clark had organized a Sunday school and naturally became its first superintendent. As the school grew in numbers it took its place as not only a pioneer institution of its kind in the county but one of the leading ones in the area. He served as superintendent, elder, clerk and in other official capacities. His death occurred in 1871.
In 1861 it was decided to erect a church building and a survey of the village seemed to indicate a site on the Omar road near the cemetery as the best one. It was predicted that Plessis would grow in population and so a building that would seat 400 people was erected with a spiral tower. Rev. C. W. Treadwell was minister when the church was dedicated. He served the church for twelve years.
In those days even church socials were not looked upon with favor in a church building. In fact, even Christmas celebrations were not endorsed by all the members. Older ones tell how the high gale blew the spire off just as a funeral service was to be held. The population of Plessis decreased. In time it became evident that two Protestant churches could not well survive in such a small community. Some years ago it was decided to close the church and it was so voted.
The building was sold to the Hunter family and transformed into a bar and stands today in good repair after 74 years of service.
Note: The typist is not sure the following article refers to the parishioners of the above-mentioned church:
(From A Scrapbook)
Did You Know?
by Ernest Cook
That Mrs. H. D. Parker was probably the first person to be seated when the congregation of the newly constructed Plessis Presbyterian church were selecting their pews of what became known as the Plessis plan, on that August 20th day in 1861? The plan was for the congregation to remain outside until the doors were open at a given signal and all were to move slowly into the church and to their pews and the pews the family selected in that way would be their family pew for the coming year.
There were four rows of pews 15 to the row, and Mrs. Parker selected the second from the front on the side of the church next to the cemetery. She was followed down the row by Mrs. Clute, J. C. Boleman, Lodowick Dillin, Egbert Ball, Charles Nash, Alpheus Parker, Albert Parker, Willis Wilcox, Mrs. Joel Dayton, Ephraim Wemple, William Rundell, William (?) Crandall (unclear). Last row _____(lines missing)_______ iet, Westley Crandall. Last pew was left vacant. On the next row at the front, James Bolton, next vacant, Mrs. George Adsit, Elnathan Plato, Mrs. Armanda Sailsbury, Jacob Ebblie, J. VanCoughnent, John Ecker, John Scott, Joseph Hind, Henry Johnson, H. L. Scott, Willis Ball, A. P. Ellis. Section three had in the second pew: Mrs. C. Campbell, A. F. Greenleaf, Lyman Corlis, Silas Corlis, Sheldon Moak, Mrs. Chas. Comstock, Morgan Augsbury, Jason Clark, Mrs. Luctetia Corlis, Mathew Avery, S. G. Norton, Benj. (sic) Suts, Geville Wills, James B. Pooler. East side section: Mrs. John Bowles, Peter Suits, John Shaver, E. J. Makepeace, Mrs. David Briggs, James Sterling, Arnold Wemple, J. T. Vanderburg, Mrs. D. Tanner, Casper W. Ecker, Hiram Hart, Horatio Still, with the last pew vacant. Thus it will be seen that of the 60 pews in the church, all were taken except 5, a most remarkable showing.
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