The following item regarding early Methodism in Theresa, N. Y. was sent to me by Curt Stearns. Mr. Stearns wrote asking for guidance in determining the whereabouts of early church records in his efforts to determine more exact relationships between Curtis Stearns (mentioned in the article) and a Levi Stearns. It is suspected that the parenthetical portions of the following text were inserted by Curt as research comments. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who can help Curt in his quest. (by site owner, Shirley Farone, [email protected]).
“A History of Methodism in Theresa, New York"
Commemorating
The 100th anniversary of the dedication of the present Methodist Church Building February 6th, 1862, Sunday, July 8, 1962 Rev. A. Howard Gabriel, Pastor
It is indeed difficult to write the history of a growing church in an interesting and adequate manner and use only the time and space allotted for that purpose. For the most part, former written histories of Theresa Methodist church will not be copied down here because of lack of space. They must, however, be referred to for facts. To mention some of these documents, there is the Sunday school book-let dated 1827-1900 with Ernest G. Cook, superintendent, and Rev. W. H. Bury, pastor at that time, the one written by Rev. C. H. Walton in December 1904 while he was the pastor here and one gotten out while Rev. T. Wilson Carling was pastor and dated May 31, 1927.
In the early days of Theresa the people found it necessary to clear their own land, saw or hew the lumber with which to build their houses, and weave cloth out of which they made their own clothes. In fact the village was not called Theresa at the time but was known as Indian River High Falls. The name was changed to Theresa about 1815.
It was about this time, according to family tradition, that Anson Cheeseman came into this wilderness country to live and build mills to help make life easier for those early settlers. It was the Cheeseman home that was opened for religious services. Benjamin Barnes, a brick maker and brick layer who had been given a Local Preacher’s License, gladly accepted the invitation to become the preacher. Thus Methodism in Theresa had its beginning in a layman’s home and by a layman.
As years went by, the settlement grew in numbers, and the religious life became more vigorous. Rev. Squire Chase was appointed as the minister on the Indian River Circuit. It was he who organized the first class in Theresa 135 years ago (1817) and appointed William Cheeseman (Lucy Stearns’ brother-in-law) as the first class leader. He was the eldest son of Anson Cheeseman. There were 15 people in the class to begin with. They were Benjamin Barnes, Mary Barnes, Joseph Barrister, Mrs. Barrister, Thompson Brooks, Tammy Cheeseman (cousin ?), Lorenza Cheeseman (1st cousin, 4xR), Tammy Cook (cousin?), Mrs. Doolittle, Abner Eggleston, Lyman Stearns, Curtis Stearns, and Polly and Lucy Stearns (3rd GGM, Rhoda (Stearns) Sherman’s younger siblings). Later there was added to the class: Clifford Cheeseman, Ann Cheeseman (cousin?), Margaret Cook & Cheeseman Curtis (cousins?).
By 1831 the name of the circuit was changed from Indian River to Theresa. It was in February of that year that Lyman Stearns and Thompson Brooks executed the legal papers to make the society a corporate body. On March 5, 1836, Theresa Methodist church became a corporate body. On March 5, 1836, Theresa Methodist church became a corporate body. The trustees elected were Thompson Brooks, A. H. Morgan and Benjamin Barnes. The society built its first parsonage that year. It is the house recently owned by Howard Stone. The next year the Union church of the village was erected by the Presbyterians and Methodists. That building now stands below Gilman’s garage and is used as an apartment house.
The Society continued to grow and in 1850 the decision was reached to erect a church of their own. Again the laymen rose to the need for work and money and such laymen as the Pools, the Cheesemans, Putnams, Coes, Atwells, Twings, Dressers and others contributed their best and the church was dedicated on September 15, 1850, at a cost of $2,000. The first pastor, after the church was built, was Rev. Joseph Lamb. A large number of people became members of the society under his labors. So active did the Society become that it was resolved to erect a new and larger home for the minister. The parsonage was moved across the street and a new home was erected. That house still stands and was formerly occupied by the late Mrs. Dudley. Rev. Ira Corbin came as the minister, was taken sick and died in the parsonage. The first minister to occupy the new house and the first to die while on duty.
He was followed by Rev. W. X. Ninde who later became Bishop of the church. School children playing with fire caused the burning of the new church in April, 1860. Immediately after the burning of the church Joseph Atwell, a leading layman and merchant here, proposed the erection of a larger and better building on a new site. He greatly encouraged the others when he headed the subscription list with a pledge of $200. The laymen here gave full support to the enterprise and the new building, one of the finest in the conference at that time, was dedicated on February 6, 1862, at a cost of $6,000 and all provided for, no debt.
Rev. John M. Armstrong was appointed as minister to the new church which had a seating capacity of 700. So it was in February, 1862, just one hundred years ago, that this building was dedicated to the worship of God.”
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