Historical Wyoming County April 1959 - Old Fulton History

Page 70
BENNINGTON CHURCHES (cont.)
April. 1959
faith, and was composed by the Rev, Peter Ritter, first pastor of
the Folsomdale church. Under his leadership the building was erected,,
Historical records reveal that he was hired to preach for $50o
a year. But Mr, Ritter agreed that he received more than the fifty
dollars as parishioners "plowed his garden" and often "brought in
provisions," There is still an active membership and services are
held at 10 A„M, each Sunday with Rev, J, V, Logsdon of Corfu in the
pulpit, ^unday School follows the preaching service and an active
ladies' aid society does much missionary work, A Vacation Bible
School has been conducted there for several summers and is enjoyed
by children for many miles around.
The Free Will Baptist Church at Folsomdales erected in 1857 at
a cost of $700 went into decay. It was dedicated by Rev, Dr, Ball
of Buffalo in 1858, It was there that several members of the Folsom
family maintained membership and where Frances Folsom, who later became
Mrs, Grover Cleveland, often attended Sunday School as a child.
Her grandfather,, John B, Folsom, was one of the building committee
when the church was erected.
History tells us that a group of 69 persons met in the school
house in April 1856 to consult the expediency of organization of a
church. The result was the formation of the Free Will Baptist Society
with ten members. Others soon joined, and one recorded membership
was 2I4. in 1880, The church was served by at least twelve
pa;stors and Sunday School was held long after preaching services
were suspended, A few older residents of today recall attending
services there. The building was razed about 35 years ago. The
German Baptist Society held services in this church for two years,,
1867-1869, before their own building was erected.
Boys Will be Boys
The Western New-Yorker, Warsaw, Nov, 30, 1852,commented as fol~
lowst
BOYS IN OUR STREETS, Night after night we hear and see lads
from six to sixteen years of age in our streets making night hideous
with their noise. Do their parents know where they are? Perhaps
they do, but don't care. If so, we say to them that if they wish to
choose the best way to ruin their sons, let them be in the streets
evenings. Not only in our streets^ but at our lectures and public
meetings our citizens are disturbed by bad boys. Parents should have
their sons by their side when at such places, and if not convenient
to attend, keep their boys at home.