Wampsville Presbyterian Church

113 years old in 1946


My great-great-great grandfather Burton H. Dyer and his older brother Benjamin W. Dyer were two of the original supporters of this church when it was formed. Most early records of the church were lost in a fire. I have been informed that the church has stood empty for several years. It is on the historic register. I've been told the church looks much the same today as it did originally. 

Syracuse (NY) Herald-Journal
Wed. 27 March 1946
Page 3 column 6

Wampsville Church is 113 Years Old

Wampsville -- Wampsville Presbyterian Church, situated on a high knoll at the eastern outskirts of the village, will be 113 years old April 9. The Rev. oJhn(sic) R. Kay is the pastor. The society was organized April 9, 1820, or 117 years ago.

The edifice is one of the oldest in Madison County. The attractive church was the scene of the Syracuse Presbytery meeting a few years ago.

Actual dates on which the edifice was started are boscure(sic) as records were lost in a fire. The first trustees were Jared N. Avery, James Stewart, and Elisha Cranson. Worship was held in the village school prior to erection of a church.

The Rev. Hezekiah N. Woodruff was the first pastor, coming in April, 1829, as a supply. Other pastors have been George Nicholls, 1889-93; Frank W. West, 1894-5; John Burkhardt, 1896-1900; Spiko Rederus, 1901-03; D. G. Christmas, 1910-12; Jay N. Taft, 1912-15; John N. Steele, 1915-16; William Phillips, 1917-18; J. H. Nichols, 1918-24; John S. Willbanks, 1925-33; George B. Swinnerton, 1933-40; Paul Conine, 1940-42; Mr. Kay.

Families supporting the society at the time it was formed include Jared N. Avery, Harvey Cobb, Solomon Klock, James Stewart, Joseph Van Sice, Joseph A. Phillips, Jacob Foland, Alexander D. Stewart, Daniel Van Vleck, Ambrose Hill, William Spencer, Jeremiah, Jacob and Peter D. Cooper, Franklin Johnson, Elisha Cranson, Simon P. New, Benjamin and Burton Dyer, Malachi Gardinier, Ira Thompson, John A. McDougall, John Stewart, Joseph Benedict, Hartwell Johnson,  ames(sic) Cooper, Truman Benham, Thomas Loomis, William Ure and Miles Johnson.

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Photo by Anita Ingalls

 
"This Federalist meeting house is one of the earliest churches in the area." Cited in Country Roads: Madison County's Heritage: a Resource for the Future" edited by Jennifer G. F. Solms & Paul A. Schoonmaker; published by Madison County Planning Board, Wampsville, New York; July 1976


* Many thanks to Anita Ingalls for her input about the current state of this church. Visit Anita's "Madison County, NY" website for a treasure trove of Madison County historic resources. http://home.comcast.net/~ingallsam/index.html

Sunday's Obituary - Mary Dyer Jackson, Early Suffragette

Mary Dyer Jackson (1844 -1934) 
(Oneida, Madison County, New York)

Mary (Dyer) Jackson was my maternal gr-gr-grandfather (George B, Dyer)'s first cousin. She was a fascinating and accomplished woman. She married her sister's widower, was a founding member of the county historical society, was an early activist in the women's suffrage movement, and did so much more in her full life.

Note that in the obituary, Mary's mother's name, Mahala Barnard Dyer, was misspelled as Masala.

Oneida Daily Dispatch
Thurs., Nov. 8, 1934
page 1 column 4 - page 6 column 1


ONEIDA PIONEER WOMAN PASSES
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Mrs. Mary Dyer Jackson Dies Early Today - A Leader in Civic Activities
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Mrs. Mary Dyer Jackson, 90, a pioneer resident of this vicinity and prominent club woman, died in her apartment, Gables, at 7:20 o'clock this morning following an illness of two months.

She was born February 29, 1844 at Wampsville, daughter of the late Benjamin Wood Dyer and Masala Barnard. Although 90 years old, Mrs. Jackson only celebrated 21st birthday anniversaries in her lifetime.

Mrs. Jackson was graduated from Oneida Seminary, then located on the present C. Will Chappell estate at Elizabeth and Grove Streets. Later she studied voice culture at New England Conservatory of music and for seven years sang in a quartet choir in one of the Boston churches. She possessed a fine contralto voice.

Mrs. Jackson was the widow of the late Darius Jackson whom she married in 1874. He died two years later. During their married life they lived in Brooklyn where Mr. Jackson was a commission merchant. His first wife was Mrs. Jackson's sister, Julia Dyer, who died in 1870.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Jackson established her residence in Oneida and became active in civic affairs which she continued until her recent illness.

She was the founder of the Progress Club in 1889 which today is one of the outstanding women's organizations of this city.

Mrs. Jackson was also a charter member of the Madison County Historical Society, founded in 1898, and the Political Equality Club established in early 90's which is now merged with the Madison County League of Women Voters.

She was more prominently known as a member of the latter organization as Mrs. Jackson was the first woman to circulate a petition in Central New York for women's suffrage cause. She obtained 50 or 60 names on the petition which was mailed to Albany asking the legislature to allow women to vote.

This was in 1897 or 1898 and although the document received little or no attention at the time, Mrs. Jackson lived to see her work accomplished about 20 years later as the 19th amendment was adopted.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church.

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Mary is buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Oneida, Madison County, New York in her father's family plot. Frank Dyer was her brother. Her husband, Darius Jackson and his first wife Julia Dyer Jackson are buried in the same family plot, Their memorial is inscribed on another side of the shared Dyer/Jackson family monument.

The Dyer - Jackson Family Monument

Glenwood Cemetery

Oneida, Madison, County, New York