History of the Presbyterian Church in Almond, New York
Source: Allegany County and Its People. A Centennial Memorial History of Allegany County, New York., by John S. Minard, 1896, p. 686
About 1798 - The first church was organized in Almond in 1798 or 1799, and was first, a Dutch-Reformed church. It was organized by the Rev. Andrew Gray and he became it's pastor; Mr. Gray was the first pastor in Allegany county, and is described by Judge Philip Church as “a broad shouldered man of extraordinary muscular power and was a very earnest preacher.”
May 5, 1812 - It was re-organized into a Presbyterian church. There is no doubt but that this is the first church formed in Allegany county. At the re-organization, Rev. John Niles of Bath presided. The first members were:
- George Hornell, Hornellsville
- Chirstopher of Arkport, Elder
- James Hurlbut, of Arkport
- Henry McHenry, Elder
- Samuel Karr, Elder
- Enos Seward
- Silas Ferry
- Nathan Corey
- Betsy Hurlbut
- Margaret Karr
- Jerusha Ferry
- Elizabeth Major
- Sophia Hayes
- Amy Karr
- Martha Hornell
- Sally Karr
- Priscilla McHenry
- Philo Moffitt
- Elizabeth Hurlbut
- Amy McHenry
- Abigail Hurlbut
In 1895 the church membership was 167, with a Sunday School of 125, and a Christian Endeavor Society of 40. The church efifice that originally stood on the patrsonage lot was built in 1814 and sold for $25 to the late Thomas Major and is now a part of the barn of S. S. Karr. The present church edifice was erected in 1835, enlargted in 1851, and again repaired in 1868.
Pastors of the Presbyterian Church of Almond were:
| Rev. Robert Hubbard | to 1829 | divided his time between the Almond and Angelica churches |
| Rev. James Cahoon | 1829 - 1831 | - |
| Rev. Moses Hunter | June 1832 - April 1839 | At the first of his pastorate, about 35 members united with the church. Mr. Hunter left the church at his own request to found a mission institute in Illinois in company with the Rev. D. Nelson, author of ’ |
| Rev. Abial Parmelee | to April 1844 | - |
| Rev. Dr. Joel Wakeman | Sept. 1, 1844 - 1865 | Under his pastorate the membership and influence of church largely increased. He was the most noted pastor the church has ever had. He was an earnest anti-slavery advocate, and contributed largely to form the anti-slavery public sentiment which made Allegany county Republican in 1856. |
| Rev. R. G. Allen | Jan. 1866 - 1876 | - |
| Rev. J. G. Ogden | 1876 - 1871 | - |
| Rev. Dr. Joel Wakeman | 1871 - abt. 1873 | - |
| Rev. D. K. Steele | several years | - |
| Rev. L. S. Boyce | - | Young man from Ohio; graduate of Princeton; remained two years and later went to Nebraska |
| Rev. Bradbury | 2 years | Died in Howard. |
| Rev. J. D. Hillman | 2 years | - |
| Rev. Frank H. Bisbee | June 1, 1894 | He was born at Deposit, N.Y., July 31, 1869, graduated from the Deposit High school in 1889, afterwards attended Park College and graduated from Auburn Theological Seminary May 10, 1894. He was ordained at Cuba, N.Y., by the Presbytery April 18, 1894, he was installed as pastor May 1, 1895. |
Almond
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