Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 61

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848-
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck
Number of Pages: 1318

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Early in 1839 Miss Elizabeth Wood was the first teacher of the female seminary, in the same building. It was incorporated through the exertions of Colonel Asa Dimock. This institution, it was intended, should be entitled to three hundred dollars annually for ten years from the State. It first trustees were A. H. Read, J. C. Biddle, D. Dimock, Jr., George Fuller and Daniel Searle. In 1840-41 the preceptress was Mrs. Elizabeth H. Stone (after- wards Mrs. Niven). A piano was purchased, and Miss Theodosia A. Catlin taught a large class in music, though there were then but three pianos in the place. In 1841-42 Miss Mariana Read, of Homer, New York, was preceptress here. For three or four years following select schools by former teachers appear to have occu- pied the lower rooms. In 1847 Miss F. L. Willard began teaching in the academy, but afterwards kept a boarding-school for young ladies, assisted by Mrs. Theodore Smith and E. C. Blackman, and a day-school, which in- cluded young lads, in the building now the residence of George C. Hill, later in the old Post house, Miss Totten assistant. Pupils attended from remote parts of the county and from other counties.

A new academy had been projected in 1846, but it was not completed until the summer of 1850. The building, fifty by sixty feet, is now occupied by the graded school. Its cost was four thousand two hundred dollars. The first board of trustees consisted of William Jessup, president ; R. J. Niven, secretary ; M. S. Wil- son, treasurer ; Rev. H. A. Riley, F. B. Street- er, B. S. Bentley, William L Post, George Fuller, Alfred Baldwin, William J. Mulford, Leonard Searle, D. D. Warner and Henry Drinker. They made valuable contributions for the foundation of a library and cabinet of natural curiosities, which, it is to be regretted,

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have not been well preserved. The first in- structors were Lemuel H. Waters, A.M., prin- cipal ; Miss Mary J. Crawford, preceptress ; William H. Jessup and Miss A. A. P. Rogers, assistant teachers ; Miss Caroline Bowman, superintendent of primary department ; Emily C. Blackman, teacher of music; Gustave H. Walther, teacher of German. Succeeding principals were Rev. Isaac Gray, Rufus C. Crampton, William H. Richmond, John L. Mills and - Hartshorne, collegiates. After Miss Crawford the lady teachers were Misses Bessie Huntting, Caroline Bush, Frances J. Woolworth and - Brown. A normal school was established in the fall of 1857, J. F. Stod- dard principal. He was succeeded by H. Broadhead, B.A., and S. S. Hartwell, B.A. In the fall of 1863, under the care of F. D. Hunt, it assumed distinctively the features of a graded school, which it still retains. Rev. J. R. Stone had charge of the classical department ; Misses C. M. Dixon, M. M. Chamberlin, Jessie Bissell, A. Perry and Mrs. A. M. Richards were among the earliest teachers of other de- partments. The following is a list of the prin- cipals of Montrose Graded School : F. D. Hunt, 1863 (two years) ; G. C. Hammond, 1865; E. B. Hawley, 1866 ; John G. Cope, 1867; W. C. Tilden, 1868; A. H. Berlin, 1869 (six years); Mont. Evans, 1875 (two years) ; Charles Roos, 1877 (three years); J. W. Gray, 1880 (part of one year) ; C. S. Woodruff, 1881 (three years); S. D. Barnes, 1884; A. H. Berlin, 1885. The school has six departments, graded from the primary to the higher department. Graduates from the school are expected to pass a thorough examination in the common school branches, and have a knowledge of higher mathematics, the sciences and instruction in Latin. The school is patronized by the sur- rounding country, and has fitted a number for college and many more for teaching. The school has always labored under the disadvan- tage of a constant change of principals, until Professor A. H. Berlin was retained for six years. He was born in 1845, and was gradu- ated from Keystone Normal School, and has followed teaching as a profession. He was one of the first faculty of the normal school at In- | pleasant to recognize.

diana, Pa., and subsequently principal of West Pittston schools seven years, and was recalled to Montrose in 1885, where his energy and en- thusiasm are manifest in the management of the school.

The Old Free School of Montrose .- William J. Turrell taught the school upon its organiza- tion while it was held in the old academy. The teachers in the old free-school build- ing were Mcssrs. R. Pike, A. Carr, -Hay- den, F. Fraser, A. Chamberlin (three sea- sons), D. Chamberlin, A. N. Bullard, L. F. Fitch, William A. Crossmon, Eugene A. Ly- ons, U. C. Jolinson, A. R. Vail, - Sampson. The last-named taught in 1856, at twenty-nine dollars per month, four dollars per month more than any previous teacher had received. Later teachers were paid still more.

The colored children were taught separately after November, 1857, and Miss H. N. Austin was their first teacher. Mr. M. J. Corse taught that winter in the free-school building, and was succeeded by J. F. Shoemaker, B. Thatcher (three seasons) and F. D. Hunt. While Mr. Hunt was teaching it was decided to establish a graded school, and to rent the academy for that purpose.

The ladics who taught the free school received occasionally as much as $3.75 per week-never over $4 ; and when two were employed at once each received $2.75. Miss N. Bowman had taught the female department before the school- house was built. After December, 1837, there were the following teachers: Miss P. A. Smith, Mrs. Carr, Misses Charlotte Root, Helen Avery, Emeline Brownsou, Ann P. Lathrop, Ruth A. Perkins, Caroline Bowman, Mrs. Sherer, Misses L. A. Chamberlin, Louisa Avery, Mary War- ner, Jane Simpson, Helen Grover, Maria A. Deans, Salome Warner, Jesse Bissell, Jennie Mott and - Chubbuck.

The building was occupied many summers by select schools tanght by the Misses Caroline and Jane Woodhouse, H. Fordham, C. G. Read, A. McNcil, R. Tuttle, C. B. Birchard and pos- sibly by a few of those mentioucd above. Al- together, the building and the teachers were a power for good in the community which it is

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

B. Thatcher taught the free school three years, and has been school director twenty-one years, and is now the secretary of the School Board.

1 BRIDGEWATER BAPTIST CHURCH of Mont- rose, Pa .-- In 1801, when this portion of the State was a dense wilderness, Bartlet Hinds, son of Elder Ebenzer Hinds, of Massachusetts, came from Southampton, L. I., and settled in the township of Bridgewater. His wife, Mary, two sons, Conrad and Bartlet, a daughter named Susanna, and two sons of Mrs. Hinds, by a previous marriage, Isaac and David Post, accompanied him. Jonathan Wheaton, also a Baptist, moved into the township with his family the same year. Stephen Wilson had settled prior to this, in 1800.

For more than a year no religious meetings were held in the neighborhood, although the settlement grew rapidly with accessions from various quarters. At length Brethren Whea- ton and Hinds commenced a prayer-meet- ing, in which several others joined. It was held frequently, but not every Sabbath at first ; and with some manifest tokens of the divine presence, so that the meetings were maintained for many years. In the winter of 1806-7 two more praying families were added to their number, and the same season the way began to open for having the Gospel preached in their neighborhood. Mr. Hinds being at Wilkes- Barre, heard Elder Davis Dimock, the pastor of the Exeter Baptist Church, preaching in the court-house ; an introduction followed, and the condition of the new and growing set- tlement so enlisted the preacher's sympathies that he made an appointment to preach there on Monday evening, March 30, 1807.

There was a general attendance and so much interest among the people to hear the Gospel that Elder Dimock concluded to remain another day. But God's purpose was for a longer period. A heavy fall of snow, quite four feet deep, prevented the preacher's return for a week. Yet over it all, on snow-shoes, or through it all, the people came day after day, many of them a great distance and through

trackless woods, to hear the word of God. Many were pricked in the heart and began to seek salvation, while the Lord's weary but trusting ones were greatly refreshed and quick- ened. Elder Dimnock inade two other visits during the summer, when two persons were baptized upon a profession of faith.

From this time meetings were held every Lord's day, whether they had preaching or not, and as they who had " one Lord, one faith, and one baptism " had now become acquainted with each other, they agreed to hold every month what they called a " covenant meeting," for each other's mutual sympathy, comfort and watch-care. This soon ripened into a church organization, for in March, 1808, the Baptist Church in Exeter was earnestly requested to take measures for giving to these praying, covenanting disciples the privileges of distinct and full membership.

It was the custom in this section of the country, at that time, to receive such appli- cants for church privileges into the fellowship and membership of the body to whom the ap- plication was addressed, through a committee or commission, composed of the pastor and a given number of brethren, appointed for the purpose, hearing and pronouncing upon each person's Christian experience and worthiness of church standing; and if the examination proved satisfactory, they were subsequently " set off " as requested, and " power was given them to receive and expel members and to do all other acts of an independent church," sub- ject, however, to the authority of the whole convention, as an individual member is in any particular church subject to its authority.

Accordingly, the church at Exeter sent their pastor, Elder Dimock, and several lay brethren to Bridgewater, and on the 9th day of April, 1808, after the usual preliminaries, at the house of Brother Bartlet Hinds, six brethren -- Jonathan Wheaton, Henry Congdon, Asa Baldwin, David Knowlton, Luther Deans and Samuel Baldwin-were organized into a church of Christ, and, as the records say, given " fel- lowship to do and perform things necessary thereto." Henry Congdon was chosen clerk, and two days after their members were in-

1 By Rev. E. W. Husted.

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creased to ten by Sisters Mrs. Sarah Congdon, Polly Baldwin and Betsey Baldwin.

At their next regular church-meeting, May 14, 1808, Brother Bartlet Hinds, by letter, and Mrs. Agnes Hinds, Stephen Wilson and John Gardner, by baptism, were added to their number. In June, 1809, Elder Davis Dimock, at their unanimous call and earnest solicitation, assumed the pastorate and moved his family to Bridgewater.

From this time additions were gradually made to them, as new settlers came into their boundaries. But in the fall of 1810 the Holy Spirit began to move npon the community, so that the record of one of their meetings expresses " great thankfulness for the great mercies of

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

God in the union of the church and the con- version of sinners, who were coming to Christ like clouds, and like doves to their windows." Fifty were added to the church by baptism as the fruit of this awakening and refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

Every year but two of Elder Dimoek's long pastorate of over a quarter of a century wit- nessed some baptism, but no very general work of grace was experienced until 1826, when

over eighty were baptized, and in 1827, over fifty.

It was during this revival that the Church resolved upon preliminary steps to secure a suitable house of worship. A meeting was held at the court-house on Christmas day, 1826, to consult upon a project. There was but one sentiment, and they unanimously agreed to undertake the work, great as it was for them. Accordingly, Brethren Isaac Post and Samuel Warner were appointed a committee to obtain subscriptions and superintend the erection of the house. The undertaking proved more arduous and the delay of their hopes much greater even than they feared, for it was not until three years had passed that they entered their own sanctuary. Bụt in December, 1829, the church ceased to be dependent upon a district school-house or the county court-house. In 1846 the edifice was enlarged to its present dimensions-capable of holding five hundred persons-and was otherwise improved ; since then it has undergone little change in general appearance, being renewed from time to time. During the past year, 1886, it has been very much improved, and now stands a well-pre- served land-mark. The year 1832 was also a season of large in-gathering, when seventy- five were added by baptism. The largest accession made in any one year was in 1843, under the pastorate of Elder J. B. Worden, when one hundred were added.

But the church has had its days of darkness and sore trials. The most severe and afflictive of all these can hardly be passed over in this historical sketch. In 1839 forty-seven mem- bers were dismissed to form an independent church in the Union School District, Bridge- water, because of a wide difference of views in regard to church action upon slavery. At first this matter seemed portentons of great evil. After a time it promised to be satisfactorily arranged by an amicable division, and the ex- istence of two distinet churches living in har- mony. But for two or three years the cause of Christ greatly suffered, and the people of God " went through fire and water." At length, after numerous efforts at reconciliation, by councils, and such associational overtures and

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suggestions as seemed pertinent and proper, the old church became, in 1843, the sole organiza- tion representative of the Baptist faith and polity in Montrose and Bridgewater, nearly all returning from the Second Church, and the re- united people striving together for the unity of the Spirit, the bonds of peace and the promo- tion of the great cause of God.

The pastors who have labored with this people are as follows :

Elder Davis Dimock, 1809-39; J. B. Worden, 1839- 44; A. L. Post, 1844-46; D. Taylor, 1846-49; Davis Dimock, 1849-51; F. Glanville, 1851-52; S. L. Ran- sted and A. L. Post, 1855-56; W. N. Wopeth, 1856- 58; J. C. Boomer, 1858-62; J. R. Stone, 1862-65 ; B. C. Morse, 1866-68 ; H. F. Cochrane, 1868; L. B. Ford, 1870; J. E. Chesshire, 1873-78; Henry W. Sherwood, 1878-82; D. W. Shepherd, 1882-84; E. W. Husted, 1884.

During the past few years the church has passed through many scenes of revival interest. Nearly all of the old members have "fallen asleep." Deacon Mason Wilson still remains, after a consistent membership of over fifty years, being baptized by Elder Davis Dimock in 1832.

The church still occupies an honorable and prominent place in the town. There are about two hundred and seventy-five members en- rolled. The Sabbath-school numbers two hun- dred and twenty-five, the largest number in its history, and is in excellent condition, the church and school working in harmony, the pastor and people realizing the fact that the school is the " hope of the church." Deacon George P. Little is the superintendent. The library of five hundred volumes, with its im- proved library system, is said to be the finest in the county.

And so, after an existence of over eighty years of " stormy and of cloudy weather," the old church still stands a monument to God's good- ness, an old land-mark, pointing weary, foot- sore travelers to the road which leads to life eternal.

"1 ELDER DAVIS DIMOCK was born at Rocky Hill, Hartford County, Conn., May 27, 1776. His

parents were David and Sarah Green Dimock. His father at the opening of the Revolutionary War en- tered the service first as a sergeant, and afterwards as lieutenant of the Continental army. He, with his mother and three brothers, on the opening of the war, were taken as a measure of safety into Vermont. At the close of the war the family returned to Connecti- cut, and resided at Norfolk until the year 1790, when, with the tide of emigration from Connecticut, they came into the Wyoming Valley and settled at Wilkes- Barre. He was then fourteen years of age.

"To a compact, symmetrical and truly admirable physical organism there was added a pleasing per- sonal address. To an extremely social nature there was added an almost unbounded and attractive humor. To a quick perception of the relation of things, and the workings of human nature, there was added an ambi- tion that knew no bounds but those of patriotism and honor. And to a heart unsanctified by the Divine Spirit, and that had come to drink in, quite deeply, infidelity to Christ and the Bible, there was added a purpose to gain and enjoy as much as possible of the world's pleasures, riches and honors. With these developments he labored on the farm and in the work- shop, improved the scanty opportunities in his reach to gain knowledge by attending and teaching com- mon schools, and was active in all of the political and other gatherings of the people. All seemed bright before him.

"On the 5th of June, 1797, he was united in mar- riage to Betsey Jenkins, of Tunkhannock, who became the mother of his twelve children, and the beloved and faithful partner of his toils and privations, as well as his hopes and enjoyments, during fifty-five years of his earthly pilgrimage. In 1801, while living in Exeter with his young family, toiling for and rapidly acquiring wealth-carrying on at the same time the businesses of farming, blacksmithing and distilling ardent spirits-he was arrested in his career, and by the power of Divine grace his proud heart was made to yield to the requirements of the law of faith in an atoning sacrifice, and changed at once all of the plans and purposes of his life.

"He was received and baptized into the Exeter Baptist Church, August 9, 1801, by Elder Jacob Drake, the pioneer Baptist minister of the valley. Heeding the great commission, which seemed directed to him, ' Go ye into all the world and preach the gos- pel to every creature,' turning back upon place proffered in legislative halls, he commenced preach- ing that Jesus whom he had persecuted, and that res- urrection whichi, in the skepticism of his heart, he had repudiated. His first sermon was blessed by the Divine Spirit in leading his companion to embrace Christ as her only hope.

" In 1803, at the yearly meeting of the Apocalyptic number of Baptist Churches, then called the Susque- hanna Baptist Connection, he was formally ordained to the ministry, by the imposition of the hands of the

1 Blackman, p. 306.

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elders, and soon came to occupy a prominence which made him the master-spirit of the Connection.

" In 1810, under his labors, occurred what was after- wards known as ' the great revival,' in which fifty-two, mostly by baptism, were added to the number of the church. The influence spread into the settlement from fifteen to twenty miles around, and he followed it up with an energy and zeal that knew no bounds but impossibilities. Often might he have been seen on his horse, threading his way from settlement to settle- ment, along forest paths, over hills and through val- leys, sometimes guided only by marked trees. Here or there, where he found a hut or log cabin, he was wont to stop, if but for a moment, to minister a word of admonition or cheer to its sinning, sick or discon- solate inhabitants. He soon came to be everywhere known and a welcome visitor.

" He had studied medicine in his earlier years ; and on coming here when there was no physician, his medical services were often required and given. Finding it an aid rather than detriment to his gospel ministry, he continued more or less to practice suc- cessfully during subsequent life.

"He accepted, through the general solicitation of his fellow-citizens, from the Governor, an appoint- ment of associate judge of the then new county of Susquehanna. In this capacity he served successfully and honorably from the time of the organization of the judiciary, a term of twenty-seven years.

" He assisted in organizing churches in Auburn, Rush, Middletown, Choconut, Great Bend, Harford, New Milford, Jackson, Gibson and Dimock, and pos- sibly elsewhere. Elder Dimock was the sole pastor of the Bridgewater Church from its organization, in 1808, down to June, 1835, a term of twenty-seven years. At the close of that period, notwithstanding deaths and removals, the church numbered three hundred and twenty-two members. At the expira- tion of his sole pastorate of the church, by his own request, Elder J. B. Worden became associated with him. This relation continued two years, when, from the infirmities of age and disease, and a desire to retire from the exciting scenes of a new era in the church, he resigned his relation, took a letter from this, and united with the church at Braintrim, having previously received a call to become its pastor. As pastor of that church, he labored according to the measure of his health and strength, witnessing many tokens that those labors were not in vain, until the fall of 1847, when, admonished by physicians and his personal consciousness of what a long life of labor and privation, as well as disease, had wrought upon his wonderful constitution, he resigned the pastorate to another.

" In the spring of 1848 he returned with his com- panion to Montrosc to reside the remainder of his days with his children. He reunited with this church." His name appears in the Baptist minutes every year or two, in connection with the supply of

the pulpit at Montrose, during the time that he was at Braintrim. He was a great force in the church for half a century. Gordon Z. Dimock, his only living child in 1887, says that his father only attended com- mon school six months, and his mother attended a school that his father taught for three months. She was a daughter of Benjamin Jenkins, of Wyoming Valley, who was killed during the "Pennamite War." Elder Dimock was a hardshell Baptist, and did not believe in having a regular salary for preaching, but supported himself largely by blacksmithing, prac- ticing medicine, etc. His salary as associate judge also helped him to raise his large family. Of course he performed the marriage ceremony for a great many couples. He received a handful of goose-quills (good for pens) from his first couple. He generally received more than that, however. He was a man of great native force, a fine specimen of the old-time preacher, and much beloved by the people. Once when he was preaching down the Wyalusing, a young couple that admired him very much urged him to accompany them home and stay that night with them. He reluctantly consented, as he had made other ar- rangements. During the night he awoke and saw them sitting by the fire-place poking the fire. He soon ascertained that he was occupying the only bed in the house. He arose and insisted upon the young couple's retiring, while he poked the fire the rest of the night. His wife died in 1852, aged seventy-two, and he died September 27, 1858, aged eighty-two. Their children were Benjamin Dimock, who was principal of the school at Bethany for a time, and died at Pompton, Wayne County, Pa. One of his sons is a boss on the gravity road from Carbondale to Honesdale. Sally married Nehemiah Scott, and re- mained on the Dimock homestead. One son, Norton W. Scott, rents the old place now of Geo. P. Little, the present owner. Davis Dimock, Jr., died while a member of Congress. Betsey Dimock married Hub- bard Avery for her first husband, and Luther Badger (an ex-member of Congress, who died at Binghamton) for her second husband. Lydia C. was an authoress, wife of Leonard Searle. Asa G. was a painter, poli- tician, State Senator (1841-43) for this district, and finally editor of the Wayne County Democrat, at Woos- ter, Ohio, where he died. John H., a lawyer, at Montrose. David died at sea. Dr. Gordon Z. Dim- ock, the only survivor of the old patriarch's family, resides in the first frame house that was built in the village, which was moved to its present location many years ago, which saved it from the fire that afterwards destroyed the building where it stood.

David Dimock, the father of Davis Dimock, was a Revolutionary soldier, served under Washington. He came to Wyoming Valley as a, land agent, and finally came to Montrose, and lived with his son the latter part of his life. He was eighty-six when he died, and was active almost up to the day of his deatlı. The Dimocks are said to be descended from

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an old English family, and can trace their ancestry to 1060, the time of William the Conqueror. Sir Henry Dimock was challenger for King George the IV. when he was crowned, which was the last time that ceremony has ever been performed.

REV. ALBERT L. POST, son of Isaac Post, was born at Montrose March 25, 1809. He was educated at Union College and read law with William Jessup. He was admitted to the bar in 1833; he practiced law for a few years and was deputy attorney-general in 1836. In 1837 he began the publication of the Spectator, a journal devoted to the freedom of the colored race. He was an Abolitionist when it was un- popular to be identified with the anti-slavery movement. In 1841 he was ordained to the Christian ministry, and devoted much of his time to evangelistic labors in connection with the Baptist Church, of which he was a member. He was a man of Christian integrity and con- scientiousness, and would rather suffer than sacrifice a principle. Courageous in the main- tenance of what he felt to be right, yet he was as gentle as a little child in the simplicity of his life. Ever the friend of the oppressed, he lived for the benefit of others. He not only talked in favor of freedom for the colored man, but assisted the poor fugitives when they came to Montrose from their homes of bondage in the South. He lived to see the principles which he had advoca - ted triumphant. His wife was a daughter of Joseph Williams, an old settler of Bridgewater ; their only son was Isaac J. Post, of Scranton. Rev. Albert L. Post died at Montrose January 7, 1887. During his life he wrote a number of obituaries and reminiscences. His diary also contains many historical facts, and for many facts in relation to the early history of Montrose the writer is indebted to him, as preserved in his writings and the writings of his father.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 61

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848- Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck Number of Pages: 1318

Author: Stocker, Rhamanthus Menville, 1848-
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : R. T. Peck
Number of Pages: 1318