Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 62

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania > Part 62

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The present pastor, Rev. E. W. Husted was born in the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., July 24, 1859. His education, acquired at the best schools in his native city, and at Hamilton Theological Seminary, has been supplemented and rounded out by quite extensive European travel. He graduated at Hamilton in June, 1884, and was ordained here on the 24th of August of the same year. He was married

January 29, 1885, to Miss Viola Harris, of Brooklyn, N. Y., a lady who, by talent and cul- ture, is eminently qualified for the work to which she has been called.

1 MONTROSE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- For a considerable period previous to the organizing of the church, occasional services were held among the Presbyterians and Congregationalists living within Bridgewater township. Such services have been traced back as far as to the summer of 1802; and there are records of the baptism of several children previous to the or- ganizing of the church.

On the 3d day of July, 1810, a company met at the house of Joseph Raynsford, about one and a half miles south of Montrose, and a Con- gregational Church was organized by the Rev. Ebenezer Kingsbury, then a missionary of the Connecticut Missionary Society, and afterwards pastor at Harford, assisted by the Rev. M. M. York, pastor of the Congregational Church at Wyalnsing. The following persons then present signed the covenant and entered into church fel- lowship on that day : riz., Moses Tyler, Phineas Arms, Edmund Stone, Simeon Tyler, Samuel Davis, Amos West, Anna Davis, Esther Lath- rop, Sarah Tyler, Anna Raynsford, Hannah Fuller and Hannah Raynsford. Moses Tyler was chosen deacon, and Phineas Arms clerk.

Miss Blackman states ("History of Susque- hanna County," p. 337), on what seems to be abundant evidence, that "the sermon on this occasion was preached in the barn of Walter Lathrop, near the barns since erected by his son Daniel." This was situated abont one-half of a mile south of Mr. Raynsford's house. Meet- ings were afterwards frequently held in that barn. At the first meeting of the church which followed, it was voted that "Each member should pay twelve and one-half cents for the Communion Table."

At the first communion season following its organization, fourteen additional members were received into the church and twenty-one chil- dren and adults were baptized. In January of the following year (1811) Rev. Joseph Wood, a Congregationalist minister, was called to be

1 By Rev. A. L. Benton.

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pastor of the church on a salary of two hundred and sixty dollars for the first year, and to increase ten dollars annnally until it should reach three hundred dollars. He was to labor half of the time with this church and half with what is now the Brooklyn Church. The call was accepted, and he was installed June 19th of the same year by the Luzerne Association, and continued pastor until September 24, 1815. During this period, and for a year later, the services of the church were held most of the time at South Montrose, in the school-house or at the resi- dence of Zebulon Deans, near the school-house. But occasionally they were at some other private house.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

In the autumn of 1816 services began to be held at Montrose village, at first in the court- house and later in the academy. For several years they were divided, or alternated between Montrose village and the South District. The church had no regular pastor after Mr. Wood left, but was supplied at irregular times by missionaries or neighboring pastors, until early in 1818, when Rev. Gideon N. Judd, a gradu-

ate of Union College and Princeton Theological Seminary, became stated supply. The church had then increased to over sixty members. It was during his ministry that the academy began to be used for church purposes. The salary of the minister was more than double that first given, and their purpose to fully pay it is mani- fest in a vote taken June 5, 1819, to assess " all arrearages remaining unpaid, to every member of the church in proportion to the valuation of their property." And the fact that this was carried unanimously was a very good guarantee for its payment. At the same meet- ing a board of trustees was chosen for the so- ciety. This board consisted of Joseph Butter- field, Isaac P. Foster, Zebulon Deans, Benja- min Sayre and Elizur Price. During the min- istry of Mr. Judd the first Sabbath-school in this town was organized, of which the Sabbatlı- school of this church is the legitimate successor. It was in the upper room of a public-house, on Sabbath afternoon, October 14, 1818, and con- sisted of six scholars and two teachers. Mr. Judd continued to be the stated supply of the church until May 21, 1820, when he closed his labors here to accept a call to Bloomfield, N. J. The church was then irregularly supplied until February 20, 1822, when, at a church-meeting held at the house of Reuben Wells, " it was agreed that a special invitation from the church be given to Rev. Enoch Conger to come and preach with us as soon as consistent." Mr. Conger supplied the church for some months.

At a meeting of the church, held September 12, 1823, Rev. G. N. Judd (then visiting in the place) presiding, it was unanimously voted to adopt the Presbyterian form of government and elect seven elders, and the following per- sons were elected to such office, viz. : Phineas Arms, Zebulon Deans, Reuben Wells, Moses Tyler, Joshua W. Raynsford, Benjamin Sayre and Jerre Lyons. Mr. Lyons immediately tendered his resignation and nominated Isaac P. Foster for his place, and Mr. Foster was unanimously chosen. About six years later, or August 4, 1829, Mr. Lyons was re-elected and ordained as an elder, together with William Jessup. These first elders were ordained by Mr. Judd during a meeting of the Presbytery

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of Susquehanna, in session at Montrose, Sep- tember 16, 1823. In this same year Rev. Burr Baldwin, a graduate of Yale College and An- dover Theological Seminary, then in his early manhood and having had considerable experi- ence as a teacher as well as a preacher, and at that time agent for the United Board of Foreign Missions, came into this region for his health, and, having preached here, was called to the pastorate of this church. His installation took place September 22, 1824. Entering upon his work with characteristic earnestness, great prosperity attended his labors. Instead of half a day at South Montrose, both services from this time were held in the court-house here. Feeling the need of a house of worship, he sought to secure one and was successful. During his ministry the first meeting-house was built, on the lot where now stands the present church edifice. This was dedicated June 22, 1826. Revival scenes soon followed. Thirty-five members were received into the church this year on confession of faith, and among them were many efficient workers. The church was greatly prospered under his wise ministry, which closed in May, 1829.

Mr. Baldwin, after leaving this place, was pastor at New Hartford, Conn., and Ashland, Mass. He was nine years teacher at Newark, N. J., and did much missionary work within the bounds of Montrose Presbytery, supplying feeble churches, planting new ones, raising money to build sanctuaries and to support min- isters. At the age of sixty-seven he made a tour of inspection through Texas, under the auspices of the Southern Aid Society. Return- ing, he gave a few more years' missionary work in Montrose and Genessee Valley Presbyteries. Then he was post chaplain in Eastern Virginia. At seventy-six he began a year's missionary work in Southeastern New York. After this he spent a graceful old age in retirement, but not in idleness, among the people of his former charge in Montrose, and died January 23, 1880, aged ninety-one years and four days.

In the autumn of 1829 the session directed that their moderator and clerk sign an invita- tion to Rev. Daniel Deruelle, of New Jersey, a graduate of Princeton Seminary, to come and

preach for one year. He was afterward called to the pastorate and installed in June, 1830. A man of fine physique, of fervid eloquence and earnest piety, under his ministry the member- ship of the church was greatly increased. One hundred and twelve were added to it on confes- sion of faith during the three years of his pastorate, which closed in 1833. Within this period (in January, 1831) the first church bell of the borough was purchased and used by this congregation. In the latter part of his ministry the people were much moved and became some- what divided in sentiment respecting the . measures and methods of an evangelist who labored for a time with them. The good pastor was much grieved at the want of entire har- mony among his people for such a cause. And when he came to preach his farewell sermon he announced his text (Gen. xlv. 24): " See that ye fall not out by the way," and was so overcome by his feelings that he burst into tears, and sat down. One of the officers of the church seeing that the pastor would be unable to go on with his sermon, dismissed the congregation. Mr. Deruelle, after retiring from the work here, spent some time as agent of the Board of Edu- cation, that he might improve his health by such active labors and travel. Hc died in North Carolina, March 4, 1858, while riding in his carriage pursuing his work as agent of the American Bible Society.

Soon after the retirement of Mr. Deruelle, the Rev. Timothy Stow, a graduate of Hamil- ton College and Auburn Theological Seminary, was called to the pastorate. He came here in January, 1834, and was installed the June fol- lowing. After a successful ministry of four years, suffering from bronchial difficulties, he ceased his labors in the spring of 1838. He died at Lawrence, Mich., October 13, 1860.

The next pastorate was that of Rev. Henry A. Riley. Born in New York City, a gradu- ate of the University of Pennsylvania, he studied law for a few months and then entered the Medical Department of the University, from which he was graduated in 1825. After practicing medicine about four years in his native city, he entered Princeton Theological . Seminary and graduated in 1832. In 1835 he

Henny AMiley

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was ordained and installed pastor of what is now the West Twenty-third Street Church, of New York, from which he came here upon a unanimous call from this church. His labors here commenced January 20, 1839, and he was installed March 12, 1840. A house hav- ing been promised him in the call, a parsonage was built on the lot still used for the same pur- pose, and was first occupied in June, 1842. With great ability, candor and earnestness in the pulpit, and a tender and faithful pastor out of it, his ministry was one of marked success. The old church edifice which has been in use for thirty-three years, being found insufficient for their needs, it was decided to build a new one. The old church was used for the last time for public worship March 25, 1860, at which time a tender communion service was held. The preceding day had been a reunion and memorial day in the church. The corner-stone of the new edifice was laid June 13, 1860, and the completed house of worship was dedicated Fcb- ruary 5, 1862. Greatly beloved by his peo- ple, Mr. Riley resigned his charge after a pas- torate of twenty-five years, and preached his farewell sermon December 27, 1863. The remainder of his days were spent among the people whom he had served so long and so faithfully. He died March 17, 1878.

A few months after Mr. Riley retired, Au- gust 20, 1864, the Rev. Jacob G. Miller, a graduate of Williams College and of Auburn Theological Seminary, then settled pastor at Branford, Conn., received a unanimous call to this field. The call was accepted and the pastor- elect was installed October 13, 1864. This, like the preceding pastorate, was marked by stability and success. It was attended with steady growth to the church, and with some revivals of great power. And when, after sev- enteen years of faithful service, the pastor, with impaired health and greatly beloved, resigned his charge, he left an enduring monument in a strong, well-equipped church, which he had done much to establish. Dr. Miller preached his farewell sermon November 20, 1881. After a year spent at Marathon, N. Y., he be- came pastor of the Congregational Church at Manchester, Iowa, where he still resides.

Rev. A. L. Benton is the son of Chester and Tirza Porter Loomis Benton, natives of Con- necticut, who resided in Cortland, N. Y., most of their lives, and were members of the Presby- terian Church there. He was born in Cortland November 9, 1831, prepared for college at the academy at Cortland, and, after a four years' course, was graduated at Hamilton College in the class of '56, and, after a three years' course, he was graduated at Auburn Theological Semi- nary in the class of '59. He supplied the First Presbyterian Church of Milwaukee, Wis., for five months, and in January, 1860, married Emma, daughter of General Halsey Sanford, of Ovid, N. Y. In the same month he accepted a call from the Presbyterian Church at Lima, N. Y., where he continned his ministerial labors for eleven years. In the autumn of 1870 he accepted a call to become college pastor, with Rev. Dr. John C. Lord, over the Central Pres- bytcrian Church of Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained until the autumn of 1872, when, un- der a call from the Presbyterian Church at Fredonia, N. Y., he began his labors there, which continued for nine and one-half years. In May, 1882, Elder Benton was called to the Presbyterian Church at Montrose, Pa .; was in- stalled its pastor on November 25th, following.

The old parsonage, which had served as the pastor's home for forty years, being in need of extensive repairs, it was thought best to remove it and build new. Consequently, the old house was sold and the beautiful, commodious and convenient parsonage now in use was built on the same lot. The pastor and his family moved into it in the winter of 1883-84.

The present membership of the church is three hundred and seventy-two. The contribu- tions of the church for the year ending April 1, 1887, were : For missionary purposes, seven- teen hundred and twelve dollars ; and for home expenses, thirty-two hundred and ninety-two dollars.

The Sabbath-School of the church numbers about two hundred and twenty scholars, with twenty-two teachers. Organized in 1818 in a public-house, its first teachers were Joshua W. Raynsford, with Miss Mary Fuller, in whose father's house it was first held. J. W. Rayns-

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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ford was doubtless its first superintendent. June 3, 1819, the school was moved from the place of its organization into the academy building. Holding it in a public-school building aroused opposition to the school, as being a desecration of the Sabbath. It was thoughit to be an un- justifiable use of thic day. This led the trustees of the academy to close their doors against it. It then went into a room furnished by Benja- min Sayre, and Miss Hannah Cochran became superintendent. In 1822 the school numbered ninety scholars and eleven teachers. June 11, 1826, it was held for the first time in the new Presbyterian Church. In 1829 it was reorgan- ized, and Hon. William Jessup was chosen superintendent, which office he held with great usefulness and success until 1849, or for twenty years-with the exception of about two years, when Hon. Benjamin S. Bentley was superin- tendent.

In 1830, by an equitable arrangement, the Baptist portion of the school withdrew, to or- ganize a Sabbath-school of their own. In 1849 Hon. William H. Jessup, son of the former superintendent, succeeded his father, and contin- ued its superintendent until April, 1886, when other duties compelled him to resign. This prolonged superintendence was marked by sig- nal success in the maintained interest of the school and the conversion of many scholars. Judge Jessup retired from the office greatly be- loved, after thirty-six years of faithful service, but retains his interest and his place in the school. The pastor was chosen to succeed him, with Professor A. H. Berlin and S. M. Foster as assistants. After one year Professor Berlin was made superintendent and Mr. Foster assist- ant.

The church has sent out eleven ministers, five of whom became foreign missionaries. These were :-

Rev. William Arms, son of Phineas Arms, one of the original members and one of the first elders of the church. He was received into the church March 16, 1816. For a period he was engaged in missionary work in Patagonia. Then he was in the same work in Borneo, until failing health compelled him to relinquish it.

Rev. Oliver Butterfield was son of Joshua

Butterfield, one of the first trustees of the church. He united with it in 1821. He served for a period the Congregational Church of South Britain, Conn., and died at New Haven in 1848.

Rev. Lorenzo Lyons, brother of Elder Jerre Lyons, united with the church April 6, 1823. Graduating at Union College and Auburn The- ological Seminary, he gave himself to the for- eign mission work, and sailed for the Sandwich Islands in 1832. Here, with great delight and devotion, he continued his work, never stopping to again visit his native land and home, and died at the islands October 6, 1886, at eighty years of age.

Rev. James W. Raynor was received into the church May 24, 1840. Graduating at Amherst College, he studied theology in part at Union Theological Seminary, and in part under private instruction. Licensed by Montrose Presbytery, most of his labors have been within its limits. He has faithfully served the churches at Upson- ville, Springville, Le Raysville, Mt. Pleasant and Uniondale, and has recently closed a second term of over six years' service in the Franklin Church, at Upsonville. He now resides at Montrose, in quite feeble health.

Rev. J. Lorenzo Lyons, son of Elder Jerre Lyons, was received into the church August 16, 1840. Graduating at Williams College and Union Theological Seminary, he entered the foreign field. After some years of service at Sidon, in Syria, failing health compelled him to relinquish his work there and return to his native country. Here he was for many years agent for the American Bible Society, residing in Jacksonville, Fla. He is now pastor in charge of the. Presbyterian Church at Waldo, Fla

Rev. Henry H. Jessup, son of Elder William Jessup, united with the church October 1, 1843. Graduating at Yale College and Union Theo- logical Seminary, he sailed for Syria in 1856. His first work was at Sidon ; afterward he was stationed at Tripoli, whence he went to Beirut, where he has resided many years in labors more abundant. In 1879, while on a brief visit to his native land, being chosen to represent his Pres- bytery in the General Assembly, he was elected

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its moderator. Being absent from the country the following year, and so unable to prcach the opening sermon of the next Assembly, as is customary for the retiring moderator, he was providentially called to this service in 1884, while on a brief sojourn in this country, after nearly thirty years of service in Syria. The moderator of the preceding Assembly had died, and he, as the last moderator present, was called to this high service. Returning to Syria in 1885, he still resides at Beirut, where he has charge of the large native church, and is also instructor in the Theological Seminary at Abeih.

Rev. Samuel Jessup, another son of Elder Wm. Jessup, was received into the church Oc- tober 5, 1849. Graduating from Yale College and Union Theological Seminary, he served as chaplain in the army during the early part of the war. In 1862 he sailed for Syria and was engaged in missionary work at Tripoli until 1885, when he was called to Beirut, where he still resides. He has charge of the extensive work of the mission press there, and also edits an Arabic newspaper.

Rev. Bentley S. Foster united with the church May 5, 1850. Graduating from Wil- liams College and Union Theological Seminary, he has been a faithful pastor at Dunmore, in this State, at Nunda, in New York, and of churches in New Jersey and in Michigan. He is now pastor of the Presbyterian Church at South Amboy, N. J.

Rev. Elisha Mulford united with the church April 4, 1852. Graduating at Yale College and Andover Theological Seminary, he spent two years in travel and study in Germany. He then entered the Episcopal ministry and was rector for a term of years at Orange, N. J. He is widely known as the author of "The Na- tion " and "The Republic of God." While filling the chair of lecturer in theology in the Episcopal Theological School at Cambridge, Mass., he died December 9, 1885, aged fifty- two years. (See more full notice elsewhere.)

Rev. Isaac Riley, son of Rev. Henry A. Riley, former pastor of this church, united with the church April 4, 1852. Graduating from Yale College and Union Theological Seminary, he

was successively called to be pastor at Middle- town, Del., Pottsville, Pa., Newark, N. J., and Thirty-fourth Street Reformed Church, New York, from which latter place he was called to the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, N. Y. Here, after a short but very successful pastorate, he died October 23, 1878, aged forty-three years.

Rev. Henry J. Crane united with the church April 28, 1856. Graduating from the Univer- sity of New York and Union Theological Seminary, he has been settled successively at Wysox, Hunter, N. Y., Gibson and Ararat, and is now in his tenth year at Nicholson, a pastor beloved.

William Jessup, son of Rev. Dr. H. H. Jessup, was received into the church January 3, 1879. Graduating at Princeton College in 1886, he is now pursuing his theological studies at Princeton Seminary preparatory to entering the gospel ministry.

Two other young men, members of this church, are now pursuing their studies, one in college, and the other preparing for college, with a view of entering upon the same work.

The following persons have served as ruling elders in the churchi since the adoption of the Presbyterian form of government. To their wisdom and discretion, as well as piety, is due much of its stability and prosperity, viz. :

1823, Phinehas Arms, Reuben Wells, Moses Tyler, Zebulon Deans, Joshua W. Raynsford, Benjamin Sayre, Isaac P. Foster; 1829, William Jessup, Jerre Lyons; 1835, James Deans Hugh McCollum ; 1840, Josiah Blackman, Benjamin S. Bentley ; 1847, Perrin Wells, Silas Perkins; 1850, John Trumbull ; 1866, La Fayette Fitch, George V. Bentley, William H. Jessup ; 1872, Calvin C. Halsey, William W. Smith, Milton Roy, Edwin Lathrop; 1878, A. Jackson Brewster, Theodore A. Lyons, Daniel Sayre ; 1886, Henry Warner.

1 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Mont- rose .- We are unable to give the date when the " Methodist Itinerant " first visited Moutrosc, though it is certain this somewhat ubiquitous personage made his presence known sometime

1 By Rev. H. C. McDermott.

20분

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before any church organization of this denomi- nation was formed. The old Bridgewater Cir- cuit was organized in 1813, but a number of years elapsed before there was any stated preaching in this village, and it was not until 1841 that a society was formed; the fact is, the ground hereabouts in that early day was pre- occupied and not favorable to the growth of Methodism.

At the session of the Oneida Annual Confer- ence, in the year named, a new circuit was formed of part of Brooklyn and Bridgewater, and denominated Montrose-the village of that name being the most important place within its bounds. The appointments in the new circuit were known as follows: Montrose, Miller Hill, Franklin, J. Hancock's, B. Shay's, M. Hall's, M. McKeeby's, Liberty, Conklin, Great Bend and New Milford. In the territory embraced in the above are now six thriving charges. The Rev. E. B. Tenny was appointed preacher in charge, and the Rev. George C. Thompson assistant. The Rev. Mr. Tenny lost no time, it appears, in perfecting a church organization. Two small classes of the old Bridgewater Circuit, the one meeting at South Montrose and the one meeting in a school-house about one and one-half miles northeast of the village that stood near the spot where Mott's factory now stands, were united, and in due time chartered as the Methodist Episcopal Church of the borough of Montrose. The most prominent members of the new socicty were Timothy D. Shay and wife, Simeon Lewis and wife, Joseph R. Lewis and wife, George W. Crocker and wife, Jacob Tewksbury and wife, George Lewis and Ariel Vaughn. The male members mentioned, except George Lewis, constituted the first board of trustees. Brother J. R. Lewis has been contin- uously a member of the board and is now its president. He, with Brother Jacob Tewks- bury and Sister Simeon Lewis, are the only surviving members of the original class.

The place of worship was the old court- house, where they had preaching and class- meeting once in two weeks. The prayer-meet- ings were held in private houses.

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Centennial history of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Part 62

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