USA > Pennsylvania > Montour County > Danville > Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania : a collection of historical and biographical sketches > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
*
17
GROVE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
gives way to the confident chap, who gets mad when he fails to get a letter, because he is sure it was mailed. So if you want to take a good lesson on human nature, just go to the post-office at mail time. And don't forget to take a quiet smile at the fussy man, who rushes in, peeps into half the boxes, then peers down the schute where the drop letters go. What he sees there, has never been revealed.
Grove Presbyterian Church.
The Grove Presbyterian, or, as it was originally called, Mahoning Presbyterian Church, is the oldest religious organization in Danville. While this place was still known as " Mahoning Settlement," Rev. John Bryson was the first Presbyterian minister. He preached at first in Gen. Montgomery's dwelling house, and when the congrega- tion became too large services were held in the barn. The first, or the old log, church was built 1778 or 1779. The logs for the church were nicely prepared. They were scored by George Maus and Isaac Boudman. They were hewn by Thomas Hughes. This church stood until 1826, when a plain brick church was built. This modest structure was the sacred temple in which the generation worshipped that is now passing away. Though services had been held with some degree of regularity as early as 1777 the congregation was not or- ganized until 1785. Unfortunately there exists at the present time no complete record of the church in those early days. Our sketch must, therefore, of necessity, be very brief in relation to a subject so full of interest to many who are now living here and elsewhere.
Among those who contributed to the preaching of the Gospel in " Mahoning Settlement," previous to the organization of the church, were William Montgomery, Peter Blue, Gilbert Vorhes, David Good- man, John Emmitt, John Wilson, John Irwin, Peter Mellick, Robert Henry. Benjamin Fowler, John Ogden, Lemuel Wheeler, David Carr, John Clark, John Black, Daniel Kelly, Garret Van Camp, William Gray, Joseph Barry, Martin Todd, John Evart, Peter Rambo, Andrew Cochran, Charles McClahan, James Grimes, William Lemon, William Montgomery, Jr., Robert Giles, Joseph Rosenberry, and David Subingall.
At a later period, namely, in 1793, the salary to be paid to the pastor by Mahoning church was fixed at seventy-five pounds per an-
2
18
HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
num, said pastor to divide his services between Mahoning and Derry congregations. The salary was guaranteed by Joseph Biggers, Hugh Caldwell, Thomas Gaskins, James Stephenson, William Donaldson, John Emmett, Sr., Robert Donaldson, John Donaldson, Joseph Wil- liams, John Woodside, George Caldwell, John Jones, William Colt, John Montgomery, Daniel Barton, Christian Campbell, Robert Wil- liams, Alex. McMunigal, William Montgomery, Jr., John Moore, Daniel Montgomery, Robert Montgomery, John Carr, James Loug- head, Robert Campbell, Thomas Best, James Consart, Gilbert Vor- hees, James Curry, Peter Blue, Andrew Cochran, M. Gulick, Richard Robinson, Jacob Gearhart, Jr., Frederick Blue, John Emmett, Jr., John Young, Elias Harrison, Isaac Woodruff, Stephen Hunt, Albert Ammerman, and Philip Young. This congregation, as stated, was organized in 1785. Gen. William Montgomery was chosen an elder at the same time, and continued an active and faithful officer until his death, which occurred in 1816.
The brick church built in 1826 was a neat and plain structure, presenting quite a picturesque appearance, embowered as it was in a grove of forest trees. The new church is a massive and handsome structure of artistic stone-work in the Gothic order of architecture, and was dedicated in 1875. It occupies the site of the old brick church on the Knoll, surrounded by the remaining forest trees and a grove of beautiful young maples that were planted to take the place of the ancient oaks that are rapidly passing away. The building of this magnificent temple was superintended by Mr. Joseph Diehl, a mas- ter mechanic and builder, whose handiwork is seen on many a pub- lic and private building in this region. As previously stated Rev. Bryson was the first pastor of Mahoning, now the Grove Presbyte- rian church, and with the aid of the old pioneers he laid the founda- tions deep and strong for a lasting church, a religious home to bless the passing generations for centuries to come. Rev. Patterson was a worthy successor. His ministration was long and abundantly blessed. Greatly beloved by his people, his name is still a house- hold word among their descendants. Rev. Dunlap succeeded him in the pastorate of Mahoning church, and he was followed by Rev. Halliday.
Then came Rev. Doctor Yeomans, who, as a scholar, a preacher, and pastor, will be long and gratefully remembered. He died in
19
GROVE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
this place, universally lamented, as every christian knew that a good man and a strong leader had been called away. During his pastor- ate, about 1849 or 1850, the question of a new church edifice was agitated. There was some division of sentiment in reference to its location. A portion favored the erection of the new church on the south side of the canal, and others adhered to the old site in the grove, now rendered doubly dear as the place where their fathers and mothers had worshipped. The former succeeded. A new church was built on Mahoning street, and Rev. Doctor Yeomans continued his ministry in the new church. The adherents to the Grove were without a regular pastor, as the organization, with the pastor, had gone with the new church. In 1855, however, Presbytery organ- ized a new congregation in the old church, and called it " Mahon- ing Presbyterian Church, North." But this title was considered too cumbrous, and through the efforts of Rev. C. J. Collins and others it was changed to the more convenient and more euphonious name of " The Grove Presbyterian Congregation." Rev. C. J. Collins was the first pastor. He remained some ten years and resigned to assume the duties of an educator in an institution of learning. Rev. Collins was somewhat austere, an excellent scholar, and an eloquent preacher, but not remarkable for his knowledge of human nature, and, consequently, less a pastor than a preacher. He had a deep bass voice-sanguine in temperament and full of patriotism, he preached some flaming war sermons, as well as many eloquent dis- courses on the christian warfare. He was succeeded by Rev. Doctor J. Gordon Carnachan, a graduate of Scotland's most celebrated uni- versity, and a profound scholar. For close logical reasoning and theological attainments, he has few equals in this country, and his impassioned perorations touched the finest chords of the human heart. Dr. Carnachan is not only an eloquent preacher but a man of commanding ability, unexcelled in this country as a Greek and Hebrew scholar, on whom the greatest university of Europe con- ferred its highest honor. He left this place to take charge of a con- gregation in Meadville, where he still remains. He was followed in the pastorate of the Grove church, by Rev. Reuben H. Van Pelt. Rev. Van Pelt was a good man, and an earnest preacher. If more limited in his mental power than his predecessor, he was more suc- cessful in his pastoral relations. Rev. W. A. McAtee was next called
20
1
HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
to the charge of the Grove church. And whilst he engaged the affection and confidence of his people, as a faithful shepherd and a man of more than ordinary ability, there is some difficulty in cor- rectly analysing his mind. A shade of sadness at times seemed to fall on his most brilliant efforts, and a far-away expression succeeded the moments of rapture. But none doubted his goodness, none questioned his ability, nor did his people withhold their love and re- spect. After his resignation Rev. John B. Grier became the pastor of the Grove congregation. He is the youngest son of M. C. Grier, who was long an elder in that church, and lately deceased. The Grier family has given the church a number of eminent preach- ers, and Rev. John B. Grier bids fair to maintain the high degree of ability and usefulness to which they attained. His learning, his aptness to teach, and his vivid imagination, inspired by the , spirit of religion, cannot fail to result in the accomplishment of his mission. With a critical, and yet a comprehensive mind, cul- tured with care ; a generous nature open to all; and, though young in years, yet strong in the spirit and power of the Gospel; who will say he is not destined to eminence in his high profession ? Among the families connected with the old church, and whose descendants still worship in the Grove, mention is made of the Montgomerys, Maus, Currys, Yorks, Diehls, Griers, McMahans, Magills, Walizes, Cathcarts, Boudmans, Moores, Gearharts, and Russels.
The Grove church contains the largest organ in Danville, costing some three thousand dollars.
Mahoning Presbyterian Church.
This church was built in 1853, on Mahoning and Ferry streets, the congregation, as before stated, retaining the name and the or- ganization of the original church. The building is handsome and well-arranged. It is surmounted by a steeple containing a bell and a town clock. Some years ago a storm blew down the spire, which was never replaced. There is a fine memorial window in the rear of the pulpit. The designs in colors are elegant and appropriate, having been placed there by E. B. Reynolds, in memory of his mother, who had been a member of the congregation for many years. Rev. Doctor Yeomans, who was the pastor in the old church, continued his ministrations in the new for a number of years, and
21
MAHONING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
died greatly lamented by the community, as well as the members of his own religious household. Rev. Doctor Yeomans was a man of very superior powers of mind ; in truth, he was a great as well as a good man. He may not have been fully appreciated at home, but he ranked with the most eminent divines of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. His reputation extended all over the country, and his great ability was not only acknowledged by making him Moderator of the General Assembly, but in according to him the deference that exalted merit demands on all occasions.
Rev. Ijams succeeded to the pastorate of Mahoning Presbyterian church, after the death of Dr. Yeomans. He was something of a sensationalist ; eleoquent he was, and, withal, rather dramatic. Of course a sermon would be dull and lifeless without it ; yet it should not be all drama, nor yet the most prominent feature of a discourse. His imaginative powers were good, and as an orator he stood de- servedly high, but the people missed the solid, glowing force of truth they were wont to hear from Dr. Yeomans. Rev. Ijams resigned, and Rev. A. B. Jack was called to the charge of Mahoning Presby- terian church. He was distinguished for originality, for a wide range of thought and power of language. His descriptive powers are some- thing remarkable, his oratory peculiar, startling, and effective. For sublimity of conception and beauty of expression, some of his dis- courses were unsurpassed. After officiating for several years, he re- signed to take charge of a congregation in Hazleton, where he still remains. Rev. F. R. Beeber succeeded him in this place, and if not as brilliant as his immediate predecessor, he is a solid thinker, a good speaker, and an excellent pastor. In his earnest life-work, Rev. Beeber endeared himself to the hearts of many ; his faithfulness as a minister, his ability as a teacher, and his fidelity as a friend, will not be forgotten. Rev. R. L. Stewart, the present pastor, has just entered upon his work in this place, and the indications point to the best results.
22
HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
Climate and Longevity.
In glancing at the climate of Danville and the longevity of its people, I again copy from the memoranda of Mr. J. Frazer. He says, the climate of Danville is exceedingly favorable to the health · and longevity of its inhabitants. Epidemics seldom prevail. Its near proximity to 41º north latitude, approximates that of the in- salubrious cities of Pekin, Constantinople, Naples, and Barcelona. Yet the isothermal line shows that it corresponds with the more salu- brious regions of New Jersey, Long Island, England, Ireland, Bel- gium, Southern Germany, the Crimea, China, Japan, Washington Territory, Montana, Nebraska, most of which are several degrees north of its parallel of latitude, and showing a divergence between that and the isothermal line.
The peculiar and admirable location of Danville is most favorable. The description of the mountain in a far remote geological period, caused by the bursting through its barriers by the pent-up waters of an ancient lake or primeval ocean on its northern side, or by some other stupendeous convulsion of nature, scooped out a gateway through Montour Ridge to effect an outlet for the Mahoning, and thus afford a most admirable site for the town. It reminds us of the Blue Ridge, cloven asunder to yield a passage for the Potomac be- low its confluence with the Shenandoah, at Harper's Ferry, which Jefferson so graphically described, and to see which, he asserted, was worth a voyage across the Atlantic. And thus Danville is in a favor- able situation to receive the sunshine of early spring, the balmy and invigorating breezes of summer, which reach it from the Susquehanna, and the prolonged and delightful autumn. Few places are so highly favored. The extreme old age of many of its people corroborates this, extending, as they do, much beyond the three score and ten years of the Psalmist. From memory we can recall the names of the following ancient residents of the place and vicinity who attained a great age : Robert Finny, ninty-five years ; Mrs. Jane Montgomery, ninty-three years ; John Sechler, ninty-three years ; Peter Baldy, ninty-two; Sarah Lloyd, ninty-one ; Joseph Maus, Rudolph Sechler, William Philips, each ninety ; Charles M. Frazer, eighty-nine ; George A. Frick, eighty-six ; Michael Blue, eighty-four ; William Donald- son, the Revolutionary patriot, eighty-two ; Thomas Woodside, John
23
PROMINENT MEN.
Deen, John Moore, each eighty ; and the following beyond the sev- enty years : Paul Adams, John Frazer, John Russel, John Reynolds, John Cooper, John Montgomery, John Yerrick, Daniel Frazer, Daniel Woodside, Dr. David Petrekin, William Whitaker, William Yorks, Samuel Yorks. To this list scores, now living or recently deceased, could be added. Among those still living, are the follow- ing octogenarians : Jacob Sechler, ninty years; Dr. William H. Magill, eighty-six; Judge William Donalson, now of Pottsville, in his eighty-second year. Many others of a good old age could be enumerated who are " natives to the manor born," or who resided here for many years. Among these is Rev. Samuel Montgomery, now of Oberlin, Ohio, in his-seventy-fifth year.
The health of a people is a desideratum of the first importance. Without it, all the temporal blessings lose much of their value. This is painfully apparent in the South, and in some places in the great West. Surrounded by regions of exuberant fertility, yet so unhealthy that the valitudinary inhabitants would gladly exchange their luxurious homes for those of less productiveness, if they could thereby have their impaired health restored. The people of Dan- ville should duly appreciate the great blessing they enjoy in having so favorable a climate.
Prominent Men.
It is a source of deep regret that no reliable record can be ob- tained of such prominent men in the past history of Danville, as Reverend John B. Patterson, Doctor Alexander C. Donaldson, Rudolph Sechler, William G. Hurly, and many others. Moreover, what record we have of others is meager and unsatisfactory. From a few notes made by Mr. F., and what could be gathered from other sources, the following brief notes are presented :
ALEM MARR graduated at Princeton in 1807, and was admitted to the bar in 1809. He represented this district in Congress from 1829 to 1831, and spent his whole professional life in Danville.
SAMUEL KIRKHAM, the grammarian, succeeded D. C. Barrett in the Danville school, about 1819 to 1821. He was a competent teacher, but not so successful as Mr. Barrett. His "Lectures on English Grammar " was one of the most popular school-books of the day, and almost as generally used as Webster's spelling-book.
24
HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
It went through one hundred and twenty-nine editions. His " Essay on Elocution " was a valuable treatise, but never attained a tithe of the popularity of his grammer. President Lincoln ob- tained his grammatical knowledge from the latter treatise, and there is yet in the hands of one of his admirers in Iowa, the identical volume in which the great emancipator studied. His signature is on a fly-leaf, with the homely caution, " Steal not this book, &c."
Dr. DAVID PETRIKIN was a native of Bellefonte. He studied medicine and practiced his profession in Danville. He represented this district in Congress two terms, from 1837 to 1841, and died on the 3d of January, 1849.
DANIEL FRAZER was born May 2, 1755, and married Sarah Wil- son in 1772. She died in 1775. He was again married. His second wife was Isabella Watson, whom he married on the 6th day of February, 1777. He died in Danville on the 26th of March, 1828. His children were Charles, Emma, Margaret, James, Alex- ander, Sarah, Jane, William, Christiana M., Agnes, Daniel, and Thomas ; all of whom are dead, except Christiana, who married Enos Miller, who died in 1870. All deceased except Mrs. Miller. His descendants reside in Montour county, New York, and Michigan. gan. He came to this place about 1 790, and purchased of John Frazer one hundred acres of land in the south-west part of his two hundred and eighty-four acre tract. On this land he resided thirty-eight years, until his death, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was an honest and industrious farmer, enjoying the respect and con- fidence of his fellow-citizens. For a long time he resided at the base of the hill, near the site of an old Indian trading post, and a very short distance north of the spring. In 1824, he built the substantial stone residence which is still standing. All the southern portion of his farm is now within the corporate limits of Danville.
ELLIS HUGHES came to this place from Catawissa, about 1820. He was a school teacher and surveyor. He was also appointed reg- ister and recorder by the Governor, and served with great satisfaction to the people. He taught school for some years in a school-house that stood near where the Record office now stands. He was a good teacher, and was universally respected by the community. He also took care to see that his children were all well educated. Ellis Hughes was a faithful member and an efficient officer in the Meth- odist church, and died in the faith of the christian, in the year 1850.
-
25
MASTER GIBSON AND THE MAHONING SCHOOL. .
DANIEL MONTGOMERY, a brother to Gen. William Montgomery, lived in the old frame house now occupied by Mr. Bentzbach, near the river. He kept a store, but was chiefly known as a painter-in fact, an artist of no mean pretensions. He was the father of Judge Montgomery.
WILLIAM HARTMAN was one of the old-time citizens of Danville. He was a chairmaker, and resided on the premises now occupied by his son, Joseph Hartman, on Mill street. William Hartman came to Danville in 1814. He was a class-leader in the Methodist church, and was one of the six members formed into the first class in this place in 1815. He was an honest, industrious citizen, and a true christian. He died in 1851.
Master Gibson and the Mahoning School.
To rescue from oblivion the name and services of Master Gibson, a worthy school-master of the days of yore, is the object of the present chapter.
The picturesque eminence, the site of the Grove church and school- house, and the cemetery, comprising in all two acres, was the dona- tion of Amos Wickersham to John Simpson and others, trustees for a church, school-house, and burial place, in 1776. In shape it was a parallelogram carved out of the hundred-acre tract, afterwards the farm of Daniel Frazer, which bounded it on three sides, the fourth being the farm of Gen. Montgomery, extending thence to the river.
The three-fold but congruous purpose to which that beautiful and prominent eminence was appropriated-for a house of christian wor- ship ; for a God's acre, a place of sepulture, where the forefathers of the village sleep the sleep which knows no terrestrial awaken- ing ; and for a place of learning, where the children of the ad- venturous founders of the settlement would acquire the elements of an education to qualify them to become useful and respectable mem- bers of society. This union gave to this venerated spot a sacred character, which all future time cannot fail to cherish, respect, and honor.
The old log school-house was built about 1785, probably two years anterior to the erection of the old Presbyterian church edifice, and was thirty yards east of it. It was a most unpretentious build- ing; the logs were not even "rough hewn." It was twenty feet
26
HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
square, one story, and that of only sufficient height to allow the teacher to stand erect. An only door, fronting the church, afforded means of ingress and egress. The chimney was at the opposite end, and admitted fuel eight or ten feet long, whereby rousing fires were maintained on cold winter days. A window at either side, two or three times the width of its height, admitted light. There was a rude puncheon floor, and the seats were of the same material. Desks were made of a single board along the sides, so as to enable the student to face the window, and afforded facilities for writing to the more advanced students.
This rude structure, and the church hard by, had a vigorous and flourishing grove of primitive forest trees around them, which were of much protection in shielding them from the summer's heat and winter's cold. Their luxuriant foliage was pleasing to the eye and gratifying to the taste of the admirer of natural scenery. It is to be regretted that the absence of groves immediately around such buildings should prevail to so large an extent in this enlightened age. The poet tells us " the groves were God's first temples," but we show very little appreciation of them.
For a few years, this rustic school-house was occupied by school- masters and their little schools of twenty scholars. The teachers were without families, and, as the custom of that day was, boarded around with their employers in rotation, thus getting remuneration, in part, for the tuition. At that primitive day, this was a con- venient arrangement for both parties. Tradition fails to hand down to us the names of these peripatetic pedagogues. During the most of the decade following, up to the close of the last century, Master Gibson, " the village master, taught his little school," but, unlike his predecessors, he had a family, and did not make his home with · his patrons. Of this worthy, traditionary history affords us many interesting particulars ; quite as many as could be expected through so unreliable a medium, after the lapse of a century. He was probably a Scot, like his successor, but he may have been a coun- tryman of Goldsmith's, possibly the original from which the char- acter in his celebrated poem was drawn,
" While words of learned length and thundering sound Amazed the gazing rustics ranged around ; And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew."
27
MASTER GIBSON AND THE MAHONING SCHOOL.
Many anecdotes verify this. At that period the opinion pre- vailed that a boy with a large head was a blockhead. One of the boys-no favorite with the master-had a capacious head, and nick- named " chuckle-head ;" to ridicule the boy's great caput, the master wrote in his copy-book for him to copy, "Big head, little wit," which the boy copied, adding " Little head, less yet." Surprised at this retort, the master very discreetly passed by the offense in silence lest he should publish his own discomfiture. The copies for writing were all written by the master in a legible hand, and generally in rhyme. These are examples :
By diligence and care, you may write fair.
Many birds of many kinds, Many men of many minds.
Command you may your mind from play.
All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy.
The books used in his school, were the New England Primer, em- bellished with a quaint likeness of the Honorable John Hancock, Esq., President of the American Congress, and numerous wood-cuts of rude appearance ; Dilworth's Spelling Book, Fenning's Spelling Book and New Guide to the English tongue, Dilworth's Arithmetic, a useful book entitled The Young Man's Companion, a kind of sequel to the others, well calculated to qualify the older boys for business. Those more advanced read the Bible, Milton's Paradise Lost, Gold- smith's Histories abridged. In this brief course, many of the pupils were very thorough, and acquired a good practical education which would compare, not unfavorably, with that obtained in the common schools of to-day. Owing to the multiplicity of studies in the latter, many of the scholars attain only an imperfect and superficial knowl- edge of the course of study taught in them.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.