History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 43

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 812

USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 43

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Rev. Francis D. Hoskins entered on the rectorship on

the first Sunday, August, 1866, and remained in charge about three years.

On the first Sunday in January, 1870, Rev. William McGlathery became rector, and held the position till the autumn of 1873. On Oct. 21, 1873, the vestry extended a unanimous call to Rev. Charles Ewbank McIlvaine, son of the late Bishop Charles P. McIlvaine, of Ohio, to become rector of the parish, and on Sunday, Nov. 30, he entered on his duties. In December, 1875, while officiating at a funeral of a child, he caught a violent cold which settled on his lungs, and on Feb. 22, 1876, he died at the rectory, to the great grief of his family and the congregation. Funeral services were held in Christ church by Rev. F. D. Hoskins, of Elmira, and Rev. A. Augustus Marple, of Scranton. His remains were taken to Wilmington, Del., in charge of a committee of the vestry and congregation, and after funeral services in St. Andrew's church, of which his father-in-law Bishop Alfred Lee is rector, were com- mitted to the earth in Old Swedes' cemetery.

After the death of Mr. McIlvaine the church was served by Rev. Wm. Atwill, of Elmira, and Rev. J. McA. Har- ding, of Athens, and by lay reading, until the present rec- tor, Rev. John S. Beers, entered on his rectorship, Sunday, Sept. 17, 1876. During the last three months of 1877 the church has been eularged by the addition of a recess chancel, a library-room, a vestry-room, and a number of new pews. The organ has been moved to the chancel end of the church. The galleries have been removed, and the whole interior has been handsomely papered and painted, and made an attractive place of worship. Since the or- ganization of the parish 435 persons have been baptized and 278 confirmed, and the church is steadily progressing in influence and membership.

For many years the Sunday-school of Christ church has been very flourishing. Mr. B. S. Russell, now of Phila- delphia, was the superintendent for about fifteen years. Mr. S. W. Alvord was his successor. The present super- intendent is Mr. E. T. Fox, who performs the duties of his position with ability and zeal. Nearly all the rectors of this church have held frequent mission services outside of their parish bounds, sometimes even going into adjoining counties.

TRINITY CHURCH, ATIIENS.

Rev. Freeman Lane, rector of St. Andrew's church, Springville, Susquehanna county, reports that he held occa- sional services in 1837, but that the church was feeble, and unable to secure clerical services.

In 1839, Rev. Robert G. Hays, officiating at Christ church, Towanda, preached occasionally at Athens, and reported that the people were making an effort to erect a chapel. This effort amounted to little at that time. In 1842 the Episcopalians met and reorganized a parish under the name of Trinity church, and elected Rev. George P. Hopkins rector. The services were at first held in a school- house, but before May, 1843, a church building was erected.

In August, 1843, Rev. George Watson, rector of Christ church, Towanda, became rector of this parish also. In August, 1845, Rev. A. Augustus Marple, then in deacon's orders, went to Athens by direction of the bishop, and held services twice a week for nine weeks, when he accepted a

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

call to St. Paul's church, Bloomsburg. Rev. Barclay A. Smith was sent under the auspices of the Male missionary society of Grace church, Philadelphia, and assumed the rectorship of the church on Dec. 6, 1845. His salary was paid by the missionary society. He did not continue long in charge, but after a few years was deposed from the ministry, by Bishop Alonzo Potter, for unclerical conduct.

In 1855, Rev. William G. French became rector, and entered on his duties Sept. 18. Although the parish had been served by various clergymen from time to time, it had run down for want of pastoral care, and at this time the church life was but weak. Mr. French held services every Sunday, with an average attendance of 40 to 50, and sup- ported himself chiefly by teaching, though a portion of the time he received a scanty salary from the church, and occa- sional help from the bishop and the missionary society. The church building had been destroyed by fire before Mr. French's rectorship, but in the summer of 1855 a subscrip- tion was begun for the erection of a new one. This reached the sum of $1000.

On the last Sunday in August, 1858, Rev. J. McAlpin Harding began his rectorship. The Universalist church was rented, the congregation increased, the building-fund was again started, and in 1860 a stone church, to cost $2600, was projected, and its erection begun. On Dec. 1, 1861, it was occupied, and in 1862 the rector's salary, which had been $250, was raised to $400. The tower was raised about twenty feet, and a bell hung in it, all at a cost of $450. The bell was first rung the day before Christmas. In 1863 $110 were raised to purchase a cabinet organ, which was introduced on Christmas-day. In 1864 the church was admitted to the convention. On the last Sun- day in August, 1865, Mr. Harding preached his farewell sermon. Rev. Joseph A. Nock held the rectorship for nearly two years, and was succeeded on July 1, 1868, by Rev. Faber Byllesby.

In the summer of 1872, Rev. J. McAlpine Harding came to Athens for the benefit of his health, which was much impaired. He had no intention of taking hold of the work again. The congregation were much scattered, and the parish pretty much gone. He was requested to stay a year and see what could be done. This was backed by a sub- scription of $700, to begin Oct. 1, 1872, and was afterwards increased to $800. He assumed formal charge at that time. The old rectory was pulled down, and through his efforts a substantial new one was built at a cost of about $3500. In the autumn of 1876, Mr. Harding resigned, and has since been engaged as an itinerant missionary in parts of Brad- ford, Sullivan, and Columbia counties.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, TROY.

As early as 1833, Rev. Samuel Tiffany Lord, in addition to missionary work at Athens, held occasional services in Troy, where several Episcopalian families resided. Here he encountered deep and settled prejudices against the church, and had to work in the midst of contumely and reproach.

Here a congregation was formed under the name of St. Paul's church.

Rev. George P. Hopkins, now rector of St. Matthew's, Pike, was in charge of the church for some years, and also

carried on missionary work at Columbia Cross-Roads, and at various other points in the rural districts.

In 1842 a church was built at a cost of about $3000, and on June 15 it was consecrated, and on the same day Rev. Freeman Lane began his rectorship in the new church.

In 1845 this parish was admitted into union with the convention. After this the parish was without regular pas- toral care for some years, and during this interregnum the church, which was in an inconvenient location, was sold to the Roman Catholics, and a new lot purchased in a more eligible position.

In 1858, Rev. J. McAlpin Harding, rector of Trinity church, Athens, assumed the rectorship of St. Paul's church likewise, and through his efforts, in 1862, a church build- ing belonging to the Christian body known as the Disciples was purchased, removed to the lot belonging to St. Paul's parish, and remodeled, and has since been used as the parish church.

Next came the rectorate of Rev. Lorenzo D. Ferguson, who was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. William G. Ware, a young man of ability and zeal, under whose care the church is prospering.

CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER, SAYRE.

The town of Sayre, on the line of the Pennsylvania and New York canal and railroad company, about a mile south of the New York line, is a new and thriving town started by the railroad company. The offices of the company are located here, and it bids fair to be a town of importance in the future. Here the church has been first in the field, and in May, 1877, the Church of the Redeemer was organ- nized, and in June following was admitted into union with the convention. It is worthy of note that the name was suggested by Rev. Samuel Marks, who was missionary in this county about half a century ago. Rev. George F. Rosenmuller, of Trinity church, Athens, is rector of this church.

ROMAN CATHOLIC.

The first Catholic service held in this county was at Asylum, during the existence of the French colony there. M. Carles, the priest, was accustomed to celebrate mass regularly, and attend to the other duties and services pre- scribed by the church. As has been said, the missal used in these services is still in the possession of Rev. Patrick Toner. With the dissolution of this colony, both the priest and his parish took their departure, and the Freuch mission was ended, after having continued about five years,-from 1794 to 1799 or 1800.

The next movement towards church growth occurred at a period when there was a large immigration to this county from Ireland. In 1821 the settlement of Irish people holding the Catholic religion was begun at Silver Lake, in Susquehanna county. At the solicitation of Mr. Patrick Griffin, the earliest settler there, the bishop was induced to send Rev. Father O'Flynn on a mission into the northern part of Pennsylvania and southern New York, who should look after any scattered families he might find in all that vast region, and administer to them the sacraments of the church. The missionary was suddenly cut off in the discharge of his duty at Danville, in 1829, and was taken to Silver Lake

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

for burial. At this place a church was commenced in 1827, but was not finished for some time after. Rev. Father Clancy was on the mission until 1832, and Rev. Henry Fitzsimmons was appointed to it in 1836. In May, 1837, he started on horseback to visit the far-off outlying out- posts of his field. In his route he visited Troy, Canton, Ridgeberry, Athens, and Towanda, celebrating mass and administering the sacraments to the faithful. This self- denying, laborious missionary had the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of his labor in the gathering of churches at each of these places. The mission was divided, and Rev. John O'Reilly was assigned the portion which includes Bradford County soon after.

When work was begun on the North Branch canal contrac- tors sent agents to Ireland, who, representing the advantages afforded to poor people in America, induced thousands to emigrate to this country. Many of these people found work on the sections of the canal lying in this county, and began to locate in considerable numbers along the line. Prior to 1841 Catholic services were held in various places in the neighborhood, but in that year Father O'Reilly and the congregation put up a plain wooden church edifice on the site of the present church in Towanda. In 1869 the old wooden church was demolished, and the present elegant brick Gothic structure erected under the persistent and successful efforts of Rev. Patrick Toner. It is fifty by one hundred feet, finished with a tower and tall spire, and is estimated to cost, when completed, $50,000. It is named Saints Peter and Paul.

Father O'Reilly was, at his request, relieved of the por- tion of his work in Bradford County, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Sharve, who was stationed at Towanda. In taking leave of this good priest, it is but just to say that he was greatly endeared to the members of his parish, whom he was ready to aid in every way in his power. When the work on the canal was suspended, he advised the families located on the line to move back where the land was cheap, buy a farm, and become citizens of the country. In accordance with this advice, little settlements of Irish people have been formed in various parts of the county, which are becoming more prosperous than any about them. Father O'Reilly was as fearless as he was kind. While making his trips down the line of the canal he was told some of the laborers on a certain division had been indulging too freely in drink, and that the person who kept the grog had just purchased another barrel, and it was feared serious consequences would follow. The faithful priest hastened to the scene, and, after administering a severe rebuke to the riotous laborers, seized an axe, broke in the head of the barrel of whisky, and allowed the contents to flow on the ground.

Rev. Mr. Ahern succeeded Rev. Mr. Sharve. He built the church at Athens, and was followed by Rev. Mr. Doherty, and he in turn by the Franciscan fathers. After them Rev. Patrick Toner had charge of the field. He was an eloquent, able priest, a man of fine talents and culture. Under his administration the church was built at Barclay. At the request of Father Toner the parish was divided, and Ridgeberry, Athens, and Windham were taken off and erected into a new one.

Rev. Charles F. Kelly, an educated and accomplished gentleman, has succeeded to the old parish. Rev. John O'Mally was sent to take charge of the parish in the northern part of the county. His home was to be in Athens. Rev. Mr. Garvy followed him. Rev. James Loughran had charge of the parish after him. Rev. Father Costello is the present priest. There was a church erected in South Waverly in 1877.

Next to Towanda, Ridgeberry is the oldest church in the county. Father O'Reilly came out there on horseback in 1843, and celebrated mass at the house of Daniel Cain. In 1847 the chapel was built at a cost of $750, and in 1877 it was enlarged and refitted. At Troy the house formerly used by the Episcopalians was purchased, refitted, and is now used by the congregation.

Statistics giving number of communicants or value of church property are not in hand. At Towanda the church is in possession of one of the finest properties in the borough.

UNIVERSALISM IN BRADFORD COUNTY .*

On a marble monument standing in a cemetery in Spring- field, Pa., is this inscription :

"Saered to the memory of Rev. Noah Murray, the first preacher of Universalism in Bradford County, who died May 11, 1811, in the seventy-fifth year of his age.

" Erected as a token of grateful remembranee by the North Branch Association of Universalists, Sept., 1867."

Mr. Murray was born in Connecticut. He commenced preaching as a Baptist, but, being converted to Universalism, he removed in 1790 to Tioga Point, now Athens.+

It is related by the oldest inhabitants of Sheshequin that he made that place a visit (probably during his resi- dence in Athens) and preached strongly of his religious convictions. Two of the principal members of an Evan- gelical church were much alarmed, fearing the extensive spread of his new doctrines. They arranged for a place and time in which to convert the heretical preacher. Mr. Murray was pleased with the arrangement, and consented to meet the gentlemen at the time and place appointed. The meeting took place. In a Christian spirit they argued all night. When morning dawned a result was reached, but not the result fondly expected by the orthodox brethren. Mr. Murray came out victorious, and the other two, then and there, renounced their former belief and declared them- selves Universalists. This was the beginning of the Uni- versalist society in Sheshequin ; though a small beginning, a society was soon formed, which grew and prospered. Many converts were made, and Sheshequin became the rallying point for the denomination in Bradford County.

What there is now of Universalism in the county is, in a great measure, the result of the labors of Rev. Mr. Mur- ray. He visited the western part of the county, preaching in Sylvania and vicinity. He was followed by Rev. Geo. Rogers, Father Stacy, and Rev. A. C. Thomas, who is now living at Tacony, Philadelphia. These were all able men and powerful preachers. They made many converts, but did not succeed in forming lasting, zealous organizations.

# By the Rev. G. J. Porter, pastor of the Church of the Messiah, Towanda, Pa.

t Thomas' Century of Universalism.

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

In Sheshequin the society became very strong, having some of the most influential people of the community for members. The families of Parks, Kinneys, and Kings- burys were the first and most prominent. A church was built, and regular preaching was sustained. There was no organized church or Sunday-school, these not being consid- ered necessary in the early tiques of the denomination. The church is still standing in good repair. There are many good Universalists in the valley, but the society has become scattered. Children have gone to other churches and Spiritualism has taken away some of the strongest sup- porters. The Sheshequin society shows but little prospect of revival to active work in the near future.

Mr. Murray did good work in Athens. A society was organized, either in his time or soon after his death. A church was built a few years since, and regular preaching has been maintained until quite recently. The old society plan was found to be anything but a success, and so a church was organized, with a very respectable number of members. The church has been somewhat unfortunate in hiring pastors. It has engaged to pay more than could be raised ; as a consequence the church property has been mortgaged to meet obligations. The mortgages amount to only a few hundred dollars, which will probably soon be paid, and the affairs will then run smoothly again. But this church has lost in numbers and influence because of lack of interest in Sunday-school work, and the inroads made by Spiritnalism.

Sylvania, in the northern part of the county, was also favored by a visit from Rev. Mr. Murray. Many converts were made by him, and by Rev. Geo. Rogers and Father Stacy. Rev. Nehemiah Ripley was probably the first pastor. A society was organized in Sylvania about the year 1819. Rev. Walter Bullard was pastor in 1833. He still lives near Sylvania, and is held in high esteem by all who know him. Soon after the erection of a meeting-house in Sheshequin one was built in Sylvania. This house still stands, is in very good repair, and meetings are occasionally held in it. There are many Universalists in Sylvania,-about thirty families in all. They are in good financial circumstances, and are able to have regular preaching, though they have had no pastor since 1875.

There is a good church building at Springfield. When it was built, or how the society was organized, we have not been able to learn.

Rev. Mr. Ellis, of Vermont, preached in Troy and Co- lumbia as early as 1819. There are now many Universal- ists about Columbia Cross-Roads, many of them being members either at Sylvania or Springfield.

There never were many Universalists at Troy, though they own a share in the Baptist church, and have at times supported regular preaching.

The Universalists at one time owned a church building at Monroe. The society became very much weakened be- cause of removals. The church was sold and the society went down. There are pretty and comfortable houses of worship at Standing Stone and Orwell Hill. When the societies were organized, or the houses built, we have not been able to learn. The society in Orwell Hill had its last pastor in 1875. That in Standing Stone in 1877.

There has been occasional preaching in Litchfield, Ulster, 22

and Franklindale, the Universalists owning a share in the church in the last-named place.

At Towanda, the county-seat, the denomination has at- tempted, at several different times, to gain a foot-hold. Many preachers have visited Towanda at different times, and have attempted to form organizations; subscriptions for building churches have been raised, but until recently all efforts have failed. In the year 1866, certain parties made application for a charter incorporating an organiza- tion to be known as the First Universalist Society of Towanda. After getting the charter nothing more of a lasting character was done until the fall of 1875, when Rev. S. F. Porter revisited Towanda with the avowed in- tention of building a church. As a result of his labors, in March, 1877, a Universalist church was dedicated, costing nearly $12,000.

There are now iu Towanda a flourishing church and large Sunday-school. A monthly Universalist paper is to be started in January, 1878.

There are in the county 2 clergymen, 2 Sunday-schools, with an aggregate membership of 150 scholars, 2 church organizations, 6 societies, 7 meeting-houses and shares in 2 others, and over 1500 professed Universalists.

CHAPTER XIII.

SOCIETIES.

THERE are few things of more real value in a local history, as showing the character of the people, than the various organizations, political, religious, and social, into which they enter. There is, however, another class of organizations, voluntary associations, some of which are open, others re- stricted, some for moral and religious purposes, others which are merely social, or confer mutual aid upon their members. In either case they represent phases of social life whose history helps us to understand the character and opinions of the people who sustain them.

WYALUSING AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY.

As early as 1822 this society was begun in the old Wya- lusing Presbyterian church and spread through all the south- eastern part of the county. It was auxiliary to the Ameri- can Bible society, and was governed by the constitution which that society recommends to subordinate bodies. In 1823 its receipts were more than fifty dollars, and thirty-three dollars and fifty cents were paid for Bibles and Testaments for distribution. Every year until 1834 a subscription was taken to supply funds to the parent society. The annual meeting was at first well attended, but soon the matter became an old story, its meetings were neglected, and its subscriptions were unpaid. It continued in existence, how- ever, until 1842, when it seems to have been suspended. In 1845 an effort was made to resuscitate it, but it was not successful, and from about that time it has ceased to have an existence.

There may have been similar societies in other parts of the county ; if so, however, I have not found them.

About ten or twelve years ago (about 1865) an effort

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

was made to organize a county auxiliary society, but it never created any great amount of enthusiasm, nor became very strong. Some parts of the county were eanvassed, and the needy supplied with Bibles and Testaments. But this canvass was never completed, and the matter has seemed to drop there.

TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.

In our early history great ignorance prevailed in regard to the use of alcoholic drinks. They were thought, especi- ally in this new county, to be an absolute necessity. Whisky was the panacea for all ills. The man who built a distillery was a public benefactor. It furnished a market for the grain and cheapened a necessary article to the consumer. It was considered to be no offense against good morals to make, sell, or use it. Deacons in the church owned distil- leries and manufactured the whisky. Deacons and elders sold it, and ministers and church-members drank it, not un- frequently to intoxication. What was true of the country at large was particularly true of this county. It was thickly dotted over with distilleries ; from a point of hill in Wya- lusing township five could be counted in sight and in full blast at the same time. Everybody drank it,-young men and old men, women and maidens. Whisky was the currency of the country, the standard of value. Things were bought to be paid for in whisky. A man agreed to work for so much whisky per day. The state of things was deplorable. We were fast becoming a nation of drunk- ards. Good men saw the evil and were trying to find means to avert the danger. Just then the old Washing- tonian movement was inaugurated, and began its mighty march across the continent, revolutionizing public sentiment and reforming public morals, teaching sobriety and seeking to lead men to abstain from intoxicating drinks.

In 1829 there was quite an awakening of public senti- ment on this subjeet throughout this county. Lecturers traversed the county, visiting nearly every locality in it. Some of the best men in Bradford gave to the movement countenance and support, and it gained many pledges through the county. For want of a thorough organization many of the societies very soon fell to pieces, and were disbanded. The work done, however, was not lost if the societies had gone down, because public attention had been directed to the evils of the business, and it began to be considered as some reproach for a man to be engaged in the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors. For nearly twenty years the Washingtonians were the only temperance societies in the county. With the failure of these the "Sons of Temper- ance" were organized. This was originally a secret organiza- tion, whose members were men above twenty-one years of age. The organization was subsequently somewhat modified, and a few divisions have been in existence in this county. But the organization of "Good Templars" has taken the firmest hold upon the people of the county, and maintained it the longest, of any of the societies. Of this a brief account will now be given.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 43

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 812

Author: Craft, David, 1832-1908; L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 812