USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 30
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262
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
and J. L. Hayes ; 1861-2, C. M. Heard; 1863-4-5, A. D. Davis and Colwell ; 1866-7-8, David Latshaw; 1869-70, McVey Troy; 1871, Clinton Jones ; 1872, John M. Zeilie ; 1873-4-5, M. Miller ; 1876-7-8, Cyril Wilson ; 1879- So-SI, A. M. Lockwood; 1882-3, J. H. Keeley; 1884-5, H. V. Talbot ; 1886, Levi Beers.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SUMMERVILLE. I
Methodist ministers preached at or around Troy as early as 1822, and having no church building the neighbors, feeling friendly, invited these occa- sional gospel visitors to preach in their dwelling houses.
Mr. Darius Carrier informed the writer that his residence was opened for public service as early as 1825 and 1826, and so continued until a more com- modious place of worship was obtained.
The first quarterly meeting was held by Elder Swayze, at the residence of Mr. Nathan Carrier, who was the leading man in getting the Methodist church organized at Troy.
Rev. Philip Clover, being now in the ninety-second year of his age, in- formed the writer that Revs. Job Wilson, Thomas M. Hodson, James Babcock, A. Jackson, Elder Mack, Elder Ayers, and Elder Swayze, were among the first Methodist preachers in this part of Jefferson county. The first class was organized by Elder Ayers in the summer of 1830. The members were Rev. Philip Clover, Abram Milliron, John Welsh, Nathan Carrier, Euphrastus Carrier, Hiram Carrier, James McElvain, and their wives, and the Widow McElvain. Rev. Philip Clover was chosen as their first class-leader. At that time Troy was within the bounds of the Pittsburgh Conference, and be- longed to the Shippenville Circuit.
A church building was erected about the year 1843, during the pastorate of Rev. David Jack, which served the society as a place of worship for over forty years. In the year 1885, during the pastorate of Rev. H. A. Teats, a new house of worship was commenced, and finished during the pastorate of Rev. A. L. Brand, and dedicated by Rev. David Latshaw, presiding elder, February 28, 1886. The main building is thirty-six by fifty-six feet, one- story, built of wood, and costing $4.000. It has class or reception rooms on either side, opening into the auditorium by folding-doors. The building is thoroughly finished without and within by painting, graining, and frescoing. It is heated by furnace and lighted by the Baily chandelier. There is a first- class bell, and at this date all our church property is free from debt. In the years 1873 and 1874, during the pastorate of Rev. Cyril Wilson, a new two- story parsonage was built, costing $1,800.
The membership at Troy (now called Summerville) is at present ninety in full connection, and thirty-five on probation received during the past winter (1887) by the present pastor, L. G. Merrill.
1 Prepared by the pastor.
263
THE CHURCHES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Our church building at Pleasantville was built in 1885, during the pastorate of Rev. H. A. Teats and dedicated by Rev. I. C. Pershing, D. D., of Pitts- burgh. This church building cost about twelve hundred dollars. The leading men in the erection of this church were Jonathan Horner and Thomas Ed- monds.
THE BROOKVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.
The first class was formed in 1828, in an old barn, north of where Brook- ville now is, and David Butler appointed leader. A Sunday school was also started, with Cyrus Butler superintendent. These first members were David and Cyrus Butler, with their wives, and John Dixon.
In 1829 the following members were added to the little congregation : John Long and wife, John Monks and wife, William McKee, Elijah Heath, William Mendenhall, William Steel. Of those who composed the membership of the first class Mrs. David Butler and Mr. John Dixon alone survive ; the former is now eighty-three years of age and the latter is in his eightieth year. The next place of worship is said to have been a school-house that stood near the site of the present jail. Mrs. A. J. Brady, who has been a member of this church for about -years, says that her first recollection of attending service in Brook- ville, was in a house occupied by her uncle, William Robinson, which stood in the rear of the lot upon which is now the residence or T. L. Templeton. One lady says that shoes were in those days a luxury, to be cared for carefully, and she was wont to carry hers with her when she came to church from her fath- er's house in Pine Creek township until she came to the place now occupied by the grist mill of T. K. Litch & Sons, when she would put them on, and after the service, on her way home, she would again remove them. The mem- bers of this little congregation were obliged to come on foot for long distances to attend these meetings, and these incidents show the self-denial practiced by those who founded this church.
As soon as the old court-house was erected, the congregation took its turn with others in worshiping there, until in 1850, when through the exertions of Rev. G. F. Reeser, the pastor in charge of Brookville Mission, as it was then called, aided by Judge Heath, C. Fogle and others, the first church was built. The difficulties encountered in this first building enterprise have already been given by Mr. Reeser, in a former chapter.
In May, 1856, this church was destroyed in the disastrous fire that visited Brookville. It was a frame building, and in the list of losses published at the time, the loss to the congregation is given at $2,500. On this there was an insurance almost covering the loss, but owing to some technicality the insurance company, the Lycoming Mutual, refused to pay it, and though the matter was taken into the courts the church recovered nothing on the loss. The trustees immediately went to work and during the fall of 1856 and spring of 1857, the
264
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
church was rebuilt. During the building of the new church services were held in the Lutheran Church and court-house until the basement was ready for use, and then services were held in the Sunday-school room until the audience room was completed. This church, the one now owned and occupied by the United Presbyterians, who purchased it from the Methodist congregation in 1885, was built at a cost of $6,000, D. S. Johnson being the builder. This church becom- ing inadequate to the wants of the congregation, a new building was begun in the summer of 1885, on Pickering street, on property purchased from Mrs. E. R. Brady and Dr. M. B. Lowry. The new church, which is of brick, built in Gothic style, was finished in the following spring, being dedicated April 4, 1886. The entire cost of the building, gas fixtures, furniture, etc., was $18,- 250. Of this $10,414.19 was realized from the estate of the late Paul Darling, who had in his will bequeathed to the church $4,000 towards the building of a new church and also named it as one of the residuary legatees. The balance of the cost of the building was raised by subscription and the church was dedi- cated free of debt. The building committee were J. E. Long, John Startzell, I. F. Steiner, David Eason, E. H. Darrah ; treasurer of church fund, Frank X. Kreitler, secretary David Eason. The contractor and builder was Martin Sadler, of Brookville.
The bell, the deep tones of which call the people to worship in the new church, was the gift of E. H. Darrah, and his wife Jane Darrah, and F. X. Kreitler, and cost $500. The magnificent front window of the church was put in as a memorial to Paul Darling, by the trustees. The beautiful circular win- dow, back of the minister's pulpit, was the gift of James E. Long as a memorial to his parents, John and Jane Long, two of the first members of the Brookville congregation.
This church is the largest and handsomest church edifice in Jefferson county. It is so constructed that the Sunday-school room and class rooms can be thrown into the auditorium. While all worked with a will to erect this fine new church, much of the praise is due to the hard-working pastor, at the time, Rev. P. W. Scofield, on whom much of the burden fell, he not only aid- ing in soliciting, but in collecting subscriptions. He was only able to enjoy the new church a short time as his allotted term of three years expired with the end of the conference year in September. To Mr. Scofield was also due the arranging for and maintaining of the Erie Conference, which was held in the new church in September, 1887. The Church Furnishing Society, which was started when the church was building, raised over $1, 100, which was ap- plied to the furnishing of the edifice. During the present year the trustees have purchased at a cost of $2,850 the property of John Matson, sr., on the corner of Jefferson and Pickering streets, to be used as a parsonage.
The present organization of the church is Rev. John Lusher, preacher in charge, (appointed at last conference), David Eason, local preacher. Trustees,
26
THE CHURCHES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
E. H. Darrah, A. C. White, David Eason, J. E. Long, Frank X. Kreitler, An- drew Craig, H. H. Brocius, S. H. Whitehill, John Startzell. Stewards, C. C. Benscoter, W. A. Thompson, William L. Sansom, M. H. Hall, John Startzell, J. A. Scott, Frank Rankin, Jonathan Harp, Lafayette Schnell, Laurence Snyder. Class Leaders, William L. Sansom, Edward Blakeney, Dr. J. E. Hall, Frank Rankin, W. P. Steele, M. B. Lowry, Mrs. David Eason, Miss Amelia Clark.
The membership of the church, including probationers, is three hundred and twelve. A large, well-conducted and flourishing Sunday-school is attached' to this church ; S. H. Whitehill being the present superintendent.
David Butler, Cyrus and Nathaniel Butler with their wives, John Long and wife, William Mendenhall and wife, William Steel, Christopher Fogle and wife, James C. Matson and wife, D. S. Johnson and wife, all pioneers of Methodism in Brookville, have left the church militant.
The Brookville Church has been on three occasions honored by having the Erie Conference meet within its walls. The first session held in Brookville was in June, 1859, at which Bishop Mathew Simpson presided, and on Sunday, the people having gathered from " far and wide " to hear that most eminent expo- nent of Methodism, the church was far too small to hold the crowd in attend- ance, and the services were held in the grove on Church street, the papers of the day giving the number assembled as fully five thousand. The next con- ference held here was in September, 1872, Bishop Gilbert Haven presiding, and the last session was held in the new church September, 1886, Bishop E. G. Andrews presiding.
The Brookville charge was first attached to the Shippenville Circuit, in the Erie District, Pittsburgh Conference,I and in 1828 Rev. Wilder B. Mack was presiding elder and Nathaniel Callender, preacher in charge. Brookville is now the most prominent appointment in the Clarion District of the Erie Con- ference. Since 1828 the following ministers have been appointed by confer- ence to this church : 1829, John Johnson, John C. Ayers; 1830-31, Job Wil- son ; 1832, Abner Jackson, A. C. Barnes; 1833 (Brookville and Ridgeway Mission), Abner Jackson; 1834, A. Kellar ; 1835, John Scott, Charles C. Best ; 1836, J. A. Hallock, J. R. Locke; 1837, J. A. Hallock; 1838, L. Whipple ; 1839, H. S. Hitchcock; 1840, D. Pritchard ; 1844, T. Benn ; from 1844 to 1847 there is no record of the ministers who supplied Brookville mission; 1847, I. C. T. McClelland ; 1848-49, Dean C. Wright; 1850, George F. Reeser, J. J. Mc- Arthur ; 1851, George F. Reeser ; 1852, John R. Lyon ; 1853-54, J. T. Boyle ; 1855, John Crum ; 1856-57, Thomas Graham; 1858-59, E. H. Yingling ; 1860-61, D. S. Steadman. In October, 1861, Mr. Steadman resigned as pas- tor to accept the appointment of chaplain of the One Hundred and Fifth Penn- sylvania Regiment, and David Eason filled the balance of the time until the next Conference. 1862, A. M. Coons; 1863-65, J. C. Scofield ; 1866, W.
1 The Erie Conference was formed in 1836, and Brookville has since then been attached to it.
266
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Hollister ; 1867-68, J. A. Starrett ; 1869-71, David Latshaw; 1872, B. F. Delo; 1873-75, R. B. Boyd. Mr. Boyd died during the last year of his pas- torate, and J. M. Zeile filled the unexpired time. 1876, A. L. Kellogg ; 1877-79, John O'Neil; 1880-81, O. G. McIntyre; 1882, R. S. Borland ; 1883-85, P. W. Scofield ; 1886, John Lasher.
The following ministers have occupied the position of presiding elder in this (now the Clarion District) : 1828-31, Wilder B. Mack; 1832, Joseph S. Barris ; 1833-4, Zerah P. Coston ; 1835, Joshua Monroe ; 1836, Joseph S. Bar- ris ; 1837-39, William Carroll; 1840-2, John Bain: 1843-44, John Robinson ; 1845-46, Horatio N. Stearns ; 1847, William H. Hunter; 1848-49, E. J. L. Baker ; 1850-51, William F. Wilson ; 1852-54, Moses Hill ; 1855-57, Joseph Flower; 1858-59, J. E. Chapin ; 1860-63, R. A. Carruthers ; 1864-67, R. H. Hurlburt; 1868-71, O. L. Mead ; 1872-75, J. R. Lyon ; 1876-79, B. F. Delo ; 1880-83, P. P. Piney ; 1884-87, David Latshaw.
The local preachers of the Brookville Church have been Christopher Fogle, J. K. Mendenhall, William P. Steele, and David Eason.
Quite a number of those who have ministered to the Brookville Church have been called hence by the Master they served ; Rev. Robert Boyd being the only one to fall while in the service here. He was an able and godly man, and his death was deeply mourned by his people and all who knew him. The next to obey the summons was that noble man of God, Rev. John O'Neil, who died just after he had gone from a successful pastorate of three years to a new charge at Fredonia, N. Y. No one who has filled this pulpit was ever more beloved by the citizens of Brookville. Closely following him was Rev. J. R. Lyon. Mr. Lyon had been closely identified with the church both as pas- tor and elder. An able minister, and an excellent man, he had won a deep place in the affections of the people.
Rev. Thomas Graham, one of the oldest ministers in the Erie Conference, which he entered in 1834, and one of the ablest and strongest in argument within the bounds of the church, has also been called away. Mr. Graham helped to build up the church in Brookville, when it had just emerged from a baptism of fire, and he was endeared to the people both spiritually and socially.
Of the local preachers, no one was so closely identified with the Brookville church as Rev. Christopher Fogle. He had passed through its most trying days with it, and proved a pillar of strength, both spiritually and financially. He died " full of years " in 18 -. Many of those who have ministered unto the Brookville Church have become prominent in this and other conferences.
John R. Lyon and B. F. Delo, were presiding elders, and J. C. Scofield, R. S. Borland, and D. Latshaw, are now serving in the same capacity. When the Erie Conference was divided a few years ago a number of its members were transferred to the East Ohio Conference, among whom were E. H. Yingling, and J. A. Starrett.
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267
THE CHURCHES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
BROCKWAYVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.1
The first Methodist preaching in the vicinity of Brockwayville, Pa., by con- ference direction, was during the latter half of 1833 at or near Mr. Brockway's home, two and a half miles east of the present town. Revs. Abner Jackson and Chester Morrison made this point one of their twenty-nine preaching places on the two hundred and fifty miles around Brookville and Ridgway cir- cuit, which they traveled in 1833-34. Though this neighborhood was regu- larly visited by the itinerant minister, it was not until the year 1845, under the pastorate of Revs. J. K. Coxen and H. M. Chamberlain, that a society was formed. This year Rev. Chamberlain formed a class of three members at what was then called the " Beman school-house." These three were a young man, Mr. Ray Giles, and Messrs. McKenney and Crider. A Sunday prayer-meeting having been held upon the return of Mr. Chamberlain, their number was in- creased to sixteen. That locality became and continues a Methodist strong- hold. It has been known under the various names of Brockway's, Beman's, Balltown, Sibley's, and to-day as Clarion Mines or Crenshaw from the post- office lately established there. The appointment has belonged to the Pitts- burgh, Erie, Baltimore, and now again the Erie Conferences.
In 1854 Revs. N. Shaffer and N. W. Colburn, of the Baltimore Conference, established another preaching place at the Frost school-house, one and a half miles southwest of the town of to-day. A revival resulted in the formation of a class composed of Jerome Woodbury, leader, Abiel R. Frost and wife, J. W. Green and wife, John Johnson and wife, and Lewis Grant and wife. After vari- ous fortunes, the meeting place of this class was changed in the spring of 1860 to the old school-house formerly standing opposite the Mclaughlin Brothers' wagon shop, Brockwayville. The ministers at that time were Rev. J. K. Men - denhall and R. W. Scott, of the Erie Conference. They were succeeded by Rev. O. G. McEntire, who served the class two years, the first year as a preacher in charge of the Ridgway circuit, the second year as pastor of the now first formed Brockwayville circuit. The membership of the society was rapidly increased by revival efforts and through newcomers to town, who brought church letters, so that at the end of Mr. McEntire's second year they were able to undertake the building of a church, having purchased a lot which was deeded to J. W. Green, A. Matson, J. Woodbury, James McMinn, and William Tolbard in trust for the Methodist Episcopal Church. The new pastor, Rev. . G. W. Moore, was the first minister to make his home in Brockwayville, and by his zeal and toil he was permitted to see the building about completed dur- ing his stay of two years. It was war time. A contract had been made with Captain A. H. Tracy to build this church, but feeling that his country needed his services, he asked and was granted a release from his contract, which, in
1 Prepared by the pastor.
268
HISTORY FO JEFFERSON COUNTY.
connection with other circumstances, delayed the completion of the edifice. In July, 1864, Rev. D. Latshaw, in his army blouse, by appointment of the conference, preached in the new church, as yet seated only with planks laid upon blocks. In September the circuit purchased the present parsonage lot upon which was a little house, which made a home for the itinerant. The class had twenty-five members at this time; the circuit, including this class, one hundred and thirty members. At the end of his second year Mr. Latshaw was succeeded by Rev. P. W. Schofield, who remained with the people two years. His successor for two years was Rev. G. F. Reeser. Under the labors of these faithful pastors there was a healthy growth. The two years' pastorate of the Rev. J. L. Mechlin, who succeeded the above, was marked by the erec- tion of a new and commodious parsonage. This was in 1871. The Rev. L. G. Merrill, in some respects the most popular pastor this church has ever had, following Mr. Mechlin, remained three years. The membership of Brockway- ville class was at this time increased to seventy-five, and the church property much improved. Rev. C. C. Hunt satisfactorily entered into the labors of Mr. Merrill, remained two years and was compelled by feeble health to decline a third year as pastor. Rev. J. W. Martin succeeded him and remained three years, having what was considered a great revival, though the membership of the class was only increased by a dozen. Rev. L. Wick became pastor in 1880 and remained two years, being succeeded by Rev. E. R. Knapp, during whose three years' stay our town obtained through railroads such communica- tion with the outside world as is proving helpful to every interest, secular and religious. Rev. Knapp was succeeded in September, 1885, by the present pastor, Rev. C. W. Darrow. The Brockwayville class now numbers ninety members. The pastor has also the care of two country classes-one at Cren- shaw post-office, numbering eighteen members, and one at Lane's Mill, fifteen in number. From an early day the society has maintained a Sunday-school, which numbers at the present time one hundred and thirty members, under the care of Prof. J. G. Dailey, superintendent, assisted by thirteen teachers.
During twenty-one years the pastors have married one hundred and two couples and baptized two hundred and forty-eight persons, while in the sanie time twenty members of the Brockwayville class have gone triumphantly home. During the same time the circuit has contributed $1,823.00 to the cause of missions, and one-fourth as much more to the other benevolences of the church.
Rev. C. F. Green and wife, children of members of this church, are in the itinerant work of the church in Dakota.
BELLEVIEW CIRCUIT OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.1
About fifty years ago, Salem church, on the Holt farm, in Beaver town- ship, was the only Methodist church in that section of the county, but from
1 Prepared by the pastor.
269
THE CHURCHES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
the influence of the work done there, much good has been effected, and the result has been the erection of four elegant church edifices, while the church in the county has been benefited and strengthened. During that early time the little church on the Beaver Run was the center toward which all the true Methodists in that section looked for the dispensation of the gospel.
In the fall of 1869 a protracted meeting was held by Rev. O. M. Sackett, the pastor of Salem church, which resulted in adding not less than seventy per- sons to the church. About twenty of these converts were from Belleview. Previous to this time there were only five members of the Methodist church living north of Beaver Run. It was soon found necessary to have better ac- commodations for holding public worship, and in 1874 the members of the society decided to erect two churches, one at Belleview and the other in Beaver township. The former edifice was dedicated December 25, 1874, and the lat- ter in July, 1875. In 1876 a new church was built by the Mount Pleasant congregation. About this time a new appointment was made at Langville. These appointments were all connected with the Troy circuit; but at the an- nual session of the Erie conference in 1876, Belleview, Mount Pleasant, Salem (or Beaver township), and the Langville societies were detached from Troy and formed the Belleview charge. In the fall of 1877 the Langville congrega- tion erected a church, and in the summer of 1883 the united societies erected a very fine parsonage at Belleview, which is an honor to the church and an ornament to the village in which it is located.
Since the formation of Belleview charge it has been efficiently served by the following pastors : Reverends Laverty, Burns, Jones, Talbott, Hovis and Holt. The present incumbent is Rev. R. M. Felt, whose pastorate com- menced in the fall of 1886.
The average membership on the charge is two hundred and a class of forty probationers, with four first class flourishing Sunday-schools.
EMERICKVILLE CHARGE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.1
The " Moore " Methodist Episcopal Church is located in Pine Creek town- ship, one mile east of the Emerickville post office. The society was organized by Rev. J. T. Boyle in 1838. The names of the first members were Mary Zetler, James F. Moore, Sarah P. Moore, Laura Moore, Emeline Moore, George Zetler, and Elizabeth Zetler. In the year of our Lord 1870, the present house of worship, called the " Moore " church, was erected. The so- ciety has continued through prosperity and adversity to the present time. Since the organization of this church, in 1838, the pulpit has been filled by Reverends Boyle, Crum, Graham, Coxson, Crafts, Burton, Bashline, Baker, Groves, Hicks, Frampton, Peete, Felt, Wilkinson, Laverty, Wick, Jones, and the present pastor, W. B. Holt.
1 Prepared by the pastor.
3I
270
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Very large revivals were realized under the labors of Reverends Hicks and Baker. The membership now, in 1887, is about fifty.
PARADISE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Pastors of the Brookville and Luthersburg circuit established a preaching place some time about the year 1835 in the Paradise settlement. The first members of the society were Joseph Syphert, Mary Syphert, John Strouse, Jane Strouse, and Jacob Shaffer. In after years it was attached to the Em- erickville circuit. The church at Paradise has been favored with gracious re- vivals during its history, and perhaps the greatest was under the pastorate of Rev. R. M. Felt.
Mr. Joseph Syphert, one of the founders of the society, has, for over a half- century, been the main pillar of the church; always true and faithful. He has given two daughters to the ministry, wives of Revs. A. H. Bashline and J. P. Hicks. His children, every one of them, are members of the church. Through his enterprise and liberality the chapel was mainly erected. Mr. Syphert, now over seventy years of age, is good and true, and has the esteem and love of all his neighbors. The society sustains the Sabbath-school, and all the affairs of the society are sustained by liberal hands. Paradise is one of the appointments of the Emerickville circuit.
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