History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 55

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections > Part 55

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In 1791 Wilkes-Barre, with a large region of country, was taken into the Meth- odist conference and attached to the New York district, under the name of Wyoming. Rev. Robert Cloud was then presiding elder of the district and Rev. James Camp- bell was appointed preacher to Wyoming circuit.

Wyoming circuit was the first organized in this part of the State. In 1804 Wilkes-Barre circuit comprised Wilkes-Barre Plains, Pittston, Lackawanna and twenty-two other preaching places, and was a part of the territory of the Baltimore conference. In 1808 the Wyoming district was set off to the Philadelphia con- ference; in 1810, to the Genesee conference; in 1832, to the Oneida conference, and in 1852, to the Wyoming conference. Wilkes-Barre circuit from 1791, and for four years after, was a four weeks' circuit, enjoying the preaching of the minister once only in four weeks.

In 1818 it was resolved that a preacher's house be built on this circuit, and a committee appointed to select the ground. In 1819 trustees were chosen to receive the title to a lot in Wilkes-Barre, given by Samuel Thomas of Kingston, on which to build a preacher's house.

At the division of the Wyoming circuit in 1823, when Wilkes-Barre became a station, the parsonage, the first built in Wyoming valley, stood on land now occu- pied by the Harvey building on North Franklin street.

In 1823-4 Revs. George Lane and Gaylord Judd were the preachers of the Wyoming circuit.

The last quarterly meeting, while Wilkes-Barre was in connection with the Wyoming circuit, was held in Wilkes-Barre, February 26, 1831, and from that time to the present it had been a station.

In 1800 there was no church edifice in Wilkes-Barre. In that year a contract was made for the erection of the meeting-house on the public square. Its erection was directed and dominated by the Presbyterians and the cost thereof partly made up by subscriptions. It was alleged by many who subscribed liberally, that it was understood, and upon such understanding many subscriptions were made outside of the Presbyterians and their friends, that it was to be a union church building, to 23

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

be used by other church organizations with fair alternations. As the building pro- gressed in its erection, the funds derived from subscription were exhausted and further work ceased for a time. To raise additional means, and as hoped sufficient funds to complete the building, resort was had to a lottery.

In 1855 another Methodist church was thought to be necessary, and a brick edi- fice was erected in the lower part of Wilkes-Barre. A number of members resid- ing in the vicinity of the new church building removed their membership from the first church and joined, after it was organized, the Ross street, as it was then called, down in " Woodville," but now the Central Methodist Episcopal church, with Rev. Asa Brooks as its first pastor. Religious prosperity has attended the church since its organization. It has a flourishing Sunday-school of 460 officers and scholars.

In 1872 the third Methodist church was erected on Parish street in this city, and now has a Sunday-school of 478 officers and scholars and a membership of 223. In 1871 another Methodist church was erected in the northern part of this city and has now a Sunday-school of 369 officers and scholars and of church members, 75.

The Fourth Methodist Episcopal church of Wilkes-Barre was organized in 1888. In 1891 Rev. J. E. Bone was appointed its pastor. The congregation have a fine building now in course of erection at the corner of North Main street and Kulp avenue; preparations were made for dedicating the same on November 27, 1892. This congregation has a membership of 85 and a Sunday-school of 250. The trustees are George B. Kulp, president; Alexander Lendrum, secretary; J. W. Lear, A. P. Krum, H. D. Branning, John Cox and H. P. Fell.

The First Methodist church in Wilkes-Barre, generally called the Franklin Street church, which mothered the three afore-mentioned churches and assisted them in their childhood, has a grand Sunday-school.

In 1846 the old building on the public square, in which the Methodists wor- shiped, was declared to be very inconvenient, it containing but a single room, too small to accommodate the increasing congregation.

Through the generosity of the late Ziba Bennett, the lot on which the present building stands was donated. Means were readily procured to erect a new brick edifice, which, it is thought, would be amply commodious and convenient for many years to come, but in 1883 it was found that the new building could not accommo- date the congregation, and especially the Sunday-school. Mrs. P. L. Bennett offered to erect at her own expense, a building of proper size for a Sunday-school, with all modern improvements, also for class, prayer and business meetings. The offer was accepted, and in due time, 1883, the building was completed.

The pastors of the First Methodist Episcopal church have been: Revs. George Peck, 1826-8; Joseph Castle and Silas Comfort, 1828-30; Charles Nash, 1830-2; H. F. Rowe, 1832-3; Silas Stocking, 1835; J. M. Snyder, 1835-7; Robert Fox, 1837-8; D. Holmes, 1838-40; John Davison, 1840; D. W. Bristol, 1840-2; John Leys, 1842-3; D. Holmes, 1843-4; D. A. Shepperd, 1844-6; B. Hawley, 1846-8; Thomas H. Pearne, 1848-50; Nelson Rounds, 1850-2; Henry Brownscombe, 1855-7; J. M. Snyder, 1857-8; Reuben Nelson, 1858-9; Z. Paddock, D. D., 1859-60; Jacob Miller, 1860-2; J. A. Wood, 1862-4; Y. C. Smith, 1864-7; Henry Browns- combe, 1867-9; Thomas M. Reese, 1869-72; A. H. Wyatt, 1872-4; W. H. Olin, 1874-7; Rev. J. E. Smith, D. D., 1877-80 ;- Tuttle ;-- Phillips; - Moore; J. O. Woodruff, 1886-8; J. Richard Boyle, D. D.

Ross Street Church; organized May, 1857; church edifice built 1876. Pastors, Revs. A. Brook; S. Weiss; H. Wheeler; J. G. Eckman; L. C. Floyd; L. W. Peck; F. L. Hiller; D. C. Olmstead; H. M. Crydenwise; S. C. Fulton, Lee A. Griffin, 1887-90.

Parish Street Church was organized 1872; church edifice built 1872. Pastors: Revs. Henry Brownscombe, 1873-6; O. L. Stevenson, 1876-9; E. L. Santee, 1879; James N. Lee, 1891-2.

First Free Methodist Church, Main street; organized March 27, 1870; church

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

building erected 1880. Pastors: Revs. J. Glen, 1870; G. R. Harvey, 1870-2; George Edwards, 1872-3; M. D. McDougal, 1873-5; F. S. Labue, 1875-6; William Jones, 1876-7; I. S. Bradhood, 1877-8; George Eakin, 1878-80.

African Church; organized 1842; building erected 1870. Rev. Thomas M. D. Ward was the first pastor.

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; organized 1842, by Rev. Thomas Jack- son; building erected 1845.

Black Creek Church; formed 1810; first church building erected 1832; second church 1861. Pastors since 1861, Revs. G. H. Day, B. F. King, Josiah Forrest, I. C. Hagey, James F. Porter, H. S. Mendenhall, J. B. Cuddy, C. S. Benscotten, Pemberton Bird, A. S. Bowman, N. W. Colburn, J. F. Brown, J. B. Moore, J. Horning, J. Stiner, G. M. Larned.

Buck Township, Stoddardsville; formed 1819; church built 1820, valued at $600. Pastor, 1891, John Davy.

Butler Township, Drums; formed 1840, when a union church was built; in 1873 a new church was erected costing $7,500. Pastors: Revs. Joseph Lee, 1833-4; Thomas Hill, 1833-42; J. H. Brown, James Clark, G. H. Day, J. A. Ross, Thomas McClure, Conser, Barnhart, B. P. King, Josiah Forrest, J. C. Hagey, James F. Porter, Henry S. Mendenhall, James B. Cuddy, C. S. Benscotten, Pemberton Bird, A. S. Bowman, N. W. Colburn, J. F. Brown, J. B. Moore, J. Stiner, G. M. Larned, etc.

Dallas Borough, Methodist Episcopal church, was built in 1854, and cost $1,000. Rev. J. B. Cooke, pastor.

Dorrance Township .- Stainsville church was formed by Rev. M. Moister. The church was built in 1873, at a cost of $1,800. The pastors have been Revs. Josiah Wagner; I. F. Burall, Wilson, Trieble, William Ruggles, William Edgar and J. A. Transue.

Exeter Township .- Mount Zion church was the first church, built in 1851, at a cost of $1,000. The pastors have been Revs. O. F. Morse, Asa Brunson, F. A. King, John Labar, C. L. Reid, W. Munger, G. C. Smith, A. J. Van Clift, J. S. Madison, J. Austin, S. Elwell and F. A. King.

Diamond Hollow church was built in 1835 and 1870.

Yatesville Methodist Episcopal church was formed in 1852. The church was built in 1865, and completed in 1874. The pastors have been Revs. J. G. Stephens, G. M. Colvill, Wilson Treible, J. C. Hogan, 1891.

Mill Hollow church was formed in 1825. The present church was built in 1873, at a cost of $4,000.

Jackson Township .- Van Loon Methodist Episcopal church was formed in 1820. The present church was built in 1877. The pastors have been Revs. Morgan Sher- man, Joseph Castle, John Copeland, Philip Barbery, George Peck, S. Stocking, Miles H. Gaylord, Silas Comfort, etc .; since 1850, Charles Perkins, Josuah S. Lewis, C. W. Griffin, P. Holbrook, D. Personius, G. Greenfield, Isaac Austin, F. A King, J. B. Santee, R. C. Gill and David Lanish.

Hazleton .- St. Paul Methodist Episcopal church was formed in 1859. The building was erected in 1860. The present church was built in 1874, at a cost of $20,000; and the parsonage in 1876, at a cost of $3,000. The pastors have been Revs. G. H. Day, Josiah Forrest, Watson Case, J. G. Hagey, James F. Porter, E. T. Swartz, D. Sheffer, F. E. Green, E. H. Yocum, W. W. Evans, B. J. Ives, G. T. Gray, etc.

'Huntington Township, Town Hill .- Local preachers began work here in 1794. The church was built in 1836, and rebuilt in 1873; the property is valued at $3,000.

Nelson Methodist Episcopal Chapel, Huntington Mills, was built in 1871.

Dodson Methodist Episcopal Chapel was built in 1876.

Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church, Ashley. - A circuit including Ashley was set off from the Wilkes-Barre circuit, 1842. In 1869 Ashley became a separate

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

charge. The present church was built in 1868, at a cost of $8,000; was improved in 1892, at a cost of nearly $5,000; value of church property now is $25,000. Pastors since 1869: Revs. Asa Bowdish, J. G. Eckman, J. F. Wilbur, W. S. Wentz, J. Underwood; William M. Hiller, 1890-1; J. B. Sweet, 1892.

Nanticoke Methodist Episcopal Church; itinerary began here 1872; union church built 1830; organization effected 1874; present church built 1890, cost- ing $4,500. Value of church property and parsonage, $10,000. Pastors since 1874: Rev. G. M. Colville, A. W. Hood, T. C. Roskelly, Lewis Jennison, etc; George For- sythe, 1891.

Wyoming Methodist Episcopal Church, Kingston township; formed 1842. Bought the "Christian church" 1842; parsonage built 1850; value of property, $10,000. Pastors: Revs. B. Hawley, C. W. Gidding, B. W. Gorham, Levi D. Tyron, G. M. Peck, A. H. Schoonmaker, H. Brownscombe, A. Brooks, W. T. Judd, J. La Bar, Henry Wheeler, A. J. Van Clift, S. W. Weiss, R. W. Van Schoick, J. C. Leacock, F. L. Heller, J. C. Shelland, etc .; G. C. Lyman, 1891.

Caverton Circuit, Dallas Church; built 1854.

Caverton Church; built 1854; parsonage 1860. Pastors: Revs. John La Bar, C. L. Rice, W. Munger, Y. C. Smith, A. J. Van Clift, J. S. Madison, Isaac Austin, Stephen Elwell, F., A. King. L. C. Murdoch, 1891.

Kingston Methodist Episcopal Church. - First class was organized in 1788. From 1800 to 1840 this church worshiped in a small building on Plymouth street. In 1841 the first church building was erected, costing $2,300; was enlarged in 1845, and burned in 1872, and rebuilt in 1873, at a cost of $58,000. A parsonage was also erected, costing $6,000. Pastors: Revs. H. T. Rowe, King Elwell, A. J. Cran- dall, G. H. Blakeslee, F. H. Stanton, E. Owen, V. Coryell, William Rounds, J. B. Benhaus, L. S. Bennett, William Reddy, P. G. White, Thomas Pearce, P. Worden, E. P. Williams, H. R. Clark, Asel Bronson, C. H. Harvey, T. D. Walker, C. W. Giddings, S. S. Kennedy, W. W. Welsh, J. J. Pearce, C. Perkins, Asa Brooks, William J. Judd, L. Cole, B. D. Sturdevant, H. V. Talbott, Philip Krohn, Henry Wheeler, O. W. Scott, etc .; J. G. Eckman, 1891.

Lake Township Methodist Episcopal Church. - Class was formed in 1845. In 1872 a church was built costing $2,300. Pastors: Revs. John Mackey, George Por- ter, Erastus Smith, G. W. Griffin, P. Holbrook, D. Personius, George Greenfield, J. C. Laycock, Isaac Austin, F. A, King, J. B. Santee, R. C. Gill, P. Houck, etc.

Lehman Township; formed about 1824; parsonage built in 1852; church erected in 1856. Pastors: Revs. Morgan Sherman, Joseph Castle, John Colepand, Phila Barbery, George Peck, S. Stocking, M. H. Gaylord, Silas Comfort, Charles Perkins, J. S. Lewis, G. V. Griffin, P. Holbrook, D. Personius, George Greenfield, J. Austin, F. A. King, J. B. Santee, R. C. Gill, D. Larrish and others; J. L. Race, 1891.

Marcy Township; class formed 1815; church built in 1853 at a cost of $2,000, valued now at $7,000. Pastors: Revs. Marmaduke Pearce, Benjamin Ellis, William Rounds, William Reddy, C. W. Giddings, Erastus Smith, J. D. Safford, P. G. White, Abel Barker, Pilbean, J. S. Lewis, T. D. Walker, T. D. Swartz, J. Austin, R. S. Rose, John La Bar, John Madison, J. C. Laycock, J. R. Wagner, N. J. Hawley, etc.

Pittston First Methodist Episcopal Church. - This is now a part of Wyoming circuit of 1791; class was formed in 1805, also in 1828, by Rev. J. S. Castle. A church was built in 1850. The property, church and parsonage, is valued at $12,000. Pastors: Revs. George Peck, J. S. Castle, S. Stocking, N. P. Mead, George M. Peck, O. M. McDowall, W. J. Judd, Y. C. Smith, Ira T. Walker, W. S. Harrom, J. O. Woodruff, L. W. Peck, S. C. Fulton; W. J. Hill, 1891.

Plains Methodist Episcopal Church; formed in 1843. A church was built in 1843 for $940. Pastors: Revs. John Seys, Ira Wilcox, E. B. Tewnay, J. Mulcahey, O. P. Morse, Erastus Smith, Asa Brooks, William Reddy, Charles Giddings, George

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Peck, Roger Moister, Laird N. Bronson, J. N. Peck, Henry Wheeler, Luther Peck, William Keatty, Miner Swallow, J. S. Lewis, J. O. Woodruff, F. A. King, N. J. Hawley, W. J. Hill, H. H. Dresser, J. L. Race and others; I. F. Williams, 1891; value of church property, $3,500.

Plainsville Methodist Episcopal Church; formed in 1838. A church was built in 1845; value of property, $1,500. Pastor, W. H. McCauley, 1891.

Parsons Abbott Methodist Episcopal Church; formed in 1872. A church was built in 1873, costing $3,800. Pastors: Revs. N. J. Hawley, J. W. Hill, G. W. Chamberlain, H. Brownscombe and others; H. G. Harned, 1891.

Plymouth Methodist Episcopal church; class was formed in 1791, and was reformed in 1853. A church was built in 1856; the present building was erected in 1877. Pastors: Revs. J. Campbell, William Hardesty, William Colbert, Antony Turch, James Paynter, A. White, Roger Benton, David Stevens, James Moore, Benja- min Bidlack Ephraim Chambers, Edward Larkin, Asa Smith, James Polhemuns, Hugh McCurdy, Morris Howe, Robert Burach, James Paynter, Joseph Carson, Christian Frye, Alfred Griffith, Gideon Draper, William Butler, James Ridley, Henry Mon- touth, George Lane, Thomas Wright, Elijah Metcalf, Noah Bigelow, William Brown, John Kimberlin, Elisha Ribbin, Marmaduke Pearce, B. G. Paddock, G. W. Dens- more, Elias Bowden, George Peck, J. D. Gilbert, W. W. Rundell, Gaylord Judd, Morgan Sherman, Joseph Castle; J. O. Woodruff, 1891.

The West Pittston church was formed in 1873. The brick church was erected in 1873 at a cost of $45,000. The pastors have been Revs. W. B. Westlake, S. Moore, A. Griffin; C. A. Benjamin, 1891.

Foster Township, Heberton Circuit .- The Trinity church, South Heberton, was built in 1874 at a cost of $3,500. The Latimer church was built in 1878 at a cost of $1,800.

White Haven church; organized 1835; church built 1839; value $5,000. Pastors: Revs. J. A. Price, R. E. Wilson, D. S. Monroe, B. F. Stephen, Samuel Thomas, Henry G. Dill, William C. Hesser, John A. De Moyer, J. B. Akers, Emory T. Swartz, A. M. Kester, J. T. Wilson, etc.

Beach Haven Methodist Episcopal Church; formed 1848; the church built 1869, costing $2, 700. Pastors: Revs. Adam Brittain, P. F. Eyre, John Stiner, H. B. Fort- ner, R. L. Armstrong.

Conyngham Methodist Episcopal Church; built 1869; costing $2,500. Pastors: Revs. John Rhodes, Stephen Thomas, Oliver Ege, Charles Brown, John Lloyd, George Bergstresser, Thomas Bowman, G. H. Day, A. Brittain, F. H. Switzer, John Nichol- son, Elisha Butler, B. P. King, Josiah Forrest, J. C. Hagey, J. F. Porter, H. S. Mendenhall, James B. Cuddy, C. L. Benscotten, P. Bird, A. S. Bowman.

Shickshinny Methodist Episcopal Church; built 1870.

Ross Township Methodist Episcopal Church; class formed 1850; church at Bloomingdale built 1846. The circuit embraced Bloomingdale and Oakville churches; the latter built 1870. There are seven Sunday-schools and eight preaching places.

Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal, " Old Forty Fort church," Forty Fort. - This historic church was built 1806-8 as a union church by the Presbyterians and Methodists in the Wyoming valley. A full history of it was published in 1888 entitled "Union Services at the Old Forty Fort Church," etc., June 15, 1888, with historic addresses by Hon. Steuben Jenkins and Rev. J. K. Peck. The Presbyterian pastors were: Rev. Arnold Hoyt, Eleazer S. Banons, Hubetius Taylor, D. Monetor, Cyrus Gildersleeve, Nicholas Menoy, D. D., John Dononee, Charles C. Corss and E. Hazard Snowden. The Methodist pastors were more numerous. They were Revs. Anning Owen, Francis A. Chapman, Valentine Cook, George Harmer, Marmaduke Pearce, George Law, Silas Camful, Horace Agair, Gideon Draper, John M. Snyder, David Holmes, Henry F. Row, etc. Here preached also Rev. George Peck, Lorenzo Dow, Theodore C. Cuyler, D. D., Fostus Hunt; and among others W. R. Netherton, 1891.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Baptist Church. - The Wilkes-Barre and Kingston Baptist church was formed at Forty Fort in 1842 through the labors of Rev. P. L. Post, of Montour. The first pastor, Rev. A. C. Hewitt, was called in 1845 to the congregation ministry in the old courthouse. In 1848 a church was erected on Northampton street, between Franklin and Main. It was of brick, with a marble slot inserted in the wall over the front door, with the inscription "Baptist Meeting House." In 1849 the Wilkes- Barre branch separated from the Kingston side and was known as the "Northampton Street Baptist," but it disbanded in 1873. The pastors were Rev. A. C. Hewitt, John Boyd, E. M. Alden, J. L. Andrews, D. E. Bowen, Charles A. Fox, J. D. Griebel.

The Centennial Baptist Church, of Wilkes-Barre, was formed in the Northamp- ton street building July 16, 1874. The church was sold and a property purchased on South street, corner of Franklin, on which a handsome stone chapel was erected. Pastors, Rev. J. B. Hutchinson and Rev. Frear, D. D.

Welsh Baptist, Wilkes-Barre, Pa .; organized 1867, in Phoenix hall, through Rev. Frederick Evans, D. D., of Hyde Park. In 1870 Rev. Theophilus Jones became the pastor; he was succeeded in 1876 by Rev. E. Edwards. The church building was erected 1874, on Harrison street.

Baptist Exeter Township Church; organized 1798.

Upper Lehigh Welsh Baptist; organized 1868; church built on Main street, 1873.

Nanticoke Welsh Baptist; organized 1870; church built 1871. Pastors: Revs. Theophilus Jones, D. Davies, J. P. Harris, W. F. Davies.

Baptist Church, Jackson Township; organized 1864.

Lake First Baptist Church; organized 1856; church erected 1878. Pastors: Revs. G. W. Schofield, 1856-8; Benjamin Sheaver, 1858-60; E. N. Whitney, 1866-8; Benjamin Sheaver, 1868-70; Mark Parks, 1870-3; R. C. H. Catterall, 1876-9; E. N. Whitney, 1879, etc.

Huntsville Baptist Church; formed 1834. Pastors: Revs. Parker, Mott, Gray, Clark, Schofield, Frink, Shearer, Whitney, Parks, Breuster, Catterall, Gessner, etc.

First Baptist Church, Pittston; organized 1776, by Rev. William Benedict, from New York. The Wyoming massacre nearly broke up the church, which was reorganized in 1786. Until 1801 it was united with the Philadelphia Baptist asso- ciation, and from 1806 until 1833 with Abington Baptist church; in 1834 with Bridgewater association. For eighty-seven years this church worshiped in private houses; in 1875 the present church building was erected. Pastors: Revs. Benedict, Mott, Boyd, Leach, Francis, Thomas, Alder, Shanfelt, Thomas, Bliss, Bailey, Willifer, Finn, Bishop, Miller, Brown, Carey, etc.

Parsons Welsh Baptist Church; organized 1869; church built 1871. Pastors: Rev. James Reese, Jonathan Nichols, David Davies, J. S. Jones, D. T. Phillips.

First Welsh Baptist Church, Kingston; organized 1871; church built 1879. Pastors: Rev. Theophilus Jones, James R. Price.

Jewish .- B'nai Brith Jewish Synagogue : organized October, 1840. A church building was erected on Washington street, 1849. This was enlarged or rebuilt in The pastors have been Rev. Mans, October, 1848, to August, 1849; M. Strasser, August, 1849, to August, 1851; Isaac Thomas, August, 1851, to May, 1853; Herman Rubin, June, 1853-82; David Sterns, D. D., 1882-6; N. Rundbaken, D. D., 1886-91.

B'nai Jewish Synagogue; organized-

Holeb Josher (Polish Hebrew); organized about 1885. Rev. Liman Salinger, rabbi; located on Welles street.

Lutheran Churches .-- St. Paul's German Evangelical Lutheran, Wilkes-Barre, corner Main and South streets; organized 1845; building erected in 1846, on Wash- ington street. This property was sold and the present church property was bought and improved. The parsonage was built in 1872. The pastors have been, Rev.

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

Hemon Eggees, 1845-8; A. O. Briekman, 1848-50; A. Laebenmaier, 1851-2; J. A. Reubelt, 1852; J. Schwalen, 1853-4; G. H. Brosseler, 1854-8; C. M. Jager, 1858-61; E. Speidel, 1861-2; Christian Opinger, 1862-8; K. Schlenker, 1868-70; J. P. Liebtenbug, 1871-2; E. A. Fuenfstueck, 1872-6; E. Nidecker, 1876-82; Conrad Keuehn, 1882-91.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wilkes-Barre; organized in the " long room " in Music hall, November 3, 1872, by Rev. F. F. Buermeyer. A frame church edifice was erected in 1874 on the corner of Academy and Dana place, where Mr. Buermeyer held the first service, August 30, 1874. During 1891 a handsome rectory was built in the rear of the church on Dana place. The present member- ship is 255. The pastors have been Rev. F. F. Buermeyer, November 3, 1872, to April 9, 1882; Rev. W. Ashmead Schaeffer, June 1, 1882, to December 31, 1883; Rev. Samuel G. Finckel, January 6, 1884, to June 29, 1884; Rev. L. H. Geseh- wind, December 1, 1885, to May 1, 1890. Rev. George W. Sandt, of Weissport, Pa., the present pastor, entered upon his duties at St. John's, May 18, 1890. In January, 1891, W. Sandt organized Grove Evangelical church at Ashley. The congregation of nearly 100 members worship in the Welsh church, but have no pastor.

Salem Church, Evangelical association, Grove street, began 1871; made a mis- sion 1874; erected its first chapel 1873. This was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1875. The pastors have been: Revs. Andrew Ziegenfuss, 1871; Rev. D. A. Meoler, J. K. Frehr, Anthony Kindt, J. Savitz, H. D. Shultz, I. T. Sand, J. C. Crouse, E. L. Orwold.

Zion Reformed Church, Washington street; organized 1873 as the Evangelical church until 1877, when it was chartered as Zion Reformed church. The present building was erected in 1874. The pastors have been: Revs. J. P. Lichtenberg, 1873-4; J. E. Lang, 1874-5; Rudolph Kunz, 1876-7; F. K. Levan, 1878-92.

Chunts German Evangelical Protestant Lutheran Church, Wilkes-Barre, was organized in 1861; church built 1851; seating capacity, 600. Pastors: Revs. R. S. Magver, W. Hasskail, D. D., and E. A. Bauer, etc .; formed 1820; church built 1833; used by the two bodies alternately. Pastors: Revs. J. N. Zeizer, 1820-39; Isaac Shellhammer, 1840-58; Henry Hoffman, 1858-71; A. R. Hottenstier and Tilgham Derr.

Dorrance Corners, Emanuel Church; built by both bodies jointly. Pastors: Revs. S. Shelhammer, Solomon Hoffman, Clime and M. Clemens.

Nanticoke Church, Hanover; formed 1821. The pastors of the two bodies have been Revs. J. N. Zeizer, Abraham Beike, J. W. Lesber, Frederick Strasses, G. W. Glessner, Rudolph Kunz, F. K. Levan.

Lutheran and General Reformed; Black Creek Friedius Lutheran and German Reformed church; built 1830, near Mountain Grove Railroad station. This is used alternately by the two organizations. The " Shelhamer" German Reformed church stands in the northeast corner of Buck township.

St. John's Church, Hughesville; organized 1799; church built 1808, used alter- nately by the Lutheran and German Reformed bodies. This was followed in 1825 by a larger church and in 1873 by the present handsome building. Pastors: Rev. George Mann, F. W. Vandesloat, H. Hoffman, S. S. Kline, J. N. Seizer, Frederick Croll, J. A. Forrset, H. Daniels, J. M. Clemens, J. H. Neiman.

Grace German Reformed, Hazleton; organized 1845; church built 1861. Pas- tors, since 1861: Revs. Miner, Brand T. Krahn, Waldbridge, Frankil, Fundling and Kuntz.

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 55

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532