History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 60

Author: Munsell, W.W., & Co., New York
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: New York, W.W. Munsell & co.
Number of Pages: 900


USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 60
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 60
USA > Pennsylvania > Wyoming County > History of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming counties, Pa.; with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 60


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).


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Parrish Street Methodist Episcopal .- There were no


23I


PARRISH STREET M. E. CHURCH, WILKES-BARRE-SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.


church accommodations for a large population in the southeastern portion of Wilkes-Barre, and early in 1870 Revs. Charles and A. D. Alexander, the latter of whom was the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Ashley, held a series of meetings in the Parrish street school-house, and formed a class with Mr. John Benning, a member of the Ross street Methodist church as leader. Rev. A. D. Alexander was succeeded at Ashley by Rev. A. C. Bowdish, who had charge of the Parrish street class, which was annexed to the Ashley charge and known as " the Hill class." In the spring of 1872 the class was organized as a mission charge and was ministered to by Rev. D. Marvin for one year. At the conference of 1873 Rev. Henry Browscombe was sent to the charge as pastor, and remained three years. In 1876 he was suc- ceeded by Rev. Oscar L. Severson. A year later the Parrish street church was self-supporting. Mr. Severson remained three years and was succeeded in the spring of 1879 by Rev. E. L. Santee. The house of worship of this society is a wooden building 40 by 60 feet, standing on the south side of Parrish street. It was erected early in the history of the society and dedicated March 17th, 1872, and valued at $8,000. The Parrish street Methodist Sunday-school was organized in the school-house aboved mentioned on the first Sunday in January, 1869, though the first meeting for that pur- pose was held a week earlier. Rev. J. G. Eckman, then pastor of the Ross Street Methodist Episcopal Church was a leader in the movement. Mr. J. D. L. Harvey, a member of the Franklin street Methodist church was chosen superintendent, Jesse Briggs assistant superin- tendent, and A. B. Sands treasurer. The attendance the first Sunday was twenty-five. The library contains 325 volumes, the teachers and officers are efficient, and the school is in a flourishing condition.


The following pastors have served the mother church (the First Methodist Episcopal) from 1850 to 1880: Rev. Nelson Rounds, 1850.52; Rev. George Peck, D. D., 1852-54; Rev. William Wyatt, 1854, 1855; Rev. Henry- Brownscombe, 1855-57; Rev. J. M. Snyder, 1857, 1858; Rev. Reuben Nelson, part of 1858 and 1859; Rev. Z. Paddock, D. D., 1859, 1860; Rev. Jacob Miller, 1860-62; Rev. J. A. Wood, 1862-64; Rev. Y. C. Smith, 1864-67; Rev. Henry Brownscombe, 1867-69; Rev. Thomas M. Reese, 1869-72; Rev. A. H. Wyatt, 1872-74; Rev. W. H. Olin, 1874-77; Rev. J. E. Smith, D. D., 1877-80.


The present official members are: Rev. W. H. Olin, D. D., presiding elder; Rev. J. E. Smith, D. D., pastor; Rev. W. W. Loomis, local elder; Rev. James Thomas, local deacon; class leaders, Rev. J. E. Smith, Rev. W. W. Loomis, A. Kesler, T. Burnet, W. L. Stewart and G. A. Wells; Stewards, H. H. Derr, Urbane Dilley, E. S. Morgan, Elias Robins, A. Mitchell, John Espy, William Tuck, Robert Tucker and W. H. Sturdevant; board of trustees, L. D. Shoemaker (president), George S. Ben- nett (secretary), P. Abbott (treasurer), A. Kesler, D. L. Rhone, B. G. Carpenter and H. H. Derr; superinten- dents of Sunday-schools, George S. Bennett (church school) and Frank Puckey (mission school).


The church numbers in full connection 400. The number of probationers is 50.


Sunday-Schools .- Many who then were or subsequently became Methodists attended or taught in the early Sun- day-school whose sessions were held in Judge Scott's office. When the Methodists obtained the upper room of the old court house as a place of worship they started a school of their own. Gilbert Barnes is thought to have been its first superintendent. The first official record of the Sunday- schools connected with this church is found in the minutes of the quarterly conference held Aug. 23d, 1834. Rev. S. Stocking, preacher, reported that there were within his charge4 Sabbath-schools, with 216 scholars, 5 superintendents; 4 libraries with 365 volumes. One school was the church school, which met in the church on the square; Gilbert Birnes superintendent, Ziba Bennett assistant. The other schools were at Hanover, Laurel Run and the Plains. In 1829 an infant school was started by Miss Abi Slocum, now Mrs. Lord Butler, in the jury room of the old court-house. This school, the first of its kind ever held here, was maintained for a number of years and then discontinued. September 29th, 1844, Mrs. Charles B. Drake, now Mrs. Henry Lewis, of Madison, N. Y., commenced teaching an infant class in the gallery of the old church. In a few weeks this class was removed to the second story of the prayer room on North Main street, which had been fitted up for that purpose. It remained there until the church on Franklin street was built. Mrs. Drake continued in charge of this primary school until April 26th, 1868. Mrs. J. E. Patterson, who had been Mrs. Drake's assist- ant for six years, succeeded her as teacher. She held the position until 1872. Mrs. E. B. Hopkins served as teacher for a short time, and then Mrs. W. N. Jennings was elected to the office, which she held for nearly a year. In April, 1873, Miss Sarah Overton, now Mrs. Elias Robbins, was chosen teacher of this primary class, and she has been continued as such to the present time.


Gilbert Barnes was superintendent of the main Sunday- school of this church until 1850, when he removed from Wilkes-Barre. In that year the school had two superin- tendents, 25 teachers, 125 scholars in the main school, 75 scholars in the primary class and 800 volumes in the library. Lord Butler was appointed Mr. Barnes's suc- cessor. He held the office about a year, and Ziba Ben- nett was appointed, and remained in office until 1866, when W. W. Loomis was elected. In 1868 George S. Bennett was elected and he has held the office since. In 1868 an intermediate class was established as an advanced grade of the primary class, and as preparatory to the junior department or main school.


In 1873, the accommodations of the church edifice not being sufficient to meet the wants of the increasing numbers of the Sunday-school and the social meetings of the church, the project of erecting a chapel in the rear of the church was started. George S. Bennett, B. G. Carpenter and H. H. Derr were appointed a commit- tee to procure suitable plans and an estimate of the cost of the proposed building. In 1874 Mrs. Priscilla L. Ben-


li


232


HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.


nett proposed to build the new chapel, provided the church and congregation would raise an equal amount of money to remodel the present church edifice or erect a new structure. This generous proposition was accepted, and in 1875 plans were procured for the chapel and new church and subscriptions received." In 1876 the building of the chapel commenced. The following persons con- stituted the building committee: Geo. S. Bennett, B. G. Carpenter, D. L. Rhone, P. Abbott and H. H. Derr. The chapel was completed early in 1877, and cost, exclusive of the ground, furnished throughout, $27,500. It was dedi- cated February 11th, 1877. Rev. J. H. Vincent, D. D., preached the dedicatory sermon. Rev. R. Nelson, D. D., in behalf of the donors presented to the trus- tees the land on which it stands-the gift of Hon. Ziba Bennett and Mrs. Martha B. Phelps-and the build- ing and furnishings, the gift of Mrs. Priscilla L. Bennett, wife of Judge Bennett. The ladies of the church contrib- uted the furniture and fittings of the church rooms in the building. Hon. L. D. Shoemaker, president of the board of trustees, received the same. The chapel was then for- mally dedicated by Rev. W. H. Olin, pastor. The offi- cers of the school were as follows in 1880: Superinten- dent, George S. Bennett; male assistant superintendent, H. H. Derr; female assistant superintendent, Mrs. P. L. Bennett; secretary, D. S. Morgan; assistant secretary, W. S. Carpenter; treasurer, Elias Robbins; chorister, George A. Wells; cornetist, John Hughes; pianist, C. E. Clark; librarian, P. Abbott; assistant librarians, C. D. Wells, J. P. Brownscombe, Willard Post and W. G. Phelps. The total membership of the school is 709; number of vol- umes in the library, 700.


First Free Methodist .- This church was organized March 27th, 1870, by Rev. John Glen, its first pastor. The original members were W. B. Bertels, S. A. Bertels, H. H. Pease, Mercy Pease, Eliza Pryor, J. Pryor, John Yocum, Mary Yocum, Lewis Hitchler, Wm. Dobson, Sarah Youngst, Mary Newhardt, J. D. Pembleton, Solo- mon Pursell, Joseph Smith, L. Smith, Emma Allen, Levi Ranch, C. Smith and Rachel Alden.


The place of meeting at organization was Harvey's Hall on Franklin street, where services were held till the congregation removed to the hall on the corner of Market and Canal streets. A lot has recently been pur- chased or South Main, between Ross and Academy streets, on which it is purposed to erect a house of worship. The pastors of this society have been: Revs. J. Glen, 1870; G. R. Harvey, 1870-72; George Edwards, 1872, 1873; M. D. McDougal, 1873-75; T. S. Labue, 1875, 1876; Wm. Jones, 1876, 1877: I. S. Bradbrook, 1877, 1878; and George Eakins, 1878-80.


There is a Sunday-school connected with the church of which Joseph Smith was first and Henry Wood is the present superintendent. The school has 50 scholars and 6 teachers, and a library of 250 volumes.


The African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1842 by Rev. Thomas M. D. Ward, with twelve con- stituent members. The present house of worship was finished and dedicated in September, 1870, having


been erected largely by aid extended by white sym- pathizers.


The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was or- ganized in 1842 by Rev. Thomas Jackson. The house of worship was erected in 1845, and was the first for the use of the colored people in the city. This church is connected with the Genesee Conference. The present membership is 30.


EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.


St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal .- The first service of the Episcopal church in Wilkes-Barre was held in the old academy on the public square in 1814, by Rev. Jackson Kemper, then a missionary in the borough. Rev. Richard Mason followed him before the close of the same year. There was no church organization until 1817, in which year the vestry was organized, September 19th. The date of the charter was October 17th follow- ing. The wardens were Ebenezer Bowman and Henry Clymer. Roswell Wells, Garrick Mallery, Samuel Bow- man, Peleg Trasy, Eleazer Blackman, Jacob A. Dennis, Benjamin Drake, Andrew Beaumont, Lord Butler and Samuel Maffett were the vestrymen.


The rite of baptism was first administered in Wilkes- Barre according to the ordinances of the Episcopal church December 8th, 1814. The Episcopal Sunday- school originated in that branch of the pioneer Sunday. school of Wilkes-Barre of which Judge Scott was super- intendent and which began its existence in the fall of 1818 The present Sunday-school superintendent is Mr. W. W. Lathrope; the number of scholars is 625.


St. Stephen's Church was admitted into union with the convention May 2nd, 1821.


The first house of worship, a frame building on Frank- lin street, was consecrated by Bishop White, June 14th, 1823. It was torn down and replaced by the present brick edifice, which cost $11,000 and was consecrated by Bishop Potter April 19th, 1855.


The successive rectors since Rev. Richard Mason, and the dates at which they came, have been as follows: Revs. Samuel Phinney, 1817; Manning B. Roach, 1819; Mr. Samuel Bowman, lay reader, 1821; Samuel Sitgreaves, 1823; Enoch Huntington, 1824; James May, 1827; W. J. Clark, 1838; R. B. Claxton, 1840; George D. Miles, 1848; R. H. Williamson; Henry L. Jones (present rector), 1874.


The number of families who are regular attendants upon the services of this church is 259; the number of communicants is 261. The offerings for 1878 amounted to $12,314.80.


Lewis C. Paine and C. M. Conyngham were the war- dens in 1879. The vestry was composed as follows: W. L. Conyngham, F. J. Leavenworth, A. R. Brundage, W. W. Lathrope, Charles A. Miner, Richard Sharpe, J. Pryor Williamson, David Caird, Ned Johnson and A. M. Brandon.


Saint Clement's Episcopal Church, on Hanover street, was duly incorporated April 8th, 1869, the following named persons being the original incorporators: E. W.


233


ST. CLEMENT'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, WILKES-BARRE-BAPTIST CHURCHES.


Sturdevant, Charles Sturdevant, John W. Horton, C. E. Butler, Daniel Harkins, N. M. Horton, B. F. Pfouts, G. F. Pfouts, Miller H. Cooke, Isaac E. Ross, Thomas Quick, John B. Quick, Elijah W. Richards, Thomas Carpenter, C. W. Gates, Moses Drumheller, J. G. Horton and W. Lee, jr.


In the early period of the existence of the church oc- casional services were held by Rev. John Long, mission- ary. The first regularly installed rector was Rev. Wil- liam J. Cleveland, who was ordained deacon April 18th, 1872, and entered upon his duties as rector April 21st following. He was succeeded the following year by Rev. George W. Knapp, who remained about four years. Rev. P. Baldy Lightner became rector March 31st, 1878, and remained for nearly a year. The present rector, Rev. Edward M. Pecke, was elected to the rectorship April 23d, 1879, and entered upon his duties immedi- ately.


May 18th, 1869, the lot upon which the church stands, on Hanover street, was given by Mr. Washington Lee, jr. June 5th of the same year the vestry resolved " to pro- ceed forthwith to the building of a stone church on the said lot, according to the plan furnished by the architect, Mr. C. M. Burns, of Philadelphia." The corner stone was laid by the Rt. Rev. William Bacon Stevens, D. D., bishop of the diocese, September 13th, 1869. The build- ing was completed at a cost of $10,000, in June, 1871; and the first service was held in it on the 24th of the same month, the Rev. Leighton Coleman, Mauch Chunk, preaching the sermon. July 11th, 1871, the church was consecrated by Bishop Stevens, twenty-two clergymen being present.


The Sunday-school numbers about 100 pupils. The superintendent in 1879 was Mr. Lyman E. Phillips. An earnest effort was being made at that time to erect a suitable rectory, on land adjoining the church lot, of- fered for the purpose by Mr. Andrew Lee.


BAPTIST CHURCHES.


The Wilkes-Barre and Kingston Church -Baptist ser- vices were held occasionally before there was any church organization of that denomination, in the "Old Ship Zion " on the public square. The Wilkes-Barre and Kingston church, of 33 members, was constituted in 1842 at Forty Fort, and recognized by a council of churches December 7th of that year. This movement was the re- sult of the labors of Rev. P. L. Post, of Montrose, Pa., a missionary of the Pennsylvania State Baptist Convention, and others. The first pastor was Rev. A. C. Hewitt, who was called in 1845, the church then meeting for worship in hired rooms or in the old court-house. In 1846 steps were taken toward the erection of a house of worship. A lot was secured on the south side of Northampton street, upon which was built a church which was opened for service in 1848. In 1849 the Wilkes-Barre portion of the membership withdrew from the Kingston branch.


The Northampton Street Baptist .- This is the name by which the Wilkes-Barre branch was recognized, and the Kingston church ultimately, becoming merged in the


Wilkes-Barre and Pittston churches, lost its identity. Mr. Hewitt continued his relation with the Wilkes-Barre church until 1851, when he was succeeded by Rev. John Boyd. The subsequent pastors were Revs. E. M. Alden, who came in 1859; James L. Andrews, 1866; D. E. Bow- en, 1869; Charles A. Fox, 1870; J. D. Griebel, 1871. Mr. Fox's pastorate was rendered thus brief by his death be- fore the close of 1870.


By advice of a council of Baptist churches, held No- vember roth, 1873, the church disbanded, and the mem- bers deposited their letters with the Pittston Baptist church, while the church property was transferred in trust to the Pennsylvania Baptist General Association until a reorganization could be effected under more favor- able auspices.


The Centennial Baptist .- Under appointment by the Pennsylvania Baptist General Association Rev. J. Blanch- ard Hutchinson, of Philadelphia, began to labor at Wilkes-Barre July Ist, 1874, and on the 16th of that month organized a mission, and a Bible-school a month later. The congregation increased, the school enlarged, eleven converts were baptized and Mr. Hutchinson was encouraged by such favorable indications, and the Cen- tennial Baptist Church was organized July Ist, 1875, with 70 members (10 of whom united by baptism, 16 by ex- pression of their faith and 44 by letter), and recognized by a council of sister churches September 15th.


Rev. Mr. Hutchinson was called to the pastorate, and has continued the pastoral relation continuously since. The following officers were elected: William G. Colley, T. S. Parker and C. F. Nauman, deacons; P. S. Bailey, church clerk; J. R. Bogart, treasurer; R. Humphreys, M. V. B. Dann, G. S. Weeks, Isaac Tyler, William Toombs, M. S. Harding and T. M. Mason, trustees.


The following is an abstract of the report of the con- dition of the church October Ist, 1879: Value of church property (in good repair and free from debt), $15,000; membership, 130; membership of Bible school, 106; number of volumes in library, 200; superintendent, Frank B. Mahoney; church officers :- deacons, William G. Colley, William Wheelock; church clerk, P. H. Bailey; treasurer, William Toombs; trustees, M. S. Harding, George Mason, H. W. Kalisch, F. M. Mason, E. P. Phillips, WV. H. Carey, William Wheelock.


Welsh Baptist .- For some time prior to organization as a church a few Welsh Baptists had attempted in private dwellings to form the nucleus to a church and a Sunday- school. The names of William McGregor, William Richards and John Haskins were prominent in this formative period. For some months services were held Sunday afternoons in the English Baptist church; but later Phenix Hall was engaged by the Welsh Baptists for church and Sunday-school services. An assistant preacher named John Rees, subsequently ordained to the ministry in Ohio, made himself useful at this juncture. The Sunday-school was promising. The first superin- tendent was Nathaniel Griffiths, deceased. The organiza- tion of the church in the above named hall occurred in the spring of 1867. Of the 27 constituent members but


30


234


HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.


I remains in the church at present. The first deacons were John Haskins and William Richards. Thomas J. Morgans, one of the present deacons, was the first person baptized in the church. Rev. Frederick Evans, D. D., then of Hyde Park, took part with others in the organi- zation ceremonies.


In July, 1870, Rev. Theophilus Jones, of Mahanoy City, Pa., was called to the pastorate. He remained until September, 1874. The present pastor, Rev. E. Edwards, removed at the call of the church from Webster, Monroe county, N. Y., in November, 1876, and consid- erable progress has been made under his pastorate.


In 1872 a lot was presented to the church by, and an- other purchased of, Charles Parrish, Esq., as president of the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, making a double lot on Harrison street. A commodious but not costly edifice was erected by Robert Thomas, architect, under contract with the authorities of the church, and completed and opened for worship in the spring of 1874. About three-fourths of the indebtedness incurred in the purchase of the lot and erection of the church has al- ready been canceled, and it is confidently hoped that the balance will soon disappear.


During a little more than a dozen years of its exist- ence this church has dismissed members to form other churches at Nanticoke, Plymouth, Kingston and Parsons. Although the colonies referred to went out before the commencement of the present pastorate, this period has been marked by so many removals and deaths that, while fifty or more have been added by baptism and otherwise since the fall of 1876, the number of members (nearly 100) in 1879 was hardly a score in excess of the total at that date, owing to the shifting and unreliable condition of Welsh churches in the mining regions. The church has a branch Sunday-school on Rolling Mill hill, which, together with that in the church, numbers about 140 pupils. There are 19 teachers, and the number of vol- umes in the library is 150.


CATHOLIC CHURCHES.


St. Mary's .- Father Henry Fitzsimmons, of Carbon- dale, was the first Catholic priest who preached in Wilkes- Barre, where he began to labor as a missionary in 1840, when the Roman Catholic population was only 50 or 60. In 1842 a small frame church was erected on Canal street between Northampton and South streets, service having been formerly held in the house of a Mr. Keating. In 1845 a brick building was begun on the same lot, which was seven years in course of construction. In September, 1870, was begun the present commodious and elegant church on Washington street, of which an engraving ap- pears below, and it was dedicated December 16th, 1872, since which time the old brick church has been occupied by St. Mary's parochial school.


Father Fitzsimmons was succeeded, in 1847, by Father Pendergast. The succeeding pastors have been Father Edhoffer, who came in 1848 and was succeeded by Father O'Shaugnessy in the latter part of the same year;


Father Sharp, 1849; Father Burgess, 1851; Father Fitz- simmons, 1856; and Father Dennis O'Haran, 1869.


Father O'Haran is assisted in the now onerous duties of the pastorate by Revs. P. McManus and Francis B. McNally. Under his management the church, the paro- chial residence and St. Mary's Academy have been built and the old church remodeled for school purposes as stated; parishes have been established at Plymouth, Nan- ticoke, Sugar Notch and Plainsville, and churches have been erected in each parish except Plainsville, and there one will be erected at an early date. The membership of St. Mary's Church is about 8,000, and the church property is valued at $250,000; $200,000 has been col- lected and disbursed by Father O'Haran.


The Mallinckrodt Convent, of which a notice appears on page 204 and an engraving herewith, has for a part of its mission the training of teachers for such schools as those connected with the Catholic churches of Wilkes- Barre.


-


235


CHURCHES OF WILKES-BARRE.


St. Nicholas German Catholic .- The German Catholics of Wilkes-Barre were many years ago visited occasionally by priests from abroad. In 1856 the corner stone was laid for the first German Catholic church edifice, at the corner of South and Washington streets, and the congre- gation was organized under its present name. In 1868 the church was enlarged. There was no regular pas- tor until 1858, when Rev. Peter C. Nagel came. He has sustained the pastoral relation to the congregation con- tinuously to the present time. For several years he was the only German Catholic priest in Luzerne, Wayne and Pike counties. In 1874 an assistant pastor was added, in the person of Rev. William Dassel, now pastor of Mary Magdalen Church, of Honesdale, Pa. The present assistant is Rev. Peter Crist.


In 1858 the membership of this church was about 100 families. The membership in 1879 was about 400 families, and a parochial school was connected with the church.


OTHER CHURCHES.


Bnai Brith Jewish Synagogue .- The Jewish syna- gogue, on Washington street, was organized in October, 1840. The following are the names of the constituent members: Joseph Coons, Martin Long, Marx Long, John Constine, David Maier, M. Rosenbaum, Solomon Kra- mer, Marx Straub, S. Wilzinsky, H. Ansbacher, Joseph Shwabacher, A. Lederer, J. Lowenstein, Isaac Lengfeld, A. Frahlich, M. Silberbach, B. Burgunder, W. Baum, H. Lowenstein, Moritz Straus, Joseph Hamburger, David Mordochar, L. Ullman, David Coons, J. Merzbacher, Leopold Schwabacher, J. Lengfeld, Solomon Schloss, Louis Ries, L. Ackerman, Simon Long, Abram Strauss, Lehman Rosenbaum, L. Steinhard, Moritz Sulzbacher and Lieb Heimer. These were all then young men. Some of them are now among the well-to-do business men of Wilkes-Barre, advanced in years, but still members of the synagogue. Until the erection of the church, in 1849 they worshiped in a small room on New Year's day and the day of the atonement.


The church edifice is a brick building worth about $5,000. The corner stone was laid in 1848 and it was consecrated in August of the following year by Rev. Dr. Leeser of Philadelphia and Rev. Mr. Isaacs, of New York.


The successive pastors have been as follows: Revs. Maus, from October, 1848, to August, 1849; M. Strasser, from August, 1849, to August, 1851; Rev. Isaac Strouse, from August, 1851, to May 13th, 1853; Rev. . Herman Rubin, from June 5th, 1853, to the present time.


With the congregation is connected a school of about 40 pupils, under the charge of Rev. Herman Rubin. The catechism, the Bible, history, Hebrew reading and Ger- man reading and writing are taught, together with trans- lation of the Hebrew and German languages into Eng- lish.




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