USA > Pennsylvania > Venango County > History of Venango County, Pennsylvania : its past and present, including > Part 42
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In 1815 the building was erected. It was perhaps as elaborate and pretentious in its appearance and appointments as the resources of the com- munity would warrant; wooden materials were used; there was an entrance hall in front, communicating with two rooms; and here a succession of ped- agogues taught " the young idea how to shoot " until in course of time the improved appearance of a growing county seat demanded better facilities. John Kelly taught here first, from 1815 to 1823. Among his successors were John Sutton and John Gamble; Reverend Robert Ayres, an Episco- pal clergyman, a man of dignified appearance and a prominent figure in the early social life of the town; Reverend Nathaniel R. Snowden, a Presbyterian minister, and Reverend Thomas F. Magill, also of the latter
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
denomination. When the first academy building was removed cannot be definitely ascertained. In 1838 the trustees were authorized by the legis- lature to sell five hundred and ten acres of land and certain outlots and apply the proceeds to the erection of new buildings. This appears to have been neglected for the time; and in 1852, the dilatoriness of the trustees in this matter having been severely criticized by the press, they submitted a statement showing that the available funds in their hands amounted to only two thousand one hundred dollars. The agitation was continued; and in the following year under their direction Jacob G. Keefer erected a two- story brick building on Buffalo street. There were two rooms on the ground floor and one above. This infused new vigor into the institution; and in the public schools of that period there was ample room for educational work of an academic character. As the former improved the usefulness of the latter declined. Under the provisions of a general law the academy property became vested in the city school board, and in September, 1871, it was sold to the Evangelical church.
Under the public school system buildings were erected in various parts of the town. There were three of these in 1848-a brick building on Buf- falo street between Thirteenth and Fourteenth, now occupied as a residence; a small frame house on Buffalo street near Ninth, and a similar structure on West Park street between Elk and Otter built about 1840 upon ground owned by the Presbyterian church. The latter is still referred to as "the old white school house," There was no regularly arranged course of study in those days nor for many years afterward, but each teacher did what seemed right in his own eyes and when pupils became sufficiently advanced they could enter the academy. The town was neither populous nor wealthy, and the improvement in the public schools was scarcely perceptible, public interest and energy being centered upon the academy.
The beginning of the oil development marks a new era in local educa- tional as well as material progress. This was substantially evidenced in 1867 by the erection of the Union school building on the corner of Eleventh and Buffalo streets at a cost of thirty-three thousand seven hundred dollars. January 6, 1868, this building was opened with an attendance of seven hundred pupils-such an outpouring of the rising generation to one point as had never before been witnessed in Franklin. In 1860 there were seven schools; from 1861 to 1865, eight, of which one was colored; in 1867, twelve; in 1871, thirteen; in 1872 and 1873, fourteen; in 1874, fifteen; and with an increasing population enlarged accommodations had become a necessity. May 28, 1876, contracts for the erection of two new buildings were awarded, that for the First ward at the corner of Ninth and Elk, and for the Second at the corner of Fourteenth and Buffalo. The original cost of the former was thirteen thousand four hundred and ninety dollars; it was enlarged in 1889 at an added expenditure of three thousand and thirty-
Walter Lowie Whown W. D
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CITY OF FRANKLIN.
six dollars. The latter cost eighteen thousand four hundred dollars and was enlarged in 1884 at a cost of three thousand two hundred and seventy- five dollars. The cost of the Third ward building was twelve thousand four hundred dollars. The aggregate value of school grounds, buildings, furni- ture, and apparatus at the present time approximates one hundred and five thousand dollars.
M. N. Horton was elected principal of the city schools with general supervision thereof in 1875 and served two years. He was succeeded in 1877 by N. P. Kinsley, who filled the position until 1885, when the city having acquired the requisite population the office of superintendent of schools was then created, in which Professor Kinsley has been continued until the present time.
The following is a list of principals of the high school since 1868: H. A. Strong, G. A. Walker, C. C. Dunnells, J. W. Canon, F. M. Kendall, W. H. Schuyler, J. O. McCalmont, and C. E. Lord, present incumbent. The high school curriculum includes three courses of study-English scientific, Latin scientific, and classical. A high testimonial to its character and thoroughness is found in the fact that graduates enter the Freshman class at Princeton and Yale without further preparation. Among the teachers who have been connected with the various departments of the schools ten years or longer are N. P. Kinsley, F. D. Sullinger, A. L. Bowser, Mary Ridgway, Annex Walker, Florence Campbell, and Lura Smiley.
The rate of taxation in 1861 and 1862 was ten mills; in 1863, six; in 1864, ten; in 1866 and 1867, twenty-six; in 1868, twenty-four; in 1869, twenty; in 1870, twenty-six; in 1871, thirty; in 1872 and 1873, twenty-two; in 1874, twenty four; in 1875, ten; in 1876, eight; in 1877, 1878, and 1879, ten; in 1880, twelve; in 1881 and 1882, eleven; in 1883 and 1884, ten; in 1885, twelve; in 1886, eleven; in 1887, 1888, and 1889, ten. For building purposes the highest rate was thirteen mills, in 1866, 1867, and 1870; the lowest was one mill, in 1876, and since that date the rate has uniformly been two mills, except 1880, when three mills were levied, and 1884, when the rate was one and one-half mills. For school purposes the highest rate was twenty mills, in 1871, with fourteen in 1873 and 1874 and thirteen in 1866, 1867, and 1870. The lowest was six mills in 1875, and from that time the rate has not exceeded ten mills.
The board of directors is comprised of six members, two of whom are elected annually for a term of three years. The following is a list of direc- tors as far as could be obtained from existing records:
1859 .- J. C. May, Hugh Hunter, S. T. Kennedy, Levi Dodd, N. S. Ridgway, Espy Connely.
1860 .- Levi Dodd, N. S. Ridgway, J. L. Sprogle, Jacob Mayes, R. S. McCormick, S. T. Kennedy.
23
414
HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
1861 .- Jacob Mayes, S. T. Kennedy, C. Heydrick, William Bennett, R. S. McCormick, W. M. Epley.
1862 .- C. Heydrick, M. W. Sage, T. H. Martin, C. W. Gilfillan, R. S. McCormick, William Bennett.
1863 .- C. Heydrick, M. W. Sage, R. Irwin, William Bennett, C. W. Gilfillan, T. H. Martin.
1864 .- R. Irwin, C. Heydrick, C. W. Gilfillan, T. H. Martin, S. J. M. Eaton, Thomas Hoge.
1865. - R. Irwin, Thomas Hoge, J. P. Hoover, C. Heydrick, S. J. M. Eaton, N. S. Ridgway.
1866 .- S. J. M. Eaton, N. S. Ridgway, Thomas Hoge, H. Womersley, J. P. Hoover, J. H. Smith.
1867 .- J. H. Smith, H. Womersley, N. S. Ridgway, I. W. Brady, J. P. Hoover, Thomas Hoge.
1868 .- J. H. Smith, N. S. Ridgway, I. W. Brady, R. A. Brashear, A. P. Whitaker, H. Womersley.
1869 .- J. H. Smith, I. W. Brady, A. P. Whitaker, N. S. Ridgway, G. W. Brigham, R. A. Brashear.
1870 .- A. P. Whitaker, W. S. Carroll, G. W. Brigham, S. C. T. Dodd, H. Dubbs, - Winchester.
1871 .- G. W. Brigham, president; W. S. Carroll, secretary; S. C. T. Dodd, W. R. Crawford, W. S. Welsh, - Winchester.
1872 .- W. R. Crawford, president; H. A. Miller, secretary; S. C. T. Dodd, W. S. Carroll, G. W. Brigham, N. H. McCormick.
1873 .- W. S. Welsh, president; H. A. Miller, secretary; N. H. McCor- mick, James Miller, J. H. Osmer, W. R. Crawford.
1874 .- James Miller, president; H. A. Miller, secretary; N. H. McCor- mick, J. H. Osmer, H. A. Strong, W. J. Mattern.
1875 .- W. J. Mattern, president; James Miller, secretary; D. W. Mor- gan, J. H. Osmer, A. D. Cotton, C. T. Mapes.
1876 .- W. J. Mattern, president; D. A. Hays, secretary; S. B. Myers, A. D. Cotton, C. S. Mark, C. T. Mapes.
1877 .- S. B. Myers, president; D. A. Hays, secretary; P. R. Gray, A.
D. Cotton, C. S. Mark, C. T. Mapes.
1878 .- S. B. Myers, president; D. A. Hays, secretary; P. R. Gray, C. S. Mark, R. Hammond, J. D. Chadwick.
1879 .- S. B. Myers, president; D. A. Hays, secretary; P. R. Gray, J. D. Chadwick, R. Hammond, George Criswell.
1880 .- S. B. Myers, president; D. A. Hays, secretary; J. D. Chadwick, G. W. Plumer, W. J. Mattern, R. Hammond.
1881 .- W. J. Mattern, president; D. A. Hays, secretary; S. B. Myers, G. W. Plumer, J. D. Chadwick, E. J. Martin.
1882 .- W. J. Mattern, president; D. A. Hays, secretary; S. B. Myers, J. D. Chadwick, G. W. Plumer, E. J. Martin.
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CITY OF FRANKLIN.
1883. - W. J. Mattern, president, J. D. Chadwick, secretary; S. B. Myers, E. J. Martin, Isaac Reineman, James Smith.
1884. - Isaac Reineman, president; J. D. Chadwick, secretary; James Smith, E. J. Martin, G. S. Criswell, P. R. Gray.
1885 .- Isaac Reineman, president; D. A. Hays, secretary; P. R. Gray, G. S. Criswell, James Smith, M. R. Paden.
1886 .- Isaac Reineman, president; D. A. Hays, secretary; G. S. Cris- well, H. M. Hughes, J. D. Chadwick, M. R. Paden, L. L. Davis (vice H. M. Hughes, deceased).
1887 .- Isaac Reineman, president; J. D. Chadwick, secretary; H. M. Irwin, H. D. Hulin, D. A. Hays, M. R. Paden.
1888 .- H. M. Irwin, president; J. D. Chadwick, secretary; M. R. Paden, H. D. Hulin, A. A. Plumer, D. A. Hays.
1889 .- H. M. Irwin, president; J. D. Chadwick, secretary, H. D. Hulin, Philip Engelskirger, D. A. Hays, M. R. Paden.
1890 .- D. A. Hays, president; J. D. Chadwick, secretary; H. M. Irwin, H. D. Hulin, Philip Engelskirger, M. R. Paden.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
The Presbyterian Church was well represented among the early popula- tion of Franklin, and naturally antedates the other religious bodies of the town. The first sermon was preached in 1801 at the house of Captain James G. Heron. In 1802 the Presbytery of Erie was asked to send sup- plies, which request was annually repeated, thus showing the continuous presence of a Presbyterian element. Reverends Tait, Wood, Wick, and Johnson were sent in response to these requests. They preached in private houses, in the United States "garrison," or in the court house. June 25, 1817, at the meeting of presbytery at Scrubgrass, Reverend Ira Condit was directed to preach one Sabbath at Franklin and assist in effecting an organi- zation. This he did, July 28, 1817. In the same month four years later a reorganization was effected under the auspices of the Presbytery of Allegheny by Reverends Cyrus Riggs and Alexander Cook. There were nine mem- bers in 1817: John Broadfoot, James Gilliland, elders; Andrew Bowman, Sarah Bowman, Nancy Hays, Barbara McCalmont, Henry Bowman, Isabella Bowman, and Anna Dewoody. The first communion was celebrated in July, 1821, in a grove on the bank of the creek between West Park street and Thirteenth. The second occurrence of this nature was in 1823, when the court house was occupied.
The first church edifice was also the first building erected in Franklin for religious purposes. It was a frame building forty by fifty feet in size, with a narrow vestibule and two stories in height, a gallery running around three sides of the room. This gallery was high and lighted by a second tier of windows. It was not occupied nor even seated until 1859. Over the vestibule and running into the audience room was a small lecture room
416
HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
that had access to the audience room by swinging doors. This small room was used for prayer meetings, and the portion of gallery in front of it was used as a choir gallery. In the farther end of the church was the pulpit, high and lifted up, and covered with a mass of crimson drapery. The church was remodeled several times, as the exigencies of the times required, but it was always more useful than elegant. When first occupied it was without pulpit or pews. A work bench with chair did duty as a pulpit, and seats made with slabs and boards set on blocks answered very well as pews. The gospel was a message of good tidings then in that rude shell, as well as as at any time since, under fairer circumstances. This old building was occupied for the last time on the 7th of March, 1869, and demolished two or three years afterward.
The old subscription paper on which it was built is still extant. The total sum of the subscription was one thousand and fifty-five dollars, of which the cash subscriptions amounted to but ninety-six dollars. All kinds of trade were subscribed, from hats and earthenware to two bushels of wheat. It was long before the debt was fully extinguished, but this was finally done before the house was torn down. As an indication of the close- ness of the times and the mode of transacting business at that day, the entire subscription paper is copied from the original:
We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, promise to pay to the trustees of the Presbyterian congregation in Franklin the several sums annexed to our names, respect- ively (in such articles as we shall name, at market price), to be appropriated by them to defray the expenses of building a church of such dimensions as shall be agreed on for the use of said congregation.
June 9, 1826.
Andrew Bowman, in shoes and
leather $300.00
Samuel Hays, in lumber. 150.00
George McClelland, in trade 150.00
Myron Park, in trade. 20.00
Hugh McClelland, in articles suita-
ble for the building. 25.00
William Raymond, county paper. . William Black.
25.00
5.00
James Hanna, in work. 3.00
James Rodgers, in lumber suitable, 5.00 John J. Pearson. 5.00
John Paden, in chairs. 10.00
John Little. 5.00
Joseph Wallace, earthenware. 10.00
Thomas S. McDowell, trade and lumber.
20.00
. Alexander McCalmont, in trade. 50.00 Andrew Dewoody, in hats: 15.00
James Bennett, in trade. 3.00
George Dewoody, in trade. 10.00
Levi Dodd, in trade .. 12.00
John Service, in saddlery 5.00
Angus McKinzie, in trade. 5.00
John Evans, in trade 5.00
John Hanna, two bushels of wheat.
William Duffield, in trade 2.00
James Gilliland. 20.00
William Dewoody, county paper .. 30.00
Arthur Robison, Jr., in trade. 5.00
Thomas Paden, in chairs. 10.00
John Simcox. in smith-work. 10.00
John Dewoody, in trade. 30.00
Arnold Plumer, in trade. 10.00
John Gurney, in trade. 15.00
John Gorden .. 1.50
William Gorden. 1.00
Joseph Morrison 25.00
James Adams 20.00
John Irwin. 5.00
Isaac Smith 5.00
Benjamin Alexander, cabinet work, 20.00
George Sutley 5.00
I do agree to pay fifteen dollars in plas- tering, this 15th day of March, 1834.
JAMES RICKETTS.
417
CITY OF FRANKLIN.
The erection of the present church edifice was begun April 5, 1867, and the corner-stone was laid, with appropriate ceremonies, July 9th of that year, on which occasion Reverend George Junkin, D. D., delivered the principal address. The dedication occurred April 1, 1869, Reverend Cyrus Dickson, D. D., a former pastor, assisting in the services. The aggregate cost approximated forty-three thousand dollars; this includes the cost of the lot, corner of Elk and West Park streets. The adjoining lot on Otter street, the site of the old church building, is now occupied by a spacious brick parsonage, erected in 1889. Its predecessor, the first parsonage in the bounds of Erie Presbytery, was built in 1858 at a cost of nine hundred dollars.
Beside the supplies occasionally sent by presbytery, Reverend Hezekiah May, who resided at Franklin from 1822 to 1824, preached during a portion of that time. The first pastor was Reverend Thomas Anderson, who began his labors here June 11, 1826, preaching one-third of the time in connection with Sugar Creek and Concord. His connection with this charge ceased September 12, 1837. His successor, Reverend Cyrus Dickson, D. D., was installed June 24, 1840, although his work here began in January previous. Half his time was given to Sugar Creek, until January 1, 1846, and he was released from the charge March 16, 1848. Reverend S. J. M. Eaton, the third pastor, was installed February 7, 1849, having preached his first sermon here April 17, 1848. One-third of his time was given to Mount Pleasant, until August 29, 1855, and since that date Franklin, individually, has consti- tuted a charge. Mr. Eaton's pastorate terminated in 1882. In July of that year Reverend John McCoy assumed charge, and remained until December 31, 1886. Reverend J. C. Bruce, the present incumbent, was installed February 1, 1887.
The succession of elders since the election of John Broadfoot and James Gilliland, in 1821, with dates of ordination or installation, is as follows: Andrew Bowman, May 13, 1827; Levi Dodd, May 27, 1827; Charles W. Mackey, Grier Mc Williams, February 5, 1854; A. W. Raymond, February 5, 1859; Robert Lamberton, Peter McGough, Charles H. Dale, January 11, 1863; John Trunkey, James F. Mackey, January 23, 1876; John A. Mc- Giffin, Robert H. Woodburn, February 12, 1882; James W. Brady, January 11, 1885; A. J. Kilgore, February 12, 1882. Deacons-A. D. Cotton, J. N. Craft, R. H. Woodburn, Joshua Spare, William A. Cooper, January 11, 1874; John A. McGiffin, March 22, 1874; Henry D. Hulin, January 14, 1877; Ephraim Law, James W. Brady, James Miller, February 12, 1882; J. S. Bollman, J. R. Fitzgerald, January 11, 1884; L. H. Fassett, January 3, 1888. The present session is constituted as follows: Elders-Peter McGough, Charles H. Dale, James Miller, James W. Brady, Robert H. Woodburn; deacons-Henry D. Hulin, Ephraim Law, Joseph S. Bollman, L. H. Fassett. The present membership is four hundred and seventy-
418
HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
eight. Robert F. Glenn is superintendent of the Sunday school, which numbers three hundred and seventy-five.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Franklin is one of the oldest organi- zations of that body in western Pennsylvania. The historian of the Erie Conference states that in the autumn of 1804 Reverend Andrew Hemphill, then in charge of Erie circuit, preached the first Methodist sermon in the town under a tree on the common. He had traveled thither from where Ti- tusville on Oil creek now stands, accompanied by William Connely who served as a guide. They endeavored to secure the school house for their appointment but were refused. The first class was organized in 1810, and consisted of William Connely, wife, and daughter Rebecca; John Lupher and wife, William McElhaney and wife. Reverend Joshua Monroe was in charge of Erie circuit at this time. William Kinnear and Welden Adams were also early Methodists at Franklin. The society met for worship at private houses for a time, and afterward in the academy building.
In 1816 William Connely deeded a lot to John Leach, trustee of the Erie Conference, and the building of a church thereon was contemplated, but owing to the small membership of the class this idea was relinquished. In 1833 the erection of a church building on Buffalo street, between Eleventh and Twelfth was begun. It was occupied the following year.
The earliest record now extant is that of a quarterly conference held August 20, 1835. At that time the stewards were A. Plumer, William Kin- near, F. McClintock, Jacob Lupher; class leaders: Jacob Mays, J. R. Elder, M. Stockberger, Benjamin Thompson. They were probably identi- fied with the building of the first church. Ten years later the stewards were B. A. Plumer, C. Gildersleeve, and D. Vincent; Samuel Grove, R. Beatty, and P. Reardon were exhorters; William P. Bean and A. Cram were local preachers.
The corner-stone of the present church ediffce, a large brick structure on Liberty street, was laid by Bishop Simpson August 23, 1867. The basement was occupied in the following year. The dedication occurred April 25, 1869. The cost exceeded forty-two thousand dollars. The brick parsonage adjoining was built during the pastorate of Reverend J. N. Fra- denburgh. The membership in June, 1889, was five hundred and sixty-one, and the official boards were constituted as follows: Trustees: W. L. Cor- rin, W. J. Mattern, S. B. Myers, N. S. Ridgway, D. I. Dale; stewards: A. Y. Findlay, J. M. Sykes, W. L. Corrin, D. I. Dale, M. C. Flower; class leaders: David S. Smith, George S. King, W. S. Welsh, J. H. Smith, W. Z. Tourtellott, E. D. Smith, W. D. Howard, Ira E. Vincent, S. S. Jor- dan, I. E. Howard; local preacher, George S. King; exhorter, E. D. Smith.
From 1801 to 1825, inclusive, the preachers stationed at Erie included Franklin or its vicinity in their field of labor; in 1826 and 1827 it formed part of Meadville circuit; and since the latter date has constituted a circuit
419
CITY OF FRANKLIN.
or station individually, with the following appointments at the respective dates: 1801, James Quinn, J. A. Shakelford; 1802, J. Cullison; 1803, Noah Fidler; 1804, A. Hemphill; 1805, David Best, J. A. Shakelford; 1806, R. R. Roberts, J. Watts; 1807, C. Reynolds, A. Daniels; 1808, John Guest, W. Butler; 1809, J. Charles, J. Hanson, J. Decellum; 1810, J. Monroe; 1811, J. Watts, J. Ewing; 1812, J. Watts, J. Gorwell, J. Graham; 1813, N. Robinson; 1814, J. Solomon, J. Graham; 1815, R. C. Hatton; 1816, C. Godard, J. P. Kent; 1817, J. P. Kent, Ira Eddy; 1818, D. D. David- son, S. Adams; 1819, P. Green; 1820, Ira Eddy, Charles Elliott; 1821, Ezra Booth, C. Truscott; 1822, W. H. Collins; 1823, J. Summerville; 1824, J. P. Kent; 1825, Nathaniel Reeder, Z. Ragan; 1826, J. W. Hill, I. H. Tack- itt; 1827, C. Brown, J. Leach, I. H. Tackitt; 1828, A. Callender; 1829, H. Kinsley, W. R. Babcock; 1830, W. R. Babcock, J. Robinson; 1831, S. Ayers; 1832, Job Wilson, J. Hitchcock; 1833, R. B. Gardner, A. Keller; 1834, S. W. Ingraham; 1835, A. Bronson, G. W. Clarke, D. M. Sterns; 1836, C. Brown, J. Prosser; 1837, A. Hall; 1838, J. S. Barris; 1839, J. A. Hallock; 1840, W. Patterson; 1841-42, J. R. Locke; 1843-44, H. A. Sterns; 1845-46, M. C. Briggs; 1847-48, W. F. Wilson; 1849-50, M. Hill; 1851- 52, W. F. Day; 1853, G. L. Little; 1854, G. W. Clarke; 1855, H. H. Moore; 1856-57, G. W. Chesbro; 1858-59, D. C. Osborne; 1860, D. M. Rodgers; 1861-62, J. Whitely; 1863-65, J. Bain; 1866, J. R. Lyon; 1867- 69, J. H. Tagg; 1870-72, J. Peate; 1873-74, O. L. Mead; 1875-77, W. W. Painter; 1878-80, J. N. Fradenburgh; 1881-83, David Latshaw; 1884- 86, J. Z. Armstrong; 1887-90, A. J. Merchant.
St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church has experienced many vicissi- tudes. The original organization was effected by Reverend Charles Smith, who was sent as missionary to Meadville, Franklin, Mercer, and parts adja- cent by the Advancement Society of Pennsylvania in 1825. He was assisted by Reverend Benjamin Hutchins. The vestry in 1826, as appears in an application for charter privileges, consisted of George Power, M. J. Crary, John Evans, George Brigham, James Kinnear, John Rynd, John Fetter- man, David Irvine, Myron Park, William Parker, Samuel Bailey, Arm- strong Duffield, Alexander McCalmont, and John J. Pearson. John Evans was secretary of this body in 1827. In that year the parish commenced to erect a small brick edifice upon land donated for that purpose by Mrs. Sarah McDowell. The lot was situated on Buffalo street, west side, below High. After the walls were up and roof on work was suspended several years in consequence of lack of funds; and thus, without floor, window, or doors, the building furnished a refuge for cattle. In 1834 the Cumberland Pres- byterians made an effort to organize a society at Franklin, and entered into an agreement with the vestry of St. John's by which it was provided that for the use of the building six years they should finish it. In 1850 Rev- erend Samuel T. Lord visited Franklin and found the church closed, the
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HISTORY OF VENANGO COUNTY.
efforts of the Presbyterians having entirely failed, though for a time suc- cessful. In 1851 the parish was reorganized and arrangements made for regular services every third Sunday. After a brief interval this arrange- ment was discontinued, and for nearly a decade the church was closed, during part of which time the building was used as a school house.
The prospects of the parish revived with the influx of population incident to the discovery of oil, and through the instrumentality of two ladies, Mrs. Ruth Elliott and Mrs. Mason, the building was restored. This condition of affairs having been presented to the diocesan convention in 1862, Reverend Henry Purdon was appointed missionary to Franklin and other points in the oil regions. In the summer of 1863 he was succeeded by Reverend J. W. Tays. Reverend Marcus A. Tolman was in charge from November, 1866, to July, 1874; Reverend A. B. Putnam, from September, 1874, to May, 1879; Reverend Harry Leigh Yewens, the present rector, entered upon his duties November 27, 1879. The parish ceased to be a mission in 1865, and was represented in the diocesan convention of that year for the first time. Its deputies were James M. Bredin, - Hurley, and H. Philips Montgomery.
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