History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 191

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438

USA > Pennsylvania > Monroe County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 191
USA > Pennsylvania > Pike County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 191
USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania > Part 191

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).

In 1835, Jonas Bissey and John L. Taft were appointed to Stroudsburg, but John L. Taft was removed to another field of labor a short time after Conference, and James Flannery was employed by the presiding elder in his place. In 1836 tlie German Mission was united with Stroudsburg. Jonas Bissey and Jacob Davidson were the preachers. In 1837, James Smith was appointed presiding elder. Stroudsburg and Mauch Chunk were united under the care of Jacob Davidson and James Neill. In 1838 the German Mission and Stroudsburg were again united. Jacob David- son and William K. Goentner were the preach- ers ; in 1839, James Harmer and Peter Eisen- brey, the latter under the presiding elder. In 1840, James Flannery was appointed preacher in charge, and John Allen and Peter J. Cox were employed as assistants by the presiding elder.

At the close of 1840 Mt. Bethel was sepa- rated from Stroudsburg and was supplied with preaching by Thomas Mack, who was employed by the presiding elder. Thomas Mack joined the Presbyterian Church in 1842. At the close of his year's labors the name of the circuit was changed to Richmond, and this it has been called ever since. Stoddartsville was also separated from Stroudsburg at the close of 1840, and Peter J. Cox appointed its first preacher in charge in 1841.

In 1841, James Flannery continued in charge of Stroudsburg. Solomon Higgins was made presiding elder of North Philadelphia District. In 1842, David E. Gardner and Henry B. Mauger were the preachers in Stroudsburg, the latter being employed by the presiding elder. In 1843, David E. Gardner was reappointed to Stroudsburg. Cherry Valley was made a dis- tinct circuit and Mahlon H. Sisty appointed preacher in charge. In 1844, John Ruth was preacher in charge. Paradise was made a dis- tinct circuit, and John Shields appointed preacher in charge in 1844. Stroudsburg, Cherry Valley and Paradise were all called missions. In 1845, James H. McFarland was appointed presiding clder of Reading District. All of the appointments north of Attleboro', bordering on the Delaware River, were included in that district. The divisions which had been made in Monroe County were not profitable. A return to the old arrangement of one circuit was deemed advisable. Cherry Valley and Paradise were included under the name of Stroudsburg. John Edwards was preacher in charge. - Bremmer was assistant, em- ployed by the presiding elder.

In 1846, William L. Gray and Samuel R. Gillingham were the preachers, the latter under the presiding elder. In 1847 and 1848, John W. Mecaskey was preacher in charge. Wil- liam B. Walton was employed as assistant by the presiding elder in 1847 and William H. Boswell in 1848. In 1849, Elijah Miller was appointed presiding elder of Reading District. Mahlon H. Sisty was preacher in charge of Stroudsburg, with Frederick Illman as assistant under the presiding elder. In 1850, Strouds- burg was again part of North Philadelphia

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Distriet. Robert Gerry, presiding elder, and M. H. Sisty and James N. King were the preachers, the latter under the presiding elder.

In 1851 and 1852, John A. Watson and William B. Wood were the preachers. They reported at the close of their first year two hun- dred and ninety-five members and twelve pro- bationers. At the close of their second year they reported two hundred and forty-four mem- bers and seventy-one probationers.

During their pastorate, J. A. Watson and W. B. Wood took the preliminary steps to secure a larger and more comfortable church edifice. A lot was selected, though uot purchased, and many of the arrangements made for the build- ing of a substantial brick church. At the close of their term of service Stroudsburg be- came a station, which it has remained until this present time.

In 1853, Joseph Castle was presiding elder of North Philadelphia District. James Hub- bard was appointed to Cherry Valley Circuit, and John F. Boone to Strondsburg.

The arrangements for removal from the old frame church were completed during the pas- torate of Bro. Boone, which continued until the spring of 1855.

On the 27th of May, 1853, application was made to the court of Monroe County for a charter incorporating " the Stroudsburg Meth- odist Episcopal Church."

The petitioners were Robert Boys, Stroud Burson, Charles R. Andre, Samuel Rees, Mi- chael M. Burnet, Richard S. Staples and James Van Buskirk. On the 26th of September, 1853, the court granted the prayer of the peti- tioners. A lot having been secured, the work of building was commenced and pushed for- ward with vigor, although the edifice was not occupied until August, 1854. The entire cost of the church was six thousand one hundred and seventy-five dollars, all of which was provided for before the dedication, except six hundred and sixty-one dollars. The pastor was assisted in the dedicatory services by Bishop Levi Scott, Dr. Castle, the presiding elder, and David W. Bartine.

Boone. On the 20th of February, 1855, Mr. John Boys and Hannah S. Boys, his wife, ex- ecuted the deed for the lot on which the new church had been built. The consideration was seven hundred dollars in specie. The trustees named were the same as those referred to in the application for a charter.

At the Conference of 1855, Paradise Mission was separated from Cherry Valley Circuit, and left to be supplied by the presiding elder. James E. Meredith was appointed to Strouds- burg.

On the 18th of June, 1855, the old frame church, with the lot of ground on which it stood, was sold by the " Stroudsburg Methodist Episcopal Church " to James T. Palmer aud William E. Palmer for the sum of six hundred dollars. The deed was signed by Robert Boys, president, and Charles R. Andre, secretary. Ferdinand Dutot and James H. Walton were the witnesses.

In 1856, James E. Meredith was reappointed to Stroudsburg aud Francis D. Eagan was ap- pointed to Paradise. In 1857, Pennel Coombe was appointed presiding elder. In 1857 and 1858, George W. MacLaughlin was pastor of Stroudsburg. In 1859, John Chew Thomas was appointed to Stroudsburg, but after exert- ing a holy influence upon both church and com- munity, he died very suddenly on the 18th day of January, 1860.

James Farmer Reynolds was taken from Cherry Valley Circuit to serve the church in Stroudsburg until the close of the Couference year.

In 1860, David W. Bartine was appointed presiding elder of North Philadelphia Dis- trict.

Charles I. Thompson was appointed pastor of Stroudsburg.

In 1862 and 1863 Thomas A. Fernley was pastor of Stroudsburg. In 1864 and 1865 Wil- liam J. Paxson was pastor. In 1865 Joseph Mason succeeded D. W. Bartine as presiding elder.

During the year the church debt, which had been steadily increasing for a number of years until it had reached the sum of one thousand

In 1854, James Hubbard was appointed to Stroudsburg as supernumerary with John F. | dollars, was entirely paid. In 1866 John H.

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Alday was appointed preacher in charge. His ministrations were blessed with the greatest revival ever known in that section of country.

In 1867 John H. Alday was reappointed to Stroudsburg. His pastoral relations, which had been greatly blesscd of God, terminated with the Conference of 1868.

In 1868 and 1869 William M. Ridgway was the pastor of Stroudsburg. In 1869 William Cooper was appointed presiding elder of North Philadelphia District.

The question of enlarging the old church, or building a new one, was carefully considered by

STROUDSBURG M. E. CHURCH.

the official members in the latter part of Brother Ridgway's first year and the early part of his second, until the conclusion was reached that an enlargement of the old edifice, in an entirely different style of architecture, was an absolute necessity. In June, 1869, the work of remod- eling was begun ; the old front walls were torn down, the roof taken off, the floor of the main audience-room raised, an addition of fourteen feet made to the front of the building and a recess of eiglit feet added to the rear centre. The work was pushed forward with vigor, under the superintendence of a building committee, 118

consisting of the pastor and R. S. Staples, C. D. Broadhead and D. Keller, Esqs., until the new roof was put on and the lecture-room was ready for occupancy ; the congregation in the mean time, by the courtesy of the county commission- ers, worshipping in the court-house.

At the Conference of 1870 W. M. Ridgway was appointed to Mariner's Bethel, Philadel- phia. In 1879 John S. Janes McConnell was appointed pastor of Stroudsburg. Early in the year the work of remodeling, which had been suspended when the lecture-room was fin- ished, was resumed. The committee appointed to superintend the work consisted of the pastor, S. S. Dreher, J. B. Storm and C. D. Broad- head. They labored under many difficulties, caused by circumstances which had not entered into the calculations of the trustces when the enterprise was inaugurated.

These, however, were surmounted and its congregation entered the house free of debt in July, 1871. The building was again remodel- ed and beantified under the ministrations of Rev. W. H. Elliott. The pastors who have in succession been in charge of the church since Rev. J. S. J. McConnell are Revs. George W. F. Graff, J. F. Chaplin, G. W. Carroll, J. F. Meridith, W. H. Elliott, George Heacock and John Dyson, the present incumbent. The trus- tees are Hon. S. S. Dreher, Hon. John B. Storm, Nicholas Ruster, Wm. Ackerman, Reuben Miller, Joseph Wallace, Simon Barry and C. D. Brodhead. The present class-leaders are Dr. Nelson Peck, George W. Mount, C. D. Brodhead. The superintendent of the Sabbath- school is C. D. Brodhead. The membership roll embraces three hundred names.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. - The principal instrument in founding the Presbyterian Church in Stroudsburg was the Rev. Jacob T. Field. In the spring of 1827 Mr. Field had obtained a commission front the American Home Mis- sionary Society to labor for a period of two mouths in Manch Chunk and vicinity. Upon arriving there, however, he found the ground already occupied. Relinquishing his original de- sign, he came on a visit to Stroudsburg, where he had some relatives residing. Being solicited to re- main here and labor in the ministry, he wrote to the

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WAYNE, PIKE AND MONROE COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

board and had his eommission changed to this field. He also solicited and obtained the assist- ance of the Mr. Solomon Carpenter, then noted for the success of his evangelistic labors. Under the united efforts of these two apostolic men an extraordinary religious interest was awaken- ed throughout the entire community. The way seemed now prepared for the organization of a church ; and, accordingly, on the 15th of August, 1827, a church was formally organized, consisting of eleven persons, to be connected

EFFE

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

with the Presbytery of Newton. The names of these original members were as follows, viz. : Jane Andrew, Jane Drake,. Eliza Bidleman, Rachel Riter, Eliza Wilson, Elizabeth Miller, Ellen Postens, Amos Miller, Peter Landers, Hannah Morgan and Joseph Kerr, of whom Joseph Kerr and Anos Miller were duly elect- ed and set apart as ruling elders and constituted, with the officiating minister, the first session.

On the expiration of the time to which his commission extended Mr. Field left Stroudsburg, and in the spring of 1828 his place was sup- plied by Mr. John M. Dickcy.

After an interval of some months, during which the church was visited several times by the Rev. John Gray, of Easton, Pa., and the

communion administered and a number of members admitted, the Rev. Samuel Sturgeon arrived and acted as stated supply during the years 1829 and 1830.

In the month of November, 1831, the Rev. Charles Tappan came and supplied the church regularly until the summer of 1832. In the month of November of this year the Rev. Ja- cob T. Field was again engaged to supply this church in conjunction with that at Smithfield. He commenced his labors on the 17th day of the month and continued to labor with great ac- ceptance and success from that time ou till the spring of 1837. During this period, of some four years and a half, the church of Stroudsburg made rapid progress and was enlarged by an ad- dition of more than forty members.

In the spring of 1837 Mr. Field left Strouds- burg, and his place was supplied, during the following winter, by the Rev. Benjamin I. Lowe. In the spring of 1838 he returned to his old charge and was regularly installed pastor of the United Churches of Stroudsburg and Smith- field June 26, 1838. In this charge he con- tinued to labor until the fall of 1840, when he relinquished the work of the ministry alto- gether. His pastoral relation was dissolved by the Presbytery on the 5th of October, 1841.

In the winter of 1840 the church at Strouds- burg was supplied for a period of three months by the Rev. John McNair.

In the month of May, 1841, the services of the Rev. Baker Johnson were secured as stated supply for the churches of Smithfield and Stroudsburg. This arrangement continued un- til the spring of 1844, when the church of Stroudsburg resolved that they would endeavor to secure the services of a minister who should devote the whole of his time to them. They, accordingly, in the fall of 1844, ealled the Rev. William Scribner, who was ordained and in- stalled by the Presbytery of Newton, then in session at Stroudsburg, on the 13th day of No- vember, 1844. This relation continued until the spring of 1849, when Mr. Scribner resigned, and the former union with Smithfield was re- newed, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson was formally installed as pastor of Stroudsburg Church on the 28th

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day of November, 1849, and continued to labor as such until the spring of 1853.

In the spring of 1854 a call was extended to the Rev. J. Edwin Miller, which he accepted, and, on the 13th day of June following, he was installed pastor by a committee of the Presby- tery of Newton. Mr. Miller, in 1860, resigned, and was succeeded by the Rev. Myron Barrett, who labored as stated supply for two years. On the removal of Mr. Barrett he was suc- ceeded by the Rev. George F. Cain, now of Williamsport, Pa. He was ordained to the office of the holy ministry on the 28th of May, 1863, by the Presbytery of Newton, and, on the same day, installed as pastor of this church.

After the retiracy of Mr. Cain, the Rev. Ben- jamin Smith Everett was called to succeed him, and began his labors on the 1st day of July of that year. On the 17th of November following Mr. Everett was installed pastor, he having been received as a member of the Presbytery of Newton, at its stated meeting, the preceding October. This pastoral relation was dissolved on the 20th day of January, 1869, Mr. Everett having received and accepted a call to the Pres- byterian Church of Montclair, N. J.

The church remained vacant until the 14th day of August, 1869, when the Rev. William H. Dinsmore, of Mahanoy City, Pa., was nnani- monsly chosen to fill the pastoral office. Mr. Dinsmore, having accepted the call, was duly installed, though no record of the installation services can be found. He was released from his pastoral charge on the 17th day of February, 1876, and removed to Deerfield, N. J., to the church of which place he had been called.

The church being now vacant, a congrega- tional meeting was held on the 17th day of March, 1876, for the purpose of electing a pas- tor, when R. M. Wallace was unanimously chosen. Having accepted the call tendered him, he was duly installed on the 4th day of May, 1876.

Joseph Kerr and Amos Miller were the first ruling elders in the Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church, they having been elected, ordained and installed on the 15th day of August, 1827, the day of the organization of the churchi. Of these, Mr. Kerr has usually been called "The

Father of the Church," for the reason that he took a more prominent part in the starting of the church, and was for a longer period of time identified with it, in an official capacity, than any other. He served for more than forty years in the capacity of an elder; was, for many years, the president of the board of trustees, and collected most of the money used in the support of the pastor, and in the erection of the first church edifice. He was generally sent, in the earlier periods of its history, to represent his church in the ecclesiastical courts. His colleague, Mr. Miller, after serving, as an elder, for a period of nearly cleven years, was, at his own request, excused from acting any longer in that capacity. On the 29th day of December, 1832, Messrs. Samuel Drake and James Bush were elected additional elders, and were ordained and installed as such on the afternoon of the same day. Josephi V. Wilson and Daniel S. Hollinshead, having been elected, were ordained and installed as elders November 22, 1835. Dr. William P. Vail was ordained and installed June 16, 1838. Jeremy Mackey, July 23, 1843, and John Malvin, who had previously been an elder in Smithfield, was elected and installed as such, here, on the 22d of Septem- ber, 1847. Jeremy Mackey, who had previously removed from the place, and served some time as an elder at Smithfield, returned ; and, having connected himself with the church here, was re- elected and installed on the 22d of April, 1860. William F. Bush was ordained and installed November 24, 1861, and Messrs. J. W. Cole, James B. Hull and Stephen Holmes, Jr., were elected on the 27th of May, 1874. They were ordained and installed on the 14th day of June following. Jesse R. Smith, Peter Williams and E. H. Weeks were also elected and ordained as deacons at this time. Of these, Mr. Malvin, next to Mr. Kerr, served as an elder the longest time. He was a member of the session for more than thirty-five years. The next longest service is that of Judge Mackey, who was an elder (except a few years) since 1843, until his death. William F. Bush has served for many years, as also Dr. William P. Vail.

The following persons have served the con- gregation, in the capacity of trustees, from a

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period shortly after its organization up to the present time. They were elected to the office in the order in which they are here named, viz. : Joseph Kerr, Joseph V. Wilson, Michael H. Dreher, Samuel Drake, Jr., Abraham Rinker, Dr. William P. Vail, Daniel S. Hollinshead, John Malvin, Jeremy Mackey, John Teel, Wil- liam C. Larzelier, George H. Miller, George Malvin, Robert R. Depuy, Daniel Peters, James A. Pauli, George H. Dreher, William Hollinshcad, Jesse R. Smith, Jacob L. Wyckoff, William F. Bush, Robert Brown, George Kern, Thomas McIlhaney, James Smiley, Jeremiah Williams, Melchoir Dreher, H. S. Wagner, James H. McCarty, M. L. Hutchinson, A. C. Jansen and Peter S. Williams. To these gen- tlemen the church is indebted for the manage- ment of its temporal affairs, hitherto.

Church Edifices .- The first meetings of the congregation for religious worship were held in an old barn, of large dimensions, which covered the ground on which the Lutheran Church now stands. The three days' meeting conducted by Messrs. Campbell, Candee and Talmage was held here. The congregation soon removed to the old Stone Academy, afterward called " The Seminary," on Green Street. This continued to be used until some time in the beginning of 1834, when the old church edifice, on Sarah Street, was com- pleted and ready for occupancy. The lot on which this first church edifice owned by the congregation stands was donated by the liber- ality of Daniel Stroud, Esq., and the requisite steps taken to put up a building in the month of December, 1832. Joseph Kerr, Joseph V. Wilson, Michael H. Dreher, Samuel Drake, Jr. and Abraham Rinker were the trustees and building committee, and they collected the funds, gathered the materials and pushed the matter forward, during the year 1833, until the house was completed and ready for use, at the open- ing of the year 1834.

Here the church maintained its worship, and enjoyed its ordinances for a period of over twenty-six years, when, in consequence of the growth of the town and the enlargement of the congregation, the place became too strait for them ; and, accordingly, on the 11th day of |

June, 1860, at a meeting of the trustees, a com- mittee was appointed, consisting of James A. Pauli, William Hollinshead, Daniel Peters, Jeremy Mackey and George Dreher, " to make inquiry in relation to a suitable lot whereon to erect a new Presbyterian Church." Nothing effectual was done until the 14th day of Feb- ruary, 1867, when a congregational meeting was held, at which the following, among other resolutions, were adopted, viz .: " Resolved, 1st. That we will, now, proceed to build a Church, either on Main Street, or as near to it as possi- ble. 2d. That A. Reeves Jackson, Jeremy Mackey, Robert Brown, M. H. Dreher and Jacob L. Wyckoff be a building committee. 3d. That Stephen Holmes, M. H. Dreher and John Malvin be a committee on subscriptions." Thus officered and equipped, the enterprise moved forward rapidly and energetically, through the spring and summer of 1867.

The church edifice was, at length, completed and dedicated to the worship of the Triune God on the 8th day of October, 1868, with but comparatively a small debt on it. This debt was very materially reduced by well-di- rected efforts set on foot during the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Dinsmore.

Rev. Dr. Wallace resigned the charge of the Stroudsburg Church during the spring of 1884, and the congregation having heard Mr. S. G. Hutchinson, of the Senior Class of Princeton Theological Seminary, extended to lim a unanimous call. The call was accepted, and he was ordained to the gospel ministry and formally installed over the church during the September meeting of Presbytery in 1884. Under his pastorate the attendance at the Sab- bath services have largely increased. Within little more than a year over thirty have con- nected themselves with the church, and the outlook is promising and encouraging.

THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS .- About the year 1826 a separation occurred between the Orthodox and the Hicksite branches of the So- ciety of Friends. The latter erected, about the year 1830, a plain frame meeting-house oppo- site the Methodist Episcopal Church, on Main Street, from which they removed, in 1872, to quarters more commodious and comfortable.

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The latter meeting-house is located on the eor- ner of Franklin and Sarah Streets, a briek structure fitted with every convenience. The Society of Friends in Stroudsburg was formed of such earnest members as John Flagler, John Palmer, Catherine P. Foulke and others, many of whom have long sinee passed away. Mrs. Foulke still survives, and is the only recognized speaker at the present time. The descendants of the early members have embraeed the faith of their fathers, and are now the chief support- ers of the society.

ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH .- On Sun- day, December 23, 1866, Rev. D. M. Henkel organized a congregation of twelve male niem- bers in the court-house at Stroudsburg, under the title of " St. John's Evangelieal Lutheran Church of Stroudsburg, Pa." Trustees were appointed by the court, John S. Fisher, Fred- eriek Kiser and John Edinger being among the first officers of the organization. A site was seeured for the church on the west side of Po- eono Street, north of Main, and on the 4th of July, 1868, the corner-stone was laid with fit- ting ceremonies, Dr. F. A. Muhlenberg deliver- ing an address suited to the occasion. On Sunday, the 24th of October, 1869, the church was eonseerated to the service of God by appro- priate exereises ; the sermon being preached by Dr. C. W. Schaeffer, of Philadelphia. In the afternoon serviees were conducted by Rev. A. T. Geissenhainer, also of Philadelphia, and in the evening by Rev. Mr. Belfour, of Easton. Confirmation and communion were also held on this Sunday.

At the close of the year 1870, Rev. Mr. Henkel presented his resignation, and Rev. G. W. Marriott was elected to serve the church for one year. Rev. Jolin Koliler became pastor during the latter part of the year 1873, and during his pastorate the entire debt of the church was liquidated. Rev. John W. Mat- tern, the present pastor, was ealled December 1, 1882. Within the last few years the edifice has been beautifully repaired, and at present is one of the most attractive churches in the bor- ough.

For many years the organization was bur- dened with a heavy debt, but at present its fi-

nanees are in excellent condition, it being not only free of debt, but through the munificenee of the late Frederick Kiser, the recipient of a legacy of fourteen hundred dollars. It has a membership of about fifty, and its prospeets for the future are hopeful and encouraging.

ZION'S REFORMED CHURCH .- The congre- gation was organized May 19, 1882. Prior to that time several efforts at organization had been made, all of which failed. At the May meeting of the East Pennsylvania Classis the congregation thus formed was constituted a mission and Rev. G. W. Kershaw recommend- ed as pastor. On August 6, 1882, he was duly installed as pastor of the congregation, whichi worshipped at first in the court-house. But steps were taken early to seeure a church build- ing, and a lot was finally purchased on Green Street. Ground was broken in September, 1883, and the corner stone laid with appropriate ceremonies on August 1, 1883. The work pro- gressed rapidly until January, when, the build- ing being inelosed, labor was suspended until the following summer, after which it was pushed toward completion, and the church was dedicated November 16, 1884. The building is a neat briek structure in Gothie style, with tower at the side. Its dimensions are thirty- six by sixty, with a front of forty-two feet of pressed briek. In front and on the sides are large eathedral glass windows. The interior is finished in hard wood, ceiling of ornamental wood-work, the principal rafters exposed and the entire eeiling covered with yellow pine lin- ing. The eliureh is heated by steam. The light is furnished by two large gas-burning refleetors in the ceiling. The seating eapaeity is four hundred and the entire eost about eight thou- sand dollars. The building committee were Messrs. Jacob K. Shafer, Samuel Hood, H. T. Van Iderstine, J. L. Bowen and Jerome S. Wil- liams. The present membership is fifty-five.

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History of Wayne, Pike, and Monroe counties, Pennsylvania, Part 191

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 1438

Author: Mathews, Alfred, 1852-1904. 4n
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 1438