USA > Pennsylvania > Juniata County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Snyder County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Union County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 3
USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 3
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1 The letter here given is from the Rev. Andrew Brydie, of Sunbury, and throws some light on the origin of lokens :
"I am very doubtful whether the use of 'Tokens,' as they used to be called, was ever more than n local practice in the Church of Scotland. Like many other usages, it had, even in those localities where it prevailed, a comparatively recent origin, and one which illustrates how curiously a foreign custom can naturalize itself, so to say, among native usages. For example, what is commonly called the Scottish version of the Psalms is really a metrical version composed by an Englishman named Rous, and was literally imposed on Scotland during the Cromwellian interregnum. So the observanee of Parish Fast Days and the services of Saturday and Monday, in connection with the Lord's Sup- per, are traceable to foreign influence in Scotland, and ure relies of the Covenant.
"Similarly, the small leaden badges, bearing generally on the obverse the legend, 'This do in remembrance of Me,' or, ' Let a man examine himself,' and on the reverse, The name of the Parish Kirk where the token was entrent were introduced in certain distriets of Scotland through the Reformed Church of France, many members and ministers of which found a home in Scotland after the Revocation of the Ediet of Nantes."
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Then that Saturday afternoon, June 6th, after service, the session met at the house of James F. Linn, " when the candidates for ad- mission to the Lord's table for the first time were examined,"-Mrs. Elizabeth MeChore, Alex- ander MeClure, Alexander Nesbit, Mrs. Eliza- beth Nesbit, Mrs. Sarah Nesbit, Elizabeth
Mrs. McClure was received on certificate from Bellefonte, and Mrs. Flemming and An Nesbit from Carlisle. This first communion of the church, June 8th, the services were con- ducted by the Rev. David Kirkpatrick.
The session invited the Rev. McCreary to officiate on probation until January 1, 1834, and then asked him to retire from the field, and the session reported in favor of a union support of a pastor with Buffalo, but they could not effect it. The same was tried with the Washington Church, in White Deer Valley, but that came to nought.
March 6, 1834, the following asked letters from the Buffalo Cross-Roads Church : Sarah Hayes, Francis Wilson, Mary Wilson, Mariah M. Graham, Mary Graham, Wm. Wilson, Ann Wilson, Harriet Vanvalzah, Jane W. Sheller, Henrietta I. Geddes, Mary Nesbit, John Nesbit, Sarah Nesbit, Jonathan Nesbit, Margaret Honsel, Eleanor Cameron, Margaret Walls, Mariah Laird, Lucretia Fruit, Catharine Jones, Jane Thompson, Ruth Thompson, Mrs. Colons and Isabella Shearer.
The pastors of this church were:
Phineas B. Marr, installed November 13, 1834; re- signed April 1, 1852.
James Clark, D.D., installed October 29, 1852; re- signed April 1, 1857.
Jacob W. E. Kerr, installed November 24, 1858; re- signed October 1, 1860.
Hugh S. Dickson, installed October 15, 1861 ; re- signed April 1, 1866.
T. Madison Dawson, installed June 19, 1866; re- signed May 14, 1867.
Benjamin Townsend Jones, installed October 1867 ; resigned January 1, 1873.
Samuel II. Thompson, installed May, 1873; resigned April 26, 1879.
John B. Grier, installed November 18, 1885.
Josephus D. Krum, D.D., installed June 1879; re- signed September 1, 1885.
On the latter occasion, Rev. Alexander B. Jack preached the sermon ; charge to the pas- tor, Rev. Andrew Brydie ; charge to the people, Rev. Dr. Nesbit, of Lock Ilaven.
In 1856 a new church was built. The con- Moore, Nancy Brady, John A. Vanvalzah, gregation authorized the trustees to accept the Mrs. Rebecca Vauvalzah, Jane MeClure, Mrs. Sarah Cornelins, Rebecca MeMullen, James Nesbit, Mariah Laird and Lucretia Fruit.
plan and specifications of a church submitted by Mr. Jonathan Nesbit, who, with Joseph Hlou- sel, took the contract at ten thousand dollars; and on the 11th of November, 1857, the trus- tees settled with the contractors for the sum of $11,501, and it seemed that up to this time they had paid in cash $10,318, leaving a balance to be provided for $1186.06, which was liquidated in cash and a note at one year for $800. The church was repaired and painted in 1865, and again in 1885.
A parsonage was built in 1869, at a cost of about seven thousand dollars.
Rey. Phineas B. Marr was born in 1818; mar- ried to Mary, daughter of Alexander Graham; died January 27, 1874, at the age of sixty-six. HIe left to survive him his widow and children, -Mary Jane, married to Dr. Barbour; William H. Marr, Esq., Ashland ; Henry Marr, Esq .; Addison Marr, Esq., Shamokin ; Margaret, married to Phineas Barbour; Henrietta, to - Lester; and Helen, to T. W. Crawford.
The following is a list of the ruling elders of this church :
Thomas Clingan, installed September 1, 1833; died April 24, 1858.
William Nesbit, installed September 1, 1833; died January 22, 1860.
Robert H. Laird, installed September 1, 1833; died November 7, 1885.
James F. Linn, installed September 1, 1833; died October 9, 1868.
Hugh MeLanghlin, installed March 22, 1841; died February 10, 1871.
Fleming Nesbit, installed March 22, 1841; died
Jolm Nesbit, installed January 30, 1847 ; died Jan- nary 27, 1865.
Samuel Geddes, installed Jannary 30, 1847.
Thomas Howard, installed June 26, 1859.
Thomas Howard Wilson, installed June 26, 1859.
John Randolph, installed June 26, 1859.
Sammel C. Sheller, installed March 3, 1871.
George W. Proctor, installed March 3, 1871.
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Alfred Hayes, installed March 3, 1871.
From 1833 until 1881, a period of' fifty years, there have been one thousand recorded members of the church, and an average strength of two Imindred and fifty.
The communicant membership of the church during the year 1885 was two hundred and fifty-eight. . The membership of the Sunday- school was one hundred and ninety.
CHRIST'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.' -The property of this congregation, including the building in which worship is now held, is situated on the corner of Third and St. Lonis Streets. Of the beginning of the congregation and the vicissitudes of the first years there are no records to which we could have access for information; but we rely solely on the memo- ries of those who were among the first to iden- tily themselves with it. The first Lutheran minister who preached here was the Rev. John Herbst, who in 1802 came occasionally from his home in Freeburg and dispensed the gospel to the few members of our church here. The services were held in a log school-house, sitn- ated on the corner of the church-yard, where the parsonage now stands.
The next minister was the Rev. William Ilgen, of Penn's Valley, Centre County. He preached once a month from 1803 to 1807. The Rev. Conrad Walter suceceded, as a sup- ply, during 1808. He resided at Freeburg, and served only one year. He was followed by the Rev. George Heim, who resided in Buf- falo Valley, near the Drie-bach Church. He try a regular organization was effected. Ser- vices were held part of the time in the old Christian meeting-hon-e, which stood on North Fifth Street, near St. Mary's. Then, again, there was a return to the school-house, a new briek, which occupied the place of the old log one.2
All the preaching up to this time (1822)- once only in four weeks-was in the German, as it was most convenient for the preachers and most familiar to the hearers. But the unwillingness of the preachers to introduce the English language was a hindrance to the growth of the church, and caused the loss of young members who preferred English and went to and united with the churches using it in their services.
Aftera vacancy, Rev. J. G. Anspach, in 1831, became pastor, and continued until 1845. In 1831 the congregation succeeded in erecting a nnion church in copartnership with the Ger- man Reformed congregation, on ground given by Ludwig Derr for a church-building and for a burying-ground. The building was of brick and in form nearly square, having galleries on three sides ; the architect was Henry Noll. The Revs. J. P. Shindel, Sr., and - Abley were the visiting Intheran ministers present at the dedicatory services. In 1843 Rev. II. Ziegler, then of Selin's Grove, began to conduct Eng- lish services once a month ; this was continued for a little over a year, and terminated with the resignation, in 1844, of the Rev. J. G. Ans- pach, who elosed his pastorate of over fourteen years with a list of one hundred and eighty members, but began with only twenty-one.
The Rev. F. Ruthrauf was next chosen, and served this congregation from 1846 to 1849, in connection with the church at Milton, where he then resided. He was the first regular pastor to introduce alternate English and German served from 1809 to 1828. During his minis- preaching, and hence was a very n-eful man in overcoming the old prejudice against English ! preaching. During his ministry here the prayer-meeting was established. The congre- gation grew and strengthened both numerically and spiritually during the three years of the pastorate of Rev. Ruthranf.
The next pastor was the Rev. M. J. Alleman, who was called in 1849, when residing at Northumberland, Pa., where he also preached until 1850, when he removed to Lewisburgh, and thus became the first resident pastor of the congregation, which then had a membership of one hundred and eighty-five. He was installed April 6, 1850. In 1851 the church property
1 By Rev. E. H. Leisenring.
2 It seems to have been well filled on preaching-occa- sions, from an incident related, which occurred about 1822. One of the prominent old members was obliged to crowd in behind the door, where he could hear, but not sre. The pastor, recognizing his disadvantages, said, in his opening remarks, that he would preach so plainly that "even John, behind the door, could understand."
1
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
was sold by the court, July 19th, and purchased by Michael Brown, of the Reformed Church of Lewisburgh. Afterwards the trustees of the Imtheran Church bought the property from Mr. Brown for fifteen hundred dollars, and the deed was made to Jonathan Spyker and John Gundy for the use of the Lutheran congrega- tion. The corner-stone of the new church was laid in June, 1852. "The ministers present were Rev. R. Weiser and the pastor, who soon after- ward resigned and accepted a call to Aarons- burg, Centre County. The next pastor was the Rev. Jesse Winecoff, who as-ined the duties in 1852. The dedication of the new church took place in the spring of 1853; the pastor officiated at these services. The building conmit- tee were John Brown, Levi Sterner, Jacob Gandy, Michael Swengle and Peter Harsh. The architect was Charles S. Yoder. The church was incorporated in April, 1853. The Rev. Mr. Winecoff resigned in 1855.
The next pastor was the Rev. Reuben Fink, D.D. He took charge in 1856 and remained until 1865. During his ministry the church became self-supporting and required his entire services. The parsonage was built and occupied by the pastor's family during the last six years of their residence here. Having received a call from Jolistown, Pa., Rev. Mr. Fink resigned here October 15, 1865, and removed thither, where he still resides and labors successfully. The Rev. Joshma Evans was the next pastor, and came from Hagerstown, Md. He was an earnest, active and zealous man, and idoubt- edly would have done a good work for the con- gregation had he retained his health. While present as a delegate of the General Synod, at Harrisburg, in June, 1868, he was stricken with paralysis, and lingered until January 29, 1869, when he died.
Prior to 1867 this congregation was in con- nection with the Synod of East Pennsylvania of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church. In 1867 the Susquehanna Synod was formed, and the church became connected with it, and voluntarily entered the relation which it now sustains in Synodical connection.
After the death of the Rev. J. Evans, the Rev. J. C. Burkholter (now Burke) was called
as pastor, in April, 1869. The congregation grew so rapidly that it became necessary to en- large the building by adding twenty-five feet to the rear of the old one. The building com- mittee were J. W. Wensel, C. V. Goudy and C. F. Lindig. The rededication took place December 28, 1873. The Rev. F. W. Comad, D.D., of Philadelphia, preached the dedicatory sermon. Revs. R. Fink, D.D., and J. Swartz, D.D., were also present. In December, 1874, Rev. Mr. Burke resigned, and removed to Columbia, Pa. The next pastor was the Rev. W. W. Criley, who preached his introductory sermon April 4, 1875. He was installed June 27, 1875, by Revs. II. B. Belmer and W. Il. Gotwald. In 1882 he accepted a call from the Second Lutheran Church of Altoona, Pa.
The next pastor was Rev. J. R. Shoffner, of Berne, N. Y. He began his labors January 1, 1883, and resigned March 31, 1884, and was followed by the present pastor, Rev. E. Il. Leisenring, who was called from Money, Pa., and entered upon his duties November 1, 1881.
A pipe organ was built for the church at a cost of one thousand dollars, and dedicated Jne 5, 1885. The Rev. J. A. Wirt, of Hughesville, preached the sermon.
The present communicant membership of the church is four hundred. The Sunday school in connection with the congregation numbers four hundred scholars, teachers and officers. The Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society and the Young Ladies' Missionary Board are both in successful operation and doing a good, substantial work.
The officers of the church and congregation for 1886 are: Trustees, A. A. Leiser, Esq., John Rine, William Gilby, B. F. Angstadt, C. F. Lindig ; Elders, J. S. Yoder, J. De Frain, C. V. Gundy, J. M. Mowery; Deacons, J. C. F. Brown, Joel Dieffenderfer, Ira Catherman, George W. Woods.
FIRST REFORMED CHURCH. - Following the custom of their brethren in the older counties of the State, the German Reformed and Lutherans established a Union house of worship as one of the first improvements of their new homes. The first of these churches in this region of the country was built in 1788, at Dreisbach, and
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had, as the Reformed pastor, the Rev. Jonathan Rathauser. In 1789 he was settled over the con- gregations of Mahanoy, Sunbury, Middle Creek and Buffalo Valley. He remained until 1792, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Jacob Dief- fenbach, who resigned in 1810, when the Rev. Yost Henry Fries became the pastor of the Dreisbach congregation. It is likely that these ministers occasionally preached at Lewisburgh, and there is a record of a meeting held by Mr. Fries in 1826. In the course of a few more years the congregations had settled in the town that it was determined to erect a Union Church, and, on the Ith of November, 1833, a subserip- tion was started for building a church. Ludwig Derr, in laying out the town, bad set apart three lots for religious purposes, situated on Third and St. Lewis Streets. These lots were ae- cepted as the site of the church, which was built thereon and called "St. Lewis' Church," in honor of the proprietor. It was dedicated May 31, 1835.
On the 19th of May, 1834, John Reber, John Snook and Henry Noll, elders, Henry Noll and Ludwig Long, deacons of the German Presbyterian congregation, entered into an agree- ment with Jonathan Spyker and John Gundy, trustees of the German Lutheran congregation, giving the latter "the same privilege of the German burying-ground which Ludwig Derr, in his lifetime, gave to the German Presbyterian congregation, being on lots Nos. 121, 123 and 125, as well as an equal privilege of the church built or building on said ground, to be tenants in common," etc. In the year 1851 the Luth- eran congregation bought out the interest of the German Reformed, the latter having built on the corner of St. John and Third Streets. The con- gregation worshipped in this church until the new one was completed. A lot was purchased in 1847 on Third Street, below Market, forty by sixty feet. The corner-stone was laid May 7, 1817, and a sermon preached by the Rev. Jolin W. Nevin. The present building was erected and dedicated Jannary 8, 1848, by the pastor, the Rev. Henry Harbaugh, assisted by the Rev. Richard Fisher and the Rev. Mr. Funk. It was used, without munch change, until 1876, when it was remodeled, as at present.
The Rev. Richard Fisher served the congre- gation in its early days and resided at Simbury. He preached in German during his pastorate, and, in 1812, the Rev. Samuel Reed came to the town and preached English. He soon after became the pastor. His successors were as fol- lows :
Revs. Henry Harbaugh, 1845 to 1850: Daniel Y. Heisler, May, 1850, to 1853; Dr. Benjamin Bausman, 1853 to 1857; Charles HI. Leinbach, 1857 to 1863; William Reilley, 1863 to 1865; U. JI. Heilman, 1865 to 1873; James Crawford, 1873 to 1879; R. Leighton Gerhart, 1879 to 1885 ; -- De Long, February 21, 1886.
The congregation has a membership of two hundred and twenty-five.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. - Methodism at Lewisburgh was first proclaimed by the ministers of the Lycoming Cirenit of the Genesee Conference, who occasionally visited this place and preached at the houses of such as extended them a welcome. Snch ministers were John Rhodes, Jacob Barnhart, Timothy Lee, Samuel Ross, John Hazzard and James S. Lent. No effort was made to organize a class until May 25, 1812, when a number of persons assembled at the house of John Gordon (father of the Hon. Isaac G. Gordon), united in the bonds of Methodism and chose John Leavey as their leader. The Rev. George Thomas was the preacher in 1813, and he and Israel Cook preached at Lewisburgh that year, having, as the fruits of their labors, an encouraging increase of members. Thus encouraged, steps were taken to provide a regular place of worship, and ae- cordingly, on February 13, 1818, the congre- gation, by its trustees,-Adam Grove, James Kelly, William Wallace, John Leavey and Henry Wagoner,-purchased of William Clin- gan lot No. 51, on the corner of Front and St. Lewis Streets. This lot had been bought by Flavel Roan, October 9, 1793, and passed to Andrew Albright, who sold it to William Clingan, October 21, 1808. The deed from Clara Helena Ellinkhuysen to Roan, in 1793, is a most extraordinary paper, its singularity being seldom equaled. It traces title back to the Creator of the universe, and thence down to lot No. 51 at Lewisburgh. Omitting the usnal prelimi-
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
nary, this remarkable doemment, of which F. Roan was the author, reads as follows :
" Whereus, the Creator of the Earth, by parole and livery of seizin, did enfeoff the parents of mankind, to wit, Adam and Eve, of all that certain tract of land called and known in the planetary system by the name of The Earth, together with all and singular the advantages, woods, water-courses, casements, liberties, privileges, and all others the appurten- ances whatsoever thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining, to have and to hold to them, the said Adam and Eve, and the heirs of their bodies lawfully to be begotten, in fee-tail general for ever, as by the said feoffment recorded by Moses in the first chapter of the first book of his records, commonly called Genesis, more fully and at large appears on reference being there- unto had. And, Whereas, the said Adam and Eve died, seized of the premises atoresaid in fee-tail general, leaving issue, heirs of their bodies,-to wit, sons and daughters, -- who entered into the same premises and became thereof seized as tenants in common, by virtue of the donation aforesaid, and multiplied their seed upon the earth. And, whereas, in process of time, the heirs of the said Adam and Eve, having become very numerous and finding it to be inconvenient to remain in common as afore- said, bethought themselves to make partition of the lands and tenements aforesaid to and amongst them- selves, and they did, accordingly, make such parti- tion. Lind, whereas, by virtue of the said partition made by the heirs of said Adam and Eve, all that certain tract of land called and known on the general plan of the said Earth by the name of America, parcel of the said large traet, was allotted and set over unto certain of the heirs aforesaid, to them and their heirs general, in fee-simple, who entered into the same and became thereof seized as aforesaid in their demesne, as of fee, and peopled the same allotted lands in severalty, and made partition thereof to and amongst their descendants. And, whereas, after- wards (now deemed 'in time immemorial) a certain united people, called 'The Six Nations of North America,' heirs and descendants of the said grantees of America, became seized, and for a long time, whereof the memory of man runneth not to the con- trary, have been seized in their demesne as of fee, and in a certain tract of country and land in the north division of America called and known, at present on the general plan of the said north division, by the name of Pennsylvania. And, Whereas, the said united nations, being so thereof seized after- wards,-to wit, in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and sixty-eight,-by their certain decd of feoffment, with livery of scizin, did grant, bargain, sell, release, enfeoff, alien and confirm unto Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, otherwise called the Pro- prietaries of Pennsylvania (among other things), the
country called Buffalo Valley, situate on the south side of the west branch of the River Susquehanna."
The deed describes the title from the Pens to Richard Peters of a tract of three Indred and twenty acres, called Prescott, which, in 1773, was sold to Ludwig Derr, who, in 1785, laid ont the town of Lewisburgh. The lot here de- scribed was known on the plan as lot No. 51, and which, in 1818, came to the possession of the Methodist Church, who in that year erected a frame church upon it, having a door upon the north end, with pulpit in a recess upon the sonth. The church built at this time was used until 1833, when it was sold and became a foundry, being used as such until it was burned down in 1878. A lot was purchased on Third street, (the present site) and a brick edifice fifty by sixty feet was erected. It was dedicated on Saturday, January 5, 1833, and on Sunday, January 6th, the Rev. Mr. Steele preached in the morning and the Rev. Thomas Hood in the evening. This church edifice was the home of the congregation until the erection of the present brick edifice in 1853-54. It was built at a cost of about six thousand dollars, and was dedicated in 1854. The Rev. Alfred Cookman delivered the dedicatory sermon.
The pastors who ministered to the congrega- tion are here given. The Rev. John Thomas was on the circuit before the church was built in 1818, and often preached at this place. Between 1818 and 1827, Thomas Magee, Jacob Shepherd and Thomas Minshall were preachers; 1827, Henry Taring and John Bower; 1834-35, Henry Taring and Oliver Ege ; 1836-37, Charles Kolbfus ; 1838-39, James Sanks, Isaac Stratton, William R. Mills and James Ewing ; 1845-46, Philip B. Reese and John J. Pearce ; 1847-48, William R. Mills and John Elliot ; 1850-51, John Guyer; 1852-53, Samuel Conser ; John II. Dashiell, Thomas Bowman (afterwards bishop), Thomas Reese, John W. Hedges, E. J. Gray, David John, Samuel Creighton, Francis Hodg- son, William R. Mills, R. Hinkel, D. S. Monroe, M. K. Foster, N. S. Buckingham, - Baker and the present pastor, the Rev. F. B. Riddle. In 1851 Lewisburgh became a station. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHL' began in a relig-
' By the Rev. Charles Denland.
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UNION COUNTY.
ions movement produced mainly by the labors of Rev. Elijah Bacon, who came to the town in 1821, and began holding meetings in the house of John Donachy, on Water Street, a short distance from the site of the old foundry. Soon these ae- commodations were too small, and he preached in the open air, in front of the house, and later in a grove a short distance northwest of the present cemetery, and at another time in the old Derr grist-mill. For a time the meetings in the grove continued daily. Then they were held on Sat- urdays and Sundays. A large number of con- verts was the result of these efforts. They were organized under the name " Christian Church." Mrs. Ann Evans and Mrs. Eleanor Metzgar are the only surviving members of the original or- ganization.
People took great pains to attend religions meetings. They rode long distances to hear a man preach. Mr. Bacon was an evangelist, and after organizing the church he left for other fields of labor.
During Mr. Bacon's labors he had baptized in all seventy seven persons. On March 6, 1823, Rev. Joseph Badger, while making a preaching tour through Pennsylvania, accompa- nied by a young man named Stephen D. Biz- zel, reached Lewisburgh. He was a prominent man among the Christians, and his talents and
zeal engaged the attention of the people. At first his meetings were held in a school-honse; but it was soon too small for the congregation, and he afterwards preached in the open air. He was instrumental in establishing the church upon a more orderly basis of organization, and secured the building of a church on Fifth Street.
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