USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Honesdale > History of the First Presbyterian society of Honesdale > Part 10
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well known throughout Wayne county. Mr. Bodie identified himself with the Sunday school and Presbyterian church when he came here. When Mr. Ball needed help at Seelyville he went there and January 1, 1899, he was chosen superintendent of Seelyville Sunday school, a position which he continues to fill acceptably to the people. He was leader of the Presby- terian choir for about fifteen years, which improved very much under his management. Since June, 1890, he has been an elder in the church and has discharged the duties of the office with faithfulness. He is a conservative, candid man, in favor of temperance and every good word and work for the upbuilding of the community. Socially he is identified with the Royal Arcanum and Odd Fellows' orders. Mr. Bodie takes rank with the good citizens and progressive business men of the town.
William Jessup Ward, son of S. D. Ward, was born in Honesdale, August 12, 1859, and was educated in the public schools of Honesdale. He entered the Wayne County Savings Bank in 1876, as clerk, he then became second teller and in 1898 was made assistant cashier. Mr. Ward is a careful ac- countant and a courteous and obliging officer in the bank. He has been borough auditor and collector of taxes, aside from that his business life has been spent in the bank. He has been a faithful and efficient teacher in Seelyville Sunday school for some twenty years and an elder in the church since 1890. He has attended and helped to maintain the Young People's So- ciety of Christian Endeavor. In 1897 he married May D. Foster and they have three children. Mr. Ward is recognized as one of Honesdale's conscientious business men, and it is high praise to say that he is a worthy successor of his an- cestors.
John Adam Reitenauer was born May 18, 1846, in Elsass, Germany. He came to Honesdale with his parents when he was four years old. He went to German school until he was old enough to be confirmed in the Lutheran church, this was supplemented by one winter at the English school in Tracyville. When nine years of age he started boating on the Delaware &
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Hudson Canal with his father and brothers. His father soon after was drowned in the canal. After boating for six summers he worked for the same company feeding canvass, as they called it, when they kept coal on the canvas belts that carried the coal into the boats; then he worked two years in Ellenville for a glass company; next he was on a farm one year when he en- gaged in blacksmithing for Cory & Estabrook. He remained with them twenty-one years when he went into the furniture business with W. T. Moore. After four years partnership he set up for himself in the store on Main street that he now oc- cupies. Through the influence of Elias T. Beers, his Sunday school teacher in the Mission school, and Mrs. Cory, he was led to see his duty in a new light and as a result he became a member of the Presbyterian church, and in 1895 he was elected to the eldership. Mr. Reitenauer is respected in the com- munity as a sincere Christian man, and a willing worker in the church and Sunday school. He does personal work which is very effective in reaching some men that would not be reached by preaching.
Rhamanthus Menville Stocker, son of Albert Stocker and Lydia Rebecca Peet, of Litchfield county, Conn., was born in Salem, Wayne county, Pa., October 5, 1848; educated in public schools and Lafayette College; taught school ten or twelve years; engaged in merchandizing and farming for a time; Supervisor of Salem one term; Register and Recorder of Wayne county, 1881-84; admitted to Wayne county bar, 1886; assisted in writing history of Wayne, Pike and Monroe, 1886. Had editorial charge of Centennial History of Susquehanna county, 1887; married Maretta Brown, 1893; elected elder in Hones- dale Presbyterian church, 1895; Superintendent of Honesdale Water Company, 1895-1905; writes for newspapers occasionally; has tanght in Sunday schools since 1870, teaching in eleven different schools, three of which he superintended; these schools being located in four different counties of Pennsylvania. He has been engaged in many employments and has always found something to do. He advocates temperance for the in-
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dividual; Democracy as against Plutocracy for the state, and Biblical Christianity for everybody.
DEACONS .- Elias T. Beers was born October 24, 1816, at Hanover, Morris county, N. J. He was a mason by trade and coming to Honesdale in 1837 he erected many of the finest brick buildings in the town. He and Daniel B. Tillou pur- chased the Captain Hole brick yard near Bethany and made the brick that were used in Honesdale from 1846 to 1865. He and David Beers were in partnership with William Reed and conducted the planing mill at Industry Point, as Beers, Reed & Co., for a number of years. John Gray and Mr. Beers fur- nished all the flagging that was used in Honesdale until after the Civil War. In addition to these employments in later years he and his son Ulysses conducted farming. Mr. Beers' whole life was one of active industry. He was also a good honest citizen. His ruddy countenance and boy like laugh never left him until death. The town for years was divided into upper, middle and lower school districts; Mr. Beers as school director earnestly advocated the purchasing of the old academy build- ing and the establishment of a graded school. He was elected deacon in 1870, when that office was first established in the church, and by reelections held the office until his death in 1903, a period of thirty-three years. During that time he kindly administered the funds of the church, which were appropriated to relieve the wants of the needy. Mr. Beers was also a strenu- ous advocate of temperance and the prohibition of the liquor traffic. His life in Honesdale was that of an honest hearted, open handed, hard working man. He left his children the leg- acy of a good name, which is better than riches. He married Harriet Pruden in 1841 and left three children, Ulysses, Har- riet Adelia Roper and Fannie S. Beers.
Daniel M. Eno, who was elected one of the first deacons, was born October 28, 1812, in Litchfield county, Conn. He married Eunice A. Sage and came to Wayne county in 1838 and located on a farm in Texas township about two miles from Honesdale. He was a prosperous farmer and consistent mem-
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ber of the church. Of his children, Alfred W. resides on the homestead, Laura married Eben H. Clark and Susan married John K. Jenkins, a hardware merchant and Prothonotary of the county one term. Mr. Eno died Christmas Day, 1891, in his 80th year. He was a trustworthy, kind hearted farmer. His wife died in 1903 aged nearly 90. She was a good Christian woman.
James B. Eldred, who was deacon for a time, was born in Pike county, February 14, 1820. He was Sheriff of Wayne county 1855-58 and Justice of the Peace in Honesdale for twenty years. He was of cheerful disposition and a familiar figure about the Court House for many years. He died Feb- ruary 13, 1893, aged 73, lacking one day. He left one son, Charles P. Eldred the jeweller, and Mrs. Lee Stearns, of Wilkes- barre, is a daughter.
James S. Gillen was born at Philadelphia, April 22, 1838. He was educated at St. Joseph's Academy and at Stoddard and Tewksbury's school at Montrose. When 17, Prof. Tewksbury, who had become County Superintendent, requested him to take a school, which he did and he successfully taught sixty pupils; and his life work became that of a teacher. He taught three years at Auburn, Susquehanna county, Pa., and in 1883 came to Honesdale where he taught in the public schools of Texas township for thirteen years, and at one time he received several votes for county superintendent. He enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, November 11, 1861, for nine months. December 13, 1862, he reenlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Infantry and served until the close of the war. He was slightly wounded by a limb cut from a tree by a shell. He drew a gun on an officer and ordered him to stop abusing a private. This incident illustrates the fearless character of Mr. Gillen; he would imperil his life for what he thought was right. He came near getting into trouble about this but the matter was finally dropped, Mr. Gillen was a faithful teacher in Tracyville Sunday school until it was discontinued. He also taught the Bible class after Judge
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J. S. GILLEN ELIAS T. BEERS
D. M. ENO
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Seely's death. In 1895 he was elected deacon and served in that office until his death. He was a faithful and true man in every position that he filled. In 1868 he married Myra Wood. Their children are Mattie, Millicent and Rebecca. Mr. Gillen died January 9, 1898, and is buried in Glen Dyberry cemetery.
George W. Penwarden is president and treasurer of the board of deacons. He was born near Prompton, May 25, 1852, and attended gravity plane No. 16 as footman at 13 years of age. He served in various capacities on the railroad until 1900 when he became yard master and engine dispatcher at Hones- dale yard. June 18, 1873, he married Louise, daughter of Samuel Jenkins, of Prompton. They have three children, G. Willard, Mary and Harry.
John Congdon was born December 25, 1861, in Cornwall, England. He came to South Canaan with his parents in 1881. He worked for his brother-in-law, Richard Bone, for a time. After working on a farm for a short time he commenced paint- ing. In 1883 he married Carrie, daughter of Paul Swingle, of South Canaan. They removed to Honesdale shortly after their marriage where Mr. Congdon has been engaged in the occupa- tion of painting and paper hanging ever since. He has been a deacon in the church for a number of years. They have two children, Stella and Doris.
John Boyd is a young man of good character, a shoemaker by trade. He was elected deacon a few years ago. He is a stepson of Hon, F. V. Carr and his wife is a daughter of E. T. Smith, wagon painter.
The ministers, elders and deacons of the Honesdale Pres- byterian church have not been faultless, but as a whole it has been a body of strong conscientious men, and there has never been a time in the history of the church when there has not been able and conscientious men in the session. The first ses- sion contained Isaac P. Foster and Stephen Torrey. These two names were sufficient to give character to the session. Later on E. P. Kingsbury and S. Z. Lord were added. After the break-up of the session R. L. Seely and H. Tracy upheld
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the majesty of the session. Dr. Strong, Judge Seely, S. D. Ward and others were strong men. How many delicate mat- ters have received careful treatment by the conscientious men who have been in the session. How much anxiety have they felt concerning the work committed to their care, the session only knows. It may be unpleasant for a church member to be disciplined, but it is quite as unpleasant for the session as for the offender. The present session consisting of Rev. Dr. Swift, and Elders Holmes, Hand, Thompson, Ball, Bodie, Ward, Reitenauer and Stocker is the Nineteenth and Twentieth cent- ury session. Who will be in the session one hundred years to come?
A few more years shall roll,
A few more seasons come,
A few more suns shall set
O'er these dark hills of time, A few more storms shall beat On this wild rocky shore,
And we shall be where tempests cease,
And surges swell no more.
-Bonar.
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CHAPTER IV.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
At a meeting held in the school house April 11, 1828, to consider the propriety of establishing a Sabbath school in Honesdale, Isaac P. Foster was appointed chairman and Amzi L. Woodward, secretary. The meeting was opened with prayer by Mr. Smith, and after discussing Sabbath schools in general it was unanimously resolved to establish one in this place. To that end Stephen W. Genung, Stephen Torrey and Joseph L. Kellogg were appointed to prepare a constitution for adoption or amendment at the next meeting and was resolved to open the school the next Sabbath at 1 o'clock p. m. On Friday evening, April 18, the following was adopted:
Article 1. This Society shall be called the Honesdale Sunday School Society.
Article 2. The object of the Society shall be to instruct children in the principles of Christianity.
Article 3. This Society shall consist of subscribers to its funds of twenty-five cents or more, payable annually in advance, Donors of five dollars or more shall be considered members for life.
Article 4. The school shall be conducted by a superintend- ent and secretary, to be elected annually, and a Sunday school
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committee which shall consist of all those who shall be actively engaged as teachers.
Article 5. It shall be the duty of the superintendent to watch over the concerns of the school, to preside at all stated or special meetings, and to see that all things are conducted with order and propriety.
Article 6. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep a record of all the teachers and scholars belonging to the school, to make a report of the progress and condition of the school at least once a quarter, to record the proceedings of every meeting whether stated or special, and in the absence of the superin- tendent, to perform the duties which this constitution assigns to him. He shall also have charge of the funds of the Society and report the state of the same annually, together with the state and condition of the school.
Article 7. It shall be the duty of the teachers to be punct- ual in their attendance, and to remain by their classes during the whole time of teaching; they shall encourage their scholars to be regular in their attendance at the opening and closing of the school and add to their precepts their example. They shall cooperate with the superintendent and secretary in preserving the strictest order in their several classes, faithfully exercise them upon their lessons, and endeavor as much as possible to enlist their feelings and engage their attention; and especially to impress upon their minds, by every proper means, a sense of their duty to God, and of the value of their immortal souls.
Article 8. There shall be a regular meeting of the com- mittee as often as once a month to unite their prayers before the throne of mercy, for the blessing of God on their labors, and to consult together on the interests of the school. Every teacher shall consider it his duty to attend unless something special prevents.
There were three other formal articles to the constitution which together with a list of officers were forwarded to the cor- responding secretary of the American Sunday School Union, with the admission fee necessary to become auxiliary to that
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organization. The committee was also empowered to procure a library for the use of the school and to subscribe for as many copies of the "Youths' Friend," a monthly published by the American Sunday School Union, as the school would need.
April 13, 1828, the first Sunday school in Honesdale was held in the school house. The record reads that it was stormy, but four boys and four girls braved the storms and J. L. Kel- logg, the superintendent, opened and closed the school, pre- sumably with prayer. The scholars were directed to commence recitation at the second chapter of St. Matthew's gospel.
The next Sunday, April 20, the school was opened by the superintendent reading the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah followed with prayer by the secretary, Stephen Torrey, and there were present three boys and three girls.
The next Sunday there were five boys and ten girls which was more encouraging and the school was closed by Col. S. Chamberlain. There were thirty-seven scholars enrolled dur- ing the season, and the largest attendance reported at any one session was eighteen.
It was evidently not an easy matter to attract the children to the school with inducements such as they had to offer, which were strict attention and the task of committing to memory an untold number of verses from scripture. To assist in gaining scholars, at a meeting held October 2, 1828, at which J. L. Kellogg, Stephen Torrey, H. Baldwin, John Torrey and Amelia Kellogg were present, it was decided to give credits as follows: For thirty verses well recited one cent, regular attendance at church one cent per month. After receiving fifteen cents credit the scholar was entitled to a testament and for sixty cents credit he was entitled to a Bible. That three scripture proofs to ques- tions given to the school, found without concordance or refer- ence, or five questions answered with such help, entitles the child to a copy of Youths' Friend or a tract. And children that at- tended regularly and were diligent in getting their lessons were entitled to draw a book from the library. Such inducements would not be esteemed very highly by our present day Sunday
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school children. These prizes were offered in good faith how- ever, and doubtless had their effect. August 31 three teachers are mentioned.
The patrons of the school were Thomas Young, I. P. Fos- ter, Jason Torrey, life members; Joseph L. Kellogg, Stephen Torrey, Horace Baldwin, Charles P. Clark, Stephen Brush, J. F. Roe, Charles Forbes, Edward Mills, D. St. John, Uri Whit- tenhall, John Williams, James Hulbert, Timothy B. Jervis, A. C. Baldwin, Edgar Hudler, James Clark, Eben Watts, Oliver White, S. Benedict, Enos Woodward, Stephen Kimble, H. S. Ellting, Mr. Beech, John Raymond, Thomas T. Hayes, total receipts $35.50. The first year the name of Amelia Kellogg stands alone among the names of women that appear on the records. The next year J. W. Griswold, Asa Torrey, George Tarbox, Dr. E. T. Losey, William C. Rose, Diantha Brush and Emaline Losey are among the contributors, also Polly G. Brush Olive P. Baldwin, Eunice S. Bullard, Sarah A. Shaffer, Phebe Jagger, Elijah Weston, C. Comstock, Almira Jagger, Adaline Plum, C. Beardslee. Russel F. Lord became a life member by paying five dollars. In 1832 the school at Paupack Eddy is mentioned, showing that Stephen Torrey was conducting the first Sunday school at the Eddy, now Hawley, at that time. There were six teachers the first year, three male and three female. Several scholars won testaments for learning verses.
In 1831, May 15, there are reported thirty-eight present and eight absent making a total membership of forty-six. At this time ten teachers are reported present and one absent. There were over sixty children in the school during the year 1831. April 1, 1832, the Sunday school held an anniversary at which an address to parents and teachers was made by Rev. Mr. Richardson and an address to the children by Rev. Joel Campbell. The next Sunday the plan of taking monthly con- tributions to assist Sabbath schools in this section of the coun- try was adopted. Thus early did the Sunday school commence to do home missionary work. There were about eighty scholars in the school in 1832 and the officers were Stephen Torrey,
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superintendent; S. Z. Lord, secretary; and the teachers were Stephen North, Jr., Josiah Foster, William Foster, Elizabeth Foster and Catharine Hulburt, also Sophia Forbes, Miss Chap- man, Miss Blandin, Mr. and Mrs. Bidwell, Miss Eliza Earl, Mrs. Lord, Catharine Waldron, Amelia Waldron, Almira Foote, Almira Jagger. In 1833 there were ninety-two scholars. In 1838 Horace Baldwin was superintendent and the teachers were I. P. Foster, William Foster, M. S. Cannon, Stephen St. John, James Foster, S. D. Ward, Willard Davis, John I. Allen, H. S. Bassett, Mr. Jackson, S. Z. Lord, Miss C. Neal, Miss A. O. Neal, Miss A. Jagger, Miss Betsey H. Brush, Miss E. Foster, Miss Mary Foster, Miss Lydia P. Sutton, Miss Phillips, Miss Raybold, Miss Cushman and Miss Lucina Farrer. Horace Baldwin resigned and Willard Davis was elected superintend- ent in 1839. S. Z. Lord was elected in 1841.
From 1841 to 1859 the records are imperfect. From the researches of Andrew Thompson and the memory of others, the following list of superintendents since the organization of the school is given: Joseph L. Kellogg, Stephen Torrey, Ebenezer Kingsbury, Jr., Horace Baldwin, Willard Davis, Solomon Z. Lord, Benjamin C. Baldwin, Stephen D. Ward, George G. Wal- ler, Otis Avery, Henry M. Seely, William B. Holmes, George F. Bentley, Andrew Thompson, David L. Hower and Miles T. Hand. Messrs. Baldwin, Davis, Kingsbury, Torrey, Ward and Holmes were reelected at intervals. Rufus Cushman acted as superintendent for a time. As assistant superintendent, An- drew Thompson, R. M. Stocker, H. S. Salmon, W. W. Wood and others have filled the position for a short time. Rev. Mr. Scott in 1860 organized a class of adults from the male portion of the congregation. Dr. Skinner also had a class of adults. Dr. Dunning taught this adult class for a time, also the Wallers, C. P. and G. G. In recent years H. M. Seely, J. S. Gillen and Dr. W. H. Swift have taught the Bible class. Mrs. Kate Seely and her sister, Mrs. Bentley, were teachers of the infant class for many years. In 1860 the average attendance was about ninety scholars and there were fifteen teachers. Some of the
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records are of personal interest such as H. M. Seely entered the school as teacher in 1861. W. B. Holmes commenced in 1863. March 19, 1865, the record reads: On Thursday even- ing last the teachers unanimously elected Dr. Otis Avery assist- ant superintendent in order to relieve Mr. Ward from some of the care of the school and to allow him to take charge of the Bible class. Dr. Avery entered upon his duties today and the Bible class was taught by B. S. Bentley, Esq., of Montrose. There were twenty-one teachers and one hundred and forty-two pupils present that day. During those years the school was frequently addressed by clergymen that happened to be present and sometimes by Col. Seely or C. P. Waller. In October, 1865, H. M. Seely was elected superintendent.
Sunday, April 15, 1866, Superintendent Seely makes the following record: School met for the last time in the old church. Opened the exercises by singing "Homeward Bound." Prayer by C. P. Waller and addresses by S. D. Ward, Stephen Torrey, George G. Waller, former superintendents, and H. M. Seely the present superintendent. Sang "Love at Home," and "There is a Friend that is Ever Near;" prayer by W. B. Holmes. Mr. Seely expresses pleasure at seeing a number present who were formerly connected with the school.
The next Sunday, April 22, the school assembled in the Court House. Present, fifty-five girls, forty-one boys, twenty- one teachers, twenty-eight in the infant class, with two teachers, superintendent and librarian, total, one hundred and forty-nine. The superintendent kept the minutes and W. H. Stone was librarian and treasurer for years. Mr. Seely in his minutes frequently notes with manifest feeling, that teachers are absent without providing substitutes. Also he complains that teachers are being persuaded to leave the school for a school out of town. At this time the older classes were studying the catechism and the younger classes the heroes of the Bible. August 12, 1866, there were one hundred and eighty-four present and Superin- tendent Seely with characteristic frankness records his feelings as follows: "It is very difficult to supply the school with
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proper teachers. The superintendent has so far been unable to find a teacher for Miss Waterbury's class, and he has been com- pelled to take a class himself ever since her departure early in July. And the superintendent having been notified of repeated attempts, some of them made by a member of the session, to induce some of our best teachers to leave this school for others out of town, here records his sense of the wrongfulness of such conduct, and of its injustice to the school and to those on whom the care of the school depends. No one has any right to weaken this school for the benefit of any other." This is a view from the inside, and if those who were establishing schools outside could be heard, their views were just the opposite. Stephen Torrey with his schools all around Honesdale, Isaiah Snyder with his mission school and John T. Ball with his school at Seelyville, had always been crying for more help. They felt that the home school had plenty of talent and could well afford to send some of its number to other fields, and some years later Judge Seely himself superintended a school at Tracyville, but its sessions were in the afternoon late enough so as not to interfere with the home school. The church has al- ways had workers in other schools. It commenced with Stephen Torrey and still continues, and in the end these efforts have re- turned to bless the church. In God's vineyard it seems that none can receive but those that give.
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