USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Honesdale > History of the First Presbyterian society of Honesdale > Part 16
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The trustees called a meeting of the congregation to be held in the chapel Tuesday evening, June 28, 1904, to deter- mine the question whether or not the trustees shall be author- ized to expend $8,000 for the purpose of making proposed improvements. A large and representative meeting of the congregation was held on the evening appointed and Hon. G.
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S. Purdy was made chairman and R. M. Stocker secretary. Judge Purdy explained the object of the meeting and R. M. Stocker moved that W. B. Holmes, Andrew Thompson, H. C. Hand, of the session, W. H. Lee, W. T. Moore and J. E. Rich- mond, of the congregation, together with the entire board of trustees consisting of Hon. George S. Purdy, chairman, S. W. Powell, Secretary, H. S. Salmon, E. F. Torrey, E. C. Mumford, W. H. Stone, A. T. Searle, John D. Weston and E. A. Penni- man, be appointed a building committee, and that they be authorized to expend a sum not exceeding $8,000 to make the proposed improvements. E. C. Mumford seconded this motion and it was carried by a rising vote, no one voting in the nega- tive. R. M. Stocker then moved that the committee be directed to make an effort to raise $3,000 of this amount by subscrip- tion. Mr. Holmes offered an amendment that they be instructed to make an effort to raise the entire amount, this amendment being accepted and seconded by Andrew Thompson it was dis- cussed by Mr. Thompson and Mr. Holmes who both urged the importance of keeping out of debt. Mr. Holmes stated that this church had received credit for $46,720, from the Stephen Torrey estate that had gone to the benevolences of the church, that it received $100 annually from a $2,000 endowment from the heirs of John Torrey, besides $1,000 legacy from Caroline Torrey, that this family had done much to keep the church free from debt and had reason to complain of any proposition to encumber the church. R. M. Stocker approved of keeping the church free from debt but said there were individuals in the church who could draw a check for the entire proposed in- debtedness with less embarrassment than it would have caused the entire church to raise $500 at the time the church was organized. He did not think that the church need feel appalled at a few thousand dollars indebtedness. The motion was car- ried unanimously and after Judge Purdy explained that it was proposed to erect an addition for an organ chamber on the northeast corner, and remove the organ thereto, also to change the windows and refresco the church, the meeting adjourned.
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At a meeting of this committee R. H. Brown was employed to build the foundations for the organ annex and place iron girders on the northeast corner to strengthen the wall where it had settled to a slight extent. Also at this meeting J. D. Wes- ton was elected chairman and W. H. Lee secretary of the build- ing committee. Subsequently the members of the committee, outside of the trustees, withdrew from the committee leaving the trustees as the building committee to complete the work. The contract to do the work was let to R. H. Brown for $2,700, and the relaying of the foundation under the northeast corner of the church, which was done by the building committee under Mr. Brown's direction, cost $847.50. The contract for moving and rebuilding the organ was given to N. P. Kraig, of Bing- hamton, for $1,175. G. Hardy Payne, of Paterson, N. J., had the contract for new windows for $1,000. Mr. Beidelman, of Utica, did the frescoing for $525. James Morrison, of New York, furnished plaster mouldings for $98, and a floor was laid in the attic by R. H. Brown at a cost of $275. The women of the church furnished the new carpet and cushions for the pews.
At the annual meeting of the congregation held in tlie chapel February 15, 1905, Augustus P. Thompson was elected trustee in place of E. F. Torrey who declined to serve any longer. At a joint meeting of the session and trustees held at W. B. Holmes' in 1904, the envelope system of taking collec- tions was adopted and Miles T. Hand was made treasurer of the fund. Treasurer Salmon reported that through the work- ing of this system the collections had been very materially increased. The total amount received for ten and one-half months, was $1,047.20; one-fourth of this amount was paid to the session for benevolent purposes and the other three-fourths was paid into the church treasury. A vote of thanks was tend- ered to the trustees and the building committee for the excellent service they had performed for the church.
The church was reopened by a sacred concert for the choir. The Presbyterian choir were assisted by the choir of Grace Episcopal church and three men bers of the Methodist choir.
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The members of the Presbyterian choir were, Misses Anna Brown, Cora Keen, Charlotte Brown, Jennie Schoonover, Edith Swift, Florence Wood, Mrs. C. R. Brady, Mrs. C. H. Rockwell, H. A. Tingley, A. J. Rehbein, Howard Tracy, Mr. Gemre, Roy Wood, Miles Hand and J. A. Bodie, Jr .; Mrs. Swift, organist. The Episcopal choir was composed of the following: Mrs. C. E. Baker, Mrs. Frank French, Mrs. John Hawker, Misses Lucy Edgett, Carrie Smith, Maud Rehbein, Marguerite Dolmetsch, Mabel Broad, Jennie Hagaman, Minnie Smith, John Smith, Charles Truscott, C. E. Dodge, Norman Farnham and James Miller; Mrs. Jessie Dolmetsch, organist; and Metzgar's orches- tra. Those present from the Methodist choir were, Mrs. C. F. Bullock, Mrs. N. J. Spencer and Miss Jones.
Sunday, April 9, 1905, the church, which had been closed for repairs since August, 1904, was reopened for public worship. The new windows, new carpet, putting in electric light and new frescoing, together with the rebuilding of the organ has given the old edifice, with its many sacred associations, an entirely new appearance. The cost of these changes was $10,117.34. Of this sum the Pastor's Aid Society contributed $2,930.66 and with this money a new carpet was purchased, also new uphol- stering. The $1,000 bequeathed by Miss Caroline N. Torrey was used to purchase the windows and $486.68 was received from other sources, leaving a debt of $5,700.
Abraham I. Stryker, the first president of the board of trustees, removed to Honesdale from Cherry Ridge, from the farm since known as the Bonear farm. He purchased the lot on the corner of Main and Seventh streets, now owned by Buel Dodge, in 1836, and in connection with Jehiel Justin erected a store building thereon. His son Abram A. Stryker removed to Damascus township and his daughter became the wife of Dr. Stearns, of Hawley, Pa.
Gilbert and J. G. Waldron both signed the application for the charter, and Gilbert was a member of the church. They erected on Main street the second hotel in the village, after- wards under Captain Field known as the Mansion House.
HON. JOHN TORREY
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Catharine Waldron and Amelia Waldron were among the first teachers in the Sunday school and one of them taught school in the Old Tabernacle. Mr. Mayhew remembers attending this school. The family appears to have removed from the town about 1840.
Hon. John Torrey, fourth son of Jason Torrey, was born at Bethany, Pa., April 13, 1807, and he died at his residence in Honesdale, Friday, March 9, 1894, aged nearly 87. His boyhood was spent on his father's farm at Bethany and he was educated in the public schools and at Harford, Pa. In 1830 he married Rebecca Fuller, of Salisbury, Conn., and shortly afterwards erected the first brick house in Honesdale on the site of the present house which was erected in 1854. After erecting his residence he located in the town and was identified with its progress until his death. About 1836-7, on account of the failing health of his father, he took charge of his real estate business, which at that time included nearly all the unseated lands in Wayne county, besides thousands of acres in Pike, Monroe, Susquehanna and Lackawanna counties. He was a very thorough and accurate man and he soon became so familiar with land laws and titles that he was a recognized authority in all matters pertaining to real estate in this part of Pennsylvania; and having a retentive memory his knowledge of the old pio- neers and their titles was clearer than that of any other person in the county at the time of his death. He was an accurate conveyancer, and his deeds traced title to the Commonwealth, making a sure foundation for subsequent titles. He was methodical in his work and could furnish correct data with reference to any title that he had given, on short notice. He was connected with the Honesdale Bank as corporator, director, vice president and president from its organization in 1836 until his death. James H. Torrey says of him: "His was indeed a life devoted in all its parts, in all its manifold relations, and throughout its entire duration to duty." Rev. Dr. Swift quoted Rev. Dr. Rowland as saying of Jason Torrey what was appro- priate to John Torrey, as follows: "Mr. Torrey was a man of
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uncommon energy of character and of a determined fixeduess of purpose. He had strength of mind and sagacity to search out and discover the path of his duty; and when he had once made up his mind as to the rectitude of a given course, it was as easy to remove the hills from their bases as to divert him from it. *
* * His energy and decision were equal to any emergency; and as they were displayed in him, constituted a great character." Dr. Swift then says, "This loyalty to God and truth, to conscience, was everywhere manifest,-manifest in his hearty acceptance of the Inspired Book as the Divine Word of God." "In his regard for the Lord's Day, all secular papers were removed on Saturday night, not to reappear until Monday morning." He was Associate Judge by appointment for a short time but his preeminence was that of a private citi- zen. He had large opportunities and he succeeded because he measured up to the responsibilities that devolved upon him. He joined the Honesdale Presbyterian church by letter from the Bethany church in May, 1831, and was its oldest member at the time of his death. During the later years of his life he was unable to hear the sermons, still he occupied a front pew regularly at the Sunday morning service and greeted his pastor with a warm hand grasp and words of cheer at its close. He was the first treasurer of the church and was on the board of trustees a number of years besides being on building commit- tees. During the sixty-three years of his membership of the church he was a large contributor to its funds for all purposes. He was a temperate man and believed in the simple, plain wor- ship of the Puritans. He conducted his home in the charming simplicity becoming one of his quiet tastes, and and although somewhat deaf he was an instructive conversationalist, par- ticularly with reference to all matters pertaining to the pioneer settlers. He left a solid reputation as an inheritance to his children and the church. His wife had an excellent reputation in the church and community. She died in 1877. Of his family, Ellen C. died in infancy; Adaline N., wife of Dr. Grant, died in Cairo, Egypt, July 23, 1886; Lieut. Robert N. died at
DANIEL BLANDIN
RUSSEL F. LORD HON. THOS. H. R. TRACY
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Honesdale, April 30, 1887. Caroline N. also is dead, and Ed- win F., Henry F., of New Jersey, John, of California, and Frances R., wife of Andrew Thompson, are living (1904.) Thomas F. Torrey died in May 1905.
Russel F. Lord was born in Rome, Oncida county, N. Y., August 17, 1802. He was educated for a civil engineer under the patronage of George Huntington. In March, 1826, he en- tered the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company as assistant to Portius Root, resident engineer, who had charge of the construction of the canal. In 1827 he was made resident engineer of the Lackawaxen section, which post he held until 1830. In 1829, he came to Honesdale, boarding with Isaac P. Foster. In 1831 he became chief engineer, which responsible position he held until January, 1864, when he resigned and ac- cepted the position of consulting engineer, a position which he held at the time of his death July 7, 1867. He was a man of uncommon mental and physical vigor. His mind was clear, analytical, retentive, quick to perceive, rapid to discriminate; nothing once acquired escaped him. Master of his profession, his superabundant activity ran into other lines of thought and investigation. Always burdened with business, he nevertheless acquired a vast amount of knowledge on subjects altogether out- side of his daily employment. This knowledge was not erratic and superficial, but exact and thorough. What he touched he examined closely. Nor did he so hold his stores of informa- tion as not to have them available. A charming conversation- alist, his talk was enriched by the amplitude of his acquirements. He had moreover an inexhaustible fund of anecdote, incident, personal reminiscence and the like, which at home or abroad, at the fireside, in the stage coach, in the railway carriage, or elsewhere, imparted a peculiar charm to his companionship. His acquaintance with public men enabled him to enrich his discourse with an opulence of personal allusion that was as in- structive as it was peculiar. During most of the long period Mr. Lord was chief engineer of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, all the disbursements for that department passed
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through his hands. Checks and balances in the company's financial system, there appeared to be none. Everything almost was entrusted to the capacity and integrity of the chief engineer. He drew moneys as he needed, disbursed them according to his own judgment, making a general settlement once a year, after the close of navigation. Many millions of dollars passed through his hands and were so applied as never to raise a sus- picion of his downright honesty. To a large degree, for many years, he held the destiny of the company in his hands. His skill, energy and probity were the primal fountains out of which flowed much of its subsequent prosperity. Mr. Lord was liberal. The last years of his life were clouded with shadows, but alto- gether he was one of the ablest men that ever had anything to do with the management of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Com- pany. Mr. Lord's first wife was a Garrett. She was very active in the church, and his second wife was a daughter of Rev. Dr. Scott. She was a sister of Benjamin Harrison's first wife, and the mother of his second wife who was born in the Lord mansion in this borough. R. F. Lord joined the church June 25, 1830, being the twenty-sixth member of the church. He was a trustee of the church for a number of years and con- tributed liberally to its support.
Thomas H. R. Tracy was born in Connecticut, May 15, 1806, but while a youth his parents removed to Columbus, Chenango county, N. Y. His father was a farmer and black- smith, dividing his time between cultivating the soil and labor- ing at the anvil; and his mother was an intelligent, devout woman. The youth of Mr. Tracy was spent on the farm and in the shop of his father. His education was limited to such rudimental instruction as the common schools of the neighbor- hood supplied. Observation, experience and meditation were his teachers. In the sharp attrition and effort of practical pur- suits his mind was strengthened, disciplined and equipped. Business was his instructor and the knowledge of men and things he thence derived was absolute and multiform. His practical life in coming in contact with men in the struggles of
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life enlarged and quickened his sympathies and affections. He had an instructive compassion for those in distress, which pe- cuniary prosperity did not check or dwarf. In 1829 he came to Honesdale and was soon after appointed superintendent of the Pennsylvania section of the Delaware & Hudson Canal, which post he occupied until his death. In the performance of his duties he had the happy faculty of combining justice to the company with generosity to the men under his orders; so that he constantly enjoyed the confidence and respect of both. He was identified with the borough almost from its commence- ment, was for many years its Chief Burgess, and ever partici- pated heartily in all enterprises to promote its prosperity. He was elected Associate Judge in December, 1851, and he died May 5, 1856. He became a member of the church in 1840 and was on the board of trustees a number of years. He was also leader of the choir for many years. His violincello was the first instrumental music ever heard in the church. Mr. Tracy married Anna Aldrich in 1832 and located on Main street on the lot now occupied by W. B. Holmes' store, and his neighbor, on the corner where Jadwin's store now is, was R. F. Lord. Their houses stood back from the street with fine yards in front. Lord had a fountain playing in his yard. In the early days of the canal the men of this vicinity were paid in Tracy's house. J. B. Fitch, a brother-in-law of Tracy's, would come up and assist him on such occasions. In fact, R. F. Lord, James Archbald and Mr. Tracy were the practical men that had charge of the affairs of the canal for years. Mrs. Tracy died March 26, 1894, at the advanced aged of 84. Lucy Bentley, widow of George F. Bentley, is the only member of the family now living in Honesdale. Commander Charles W. Tracy was a naval officer in the War of the Rebellion and now is connected with the Boston navy yard. Kate, wife of Judge Seely, and Miles L. are dead. Thomas H. R. Tracy, Jr., married Miss Lucy Sherwood and their daughter Kate is the wife of Dr. Barckley, now residing at Milford, Pa.
Daniel Blandin was born at Attleboro, Mass., April 4, 1806.
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When a child he came to Wayne county with his parents who settled near Bethany. He resided there until he was 21 years of age, being in the employ of Major Torrey during the last three years of that time. In 1827 he came to Honesdale and commenced business for himself. He erected the main part of the house now owned by Judge Grambs, in 1830, and had a slaughter house on the corner of West and Fifteenth streets. He was the first meat dealer in the new town. In 1833 he sold the building on the corner of Main and Fifteenth streets to the Presbyterian society for a parsonage, meanwhile he purchased a tract of wild land on the Lackawaxen up the Seelyville road, and about 1835 erected the first house in what is now the vil- lage of Blandin. The property is still occupied and owned by his son Henry Blandin. While Major Walton was collector he entered the employ of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company and when Walton died he was promoted to his position. He discharged the duties of his office with remarkable fidelity for twenty-two years until his death, April 26, 1870. He was a trustee in the church for a number of years, having joined the church in 1832. In 1830 he married Mary Davison. Of his children, *Maria became the wife of Hon. Henry M. Jones, of Harford, Susquehanna county; Albert, Emmons and George are dead and Henry is a milk dealer in Honesdale. He married Mary Woodhouse and is the owner of the homestead farm at Blandin.
Henry Ward Stone was born at Guilford, Conn., May 17, 1791, and he died at Honesdale, August 20, 1881. He was married July 24, 1823, to Catharine W. Niven, daughter of General Niven, of General Washington's staff. He moved to Mount Pleasant when quite young. In 1818 he became a gen- eral merchant at that place, continuing the business until 1846 when he removed to Honesdale where he engaged in the same business. He had a tannery at Beech Pond with Mr. Drake.
*Maria Blandin was born a few months after the borough was incor- porated and she is the oldest person living that was born within the borough, (1905.)
C S. MINOR H A. WOODHOUSE
HON. F. B. PENNIMAN B. B. SMITH
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This tannery burned down twice and Mr. Stone was a large loser, but he would not compromise his debts as he might have done but insisted on paying them in full. This reduced his large fortune but still he had enough for his needs. He was a highly respected gentleman of the old school. Of his children, Harriet was the wife of Judge C. P. Waller, Janeatte was the first wife of E. F. Torrey, Jane Elizabeth was the wife of Mar- cus Sayre and Charlotte, the only one living, is Mrs. Horace C. Hand, and W. H. Stone the only son, is with us. Mr. Stone's family have all been creditable representatives of an honorable ancestry.
John Foster Roe, 1806-1889, was the son of John and Elizabeth Foster Roe, who were residents of New York City. His father, a merchant there, died when his son was not quite two years old, and his mother with their only child went to live at her father's house at Quogue, L. I., where she reared her son. He was educated in Southampton for a civil engineer, but finally he decided to come to Honesdale where he entered into partnership with his uncle Isaac P. Foster in the mercan- tile business at first, afterwards including the tanning industry. After a time he withdrew from the partnership and engaged in mercantile business which he continued during the years of his active life. Reaching advanced years he retired from the oc- cupation of more than half a century, during which time he had been fully identified with all the best interests of the town, which he had seen grow from the small beginnings of a pioneer village to embrace the improvements and advantages of the later years of his life. Mr. Roe was a conservative man, strong in feeling, but wise in judgment and careful in expression, con- scientious and faithful to duty, most tender and devoted in family relations and always abreast with the world's progress in public and national interests. Of pious ancestry his sense of religious obligation was controlling and carried out in daily life, in family worship, in strict Sabbath keeping and faithful attendance upon Sabbath and midweek services. He thoroughly entered into every good work of the church at home and abroad,
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by regularly giving to its aid, to the end of his life. He served the church as a trustee but declined its other positions of in- fluence or official service. He died April 24, 1889. He mar- ried Ruth Sayre and they had three children, Abbie, widow of Henry F. Atherton, for many years paymaster of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, Henry F., of Honesdale, and Mary E. R., widow of W. W. Weston. His last wife was Ann Fuller, of Kent, Conn., and John Fuller Roe is their only son.
George Murray Keen was born at Middletown, N. Y., Sep- tember 16, 1793. He was a schoolmate of Henry Dunning, father of Rev. C. S. Dunning. At the age of 16 he removed to Otisville where he was married to Matilda Seybolt. In 1819 they removed to Canaan township, Wayne county, Pa. He re- sided in Bethany for a time and united with the Presbyterian church there in 1833. He next lived at No. 2 for many years and in 1837 he and his wife were the one hundred and forty- fifth and one hundred and forty-sixth members to unite with Honesdale Presbyterian church. He sometimes brought his family to church from this place with an ox team and at other times he drew them down the gravity railroad track in a horse car. They kept boarders and also had a saw mill on McKindly Creek. They removed to Prompton where he died June 26, 1871, aged 82. Mrs. Keen died December 23, 1892, in her 96th year. Their children were Valentine Mott Keen, of Scranton, Pa., Jane, wife of Sheriff William F. Wood, Maria, wife of William Palmer, of Milwaukee, Elizabeth, wife of Tru- man Guild, of Walton, N. Y. Rev. George Guild, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Providence, is a son of theirs. George Spencer Keen the well known cartman was another son of George Keen, also Frederick I. Keen the liveryman. Frederick I. Keen has three girls and two boys. His wife, who was Maria E., daughter of Eben H. Clark, and her daughters, are active in church work.
Among the first members, numbers forty and forty-one on the church rolls, were Hiram Dibble and his good wife Naomi. They were born in Connecticut, he in 1795, and she in 1801,
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and were married in 1818. They came to Damascus and re- sided on the old Parsons homestead near the academy for a time. Next we find them at Leonardsville lock house keeping boarders while the canal was building, and among them were young Russel F. Lord and Thomas H. R. Tracy. The open- ing of the canal caused a great fever throughout this region, and among those that were sick with the fever was T. H. R. Tracy while he was boarding with Mr. Dibble. They appear to have lived at Bethany for a time for they received their let- ters from that church, then he was gate keeper at Prompton. Here Ann M. Markey the youngest daughter was born in 1837. Mr. Dibble and his wife were the first gate keepers on the Honesdale and Narrowsburg turnpike road and their daughter continued to keep the gate until the road was made free, about 1884. Mr. Dibble was only about five feet high and he never weighed one hundred and twenty pounds. He was court crier for many years in Judge Barrett's time, and as he appeared about court in his stove pipe hat standing straight and com- manding order he was an observed man and was well known throughout the county. Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut, presented them with silver spoons made from the silver mount- ings of a sword used in the Revolution. Dr. Rowland was a friend of Mr. Dibble and presented him with copies of his works. They were honest, faithful people and were trusted by the stockholders of the turnpike companies to handle the funds that came from tolls. Hiram Dibble died in 1861 and his wife, who was a woman of reading and reflection, died in 1866. One of their daughters, Chloe, joined the church January 30, 1839. She took a letter to the church at Prompton in 1842. She now resides in Carbondale aged 83. Her husband, Mr. Inch, re- cently died aged over 90. Mrs. Ann M. Markey, another daughter, resides at Tracyville, and is a member of the Metho- dist church. Hiram Dibble, Jr., was in the war of the Rebel- lion.
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