USA > Pennsylvania > Wayne County > Honesdale > History of the First Presbyterian society of Honesdale > Part 20
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Bertha Lane. Rena J. Watts.
Mrs. Ann S. Bodie.
Elwin C. Mumford. Frank D. Tarble.
Edgar W. Ross.
Clarence E. Salmon, 1.
Robert A. Smith, Jr.
William B. Powell.
William W. Brown.
Charles W. Henderson.
Clarence B. Hall.
Fred B. Whitney.
David Bodie.
Gustavus Zipple. Edward W. Burns, M. D.
Henry L. Schremser. John R. Congdon. Augustus P. Thompson. Joseph F. Crandall.
Katie May Theobald. Mrs. Henrietta Ransom, 1.
Mrs. Julia Torrey, 1.
Thomas Fowler, 1. Emma J. Fowler, 1.
Olive M. Fowler, 1. Mrs. Jane Rebouse, 1. Mrs. Ann L. Rockwell, 1.
Richard H. Brown, 1. Mrs. Hattie M. Smith.
Mrs. Ida M. Coleman.
Mattie H. Bond, married William
H. Hawkins.
Clara S. Erk. Elizabeth Erk.
Mrs. Emma Neimiller, 1. Mrs. Elizabeth J. Wood. Blanche J. Wood. Isabel Durland. Charlotte A. Muir. Susan E. Jenkins.
Addie Daniels. Sarah A. Rockwell. Olive I. Rockwell.
Annie M. Kreitner.
Emma A. Kreitner. Clara M. Bunnell, married W. H. Kreitner.
Adelaide R. Dodge, married N. E. Bigelow. Joseph S. Pennell.
Charles W. Weston. Howard C. Reitenauer. Augustus B. Grambs. Charles T. Bentley. John L. Wolfe. Howard E. Tracy. John E. Scheutz. Edwin F. Torrey, Jr.
Mrs. Jane A. Myers, 1.
Sarah C. VanBeuren, 1.
Jennie S. Salmon, 1. Mrs. Mary F. Haines, 1.
Mattie Sharpsteen, 1.
Francis T. Dunkleberg, I.
Lena Mackley. Lizzie Mackley. Lena Wenbauer. Hanna Stegner.
Mrs. Louisa J. Penwarden.
George W. Penwarden. Robert Louis Grambs.
Cora M. Keen.
1888.
Elizabeth Oldorf. Robert E. Ransom.
Edward E. Bunnell.
Daniel E. Potts, 1.
Mrs. Agnes M. Potts, 1.
Walter W. Wood, 1.
Eliza Carr, l. Flora E. Ferguson, 1. Horace J. Collum. Sarah E. Collum.
Mrs. L. H. Evans, 1.
Peter R. Collum, 1. Mrs. M. J. Collum, 1. Mrs. Clara Thompson, 1.
1889.
Eugene H. Walter. B. M. Wilcox, 1. Mrs. Almira Wilcox, 1. Olive O. Wilcox, 1. Viola K. Wilcox, 1. Susie A. Haines, 1. Mary E. Rogers, 1. Claudius McIntyre. Jane H. McIntyre. Hattie E. Kimble. Katie Grace, 1. Anna Swartz. John D. Romaine. Alice Z. Gregory. R. M. Stocker, 1.
232
HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
1890.
Carrie Weston. Jennie Lee. Anna D. Eldred.
Katharine N. Stanton.
Charlotte L. Lane.
Lena M. Pethick, 1.
Charles R. Brady, 1. Sadie E. Hallock.
1891.
Fred W. Kreitner, 1.
Mary E. Powell.
Ida Kreitner, 1.
Kate Watts.
Jeanette Dunlop, 1.
Rena J. Keen.
A. R. Pennell, entered ministry, 1. Grace A. Jadwin.
Elizabeth A. Dunkleberg. George P. Greiner. Barbara Greiner, his wife.
Marcia B. Allen.
Fred S. Martin.
Edith K. Swift.
Albert A. Grambs.
Florence Cortright, 1.
William H. Pregnall.
Bertha N. Adams, 1.
Charlotte R. Martin.
Charlotte M. Martin.
1892.
Anna V. Spettigue, 1.
Sadie E. Eade.
Frances A. Burroughs, 1.
Mary E. Ferguson.
Robert G. Barckley, M. D., 1.
Mina A. Bunnell.
Charles B. Hallock.
Grover G. Hollister.
Florence G. Hallock.
Estelle May Hallock.
Charles Ledyard Hallock.
Sarah Miller, 1.
Franklin McMullen.
Emma D. Baker, I.
William E. Bennett, I.
Mary I. Penwarden.
Walter S. Alden. Catharine J. Blaine.
Hattie M. Pregnall.
Sarah A. Blaine.
Jesse Blaine.
Frank Bishop.
Fred E. Reury.
Winfield D. Bush.
James A. Robinson.
Charles W. Babbitt.
Flora P. Smith.
John T. Boyd.
Anna G. Seaman.
Harriet A. Beers.
Catharine M. Tompkins. Mary Tompkins.
Lizzie C. Bassett.
Samuel D. Tompkins.
Charles L. Bassett.
Kittie M. Varcoe.
Nellie M. Bodie.
Emma D. VanSteinberg.
Alice J. Bodie. Anna H. Brown. Millicent Brown.
Eugene H. Cortright.
Francis A. Dimock.
Frederick W. Dodge. Susan F. Dodge.
Florence E. Dodge.
Henry R. Ward. Ida L. Yeary.
Louise M. Durland. Mary Evans.
Elizabeth Fowler, 1. N. E. Hause.
George B. Osborne. Mary E. Church, 1.
Bessie E. Swift.
Emily A. Searle, 1. Mary Fowler, 1.
Elizabeth C. Lawyer, 1.
Carrie L. Gerry. Milicent Gillen.
Simeon Kimble.
Susan S. Keen. William H. Kreitner.
Edith E. McMullen.
Emma D. Pregnall. Sarah A. Prouty. Mabel L. Reury.
Electa Bassett.
Thomas W. Wilbur. Harriet Wilder. Grace E. Wilder. Julia A. Wilder. R. Bruce Wilson. May O. Wooden. Walter W. Wood, Jr.
Mattie M. Yeary.
Mary H. Tracy.
233
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDERS.
Mary F. Bodie.
Josephine H. Bush. Orra B. Hadsall.
Anthony G. Shake. Mary E. Bond.
Alice Robinson.
Margaret S. Schiessler.
Emily M. Schremser.
Emma Burns.
Mrs. A. H. Bennett.
Benjamin H. Bentley
Robert M. Salmon.
John B. Callaway. Mary L. Crandall.
Grace A. Cory.
Margaret E. Tallman.
Dorothea Dittrich.
Henry A. Tingley.
Augusta H. Wefferling.
Anna B. Wolff.
John M. Brouwer.
Cora L. Watts.
Clarence E. Bond.
Anna Marie Spruks.
Roscoe D. Beers.
Martha Northcott, 1.
Anna Hood, 1.
Mary M. Albertson, 1.
Caroline Mitchell, 1.
Florence Mitchell, 1.
Jeanette Robertson.
P. B Peterson, M. D., 1.
Lizzie A. Eade, l.
Margarette Eade, 1.
Mary M. Bishop.
Harvey Bishop. Carrie A. Ray.
1893.
Sarah VanBuren, 1. George Helstein, 1. Mrs. George Helstein, 1 John Helstein, 1. Elizabeth Varcoe.
1894.
William H. Runyon. Fred C. Keen. Henry A. Dunkelberg. Katharine M. Smith. Louise M. Smith.
Carrie E. Metzger.
Emma A. Smith.
Stuart O. Lincoln, 1. Kate Limner.
Anna Stocks. George C. Weston. Carrie Irwin, 1. Lucy Oughton, 1. Lou V. Erk, 1. Florence Jenkins, 1. Rebecca A. Swinton, 1
Catharine M. Erk. Mary A. Erk. William H. Hawken. Anna E. Tryon, 1. Rena B. Loring, 1. Jane Myers, 1.
Maretta B. Stocker, 1. Freeman W. Secor. Emma G. Secor. Ulysses G. Ridgeway. Mrs. Frank A. Lord. Zebulon J. Lord. Huldah Smith. Dina C. Evans. Eva Mosier. Sarah Limner. Adah Stocks. Mary E. Stocks. Alice L. Adams. Chester J. Adams. William H. Pregnall. Lottie Pregnall.
George E. Richart.
Mary E. Richart. Amanda D. Reury.
William W. Swift.
Grant C. Tallman.
Josephine C. Dittrich. Anna C. Dunkelberg. Justo DeAyla, (Cuban).
William Erk.
Margaret Evans.
Frances Edgar.
Florence L. Fowler. John R. Jenkins. Edward G. Jenkins.
Lucy Kuhbach.
Sarah C. Kimble. Agnes Martin. Agnes Mackley.
Christine Mackley.
George G. Mackley.
Amelia B. Mueller. John Miller. George H. Marsh. Jennie A. Marsh.
Auna L. Leitz. Anna L. Salmon.
Nelson E. Bigelow.
234
HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
1895.
Mrs. F. A. Whittaker.
George W. Penwarden.
Hattie E. Whittaker.
Robert C. Mueller.
Mary H. Courser.
Edward H. Mueller.
May Kimble.
Warren J. Yerkes.
Mary G. Solomon.
Walter R. Swift.
Alice A. Day.
Myrta W. Burns, 1.
Grace A. Reitenauer.
George Woodward, 1.
E. Louise Lee.
Cornelia B. Woodward, 1.
Edith F. Torrey.
Edwina Schermerhorn, 1.
Rebecca F. Thompson.
Fannie M. Slaughter, 1.
Maggie Kolmus.
Sibelia Murphy.
Emma Moules.
William H. Krantz.
Mary E. Limner.
Bertha Krantz.
Theodore A. Kreitner.
Gerardo Margotta.
1896.
Emma R. Patterson.
Charles B. Wood.
Frederika E. Turner.
Charles W. McMullen.
Helen F. Fowler.
Elizabeth Vernooy.
Martha M. Collum.
William W. Kolmus.
Queenie C. Cooley.
Henry Smith.
David W. Noyes.
Arthur Jones,
John Meyers.
Estella A. Bond.
Elizabeth Bodie.
Ethel M. Neimiller.
Jeunie Lovelass.
Jennie L. Clemo.
Julia Patten.
Mary M. Pethick.
Samuel E. Morrison.
Alma J. G. Dix.
John H. Evans.
Eleanor W. Strongman.
Dora Ackerman.
George J. L. Mueller.
Mary E. Schiessler.
Mary S. Foster.
Alfred L. Scheuller.
Lizzie Smith.
Carrie Ehlenberg.
Julia E. Doney.
Katie K. Mosier.
Abbie C. Erk.
Carrie H. Schiessler.
Dora Wolff.
1897.
Mary Grace Salmon. David L, Hower.
Abram Stenzhorn.
Susan Stenzhorn.
Lewis F. Bishop.
Ida Bishop. Kate C. Erk.
1898.
S. F. Wells. Ophelia Wells. Matilda Reifler. Sophia Reifler.
Lydia E. Reifler. Margaret Mosier. Martha Lutz. Matilda Dershimer.
Thomas S. March. Jennie B. March.
Clara Hensey. Almeda Grace Smith.
Maggie J. Solomon.
Elizabeth G. Babbitt.
Alice Hortense Dix.
Henry Ackerman.
Lizzie A. Ball.
Judson D. Gelatt.
Lillie Gelatt
L. Fred Krantz.
Grace L. Kimble.
Matilda K. Reitenauer.
Cora Evans.
George F. Britenbaker.
Frances M. Britenbaker.
Gale B. Jenkins.
235
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDERS.
Margaret Heller. Eva Sonn. Irving J. Many. Sarah Many.
Edward E. Bunnell. Charles S. Pregnall. Lottie Haines.
Mrs. William Seitz.
Evelyna C. Bowen. Mary I. Rickard.
Mary Moulter. Anna A. Gredlein. Rose Henzy.
Asa E. Bryant. Hannah M. Mackle. Abraham C. Mackle.
James G. Stegner. George E. Helstern.
Henry Lang. Zernia Lang. Mary Ethel Lee.
Lena M. Yerry.
Ada B. Dewitt.
Grace L. Bishop.
Jennie Patten.
Grace Patten.
Blanche M. Noyes.
Alta I. Many. Erdnie Emmons.
Elease M. Krantz. Florence E. Evans.
Meta A. Smith. Florence A. Watts.
Mrs. C. E. Mills, 1.
Jane P. Bodie, 1. Mary B. Strongman, 1. Alma C. Scheuler.
Lilian Grace Babbitt. Minnie L. Scheuler. Millie M. Weaver. Frances J. Schimmell. F. Genevieve Lord. Stella E. Congdon. Eva Lena Wilson.
Jane Mckown. Harold C. Yerkes. Margaret Keeler.
1899.
Isabel E. Moules. Margaret D. Schmidt. Alice G. Doney. Lois A. Secor. Andrew Lutz. William J. Hubbard.
William H. Barrable. Helen M. Stanton.
1900.
Florence C. Baker. Ada A. Hiller. Kate E. Eldred.
William D. Eldred.
Horace V. Noyes. Louis A. Helferich. Herbert H. Hiller. C. Marion Bodie. Gus E. Schmidt.
William Henzy. Gustave Smith. Christy Lutz.
Walter Stocks. J. Ruth Schoonover. Mary Owen Wood.
Kate B. Brady. Mrs. E. B. Tears, 1.
1901.
Edna P. Dimock. Bessie M. Chambers. Margaret A. Weaver. Antoinette S. Durland. Charles D. Thompson. Otto G. Weaver. James O. Mumford.
Joseph A. Bodie, Jr. Lydia Decker. Herman Harmes, 1.
Sarah A. Harmes, 1. Katharine L. Herbert, 1 Clara Moore, 1.
1902.
George J. Weidner. Florence E. Weidner. Nellie M. Dunkelberg, 1. Oscar E. Bunnell.
Annie G. Reed. Evelyn G. Vaughn. Fred E. Hawkey. Jemima B. Hawkey, 1.
236
HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Sarah VanBuren, 1.
Emma E. Taylor, 1.
Bertha Hawkey, 1. Georgia R. Thompson, 1.
Josie M. Winnie, 1. Lawrence S. Winnie, 1. Adolphus Schneider.
1903.
Mary H. Foster.
Katharine L. Chambers.
Mary S. Hower, 1.
Grace B. Moules.
Cora Decker, 1.
Angus M. Lawyer.
Millie I. Biebas.
Edward E. Newbauer.
Florence E. Brown.
Louise Edgar.
Edward A. Marsh. Clarence J. Helstern.
Katrina D. Swift.
John A. Kimble.
Alice M. Tallman.
Edson R. Kreitner.
Vera E. Rickard.
Elmer C. Taylor.
Amy G. Cory.
Miles T. Hand, 1.
Elizabeth C. Lawyer.
Helen C. Hand, 1.
Hazel Blanche Secor.
Angus McDonald, 1.
Barbara T. Boos.
Mrs. McDonald, 1.
Edith M. Eich.
Roy Wood, 1.
Cora M. Eich.
Lillian A. Wood, 1.
Sarah A. Sommers, 1.
Mrs. Charles M. Metzger.
Minnie Day Arthur, 1.
1904.
Emma S Sonn.
John W. Hiller.
Martin Heft, 1.
Ida M. Tracy.
Richard Roberts, 1.
Annie Roberts, 1.
1905.
Merle Eldred.
Louise Grace Geary.
Helene A. Bishop.
Alice B. Wood.
Ethel A. Schiessler.
Alma L. Adams.
Alice C. Erk.
Mildred M. Moules.
Bertha Hahn.
Carrie L. Gredline.
Florence H. Hiller.
Helen L. Tryon.
Charlotte A. Hartung. Florence M. Smith.
Bessie M. Bunnell.
Laura E. Cortright. Florence Kimble.
Florence Reifler.
Beatrice E. Rehbein. Eva W. Harmes.
Russel E. Romaine.
Lloyd F. Schuller.
H. C. Ford Rehbein.
Raymond C. Bodie.
Albert B. McMullen.
George H. Lorenz.
Mabel G. Reed.
Mary A. Mumford.
Mary E. Fitch.
Anna M. Ordnung.
Margaret R. Ordnung. Lila M. Owen.
Edythe L. Jenkins, 1.
Charles J. Iloff.
Harry G. Peuwarden.
Katharina W. Schlund.
Sarah Groner.
Florence V. Secor.
Mabel G. Secor.
Mary A. Lohman.
Charles Henry Rockwell.
Johunes Gemre.
Amelia Schwieger.
Mary A. Keast. Maude E. Rehbein.
Testa F. Ballard.
Tillie Neubauer.
Fauny E. Watts.
Lillian M. Henzy.
Grace E. Erk. Amy M. Benny.
Irving H. Ball.
Margaret S. Mumford.
237
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDERS.
Henry A. Brown.
Ralph F. Martin, 1.
Henry S. Bishop.
Eben P. Keen.
John H. Weaver, Jr.
Antoinette B. Brown.
Benjamin Ray Brown.
Lydia Inez Hanıbly.
Arthur W. Helstern.
May Agnes Jaynes.
Fred L. Hiller.
Edith Joyce Hambly.
Barbara Jeitz.
Edward F. Rice.
Grace E. Turner, 1.
Ralph H. Jeitz.
Mrs. Anna M. Thayer.
Members that have an (1) after their name joined by letter.
This membership roll contains the names of some persons who wore mere transients here and of others who were here all their lives. Some of them have been true soldiers of the King of the Universe and others have simply been enrolled. Let all who see their names on this list ask them- selves why their names are there and whether they have kept the promises which they made when they took upon themselves the solemn obligations of the church. Some have seen many years of service, their lives have been long and life's close with many has been peaceful and beautiful.
Among those who lived to a great age and served the church well were Isaac P. Foster and Stephen Torrey, of the organizers of the church. John Torrey, Elias T. Beers and Dr. Otis Avery were aged servants when they left these earthly scenes. Mrs. Catharine Hand was over 90. She, like her sisters, had been a useful woman in the church. Caroline Marsh was in her 93d year when she died. She came to Honesdale in 1842 with her husband Alexander Marsh, who was an honest carpenter. Their chil- dren were Ann E. Kalisch, Lydia Decker, Amelia Knipe, Edwin, Mary Robinson, George, Horace and Susan, wife of W. T. Moore.
Among the persons who have acquired celebrity that were members of the church, D. B. St. John Roosa deserves mention. He resides in New York and is recognized as among the first eye and ear specialists in the land. Dr. Reed Burns is acquiring a great reputation as a surgeon in Scranton.
The history of a church, with the individuality of its members, is an in- teresting study which many of our readers will be able to note in accord- ance with their own knowledge of the persons named on the membership roll; and every one's life and character is what he has made it. Church membership does not make people good, but it is a help to those who will avail themselves of the services of the church.
Among our aged members who are still with us is Mrs. F. B. Penni- man, now 96 years old. She has been a member of the church for many years.
Daniel P. Kirtland was a trustee and treasurer of the church for a time. He was one of the first board of directors of the Honesdale Bank and a business partner of his brother-in-law, Ezra Hand. He died in 1874 aged 73, his wife Emmeline Chapman was a good worker in the church. She died in 1880 aged 77.
David Tarbox was a trustee and treasurer of the church. He was also the first harnessmaker in town and the first Justice of the Peace after the
238
HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
borough was chartered. He had the reputation of being an honest man. The family removed from the place many years ago.
Dr. Ebenezer T. Losey came to Honesdale about 1830 and became a member of the church. He practiced medicine in Honesdale for forty years and was highly respected. It was said of him, "his kindness and warm sympathy, extending through so many years of active practice, are interwoven like a thread of gold in the joys and sorrows of some of our families." He married Lucy, daughter of Joseph B. Walton, and their chil- dren were Emeline W., Joseph W., Abbie T., Cornelius, Sarah W., Eben- ezer T., Daniel W., Henry B. and Lucy M. The family of children removed west.
Many worthy people have records that the writer knows nothing of. This record is necessarily imperfect and brief but it is hoped that enough has been given to preserve some memorial of the worthy members of the church.
Also among the recent members are Frederick W. and William Krelt- ner, who are among Honesdale's energetic and capable carpenters and builders, and W. H. Krantz and Ralph Martin of the Honesdale Shoe Com- pany, Robert E. Ransom, a farmer living north of Seelyville, a substan- tial and faithful member. Among those who served the church as janitors have been Benjamin Sherwood, Stephen G. Cory, T. S. Brown and Peter R. Collum.
239
HONESDALE CHURCH IN PRESBYTERY.
CHAPTER VII.
HONESDALE CHURCH IN PRESBYTERY.
August 25, 1829, Session resolved to make application to become connected with Hudson Presbytery at their next ses- sion, and Stephen Torrey was appointed to represent the church in making the application. On September 8, 1829, their request was granted and the Honesdale and Carbondale churches presented their books for review and they were ac- cepted and approved by Andrew Thompson, moderator, at the Presbytery which met at Bethlehem, N. Y.
The Presbytery of Hudson was organized by the Synod of New York and New Jersey, October 22, 1795, it comprised all the ministers belonging to the Presbytery of New York extend- ing from the middle of the southern mountains in Orange county and the southern bounds of the Presbytery of Albany, and all the ministers of Dutchess Presbytery. William Timlo, moder- ator, approved the records at Carbondale in 1830. September 14, 1831, Presbytery met at West Town, A. Thompson, moder- ator.
In May, 1832, Bethany, Mount Pleasant, Honesdale and Carbondale churches were transferred to the Presbytery of Sus- quehanna by the General Assembly. October 18, 1832, the Synod of New York and New Jersey, at the request of the Presbytery of Susquehanna, divided said Presbytery, and in-
240
HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
stituted the Presbyteries of Susquehanna and Montrose. To Susquehanna Presbytery were assigned the churches in Brad- ford and Luzerne counties. To Montrose Presbytery were. assigned the churches of Susquehanna and Wayne counties and the church at Carbondale in Luzerne county. During the schism in the church the Montrose Presbytery and its churches went with the New School movement, and the churches of Sus- quehanna Presbytery remained with the Old School. In 1870, by changing the boundaries of the Presbyteries in the reunited church, all the territory comprised in the Susquehanna, Lu- zerne and Montrose Presbyteries, comprising the counties of Wayne, Susquehanna, Bradford, Wyoming, Sullivan, Lack- awanna and Luzerne, were united to form Lackawanna Presby- tery. This is one of the largest and most influential Presby- teries in the state. It has maintained a Presbyterial missionary since its organization, to look after the feeble churches, and it has also carried on a great work among the foreign speaking population in the coal regions. Rev. Stephen Torrey did most efficient work as Presbyterial missionary for many years.
Honesdale church takes a high rank in the Presbytery and its ministers and elders have been sent to represent the Pres- bytery in Synod and General Assembly as frequently as they have been from most other churches. Our church began to be recognized under Dr. Rowland and it has been treated gener- ously under Dr. Dunning and Dr. Swift.
Presbytery has met at Honesdale as follows:
Montrose Presbytery .- April 14, 1835, stated meeting; January 30, 1838, special meeting; February 18, 1840, stated meeting; May 6, 1841, adjourned meeting; August 2, 1842, special meeting; June 13, 1843, adjourned meeting; April 15, 1846, stated meeting; April 9, 1850, stated meeting; September 13, 1853, stated meeting; October 19, 1854, adjourned meeting; December 12, 1855, special meeting; June 11, 1856, adjourned meeting; June 29, 1857, special meeting; April 10, 1860, stated meeting; June 25, 1861, adjourned meeting to install Dr. Dun- ning; stated meeting April 10, 1866.
241
HONESDALE CHURCH IN PRESBYTERY.
Lackawanna Presbytery .- Stated meetings April 18, 1871, and September 20, 1875; an adjourned meeting July 12, 1881; stated meeting April 17, 1882; two adjourned meetings May 7, 1884, to install Rev. Mr. Swift, and November 9, 1885, and stated meetings September 23, 1889, and September 16, 1901.
The Montrose Presbytery met at Honesdale for all pur- poses sixteen times and the Lackawanna Presbytery has met here eight times. The Synod of New York and New Jersey met in Honesdale during Dr. Rowland's time. Also the Synod met in Honesdale in 1864, in Dr. Dunning's time.
A brief account of the different Presbyteries of which Lackawanna Presbytery is composed will be of interest. The first attempt to organize was made by the Congregationalists. In 1802 Reverends Seth Williston, Joel Chapin, David Har- rower, Seth Gage and William Stone constituted the Susque- hanna Association. This Association issued a circular letter bearing date October 28, 1807, signed by Seth Williston, as moderator, and "Jobe" Bunnell, scribe. This letter was pro- jected into the wilderness and its authors explain: "If this letter should fall into the hands of any who are unacquainted with such an association, they are informed that it is composed of a small number of Congregational ministers and churches, living on and near the Susquehanna river in the states of New York and Pennsylvania." This was one of the attempts of mother Connecticut to look after her Congregational children in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Some of these men, particularly Seth Williston and David Harrower, are remembered in Wayne county. David Harrower while on one of his trips through this region organized the church of Salem and Palmyra in 1808. In going through from Connecticut he would follow the old Wyoming Settlers' road, which passed through Wallenpaupack Manor, (Palmyra) and Salem. The Congregationalists soon gave up this territory to the Presbyterians, and these Congre- gational churches became Presbyterian churches.
The following facts in relation to Seth Williston, David Harrower, Joel Chapin, William Stone, Seth Gage, James W.
242
HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Woodward and Waters Warren, are furnished by Miss Mary E. Stone, aged 80, for forty years in the service of the Congre- gational library, 14 Beacon street, Boston, Mass., through courtesy of W. H. Cobb, librarian:
Rev. Seth Williston was born in Suffield, Conn., April 4, 1770, he gradu- ated from Dartmouth College in 1791 and was ordained June 7, 1797. He preached in Lisle, N. Y., 1801-9; Durham, N. Y., 1810-28, and died at Guil- ford, N. Y., March 2, 1851. He was sent by the Connecticut Missionary Society to western New York before he was ordained and he performed missionary work while he was pastor. His work in Pennsylvania must have been performed while he was pastor at Lisle, N. Y.
Rev. David Harrower, who organized the Salem church, was sent out first by the Berkshire and Columbia Missionary Society in 1801, or 1802, to Pennsylvania and he labored several years in New York and Pennsylvania. He lived in Steuben county, N. Y., 1828-48, and he died in 1854.
Rev. Joel Chapin was born in Ludlow, Mass., January 13, 1761, gradu- ated at Dartmouth College 1791, was ordained in 1793, and lived in Bain- bridge, N. Y. He was twenty years in Pennsylvania and died in Bain- bridge, N. Y., August 5, 1845.
Rev. William Stone was born at Guilford, Conn .; graduated at Yale College 1786, and died in 1840.
Rev. Seth Gage was born at Cromwell, Conn., February 9, 1747, and was graduated at Yale College 1768. He preached at Canton Center, Conn., 1774-78, and lived at Windsor, N. Y., 1800-7 and died there in 1821.
Rev. James W. Woodward was born in Hanover, N. H., February 6, 1781, and graduated at Dartmouth College 1798. He was ordained Sept. 28, 1802, and preached in New York and Pennsylvania for two years, after- wards in Waterbury, Vt. He died July 20, 1847. Such in brief is the history of the Congregationalist ministers, who set up their tabernacle in the wilderness with faith in God, in 1802, it being the first attempt at or- ganization in the field now occupied by the great Lackawanna Presbytery.
The second attempt of the Congregationalists was in or- ganizing the Luzerne Association at the house of Rev. Eben- ezer Kingsbury at Harford, Susquehanna county, November 2, 1810. Four ministers were present, Rev. E. Kingsbury, Har- ford, Susquehanna county, Rev. Ard Hoyt, from Wilkes-Barre and Kingston, Rev. Manasseh Miner York, from Wysox, Brad- ford county, and Rev. Joel Chapin. The second meeting of this association was held at Kingston at the house of Deacon Daniel Hoyt, September 11, 1811. At this meeting the church of Smithfield and the church of *Salem and Palmyra joined the *The church of Salem was the only church in Wayne county that ever belonged to the Luzerne Association.
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HONESDALE CHURCH IN PRESBYTERY.
association. Nine churches were now in the association with an aggregate membership of 134 males, 176 females and 517 baptized children.
In the attempt to carry out the theory of the independency of each church in accordance with the Congregational form, these struggling communities in the wilderness found some dif- ficulty. A more organized effort was better adapted to reach these people. In this connection Rev. Charles C. Corse in his history of Susquehanna Presbytery says: "The association must often have felt the awkwardness of its position. At one time we find them attempting to carry out the theory of Inde- pendency, that the essence of the ordination was not in the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, but in the call of the people. % At other times we find the association ordain- ing and installing men as an association, without leaving it to the churches to do this by a council selected by the church and the candidate for installation, as was the practice of the church in New England. In this unsettled state of their theories and their practices, they began, as early as 1815, to consider the expediency of uniting with the Presbyterian denomination." "At a meeting of the association in Colesville, a village in Windsor township, N. Y., September 16, 1817, they resolved to change the name of the Luzerne Association to that of Susque- hanna Presbytery." They made no change in form, in fact there was not a single Presbyterian church in this singular Presbytery. March 3, 1821, Rev. M. M. York and Rev. Simeon R. Jones organized a Presbyterian church at Wells, Bradford county, Pa.
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