USA > Pennsylvania > McKean County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 133
USA > Pennsylvania > Potter County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 133
USA > Pennsylvania > Elk County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 133
USA > Pennsylvania > Cameron County > History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections; including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics > Part 133
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Mrs. Mary T. Kent came to Coudersport from Delaware county, N. Y. in 1843; she taught a select school in 1845; taught the district school for eighteen months; made an extended visit to her old home in New York State; returning to Coudersport in 1852, she has since resided here. In
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1868 she was appointed agent of the H. H. Dent property in Coudersport, and has retained that position until the present. Mrs. Kent is a well-informed woman, of much more than ordinary ability. Her mind is exceedingly clear upon the happenings in the county during her life here, not only of a minor nature, but also of those things which have acted the part of important factors in the growth of the county and State, political and otherwise. Mrs. Kent is still an active woman, with a step as springy as many maidens, although her locks are white with the rime of age.
In the pages devoted to borough elections the names of school directors are given. The cost of the new school building, according to a report pre- pared in April, 1888, by C. L. Peck, W. F. Junge and A. B. Mann, was $12,452.22. O. H. Crosby is president and A. B. Mann secretary of the school board, while the teachers are John C. Silsely, principal; Miss Jennie Thomas, preceptress; Miss Lettie Palmer, grammar department; Miss Jennie White, A primary; Miss Belle Haskell, B primary; Miss Rosa Crane, C primary; Mrs. C. L. Peck, music. The present principal succeeded Mr. Walter T. Palmer.
The Condersport Library Association was organized in 1840, by a few women, who at first held sewing circles to raise money for the purpose of buying books. Several years ago a literary society was formed in connection with this association, since when it has been called the "Coudersport Library and Literary Association." The literary society has not held meetings for many years. Miss C. A. Metzger has the library at her ladies' furnishing store, in Condersport, and has been the librarian for a long time. This was the only circulating library save Sunday-school libraries, in the county until quite recently. One was started as a private enterprise at Galeton about a year ago, but has been recently sold out. During the last summer M. S. Thompson & Co. started a circulating library at their drug and book store in Coudersport, this is still in active life. H. H. Dent, late of Brookland, Penn., was president of the board of trustees of the Coudersport Academy, and took much interest in its welfare. On January 18, 1854, he presented to each of the students a fine volume.
Abiather Rounseville came to Condersport, in 1841, the place at that time being merely a huddle of five or six houses besides the court-house and jail. Mr. Ronnseville describes Coudersport at this time as one of the worst places he ever saw for its dimensions. At the old Hickory House a daily orgy of drunk- enness was enacted, and fighting was of almost daily occurrence. One of the first things he did after his arrival at the county seat of Potter was to assist in arresting a local pugilist, who was full of liquor at the time. The capture was finally affected by throwing a noose over the arms of the bully, and several men dragging at the end of the rope, drawing their prisoner through the mud face down, so that it was necessary to relieve the prisoner's nose and mouth of the mud with a chip. Soon after he came he took the job of making a cell in the crazy old jail which would hold a prisoner. He built this cell of two-inch maple planks thickly bolted. Two prisoners, however, escaped from it by the use of tools. He was for many years a commissioner of State roads in this sec- tion. He was at this time an "Old-line Whig" in politics. He speculated in land and securities, but his trade was that of carpenter and joiner. Mr. Rounseville has the keystone of the first court-house of Potter county, under the porch of his East street residence.
Archibald F. Jones' late residence was built in 1841, and at the time was looked upon as one of the finest residences in the county.
J.M.Stafford.
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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.
The resident tax payers of Coudersport in 1848 were: C. Aylesworth (mill- wright), A. Aldrich (mason), A. T. Aldrich (blacksmith), S. E. Alvord (a single freeman), George Ayers, A. H. Butterworth (shoemaker), W. C. Butterworth (attorney), L. Bell, Jr. (wheelwright), G. A. Barclay. D. R. Bennett. L. M. Bensou (attorney), Isaac Benson (attorney), E. W. Bishop, Daniel Clark, Se- clinda Cartee, C. B. Cotter (said to be the first newspaper publisher here), John Crittenden. L. B. Cole. I. R. C. Coe (tailor), N. L. Dike, Dan. Dewey. William Dikeman, Versal Dickinson, D. F. Ellsworth (assessed $50 for a gold watch). Amos French, W. C. Gray (blacksmith), D. T. Hall, Haskin & Smith (merchants), John M. Hamilton (agent for Bingham estate), Lysander Herring (shoemaker), James Hawley, Samuel Haveu (prothonotary), William Haven, C. B. Haven, L. M. Howard, Noble Howland, Edward F. Jones (cabinet- maker). F. L. & C. S. Jones, E. A. Jones, C. S. Jones (artist), A. F. Jones, W. T. Jones & Brother (merchants), Timothy Ives, Jr., Horace Leet, Joseph Mann, John S. Mann (attorney, agent for Keating estate), W. G. McLelland. John Mann, W. W. MeDougall (printer), William McDougall, R. W. Niles, L. F. Maynard (attorney), Maynard & Knox (attorneys), H. J. Olmsted, J. M. Packer (printer), C. R. Pradt and N. H. Peck (joiners), David Ross (tanner). Sobieski Ross (surveyor), C. D. Rogers (harness-maker), Jacob and John B. Reckhow, Benjamin Rennells (blacksmith), John Reckhow (wheelwright), A. Rounseville (joiner), D. W. Spencer, H. L. Simons, F. H. Smith, G. W. Strong (cabinet-maker), G. M. Smith (assessed $25 for a silver watch), A. W. Smith (teacher), Isaac Thompson, Samuel Thompson, Nathan Woodcock, James William Casey (joiner, was assessed $75 for a gold watch), Woodcock & Strait, Miles White (sheriff), Brown and A. G. Olmsted.
Municipal Matters. - The borough of Coudersport was chartered by an act of legislature in 1848. The first record of an election of officers is dated February 18, 1848. Isaac Benson received 32 votes for burgess, and was elected. For councilmen, L. F. Maynard received 31 votes; W. T. Jones, 14: N. L. Dike, 29; W. C. Butterworth, 16; W. G. McClelland, 12; C. B. Cotter, 12: Amos French, 4; John S. Mann, 3; Horace Leet, 1; C. D. Rogers, 2, and Samnel Haven 1. For justice of the peace, George A. Barclay received 23 votes, Versal Dickinson, 18, and D. F. Ellsworth, 14. L. M. Howard was elected constable, and A. H. Butterworth street commissioner.
In 1849 Isaac Benson was re-elected burgess, with Jones, Butterworth, Ham- ilton and Reckhow councilmen; John S. Mann, W. W. McDougall, J. W. Smith, H. J. Olmsted, I. Benson and Abel Aldrich school directors. In 1850 David Ross was chosen burgess; L. B. Cole, justice of the peace; C. S. Jones A. F. Jones and J. M. Hamilton, councilmen, and W. C. Butterworth and D. F. Ellsworth, school directors. Miles White was elected justice in 1851; Berak Niles, burgess; William Crosby, I. Benson, Ch. Jones, N. L. Dike and W. S. Raymond, school directors; J. W. Smith, C. W. Ellis, Lucas Cushing, J. M. Hamilton, Nathan Woodcock and J. M. Packer, councilmen. In 1852 L. B. Cole was chosen burgess; F. B. MeNamara, Amos French, Sobieski Ross and C. R. Pradt, school directors; Eli Rees, Benjamin Rennells, J. W. Smith and L. F. Minard being among the councilmen.
The office of burgess has been filled as follows, since 1852: John M. Ham- ilton, 1853; Thomas B. Tyler, 1854; Frank L. Jones, 1855; Isaac Benson, 1856; A. F. Jones, 1857, decided by drawing lots with J. Ives; D. F. Glass- mire, 1858; G. B. Overton, 1859; A. G. Olmsted, 1860; F. W. Knox, 1861; John S. Mann, 1862-63-65; Collins Smith, 1864; D. C. Larrabee, 1866-67- 68-78; Benjamin Rennells, 1869; Joseph Mann, 1870-71-72-73; P. A. Steb- bins, Jr., 1874-75; Charles S. Jones, 1876-77; A. F. Jones, 1879; W. K.
57
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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.
Jones, 1880; F. W. Knox, 1881-82-83-86; J. W. Allen, 1884; David White, 1885; N. J. Peck. 1887: M. S. Thompson, 1888-89. The vote cast for bur- gess in 1888, was 170 for M. S. Thompson and 69 for John R. Groves. Mr. Thompson was elected in 1889 without opposition, as were nearly all the other officers, only 78 voters polling.
Councilinen. - F. W. Knox, 1853; A. F. Jones, 1853-74; Ben. Rennells. 1853-66-72; Eli Rees, 1853-57; Collins Smith, 1854-67; H. J. Olmsted. 1854-78; D. F. Ellsworth, 1854; William Crosby, 1854; A. G. Olmsted, 1855: S. M. Mills, 1855; Jacob Reckhow, 1855; Cyrenus S. Jones, 1855-70; Lewis Mann, 1856-61; J. M. Hamilton, 1856-58; N. Schoomaker, 1856-60; D. F. Glassmire, 1857-59-62-64-81; D. W. Spencer, 1857; W. H. Metzger, 1857-59; Z. J. Thompson. 1857-62-67-75; D. Ross, 1858; G. B. Overton, 1858; A. B. GoodseII, 1858; S. D. Kelly, 1859; George Manley, 1860-61-63; S. P. Minar. 1863; W. B. Gordnier, 1864; C. H. Warriner, 1864; C. H. Armstrong, 1865-68-73-79: L. A. Ensworth, 1865; M. W. McAlarney, 1865-67; P. A. Stebbins, Jr., 1866; N. H. Goodsell, 1868-74-85; Charles Reissmann, 1869-72- 78: James Pearsall, 1869; Charles Kernan, 1870-77; A. B. Mann, 1873; John S. Ross, 1875; John Ormerod, 1876; O. H. Crosby, 1876-79; D. Y. Stevens. 1877; Earle Cram, 1878; Abram Jones (vacancy), 1879-80; M. L. Gridley, ISSO; P. A. Stebbins, 1880-83; D. C. Larrabee, 1881; Isaac Benson, 1882; Charles Armstrong, 1882; H. A. Scoville, 1885; Charles S. Jones, 1883; James L. Knox, 1884; W. K. Jones, 1884; J. R. Groves, 1886; W. B. Rees, 1886; E. J. Fickler, 1887; D. E. Kendig, 1887; John Denhoff, 1888; Watson T. Dike, 1888; W. W. Thompson, 1889; A. S. Olmsted, 1889. The officers elected in February, 1890, are: Burgess, P. A. Stebbins; councilmen, O. E. Arm- strong, C. D. Keihle; school directors, A. B. Mann, C. C. Breunle; high con- stable, W. H. Rounseville; collector, Ed Gillon; constable, Ed Gillon; over- seer of the poor, E. G. Crane; auditors, Harry Snyder, T. J. Gilbert; judge of election, H. A. Scoville; inspectors of election, D. W. Van Wegen, Patrick Gorman.
School Directors. - Eli Rees, 1853; C. W. Ellis, 1853; W. C. Butterworth. 1853; A. Rounseville, 1853-56-57-59-62-65-68-70-74-77; A. G. OImsted. 1854-57; P. A. Stebbins, 1854; J. Reckhow, 1854; J. M. Hamilton, 1854-63-66; S. P. Goodsell, 1856; D. B. Brown, 1856-59; N. Schoomaker, 1857; C. Smith, 1857; J. S. Mann, 1858-60-68-72; Ben. Rennells, 1858; Z. J. Thompson, 1858-61-62-65-69-78; Jacob Jenkins, 1858; C. S. Jones, 1860-64; J. B. Smith, 1860; G. C. Manley, 1861; A. F. Jones, 1861-67; A. S. Armstrong, 1862; H. J. Olmsted, 1862-64-67-76-79; O. H. Crosby, 1863-66-69-81-84- 87; E. Starkweather, 1864; P. A. Stebbins, Jr., 1873-88; D. C. Larrabee, 1869-73-76-79-85; W. B. Gordnier, 1870-74-77-80; W. Shear, 1872-75-80; C. A. Doerner, 1875-78; A. B. Mann, 1881-84-87; W. H. Rounseville, 1882; C. L. Peck, 1882-85-88; C. A. Stebbins, 1883; W. F. Young, 1883-86-89; J. W. Allen, 1886-89.
Justices .- Lewis B. Cole, 1855-60-65-75-80; Lucas Cushing 1856-61-67- 72; J. C. Davidson, 1874; John Ormerod, 1877; O. J. Rees, 1878; Miles White, 1882-87; Daniel Baker, 1883; John R. Groves, 1888-89; Z. J. Thompson, 1888-89.
Water Company .- The Citizens' Water Company was originated by A. G. Olmsted, F. W. Knox and R. L. Nichols. Early in 1882 the company bought five acres of land on Dent's run, northwest of the town, north of the Niles road, and right of way through Miss Kate Dent's land, for $1,000. William Bassett built the dam, sixty feet long and twelve feet high, and cleans pool, for the contract sum of $175. A four-inch main was laid from the reservoir to
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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.
Main street, this being the size of mains throughout the town. The first purchase was sixty tons of this pipe (2,240 pounds to the ton), costing $46 per ton. The first fire plug was tested at Coudersport, April 20, 1885, the hydrant with two others being placed by the water company.
Fire Company. - The first fire company was organized in May, 1885, with P. A. Stebbins, president; C. L. Peck, secretary; J. L. Knox, treasurer; W. K. Jones, engineer; B. A. McClure and W. I. Lewis, assistant engineers. In April, 1889. the following named officers were elected: President, A. B. Mann: treasurer, J. L. Knox; secretary, Charles Nelson; chief engineer, W. K. Jones; first assistant engineer, Clarence Kiehle; second assistant engineer, A. S. Olmsted.
Hook and Ladder Department. - President, N. J. Peck; secretary, Earnest Wentworth; foreman, W. C. Rennells; first assistant foreman, E. B. Tracy ; second assistant foreman, Daniel Monroe.
Hose Department. - President, D. E. Kendig; secretary, C. H. Nelson: foreman, M. L. Gridley; first assistant foreman, W. T. Dike; second assist- ant foreman, E. M. Gillon.
The Germans. - The first Germans who settled about Coudersport came in 1854. Christian Breunle, Sr., being among the first to come. He had thought of going to Germania with the first colony there, but, not liking the terms of organization, he came on to Coudersport, and settled upon the mountain south of the town, where he lived until his death, which happened a few years ago, a much respected citizen, leaving a large and respectable family. Mr. Fourness was among the original colony in 1854. Many others followed, so that at present the Germans living in and about Coudersport form a considerable community. They are frugal and economical, accumulating money and in- creasing in possessions. They are generally good citizens, and accommodating neighbors. In their dealings with the world at large they are honorable. There are some who can not speak English, and do not try to; but the ma- jority, from their constant mingling with the people, speak the language of the land fluently. A Lutheran Church was organized in 1886, by Rev. H. C. Grossman; the number of the membership reaching to nearly one hundred. This organization is in a prosperous condition. There are a number of Catholics among the Germans here, though the majority of them are of the Lutheran faith.
Early Events. - In 1852 the first brick house in the county was erected by Collins Smith, who built a brick store on the same lot, in Coudersport. This lot is now the property of Hon. Isaac Benson, the house being used by him as his residence until 1887, when it was torn down to make way for a residence of the modern style. In 1854 Sobieski Ross erected his house. Charles S. Jones, who died October 27, 1889, came with his brothers, Frank and Edwin, to Coudersport in 1847, and established a store where is now H. J. Olmsted's residence. William T. Jones, who in 1842 opened a store near the corner of 5th and Main Streets, and in 1844 built a store where P. A. Stebbins & Bro.'s store now stands, died at Costello September 17, 1889. At that time goods were hauled from Dansville, N. Y., the nearest point on the Erie Canal.
On July 4, 1855, while celebrating the nation's birthday at Coudersport, a canon, planted near where the Presbyterian Church now stands (this church being at this date on West street), bursted. By this accident E. D. Halbert had a leg so mangled that it was found necessary to amputate it. But we see by the People's Journal, issue of August 16, 1855, that the unlucky man was so far recovered from his injury as to be able to ride out the day before (Au-
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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.
gust 15). By the bursting of this cannon, a piece was hurled across West street, and sent crashing through the side of the house where C. A. Doerner now lives. A window now occupies the site of the damage.
Great Fire of 1880 .- The Coudersport fire, May 18, 1880, destroyed the business portion of the town, including the Glassmire House, H. J. Olmsted and Norton & Doane, hardware; N. M. Glassmire, sewing-machine office; M. S. Thompson & Co. and Dr. Amos French, drug stores; E. N. Stebbins. C. S. Jones and P. A. Stebbins & Bro., dry goods stores; Charles H. Armstrong, Edward For ster and Andrews & Olmsted, grocery stores; E. O. Rees, jewelry store; Pierce & Lovell and Charles Reissmann, furniture stores; D. F. Glassmire. Sr., dry goods: W. B. Gordnier, foundry; Z. J. Thompson, L. B. Cole, wagon shops; Dr. E. S. Mattison, office; Abram Jones, restaurant and bowling alley; Carl Zimmer- mann, meat market; W. W. Thompson, Potter Enterprise; A. C. Perkins, George Brehmer, blacksmith shops; I. Griesel, harness shop, Arch. F. Jones & Son, bankers; Olmsted & Larrabee, law office; Mrs. Samuel Havens, dwell- ing house; F. E. Neefe, wagon shop; Rose Anton, millinery; L. B. Cole & Son, insurance office; D. F. Glassmire, Jr., livery stable; Charles Reissmann, old dwelling house. The fence about court-house square and fine shade trees were burned, all entailing a loss of $140,000, while the insurance was about $75,000. In December, 1880, M. S. Thompson's new store took the place of the old building which stood there for almost fifty years before the fire. P. A. Stebbins, Jr., & Bro. had their new building completed about this time, on the site of their old frame, which, after almost a half century's use, was the first to fall in the fire of 1880.
This great fire may be said to have ended the old town of Coudersport. As stated, the work of rebuilding was soon entered upon, and to-day two sides of the public square are covered with modern commercial buildings, while toward the depot the street is well built up.
Lumbering .- In 1881 Benjamin Rennells purchased the hardwood, hem- lock and small pine on the grounds south of where the Commercial Hotel. the depot and Catholic Church now stand, for $1,600, from the Keating estate. Out of this tract he took about 12,000 feet of pine, 1,300 cords of hemlock bark and about 2,000,000 feet of hemlock lumber, which was sawn at a mill that was built that year, about one-fourth mile south of the town, by Van- Wegen. Quimby & Co. This mill was moved two miles down the river in 1886. P. A. Stebbins purchased about 200 acres of this and adjoining lands fromn the Keatings. except the square donated to the Catholic Church, and the town lots surveyed. The building of the Coudersport & Port Allegany Railroad played no small part in the drama of re-establishing the town, and introducing the new era of progress.
Churches .- James B. Roach, of the Tennessee Methodist Conference, was sent to Coudersport in 1823, his circuit extending 18 miles down the Allegheny river to Canoe Place; thence up the Allegheny portage 10 miles to the dividing ridge; thence to the Portage settlement, 14 miles down the Sinnemahoning portage to its confinence with the main creek, an unbroken wilderness of 24 miles, if we except the primitive houses of Hiram Sizer and Brewster Free- man. 6 miles up the portage. (Mr. Chadwick tells that the road was very rough, with 27 fordings, some of them troublesome when the water was high. wild animals very abundant, and it was not uncommon to meet a pack of hungry wolves in close pursuit of a tired deer, or to find the carcass of a deer covered up in the leaves after a panther had killed and taken a meal out of it). From the portage 3 miles to the mouth of North creek, back 2 miles to the mouth of West creek; thence by bridle-path 7 miles up West creek to the mouth of Big
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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.
run; thence by bridle-path over the mountains, 23 miles to the Kersey settle- ment, now Centreville-in all 30 miles by bridle-path, through an unbroken wilderness; thence 12 miles to Brockway's settlement, near Bennett's branch; thence 23 miles to the confluence of Bennett's and Driftwood branches; thence 16 miles to the mouth of the Sinnemahoning; thence 15 miles to Young-woman's Town (North Point); returning to Bennett's and Driftwood branches, up the Driftwood 18 miles to Portage (Emporium) settlement; thence by North creek bridle-path 17 miles to Potatoe creek; thence 10 miles to Smethport; thence over the mountains 10 miles to Canoe Place, and thence to Coudersport, or 249 miles. James Hazen succeeded Roach on the circuit in 1824; Nathan Mills (succeeded by John Bowen) came in 1825. There were no appointments from 1826 to 1830, when John P. Kent came. In 1831 Samuel E. Babcock, and, in 1832, William Butt and Samuel Gregg were the circnit preachers. The circuit was extended to Farrandsville, on the Susque- hanna, in 1833, with T. J. Jennings, B. Preston and Joseph Hallock, preach- ers. They were succeeded, in 1834, by J. H. Tackitt, S. Hill, Bryan Auren and Gazee Smith. John Dunning, of Erie Conference, had sole charge in 1835, but in 1836 L. Whipple and John Hanna assisted him. During this year the class of the old school house at Smethport claimed 150 members, the revival of that year being the cause. This class at once entered on church-building, but, undertaking a house much larger than their subscriptions, the building could not then be finished. and many fell away from the church. The Rev. Burrows was the first presiding elder, and the first quarterly meeting of this denomi- nation was held in Lymansville in 1832, and this year (1832) saw the regular organization of both the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal Churches. In 1839 Mr. Crandall came here, since which time the following named have had charge of the circuit.
. In 1845-46 Condersport was detached from Smethport, and Rev. Horace Har- ris, the former circuit preacher. appointed preacher in charge of the new station. He was followed, in 1847, by E. B. Pratt; in 1848, by B. Williams; in 1-849, by Joseph Latham, and in 1850, by W. B. Slaughter, then principal of acad- emy. In 1851-52 S. Y. Hammond was here, and presided at the dedication of the church, February 21, 1855. In 1852 J. B. Wentworth, principal of the academy, had charge, followed by J. H. Delamater in 1853; S. C. Smith, in 1854, and W. H. Shaw, in 1855. The preachers in and since 1857 were as follows: A. M. McIntyre, 1857; M. H. Rice, 1858; Charles Strong, 1860; H. H. Lyman (L. P.), 1861; J. J. Roberts, 1862; L. A. Stevens, 1864: T. S. Hartley, 1867; Edwin Wildman, 1868; C. B. Sparrow, 1869: E. Williams, 1870: O. M. Leggett, 1872; S. Milward, 1875; Elijah Wood, 1876; T. R. Stratton, 1879; Cornelius Dillenbeck, 1881; A. A. Craw, 1882: J. W. Wright, 1854, and Mr. Jervis, 1887-89.
The Presbyterian society built the first church edifice at Coudersport, in 1850, on the side-hill on West street, south of the academy, where George Olmsted now resides. Rev. David Brown, who recently resided near Ceres. was the pastor at the time, and for some years before and after presided here. This is said to be the first church building in the county. The Presbyterian society was incorporated February 25, 1854, on petition of P. A. Stebbins. A. (+. Olmsted, F. W. Knox. H. J. Olmsted. N. L. Dike. M. R. Gage, F. L. Jones, C. W. Ellis, D. F. Ellsworth, L. T. Maynard, Charles S. Jones. A. F. Jones, A. L. Bird, William H. Metzger and William Crosby, presented in December, 1853. The trustees elected in 1853 were William H. Metzger, C. S. Jones, H. L. Bird, O. H. Butterworth and W. W. McDougall. Rev. Mr. Crumrine has served this church for some time.
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HISTORY OF POTTER COUNTY.
Christ Church, English Protestant Episcopal, was reorganized under act of incorporation of February 22, 1855, on April 18, 1881. The vestrymen then elected were Miles White, Isaac Benson, P. A. Stebbins, Jr., W. K. Jones, M. S. Thompson, Charles A. Stebbins, E. N. Stebbins, A. G. Olmsted, W. E. Womelsdorf, John S. Ross, James L. Knox and H. R. Whittaker, some of whom were members. On May 1, services were held in the Knights of Honor hall. In 1883 the question of building a house of worship was considered, work commenced, and the present house was opened November 9. 1884. Rev. William Marshall is rector.
The Baptist Church was erected upon the south side of the river, on Alle- gheny avenue over forty years ago. The chief promoter of the erection of this edifice was John M. Hamilton, who died here in 1887. Mr. Hamilton was a man of fine mental endowments and of good education; a strong supporter of liquor prohibition, and promoter of morality in general. Although some- what eccentric. he was a good citizen, whose loss was felt. He was for a number of years a clerk in the land office of Fox & Ross.
The Allegheny River Baptist Association was organized in October, 1887, with A. D. Bush, of Coudersport, moderator; C. H. Dodd, clerk; D. Simpson, of Turtle Point, treasurer; A. N. Peck, of Coudersport, C. S .; and E. H. Hovey, of Annin creek, J. Jack, of Eldred, and the moderator, missionary committee: Annin creek, Coudersport, Port Allegany, Roulette and Turtle Point, regular Baptist Churches, were represented.
The Roman Catholic Church dates back to the "forties." Among the early members, prior to 1858, were John Sullivan and son, Thomas Lenahan, James and M. Sullivan, John Ryan, Widow Scholard (now Mrs. Shannon, of Roulette), Patrick Carey, J. J. Carey, Calahan and Jerry McCarthy, Michael Fitzpatrick and several others, who are not remembered by Mark Gillon, who came that year. Rev. John L. Madigan, who then resided at Sartwell creek, in MeKean county, visited the village occasionally, and also attended the church in Genesee township, taking in Bradford, Kane, Alton, Emporium and other old settlements, having been a resident priest at Coudersport during the building of the church, and. until succeeded by Father Flood, who is resident priest at Genesee. The congregation numbers 200. In May, 1883, it was resolved to erect a church building on the lands donated by the Keatings years ago. The plan adopted was that of the church at Port Allegany (which was dedicated August 26, that year). Not, however, until August 9, 1885. was the building dedicated by Bishop Mullen.
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