USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
.
302
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
stated supply from June, 1884, to June, 1885. Rev. A. W. Seiple is now serving ( 1915).
TROY
Troy Church (Summerville post office ) was organized August 22, 1871, by Revs. Elder and Leason. Fifteen members entered the organi- zation. The pioneer church was completed in the fall of 1874, and cost about four thou- sand dollars, dedicated January 12, 1875; ex- tensive repairs were made on this building in 1886. Rev. Ross Stevenson, D. D., was pastor from November, 1871, to February, 1876. Rev. J. M. MeCurdy was stated supply from April. 1877, to April, 1885. Mr. A. T. Aller, a student from the seminary, preached regu- larly in the church for one-third time during the summer of 1885.
WORTHVILLE
Worthville Church was organized June 25. 1875. Revs. T. S. Leason, A. B. Fields and James Caldwell officiated and constituted the church with thirty-six members. The first ruling elders were David Harl, J. C. MeNntt and John Lang, Jr. The church has a half interest in connection with the German Re- formed Church in a suitable house of wor- ship. The first pastor was Rev. James Cald- well, who served them for one fourth of his time from November. 1875, to April, 1877. The next pastor was Rev. J. E. Leyda, installed in November. 1877, and released in February, 1880. His successor was Rev. J. S. Helm. who was installed in October, 1883. and re- leased in April, 1885. During the summer of 1885 it was supplied for one-third time by Mr. A. T. Aller.
BROCKWAYVILLE CHURCHI
On May 6, 1883. a Presbyterian Sunday school was organized in Brockwayville. This was held in the school building with John Cochran as superintendent, and the ultimatum of which was hoped to be the organization of a Presbyterian Church. Previously to this occasional sermons had been preached. prin- cipally by Rev. John Wray and Rev. W. H. Filson.
The first Presbyterian service held after the organization of the Sunday school was con- ducted by Rev. J. V. Bell. of Penfield, later of DuBois, on July 12. 1883. Then on July 15, 1883, Rev. J. H. Stewart, of Brookville, came to look over the field and inquire into
the propriety and advisability of an organiza- tion. Upon his recommendation the Presby- tery of Clarion appointed a committee con- sisting of Revs. L. S. Negley, J. H. Stewart and Elder James McCurdy to organize a church in Brockwayville. Following this, ser- mons were preached by Rev. R. A. Hunter, .August 19, 1883: Rev. Mr. Negley, Septem- ber 18, 1883; Rev. Mr. Pollock, October 7, 1883. and Rev. Mr. Negley again on Novem- ber 1. 1883.
The committee before mentioned, appointed by Presbytery, met November 2d, and con- cluding under the circumstances it was not wise at that time to organize, adjourned for an indefinite period. Before adjourning, how- over, the committee appointed Mrs. Mary Curry and Mrs. S. M. Niver to canvass the community and see how many members for the new church could be procured.
During the following winter the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. E. R. Knapp, offered the use of the M. E. building to the Presbyterians for any services, and oc- casional sermons were preached in that struc- ture. among which were sermons by Rev. J. H. Barton, on December 6. 1883, and Rev. A. B. Fields, on April 20, 1884.
The committee previously mentioned met again on May 8. 1884, and organized the church with eleven members, as follows: Mr. and Mrs. John Atwell, Mrs. Sophia Morrison, Mrs. Mary Curry, Mrs. Matilda Keys, Mrs. Eliza- beth Berkhouse, Mrs. S. M. Niver and Mrs. Amelia Smith, who were admitted from the Beechwoods Church, and Mr. and Mrs. John Cochran and Frank E. Cochran, who with- drew from the Richardsville Church. John Cochran was elected ruling elder and John Atwell trustee. On Sunday following. May
IIth, the first observance of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper took place. All the services in connection with the communion were con- ducted by Rev. A. B. Fields. On June 1, 1884, Mr. Fields became the stated supply.
Owing to the limited membership the ques- tion of a church home became a serious one to the struggling little band. At this period R. W. Moorhead, who owned the building now occupied by R. W. Beadle & Co.'s store, offered the commodious hall over the store room, which he provided with seats and gave to the use of the Presbyterian Church free of charge. The first service was held in Chapel Itall, as the new place of worship was called; August 3. 1864, and the hall was occupied over four years, until the new church was erected.
303
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
On October 4, 1886, Rev. Mr. Fields was struck by a train at Dagus Mines, and fatally injured. He died October 17, 1886.
A committee was appointed on January 8, 1887, to try to raise funds to build a church. On the 18th of November previous it had been decided to buy the lots on which the church now stands; ground bought November 25, 1886. A building committee was elected at a congregational meeting March 8, 1887, which consisted of five persons.
Rev. J. B. Caruthers was called as pastor and came to preside on May 13, 1887, and continued as pastor until April 23, 1890.
Work commenced on the new church build- ing on May 24, 1887. The first services were held September 7, 1888, and it was dedicated on September 9th. The first communion in the new edifice was observed on the morning of the gth. Revs. McClelland. Hunter, Caruth- ers and C. W. Darrow, pastor of the local M. E. Church, conducted the services. The entire cost of the church, including the lots, was four thousand, five hundred dollars, and the church was dedicated free from debt. At the time of dedication seventy-five members had been received into the church. Two of these had died and two been dismissed, leav- ing seventy-one names on the roll.
After the pulpit was made vacant by the resignation of Rev. Mr. Caruthers services were conducted by supplies until February 20, 1891, when at a congregational meeting a unanimous call was made to Rev. J. R. Baker. Mr. Baker on being informed of the action of the church agreed to accept the call, provided the church would wait for him until Septem- ber Ist. which was done. During the inter- vening time Rev. George Gillespie, a student from Princeton Seminary, filled the pulpit.
Rev. Mr. Baker preached his first sermon as pastor September 6, 1801. He was ordained October 27th and installed October 28th. After a prosperous pastorate of five years Rev. Mr. Baker presented his resignation, which took effect November 1, 1896.
Rev. Charles I. Bradshaw was called as pastor of the church May 9, 1897, and was installed May 12, 1897.
Rev. W. IT. Clipman is now pastor.
SUGAR IHILL
The Sugar Hill Presbyterian Church was organized in May. 1891, although stated services were held in the Sugar Hill school- house by pastors of the Brockwayville Church, who had the ministry of this congregation
under their charge. During the year 1891 a house of worship was erected, and in April, 1892, Rev. Basil R. King was installed as the first regular pastor. After serving in the capacity of pastor of that charge for two years, Rev. Mr. King resigned, and was suc- ceeded in April, 1895, by Rev. Samuel M. Goehring, who preached to that congregation for ten years. Rev. A. W. Seiple has been pastor since 1915.
In 1878 the strength of the Presbyterian Church in this county was as follows: Brook- ville, three hundred members; Richardsville. forty-two; Maysville (now Hazen), fifteen ; Mount Tabor, ninety-two; Mount Pleasant, thirty-six; Beechwoods, two hundred and eighteen ; Troy, seventeen; Pisgah, one hun- dlred and seventy ; Perry, seventy-six; Worth- ville, thirty-eight; Reynoldsville, seventy-five ; total, 1,079. (See also church statistics, Jef- ferson county, at end of chapter).
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
This church originated in a religious camp meeting held in Kentucky and Tennessee in 1801-03. In 1810 these religious enthusiasts organized themselves into a distinct and sep- arate body. In 1860 they had seventeen synods. forty-eight presbyteries, one thousand churches, three hundred ministers and one hundred thousand members.
The Central Presbyterian Church of Punx- sutawney was organized in the house of Dr. John W. Jenks, located on the site of the pres- ent "City Hotel." with seventeen communi- cants. Rev. Charles Barclay was pastor, and Dr. John W. Jenks and Alexander Jordan were the first elders. In 1860, under the pas- torate of Rev. Jacob F. Wall, the Cumberland congregation began the erection of a brick church on the southwest corner of Mahoning and Findley streets. It was completed in 1868. under the pastorate of Daniel Cooper. In this commodious edifice the congregation continued to worship until 1902, when it was sold to the J. B. Eberhart Company, Ltd., as a site for the large department store which now occupies that corner. The old church was torn down in June of that year, and in August following the construction of the stately stone edifice on the northeast corner of Union and Findley streets was begun. It was dedicated December 4, 1904, and since the union of the Cumberland branch with the regular Presbyterian Church, in May, 1906. has been known as the Central Presbyterian
304
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Church. Rev. John Burns Eakins, Ph. D., D. D .. is the present pastor, and his congregation numbers over three hundred. The pastors who succeeded Rev. David Barclay and his son, Rev. Charles R. Barclay, were: John C. Wagaman, 1841-44, and 1850-54; Carl Moore, 1844-50; Jacob F. Wall. 1854-61; Daniel Cooper, 1804-75 : D. 11. King, D. D., 1875-80; J. S. Gibson, 1882-00; L. N. Montgomery, 1890-92; T. M. Martman, D. D., 1892-98; P. R. Danley, 1898-99; Robert L. Irving. D. D., 1900-06; Rev. Charles A. Clark, to May 1, 1915.
A petition being sent up to the Presbyterian Church, signed by a number of members of the Punxsutawney congregation residing north of Punxsutawney, praying to be dismissed from said congregation and organized into a separate church, said petition was granted and in accordance with the above act the presi- dent of the Presbytery appointed Rev. J. C. Wagaman and Samuel Bowman a committee and delegated them the power to effect said organization.
At a meeting held October 30, 1853. the act was complied with. Messrs. James M. Morris and Robert Jordan were elected and duly set apart as ruling elders in said organization. Mr. Charles B. Morris withdrew from the Jeffer- son Cumberland congregation and was re- ceived as a ruling elder in the new organiza- tion.
At a subsequent meeting Theodore Morris and Hiram P. Williams and John Steffy were elected trustees.
The building committee of the first church erected. at Oliveburg, was composed of Isaac Jordan, J. M. Morris and Hiram P. Williams. For about one year the people worshiped in the homes and in the Bell schoolhouse.
The following persons being in good stand- ing in church relationship were received as members: Robert G. Jordan, Elizabeth Jor- dan, Hiram P. Williams, Charles R. B. Morris. Nancy A. Morris, Isaac C. Jordan, Leanna Jordan, Samuel Jordan, Sr., Sarah M. Carey. James M. Morris, Phoebe J. Morris, Mary E. Morris, John Steffy, Phoebe Steffy. Theo- dore Morris, Matilda Morris, Rachel E. Ev- ans, James W. Bell, Sr .. Hannah Bell, Hannah M1. McBrier, Robert M. Shirley, Elsie Shir- ley-twenty-two in all, all now numbered with the dead.
On February 18, 1854, at the meeting held at the home of Isaac C. Jordan, the organiza- tion was named Olive Cumberland Presby- terian church. In the year 1854 the congre- gation erected a frame building just in the
rear of the present brick church. There are two or three members living who helped to clear that ground for the church, which was dedicated on November 5. 1854. by Revs. Samuel Bowman and Jacob F. Wall. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Wall from the Seventy-third Psalm, verses 16 and 17. after which Rev. Samuel Bowman offered the consecration prayer. It was on this occasion that the first communion service was held for the congregation.
About the year 1878 the spirit of improve- ment entered into the hearts and minds of the people. But not until about the year 1881 was the propriety of building a new church taken into consideration. A committee was appointed to locate the site for the new build- ing, the committee consisting of James M. Morris, T. M. Sadler and Samuel S. Jordan. The building committee consisted of C. R. B. Morris. S. B. Williams, John R. Pantall, D. A. Cooper, Charles B. Jordan and Eli Miller. The work seemed to progress slowly, but with co- operation on the part of those soliciting funds for the new building it was completed in 1882. David P. Frampton had the contract for the carpentering and George Long had the con- tract for the masonry.
On January 14, 1883, the church was dedi- cated by Rev. D. A. Cooper, assisted by Rev. A. B. Miller, D. D., of Waynesburg, Pa. The church was dedicated clear of debt at a cost of about four thousand dollars. This included the furnishings of the church, for which the ladies of the church are entitled to due credit.
Of the number of persons received into the church five have gone out to preach the gospel, namely: Rev. J. R. Morris, Rev. George C. Miller, Rev. James R. McQuown, Rev. John A. Wachob and Rev. B. J. Humble.
The following named pastors served this church :
Rev. J. C. Wagaman, 1851 to 1853. Rev. Samuel Bowman, 1854 to 1860.
.
Rev. Daniel Cooper, 1861 to 1866.
Rev. J. M. McCurdy, 1867 to 1870.
Rev. D. Cooper, J. R. McQuown, 1871.
Rev. J. M. MeCurdy, 1872 to 1874.
Rev. D. H. King, 1875.
Rev. D. A. Cooper, 1876 to 1885. No pastor during 1886.
Rev. R. N. Grossman, 188; to 1888.
Rev. J. G. Miller, 188g) to 1890.
Rev. Il. G. Teagarden, 1891 to 1916.
The ruling elders who have served since its organization are: James M1. Morris, Robert G. Jordan, C. R. Morris, John Steffy. Isaac C. Jordan, John R. Pantall. T. M. Sadler,
305
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Wm. J. Morrison, Aaron Depp, Clark R. Jor- dan, George Williams, C. B. Jordan, Henry Jordan, C. A. Morris, F. W. Parr, Matthew Cochran, Charles Wulfert, W. W. Condron.
UNITED PRESBYTERIANS
The pioneer congregation of this church in Brookville was organized about the year 1845, the first church edifice being in the grove on Church street. Rev. Abram Lowman was an early pastor, but was not installed. There was no regular pastor until 1859, when Rev. J. C. Truesdale took charge of the church, which he served very acceptably until he entered the service of his country as chap- lain of the One Hundred and Fifth Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry in 1863. He was succeeded by Rev. A. B. Struthers, 1863-71 ; Rev. George C. Vincent, 1872-77 ; Rev. G. A. B. Robinson ; and Rev. Dr. J. T. Adams, May, 1892-AAugust, 1910. In 1885 the congrega- tion purchased the old M. E. Church on Jef- ferson street, which they remodeled, making it a very comfortable church home.
Rev. Dr. J. T. Adams was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania. His father and mother were Joshua and Sarah Adams. He was edu- cated at Grove City College and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and was ordained a minister in 1892. This same year, in June, he received and accepted a call from Brook- ville. The degree of D. D. was conferred on him in 1904. He resigned his pastorate in August, 1910. Dr. Adams is an able divine, an eloquent preacher and a model man. He is now at Carrolton, Ohio.
The Beaver Run (Baxter) church, organ- ized in 1828, was served by the following : Rev. James McCarrell, 1834-35: Rev. John McCurdy, 1838-42 ; Rev. John Todd. 1843-65; Rev. Mr. Struthers, 1868-71 ; Rev. M. S. Tel- ford, 1873-76.
Jefferson church, organized 1840, has had these pastors: Rev. James McCarrell, 1830- 36; Rev. John McCauly, 1838-42; Rev. John Todd, 1843-56; Rev. Mr. Truesdale, 1860-63 ; Rev. Mr. Struthers, 1868-71; Rev. Mr. Vin- cent. 1872-77; the last pastor. Rev. J. T. Adams, served from May, 1892, to August, 1910.
THE METHODISTS
On the 7th of March, 1736, John Wesley preached the pioneer Methodist sermon in America, in Savannah, Ga. Other early Methodist services in the United States were
conducted in New York City by a Mr. Embury, urged and assisted by Barbara Heck. Bar- bara Heck emigrated from Ireland to New York in 1765. From her zeal, activity and pious work as a Christian she is called the "mother" of American Methodism. Meth- odism was introduced into Pennsylvania in 1767 by Capt. Thomas Webb, a soldier in the British army. Webb was a preacher, and is called the "apostle" of American Methodisni. In 1767 he visited Philadelphia, preached, and formed a class of seven persons. The first annual Conferences of the Methodist Church in America were held in Philadelphia in the years 1773, 1774 and 1775. After that all Conferences were held in Baltimore, Md., until the organization of the church in the New World.
The pioneer Methodist preaching in Penn- sylvania was in Philadelphia, in a sail loft near Second and Dock streets. St. John's Church was established in 1700. Methodism was to be found in Philadelphia in 1772, at York in 1781, Wilkes-Barre in 1778, Williamsport in 1791, and Pittsburgh in 1801.
1
The pioneer Sunday school in the World was opened at Glencastle, in England, in 1781. by Robert Raikes. The idea was suggested to him by a young woman, who afterwards became Sophia Bradburn. This lady assisted him in the opening of the first school. The pioneer Sunday schools in the New World were started in 1790 by an official ordinance of the Methodist conference establishing Sun- day schools to instruct poor children, white and black, viz .: Let persons be appointed by the bishops, elders, deacons or preachers to teach (gratis) all that will attend and have a capacity to learn. from six o'clock in the morning till ten, and from two in the after- noon until six, when it does not interfere with public worship.
The pioneer Sunday school superintendent in Brookville was Cyrus Butler, a Methodist, who taught the first school in the old jail in Brookville, in 1832. He never taught any school or class in this county but in the Sun- day school.
The Methodist Church was really the first temperance organization in America. The general rules of the society prohibited the use of liquor as a beverage. Other modern tem- perance organizations are supposed to have had their beginning about 1811. But little was done after this period outside of the churches for about twenty-five years.
Rev. William Watters was the pioneer American itinerant Methodist preacher. He
20
306
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
was born in Baltimore county, Md., October 16, 1751.
Until 1824 western Pennsylvania, or "all west of the Susquehanna river, except the ex- treme northern part," was in the Baltimore Conference. In 1824 the Pittsburgh Confer- ence was organized, and our wilderness came under its jurisdiction. In 1833 the first Meth- odist paper under the authority of the church was started, in Pittsburgh, Pa., and it is now called "The Pittsburgh Christian Advocate." In 1836 the Erie Conference was formed, and Jefferson county was placed within its juris- diction.
- Methodism in Jefferson county has been. first, in the Baltimore Conference; second, in the Pittsburgh Conference ; and third, now, in the Erie Conference.
The Methodists were slow in making an inroad in Jefferson county. The ground had been occupied by other denominations, and a hostile and bitter prejudice existed against the new "sect."
The pioneer Methodist minister in the county was Rev. Elijah Coleman. He was a local. The pioneer Methodist Church in the county was organized by him in Punxsutaw ney in 1821, ten members in all. The circuit was a part of the Baltimore Conference then, and contained forty-two appointments. It took the preacher six weeks to travel over it. In 1830 Punxsutawney was in the Pittsburgh Conference. In 1836 this church was taken into the Erie Conference.
The pioneer Methodist Church edifice in the county was erected there in 1833. Services previous to that time were held in Jacob Hoover's gristmill.
The pioneer circuit in the county was the Mahoning district, which was created in 1812 by the Baltimore Conference, but no appoint- ments were made in our county until 1822.
The pioneer circuit riders in this district were as follows: Revs. Ezra Booth, William Westlake, 1822* ; Revs. Dennis Goddard, Elijah H. Field, 1823; Revs. Ira Eddy, B. O. Plimp- ton, 1824; Rev. I. H. Tackett, 1825; Rev. James Babcock, 1826-27; Rev. Nathaniel Cal- lender, 1828; Revs. John Johnson, John C. Ayers, 1829: Revs. Fleck and Day, 1830: Rev. Mr. Summerville, 1832; Rev. Mr. Bump.
1833: Rev. Mr. Kinnear, 1834; Rev. Mr. Butt, 1835; Rev. S. Heard, 1837; Rev. J. P. Benn, 1839-associate, Rev. R. Peck; Revs. Shinebaugh and Peck, 1839; Revs. Hershon and George Reeser, 1840; Revs. John Gra- ham and George Reeser, 1841; Revs. H. W. Monks and I. Scofield, 1842; Revs. D. H. Jack and H. W. Monks, 1843.
Summerville, or Troy, was an early field of Methodism. Darius and Nathan Carrier were zealous Methodists, and frequently opened their homes for service as early as 1825-26. The first church was organized there in 1830 by Rev. Mr. Ayers.
The pioneer circuit riders in the north side of the county were: Rev. John Johnson, 1829; Rev. Jonathan Ayers, 1830; Rev. Job Watson, 1831; Revs. Abner Jackson and .1. C. Barnes, 1832; Rev. Abner Jackson. 1833, who had twenty-nine preaching places and a circuit of two hundred and fifty miles (it was the Brookville and Ridgway mission).
Elders and ministers always traveled on horseback. The horse was usually "bobbed." and you could see that he had a most excel- lent skeleton. These itinerants all wore green leggins, and carried on the saddle a large pair of saddlebags, which contained a clean shirt, a Bible and a hymn book. The sermon was on a cylinder in the head of the preacher, and was ready to be graphophoned at any point or time.
The pioneer presiding elders were ap- pointed: Rev. Wilder P. Mack, 1828-31 ; Rev. Joseph S. Barris, 1832; Rev. Zerah P. Caston, 1833-34; Rev. Joshua Monroe, 1835; Rev. Joseph S. Barris, 1836; Rev. William Carroll, 1837-1840; Rev. John Bain, 1841-42 ; Rev. John Robinson, 1843-44; H. N. Stearns. 1845-46; W. H. Hunter, 1847 : E. J. L. Baker, 1848-49; W. E. Wilson, 1850-51 ; Moses Hill. 1852-54: Josiah Flower, 1855-57 ; J. E. Chapin, 1858-59; R. A. Caruthers, 1860-63; R. H. Hurlburt, 1864-67; O. L. Meade, 1868-71; J. R. Lyon, 1872-75; B. F. Delo, 1876-79; R. P. Pinney, 1880-83; David Latshaw, 1884-80; F. H. Beck, 1890-95; R. C. Smith, 1896-99.
Pioneer presiding elder, Brookville mission district : "Rev. William Carroll, presiding elder on the Brookville mission district, was a stout, energetic man, of medium preaching talents, and was selected for this field of labor because it required bone and muscle, as well as faith and zeal, to accomplish its duties. That entire region of country was new, wild, rough and mountainous, with many rapid bridgeless streams to cross. The settlements were far from each other, and the people
*The years given in this article as served by preach- ers are the Conference years of the circuit at that time, not the calendar years. Conference is held about the middle of September and all appointments date from the close of it. For instance, when it is said that the ministry of I. A. McCamey at Brook- ville was from 1905 to 1008, from October 1, 1905, to September 30, 1908, is meant.
307
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
poor, but generous. Never since the days of Young and Finley did any presiding elder encounter such difficulties. Calvinism in its primitive characteristics had been planted there, and its advocates contested the ground with great tenacity and zeal. But to this field of toil and sacrifice the new presiding elder and his little band of youthful heroes hastened away and sowed the good seed with tears, and reaped a rich harvest of souls. That sterile soil has since become very fruitful."
Ridgway mission was created in 1834. Its pioneer circuit riders were Rev. G. D. Kin- near and ( 1835) Rev. Alfred Plimpton.
As a rule, these pioneer Methodists were good singers, and whenever they held a service in this wilderness they usually made our hills and valleys vocal with the glorious and beau- tiful hymns of John and Charles Wesley.
The first female to pray in public or in the general prayer meetings in Brookville was "Mother Fogle," Rev. Christopher Fogle's first wife.
The pioneer members were prohibited from wearing "needless ornaments, such as rings, earrings, lace, necklaces and ruffles, and from smoking and chewing."
BROOKVILLE M. E. CHURCH
A Methodist Episcopal class was formed in Pinecreek township in 1828 in a log barn that stood at the head of the Cook dam, on North Fork creek. Five persons comprised this class-David Butler and wife. Cyrus But- ler and wife, and John Dixon. David Butler was appointed leader, and the church services were held for a time in the Knapp sawmill at that point. A Sunday school was started very soon after the class was formed. with Cyrus Butler, Sr .. as superintendent. Church, class and Sunday school services were held for a time in the homes of David and Cyrus Butler. Mr. Dixon lived until 1903, dying at the age of ninety-seven years in Polk township. In the same year, 1829. a church was organized by Rev. John Johnson, and during 1829 and 1830 preaching services were held in the home of David Butler, at the head of what is now Cook's dam, on the east side of the North Fork creek. The members forming this first church were David Butler and wife, Cyrus Butler and wife. John Dixon, John Long and wife, William McKee. William Steel, Tolin Monks and wife, Elijah Heath, William Men- denhall. The first Sunday school was organ- ized here by Mr. Butler, Sr., in . Pinecreek township.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.