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 CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 FROM 
 

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 3 1924 032 370 359 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032370359 
 
HISTORY 
 
 Oin THE 
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY 
 
 HONESDALE 
 
 BY 
 
 R. m:. stocker. 
 
 HONKSDAXJE, 'PA.. 
 
 HKRAXjX) press ASSOCIATIOHr 
 
 1906 
 
PEEFACE. 
 
 This history of the Honesdale Presbyterian church has 
 been written by direction of the session of the church. 
 
 At a meeting of the session at the residence of W. B. 
 Holmes, January 15, 1904, at which there were present E.ev. 
 W. H. Swift, D. D., moderator, and Elders H. C. Hand, Andrew 
 Thompson, E. M. Stocker, J. A. Bodie, J. Adam Keitenauer, 
 W. J. Ward and W. B. Holmes, clerk of the session, the 
 clerk stated that the seventy-fifth anniversary of the organiza- 
 tion of the church would be February 11, 1904, and after some 
 discussion it was decided to observe the anniversary on Sunday, 
 February 21, with such morning and evening services as Dr. 
 Swift might arrange; and, at the same meeting, R. M. Stocker 
 was appointed to prepare a history of the church and arrange 
 for its publication. 
 
 The Honesdale Presbyterian church is the pioneer church 
 of the town, and was organized by the first settlers that located 
 here. It has had included in its membership and congregation 
 nearly every man of prominence, that resided in Honesdale, 
 
 rn 
 
lY PEEi'ACE. 
 
 that was connected with the Delaware & Hudson Canal Com- 
 pany during the seventy years of its existence, besides a large 
 percentage of the lawyers, doctors, editors, bankers, merchants, 
 also mechanics, artisans, workingmen and enterprising citizens 
 generally. 
 
 In old times under monarchical forms of government, a 
 history of kings might pass for a history of the nation, but 
 under a democracy, the individuality of the people begins to 
 appear. A church that is governed after monarchical forms, 
 may be contented with a history of its organization, together 
 with a history of its priests, but a Calvinistic church, whose 
 very life is founded on equality among its members, has a his- 
 tory, not only of its ministry, but of its laity. It also has its 
 organic history which consists of the work of the church in its 
 various departments. A thoroughly organized Presbyterian 
 church is a little republic within itself. The session is the 
 governing body of the church, and delegates from the session, 
 consisting of the minister and one elder from each church, con- 
 stitute the Presbytery, and the Synod and General Assembly 
 are composed of commissioners chosen in equal proportion 
 from among the ministers and elders of the several Presby- 
 teries, according to membership. So it will be seen that the 
 government of the Presbyterian church is a representative de- 
 mocracy, and that it is republican in form, very similar to the 
 government of the United States; and it is very evident that the 
 predominance of Presbyterians at the time of the formation of 
 the government had its effect in the establishment of our system 
 of government. 
 
 In preparing this history the records of the church have 
 been very freely consulted and quoted from. The intention has 
 been to give the language of contemporaries in describing events 
 and in giving characteristics of individuals as far as possible. 
 The account of transactions will thus be presented from the 
 view point of more than one person. The files of the "Wayne 
 County Herald, the Democrat and its successor, the Citizen, also 
 the Independent, have been searched for pen pictures by con- 
 
PEEFACE. V 
 
 temporaries, and among them none wrote with a more compre- 
 hensive grasp of his subject than did F. B. Penniman. Eev. 
 Dr. Swift has assisted me in obtaining valuable matter, and old 
 people and members of the session generally have contributed 
 their recollections, and in this connection George H. Mayhew, 
 the old harness maker, who came here when a boy with his 
 parents, among the first settlers, should not be forgotten. In 
 this history the best is said of people. There is another side 
 that is not so good, but estimating their lives and characters as 
 a whole, I am persuaded that the predominating characteristics 
 of the persons herein mentioned have been given. There have 
 been a large number of grand good men and women in the 
 Honesdale Presbyterian church. This history is not written 
 for the purpose of increasing family pride, but rather to inspire 
 the church to nobler work through a knowledge of the conse- 
 crated efforts that have been made by our predecessors. To 
 make a slight change in Longfellow's poem: 
 
 Lives of GOOD men all remind us 
 We can make our lives sublime 
 
 And dying, leave behind us 
 Foot prints on the sands of time. 
 This history not only comprises the ministry and eldership, 
 but also the trustees and some of the laity who have never held 
 any official positions in the church. Members of the congre- 
 gation who have supported the church more faithfully, some of 
 them, than some others who are enrolled as church members, 
 have been mentioned. A church is a great moral and religious 
 force in a community, and it is a blessing to all who help main- 
 tain it. The dead are mentioned more at length than the living, 
 and as this is a church history the religious life of the persons 
 mentioned is made more prominent than it would be in ordinary 
 history. In order to give the history a proper setting, a brief 
 history of the Presbyteries with which the church has been 
 connected, together with sketches of some old-time ministers 
 and elders, have been given. It has been the intention of the 
 author to treat all persons and religious denominations fairly. 
 Our church does not claim all the goodness in the community, 
 
YI PREFACE. 
 
 but this being a history of the Honesdale Presbyterian church, 
 it of necessity deals largely with the people that have been con- 
 spicuous in that church. 
 
 Shakespeare makes Mark Antony say that "The evil that 
 men do lives after them, while the good is oft interred with 
 their bones." 
 
 This age is a realization of the truthfulness of Shakes- 
 peare's observation. A noisome journalism has catered to evil 
 by magnifying the evil that men do, by highly colored descrip- 
 tions and pictorial representations, until a glance at the daily 
 press would lead one to believe that nothing but evil prevails 
 in the world. There is evil enough, doubtless, but a glance at 
 the brighter and better side of the human race is more benefi- 
 cial and inspiring than contemplating a train robbery or some 
 domestic wrong. Surely the sublime utterances of the Psalmist 
 or Isaiah, the all important teachings of the New Testament 
 and the lives of those who follow the teachings of the Bible, are 
 more wholesome and elevating than the exaggerated statements 
 of modern journalism. Let the lives of those who have founded 
 communities and churches be perpetuated. A contemplation 
 of their good works tends to a nobler and purer manhood and 
 womanhood. R. M. Stockeb. 
 
ILLUSTEATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Andrew Thompson, W. B. Holmes, H. 0. Hand 1 
 
 Church, Chapel and Manse 8 
 
 Salem Church 11 
 
 Old Presbyterian Church 9 
 
 Bethany Presbyterian Church 12 
 
 Old Parsonage 16 
 
 Old Tabernacle 20 
 
 Reverends Campbell, Judd, Westwood and Skinner 25 
 
 Elders Kingsbury, Foster and Lord 32 
 
 Eev. Stephen Torrey 56 
 
 Eev. Dr. Dunning 72 
 
 Kev. Dr. Swift 73 
 
 Elders Eeed, Darling, Ward and Strong 80 
 
 Elders Seely, Tracy and Cory 97 
 
 Church Session of 1906 104 
 
 Deacons Gillen, Eno and Beers 112 
 
 Otis Avery and J. P. Eoe 128 
 
 First Presbyterian Church of Honesdale 161 
 
 Chapel 176 
 
 John Torrey 187 
 
 Blandin, Lord and T. H. E. Tracy 189 
 
 Minor, Penniman, Woodhouse and Smith 193 
 
 C. P. and a. G. WaUer and Coe F. Young 200 
 
 Board of Trustees 211 
 
 Three Deacons and Two Trustees 216 
 
 Eaymond, Wright, Torrey and Ward 264 
 
 Mount Pleasant Church 272 
 
 Dickson, Hand and Dickson 297 
 
 Hand, Dunning and Hand 304 
 
 Stourbridge Lion 332 
 
 vn 
 
W. B. HOI.MES 
 
 Andrew Thompson 
 
 H. C. Hand 
 
 The Patrons of the History, without whose financial aid it 
 would not have been published. 
 
BONESBAIE PKESBYTERIAN CSURCi 
 
 CHAPTEK I. 
 
 PIONEER CHUECHES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS 
 
 }>Mi 
 
 npHE first churches iu North- 
 -''■ eastern Pennsyhrania -n-ere es- 
 
 tablished by the Dutch settlers 
 in the Minisink along the Dela- 
 ware. In 1737 Georg Wilhel- 
 mus Mancius established four 
 Dutch Eeformed churches, and 
 among them the one at Smithfield, being the only one on the 
 Pennsylvania side of the Delaware river. Perched on a high 
 pulpit, with a large hollow hemisphere suspended over his 
 head for a sounding board, Bev. Johan Caspareus Freyenmoet 
 and his successors gave the people the strongest kind of Cal- 
 vinism in these churches, speaking in the Dutch language. In 
 1741, Count Zinzendorf, accompanied by his brave daughter 
 Anna, made a missionary tour through Northeastern Pennsyl- 
 vania, with special reference to converting the Indians. Beth- 
 lehem, whose roaring blast furnaces melt the ore for the im- 
 mense armor plate that covers our war vessels, was established 
 as a Moravian mission, and named by Count Zinzendorf in 
 honor of the birth place of the Prince of Peace. 
 
 It is refreshing to turn from the grasping policy of the 
 later proprietaries of Pennsylvania to the honest and success- 
 ful mission work of the Moravians among the Indians. In a 
 
A HONESDALE PRESBYTEEIAN CHUKCH 
 
 later trip, about 1742, Zinzendorf came into Wyoming vallev 
 and passed through Cobb's Gap. While reposing in his tent 
 some lurking savages determined to kill him. They crept up 
 where they could look in on their intended victim. While 
 they were looking, a rattlesnake that had been thawed out by 
 the fire, came out of his den and crawled over the Count's legs 
 and coiled down without harming him. The Indians were as- 
 tonished and, believing that he was protected by the Great 
 Spirit, slunk away into the darkness of the forest. 
 
 E.ev. David Brainerd, a Presbyterian, spent his life in 
 labors among the Indians who lived northward of Easton. 
 Most of our knowledge of Indian names and customs is de- 
 rived from Hecke welder and other Moravian missionaries 
 among these Indians. Indian missions were not fruitless of 
 results. Andrew W. EUicott, who with David Eittenhouse, 
 was engaged in establishing the line between Pennsylvania and 
 New York, writes imder date of August 6, 1786, from a station 
 near Great Bend, " I have just returned from attending divine 
 service of the Indians in their camp. This will appear no 
 doubt strange to you, but stranger yet when I assure you that 
 I have found more true religion and Christianity among them 
 than with the white inhabitants on the frontier ; they are of 
 the church of England and have the service complete in their 
 own language — they sing psalms to admiration, much superior 
 to the Dutch Methodists in Baltimore. The Indian town of 
 Shanang (Binghamton), is about twelve miles from our present 
 situation." These were Mohawks and they were probably 
 using the translation of the celebrated chieftain, Joseph 
 Brandt. This chief was a half blood white and after the 
 Eevolutionary war he made a trip to England where he was 
 well received, and being an educated Indian, he translated the 
 book of common prayer into Mohawk. 
 
 The Baptists, Methodists and Congregationlists were early 
 on the ground in Wayne county. It is impossible to state 
 accui-ately who preached the first sermon. It is conceded, 
 however, that the Baptists organized the first church. 
 
PIONEER CHUKCHES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS 3 
 
 PIONEER BAPTIST CHURCHES. 
 
 Samuel Stanton, of Stantonville, now Pleasant Mount, 
 was a Free Will Baptist, and on his invitation, Eev. David 
 Jayne preached in the settlement and June 28, 1796, the fol- 
 lowing persons were organized as a Free Will Baptist church : 
 Samuel Stanton, Joseph Tanner, Martha Stanton, Lydia Tan- 
 ner, Margaret Dix and Rhoda Stearns. Rev. Epaphras Thomp- 
 son, a close communion Baptist, preached in Mt. Pleasant in 
 1800. He preached there some time until he and Stanton had 
 an argument on the communion question, which resulted as 
 such things generally do, in greater strife and confusion than 
 before. They agreed to separate and Thompson preached his 
 farewell sermon. They compromised finally, allowing mem- 
 bers liberty to commune with other denominations. They 
 nov/ had fourteen communicants and styled themselves the 
 First Baptist church of Wayne County. This church increased 
 to some 200 members. In 1807 the communion trouble broke 
 out again, when Epaphras Thompson, Elijah Peck, Samuel 
 Torrey, Benj. Newton, Ehoda Stearns, Elizabeth Torrey, 
 Phebe Newton and Ehoda Kennedy were organized into a close 
 communion church. Eev. William Purdy settled in Palmyra, 
 now Paupack, in 1792, and immediately commenced to preach 
 in his neighborhood. In 1800 Eev. Lebbeus Lathrop preached 
 in the place and in 1801 the Baptist church of Palmyra was 
 organized with fifteen members and Wm. Purdy was ordained 
 as pastor of the church. In 1807, this church united with the 
 Mt. Pleasant and Abington churches in forming the Abington 
 Association. In 1824, Eev. Wm. Purdy, who had been pastor 
 of this church since its organization, died, and George Dobell 
 was licensed to preach in his stead in 1829. He was pas- 
 tor for eleven years. The old school movement with which 
 Elder Dobell sympathized, caused some division about this time. 
 
 Eev. Newell Callender held a great revival in 1854 and 
 the Jonestown Baptist church was established with forty -four 
 members. The Bethany Baptist church was organized in the 
 court house by Eev. John Miller and others June 7, 1817, with 
 
4 H0NE8DALE PBESBYTEKUN CHUKCH 
 
 eighteen members. Bev. Henry Curtis was pastor of this 
 church for 13 years from 1832 to 1845. He preached at 
 Honesdale, Smith Hill and Paupack Eddy. In 1843 the 
 church had 210 members. The Baptist church at Hones- 
 dale was organized May 10, 1842, with 29 members by Bev. 
 Henry Curtis, who had preached here more or less since 1833. 
 The ^Vaj-ne Baptists remained in the Abington Association 
 until 1870, when they organized the Wayne Baptist Associa- 
 tion. It is composed of eighteen chuiches having an aggregate 
 membership of about 1000 persons, holding property valued at 
 $29,000. 
 
 PIONEER METHODIST CHURCHES. 
 
 The Methodists were early on the ground in Wayne 
 coi^nty. Francis Asbury, the lirst Methodist Bishop in the 
 world, passed through Cobb's Gap, following the old Indian 
 tra.il road, and stopping all night at Stanton's, who lived on 
 the Little Meadows farm in Salem, in 1793. In his journal he 
 says "he found it better than he expected." The pioneer 
 bishop had evidently learned not to have great expectations at 
 log inns and taverns in the wilderness. Stanton's Inn at 
 Little Meadows was somewhat famous for its dishes of fox 
 meat and its beds of leaves and hemlock boughs. The Meth- 
 odist church has risen to great opulence and influence, but it 
 need never be ashamed of the energetic and far-seeing pioneer, 
 who established churches throughout the land, living on hum- 
 ble fare and lodging in log cabins. 
 
 One of the earliest preachers of Methodism was Arming 
 Owen. He was one of the first settlers in Wyoming Valley, 
 and while in hiding after the massacre of Wyoming, he resolved 
 to live differently if his life was spared. Hollister describes 
 him as " one of those happy characters able to hew his way 
 into a prominent usefulness, emerging from a blacksmith shop 
 in Kingston and commencing to exhort and explain the doc- 
 trines of Methodism to the world in 1787. He had fought 
 beside the gallant Butler in the Indian battle on the plains un- 
 til the day was lost, escaping only with his life. He wan- 
 
HONEEB CHURCHES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 5 
 
 clered to the east, remaining there eight years, when he re- 
 turned and rolled up his log cabin and shop on the bank of 
 Toby's Creek in Kingston. He acted in the double capacity of 
 exhorter and blacksmith until his appointments became so 
 numerous that he became a circuit preacher of efficiency and 
 power." 
 
 The Methodist class at Eoss Hill organized in 1787-8, 
 and the one at Dr. Wm. Hooker Smith's forge, three years 
 later, were probably the first classes in Northeastern Pennsyl- 
 vania. 
 
 Bishop Asbury visited the Lackawanna Valley in 1793, 
 and soon two somewhat noisy itinerants traveled on a circuit, 
 including Kingston, Plymouth, Shawney, Wilkes-Barre, Pitts- 
 ton, Providence, and crossing the Moosic mountains at Cobb's 
 Gap they entered Wayne county, preaching at Salem, Canaan 
 and Mt. Pleasant, continuing through to Great Bend and Tunk- 
 hannock. In 1807 a regular circuit was formed and a portion 
 of the circuit was traveled over every four weeks. The Salem 
 church was organized in 1807 in Major Yfooclbridges's log 
 barn by Gideon Draper and William Butler. These itinerants 
 asked Blajor Woodbridge, a Congregationalist, to enroll the 
 names, which he did, and twenty-two persons were enrolled, 
 after which these organizers coolly informed the Major that 
 he had been appointed class leader, and Dr. Peck says "Major 
 Woodbridge was installed a class leader in the Methodist 
 church almost before he was aware of it." Canaan circuit, as 
 it was then called, included all of Wayne county, the Salem 
 church being the strongest, was headquarters for the circuit 
 preachers for a number of years. Aiming Owen appears to 
 have been Presiding Elder in 1807, when the church was or- 
 ganized. He held the first quarterly meeting in Salem and 
 probably the first in the county in 1807 in Woodbridge's barn. 
 Some of the preachers who traveled this circuit, which includ- 
 ed Salem, Sterling, Mt. Pleasant and Paupack settlement, were 
 Thomas Elliott, 1808, Loring Grant, 1812, Israel Cook, Eben- 
 ezer Dellitts, Kobert Montgomery and Isaac Grant. Dr. Geo. 
 
(i HONESD^VLE PKESBYTEBIAN CHUHCH 
 
 Peck traveled the circuit in 1820, and he says it included all 
 of what was known as the Beechwoods generally. "It was a 
 two weeks circuit with a membership of 223 persons and had 
 tw(4ve pre;icliing places, one of them being at the Court House 
 in Bethany, three or four school houses, several private houses 
 and not one church." 
 
 The Honesdale Methodist church began in an old school 
 house and probably also in the old tabernacle where most of 
 the churches of the place were organized. The most promin- 
 ent of the first class were S. W. Genung, W. "W. Parmen- 
 ter, J. Callaway, Derial Gibbs, Thomas Kellow, Mary Stewart, 
 T. Pope, D. Tarbox, H. Heath, O. Hamlin, J. Birdsall, sr., E. 
 Doney, E. Webb, E. Eggelston, T. Hawkey, E. Spry, James 
 Ball and E. Heaiwood. They appear to have worshipped in a 
 school house that stood near Callaway's and the old Taber- 
 nacle imtil 1834, when the first Dieeting house was erected on 
 a site presented by John Torrey. In 1845 the church was 
 doubled in capacity and in 1872 the present church was 
 erected. Honesdale District is in Wyoming conference, being 
 composed of thirty-five charges, twenty of which are within 
 Wayne county with an aggregate membership of about 2800. 
 
 PIONEER EPISCOPAL CHURCHES. 
 
 A meeting was held at Charles Forbes, Feb. 13, 1832, for 
 the purpose of organizing an Episcopal church in Honesdale. 
 The principal organizers were Edward Mills, Thos. T. Hays, 
 Chas. Forbes, Z. H. Eussell, Daniel B. Wilcox, Jas. B. Wal- 
 ton and A. H. Farnham. Eev. Jas. H. Tyng was the first rec- 
 tor. They first worshipped in the building now occupied by 
 Bernard Eeilly as a store. In 1834 they erected their first 
 church on the site of the present church. The present church 
 was designed by Henry Dudley and erected by Henry Heath 
 in 1854. It is of native blue stone and one of the handsom- 
 est churches in the State. The church has been served by a 
 number of rectors whose stay has been for only a few years. 
 Eev. E. B. Duane and Eev. George C. Hall had the longest 
 pastorates and they are more generally remembered than any 
 
PIONEER CHUECHES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS 7 
 
 others. Eev. Jno. M. Lewis succeeded Eev. Mr. Hall in 189-1, 
 and Eev. Jas. P. Ware is the present rector. Eev. S. B. Dal- 
 rymple and Eev. Geo. C Abrams died while ministering to 
 this church and are remembered for their self-sacrificing labors. 
 
 The Episcopal church in Salem was biiilt in 18-17. The 
 leading members were Eobert Patten and wife, Franklin Good- 
 speed, John Eaymond, Caleb B. Hackley, Daniel Potter, Gains 
 Moss and Mrs. Anson Abbey. Eev. Edwin Mendenhall w;is 
 their first rector and remained with them fourteen years, until 
 his death, and during his time he organized the Zion church 
 in Sterling. Eev. E. H. Brovm was rector for fifteen years un- 
 til he died. Since his time there has been no regular rector. 
 
 The Mt. Pleasant church was organized in 1862. Eers. 
 Day, Burrows, Cowpland, Howard and Scott have served this 
 church. 
 
 ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES. 
 
 The first adherents of the Catholic church settled in Mt. 
 Pleasant township. These people received their ministrations 
 from missionaries from New York and Friendsville. In 1835 
 the first Catholic church was erected "v\[here the present St. 
 Juliana church now stands. The present church was erected 
 in 1866, and recently a fine church has been erected at Pleas- 
 ant Mount. Eev. Henry Fitzsimmons, of Carboudale, was the 
 first regular pastor of the Catholics in Wayne county. He 
 erected the first church at Honesdale in 1842. In 1845 Hones- 
 dale became a separate parish with Eev. P. Prendergast as 
 pastor. He seems to have had charge of the whole county. 
 He was followed by Eev. James Maloney, and Dr. O'Hara as- 
 sisted by Father Kenney. About this time the German Cath- 
 olics began to settle here and Father Etthofer and Sharle 
 made them occasional visits. In 1852, Eev. Jas. Power, as- 
 sisted by Father Whitty, came to Honesdale, the latter caring 
 for Hawley and Eock Lake districts. Other pastors in Wayne 
 have been Eev. Daniel Kelly, Father Delanave, an Italian, Eev. 
 Thos. Brehony, Eev. John Judge, who ministered for a long- 
 time in Mt. Pleasant, Eev. Michael Filen, Eev. J. P. O'Malley, 
 
O HONESDALE PEESEYTEEIAK CHUKGH 
 
 who went to Hawley in 1870, and Kev. J. J. Dohertj who 
 came to Honesdale in 1859 and remained here until he died in 
 1896. He remained so long in the place that he made a great 
 impression upon the people. During his pastorate the pres- 
 ent beautiful St. John's Catholic church was erected. Rev. 
 Thos. M. Hanley is the present pastor of St. John's church. 
 
 The German Catholic church was erected in 1860. Eev. 
 Francis Buthe ministered to this church from 1863 till 1878, 
 when he died and was succeeded by the present pastor, Father 
 Dassel. 
 
 There are churches at White Mills and Salem and one in 
 Canaan. The churches in the northern part of the county 
 have Eevs. John Healy and P. E. Levalle for their pastors. 
 There are some five or six thousand Catholics in the county 
 under five pastorates. Father Dassel has a parochial school 
 in connection with his church, biit the larger part of our Cath- 
 olic population attend our excellent public schools, whence a 
 number of bright men have gone forth to enter the jorofes- 
 sions of law, medicine, and the priesthood. 
 
 PIONEEE LUTHEBAN CHUECHES. 
 
 There are three Lutheran churches in the county. The 
 Honesdale Lutheran church was organized in 1845 and the 
 church was incorporated May 2, 1846, under name of German 
 Evangelical Lutheran Church and Congregation of Honesdale. 
 The first pastor and charter members were: Christian Sans, 
 pastor ; members, George Eichenbacker, A. Fritz, J. Kolus, H. 
 Goodman, J. Wagner, J. Ch. Grambs, J. Miller, H. Grambs, J- 
 Grambs, W. A. Brede, John Reichenbacker, E. Kalmesten, E. 
 Kalmesten, F. Tinker. The ministers have been C. Sans, G. 
 Zeuner, J. Goetz, F. A. Bauer, F. W. Helper, S. F. Wilkens, O. 
 Telle, F. A. Herzberger, G. F. Werner, T. Herschman, E. Con- 
 rad, 0. Puhl, W. Schmidt, O. F. Leisz, A. O. Gallenkamp, 
 and, since 1901, H. A. Behrens. 
 
 The first church was built on Second street in 1848. The 
 parsonage was bought under the pastorate of S. F. Wilkens. 
 
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Old Presbyterian Chorch 
 
PIONEER CHURCHES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS 9 
 
 The new churcli was built in 1903-4, on Church and Seventh 
 streets, on a lot purchased by the Ladies' Aid and Young Peo- 
 ples' Society. Among the prominent members there have been 
 John M. Baumann, John Krantz, John Guckenberger and John 
 Eeifler. The new church is called the St. John's Evangelical 
 Lutheran church, and it is one of the handsomest churches in 
 the borough. 
 
 There is a Lutheran church in the southern part of Mt. 
 Pleasant township and another at Gouldsborough Station in 
 Lehigh township. 
 
 Besides the churches already mentioned there are a num- 
 ber of Protestant Methodist churches, two in Salem, one in 
 South Canaan and one in Sterling, and there are Free Method- 
 ists in several townships and Albright Methodists and Evangeli- 
 cals; also several congregations of Christians and a flourish- 
 ing Moravian church in Dreher, besides some Universalists, 
 Second Adventists, and probably a few Christian Scientists and 
 Agnostics, and there have been in the county a few Quakers, 
 and Seventh Day Baptists. 
 
 The Moravian church at Dreher was established in 1828, 
 by the pioneer German settlers at Newfoundland or German 
 Flats. The church was about the first building erected and 
 around it the little colony gathered. The church and Sunday 
 school are both well attended. 
 
 PIONEER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. 
 
 The first Presbyterian minister in Northeastern Pennsyl- 
 vania, was Rev. John Sergeant, who, in company with Jonathan 
 Edwards, had been laboring among the Housatonic Indians in 
 Massachusetts, who visited Wyoming and preached to the In- 
 dians there in 1741. Of this visit Mr. Sergeant says: "Accord- 
 ing to his purpose he set out on his journey, accompanied by 
 some Indians, to the Shawanoos, May 26, 1741. June 3, 1741, 
 he arrived at Susquehanna. June 7 he preached to the the In- 
 dians living on the Delaware river," as he returned from Sus- 
 quehanna. Mr. Sergeant subsequently wrote an account of his 
 
10 HONESDALE PEESBYTETilAN CHUECH 
 
 mission to George Drummond at Edinburgh, Scotland. He was 
 a Presbyterian minister educated at Yale. These facts are 
 taken from Eev. N. G. Parke's Historical Discourse. 
 
 This county was visited from time to time by Congrega- 
 tional and Presbyterian missionaries. In 1797, Eev. Daniel 
 Thatcher, a minister sent out by the General Assembly of the 
 Presbyterian church, visited this region and administered the 
 -communion to members residing in Mt. Pleasant. 
 
 The pioneer Connecticut settlers were largely Congrega- 
 tionalists or Presbyterians. The first Congregational or Pres- 
 byterian church in Northeastern Pennsylvania was organized 
 at Wilkesbarre, in 1763, by the first settlers in the Wyoming 
 Valley. Others were organized at Great Bend, in 1789, Wy- 
 sox, 1791, and Wyalusing, 1793. The first in Wayne county 
 was the church of Salem and Palmyra, organized in 1808 by 
 Eev. David Harrowar, and its constituent members were Heze- 
 kiah Bingham, H. Bingham, Jr., Joseph Woodbridge, Ashbel 
 Woodbridge, Jesse Miller, Eachel Weston, Martha Stevens and 
 Ann Woodbridge. The first settled pastor of the churches in 
 Wayne county was Eev. Worthington Wright. He resided in 
 Bethany and preached in Salem, Palmyra, Canaan and Beth- 
 any. He came as a Congregational missionary from Connecti- 
 cut and after he had preached a few months residents of Dy- 
 berry, Salem, Palmyra and Canaan subscribed $257 for his 
 salary. The persons subscribing were the pioneer promoters 
 of Presbyterianism in Wayne. The parties who contributed 
 from Dyberry were Jason Torrey, E. Kellogg, Isaac Dimmick, 
 Solomon Moore, Eandall Wilmot, B. Doughty, Ephraim Dim- 
 mick, Charles Hole, Caleb Hole, Amos PoUey, Peter Smith, 
 David Wilder, Ephraim Torrey, Abisha Woodward, Isaac Sea- 
 man, George Seely & Bro., Sylvanus Seely, Isaac Oakley, 
 Cooper Osborn, E. Beardslee, John Woodward, A. Stryker, J. 
 Schenck, Enos Woodward, Timothy Gustin, Lewis Collins, Isaac 
 Brink, Aaron French, Moses Samps m, Stephen Kimble, Walter 
 Kimble, Benj. Kimble, Charles Kimble, Augustus Collins; from 
 Palmyra, H. Bingham, John Pellet, Eph. Kimble, L. Labar, 
 
PIONEER CHUECHES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS 
 
 11 
 
 George Labar, Eobert Eupert, Joseph Atkinson, Jonathan Brink 
 and Simeon Anslej; from Canaa.n, Thomas Starkweather, Asa 
 Stanton, Charles Stanton, James Carr, Silas Woodward, Jesse 
 Morgan, Conrad Swingle, George Morgan, John Folis, George 
 Eix, Samuel Davis and Fred Swingle; from Salem, Joseph 
 Woodbridge, Seth Goodrich, A. Woodbridge, Jesse Miller, 
 William Woodbridge, Elijah Weston, William Hollister, Ash- 
 bel Miller, Henrj^ Stevens and Henry Herman. Mr. Wright 
 was installed at the Court House iii Bethany, at which place 
 he made his residence. He labored for two years when ill 
 health compelled him to retire from the field. Eev. Phineas 
 
 SALEM PKESBYTBEIAN CHTJKOH. 
 
 Camp preached occasionally about 1818. The Salem and Pal- 
 myra church was organized in 1832, as the Presbyterian church 
 of Salem. Eev. Moses Jewell was the first installed pastor in 
 1833. He was followed by Eev. Joseph Barlow. Eev. A. E. 
 Eaymond preached in this church from 1844 to 1863. He 
 remained in the place after he stopped preaching and died there 
 at an advanced age. Students from Princeton and Union Semi- 
 naries have supplied the pulpit summers in recent years. Its 
 
12 HONESDALE PKESBYTEKIAN CHUECH 
 
 Elders have been George Goodrich, Luther Weston, Elijah 
 Weston, John A. Cook, A. M. Nicholson, John Nash, Thomas 
 Cook and J. T. Stocker. 
 
 A number of ministers labored in Bethany until Eev. E. 
 O. Ward was called to the pastorate in 1853 and continued in 
 that field until old age compelled him to discontinue preaching. 
 During the forty years or more in which he was connected with 
 the church he was a model of earnestness, consistency and 
 perseverance. The Elders of this church have been Virgil M. 
 Dibol, Jason Torrey, Pope Bushnell, Loring Parsons, T. S. 
 McLaughy, A. Collins, Eli Henshaw, E. Dimmick, S. Bartlett, 
 S. Langdon, N. Kellogg, E. D. Bunnell, E. Eeed, E. 8. Day, J. 
 Bodie, J. B. Ward, L. C. Fuller, S. E. Isham. The present 
 Elders are D. W. Henshaw, Theodore Day, John Lippert and 
 L. O. Mumford. The Bethany church was erected in 1822-3 
 and it is probably the oldest church building in the county. 
 A Congregational church was organized in Mt. Pleasant by 
 Eev. Ebenezer Kingsbury in 1814 at the house of John Tifiany. 
 The constituent members were Anson Chittenden and wife, 
 James Bigelow and wife, Polly Tanner, Mary Freeman, Lydia 
 Tiffany, Edward Dimmick and wife, Eansford Smith and wife, 
 A. Hubbell and wife, B. Burritt and wife and Euth Bucking- 
 ham. In 1831 this church was re-organized as a Presbyterian 
 church. Its first session was Elders A. Chittenden, E. Wilcox, 
 J. Eaton, Dr. Urial Wright, H. W. Stone, M. Dimmick and 
 Asa Smith. The following ministers have served the church: 
 Eeverends Kingsbury, Wright, Williams, Goodman, Thompson, 
 Campbell, Eichardson, Boyce, McEeynolds, Higbie and Eev. 
 Samuel Whaley who served eleven years. There have been 
 many others since then. The present session is composed of 
 Elders James H. Kennedy and E. A. Wright. Their first 
 church was erected in 1830. The second in 1867. 
 
 Eev. Joseph Barlow, of Salem, ministered in Sterling about 
 1827. The Presbyterians or Congregationalists were Phineas 
 Howe and his wife, L. B. Adams, Margaret Adams and Henry 
 Adams. Eev. A. E. Eaymond continued to preach there and a 
 
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13 HONESDALE PEESBYTEKIAN CHURCH 
 
 church was erected in 1850. The church was re-organized as 
 Presbyterian church in 1871 by Kev. Yates Hickey, Presby- 
 terian missionary, and Benjamin Correll was installed as Elder. 
 The Hawley Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. 
 Burr Baldwin in 1849. Its Elders since its organization have 
 been John Decker, E. G. Coutant, Abraham Eade, John Nyce, 
 S. Z. Lord, Joseph SoUiday, Allyn Babcock and M. M. Tread- 
 well. 
 
 A Presbyterian church was organized at Waymart in 1835 
 and there are Presbyterian societies at Prompton, Sherman, 
 Little Equinunk, Damascus and Cold Springs. 
 
 Li noting the struggles of these pioneer missionaries one 
 can but feel that it took great courage and perseverance, as well 
 as faith and piety, to lead them to travel through dense forests 
 and face untold dangers and hardships to preach the gospel to 
 the Indians and among the settlers. Count Zinzendorf, that 
 remarkable convert to Christianity, crossed the ocean and braved 
 many dangers, in his great zeal for his Master. In one of these 
 trips he passed through Cobb's Gap and if he followed that old 
 Indian trail that leads through Salem he came within fifteen 
 miles of where Honesdale now is. He traveled through that 
 dense forest of hemlock with laurel and rhododendron under- 
 growth known as the Great Swamp. As he pursvied his jour- 
 ney through this lonely wilderness, he must have felt his need 
 of Divine guidance and may he not have been inspired by his 
 o^vn beautiful hymn, "Jesus, still lead on" — 
 
 Jesus, still lead on, 
 
 Tin our rest be won ; 
 And although the way be cheerless. 
 We will follow, calm and fearless : 
 
 Guide us by thy hand 
 
 To our fatherland. 
 
 If the way be drear, 
 
 If the foe be near. 
 Let not faithless fears o'er take us, 
 Let not faith and hope forsake us, 
 
 For, through many a foe, 
 
 To our home we go. 
 
14 HONESDAIE PEESBYTEEIAN CHURCH 
 
 PIONEER SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 
 
 The movement started by Eobert Eaikes in 1781 soon 
 crossed the ocean and January 11, 1791, a First Day or Sun- 
 day School Society was formed in Philadelphia. The Sunday 
 School as it now exists is a developement from the Eaikes idea 
 of paid teachers. He gathered poor children into schools for 
 instruction in the rudiments of an education not neglecting 
 Bible instruction. There was great opposition to the Sunday 
 School movement at first, and the Sunday School Magazine in 
 1827, in an article designed to answer objections, sums them up 
 as follows: "It is suggested that as the children of drunltards 
 will be amongst the first served, drunken parents, being thus 
 more at liberty, will become more drunken. 2. That children 
 of the poor will thus be in a measure provided for, poor peo- 
 ple will become more improvident, and the number of paupers 
 will increase. 3. That children being removed so long and 
 so frequently from their mothers, the fine chord of mutual 
 sympathy, which naturally exists between them, and which 
 is the security of their virtue, will be weakened or broken. 
 4. That such schools will conduce to improvident marriages 
 by removing anxiety respecting children. 5. That the pres- 
 ence of children imposes much restraint upon the wickedness 
 of parents, this wickedness will increase when that restraint is 
 removed hj the absence of children." We smile at these puer- 
 ile suggestions today. In some parts of the state there was 
 objection to women teachers especially for boys. In the days 
 when the school teacher with his ferule and bundle of sprouts 
 from the neighboring woods was a terror to the unruly, the boy 
 who would be controlled by a woman was looked upon as un- 
 worthy to be classed as a boy. The floggings of those days 
 was the heroic part of a boy's education, but our Yankee ances- 
 tors had fought that battle and won in New England, before 
 they came into the Beech Woods; and females were recognized 
 as being the best of teachers. But some conscientious people 
 were troubled about having a school on Simday. Sally Brown, 
 
PIONEER CHURCHES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS 15 
 
 now Mrs. Weston, aged 100, faithfully kept her promise to 
 notify her schoolmates to meet at Mrs. Woodbridge's to organ- 
 ize a Sunday School in Salem in 1818 but she says she was 
 troubled all the week, feeling that it was wrong to have school 
 on Sunday. 
 
 The General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in its 
 narrative of the state of religion in 1816 refers to the Sunday 
 Schools as follows: "Sunday Schools also, occupy a promi- 
 nent place in the debates and occurrences of the past year. In 
 several portions of our land these schools have been constituted 
 for the instruction of the poor and ignorant. The moments of 
 holy leisure which occur on the Lord's day are appropriated to 
 this laudable undertaking. Multitudes of the young have 
 been led to the fountains of human knowledge and taught to 
 read the word of life." After stating that there were 5,000 
 children and aged persons in Philadelphia and 4,000 in New 
 York, taught in this novel manner, they conclude by awarding 
 a meed of applause where it has been so richly merited by de- 
 claring that "the daughters of Zion have done nobly in this 
 undertaking." Two years after this, in 1818, the Sunday School 
 movement reached the Beech Woods. Considering the fact 
 that telegraphs, telephones, railroads and newspapers in the 
 modern sense, were unknown, that it took three months for the 
 news of the battle of Waterloo to reach this region, the Sun- 
 day School movement made rapid progress in this new country. 
 
 The first Sunday Schools in Wayne county were organized 
 in the year 1818. There were three Sunday Schools organized 
 that year at Bethany, Canaan and Salem — and the Sunday 
 School at Montrose, Susquehanna county, was organized the 
 same year. The Sunday School at Canaan was held in a log 
 school house near Canaan Four Corners and in 1886 there were 
 living of those who attended the school, Moses Swingle, Polly 
 Griffing Bidwell, Elijah A. Freeman, Abigail Frisbie and Har- 
 riet Watts. They came from long distances, some traveling 
 six miles. A reward was offered for the one who would com- 
 mit to memory and recite the most verses. Abigail Frisbie 
 
PIONEEE CHURCHES AND StJNDAY SCHOOLS. 16 
 
 recited 3,062 verses on eight Sundays, beginning with the first 
 chapter of Matthew and ending with the eighth chapter of 
 •John, for which she received a bible and hymn book furnished 
 by the Ladies' Bible class of Philadelphia. When 82 years of 
 age as she related this incident she could still repeat many of 
 these verses. 
 
 Ann Woodbridge, widow of Joseph Woodbridge, a lead- 
 ing Congregationalist, went to Connecticut after her husband's 
 death in 1816, and while there she attended a Sunday School 
 in Hartford. After she came home in 1817 or 18 she asked 
 Sally Brown then aged about 14, to notify her young friends 
 and come to her house the following Sunday for the purpose 
 of organizing a Sunday School. Miss Brown consented to do 
 so and appeared the next Sunday with her little friends Laura 
 Goodrich, Ambrose Nicholson, Malvina Potter, Betsey HoUis- 
 ter, Abigail Hollister and Anna Wright. The school was held 
 in Widow Woodbridge' s log house. She had the children all 
 stand in a row and read the Testament, of which she had a 
 few copies. She also had several John Eogers' primers, con- 
 taining catechism and commandments, which she loaned to 
 them. The Sally Brown that notified the children is Sally 
 Weston still living in Salem aged 100. Nearly all who at- 
 tended this school as well as that in Canaan and Bethany lived 
 to advanced ages. Surely all the good children do not die 
 young. 
 
 Bethany was the county seat and the school organized 
 there was more influential than the schools at Canaan and Salem. 
 Virgil M. Dibol, one of the Elders of the Bethany church, in 
 passing through Florida, Orange county, N. Y., first learned of 
 Sunday Schools in 1818, and when he came home he told Jason 
 Torrey, Sheldon Norton and others and they decided to organ- 
 ize a Sunday School in the Court House. Pursuant to notice 
 July 19, 1818, there assembled in the Court House some five 
 or six teachers and about thirty scholars who organized a school 
 under superintendence of V. M. Dibol. The teachers were 
 Sheldon Norton, William and Ephraim Torrey, Josiah Purdy, 
 
Thk First Parsonage 
 
PIONEER CHURCHES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS 1 7 
 
 Miss Lydia Muzzy, afterwards wife of Dr, Wright, of Salem, 
 and Miss Maria Sandford. Among the pupils were John, 
 Stephen and Asa Torrey, Nathaniel A. Woodward, George W. 
 Woodward, afterwards Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, John 
 MiUer, Jr., Albert Jones, Erwin Jones, Alva N. Jones, David 
 Wilmot, of Wilmot Proviso fame, Eockwell Bunnell, Henry 
 Bunnell, Reuben Gleason, Daniel Blandin and many others. 
 This school organized an Association in 1819 for the organiz- 
 ing of schools elsewhere and through the work of this organ- 
 ization Sunday Schools were started in other parts erf the 
 county. Eev. E. O. Ward superintended this school for more 
 than thirty years, and it is still in existence. There was a Sun- 
 day School Union movement in the county about 1830, but the 
 greatest organized Sunday School movement in Wayne was in 
 1871 when the Wayne County Sabbath School Association was 
 organized in the Presbyterian church at Honesdale. Rev. J. 
 0. Woodruff was the first president and W. B. Holmes was 
 secretary. Conventions were held throughout the county and 
 nearly every township was organized. This Association did 
 good work for about fifteen years when it ceased to exist. Dr. 
 Dunning, Rev. W. Gallant, S. D. Ward, Stephen Torrey, George 
 F. Bentley and many others worked in these conventions. 
 Among the presidents were J. O. Woodruff, S. D. Ward, H. M. 
 Crydenwise, W. B. Holmes, Rev. J. A. Metz, John , T. Ball, 
 several times; W. D. Curtis, James T. Rodman, H. B. Larabee. 
 Wayne county is well supplied with Sunday Schools and the 
 International System of Sunday School lessons is generally in 
 use. Among those who planted schools in the county, Rev. 
 Stephen Torrey stands preeminent as an untiring worker and 
 organizer of schools. 
 
 It is remarkable that the Sunday School in the Wilkes - 
 barre Presbyterian church was organiiied in 1818. One of the 
 most prominent men in this school was Judge Oristus Collins, 
 who lived to be 92, being a son of Dr. Lewis Collins, of Wayne 
 county. The Sunday School in the old historic church at 
 Wyalusing was also started in 1818. 
 
1 .S HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CHCECH 
 
 YOUNG people's SOCIETIES. 
 
 The first Youug People's Society in Wayne county was 
 organized during Dr. Dunning's pastorate in the Presbyterian 
 church at Honesdale in 1876, and John T. Ball was its first 
 president. It had a membership of 136 persons. This Society 
 was reorganized under a new constitution modeled after the 
 Young People's Society in Dr. Cuyler's church iu Brooklyn, in 
 1884. It had a membership of 134 and prayer meetings were 
 conducted according to a printed list of topics very similar to 
 the Christian Endeavor meetings. In 1889 this Society was 
 changed to a Christian Endeavor Society with Eev. W. H. Swift 
 as president. The first Christian Endeavor Society in Wayne 
 county was organized in the Presbyterian church at Hawley, 
 April 8, 1886. The second was at Starrucca, April 17, 1888. 
 There are in the county societies at Hawley, Honesdale, Star- 
 rucca, Bethany, Milanville, Seelyville, Pleasant Mount, Clinton, 
 Aldenville, Cold Springs, Newfoundland, Maple Grove, Eiley- 
 ville, Prompton, Jones Lake, HoUisterville, Lake Ariel, Gravity, 
 East Sterling, Tyler Hill, South Clinton, Pink, Sherman and 
 Winwood, with an aggregate membership of about 900. 
 
 A district organization was effected at Hawley in 1898, 
 W. W. Wood being the first president. Miss Ella Teeter acted 
 as secretary for a number of years. The Christian Endeavor 
 Societies are interdenominational, each society being subject to 
 the particular church to which it is attached. 
 
 Epworth League — Shortly after the Christian Endeavor 
 movement began the Methodist organized the Epworth League 
 movement and there are societies at Beech Lake, Bethany, Ariel, 
 Arlington, Canaan, Carley Brook, Damascus, Gouldsborough, 
 Hawley, Honesdale, Lake Como, Pleasant Mount, Rileyville, 
 Salem, Sterling and Waymart, with an aggregate membership 
 of about 700. The Epworth League like the Christian En- 
 deavor movement is intended to train young people in church 
 work. 
 
THE OHUBCH AND SESSION 19 
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 THE CHURCH AND SESSION. 
 
 Let children hear the mighty deeds 
 Which God performed of old ; 
 
 Which in our younger years we saw 
 And which our fathers told. 
 
 He bids us make his glories known, 
 
 His works of power and grace ; 
 And we'll convey his wonders down, 
 Through every rising race. 
 
 -Watts. 
 
 One hundred years ago, the valley where Honesdale is now 
 so neatly nestled beneath the hills, was an unbroken wilderness. 
 Here the panther screamed and the wolf howled unmolested by 
 man. The pioneers that found their way up the Lackawaxen 
 river followed a path around Irving Cliff. In 1811 the Beth- 
 any and Dingman's Choice Turnpike was incorporated and a 
 road was built up along the east side of the Lackawaxen and 
 Dyberry rivers to Bethany, but Dyberry Forks remained ;i 
 wilderness until 1815 when the timber was felled on two or 
 three acres at the forks on the north side of the Lackawaxen 
 near its junction with the Dyberry, but still nothing further was 
 done until after Maurice Wurts and others had determined to 
 build a slack water canal from this point to tide water on the 
 Hudson; then the work of clearing off the forests began in 
 earnest. 
 
20 
 
 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHIJECH 
 
 THE OLD TABBK:NACI,E. 
 
 Note. — Tlio above out of the Old Tabernacle is from a free hand draw- 
 ing by William H. Ham, reproduced from recollection and description as 
 given in Dr. Dunning's Historical Discourse. Also from the recollections 
 of George H. Mayhew, John Geaiy, T. J. Ham, Horace C. Hand and Alfred 
 Hand. The dimensions of the building, as originally erected, were 16 feet 
 by 48 feet with a shed roof. It was in this condition when Eev. Gideon N. 
 Judd preached in it ; also when Kev. Joel Campbell organized the First 
 Presbyterian church of Honesdale. It was enlarged by building the other 
 half making a building 32 feet by 48 feet, The strip down through the 
 center of the gable shows how it was spliced together. The entrance was 
 from the gable towards the river. The view given is from the road which 
 is now very much as it was then as you approach the building from Main 
 street with Irving Cliff for a back ground. The oak and pine on the point 
 are remembered by old residents. After the Presbyterians abandoned the 
 building it was used by the Baptists and others. Lorenzo Dow, that eccen- 
 tric Methodist preacher held a service here and in order to escape the 
 curious crowd jumped out of the window and passed on his way. Eev. 
 WiUiam Raymond is remembered by L. S. Collins as holding revival meet- 
 ings here. The green about the Tabernacle would be filled with vehicles 
 and teams, some of them ox teams, on such occasions. It was also used 
 for a school house, and youthful oratory in declamation and debate was 
 heard here. As churches were erected the glory departed from the Old 
 Tabernacle and it was pftt to baser uses such as storage of hay, etc. Evidence 
 of the foundations still remain and the location in the picture Is correct. 
 The building is gone, together with those that worshipped there, but the 
 church organized by nine persons with great faith in the future of the 
 town as well as of the church, still remains, a monument to their faith and 
 devotion. 
 
THE CHUECH &m) SESSION 21 
 
 This region was not neglected by the settlers because it 
 was unknown, for John Penn, a grandson of William Penn, 
 had issued a warrant for the Indian Orchard tract to Jonas 
 Seely, of Berks county, and the survey of that tract extending 
 about seven miles down the Lackawaxen river, and containing 
 8,373 acres, had been made. In 1789 the title of Jonas Seely 
 was sold by the sheriff of Northampton county to William 
 Moore Smith, who, in 1791, sold it to William Hamilton, of 
 Philadelphia. In 1810 William Hamilton sold 152 acres from 
 the northwestern corner of this laud to Mordecai Eoberts, a 
 Quaker who had acted as a messenger for General Washington 
 during the Kevolutionary war, and who as a consequence, had 
 a price set on his head by the British. In 1822 he conveyed 
 this land to his son Mordecai Roberts, Jr., who cut some of the 
 heavy timber on the tract and id June 1823 conveyed it to 
 Samuel Kimble, who appears to have commenced immediately 
 to make a clearing in the forest, and in 1824 or 25 had 
 erected a house on the land. This house was made of thick 
 plank halved together at the corners of the building and was 
 built in the form of what is known as a blockhouse. It stood 
 back from Church street between Fifth and Sixth streets and 
 was the first house in Honesdale. In a short time Kimble sold 
 107 acres from the northern part of this land to Maurice Wurts, 
 who in turn conveyed it to the Delaware and Hudson Canal Co. 
 The northern line of this tract extends nearly easf and west 
 through the center of Central Park. 
 
 The northern part of the town is located on a tract sur- 
 veyed on a warrant from the Surveyor General's office, in March 
 1803, to William Schoonover, who on the 23d of April 1804, 
 conveyed the southern part, including the portion within the 
 present boundaries of Honesdale, to Jason Torrey. Central 
 Park was donated to the borough by Jason Torrey and the 
 Delaware and Hudson Canal Co. 
 
 The definite location of the canal, making Dyberry Forks 
 the point where the boats would be loaded, gave an immediate 
 
22 HONESD.tLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 impetus to tlie work of felling the timber and clearing the 
 forest from the ground where Honesdale now stands. Jason 
 Torrey had his son Stephen Ton-ey here superintending the 
 work, and in April and May of 1826 a portion of the land, at 
 the junction of the rivers where the trees had been felled in 
 1815, was cleared of logs and brush and cultivated, and in the 
 autumn of that year a boarding house was erected on the 
 Lackawaxen not far from the Dyberry, and William K. McLaury 
 and his wife occupied it and kept boarders. This house, which 
 was subsequently enlarged and known as the Tabernacle, was 
 the first house north of the Lackawaxen and the second in 
 Honesdale. If a monument is ever erected to the memory of 
 the pioneers of Honesdale, this is the spot where it should be 
 located. January 1, 1827, the felling of timber north of the 
 Lackawaxen was prosecuted with vigor, and during the sum- 
 mer of that year the village was plotted north of the West 
 Branch, as they called it then. Charles Forbes erected the 
 Wayne County House in the fall of 1827, and Isaac P. Foster 
 built the substantial residence, now owned by his granddaughter 
 Mrs. Horace Weston on the comer of Main and Park streets, 
 the same fall. Early in 1828 the Delaware and Hudson com- 
 menced to clear their land south of Ninth street, and late in 
 that year that portion of the town south of Ninth street was 
 plotted and building upon it commenced. In fact there were 
 tv.'o villages started, the one situated north of the Lackawaxen 
 on the Torrey land, and the other situated mostly south of 
 Ninth street on the Delaware and Hudson land, but in the 
 summer of 1829 the central part of the town, comprising the 
 lands extending from Ninth street to the Lackawaxen was laid 
 out. The first bridge across the Lackawaxen where Main street 
 crosses it was built with log abutments and a log pier in the 
 middle, in October 1827. This bridge connected the two villages 
 which were rivals for many years. 
 
 The first road into the town was built by the Delaware and 
 Hudson in 1827 and passed up by the old Methodist church 
 and connected with the Milford and Owego Turnpike near the 
 
THE CHURCH AND SESSION 23 
 
 old Phillips place. Tliey constructed this road for the purpose 
 of hauling coal with wagons, in order to have some ready for 
 shipment on the canal. The Honesdale and Clarksville Turn- 
 pike was incorporated in 1830 and the Honesdale and Bethany 
 Turnpike in 1881. These roads together with the bridge across 
 the Lackawasen placed Dyberry Forks, or Honesdale as it was 
 now called, in communication with the system of roads that 
 had been opened in the county up to that time. The Hones- 
 dale post office was established with T. T. Hayes postmaster 
 in 1828 and a school had been established on the corner of 
 High and East streets with Lewis Pestana and Charles P. Clark 
 as teachers in 1828, while M. W. Whitney had a school in the 
 lower town. Stores, hotels, harness shops, blacksmith shops 
 and everything that goes to make up a village, were being estab- 
 lished in the town which was springing up from the wilderness, 
 very similar to the manner in which western towns now grow 
 up. A Sabbath school, which will be noted hereafter, was 
 established in 1828, and Kev. Gideon N. Judd, a friend of Isaac 
 P. Foster, preached the first sermon that was ever preached in 
 Honesdale, in the boarding house or Tabernacle, probably in 
 1827 or 1828. 
 
 Many of the people who had found their way to the new 
 town were church members, and an effort was made to secure 
 religious instruction by circulating a subscription paper, which 
 was drawn up and circulated by Edward Mills, who at that time 
 was hotel clerk in the Wayne County House. Mr. Mills did 
 not hesitate to present his subscription paper to transient guests, 
 as well as residents, consequently there are names on that paper 
 of non-residents. The paper reads: "The subscribers, inhabit- 
 ants of Honesdale and vicinity, being desirous of obtaining and 
 enjoying a preached gospel in the neighborhood, and believing 
 it to be a means well calculated to promote social and indi- 
 vidual happiness, and at the same time adding greatly to the 
 respectability of the place, do agree to pay the amounts respect- 
 ively affixed to our names to Joseph L. Kellogg, Edward Mills, 
 Isaac P. Foster, Committee of the Presbyterian Society in this 
 
24 HONESDALE PEESBYTERIAN CHUECH 
 
 place, for the purpose of employing Kev. Joel Campbell to 
 labor one-half of the time, for the term of one year, commenc- 
 ing the 1st day of January, 1829, and ending the 1st day of 
 January, 1830, or for such portion of the time during the year 
 as there may be funds subscribed, provided an arrangement can 
 be made with Mr. Campbell to perform the above named labor; 
 if not, then to be applied as compensation to such other evan- 
 gelical gospel minister as the committee shall employ. 
 
 "Dated Honesdale, Dec. 23d, 1828." 
 
 This paper is signed by the following individuals subscrib- 
 ing various sums: Alanson Blood, Edward Mills, Elam Wood- 
 ward, Albert Jones, David St. John, Charles P. Clark, Preserved 
 Hind, David E. Stark, Levi Schoonover, Joseph Skiimer, Ben- 
 jamin Staysa, Timothy C. Staysa, Orrin Hind, Christopher 
 Beardslee, Thomas Young, George W. Dickenson, Joseph L. 
 Kellogg, Samuel H. Benedict, Isaac P. Foster, Leonard Graves, 
 J. B. Jervis, Charles Forbes, William C. Eose, Eevillo C. 
 Hatch, Timothy B. Jervis, Charles Bartlett, John McMillan, 
 Ira Tripp, Eussel Spencer, Timothy N. Vail, Alvah Adams, 
 Stephen Torrey, Thomas T. Hayes, William Schoonover, Z. H. 
 Eussell, Joseph Spangenburg, John Maloney, Jeremiah Howell, 
 Charles W. Smith, Charles McStraw, Hamilton Bonner, Eich- 
 ard L. Seely, Amos Y. Thomas, John Capron, Eussel F. Lord, 
 Asa Torrey, Alonzo Bentley, John Young, Stephen Kimble, 
 Joab W. Griswold, Horace Baldwin, Josiah Lamphier, Stephen 
 Brush, Nelson Blood, Allen G. Plum, Alvah Wheeler, Samuel 
 Smith, Benjamin Garrett, Charles Comstock, Maurice Wurts, 
 J. B. Mills, Sidney T. Eobinson. 
 
 The following statement in relation to these men was made 
 for the author by John Torrey or James H. Sutton: David St. 
 John was a baker and with Uriah Whittenhall established the 
 first bakery in the town, north of the B. B. Smith place; Pre- 
 served Hind, David E. Stark and Levi Schoonover worked for 
 Stephen Torrey; Joseph Skinner, Benjamin Staysa, Timothy 
 C. Staysa and Orrin Hind were laborers; Thomas Young was a 
 brother-in-law of the Wurtses, the first collector on the canal 
 
Rev. JOEt Campbei.i, 
 Rev. H. C. Westwood 
 
 Rev. Gideon N. Judd 
 Rev. Dr. Skinner 
 
THE CHURCH AND SESSION. 25 
 
 and an active Christian naan; Joseph L. Kellogg built the store 
 north of John F. Roe's and went back to New York; Dicken- 
 son and Benedict were laborers; Leonard Graves was the first 
 tailor in the place and became one of the editors of the Herald; 
 J. B. Jervis, chief engineer on the canal, for whom Port Jervis 
 was named; Charles Forbes was the first hotel keeper and came 
 here from Smiley Hollow, Susquehanna county; William C. 
 Eose, father of L. O. Rose, was one of the superintendents on 
 the canal; Timothy B. Jervis was with the engineers and a 
 member of the church; Bartlett, McMillan and Ira Tripp were 
 Scranton men; Kussel Spencer, one of the first blacksmiths; 
 Timothy N. Vail had his shoemaker shop where A. A. Grambs' 
 store is; Alvah Adams was a carpenter who lost his arm when 
 they discharged the cannon in honor of the running of the 
 Stourbridge Lion; Thomas T. Hayes was a merchant whose 
 store was on Park street on the lot that is now vacant and here 
 was the first post office; Schoonover, Spangenberg and Maloney 
 were laborers; John Capron was a mason who located his lot 
 by pacing it and had it nearly correct; Alonzo Bentley was a 
 boat builder who afterwards owned Bentley Hill; Stephen Kim- 
 ble had the grist mill at East Honesdale; Joab Griswold was a 
 brother of Mrs. Gunn, he removed to California in 1849. 
 Allen G. Plum, son of Hiram Plum, was a carpenter; Alvah 
 Wheeler built the house near W. W. Weston's; Samuel Smith, 
 the father of the Smith Hill Smiths; Charles Comstock came 
 from Abington and ran the saw mill near the Tibbetts place on 
 the Lackawaxen, for Stephen Torrey; Maurice Wurts was the 
 projector of the Delaware and Hudson Canal and J. B. Mills 
 was the engineer on the railroad from here to Carbondale. 
 
 With the funds obtained by this subscription the services 
 of Eev. Joel Campbell were secured for half the time. He 
 came down from Bethany during the year 1829 and preached 
 every Sabbath afternoon for the inhabitants of Honesdale and 
 vicinity. During the forenoon of the Sabbath a meeting was 
 held and printed sermons were read. 
 
 On the 11th of February, 1829 the "First Presbyterian 
 
26 HONESDALE PRESBYTEEIAN CHTIBCH. 
 
 church of Honesclale" was organized in the boarding house 
 then occupied by Hiram Plum, which was afterwards enlarged 
 and known as the Tabernacle. The following clergymen were 
 present at the organization: Eev. Thomas Grear, of Milford; 
 Rev. Burr Baldwin, of Montrose; Eev. James Adams, of Dun- 
 daff; Eev. Adam Miller, of Harford. Eev. Mr. Grear opened 
 the meeting with prayer and delivered a discourse from 11. Co- 
 rinthians, 5th chapter and 20th verse: "Now then we are am- 
 bassadors for Christ; as though God did beseech you by us; 
 we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." After 
 the sermon Eev. Joel Campbell proceeded to organize the church, 
 and the following persons produced certificates from their re- 
 spective churches: Isaac P. Foster and Mary Foster from the 
 church of Montrose; Horace Baldwin and Olive P. Baldwin 
 from the church of Dundaff; Stephen Torrey and Eebecca 
 Schoonover from the church of Bethany; Lucy Forbes from 
 the church of New Bedford, Mass.; Charles P. Clark from the 
 church of Canterbury, Conn.; Joseph L. Kellogg from Central 
 Presbyterian church. New York City. At this meeting Isaac 
 P. Foster, Horace Baldwin, Joseph L. Kellogg and Stephen 
 Torrey were nominated and appointed Euling Elders. The 
 meeting was closed with singing, and prayer by Eev. Adam 
 Miller. February 14, 1829, the session met at the house 
 of Isaac P. Foster and elected Joseph L. Kellogg clerk 
 of the session. The house of Mr. Foster, which is still stand- 
 ing on the corner of Park and Main streets, was a meeting place 
 for the session for many years and a home for ministers always. 
 At the next meeting at Mr. Foster's all of the nine members of 
 the little church were present, and they decided to meet on the 
 evening of the first Saturday of each month for the purpose 
 of prayer and mutual conversation. At this meeting they also 
 adopted a Confession of Faith and Covenant. 
 
 On June 1, 1829, Maurice Wurts, John Littlejohn and 
 John B. Mills were received into the little church on profession 
 of faith. The perseverance of Maurice Wurts in promoting 
 the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, is one of the heroic 
 
THE CHURCH AND SESSION. 27 
 
 romances of business in this country; and his conversion while 
 here in this wilderness is rather remarkable. He was under 
 conviction while prospecting and directing his work in the 
 wilderness about Carbondale. He came back to Honesdale to 
 remain over Sunday, and some of his friends, who were with 
 him, proposed that they should go hunting as deer and other 
 wild game were plentiful here then; but he refused to go hunt- 
 ing Sunday and remained home to meditate and pray while 
 his friends were hunting. Mr. Wurts was a Philadelphia mer- 
 chant and was used to more refinement than he found in this 
 wilderness, but still he chose to join this weak church of be- 
 lievers that were worshiping in a little boarding house, and he 
 took two of his friends with him, Mr. Littlejohn and Mr. Mills, 
 both of whom were connected v/ith the Delaware and Hudson 
 Canal Company. Perhaps the sincerity of this little band of 
 Christians, worshiping in this humble way, had impressed this 
 man as he had not been impressed in the city. Subsequently, 
 in 1830, Maurice Wurts and John B. Mills took their letters 
 recommending them to the communion of the church where 
 they may attend in the city of New York. 
 
 August 26, 1829, the session made application to become con- 
 nected with the Hudson Presbytery and sent Stephen Torrey 
 as the first delegate of the church to Presbytery. The book is 
 marked as approved by A. Thompson, Moderator of Presbytery, 
 September, 1829, at Bethlehem. In 1830 Stephen Torrey was 
 made clerk of the session in place of Joseph L. Kellogg, re- 
 signed. Mr. Kellogg, after staying in Honesdale about two 
 years, took his letter and went back to New York City. During 
 the time he was here he was given some prominence, being one 
 of the first elders and the first Sunday school superintendent in 
 the place. 
 
 After giving one-half of his time to the church for one year, 
 on September 16, 1830, Eev. Joel Campbell was installed as 
 the first pastor of the church, and he remaiaed as such until 
 September 27, 1836. Stephen Brush and Solomon Z. Lord 
 were added to the eldership in 1830. During his pastorate the 
 
28 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 struggling church had increased from the nine original mem- 
 bers to 125 members. A parsonage and bam had been erected 
 and the Tabernacle had been enlarged by doubling its size. 
 Daniel Blandin occupied the first floor, and Rev. Joel Camp- 
 bell and his wife the second floor, of the house on the corner 
 of Fifteenth and Main streets, now owned by Judge Grambs. 
 This house was the parsonage for many years. Mr. Campbell 
 was an old time preacher and he denounced amusements so 
 severely about 1831-2 that a number of his congregation were 
 dissatisfied, and they united to form Grace Episcopal church. 
 He was a tall spare man, dignified and courteous, but his health 
 failed and he had to relinquish his pastorate and take a vaca- 
 tion. He appears to have given up preaching about 1835 but 
 his pastoral relations were not dissolved until later. At a meet- 
 ing of the congregation held Sept. 26, 1886, Stephen Brush in 
 the chair and Daniel P. Kirtland secretary, a communication 
 from Rev. Joel Campbell was read to the meeting setting forth 
 that "his health was such as to render it impracticable for him 
 to return and resume his pastoral labors with this church and 
 congregation at present;" wherefore it was resolved that said 
 communication be sent up to the meeting of Presbytery to con- 
 vene at Gibson, on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 1836, with a request 
 from the church and congregation that the pastoral relations 
 be dissolved, and Stephen Brush, Stephen North and Stephen 
 Torrey were appointed a committee of correspondence to sup- 
 ply the vacancy. They tried to make arrangements with Rev. 
 Mr. Shotwell and that failing they were authorized by the church 
 to try and secure the services of Rev. Gideon N. Judd. This 
 failed and they finally secured the services of Rev. Joshua Bas- 
 combe Graves, in 1837, meanwhile Rev. Waiters Warren 
 preached as stated supply. During the years of Rev. Mr. 
 Campbell's pastorate and Watters Warren's supply, the old 
 church, occupying the same site as the present brick church, 
 was erected and the struggling church was securely planted. 
 
 Among the members received during this period were such 
 strong men as Isaac P. Foster, Stephen Torrey, Stephen Brush, 
 
THE CHUECH AND SESSION. 29 
 
 Eichard L. Seely, Solomon Z. Lord, Eussel F. Lord, John Tor- 
 rey, Daniel Blandin, Daniel P. Kirtland, Stephen North, Jr., 
 Stephen Cory, David Eobertson, David Torrey. The town had 
 grown to be a thriving village, and among the notable events 
 were the trial trip of the Stourbridge Lion on the railroad track 
 that ran from Honesdale to Seelyville, Aug. 8, 1829, it being 
 the first locomotive that ever turned a wheel on a track, in 
 America; the establishment of the Wayne County Herald in 
 the southern part of the John F. Eoe store in 1832 ; the 
 establishing of the Honesdale Bank in 1836, and the starting 
 of the Episcopal, Methodist and other churches. The Pres- 
 byterian church had in its membership some of the ablest and 
 strongest men in town, when three men bearing the saintly 
 name of Stephen, secured the services of Eev. Joshua Bas- 
 combe Graves, Nov. 28, 1837. He was installed Jan. 30, 
 1838, and continued until Sept. 29, 1842. 
 
 Nov. 28, 1837, Eev. A. Ketcham presiding, the session and 
 trustees selected Mr. Graves and appointed Isaac P. Foster and 
 Stephen Torrey to prosecute the call. Dec. 9, 1837, session 
 appointed Elders Brush and Torrey to make division of the 
 members of the church with reference to a systematic course 
 of family visitation. At this time the session consisted of the 
 pastor and five elders, I. P. Foster, S. Brush, H. Baldwin, S. 
 Z. Lord, S. Torrey, and during this time such men as Isaac P. 
 Foster, Charles Forbes, E. L. Seely, Abraham I. Stryker, John 
 Torrey, Eussel F. Lord, S. Z. Lord, Stephen North, Jr., Daniel 
 Blandin, Thomas H. E. Tracy and Ebenezer Kingsbury, Jr. 
 had been on the board of trustees, but the clouds were gather- 
 ing for a storm to burst upon the church. 
 
 ANTI-SLAVEEY AGITATION. 
 
 The Anti-Slavery agitation, which was rending church and 
 state and which finally culminated in the mighty throes of a 
 terrific civil contest, came into the discussions of the Honesdale 
 Presbyterian church. The Abolitionists, led by Lloyd Garri- 
 son, Wendell Phillips and Gerritt Smith, were arousing the 
 

 -^;' 
 
 *!». 
 
 i>\»«r 
 
 i 
 
 
 Rev. Dr. H. A. Rowland 
 
 Horace Tracy 
 
 R L. Seei.y 
 
THE CHUECH AND SESSION. 33 
 
 «lerk, Elder Horace Tracy stated that the meeting was called 
 to elect a pastor for the church, and on motion of John Torrey 
 they proceeded to ballot and elected Rev. Henry A. Rowland, 
 of New York City, agreeing to give him $750 a year without ;i, 
 parsonage. At this time they intended to sell the parsonage, 
 which they had purchased of Daniel Blandin, for $1,000, prob- 
 ably with the intention of purchasing nearer the church; but 
 Mr. Rowland preferred to be up out of town as it was then, and 
 he furnished $500, for which the trustees gave him their note, 
 in order to repair the building. 
 
 Rev. Henry A. Rowland, D. D., was installed June 15, 
 1843. The installation services were as follows: Rev. Adam 
 Miller, of Hartford, offered the introductory prayer; Rev. Jere- 
 miah Miller, of Bethany, delivered the discourse; Rev. James 
 B. McCreary gave the charge to the pastor; Rev. Henry A. 
 Riley, of Montrose, gave the charge to the church. 
 
 Prior to the time when Dr. Rowland was installed all of 
 the elders, that had stood by the church up to this, time had 
 resigned. The records are imperfect at this point but accord- 
 ing to Dr. Dunning' s account, Stephen Torrey resigned Nov. 1, 
 1839, Solomon Z. Lord and Ebenezer Kingsbury Sept. 17, 1842, 
 and on Oct. 15, 1842, the following letter is recorded: 
 
 HONESDALB, Oct. 15, 1842. 
 
 To the members of the Presbyterian church In Honesdale. 
 
 Dear Brethren and Sisters : — It has become the duty of the undersigned 
 to resign to you and through you to the Great Head of the church, their 
 official and active duties as ruling elders in this church, and we do hereby 
 respectfully resign the same and request your acceptance. 
 
 Isaac P. Foster, 
 Stephen Bbush, 
 James S. Bassbtt. 
 This meeting had for its moderator James B. McCreary and 
 for clerk John I. Allen. The resignations of Messrs. Foster, 
 Brush and Bassett were accepted and Richard L. Seely and 
 Horace Tracy were elected elders, and on the following day 
 these elders elect were installed by request of the congregation, 
 by the moderator, Rev. J. B. McCreary. Horace Tracy was 
 made clerk and he kept a neat record. 
 
 This was the condition of the church when Dr. Rowland 
 
34 HONESDAIxE PRESS YTEBIAN CHUHCH. 
 
 came to Honesdale from New York City to enter upon his pas- 
 torate, and he proved to be the right man in the right place. 
 During the twelve years and five months of his pastorate the 
 church was greatly prospered. E. L. Seely and Horace Tracy, 
 with their pastor, constituted the session until 1846. Dec. 11, 
 1845, S. D. Ward, son-in-law of I. P. Foster, John P. Darling, 
 Stephen Torrey and William Keed were elected additional elders 
 and they all refused to serve. The church evidently intended 
 to heal all wounds by this action but the time did not seem 
 opportune to Mr. Ward and Mr. Torrey to accept; and Mr. 
 Reed, a conservative merchant, and Mr. Darling, a farmer who 
 resided three miles out of town in Cherry Ridge, were induced 
 to reconsider their action, and Jan. 31, 1846, they were installed 
 as elders. 
 
 Dr. Rowland was an all round man. He could meet almost 
 any one on his own ground, hence he was found among the 
 people. Whenever any great event happened Dr. Rowland 
 was expected to be there. When the fire company was started 
 he was present. When the plank road was opened to travel in 
 1851, he was one of the speakers. He took delight in hunting 
 and fishing and could cast a fly with the best of them. His 
 wife was an agreeable woman and his daughters likewise, and 
 altogether the family were very popular in Honesdale. Dur- 
 ing his time, in 1844, Penniman & Woodhouse established the 
 Honesdale Democrat, now the Citizen, and that coterie of liter- 
 ary men known as the "Saints" was formed in Honesdale. The 
 leading spirits in this movement were F. B. Penniman, C. S. 
 Minor, B. B. Smith, H. A. Woodhouse, Henry Peet, Coe F. 
 Young and a few others. The first three were members of the 
 church and the others were pew holders or more or less affili- 
 ated with it. They were bright, independent thinkers and when 
 they met at B. B. Smith's book store they did not hesitate to 
 criticise sermons or doctrines. Dr. Rowland was a match for 
 them and could parry their thrusts with good natured wit and 
 they never got the advantage of him. The following is taken 
 from a memorial volume of the life and services of Dr. Row- 
 
THE CHUKCH AND SESSION. 35 
 
 land. Dr. Fairchild says: "On his settlement in Honesdale, 
 June 14, 1843, he found the church and congregation very much 
 affected by unhappy differences, which were connected with the 
 history of his immediate predecessor in the pastoral office, who 
 eventually was deposed from the gospel ministry. By the 
 blessing of God upon his instrumentality, these differences soon 
 were harmonized, confidence and affection were restored, and 
 the congregation increased in numbers and strength, and was 
 marked by general prosperity. Besides its growth in numbers 
 and material resources, many of its members were hopefully 
 converted to God, and added to the communion, and it soon 
 became one of the most interesting, important and useful 
 churches in the Presbyterian connection." 
 
 There were several revivals while Dr. Eowland was pastor 
 at Honesdale. In 1844, thirty-seven members were added at 
 one time, thirty-four of them being on profession of faith. In 
 1847 about twenty were received. In 1848 the church having 
 become too small for his congregation, a subscription of uearlj- 
 $3,000 was made to repair and enlarge it and pay off the debt. 
 In July following the enlarged church was opened with all the 
 pews taken. In 1850, after a revival, twenty-three were admitted 
 to the church. At the close of the year he sums up his work 
 as follows: Forty-nine received into the church, thirty -nine on 
 profession of their faith. Theodore Parker came to Honesdale 
 to preach Parkerism and "Dr. Eowland deemed this an occasion 
 in which he was specially called upon to stand up for Jesus; 
 and for His gospel, and he accordingly preached with marked 
 ability and success, a series of sermons, in which he showed 
 the real nature and influence of the principles which Mr. Par- 
 ker so boldly avowed." He did not confine his efforts to the 
 pulpit but vindicated his opinions through the press. He 
 wrote most of his books while in Honesdale. In 1850 he 
 published an octavo volume of 300 pages "On the Common 
 Maxims of Infidelity;" "The Path of Life" in 1851, and "Light 
 in a Dark Alley" the same year; the "Way of Peace" in 1854. 
 He wrote frequently for the newspapers and articles bearing 
 
36 HONESDALE PKESBYTEEIAK CHURCH. 
 
 liis signature were published in the Honesdale papers. 
 
 A gentleman visited him at his residence in Honesdale and 
 said: "I could not but admire the many marks of his activity 
 and usefulness, both in his congregation and among the people 
 generally. He seemed to be acquainted with everybody, rich 
 and poor, old and young, on terms of cordial friendship with 
 all, and ready to promote their best interests in every way." 
 
 While at Honesdale his horse, Kate, was stolen and he 
 wrote a letter giving an amusing and humorous description of 
 her qualities and habits. The letter was republished and cir- 
 culated extensively in the public prints, giving such a good 
 description that the purchaser of the animal recognized it. He 
 wrote to Mr. Rowland and Kate was soon going her rounds as 
 usual. 
 
 Jan. 27, 1851, Stephen Torrey was reelected to the elder- 
 ship which he accepted after some hesitation, and at the same 
 time Stephen D. Ward and Dr. Adonijah Strong were added to 
 the session. With these additions the church had a strong- 
 session. Nov. 9, 1855, Dr. Rowland announced to the session 
 that he had received a call from the Park Street church of 
 Newark, N. J., which he felt inclined to accept. The session 
 adopted resolutions expressing confidence in their pastor and 
 promising him their support should he remain with them. He 
 concluded to go, however, and the pastoral relations were dis- 
 solved Dec. 23, 1855, when Rev. E. O. Ward, of Bethany, 
 preached to the congregation and declared the pulpit vacant. 
 
 The first lecture room was built in 1848 through the instru- 
 mentality of the women of the church, and 310 persons were 
 added to the church membership during the twelve years and 
 five months of this pastorate. Dr. Rowland found confusion 
 and discord in the church ; he left union and peace, and unlike 
 his predecessor, he left with the sincere regrets of his congre- 
 gation. His family also liad made friends and their removal 
 was considered as a loss to the community, not only by the 
 church and congregation, but by the community generally. 
 
 At a meeting of the First Presbyterian Society, March 18, 
 
THE CHUKCH AND SESSION. 37 
 
 1856, at which Kev. E. K. Fairchild was chosen moderator, and 
 George G. Waller secretary, Kev. Thomas H. Skinner, Jr., of 
 New York City, was unanimously called to the pastorate at a 
 salary of $1,100 a year, payable semi-annually, together with 
 the use of the parsonage. The session and the trustees were 
 directed to sign the call, and E. L. Seely, C. P. Waller and Ezra 
 Hand were chosen to prosecute the call. Mr. Skinner accepted 
 the call and was installed as pastor the following June. He 
 remained until June 29, 1859, when he resigned to accept a 
 call to a Dutch Reformed church on Staten Island. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Skinner came to the church with considerable 
 prestige as the son of Dr. Skinner, Professor of Homiletics in 
 Union Seminary. He was a city bred man and his life had 
 been spent in the city and the schools, hence he had but little 
 knowledge of practical affairs in a rural community. It is said 
 that he ordered pea brush by express from New York and that 
 he said there was not a scholarly man in Honesdale. He ap- 
 pears to have preached ultra Calvinism to his congregation and 
 otherwise was too academic and theoretical for the common 
 sense men of affairs who were building up this new town. A 
 number of the members of his congregation induced him to 
 undertake to teach a Bible class, which was held in the Demo- 
 crat office, now used as a store by J. A. Reitenauer. His un- 
 compromising attitude was a challenge to that literary coterie 
 composed of F. B. Penniman, C. S. Minor, B. B. Smith, W. H. 
 Foster, H. A. Woodhouse and others and they attended the 
 Bible class; not particularly for the benefit which they hoped 
 to receive, biit rather to question the young minister. Of course 
 it is an easy matter to ask questions that no man can answer, 
 and these practical hard sense men of every day life ran against 
 the more stilted pretensions of the young student. That Mr. 
 Skinner tried to preach the gospel as he understood it, is 
 evident, but it appears that his preaching was criticised and 
 among other things F. B. Penniman accused him of preaching 
 Antinomianism, which is a teaching that under the gospel dis- 
 pensation the moral law is of no use or obligation, but that 
 
38 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 faith alone is necessary to salvation. This would be a seri- 
 ous charge if true. At a meeting of the session held Feb. 16, 
 1858, at which Elders Kichard L. Seely, Adonijah Strong, 
 William Eeed, Stephen D. Ward and Stephen Torrey were 
 present, the moderator, Eev. Mr. Skinner, laid before the ses- 
 sion a letter to Mr. Penniman which he had formulated for their 
 consideration and action. This letter among other things says: 
 "If you consider that your pastor teaches Antinomianism, or 
 any other error, it would be a more proper way for you frankly 
 to say so to him, and if you failed to convince him, then to im- 
 peach him before the presbytery, — but we feel that it is both 
 \\T.-ong and unchristian to undermine his influence among his 
 own people and the congregation by such a method as you have 
 pursued of late." At the next meeting of the session, at which 
 Elders Seely, Keed, Darling and Torrey were present, the paper 
 was discussed and the session decided that the proper course to 
 pursue was for some of their number to visit Mr. Penniman but 
 to take no official action at present. At the next meeting 
 Stephen Torrey reported that he had visited Mr. Penniman and 
 admonished him concerning what he and others considered to 
 be improper on his part, concerning expressions made by him 
 about the preaching of our pastor, that while Mr. Penniman 
 claimed the right to criticise the public preaching in our pulpit, 
 which right he was not willing to yield, he admitted that he 
 might have been injudicious as to the time, manner and cir- 
 cumstances under which he had given expression to his criti- 
 cism. Both R. L. Seely and S. D. Ward offei'ed the resignation 
 of their eldei'ships at this meeting but neither was accepted. 
 F. B. Penniman was the descendant of a long line of Dissenters 
 and Independents in religion and was an anti-slavery and tem- 
 perance advocate, with practical ideas on most subjects. He 
 was even then editing a sort of free lance called the Honesdale 
 Democrat, a Whig paper, and he would be about the last per- 
 son in the town who would give up the right of criticism of 
 public utterances, whether from the pulpit or anywhere else. 
 On the other hand he was associated with men that were more 
 
THE CHURCH AND SESSION. 39 
 
 or less skeptical upon points that are generally considered es- 
 sential in the church and it is possible that their criticisms 
 were not always just. As a result of it all, Mr. Skinner re- 
 signed and had he not preached a farewell sermon that was 
 published that reflected upon the session, all further allusion 
 to the matter would have ended. This sermon was published 
 at the request of C. P. Waller, J. B. Sinclair, James K. Dick- 
 son, S. D. Ward, T. S. Fitch and David Beers. In this request 
 Dr. Skinner is commended for his independent, manly and 
 truthful dealing with the people of his charge. This published 
 sermon has a preface in which Mr. Skinner says: "There was a 
 disagreement not in minor matters but in central and radical 
 points; nay, in the very basis of the tvhole of our standards, 
 the authority of the Bible as the only Rule of Faith and Prac- 
 tice. It was said there was another rule; the Bible could be 
 accepted only as judged and endorsed by the Reason, or In- 
 tuitional faculty, miracles were not the ultimate test of Spiritual 
 Truth." This and much more was urged as being a matter of 
 diflference between Mr. Skinner and the church. Appended to 
 this sermon was a testimonial to Mr. Skinner's faithfulness as a 
 pastor and to his "magnifying the Old and New Testaments as 
 the Inspired Word of God as the only and infallible rule of 
 faith and practice." This was signed by A. Strong, J. P. Dar- 
 ling, C. P. Waller, G. G. Waller, Seth W. Powell, J. H. Sin- 
 clair, J. S. Wright, Isaiah Snyder, William J. Fuller, Earl 
 Wheeler, Stephen G. Cory, Jeremiah Clark, John F. Roe, David 
 Beers, Ebenezer T. Losey, Elam Strong, W. W. Weston, D. M. 
 Eno, George F. Knapp, J. H, Sutton, John H. Crawford, C. 
 King, Coe Durland, H. L. Phillips, Chauncy Deming, S. D. 
 Ward, William Reed, E. F. Torrey, H. C. Hand, H. W. Stone, 
 A. Cummings, Dwight Reed, C. F. Young, T. S. Fitch, W. T. 
 Eastabrook, B. Sherwood, James R. Dickson, E. T. Beers, D. 
 Blandin, Jesse Van Steenberg, Robert J. Knapp, Nathaniel 
 Beers, George Snyder, William H. Stone, Moses Ward, F. A. 
 Doney, D. R. Burnham, Thomas H. Dickson, Levy McCreery, 
 David Robertson, John Robertson. 
 
iO HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Wlien this sermon was printed with its preface and formi- 
 dable array of names, including some of the session, those 
 members of the session that had not signed felt that they were 
 placed in a false position. At a meeting of the session held at 
 K. L. Seely's, Sept. 19, 1859, the clerk of the session, Stephen 
 Torrey, was requested to prepare a letter to Rev. Mr. Skinner 
 setting forth the differences as they understood them. This 
 was a long letter and was signed by Stephen Torrey, William 
 Reed, J. P. Darling, R. L. Seely and A. Strong. S. D. Ward 
 had resigned and considered that he should not act. This let- 
 ter reviews the address and justly concludes that the prominent 
 idea that runs through it is, that the session had difi'ered with 
 their pastor concerning the mode to be pursued to free the 
 church from radical doctrinal error and that these errors relate 
 to the authority, the authenticity, the interpretation, the all suf- 
 ficiency, the exclusive prerogative of the Bible in matters of 
 religion. The letter then states: "Now whatever may be true 
 concerning the existence in the church of the radical errors in 
 doctrine mentioned in your address, we think that you will 
 candidly admit that no vote has under any circumstances been 
 given or called for concerning these doctrinal errors; or the 
 best method of dealing with the individuals entertaining or 
 supposed to entertain them." Further on, the letter states in 
 substance, that nothing had been brought to the notice of the 
 session excepting what related exclusively to himself, of the 
 course of conduct of one who had represented that he taught 
 Antinomianism, thereby undermining his influence. Mr. Skin- 
 ner's reply to this letter was filed but cannot be found, that it 
 was not satisfactory is evident from the tenor of the reply of the 
 session. So at last Mr. Skinner and the session differed as to 
 what they differed about. 
 
 That Mr. Skinner was annoyed by the criticisms of the so- 
 called "saints" is evident, that the members of the session were 
 not anxious for any heresy trials is manifest, and that under all 
 the circumstances it was best that he should resign is doubtless 
 true. He appears to have been a good man but a misfit at this 
 
THE CHURCH AND SESSION 41 
 
 place at the time he was here. He finally found his true sphere 
 in McCormick Theological Seminary at Chicago, where he was 
 "Dr. Skinner" and a success. Fortunately the church did not 
 suffer any serious division on account of this episode. This 
 literary club turned up as evolutionists in Dr. Dunning's time 
 and many of that scholarly man's most masterly efforts were 
 directed against that theory. Darwin's theory was distorted 
 by some of his followers, but after it was understood, the church 
 no longer feared it. Whatever may be true as to any scientific 
 theory, of one thing we are certain, that true science and the 
 Christianity of the Bible never did and never will conflict. 
 Skepticism changes with each succeeding generation but the 
 Word of God abideth forever. Dr. Eowland, Dr. Skinner and 
 Dr. Dunniag, together with all the so- called "saints" have been 
 gathered to their fathers and have to appear before a Judge that 
 cannot err. 
 
 During the interval of two years after Dr. Skinner resigned 
 the pulpit was supplied by Eev. David Torrey, Eev. J. W. Scott 
 and many others, candidates and otherwise. The church was 
 fearful about choosing a pastor, and ministers, owing to its dif- 
 ficulties, looked upon the church as a hard field for labor. 
 
 Eev. John B. Eichardsou, of Geneva Presbytery acted as 
 moderator Dec. 2, 1859, and Eev. J. W. Scott, D. D. Jan. 9, 
 1860, otherwise the session generally chose one of its elders to 
 act as moderator. Among other things the session recom- 
 mended "in view of the present condition of the church and 
 especially of the approaching meeting of the congregation to 
 elect a pastor" that Wednesday next be recommended as a day 
 of humiliation and prayer and that notice be given to that effect. 
 No date is given but it was about the last of 1859. No ac- 
 count is given of the election of Eev. C. S. Dunning by the 
 congregation, but July 5, 1861, he appears as pastor elect, act- 
 ing as moderator. He was installed June 25, 1861. Dr. Dun- 
 ning did not come to Honesdale without some misgivings, for Dr, 
 Skinner had carried the difficulties of the church to the Pres- 
 bytery and the matter had been discussed until it was known 
 
42 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 througliout this section of country. The church was most 
 fortunate in its selection of Eev. C. S. Dunning for pastor. 
 His large hearted sympathies and massive logic soon won the 
 hearts of his hearers, and differences disappeared. Mr. 
 Dunning found his hearers capable, honest and willing to 
 listen to reason, as a consequence the church was soon working 
 harmoniously and the congregation was increased. There were 
 several notable revivals during his pastorate, and there were 
 about 375 persons received into the church during his time. 
 The War of the Rebellion was in progress when he came here 
 and the people were stirred with patriotic emotions. July 4, 
 1863, the record reads: "The session met at the Lecture Room 
 at the close of a meeting notified for preparatory lecture, but 
 which in view of the impending conflict of arms, in which the 
 armies of our nation are now engaged on the battle field, (the 
 time) was spent in special prayer in behalf of our nation and 
 our armies, as well as preparatory to our communion season; 
 present. Rev. C. S. Dunning, moderator, R. L. Seely, William 
 Reed, J. P. Darling and Stephen Torrey, elders." Dr. A. 
 Strong was generally at session meeting and these five elders 
 constituted the session when Mr. Dunning came to the church. 
 Jan. 2, 1864, the session placed a minute on its records as a 
 tribute to R. L. Seely who is remembered for the faithful dis- 
 charge of his duties in such a conciliatory spirit as to win the 
 esteem of the church. 
 
 November 25, 1864, Isaac P. Foster and Stephen D. Ward 
 were again elected as ruling elders and they took their places 
 in the session which they had left, Mr. Poster in 1842, and Mr 
 Ward in 1860. Slavery was abolished as an act of martial 
 law, made possible because of a war which the slaveholders 
 precipitated themselves; and as a revenge of fate, the emanci- 
 pator was one of the despised southern mountain whites. 
 Many conservative people, who despised slavery but held that 
 it could not be disturbed under the constitution, rejoiced when 
 the slaves were freed by proclamation of the Commander in 
 Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States. 
 
THE CHURCH AND SESSION. 43 
 
 From this time forward the united sessions sustained Dr. 
 Dunning, and the church was greatly prospered. The old par- 
 sonage, where Judge Grambs resides, was sold to E. W. Hamlin 
 and the lot on the corner of Tenth and Court streets, contain- 
 ing a house which was used for a parsonage until recently, was 
 purchased of William F. Wood in 1865, and the large brick 
 church was erected and dedicated June 25, 1868. 
 
 After the new church was dedicated nearly every pew was 
 taken including the side pews. Dr. Dunning's preaching at- 
 tracted many from other denominations. He was in the zenith 
 of his power; and a new pipe organ with a good choir, still 
 further added to the attractions of the service. The congrega- 
 tion that listened to him included lav,-yers, doctors, editors, 
 bankers, merchants, Delaware and Hudson managers and lead- 
 ing business men generally. It was an intelligent and critical 
 congregation and Dr. Dunning sustained himself with remark- 
 able power. His pre-eminence as a great reasoner was freely 
 admitted by his contemporaries. Neither did he fail as a pastor. 
 He called upon his congregation at their homes and in their 
 places of business. He had a sympathetic way of asking after 
 business prospects that was appreciated by the people. John 
 Brown, the undertaker, told an incident which was characteristic 
 of Dr. Dunniug. One day Dr. Dunning came into his place of 
 business and asked him, in his friendly way, how he was getting 
 along with his establishment. Mr. Bro(vn told him that he was 
 not doing very well, that he had not taken in money enough 
 that week to pay his help and he did not know what he should 
 do. Mr. Dunning expressed his sympathy and went out. 
 Soon afterwards he came in with a roll of bills in his hand and 
 said: "Here take this I don't need it just now and pay me 
 when you can." He did not even count the money but turned 
 and went out. Mr. Brovm was surprised, for he did not even 
 belong to Dr. Dunning's congregation, but he felt gratitude to 
 Dr. Dunning for his thoughtfulness from that time forth. 
 
 Dr. Dunning had a good idea of business and could sym- 
 pathize with his people in their business struggles and losses. 
 
44 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 He carried the burdens of his congregation in his great heart. 
 To him the pastorate of the church was a serious matter, and 
 he listened to tales of woe that are confided to a minister, with 
 a sympathetic heart. He was so constituted that he could not 
 throw off these burdens easily, and his more hopeful wife some- 
 times rallied him about it and turned his thoughts in other 
 directions. This was an undoubted benefit to him. Dr. Cun- 
 ning's fame as a powerful preacher was far extended, and he 
 received flattering offers of much larger salary to go elsewhere, 
 but his fidelity to the Honesdale church would not suffer him 
 to leave it. During the war he received $2,500 salary a year, 
 but he finally told the church that he thought this salary was 
 so large as to be burdensome, and he voluntarily reduced the 
 amount to $2,000; although in thanking the church at one time 
 for some gift, he said the church had always done generously 
 by him, "giving him more than was nominated in the bond." 
 His powerful sermons against Darwinianism did not affect the 
 parties for whom they were preached as he had hoped, and he 
 afterwards regretted that he had not preached the plain gospel 
 instead. Of course Dr. Dunning did not fail to preach the 
 plain gospel, but he doubtless concluded, as many others have, 
 that men who cannot be reached by such preaching cannot be 
 reached at all. 
 
 In 1870, Miles L. Tracy, Stephen G. Cory and Henry M. 
 Seely were added to the session. In 1874, W. B. Holmes in 
 place of S. D. "Ward, deceased. In 1876, H. C. Hand and in 
 1878 John T. Ball. William Keed and Dr. A. Strong both 
 died in 1879. They were both faithful men. 
 
 Sept. 16, 1874, the session adopted a minute highly eulo- 
 gistic of Elder S. D. "Ward, who for twenty years had been a 
 member of the session. His death is deplored as having oc- 
 curred suddenly, when Mr. "Ward was in the vigor of manhood. 
 The minute also says: ""We desire to record our hearty testi- 
 mony to the faithfulness and efficiency vdth which he has dis- 
 charged his duties as a member of the session and of the higher 
 judicatories of the church, and to the very valuable service he 
 
THE CHUBCH AND SESSION. 45 
 
 has rendered this church in connection with our social religious 
 meetings and the Sabbath school." 
 
 Dec. 2, 1876, the session adopted a minute on the death 
 of Elder Isaac P. Foster. The session recognized in him a 
 brother with whom they had often met to consult concerning 
 the interests of the church. A man whose clear judgment, 
 large experience, great Christian charity and thorough earnest- 
 ness in the cause of Christ, rendered his counsel of great value. 
 "He was chosen as a Euliag Elder in this church at its organ- 
 ization, and with the exception of a few years, of voluntary re- 
 tirement, has continued to serve the church usefully and ac- 
 ceptably in that office, until his death." "We well remember 
 his earnestness in prayer, in our social meetings, which he 
 delighted to attend. * * * y^Q lament our loss 
 and rejoice ia his glory." "How blest the righteous when he 
 dies." 
 
 April 19, 1879, session met at Mr. Tracy's; present, Elders 
 Holmes, who acted as moderator, Hand, Ball, Cory and Seely. 
 At this meeting Messrs. Seely and Cory reported a minute on 
 the death of Elder William Eeed, which spoke of him as one 
 of the most useful members of the session. "Mr. Eeed was 
 not a brilliant speaker, he was not a profound scholar, he was 
 not an emotional Christian; but by a pure daily life, consistently 
 seeking the advancement of the Eedeemer's Kingdom and the 
 good of his fellow men, always in his place in church and social 
 meetings, and always ready to do his proper work in connection 
 with the church, he was useful in his labors; perhaps more 
 useful in his Christian example. In his business and social 
 relations we never heard him charged with impropriety, but he 
 was uniformly recognized as a good honest man. He was a 
 man of excellent judgment and faithful to his convictions, such 
 a man as the church and society always need." Shortly after 
 the death of Mr. Eeed, Dr. Adonijah Strong died. He was a 
 modest, scholarly man; a gentleman of the old school. 
 
 Jan. 2, 1880, at a meeting of the session, of which Dr. 
 Dunning was moderator, the following minute was adopted: 
 
46 HONESDALE PKESBYTEEIAN CHURCH. 
 
 "In the death of Adonijah Strong, M. D., at the advanced age 
 of 79 years, the session feels that it has suffered the loss of a 
 highlj' honored member. By his thorough scholarship and 
 rich experience he was eminently qualified to be a wise coun- 
 selor and genial companion. In pmity of life, amiability of 
 spirit, gentleness of manner, forgetfulness of self and consider- 
 ation of others, he was a bright example to us. Our senior in 
 years, he was a 'revered father and beloved brother.' " 
 
 The first Young People's Society in "Wayne county, was 
 organized in this church in 1876. Its prayer meetings were 
 held on Wednesday evenings and the regular lectures and 
 prayer meetings were held on Friday evenings. There are 
 many still living who recall with grateful remembrance those 
 Friday evening talks of Dr. Dunning. In them he was less 
 formal and more simple, but always earnest and impressive. 
 Dr. Dunning' s morning discourses were masterly efforts and 
 too deep for many of his hearers, but his Friday evening lectures 
 were comprehended and appreciated by all more fully than his 
 carefully prepared sermons. 
 
 Sunday, Feb. 9, 1879, the congregation was surprised and 
 made sad by the resignation of Dr. Dunning. As he sum- 
 marizes his work in his resignation it is here given in full: 
 To the Presbyterian Church and Society of Honesdale : 
 
 Dear Brethren : — About nineteen years ago I was invited to become 
 the pastor of tiiis church. In view of the conflicting elements then exist- 
 ing in tlie church I declined the invitation. A year afterward it was re- 
 newed, and after mature deliberation I accepted the call to the pastorate. 
 For eighteen years I have been your pastor. During these years, among 
 the best of my life, I have given my undivided, undiverted care to your 
 labor and service. As I review the past I see many deficiencies and much 
 imperfection, but the great Head of the church has blessed the relations 
 which we have sustained to each other. Peace and unity have been vouch- 
 safed to the church during these years. Out of this church unity and 
 peace has come outward prosperity. The humble structure of wood has 
 given place to this stately edifice of brick ; the lecture room has been re- 
 moved and its dimensions greatly expanded ; the parsonage near the church 
 and the enlarged church grounds have come as the fruitage of these years. 
 You have also been prospered spiritually. Powerful revivals have quick- 
 ened the life of the church and added to the membership many whom we 
 ^lope shall stand at last complete in righteousness at God's right hand. 
 
THE CHURCH AND SESSION. 47 
 
 Three hundred and sixty-one have connected themselves with the church 
 during these years, 249 by profession of their faith in Christ and 112 by 
 letter. Others have also been reached by the renewing power of the Spirit 
 of God, who have united with other churches. These have been pleasant 
 but laborious years. I have not during these years sought other fields of 
 labor. You know that I might have had other and more conspicuous 
 pulpits had I been willing to accept them. But I have hitherto given my- 
 self to you. You know what my work among you has been. I have always 
 preached at least three times a week. Following the week of prayer I have 
 often preached the whole month. For years I preached during the sum- 
 mer months three times on the Sabbath. Through these eighteen years I 
 have been with you in all circumstances, in your prosperity and your ad- 
 versity, in your sorrow and in your Joy. In the church and lecture room, 
 in your houses, at your beds of sickness and around your open graves, I 
 have been with you. My dead sleeps with yours and among you I expect 
 to rest at last, awaiting the breaking of the "illustrious morn." I have, 
 with the session, represented you in Presbytery, the Synod and the General 
 Assembly. Under all these multiform labors my health has been good 
 until last summer when it became impaired, I had hoped that a few 
 months of rest would bring back my usual strength. I have not recovered 
 as rapidly as I expected and cannot in the immediate future labor as I havp 
 done in the past. God has no necessary men, the workmen may be crip- 
 pled or die but the cause with stately step marches on. That your pros- 
 perity may not be hindered I have concluded to resign the pastorate. 
 Thanking you for your uniform kindness diiring all these years, I hereby 
 resign the pastorate to take effect at the close of this financial year, May 
 1st, and ask you to unite with me in requesting the Presbytery at its next 
 stated meeting to dissolve the relation between us." 
 
 No wonder that many of the congregation were visibly af- 
 fected while Dr. Dunning was speaking, for he had a warm 
 place in the hearts of the people and they knew that his labors 
 among them had been faithfully and lovingly performed. 
 
 The session held an informal meeting and prepared a notice 
 to be read from the pulpit in the evening, requesting the con- 
 gregation worshipping in the church, to meet the following 
 Tuesday evening, to take action on the resignation. The matter 
 was discussed at the meeting called and at another meeting 
 held March 4, 1879. Resolutions were adopted earnestly re- 
 questing Dr. Dunning to reconsider his resignation and giving 
 him one year's rest, with $1,000 salary. This motion was made 
 by E. F. Torrey as an amendment to M. L. Tracy's motion that 
 the resignation be accepted. Mr. Tracy accepted the amend- 
 
48 HONESDAIiE PRESBrnEBIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 ment and it was carried. On motion of H. M. Seely, W. W. 
 Weston and K. N. Torrey were appointed a committee to ascer- 
 tain Dr. Cunning's determination and they were directed to 
 assure him of the affection of the congregation and their satis- 
 faction with his ministry.* 
 
 After mature consideration, Dr. Dunning announced from 
 the pulpit, that with thanks to the congregation he had con- 
 cluded to accept the proposition presented to him and with- 
 draw his resignation. 
 
 In addition to giving Dr. Dunning $1,000 salary during 
 his convalescence, the church gave Rev. William Dunning, a 
 brother of Dr. Dunning, $1,000 to preach as supply during 
 the year. He filled the pulpit during the year with great ac- 
 ceptance, and a number were added to the church during that 
 time. 
 
 Dr. Dunning' s health did not improve as he had hoped 
 and April 2, 1880, he again sent in his resignation to the ses- 
 sion of the church. In his letter he states that his health had 
 improved, but he thought for complete restoration that he 
 needed rest; also that the church needed a pastor in the full 
 vigor of health. He further said: "Of what is involved in the 
 sundering of the relationships and ties of a pastorate stretching 
 over the space of nineteen years — the longest in the whole 
 history of this church — I need not speak. The work of God 
 is entailed, one may labor and another enter into his labors; 
 one may sow and another reap, but he that soweth and he that 
 reapeth may rejoice together." 
 
 April 10, session met at Mr. Cory's, and Stephen Torrey 
 offered resolutions which among other things stated that the 
 session did not feel it incumbent upon them to advise or recom- 
 mend any course to the congregation in relation to Dr. Dun- 
 ning's resignation, but they did recommend that such action 
 should be taken as to maintain the friendly relations which 
 
 *Note. Dr. Dunnlng's sickness was of a character that led to great 
 lepression of spirit, and this reassuring message was sent to comfort him. 
 
THE CHtJECH AND SESSION. 49 
 
 have hitlierto existed between him and this church and congre- 
 gation, whether the pastoral relations shall remain unchanged 
 or shall be dissolved, in accordance with his request. 
 
 The trustees tendered Dr. Dunning the use of the parson- 
 age, barn and lot, with the understanding that he was to have 
 thirty days notice before he should be required to vacate. His 
 resignation was accepted at a largely attended meeting held 
 April 13, 1880, at which Stephen Torrey was called to the chair 
 and H. M. Seely was made secretary. Mr. Seely offered reso- 
 lutions highly complimentary to Dr. Dunning, who is com- 
 mended for his purity of life, earnestness, fidelity to the Master, 
 and his great ability in instructing and leading in spiritual 
 things. "God has acknowledged his labors among us and 
 blessed us in these labors by the outpouring of the Holy 
 Spirit." * * The resolutions also state that: "We cannot 
 contemplate the severance of the relations which our pastor has 
 so long sustained to this church without extreme sorrow." 
 Stephen Torrey and H. C. Hand were appointed commissioners 
 to attend the meeting of Presbytery at Pittston, April 19, in 
 behalf of the church, to unite with Dr. Dunning in having the 
 pastoral relations dissolved. 
 
 Dr. Dunning was not only esteemed by his congregation^ 
 but the whole town, regardless of nationality or religious belief, 
 regretted the necessity which led to the severance of his con- 
 nection with the church and community. He had acquired that 
 high position which a man with a true Christian character com- 
 mands, and to this day his name is mentioned only to be 
 praised. 
 
 After Dr. Donning retired it was not an easy matter to fill 
 his place. November 12, 1880, a meeting of the congregation 
 was called, of which H. M. Seely was chairman and W. H. 
 Stanton was secretary. On motion of 0. P. Waller a ballot was 
 taken and a large majority of those present voted in favor of 
 proceeding to elect a pastor. The chairman read the names of 
 those ministers who had filled the pulpit since Dr. Dunning's 
 resignation, and votes were cast for Messrs. McAtee, Williams, 
 
50 HONESDALE PBESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 Dunning, Goss, Torrey, Ostrander, Dipps, Adams, Eaffensber- 
 ger and Thomas. Dr. Dunning was called to the chair and two 
 more ballots were taken. Of the 95 votes cast Mr. McAtee 
 received 51, and on a third ballot 59. Finally C. P. Waller 
 moved and W. W. Weston seconded the motion that the matter 
 be laid on the table indefinitely, and Mr. McAtee was invited 
 to preach an indefinite time. He preached aboiit six months. 
 May 23, 1881, Dr. H. G. Westwood's letter to H. M. Seely was 
 read and he was guaranteed $400 to remove his family from 
 Denver to Honesdale. May 13, 1881, a congregational meet- 
 ing was held at the lecture room, at which Eev. D. K. Freeman, 
 of Hyde Park, was moderator; a vote was taken on motion of 
 Miles L. Tracy, seconded by A. Thompson, that they proceed to 
 the election of a pastor. On nominating ballot, Eev. H. C 
 Westwood, D. D., Eev. S. T. Campbell, D. D. and Eev. W. A. 
 McAtee were nominated. On the first ballot Dr. Westwood re- 
 ceived 72 votes out of the 74 that were cast, and his election 
 was made unanimous. Eev. Stephen Torrey, of the session, I. 
 N. Foster, of the trustees and W. W. Weston, of the congrega- 
 tion, were appointed to sign the call, and the salary was fixed 
 at $1,800. 
 
 Dr. Westwood accepted the call to commence June 1st. 
 July 12, 1881, he was installed. Eev. Dr. Dunning preached 
 the sermon, Eev. W. H. Swift delivered the charge to the pastor 
 and Eev. H. H. Welles delivered the charge to the people. 
 
 November 25, 1882, M. L. Tracy resigned as chorister to 
 take effect January 1, 1883. His resignation was accepted and 
 Mrs. Atkinson was requested to use her judgment in forming a 
 choir. 
 
 December 8, 1882, Miles L. Tracy, after serving twelve 
 years as an elder, declined a reelection, and Andrew Thompson 
 was elected in his place. At this time Adam Eeitenauer was 
 elected deacon. 
 
 The session passed the following resolution in relation to 
 the resignation of Mr. Tracy as chorister: "We desire to re- 
 cord our high appreciation of the service he has rendered. For 
 
THE CHUECH AND SESSION. 51 
 
 more tlian a quarter of a century he has been charged with the 
 duty of maintaining a choii* and conducting the singing which 
 is so important a part in the service in the house of God." 
 The resolutions also bear testimony to "the great degree of 
 eiSciency with which he has performed this service; in the 
 church, in the social meetings, in the Sunday school and on 
 funeral occasions, he has always been found in his place giving 
 his thought, time and means to this work." "Mr. Tracy has 
 rendered us a Christian duty and with no thought of compen- 
 sation or reward in this world." Mr. Tracy was leader of the 
 singing continuously from the fall of 1856, until January 1, 
 1883, and he declined to organize and drill another choir as he 
 was requested to do. 
 
 October 23, 1888, a meeting of the congregation was held 
 in the lecture room to consider Dr. Westwood's resignation. 
 Dr. Westwood stated that the reasons impelling him to ask to 
 have the pastoral relations dissolved were that he had received 
 a call to the pastorate of the High Street Congregational church 
 in the City of Auburn, Maine; that it was a unanimous call 
 and he felt it his duty to go. He acknowledged that he had 
 been treated generously by the church and he stated that his 
 relations with the community generally, had always been very 
 pleasant, so that Honesdale would always command liis kindest 
 memories and deepest interest. Dr. Westwood's letter, which 
 manifested a good spirit, was met by the session in the same 
 spirit, and Mr. Holmes offered very kind and commendatory 
 resolutions, both in regard to Dr. Westwood and his talented 
 wife, who was commended for what she had been to the poor, 
 the young, the Sabbath school, in the Ladies' meetings, the liter- 
 ary class and the social circles. There were about fifteen per- 
 sons, principally from the Sunday school, received into the 
 church during Dr. Westwood's short pastorate. His resigna- 
 tion had other impelling reasons than those appearing on the 
 face of the records. The church was very unanimous in re- 
 ceiving him and was pleased when he found another place of 
 labor. The church was not very perceptibly affected by his 
 
52 HONESDALE PBESBYTEKIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 ministry one way or another. His wife, however, was a positive 
 force and she was a willing worker, leaving her impression upon 
 the ladies of the church. 
 
 CALL OP REV. W. H. SWIFT. 
 
 The annual meeting of the church was held in the lecture 
 room, November 16, 1883, H. M. Seely presiding and E. N. 
 Torrey secretary. After the treasurer's report had been re- 
 ceived, Stephen Torrey offered a resolution, conformable to the 
 request of the session of the church, that the meeting adjourn 
 until November 30 to take action with reference to the selection 
 and calling of a pastor. At the adjourned meeting R. M. 
 Stocker acted as secretary in the absence of Mr. Torrey. Eev. 
 Stephen Torrey stated the object of the meeting and the action 
 thus far taken by the session. He mentioned Eev. W. H. 
 Swift's name as one that had been considered. Judge Seely 
 also spoke favorably of Mr. Swift and George G. Waller spoke 
 unhesitatingly in his favor. On John T. Ball's motion, 
 seconded by Mr. Waller, it was decided that we were ready to 
 proceed to call a pastor. Thirty voted ready, nine against and 
 two blanks. Judge Seely then called Eev. David Torrey to the 
 chair, in order to conform to Presbyterian usage, that when a 
 congregation extends a call to a pastor, a clergyman shall oc- 
 cupy the chair. A nominating ballot resulted in twenty-seven 
 votes for Mr. Swift, one for David Torrey and one for Mr. 
 Guild. At this juncture a discussion arose as to the effect of 
 blank ballots, wherein it became apparent that all the congre- 
 gation were not prepared to vote for a pastor. Judge Seely' s 
 motion, which was seconded by S. W. Powell, that proceedings 
 be suspended until the next Friday night, was carried. This 
 carefulness only illustrates the conservatism which has pre- 
 vailed in the counsels of the church for years, when any im- 
 portant movement is to be consummated. A number of the 
 leaders at that time were well advanced in years, and they had 
 seen the church torn by dissensions over the pastorate in former 
 years, which made them extremely cautious, and the recent 
 sxperience when great unanimity had prevailed in calling a 
 
THE CHXHRCH AND SESSION 53 
 
 pastor, who had disappointed tlie church, was not reassuring. 
 This extreme cautiousness manifested itself at the next meeting- 
 December 7, 1883, when Rev. Stephen Torrey moved that the 
 motion of last meeting, that we are ready to proceed to the 
 election of a pastor, be reconsidered, which was done, then the 
 original proposition was voted upon and received fifty-one yeas, 
 eleven nays still appearing. It is due to history here to 
 state, that during the whole discussion of the matter, no one 
 questioned the fitness of Mr. Swift, and there did not appear to 
 be any other person that was seriously considered. After a 
 nominating ballot and electing ballot, in which Mr. Swift had 
 nearly aU the votes, E. F. Torrey moved that we extend a 
 unanimous call to Mr. Swift. This motion was seconded by 
 Mr. Waller and was carried by sixty-two yeas, seven nays and 
 two blanks. On motion oi George G. Waller, seconded by 
 Andrew Thompson, a salary of $1,800 and the use of the par- 
 sonage were offered. This motion and another that the salary 
 be paid monthly was carried, and G. G. Waller, Esq., W. B. 
 Holmes and W. W. Weston were appointed to prosecute the 
 call. The pulpit was supplied during the winter of 1883-4, by 
 Eev. David Torrey, and others, and in the spring Eev. W. H. 
 Swift took possession of the parsonage with his family, and 
 commenced work March 31, 1884. His first work was a pre- 
 paratory lecture on the first Friday evening of April, and he 
 was regularly installed as pastor of the church. May 7, 1884. 
 Eev. Thomas E. Beeber, of Scranton, preached the sermon, 
 Eev. E. B. Hodge, D. D., of the First Presbyterian church, of 
 WUkesbarre, gave the charge to the pastor, and Eev. David 
 Torrey, D. D., gave the charge to the people. The church 
 needed a strong, energetic pastor at the time Mr. Swift took 
 charge of the work. True the church contained a large number 
 of devoted and active workers. No church with a session com- 
 posed of such men as Eev. Stephen Torrey, Judge Seely, W. 
 B. Holmes, Andrew Thompson, Horace Hand, John T. Ball 
 and Stephen G. Cory, with an active board of trustees and a 
 large membership, could be said to be in a dyiag condition; 
 
54 HONESDALE PEESBITEBIAN CffUECH. 
 
 but the church certainly began to need a regular pastor, in 
 whom the people had confidence; and Mr. Swift, by his strong 
 Biblical sermons and energetic administration of the matters 
 committed to his charge, immediately began to enthuse and 
 awaken the church and congregation. The Young People's 
 Society, which had almost ceased to exist, was reorganized. A 
 new constitution was adopted and the devotional meetings were 
 regularly conducted, with leaders and topics chosen in time to 
 ensui-e preparation for instructive discussion. His clear force- 
 ful preaching attracted large congregations, and the work of the 
 church in its various departments has been conducted with 
 spirit and power during these years. 
 
 June 12, 1885, the session adopted the following minute 
 relative to the death of Dr. Dunning. As this minute is a can- 
 did expression of the opinion of the session, which knew him 
 well, it is an estimate of his character that is truthful and fair: 
 "The death of Dr. Dunning has filled our hearts with profound 
 sorrow. Intimately associated with him as pastor of this 
 church and moderator of this session for nineteen years, we 
 could but love him as a dear friend, while his splendid power 
 of intellect and high attainments of learning called for our ad- 
 miration, his consistent unassuming, but positive Christian 
 character, his life among us, pure, devoted, earnest, consecrated 
 to the Master and the Master's service in this church; his wise 
 counsels, earnest exhortations, large hearted Christian sympathy 
 with the joys and sorrows and all the experiences of his people, 
 gave him a large place in all our hearts. Nor were his labors 
 and sympathy confined to the people of his own church; but 
 today multitudes in the community, attendants upon other 
 churches and attendants upon none, extending to him the same 
 admiration and respect, like us, recall his kindly words and 
 acts and mourn his loss as that of a true friend. His influence 
 was far reaching in the community. It was the influence, first, 
 of a true man among men; secondly, of a man whose splendid 
 equipment of intellect and learning were recognized by all; 
 thirdly, of a man whose greatness was accompanied by an un- 
 
THE CHUECH AND SESSION. 55 
 
 assuming modesty; fourthly, of a man whose life was the con- 
 stant and everywhere manifest expression of his love to God 
 and love to man — of the religion which he professed. His ser- 
 vice to this church was faithful, rendered under a high estimate 
 of his personal responsibility toward us and toward God. Out 
 of a full heart he proclaimed the whole counsel of God, whether 
 men would hear or forbear to hear. He believed the whole 
 Bible and preached it. Uniformly bringing to his pulpit care- 
 ful preparation, his sermons were always full of thought, 
 wrought out to logical completeness, well compensating for the 
 close attention which they required from his hearers. * * 
 He was a profound, close, clear, logical thinker; his diction 
 was concise, exact, often very beautiful and his power in the 
 pulpit was in what he said, rather than in the manner of its de- 
 livery — sustained by the consistent life which he lived. * * 
 In Presbytery and Synod he was comparatively a silent mem- 
 ber, but when he spoke his remarks were directly to the point 
 under consideration, and commanded respectful attention. * * 
 Nineteen years, the best of his life, he gave to this church. Nay, 
 to this church he gave his life. Here was the wear and tear of 
 braiu which exhausted his physical health. * * During his 
 pastorate five members of his session died — Richard L. Seely, 
 Isaac P. Foster, Stephen D. Ward, William Eeed and Adoni- 
 jah Strong. * * They that be wise shall shine as the bright- 
 ness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteous- 
 ness as the stars forever and ever." 
 
 January 2, 1886, the election of Andrew Thompson, as 
 superintendent of the Sunday school, was reported and ap- 
 proved. 
 
 January 15, 1886, the session record contains a note by 
 H. M. Seely, clerk, that reads: "Stephen Torrey having been 
 ordained by the Presbytery as a minister of the Gospel, we 
 propose to recognize him as at least a corresponding member 
 of this session, and to note his presence at our meetings where 
 he is always welcome." 
 
 Stephen G. Cory, who for 56 years had been a member of 
 
56 HONESDALE PBESBYTEBLUT CHUECH. 
 
 the churcli, and for nineteen years a Euling Elder, died April 
 7, 1889, aged 75. Tlie session adopted resolutions of gratitude 
 to G-od for having called Mr. Cory to his service while young, 
 and having fitted him for eminent usefulness. He was com- 
 mended for his love to the church and devotion to its service. 
 June 17, 1889, Rev. Stephen ToiTey died at the home of 
 his brother, John Torrey. He was the last of the charter mem- 
 bers of the church and one of its first elders. During his life 
 he had occupied nearly every position of trust, honor and duty 
 in connection with the church. He helped organize the church, 
 was one of its charter members, and was elder, trustee, Sunday 
 school superintendent and finally was ordained to the Christian 
 ministry. He was the first representative of the church in 
 Presbytery, and frequently represented the church in Presby- 
 tery, Synod and General Assembly. He was a constant worker 
 in establishing Sunday schools in the vicinity of Honesdale, 
 extending over a territory for ten miles around. He was liberal 
 with his means, not only with his own church, but in the work 
 of missions. His name stands forth preeminent in the history 
 of the church for the multiform work which he performed and 
 the zeal and energy with which he did it. The church felt its 
 great loss and appointed Sunday morning, December 15, 1889, 
 as a time to hold a memorial service. Rev. Mr. Swift delivered 
 a sermon on that occasion which was published. One of Rev. 
 Stephen Torrey's strongest points was in his earnest prayers 
 which would commence like this: "O God most holy; Thou 
 who hast established Thy church in the world and hast said in 
 Thy holy Word, 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' 
 We come to Thee now pleading Thy promises," Dr. Swift 
 says: "He always talked with God, He was strong in faith 
 giving glory to God. His prayers were marked by great 
 humility, child-like confidence, intense earnestness; and all 
 who listened were conscious of God's nearness, and so strength- 
 ened in faith and life. Mr. Torrey believed with all his heart 
 in God's willingness to answer prayer, and so took his burdens 
 to God and left them there." "He gave this testimony:" 
 
Rev. Stephen Torrey 
 
THE CHURCH AOT> SESSION. 57 
 
 'The memory of the past is precious, affording as it does an 
 occasion of devout thanksgiving to God for all his goodness to 
 me in times of perplexity and intense solicitude to know vrhat, 
 under the then existing circumstances, the Lord would have me 
 do. His assurance, 'and, lo! I am with you always,' is un- 
 changed and unchangeable." He was a man of one book. He 
 long ago forgot the Latin and Greek he learned at Harford. 
 But he was possessed of an extraordinary knowledge of the 
 Bible and Biblical Theology. No one who heard his examina- 
 tion for ordination will ever forget the profound acquaintance 
 with the letter and the spirit of Scripture which he evidenced, 
 or the clearness of his statements of doctrinal belief — his 
 answers being usually given in the very language of inspiration; 
 yet so simple that a child could understand them." Thus 
 honored and lamented, the veteran soldier of the cross sleeps 
 with his kindred in Glen Dyberry cemetery awaiting the resur- 
 rection of the justified. 
 
 December 27, 1889, W. J. Ward and Joseph A. Bodie were 
 elected elders and they were installed the last of June 1890. 
 
 December 25, 1894, Hon. H. M. Seely died and the ses- 
 sion entered a minute on the record from which the following 
 is taken: "For more than thirty years he has been closely 
 identified with the Sabbath school either as superintendent or 
 teacher. For twenty-five years he was a faithful Ruling Elder, 
 and for twenty-two years clerk of our session. His intellectual 
 powers were of a high order. Possessing a clear and logical 
 mind, he tvas enabled to grasp the deepest religious truths and 
 in the same clear and logical maimer impart them to others. 
 Thoroughness was a prominent trait of his mind; having selected 
 a subject he fathomed depths and scaled heights to which others 
 could not attain. He encouraged rather than repressed scholar- 
 ship in all, even though it led away from old and time worn 
 theological grooves. His theology was as pronounced as his 
 scholarship. It was of the heroic type, having formed his 
 opinions on the Word of God, no power on earth could lead 
 him to violate his convictions of right and duty, yet he was as 
 
58 HONESDALE PBESBYTERIAN CHUECH. 
 
 tender and loving as a woman. His great heart took in the 
 poor, the ignorant and the sorrowing. His purse was ever open 
 to relieve their wants; his benevolence was world wide; being 
 left childless he was never more happy than when the children 
 of others were about him." 
 
 After Judge Seely's death the session was increased to 
 eight members and J. A. Eeitenauer and B. M. Stocker were 
 elected Ruling Elders January 16, 1895, and at the same time 
 J. S. Gillen was elected Deacon and they were regularly in- 
 stalled in the chapel, January 23, 1895. 
 
 During Rev. Dr. Swift's pastorate thus far there has been 
 three great revivals. The first was in 1887, at which time Mr. 
 Swift held extra meetings for twelve weeks, and a large number 
 from the Sunday school, and others, were converted. April 3, 
 1887, sixty-eight persons were received into the church. In 
 1892 the Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian churches imited 
 in a union meeting under direction of Eev. E. E. Davidson, an 
 Evangelist. Mr. Davidson was a sweet spirited man and he 
 conducted these union meetings in such an undenominational 
 and whole hearted Christian manner that the commujnity gener- 
 ally felt their power. These were the last meetings of the kind, 
 in which Judge Seely ever took an active interest, and none 
 who attended will ever forget the earnestness with which he 
 entered into the work on that occasion. All of the Protestant 
 churches in town received accessions to their membership as 
 the result of these meetings. Each person that manifested an 
 interest was asked his church preference and his name was 
 immediately sent to the pastor of the church to which he gave 
 a preference, and in that way the spirit of rivalry that some- 
 times results from such meetings was restrained and great good 
 resulted to the churches from the meetings so harmoniously 
 conducted. 
 
 April 10, 1892, there were received into the church one 
 hundred and seven by profession and three by letter. The 
 Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal and Lutheran churches were all 
 benefited by the meetings. 
 
THE CHUECH AND SESSION. 59 
 
 In 1896 Major Hilton, of California, and his singer, Mr. 
 Teller, held union services in Honesdale, and April 12, 1896, 
 there were thirty-two persons received into the church by pro- 
 fession and six by letter. Evangelistic meetings are harvest 
 gatherers from the sowing done by others, to a large extent. 
 The successful evangelists, like Moody and Davidson, are 
 usually practical business men taken from the ranks of the 
 church membership. Their success consists largely in arous- 
 ing the church to organized eifort; but a small portion of the 
 work is done by the Evangelist, he enlists the members 
 and leads them in systematic work. The evangelist can and 
 does say and do things that a regular pastor of a church could 
 not say nor do. His principal function is to bring the people 
 to a decision. The work of the evangelist is being accomplished 
 to a certain extent by the introduction of "Decision Day," into 
 the Sunday school and Young Peoples' meetings. Several large 
 additions have been made to the church membership recently, 
 through this method. Most people are convinced that Chris- 
 tianity is just and tmie, but the difficulty consists in inducing 
 them to act. Furthermore, most men intend some day to 
 identify themselves actively with some church organization, 
 but good intentions are of no avail. And yet the fact remains 
 that every man does decide, for he who does not decide right 
 really decides wrong, for in some matters what a man does not 
 do positively is forced upon him negatively. 
 
 During Dr. Swift's pastorate of twenty years, now the 
 longest in the history of the church, a great work has been ac- 
 complished. There have been added to the church membership 
 over 640 members. A large proportion of these have joined 
 upon profession of their faith, while a number have joined by 
 letter from other churches. The membership of a church is 
 constantly shifting and changing like the sands of the sea. 
 As many are dismissed to other churches as are received from 
 them, and more are thus dismissed in a town where the popula- 
 tion is not increasing from new settlers from outside the town, 
 Honesdale Presbyterian church is constantly dismissing mem- 
 
60 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 bers to all parts of the land, particularly to the west, where our 
 young men and women are filling places of usefidness in other 
 communities. No church can rest on its laurels, but the work 
 must be carried forward with constant vigor, otherwise the 
 most powerful church in a few years would languish and die. 
 Dr. Swift's preaching has been with spirit and power, he has 
 pressed the claims of the Gospel upon his hearers with earnest- 
 ness, directness and persuasive eloquence. As a result the 
 membership of the church has been replenished and increased. 
 During Dr. Swift's time a new chapel has been erected at a cost 
 of $20,000 and a new manse has been built and it is proposed 
 to repair the church, a matter which is now under way. 
 
 May 6, 1898, Mr. Holmes, clerk of the session, made the 
 following note: "During the past year the parsonage has been 
 erected at a cost of $4,819.62, and nearly all this sum has been 
 contributed by our congregation during the process of erection. 
 The ladies have furnished carpets, curtains and gas fixtures at 
 an additional cost of $396.24. The material is of wood — style 
 of architecture. Continental. It has all the modern improve - 
 ments and is a model of convenience and beauty. C. E. Decker 
 of New York, was architect and John D. Bryant, of Honesdale 
 builder. S. W. Powell rendered valuable service in looking 
 after the construction of the building as representative of the 
 trustees." 
 
 During the coal miners' strike, the Thirteenth regiment of 
 Pennsylvania militia, of which Eev. Dr. Swift was chaplain, was 
 called out to preserve the peace and protect life and property. 
 The principal part of the regiment was stationed at Olyphant. 
 The session met at the Wayne County Savings Bank, Septem- 
 ber 27, 1902, present. Elders Ball, Hand, Stocker, Ward, Thomp- 
 son and Holmes. Elder Andrew Thompson was elected chair- 
 man. A postal from Chaplain Swift was read in which it was 
 indicated that he might be absent from our church for some 
 time. The clerk was instructed to invite the Eev. J. J. Eankin, 
 of Scranton, Pa., to conduct preparatory service October 3 and 
 to hold communion service October 5, and to pay him $25 a 
 
THE CHUECH AND SESSION. 61 
 
 week for services. Eev. Mr. Eankin accepted the invitation and 
 continued to occupy the pulpit, on the invitation of the session, 
 for four Sabbaths, until Dr. Swift returned. At this meeting 
 the elders arranged to take charge of the Wednesday evening 
 prayer meetings by appointing leaders from the session. And 
 here it should be stated that the week of prayer is regularly 
 observed in this church, and with the exception of one meeting, 
 which is conducted by the pastor, the other meetings are con- 
 ducted by the elders of the church. 
 
 At the meeting of session October 3, 1902, the clerk re- 
 ported the death of Mrs. Swift, who died August 25, 1902, aged 
 57. The church sympathized with its pastor in the great loss 
 which he sustained in the death of his companion. 
 
 Dr. Swift is an eloquent preacher of great power in the 
 pulpit. His principal theme is the love of God as manifested 
 in the sufferings and death of his Son Jesus Christ. He pre- 
 sents Biblical truth vividly and calls upon his hearers, rich and 
 poor, high and low, to repent, and classifies all who have not 
 repented as sinners in a state of rebellion against God. He is 
 broad in his sympathies and he calls upon his congregation to 
 extend the helping hand to the downfallen and degraded as 
 well as to the more respectable. His funeral sermons are con- 
 siderate, kind and consoling. The dignified language of Scrip- 
 ture and the fitting word of remembrace are uttered with be- 
 coming solemnity, leaving the most hopeful view for the future 
 of the dead that is permissible under the circumstances. Dur- 
 ing the twenty years that Dr. Swift has been pastor of the 
 church he has conducted 446 funerals, a number of which have 
 been for people outside of his congregation. He has also per- 
 formed the marriage rite 250 times. His regular Sunday ap- 
 pointments are morning and evening sermons, Bible class 1 p. 
 m. and service at Seelyville in the afternoon about once every 
 four weeks. He usually attends Christian Endeavor meeting 
 for a short time, just before evening service, and generally 
 takes charge of the Wednesday evening prayer meetings, lead- 
 ing the singing. In addition to this he faithfully calls upon 
 
62 HOKESDALE PEESBYTEBIAK CHUECH. 
 
 the sick of the congregation and occasionally makes addresses 
 to the G. A. E. and on other occasions, not specifically church 
 work. He has been Moderator of Lackawanna Presbytery three 
 times and has been Chairman of the Synodical Sustentation 
 Committee of the Presbytery for a number of years. He has 
 an annual vacation during the summer of four or five weeks — 
 and for the last five years has been chaplain of the Thirteenth 
 regiment, National Guards of Pennsylvania, and goes to camp 
 with the rsgiment annually, during July or August, for ten days. 
 The discharge of all these duties, engages the heart and intel- 
 lect of the pastor. Surely the pastorate of a large church with 
 its multiform interests is no sinecure. The pastor is sustained 
 by a session of eight elders, nine trustees, three deacons and a 
 congregation that is willing to do much work, and yet there is 
 room for much more work to be done. Considering the great 
 responsibilities that devolve upon the pastor, the elders and 
 others may well consider whether they do all they should to 
 uphold and sustain the great cause of which the church is the 
 exponent and embodiment. 
 
 The church is moving onward however. We have begun 
 the Twentieth century under favorable circumstances and we 
 trust with the continued blessing of God that the Honesdale 
 Presbyterian church will make a grand record in work for the 
 Redeemer of mankind during the century upon which we have 
 entered. 
 
MINISTEBS, ELDEES AND DEACONS. ' ■ 63 
 
 CHAPTER in. 
 
 MINISTERS, ELDEBS AND DEACONS. 
 
 Honesdale Presbyterian church has been fortunate for the 
 most part in its Pastors, Elders and Deacons. The pastors of 
 the church have been Eev. Joel Campbell, first pastor and organ- 
 izer, from 1829 to September 27, 1836; Watters Warren, supply 
 for about one year, untU November 1837; Eev. Joshua Bas- 
 combe Graves, from November 28, 1837, until September 29, 
 1842; Eev. Dr. Henry A. Eowland, from March 23, 1843, until 
 December 20, 1855; Eev. Dr. Thomas H. Skinner, from March 
 18, 1856, until June 29, 1859. There were supplies of Eev. 
 Dr. J. W. Scott, Eev. David Torrey and others until Eev. Charles 
 Seely Dunning was installed June 25, 1861. He resigned 
 February 9, 1879, and was granted one year leave of absence 
 with a salary of $1,000, meanwhile his brother, Eev. William 
 Dunning, supplied the pulpit during most of the year at $1,000 
 a year. Eev. Theodore White, Dr. Dunning's brother-ia-law, 
 also occasionally preached as supply, and in 1881 Dr. Dun- 
 ning's pastoral relations were dissolved. 
 
 Eev. Dr. Henry Clay Westwood was installed July 12, 
 1881, and October 23, 1883, his resignation was accepted. 
 
 Eev. Dr. W. H. Swift was installed May 7, 1884. 
 
 Besides the regular pastor, a number of clergymen have 
 preached to the congregation as supplies or during vacations. 
 Among them were Eev. Charles Collins, Eev. Mr. Jewett, Eev. 
 
64 HONESDALE PBESBYTEBIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 T. A. Mills, of Memorial clinrcli, Wilkesbarre, Eev. Walter Q. 
 Scott, Rev. J. J. Eankin. 
 
 The fii'st sermon ever preached in Honesdale was by Eev. 
 Gideon N. Judd, in the Tabernacle. Mr. Judd was a graduate 
 of Union College and Princeton Theological Seminary, and it 
 is some satisfaction to know that the first sermon preached here 
 was not preached by a gospel pounder, but by a scholar of de- 
 cided ability. Prof. Tyler said that he remembered him as his 
 ideal of a gentleman, a Christian and a minister of the Gospel. 
 Mr. Judd went to Montrose in 1818 as stated supply when the 
 church had sixty members, it having been organized July 3, 
 1810, as a Congregational church. He organized the first Sun- 
 day school in Montrose October 14, 1818, with six scholars 
 and two teachers, and September 12, 1823, he presided at the 
 meeting when Montrose church adopted the Presbyterian form 
 of government, and September 16, Isaac P. Foster was installed 
 as an elder in the Montrose Presbyterian church along with six 
 others. Mr. Judd went to Bloomfield, N. J., from Montrose, 
 but he occasionally visited the scene of his labors in Pennsyl- 
 vania, and during one of these visits he stopped with his friend 
 Foster, and preached to the people here. Through the courtesy 
 of Mrs. Horace Weston, a granddaughter of I. P. Foster, I am 
 able to present a cut of Eev. Mr. Judd, also of Eev. Campbell. 
 Eev. Joel Campbell was born about 1796. His pastorate 
 at Bethany, Pa., appears to have been his first pastorate. He 
 commenced about 1827 and from January 1, 1829, to January 
 1, 1830, he supplied both the Bethany and Honesdale churches; 
 thus, in a certain sense, did Bethany church become a parent 
 church to the Honesdale church. During this time Mr. Camp- 
 bell organized the Honesdale church as noted elsewhere. He 
 gave up the Bethany church and became the first pastor of the 
 First Presbyterian church of Honesdale, which relation con- 
 tinued until the pastoral relations were dissolved by presbytery 
 which met at Gibson in September, 1836. Mr. Campbell was 
 the only real old time preacher that Honesdale church has ever 
 had. His health, which appears to have never been good, failed, 
 
MINISTERS, ELDEKS AND DEACONS. 65 
 
 wliich was the cause of his leaving the Honesdale pastorate. 
 He took charge of the North Hardyston church in New Jersey 
 in May, 1838, and preached there eighteen years at a salary of 
 $450 a year. He was instrumental in organizing the Presby- 
 terian church of Lafayette. He had a parsonage house with 
 fourteen acres of land, to this he added twenty acres more by 
 purchase, upon which he erected a dwelling. Edward Snyder 
 writes of him, "that he usually preached three times on the 
 Sabbath, but that he had not the physical ability to hold four 
 or five meetings through the week, as some of his predecessors 
 had done." "He won the affection of the children and was 
 considered peculiarly happy in his addresses on funeral occa- 
 sions." Two revivals of religion blessed his efforts, one in 
 1842 and one in 1850. He purchased a house in Lafayette 
 village, removed there ministering to the Lafayette church until 
 he died May 15, 1872, in the 76th year of his age. He was 
 buried in North Church cemetery, in a lot donated for that pur- 
 pose by the trustees. His wife, son, daughter and son-in-law 
 are buried in the same plot. His daughter Amanda became 
 the wife of David H. Kimble. This is copied from a memorial 
 written by Rev. Alanson A. Haines, a convert in the revival of 
 1842. There are three children of Amanda still living, a son 
 and daughter in Orange, N. J., and a daughter in Connecticut. 
 The Newton Presbytery adopted the following minute: "Rev. 
 Joel Campbell died on May 15, 1872, in the 76th year of his 
 age, and the 45th year of his ministry. Mr. Campbell was an 
 eminently Godly man, and useful minister, whose heart and 
 hand were in the work of the ministry to the very close of his 
 life. For thirty years he was widely known, and successive 
 generations had grown up to enjoy his ministry, and to learn 
 to love and revere him. His labors had been abundant and 
 were greatly blessed, though for some years he had retired 
 from a stated charge, he was honored to appear in his minis- 
 terial work and office at the very close of his days. He took part 
 in the ordination and installation of a pastor and an elder two 
 weeks before his death. Well may we say: 'help Lord for the 
 
66 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the chil- 
 dren of men.' " Such was the first pastor of the Honesdale 
 Presbyterian church. A man of whom the church need not be 
 ashamed. Probably no work that he ever did had such far- 
 reaching consequences as the organization of this church in 
 that humble boarding house.* 
 
 Rev. Watters Warren was bom at Ludlow, Vt., October 8, 
 1801. He graduated at Union College in 1828 and was or- 
 dained at Guilford, Conn., March 22, 1831. He did Evangel- 
 istic work and supplied various churches. He died at Three 
 Oaks, Mich., March 19, 1888, in his 87th year. The church 
 prospered during the supply of Watters Warren. 
 
 Of Rev. J. B. Graves but little is known here. Kev. Dr. 
 E. E. Fairchild in his funeral discourse of Dr. Rowland, says 
 he was deposed from the gospel ministry. His wife is remem- 
 bered kindly and let us hope for the best of one of whom we 
 know so little. A number of persons were added to the church 
 during his pastorate. 
 
 Rev. Henry Augustus Rowland, D. D., was born of pure 
 New England stock and pious ancestry, at Windsor, Conn., 
 September 19, 1804. He was the eldest son of Rev. Henry A. 
 Rowland, pastor of the First Congregational church of that 
 town, and grandson of Rev. David S. Rowland who had pre- 
 caded his father as minister in that same church; and on his 
 mother's side he was connected with the celebrated Jonathan 
 Edwards and also he was descended from Rev. John Warham 
 one of the principal pillars of the churches of Connecticut, so 
 that Dr. Rowland was to the ministry born. In 1819, at the 
 age of 15, he entered Yale College graduating in 1823. It was 
 during his freshman year that he was converted. After teach- 
 ing for a time at Glastenbury, Conn., he entered Andover Theo- 
 logical Seminary under the instruction of Woods, Stuart and 
 Robinson. He remained three years and in 1827 was licensed 
 
 *Note. The assistance of Kev. E. Clark Cline, clerk of Newton Pres- 
 bytery, is acknowledged in securing these facts about Mr. Campbell. 
 
MINISTEES, ELDERS AND DEACONS. 67 
 
 to preacli by the Hampden Association of Congregationalist 
 clergymen of Hampden, Mass. He worked for the American 
 Bible Society two years, traveling about the country quite ex- 
 tensively. His first pastorate was in the Presbyterian church 
 at Fayetteville, S. C In 1831 a fire occurred an account 
 of which was given to the north by Dr. Rowland as follows: 
 "Sir — Fayetteville is no more; this morning the sun rose upon 
 it in its beauty, and with gladdened hearts we flocked to the 
 church of our God — now we are in ruins! * * * The tall 
 steeple of the Presbyterian church seemed a pyramid of fire; 
 for a while it stood firm — soon the bell descended with a 
 crash — the steeple trembled, tottered and fell," Before a week 
 expired he was authorized and requested to solicit funds to re- 
 build the church, which he did, and securing about $9,000 the 
 church was restored. He left Fayetteville in 1834 and became 
 pastor of the Pearl street church in New York City. This 
 church was burned May 2, 1837. On April 14, 1839, a neat 
 and commodious structure of brick was dedicated, but the lo- 
 cality was unattractive and it was almost under the shadow of 
 Broadway Tabernacle, whose pastor. Dr. Joel Parker, became 
 President of Union Theological Seminary. Mr. Rowland was 
 one of the original and earnest promoters of this seminary. 
 May 7, 1843, he became pastor of Honesdale Presbyterian 
 church and here for over twelve years he labored and wrote. 
 In 1854 Union College conferred the degree of Doctor of Di- 
 vinity on him. His labors in Honesdale have been noticed 
 elsewhere. In a Memorial of his life the author writes of Dr. 
 Rowland: although the ruling motive, purpose and desire of 
 his life were changed by religion, his natural constitution was 
 unaffected; his buoyant, unchecked spirits springing up as from 
 a living fountain of health and enjoyment; his sportive humor, 
 his warm affections remained. He continued to give free play 
 to all those natural impulses, which he considered as in them- 
 selves innocent. There was never at any time in his life a 
 single particle of austerity in his composition, and he did not 
 believe that it was any part of religion. He never could see 
 
68 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHXJECH. 
 
 why any person should be less a man or a citizen because he 
 was a Christian. Through life he was without disguise the 
 enemy of form and pretense, or what appeared to him to be 
 such. Simple and natural, fearless and self-reliant, conscious 
 of his own honesty and sincerity, he spoke freely as he felt. 
 The rising joke the ludicrous combination of images which 
 amused him, the strong or hyperbolical expression by which 
 he might give emphasis to his opinions, in his familiar conver- 
 sation and lighter writings which were generally the inspiration 
 of the moment, he did not try to suppress. Those who only 
 saw the foam which sparkled on the surface sometimes misap- 
 prehended him." Dr. Eowland impressed himself upon the 
 people of Honesdale as a genial, all round, whole-souled man. 
 He whipped our streams for trout and was generally on hand 
 when anything that interested the public was being done. He 
 could be sarcastic too, he preached the sermon when the Salem 
 Presbyterian church was dedicated in 1854 and his reference 
 to the ominous groans and shouting amens of the Methodists, 
 and a man in vestments with his little black book preaching a 
 sermon about fifteen minutes long, as he paid his compliments 
 to the Episcopals, were long remembered in the town. He 
 certainly was bubbling over with wit and humor and it would 
 come out occasionally. He left home when he left Honesdale, 
 a fact which he afterwards realized. Dr. Rowland's family 
 were very acceptable to Honesdale people. They were useful 
 members of the church and of society. His son Henry A. was 
 bom in Honesdale November 27, 1848. He graduated at 
 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and studied in Europe. He 
 received the degree of LL. D. and occupied the chair of Pro- 
 fessor of Physics in John Hopkins University, where he be- 
 came famous as an experimental scientist and an authority in 
 electrical experiments. He was elected Prssident of the Ameri- 
 can Physical Society in 1889. He also attended the Electrical 
 Congress in Paris where he was made Chevalier of the Legion 
 of Honor. He died AprU 14, 1901. Anna and Mary are liv- 
 ing and Frances, Jennie and Cornelia are dead. Eev. Dr. 
 
MUnSTEKS, ELDEES AND DEACONS. 69 
 
 Bowland died in Boston Sept 4, 1859. There are many people 
 still living in Honesdale that remember Dr. Rowland kindly. 
 As a man among men he won the community regardless of 
 church affiliations. 
 
 Eev. Dr. Skinner — Rev. James G. K. McClure* presented 
 the following minutes for the committee as appointed by Pres- 
 bytery: It is with grateful appreciation of the Christian char- 
 acter of Thomas Harvey Skinner, D. D., LL. D., that the Pres- 
 bytery of Chicago makes record of his death, which occurred 
 January 4, 1892. Born of saintly parentage in Philadelphia, 
 Pa., October 6, 1820, he early entered upon the life of Chris- 
 tian decipleship and was but twenty-three years of age when 
 he was ordained to the gospel ministry by the Presbytery of 
 New York. His pastorates were successively in the Second 
 Presbyterian church of Paterson, N. J., the West Presbyterian 
 church of New York City, the Presbyterian church of Hones- 
 dale, Pa., the Reformed (Dutch) church of Stapleton, L. I., the 
 First Presbyterian church of Fort Wayne, Ind., and in the 
 Second Presbyterian church of Cincinnati, O. In all these 
 fields of opportunity he gave proof of broad scholarship, of 
 earnest industry and of loving devotion to souls. His pastor- 
 ates were marked by the faithful preaching of the whole truth 
 as God revealed it to him, and by the faithful watchfulness over 
 the lives entrusted to his care. He knew the rich joy of see- 
 ing multitudes accept the offers of grace and take their place in 
 the privileges and duties of the church of God. Leaving the 
 pastorate to accept the position of Didactic and Polemic The- 
 ology in the McCormick Seminary, he became a member of the 
 Presbytery of Chicago, in 1881. With great zeal he gave his 
 matured intellect and his vigorous physique to the work of the 
 Professor's chair. The studies of his previous life had pre- 
 pared him for this work. Few men in this generation under- 
 stood the inmost thought of the theological minds that made 
 the Westminister Assembly period so memorable, as he did. 
 
 *From minutes of Presbytery. 
 
70 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 Witli convictions that were clear, intelligent and positive he 
 taught the doctrines of his belief, as vital to all time thinking 
 and as essential to the rightful glory of Christ's kingdom. 
 During his connection with the Seminary, and largely through 
 his influence in its affairs, he saw it advance from comparative 
 feebleness into commanding power. That advance was his joy 
 and his comfort as it is the satisfaction of us all. His life 
 among us as a Presbyter was marked by an artless simplicity 
 that won every heart. His reverence for God and for God's 
 written word stamped his personality with a marked impress. 
 His cheerful greetings and his cordial tone gave the youngest 
 of us a sense of recognized brotherhood. He was a man who 
 trusted in God with all his mind as well as all his heart. His 
 acquiescence in God's orderings, whatever their nature, was joy- 
 ous and complete. He walked among us as one who possessed 
 the friendship of the Almighty. Because the interests of his 
 Redeemer's work on earth were so dear to him he watched all 
 the doings of our Presbytery with careful attention. While not 
 often present at our meetings, he realized their importance and 
 he constantly desired their success. We thank God for having 
 given to us so long and so intimate a fellowship with Dr. Skin- 
 ner's sweet, strong and useful life, and we bid our hearts make 
 speed along that pathway in which he ascended to God." Dr. 
 Skinner found his true mission when he began to teach the- 
 ology, and he was a success at McCormick to which institution 
 he gave $10,000. The number of students increased from 
 thirteen to one hundred and ninty-eight during the ten years 
 that he had charge of the Seminary. His kindness is shown 
 by the fact that he remembered Mrs. Jury, a domestic servant 
 in his service while here, with a twenty dollar present every 
 Christmas as long as she lived. A lady who went calling with 
 Mrs. Skinner said she had an appropriate word for every one 
 rich or poor. She was like an angel of mercy wherever she 
 went. From all the evidence it appears that Dr. Skinner and 
 his wife were excellent people, that he made some tactical 
 blunders while here is also evident and possibly the session 
 
MINISTEKS, ELDEBS AND DEACONS. 71 
 
 misapprehended him also. Our opinion of him from all the 
 evidence is that he was an earnest Christian man, strangely 
 misapprehended while here in Honesdale, and it is evident that 
 Dr. Skinner misapprehended his session also, for it contained 
 excellent men. 
 
 Bev. Charles Seely Dunning, D. D., eldest son of Henry 
 Dunning, was born in Wallkill, Orange county, N. Y., January 
 31, 1828. In 1846 he joined the Junior class in Williams Col- 
 lege and was graduated in 1848. He then entered Union Theo- 
 logical Seminary, New York, from which he graduated in 1852. 
 His Theological training was obtained in that institution, and 
 after serving the First Presbyterian church in Binghamton, N. 
 Y., as stated supply for one year, (1852-3) he returned to the 
 Union Theological Seminary in New York to occupy the posi- 
 tion of Professor of Hebrew. This office he filled with great 
 acceptance during four years (1853-7). It is said that Dr. 
 Edward Robinson pronounced him to be the finest critical 
 Hebrew scholar ever graduated at Union Seminary. In April, 
 1858, he took charge of the First Presbyterian church of Frank- 
 lin, and was ordained and installed pastor November 8. In 
 April, 1861, he was called to the pastorage of the First Pres- 
 byterian church of Honesdale. His relation to that church 
 continued for nineteen years. In April, 1880, in consequence 
 of the failure of his health, he resigned the pastorate and re- 
 moved to Kingston, Pa., where he remained for four years, sup- 
 plying as his strength permitted, the First Presbyterian church 
 of that place. But even this was too great a tax upon his failing 
 strength. In 1885 he relinquished this work and in March of 
 that year moved to Metuchen, N. J., where he purchased a 
 home in which he thought to wait, serenely, till the final call of 
 the Master. He had not long to wait. He died on the first 
 day of the following June. His body was brought to Hones- 
 dale where the best years of his life were spent and laid beside 
 the children of his household who had gone before. On the 
 afternoon of the funeral all the business places of the town were 
 closed and the mourning was general and sincere. All denomi- 
 
Rev. W. H. Swift, D. D. 
 
MINISTEES, ELDEES AND DEACONS. 73 
 
 towns of northern Virginia. He was located in the latter re- 
 gion before the war, and his pronounced views on abolition, and 
 the fearless way in which he preached them, gave his family and 
 friends anxiety as to his personal safety. During the War of 
 the Rebellion he was a member of the Christian Commission in 
 the Union Armies. At the close of the war he occupied pul- 
 pits in some of the leading Methodist Episcopal churches in 
 various conferences throughout the country, notably in Omaha, 
 Neb., Wheeling, W. Va., and Princeton, N. J. Princeton Col- 
 lege conferred upon him during his residence in that city the 
 degree of D. D., and he was the first Methodist minister to 
 receive that degree from that institution. In the year 1874 he 
 left the Methodist ministry and accepted a call to the Presby- 
 terian church in Lancaster, Pa. Soon after the death of Dr. 
 Chambers, of Philadelphia, who occupied the pulpit of the 
 leading Presbyterian church of that city for upwards of twenty- 
 five years, he accepted a call to become the successor of that 
 divine and was pastor of that church for two years. In the 
 Presbyterian church he was stationed at Eock Island, 111., Den- 
 ver, Colo., Honesdale, Pa., and Auburn, Me., after which he 
 was admitted to the New England Southern Conference of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, and occupied the pulpit of the 
 Chestnut Street Methodist Episcopal church, the mother church 
 of Methodism in that region. In 1888 he was transferred to the 
 Erie Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was 
 stationed at Fredonia, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he died 
 after a service of two and one-half years in that village. His 
 widow and the five children who survived him, remained per- 
 manently in Fredonia. He died on the 3d day of September, 
 1890, at the age of 60 years. He occupied the pulpit of the 
 Honesdale Presbyterian church in the years 1881, 1882 and 
 1883. In his early ministry he was married to Emily Childs, 
 of Maryland, who died in the year 1870, leaving no children. 
 On November 5, 1874, he married Augusta L. Johnson, daugh- 
 ter of Piev. Herman Merrill Johnson, D. D., LL. D., for eight 
 years professor in, and for ten years president of Dickinson 
 
74 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CHUKCH. 
 
 College at Carlisle, Pa., which office he heM at the time of his 
 death in the year 1868. Dr. Westwood had five children, the 
 result of this marriage: Herman J., EmUy A. Westwood Lewis, 
 Elizabeth H., Lewis C, and Mary P. The son, Lewis C, was 
 born during his pastorate in Honesdale. His widow died on 
 Christmas day in the year 1900. 
 
 Kev. William Henry Swift, D. D., was born in Geneva, N. 
 Y., February 2, 1848. His father, Isaac Swift, followed the 
 profession of school teaching all the active years of his life, 
 dying at the advanced age of 90 years. His ancestors came to 
 Massachusetts in 1634 and his grandfather Abraham was a 
 soldier of the Eevolution. Eev. Dr. Swift's mother, Eebecca 
 Dimmick, was also descended from Eevolutionary ancestry. 
 William's father removed to Port Jervis and taught school there 
 three years, when he moved to Unionville, Orange county, N. 
 T., and taught the academy there. Here Mr. Swift prepared 
 for college under his father's instruction and he also had some 
 experience farming at $8 a month one summer, $12 a month 
 the next summer. He worked forenoons, studied afternoons, 
 and recited evenings. Li the fall of 1866 he entered Amherst 
 College and graduated in regular course in 1870; that fall he 
 entered Union Theological Seminary from which he graduated 
 in 1873. He went to Wilkesbarre before Memorial church was 
 organized and was ordained and installed its first pastor May 
 7, 1874, where he remained ten years. May 7, 1884, he was 
 installed pastor of Honesdale Presbyterian church, a position 
 which he still holds, his pastorate being the longest in the his- 
 tory of the church. He has a brother, Eev. Isaac Swift, who 
 is pastor of the church at East Syracuse, N. Y. In 1902 La- 
 fayette College conferred the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon 
 Mr. Swift. Mr. Swift was married November 20, 1873, to 
 Eliza Jane Watson, daughter of Col. Watson. She died August 
 20, 1902, and June 7, 1904, he married Emma C. Ward, daugh- 
 ter of S. D. Ward. Two of his children died in infancy; the 
 living children are Bessie, Edith, William, Walter and Katrina. 
 Dr. Swift's pastorate has been very successful. The chm-ch 
 
MINISTEBS, ELDEES AND DEACONS. 75 
 
 has prospered under his ministry spiritually and financially. 
 He is not particularly strong in apologetics. He believes the 
 Bible and preaches it without asking any apology for so doing, 
 consequently he spends very little time demonstrating that the 
 Bible is true. He assumes that most men admit the truths 
 taught in the Bible, but vfhat they need is an awakening to their 
 sense of duty in relation thereto. He presents the claims of 
 God as manifested by the love of the Father, through the gift 
 of his Son, in most touching appeals to his hearers, to enter 
 the service of the Great King. Dr. Swift has a R^ell deserved 
 reputation as a pulpit orator, and doubtless he is stronger as a 
 sermonizer than as a pastor, although he is a pleasant conver- 
 sationalist and a very companionable man. His experiences 
 in boyhood have broadened his sympathies so that he can un- 
 derstand the needs of the laboring man, as well as the man of 
 larger means. He recognizes that the dollar is not the meas- 
 ure of the man. In this age of mammon worship it is refreshing 
 to occasionally find a person with higher ideals than mere 
 money getting, even if he cannot be classed as a financier. Dr. 
 Swift's work has been noted elsewhere and it shows conclu- 
 sively that his pastorate must be classed along with those of 
 Dr. Eowland and Dr. Dunning, among the great pastorates of 
 the church, both in length of time and the results that have 
 flowed therefrom. Dr. Swift understands that many of the old 
 families that have been rock foundation for the church are pass- 
 ing away, and that the church must extend its arms wide so as 
 to take in all who repent and believe regardless of prior social 
 condition, if the church is to sustain itself and accomplish its 
 mission. 
 
 The Session consists of the pastor and ruling elders of a 
 particular congregation. The pastor is moderator and he, to- 
 gether with two elders, constitutes a quorum. The church ses- 
 sion is charged with maintaining the spiritual government of 
 the congregation; for which purpose they have power to inquire 
 into the knowledge and Christian conduct of the members of 
 the church; to call before them offenders and witnesses, being 
 
76 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHtlRCH. 
 
 members of their own congregation and to introduce other wit- 
 nesses where it may be necessary to bring the process to issue, 
 and when they can be procured to attend; to receive members 
 into the church; to admonish, to rebuke, to suspend or exclude 
 from the sacraments, those who are found to deserve censure; 
 to concert the best measures for promoting the spiritual inter- 
 ests of the congregation; and to appoint delegates to the higher 
 judicatories of the church. The session calls the meeting of 
 the congregation for the election of a pastor, and it becomes its 
 duty to make this call when a majority of the congregation ask 
 it. Session has power to try offenders and the censures to be 
 inilicted are admonition, rebuke, suspension or deposition from 
 office, and in extreme cases excommunication. All proceedings 
 of the church shall be reported to, and reviewed by, the ses- 
 sion, and by its order incorporated with its records. The rule 
 is not discretionary, but mandatory, that church sessions shall 
 order the incorporation of the record of these meetings with 
 their own records. This construction of the rule in question is 
 understood to apply to proceedings of trustees in all cases in 
 which, under the laws of the places in which they exercise their 
 functions, their action is subject to review by the session. "The 
 General Assembly takes notice that the exclusive authority of 
 the session over the worship of the church, including not only 
 the times and places of preaching the Word, but also the music 
 and use of church buildings, is not sufficiently appreciated by 
 the church at large, and that there are frequent complaints that 
 trustees of congregations assume powers and authority, es- 
 pecially over music and the use of church buildings, which are 
 not warranted by, but in conflict with the constitution of the 
 church. The assembly enjoins upon the churches loyal ad- 
 herence to our form of government providing that the authority 
 of the session over all matters of worship is paramount, and at 
 the same time recommends that all such questions be treated 
 by the session with Christian tact and courtesy, in the spirit of 
 love and forbearance." 
 
 These quotations from our church authorities show that 
 
MINISTERS, ELDEKS AND DEACONS. 77 
 
 the ruling power over the individual churches is the session and 
 it is important that this body should be composed of consci- 
 entious Christian men who will exercise their powers with 
 fidelity and care. 
 
 The session of the Honesdale Presbyterian church has 
 handled some very delicate cases in discipline, covering the 
 ground from admonition to excommunication. One man was 
 called before the session or visited by its committees about six 
 times for intoxication. The offender humbly confessed and 
 promise to do better every time and finally he conquered his 
 bad habit and died a sober Christian man. 
 
 Dr. Rowland lived uptown and one Sunday as he was driv- 
 ing to church he observed one of his members driving out into 
 the country. He reported him to session and the offender was 
 called before the session and promised not to do so again. Dr. 
 Eowland was considered to be a very genial man but he would 
 not tolerate any breach of discipline. A few cases involving 
 immoralities were managed with conservatism and delicacy to 
 the lasting good of the offending parties. At least two cases 
 of discipline of a doctrinal nature have come before the session. 
 One was refused a letter of dismission to another church on the 
 ground of his want of adherence to our doctrine and another 
 was dropped from the rolls at his own request. Some have been 
 discipliaed for dishonesty, for quarreling and for dancing, and 
 taken together the session has acted with discretion and moder- 
 ation, having the ultimate reclamation of the offender in view, 
 Discipline is not insisted upon with the rigidity that it once 
 was and offenders are not as penitent as they were years ago, 
 apparently. The theory is growing to let the wheat and tares 
 grow together, and when the winnowing time comes the Judge 
 of all the Earth will do right. Church membership should 
 exert a restraining force and the censures of the church ought 
 not to be lightly esteemed, when the powers of the session are 
 exercised in loving forbearance and justice. If a church does 
 not insist upon a high standard of living it may degenerate into 
 a respectable club destitute of the power of religion. In the 
 
78 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CHURCH. 
 
 case of the offender wlio was so often called before the session 
 it is difficult to decide which to admire the more, the fidelity of 
 the session in seeking the reformation of one of its members or 
 the humble penitence of the offender. It is said that after he 
 had conquered himself finally that he thanked the session for 
 its faithfulness. 
 
 Ruling Ehdees. — The elders in the church since its organ- 
 ization have been: 
 
 EIiECTED. EESIGNED. 
 
 February 11, 1829. Joseph L. Kellogg. .October 4, 1830. 
 
 February 11, 1829. Stephen Torrey November 1, 1839. 
 
 February 11, 1829. Horace Baldwin April 20, 1842. 
 
 February 11, 1829. Isaac P. Foster October 15, 1842. 
 
 October 4, 1830.. . .Stephen Brush October 15, 1842. 
 
 October 4, 1830.. . .Solomon Z. Lord September 17, 1842. 
 
 August 30, 1840. .James S. Bassett October 15, 1842. 
 
 August 30, 1840. . .Ebenezer Kingsbury. .September 17, 1842. 
 
 DIED 
 
 October 15, 1842.. .Eichard L. Seely November 8, 1863. 
 
 October 15, 1842.. .Horace Tracy June 9, 1848. 
 
 December 11, 1845 . William Eeed 1879. 
 
 December 11, 1845. John P. Darling Eetired, 1876. 
 
 January 27, 1851. .Stephen D. Ward . . . .Resigned, 1860. 
 
 DIED 
 
 January 27, 1851. .Stephen Torrey* June 17, 1889. 
 
 January 27, 1851. . Adonijah Strong, M. D.1879. 
 
 November 25, 1864. Isaac P. Foster* December, 1876. 
 
 November 25, 1864. Stephen D. Ward*. . .September, 1874. 
 
 November 22, 1870. Miles L. Tracy Declined reelection, 
 
 December 31, 1882. 
 
 DIED 
 
 November 22, 1870. Stephen G. Cory AprH 7, 1889. 
 
 November 22, 1870. Henry M. Seely December 25, 1894. 
 
 September 22, 1874. W. B. Holmes 
 
 November 19, 1876. H. C. Hand 
 
 December 17, 1878. John T. Ball 
 
 December 31, 1882 . Andrew Thompson 
 
 June, 1890 Joseph A. Bodie 
 
 June, 1890 William J. Ward 
 
 January 16, 1895. J. Adam Eeitenauer 
 
 January 16, 1895. .E. M. Stocker 
 
 ♦Beelected. 
 
MINISTEBS, ELDERS AND DEACONS. 79 
 
 The first four elders were elected by the charter members 
 on the day of organization, and others have been elected from 
 time to time as above indicated. 
 
 October 31, 1870, the session met at the house of Isaac 
 P. Foster and transacted some important business. There 
 were present besides Dr. Dunning, the moderator, Isaac P. 
 Foster, William Keed, Stephen D. Ward and Stephen Torrey. 
 After an interchange of views with reference to the condition of 
 the session they resolved: First, to recommend to the church 
 that the session be enlarged by the el action of three persons to 
 serve as Euling Elders. Second, to recommend to the church 
 the adoption of the principle of rotation in the acting eldership 
 of the church and the election of three persons annually to 
 serve as acting elders, to serve for the term of three years, sub- 
 ject however to reelection. It was further agreed that the three 
 oldest in years woidd retire from office at the end of the first 
 year, and the other three were to retire at the end of the second 
 year, all subject to reelection. They also recommended the 
 election of three persons to serve as deacons for the term of 
 three years, also subject to reelection. 
 
 November 21 the session met again and recommended that 
 three-fifth of all the votes cast at the approaching meeting of 
 the church for the election of Ruling Elders and Deacons shall 
 be required to secure an election. They also recommended that 
 nomiaations for Ruling Elders and Deacons be made by an in- 
 formal ballot and that the six persons having the greatest num- 
 ber of votes for these ofiices be the nominees for the offices 
 designated by said ballots. 
 
 On November 22, 1870, a meeting of the congregation was 
 held in the Lecture Room. This meeting, together with the 
 action of the session, had been announced from the pulpit for 
 three Sabbaths prior to its being held. Rev. Dr. Dunning pre- 
 sided and the recommendations of the session were adopted. 
 At this meeting Miles L. Tracy, Stephen G. Cory and Henry 
 M. Seely were elected Ruling Elders for the term of three years 
 they being the first elders elected iu this church under the 
 
80 HONESDALE PRESBTTEEIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 rotary system. At the same meeting Daniel M. Eno, Elias T. 
 Beers and John T. Ball were elected deacons, under the same 
 rotary system, and this marked the beginning of the office of 
 deacon in the Honesdale church. 
 
 In 1873 James B. Eldred was elected deacon. 
 
 J. Adam Eeitenauer was elected deacon in 1874. 
 
 Joseph A. Bodie, elected in place of J. B. Eldred, Decem- 
 ber 19, 1884. 
 
 December 24, 1890, Clarence E. Salmon elected deacon. 
 
 George W. Penwarden elected deacon December 21, 1892. 
 
 James S. Gillen elected deacon January 16, 1895. 
 
 John Congdon elected deacon January 2, 1898. 
 
 John Boyd elected deacon December 29, 1903. 
 
 The present board of deacons consists of George W. Pen- 
 warden, John Congdon and John Boyd. 
 
 The deacons in some congregations have charge of the 
 temporal concerns of the church, but in Honesdale Presbyterian 
 church they have charge of the poor funds of the church and 
 look after their distribution among those that may need help; 
 and the trustees have more particular charge of the temporal 
 matters. The rules governing elections of elders and deacons 
 have been readopted by resolution at each succeeding election 
 of these officers since that time. Nominating by ballot gives 
 the most timid person an opportunity to name a candidate, and 
 requiring three-fifths of the votes cast to elect a candidate, in- 
 sures a reasonable unanimity in the final choice. 
 
 Joseph Lockwood Kellogg was dismissed to Honesdale 
 church from the Central Presbyterian church of New York, 
 December 4, 1828. He united with the church at its organiza- 
 tion in 1829 and was elected a Euling Elder at the same time. 
 He served as elder, being the first clerk of the session, for about 
 two years. He purchased the lot now known as Henry Eoe's 
 office next to Alanson Blood's and built the office which is now 
 there. This property he sold to Samuel Kellogg, of Fairfield, 
 Conn. He had a store house in the lower end of town which 
 he sold to Wilmot Williams. In 1828 he was elected the first 
 
WlIvI^IAM RHED 
 
 S. D. Ward 
 
 J. P. Darling 
 Dr. a. Strong 
 
MINISTEES, ELDEES AND DEACONS. 81 
 
 Superintendent of the Sunday school. June 26, 1831, he re- 
 iinited with the Central Presbyterian church and later took a 
 letter to a Presbyterian church in Springfield, O. 
 
 Horace Baldwin, another charter member, was a black- 
 smith and tinsmith. Stephen North built on Main street, be- 
 tween Tenth and Eleventh streets, where Schuerholz now is, and 
 started the tinsmith business which he sold to Baldwin, Bliss 
 & Co. Derial Gibbs, a gunsmith, and Baldwin erected the 
 building now occupied by Mayhew as a harness shop. Mr. 
 Baldwin was also superintendent of the Sunday school at one 
 time. Mr. Baldwin and his wife, Olive P. Baldwin, came here 
 from the church at Dundaff. In 1842, after being an elder 
 about thirteen years, he sold out and went west. 
 
 Stephen Brush was bom in Fairfield county, Ct., in 1796, 
 and died January 14, 1860. He came to Honesdale in 1829 
 and built a house where Mrs. H. G. Keefer now lives, on Park 
 street. He was a shoemaker by trade and was elected Justice 
 of the Peace when the office was first made elective. He and 
 his wife Dianthe joined the church on profession of faith July 
 15, 1829, being the sixteenth and seventeenth members on the 
 church rolls. He was elected an elder in 1830 and served until 
 1842, resigning with Elder Poster at that time. Jacob Miller, 
 the Glen Dyberry cemetery sexton, remembers him as conduct- 
 ing a Sunday school in the school house near the fair grounds, 
 assisted by Nathaniel Beers and Elias T. Beers. One of his 
 daughters, Betsey, was the wife of B. B. Smith. Epitaphs are 
 not numerous in Glen Dyberry but he has one: "Earth has 
 his dust, friends his memory and the Bedeemer his spirit." 
 
 The following is taken from the Wayne County Herald of 
 Saturday, April 20, 1844: "Died, in this borough on the 15th 
 inst., the Hon. Ebenezer Kingsbury, aged 40 years. In his 
 death, the domestic and social circle, the church of Christ, and 
 society at large, have lost one of their brightest ornaments, and 
 most useful and valued members. It is but a few months since 
 we followed to the grave a fellow citizen, a member of the bar,* 
 * Thomas Fuller, Esq. 
 
82 HONESDALE PEESBYTEELUJ CHDECH. 
 
 and one at the head of his profession in this county; and now 
 we hare to record the departure of another. Death does not 
 often, in so brief a space, select for its victims two such men, 
 who were in the midst of life and health, of equal age, of the 
 same profession, and filling so wide a sphere of usefulness, and 
 consign them so suddenly and unexpectedly to the grave; nor is 
 it often that the social circle of a village like ours, receives so 
 rude a shock. Both these individuals were men of high moral 
 worth and standing in the community — both were members of 
 the same bar — both were professors of religion, though united 
 to different churches — both were superintendents of the Sab- 
 bath school in their own church — both were heads of families 
 and near neighbors, and were severed from domestic ties of the 
 most tender interest — both died in the faith of Jesus Christ, 
 and both sleep in the same burying ground. Ebenezer Kings- 
 bury was born in Jericho, Yt., A. D. 1804. From thence at 
 eight years of age, he removed with his parents to Harford, 
 Susquehanna county, in this state. At the age of twenty he 
 commenced the study of law with the Hon. William Jessup of 
 Montrose; and after he had acquired his profession, pursued it 
 for four years in that town. He then removed first to Carbon- 
 dale, and from thence to this place, where he continued to reside 
 till death. He has left a wife and five children, and an aged 
 mother, he being the last of sis sons, all of whom now sleep in 
 the grave. He was for four years a member of the Senate of 
 this state, representing in that body the district comprising 
 Wayne, Luzerne, Pike and Monroe counties; and during a por- 
 tion of that time was Speaker of the Senate, sustaining in that 
 capacity an office, the second in dignity in this Commonwealth, 
 and discharging his duties with fidelity and honor. He was 
 also entrusted by his fellow citizens with numerous subordinate 
 offices, and in his official relations conciliated the friendship of 
 all with whom he had intercourse. He took a lively interest 
 in the cause of education, and to his exertions and influence, 
 the schools of higher order in this borough are greatly indebted 
 for their prosperity. In the year 1831, he made a public pro- 
 
MMISTEBS, EIDERS AKD DEACONS. 83 
 
 fession of religion, and united himself with the Presbyterian 
 church in Montrose, and on his removal to this town, changed 
 his relations to the church here, of which he has since been 
 elected and ordained an elder. He was at the time of his de- 
 cease, the President of the Board of Trustees, and the Superin- 
 tendent of the Sabbath school. During the progress of the 
 work of grace last winter, in the church of which he was a 
 member, his hope was severely tried. A cloud of darkness 
 passed over his mind. It was the dealing of the Holy Spirit 
 with him, and it led him to examine with more carefulness, the 
 ground of his hope. This examination, accompanied with a 
 renewed consecration of himself to God, resulted in a more con- 
 firmed and unwavering assurance of his divine acceptance, and 
 seemed to be a work of grace preparatory to his triumphant 
 exit. On the day of his decease, after uniting in prayer with 
 his pastor, he, himself, to the surprise of all, offered in a clear 
 and distinct voice, a prayer for himself and his family, com- 
 mending all to God, and consecrating himself afresh to his 
 Savionr. He felt, for he often quoted the impressive words of 
 Young, 
 
 'The chamber where the good man meets his fate, 
 Is privileged beyond the common walks of life;' 
 and his last words were, 'the Saviour is precious;' 'it is all 
 over;' 'I do love God;' '-I am perfectly hajDpy.' Thus as a man 
 and a Christian, our departed friend acted well his part, and 
 has gone, we trust, to dwell in the bosom of his God and Sav- 
 iour, and to mingle in the brighter scenes of heaven. And 
 though he has left a large circle of friends to mourn his loss; 
 yet we cannot but rejoice that our loss is his everlasting gain." 
 At a meeting of the members of the Bar, OfBoers of the Court, and 
 Students at Law, of Wayne county, assembled at the office of William H. 
 Dimmick, Esq., Earl Wheeler, Esq. was appointed Chairman, and William 
 H. Dimmick, Esq. was appointed Secretary ; when on motion, a committee 
 of three was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Charles K. Bobinson, John I. 
 Allen and Simon G. Throop, to draft Kesolutions expressive of the sense of 
 this meeting. The Committee, through Charles K. Kobinson, Chairman, 
 reported the following: Among other things they say "that while filling 
 the highest office In the state, save the Executive, the same high and un- 
 
84 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CHUECH. 
 
 flinching Integrity, the same pure and unsullied principles of Democracy 
 actuated his fearless conduct, and crowned his noble and untiring efforts, 
 that proved his incentive and guided his motives, while an editor and ad- 
 vocate of Republican principles In his own county. As an attorney, we 
 have in his death lost an amiable and honorable member of the legal pro- 
 fession; we beheld him attained to that noble and dignified character, 
 which the law itself, as a profession, requires, viz : a candid and upright 
 lawyer. But the public principles and virtues of an individual, are all 
 found merged in his domestic and private character. Here we learn the 
 criterion of human life. And it is here, we are happy and proud to refer, 
 ou the present deplorable occurrence. As a husband and parent, our de- 
 ceased friend was kind and humane — obliging as a neighbor — confiding and 
 generous as a friend — the last to swerve from fidelity, or betray his trust. 
 As a Christian, he was exemplary ; benevolent in charities, and accommo- 
 dating In all his avocations. In him a friend in need learned beside the 
 name of friendship, its reality, and the appealing and distressed never 
 turned from him in disappointment." 
 
 It was owing to Ebenezer Kingsbury's efforts, largely, that 
 the county seat was changed from Bethany to Honesdale. His 
 life was full of promise. He was active as senator, editor of 
 the Herald and lawyer. The late Chief Justice Woodward said 
 of him: "I have been in many countries and in every state of 
 our Union and have met many men of high standing and ability 
 but I never met a man I admired more for his many accom- 
 plishments as a lawyer and as a gentleman than Ebenezer Kings- 
 bury, nor one that I loved as much as a Christian." He also 
 said that had he lived he would have been the next Governor 
 of the Commonwealth. His wife, Elizabeth Harlow Fuller, was 
 born January 1, 1805, in Norwich, Conn.; married to Ebenezer 
 Kingsbury, Jr., November 4, 1829; died at Scranton, Pa., June 
 13, 1871. Their children were Henry Augustus, Edward Pay- 
 son, Mary Elizabeth, Emmeline Chapman and Caroline Neal; 
 of these Edward Pay son and Caroline Neal, (wife of Col. F. L. 
 Hitchcock) both residing at Scranton, Pa., are now living. In 
 the year 1857 his wife removed from Honesdale to Scranton, 
 where she resided until the time of her decease, June 13, 1871. 
 On June 6, 1858, she changed her relation with the Presby- 
 terian church of Honesdale, of which for many years she had 
 been a member, to the First Presbyterian church of Scranton. 
 She was a faithful, tender, and affectionate wife and mother, and 
 
MINISTEBS, ELDEES AND DEACONS. 85 
 
 whether in the performance of her domestic duties or in the 
 family circle, gathered around the hearthstone, or in the social 
 relations of life, she ever adorned the character of a benevolent 
 and true Christian woman. 
 
 James S. Bassett was bom in New Jersey, July 22, 1803. 
 He was one of the pioneers in Honesdale. He married Maria 
 Hornbeck and had two sons, John and Hornbeck. He and his 
 son John had a dry goods store on Park street adjoining Brown's 
 furniture store. He was an elder in the church from 1840 to 
 1842 when he resigned along with Elders Foster and Brush. 
 
 Solomon Z. Lord died at the residence of his daughter, H. 
 S. Blossom, at Bradford, Pa., June 29, 1900, aged 91 years, 
 three months and thirteen days. He was born at Hebron, Conn., 
 March 16, 1799. At fourteen he left home to learn the tailor- 
 ing trade, at Eome, N. T. He united with the Presbyterian 
 church at that place in 1826 and married Adeline Garrett the 
 same year. In 1829 he came to Honesdale to visit his brother, 
 E. F. Lord. In September, 1829, he came to Honesdale to live. 
 His wife died in 1835. He married Sarah Jessup in Novem- 
 ber of that year. Li 1836 he became foreman on the Delaware 
 and Hudson Canal, and in 1839 he assumed charge of the 
 freight house of the company. He was appointed collector at 
 Hawley in 1850, which position he held until 1885. He was 
 an elder in the Honesdale Presbyterian church from 1830 until 
 1842, when he resigned, and in the Hawley Presbyterian church 
 from 1858 until he died. Solomon Z. Lord was the first of the 
 Lord family to locate in Honesdale, purchasing the property 
 afterwards owned by E. F. Lord, now occupied by the C. C. 
 Jadwin property. As a citizen Mr. Lord was held in high 
 esteem. He was conservative and unobtrusive, but liberal 
 minded and ever ready to lend his influence to all movements 
 calculated to advance the social and material interests of the 
 community in which he lived. Jessup Lord, of Waymart, is 
 his son. 
 
 Horace Hyde Tracy was born in the town of Columbus, 
 Chenango county, N. Y., May 26, 1811, and he died in Hones- 
 
86 HONESDALE PRESBYTEBIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 dale June 9, 1848. Mr. Tracy came to Honesdale about 1840. 
 He became a member of the cliurch, July 18, of that year, and 
 he was elected elder October 15, 1842, at a critical time in the 
 history of the church. His candor and decided Christian char- 
 acter enabled him, in the six years in which he acted as elder, to 
 do a great service for the church. His brother, Thomas H. R. 
 Tracy, was division superintendent on the railroad of the Del- 
 aware and Hudson Canal company, and he was employed to 
 look after the company store house and boat yard. At an early 
 age he made a profession of religion, devoting himself with all 
 his powers to the service of his Redeemer. In discharging his 
 duties as elder he was firm on the side of trath, acting with a 
 conscientious regard to the great interest committed to his trust. 
 His conduct was uniformly kind, conciliatory and upright. His 
 integrity was unbending and his zeal was earnest and consist- 
 ent. His piety was of a decided character. There was no turn- 
 ing away in his heart from that religion which he early pro- 
 fessed. His pastor, Mr. Rowland, visited him a short time 
 before his death and after telling him that he (Tracy) knew 
 what the result of his sickness was to be, he asked him the 
 direct question: "Now you look the King of Terrors full in the 
 face and how do you feel respecting his approach?" His reply 
 was, "he is the easiest conquered of any foe I ever met." Thus, 
 with sublime faith in God, he passed away in his young man- 
 hood. The newspapers of the day state that his funeral was 
 attended by an immense concourse of people. His two chil- 
 dren are both dead but his widow, Clarissa Tracy, still lives, 
 aged 85 years. She was one of the brightest women that ever 
 came to Honesdale and a brief sketch of her is given elsewhere. 
 Col. Richard Lewis Seely was born December 23, 1796, in 
 Jefferson township, Greene county, Pa. He was a son of Dr. 
 John "W. Seely and grandson of Col. Sylvanus Seely, who was 
 a native of New Jersey and an officer in the American army in 
 the war for Independence. In June, 1824, R. L Seely came 
 to this county for the first time on a visit, and in August, 1825, 
 he accompanied his father here again, when his father pur- 
 
MINISTEBS, ELDEBS AKD DEACONS. 87 
 
 chased the property of Sylvanus Seely, at Seelyville, at Sheriff's 
 sale. He left Richard in the management of the property and 
 he remained on it until 1848, when he removed to Honesdale 
 and occupied his residence on Main street, now the property of 
 Mrs. Kesler. October 11, 1829, he united with the Presby- 
 terian chiirch, being the twentieth member. October 15, 1842, 
 he was chosen a ruling elder, a position which he filled with 
 great acceptance until his death, December 8, 1863. He was 
 President of Honesdale Bank from its organization in 1836, 
 until he died. He was a person of commanding and attractive 
 presence, of equable temper and cheerful disposition, just the 
 person for elder at the time he was chosen. Enterprising and 
 successful in business, he was nevertheless both just and gener- 
 ous. Prosperity did not make him proud and scornful. He 
 was helpful to the poor and such as were embarrassed in their 
 concerns; helpful, not upon calculation of his own advantage, 
 but from a benevolent regard to the welfare of those whom he 
 sought to serve. In his friendships he was warm and constant, 
 while in his resentments he was moderate and easy to be ap- 
 peased. In all the enterprises for the adornment and prosperity 
 of Honesdale he bore a willing part. His last service was 
 for the erection of the present brick Presbyterian church, to 
 which he pledged the sum of $2,000. He remarked a few days 
 before his death, that he felt a deep interest in the project and 
 was anxious it should be prosecuted while he and his venerable 
 friends could participate therein. As a financial officer he was 
 systematic, prompt, impartial and intelligent, as well as honest 
 and truthful. In politics and religion he was equally removed 
 from fanaticism and formality. At the time of his death two 
 of his sons, Franklin and George, were with the Union army in 
 front of Chattanooga. He had too much knowledge and charity 
 to be a bigot. His inclination was not to curse, but to bless; 
 not to sow discord, but to promote harmony. Col. Seely was 
 also efficient as a trustee and during his time he was consulted 
 on every matter of importance coimected with the church. He 
 married Maria, a daughter of Jason Torrey. His son George 
 
88 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHTJBCH, 
 
 is in the electrical department of the patent office at Washing- 
 ton. The other two sons, Franklin and Henry M. Seely, are 
 dead. 
 
 John P. Darling was born in New York City in October, 
 1805. He removed to Milford, Pike county, and united with 
 the Presbyterian church there August 28, 1832. About 1840 
 he took up his residence in Cherry Eidge township. His father 
 Samuel, and his sister Maria, had a home with him as long as 
 they lived. Mr. Darling became a member of the Honesdale 
 Presbyterian church September 26, 1842, and December 11, 
 1845, he was elected an elder. His term expired under the 
 rotary system in 1876. He and William Reed were elected at 
 the same time and together with E. L. Seely and Horace Tracy 
 they constituted the session until 1851. He was hospitable in 
 his country home and attended session meetings and church 
 services with punctuality until impaired health prevented him. 
 He died April 24, 1890, aged 84, and was buried in the Cherry 
 Eidge cemetery. His step- daughter, Mrs. Tears, now a valued 
 teacher in the Sunday school, bears testimony to his worth as 
 a Christian and man of character in his family and home. 
 
 Isaac Post Foster, one of the original members of the 
 church and one of its first elders, was bom at Quogue, South- 
 ampton township. Long Island, March 28, 1788, and died 
 in Honesdale, November 18, 1876, in his eighty-ninth year. 
 His father was a deacon in the Presbyterian church and his 
 religious training was strict after the manner of those times. 
 He lived on his father's farm until he was eighteen when he 
 was apprenticed to Zebulon Jessup, father of Judge Jessup, to 
 learn the trade of tanner and shoemaker. He went to Monti'ose 
 on invitation of his cousin, Isaac Post, in 1810. He visited 
 the place, then only a cross road village, and in 1811 began to 
 clear the lot he had bought and to erect a tannery and shoe 
 shop. His old store house was afterward converted into the 
 Exchange Hotel at Montrose. On July 11, he united with the 
 Congregational church in South Montrose, under care of Eev. 
 Joseph Wood, and on the organization of the Montrose Presby- 
 
MINISTEES, ELDEBS AND DEACONS. 89 
 
 terian church, September 12, 1823, by Eev. Gideon N. Jucid, 
 he was chosen, along with five others, as Ruling Elder in the 
 church. In 1812 he married Mary Howell and as this was be- 
 fore the era of "race suicide," they had an old time family of sis- 
 teen children. He met Jason Torrey who explained to him the 
 advantages of the proposed town at Dybeny Forks, and he 
 came here in 1826 and erected with his own hands a small 
 store-house at the point where he and Major Torrey started a 
 store, the first in Honesdale. The next year he erected his 
 residence on Main and Park streets, then, as now, one of the 
 most substantial buildings in the place. It was the best resi- 
 dence in town for many years, and here he reared his large 
 family. After a short time Mr. Torrey went out of the partner- 
 ship and John P. Eoe took his place. He saw the possibilities 
 of a tannery in this county, which was then densely covered 
 with hemlock. He associated with him J. F. Koe, D. P. Kirt- 
 land and Ezra Hand and they built a tannery up the Lack- 
 awaxen just above Blandin. This tannery soon passed into 
 his exclusive control. He was one of the original members of 
 the Presbyterian church and one of its first elders. Through 
 all his business years he was closely identified with the pros- 
 perity of the borough. He helped to organize the Honesdale 
 Bank and was one of its board of directors until he died. He 
 contributed his share in the management to its unvarying pros- 
 perity. Mr. Foster had a robust frame of great endurance and 
 mental capacities much beyond the measure needed for the 
 successful prosecution of business, furnishing possibilities of 
 intellectual power never fully developed in the higher fields of 
 learning and investigation; and a moral organization so rounded 
 and symmetrical that he could have broken over wholesome 
 restraint only by violence thereto. He was never liberal to 
 popular causes, only to those that were unpopular. Always 
 active in church relations, he was not a Theologian. He re- 
 garded religion more from its haman and moral side than from 
 the Divine or pietistic. Eeligion was not to him a speculation 
 concerning God and his government of the universe; but a rule 
 
90 HONESDALE PBESBYTERIAN CHUECH. 
 
 of conduct running from lowest to highest. He did not care to 
 dogmatize; being too clear sighted and practical for that. He 
 contemplated God mainly in the persons nearest himself; and 
 found his best expression of his love to God in the recognition 
 and performance of his duty to his fellow men; even in advoca- 
 ting unpopular and aggressive opinions he never lost absolute 
 self control, and took taunt and sarcasm from opponents with 
 the utmost forbearance and good humor. He lived the laws 
 standard of a pure man, in that his virtue was never questioned. 
 It did not matter to him what the multitude might say or do, 
 or what contumely and abuse he might bring upon himself, 
 his loyalty to his convictions was unique, grand and sublime. 
 At home and abroad, in marts of traffic, in public conveyances, 
 in meetings for ecclesiastical or secular objects, he was sure to 
 champion despised opinions if opportunity offered. In short, 
 he was an agitator on all moral topics. Of course he made 
 himself of no reputation. Leaders in chiirch and state de- 
 nounced him as fanatical, infidel and incendiary. He took the 
 spoiling of his reputation without complaint. He knew the 
 penalty that all incur that are wiser and better than the masses 
 of their day and generation. But he did not abate one jot of 
 what he believed to be just and right, or relax one particle of 
 effort to secure the ultimate triumph of the reforms to which he 
 was devoted. He helped to organize the first temperance so- 
 ciety in this county and to the end of his days his interest in 
 the cause did not abate. He was the first Abolitionist in the 
 county. Such a man could not fail of arousing enmities. He 
 was hated and despised as the Master was upon earth. A 
 Euling Elder in the Presbyterian church, he was forced to re- 
 sign. He did resign the office but in prayer and exhortation 
 he remembered the slaves none the less. Often it seemed as if 
 his lips were touched with the highest inspiration. So he went 
 on year after year laboring, watching for the hour of triumph. 
 It came. The proclamation of emancipation was issued and 
 his heart overran with joy and thanksgiving. He had lived to 
 see the entire membership of his church, with perhaps two or 
 
MINISTEES, EtDEBS AND DEACONS. 91 
 
 three exceptions, adopt and uptold his views as to the wrong 
 of slavery, and to see the national government carry these views 
 to full accomplishment, and he was satisfied. In his old age 
 the church made tardy reparation by recalling him to the elder- 
 ship, but the great political party of which he was the forerun- 
 ner and apostle throughout this region, gave him no recogni- 
 tion. His life and its ending is a noble ensample to all men 
 to follow truth and duty as they see it, regardless of temporary 
 expediency, trusting to the final triumph of the right for the 
 vindication of their motives and judgment. The foregoing esti- 
 mate of Mr. Foster is taken mostly from the pen of Francis B. 
 Penniman, a friend and co-laborer. It has been taken in order 
 that Mr. Foster might be fairly represented from his stand- 
 point, but it would be unfair to the church as a whole not to 
 modify some of the statements. It is true that Mr. Foster re- 
 signed the eldership, but he was not alone in resigning. "It 
 was a condition and not a theory" that confronted the church 
 when he resigned. Differences had arisen in the session and 
 those that differed from him resigned before he did and when 
 at last Messrs. Foster, Brush and Bassett resigned, the church 
 was left without an active elder. Then the church united upon 
 the genial B. L. Seely and the devoted Horace Tracy as a com- 
 promise between the factions. If Mr. Foster was compelled to 
 resign, what motive impelled Stephen Torrey and the others to 
 resign also? Later on Mr. Torrey was elected to the session 
 along with S. T). Ward. They both refused, not through obsti- 
 nacy, but because the time had not come for them to enter the 
 session as they thought. Later on they were elected agaiu and 
 accepted, although Mr. Torrey did so with some misgivings; 
 and after the slaves were emancipated Mr. Foster was again, 
 November 25, 1864, elected, and he served nearly twelve years 
 with his brethren. Mr. Foster and Mr. Torrey were ivm of the 
 grandest men that have been in the session of the Presbyterian 
 church, and as the smoke of battle clears away and we can see 
 clearer we observe that each was strong and good in his own 
 way. As long as evil exists the agitator will be necessary in 
 
92 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 order to advance reforms, and as long as society endures, tlie 
 conservative is necessary to hold fast all that is good. The 
 Elijahs of society are in advance of their generation always and 
 meet witla opposition from those who would not disturb the 
 existing order of things. The agitator proclaims his message 
 in season and out of season, and says, with truth probably, here 
 is a wrong that should be put down. The conservative says 
 your agitation only disturbs the peace without doing any good. 
 Mr. Foster "prayed and exhorted" as Mr. Penniman says, doubt- 
 less, at times, to the annoyance of some of his more conservative 
 brethren. Stephen Torrey went about this whole community 
 establishing Sunday schools and contributing liberally of his 
 means to build up the church and to establish missions. Which 
 did the most good, who can tell? Mr. Foster, according to his 
 friend, did not contribute very liberally to popular movements. 
 Probably he was one of those who did not believe in contribut- 
 ing to missions if slaveholders contributed, that was the ex- 
 treme view of the Abolitionists. But the Abolitionists kept on 
 agitating until the slaveholders were provoked into a rebellion 
 which culminated in the emancipation of the slaves. So agita- 
 tion had its reward in a way that no one expected. And God 
 uses men of different characteristics to bring about His pur- 
 poses. Strong men differ; Paul and Barnabas differed but both 
 were good men. The history of Honesdale Presbyterian church 
 is richer for the strong men within its fold who had opinions, 
 even if those opinions did clash sometimes. There always have 
 been men of sufficient breadth in the church to keep the whole 
 organization moving grandly on, and the church owes a vast 
 debt in this connection to its able ministry as well as to its 
 capable elders. 
 
 Stephen Day Ward was born in Chatham, Morris county, 
 N. J., January 24, 1818, and he died, at Honesdale, September 
 14, 1874. The following is from the pen of his pastor Dr. 
 Dunning: "He came while very young with his father's family 
 into Wayne county. They resided at first in the valley of the 
 Dyberry, east of Bethany, thence they removed to Bethany, 
 
MUsflSTEES, ELDERS AND DEACONS. 93 
 
 thence to Seelyville and from there to Prompton. Here his 
 father, Moses Ward, had charge of a plane. James Archbald, 
 then General Superintendent of the Delaware & Hudson Canal 
 Company's railroad, in his journeys to and from Honesdale was 
 accustomed to stop at his father's house. Mr. Ward, then a 
 youth, attracted his notice and he gave him some accounts to 
 arrange. Pleased with the manner in which these accounts 
 were adjusted, he afterwards gave him a position as clerk, under 
 E. Marvin, then at Carbondale. While occupying this posi- 
 tion he was invited by the Directors of the Honesdale Bank to 
 accept a clerkship in the bank. He entered upon the duties of 
 the clerkship January 17, 1839. On the resignation of the 
 Cashier, John Neal, Mr. Ward was elected to fill the duties of 
 this office, and entered upon the duties of the cashiership Oc- 
 tober 31, 1842, and in the discharge of the duties of this office 
 he did for nearly thirty-two years, faithfully serve the bank and 
 the business community. He was connected with the bank 
 nearly thirty-six years. While a clerk at Carbondale he was 
 hopefully converted to God and united with the Presbyterian 
 church of that place on the first Sabbath of April, 1838. When 
 he became a resident of Honesdale he united with the Presby- 
 terian church of this place March 28, 1839. He was elected 
 an elder of the church January 27, 1851, and with the excep- 
 tion of four years, he served in that office until the time of his 
 death. As a leader in the meetings for prayer, as a Sabbath 
 school teacher, as a Sabbath school superintendent, as a leader 
 of the weekly Sabbath school teachers' meeting, as a member 
 of the session, as a representative of the church in our ecclesi- 
 astical courts, in meetings of Presbytery, of Synod, and of Gen- 
 eral Assembly, as a worker for the Sabbath school cause in the 
 county, and for the cause of temperance in the community, Mr. 
 Ward did earnest, faithful, intelligent and laborious service. 
 With all that uplifts and blesses man, he had an active sym- 
 pathy and did what he could. He was a diligent student of 
 the sacred scriptures and admirably fitted to impart Biblical 
 truth to others. His Bible class was always an attractive feat- 
 
94 HONESDAIE PRESBYTEEIAN CHURCH. 
 
 ure of the Sunday scliool. Very few business men have done 
 better or more efificient Sunday school work than he." Mr. 
 Ward married Mary Foster, daughter of Isaac P. Foster, De- 
 cember 30, 1841. She died May 6, 1903, aged 80. They had 
 five children: Isaac, Frederick, Harriet, wife of P. W. Bentley, 
 of Williamsport; Emma C, wife of Kev. Dr. Swift; and William 
 J. Ward, who was elected an elder in the church in 1890. 
 
 Elder William Keed was born in Salisbury, Conn., July 5, 
 1802. He moved to Bethany in 1832 and in 1840 came to 
 Honesdale and engaged in the mercantile business with John 
 F. Roe. He continued in business until 1870 when feeling his 
 strength failing and that he had enough of this world's goods 
 he retired from business. He was honest, prudent, liberal and 
 diligent in all the relations of life. He was a faithful Chris- 
 tian man and discharged all the duties of life like one who ex- 
 pected to give an account of his conduct here as well as here- 
 after. By no act of his was any man wronged; while by his 
 many acts were many aided and blessed. He was modest and 
 retiring in all the acts of his life; there was nothing done for 
 ostentation or display. He was always more anxious to be 
 good than to appear good. He trusted in his God and was 
 just to his fellow men and appears to have had no doubt but 
 that he would be happy hereafter. He was elected elder De- 
 cember 11, 1845, and served as such imtil he died March 18, 
 1879. His good wife preceded him a few months. His adopted 
 daughter, Lucena Chapman Eeed, wife of J. E. Eichmond, 
 speaks of her foster parents in the highest terms. They were 
 conservative sincere Christian people such as every community 
 needs. Mr. Eeed was a man that could be depended upon in 
 any emergency to do his duty. Such men are needed every- 
 where. The world has never had too many of them. People 
 that do plain duty in the common everyday affairs of life with- 
 out expecting any particular reward for it, excepting the con- 
 sciousness of well doing, are scarce enough to be appreciated 
 when discovered. 
 
 Dr. Adonijah Strong, who practiced medicine in Wayne 
 
MINISTEES, ELDKES AOT) DEACONS. 95 
 
 county from 1829 until 1879, was a native of Salisbury, Conn., 
 where he was born October 8, 1800. He was a direct descend- 
 ant of Noah Strong who came over with the pilgrims in the 
 Mayflower in 1620. His father, Martin Strong, was for many 
 years President Judge of Litchfield county courts. He was 
 graduated from Yale College and studied with a purpose to 
 enter the legal profession. Among his father's friends was 
 Benajah Ticknor, a surgeon in the United States Navy, who 
 urged Judge Strong to educate his son in medicine and surgery, 
 with a view to his becoming an assistant in the government 
 service. He accordingly studied inedicine and was licensed to 
 practice in 1824. He married Miss Mary A. Myers, daughter 
 of Col. Nathan Myers, and instead of entering the government 
 service he came to Bethany on the invitation of Hon. Pope 
 Bushnell. After a short time he came to Honesdale and had 
 a di'ug store where the Independent building now is. He prac- 
 ticed his profession in "Vi'ayne county for half a century, dying 
 in 1879. His practice for many years was very extensive. 
 In his younger days he took quite an interest in politics, being 
 a pronounced and leading Democrat. He united with the Pres- 
 byterian church on profession of his faith in 1843 and was 
 elected an elder in 1851, a position which he filled very gra- 
 ciously until his death. In the session he was conservative, 
 dignified and kind spirited. He was a gentleman, reserved and 
 retiring in disposition, though an excellent conversationalist, 
 both on subjects pertaining to his profession as well as outside 
 subjects. He was rather spare, erect in person and dignified 
 in appearance. His daughter Julia became the wife of Hon. 
 Isaiah Snyder. 
 
 Miles Lathrop Tracy, son of Hon. Thomas H. E. Tracy, 
 was born in Honesdale, March 10, 1836, and died January 
 9, 1884. His life long friend, Hon. T. J. Ham, wrote a very 
 full account of his life, from which most of this article is taken. 
 Mr. Tracy received a thorough academic education at Hones- 
 dale academy, and entered Yale college in 1855. The death 
 of his father necessitated his relinquishment of a college course, 
 
96 HONESDALE PKESBYl'ERIAN CHTJECH. 
 
 and returning Lome be devoted himself to business pursuits. 
 He was at one time interested witb Mr. Fuller and Oliver D. 
 Gustin in the stick manufacturing business, and for a time be 
 succeeded one of bis brotbers in the boot and sboe trade; but 
 the main calling of his life, up to within a few years of his 
 death, was as an employe and officer of the Delaware & Hud- 
 son Canal Company. For some years he had charge of the 
 company reservoirs in the county, from which post he was, in 
 1864, promoted to the responsible position of paymaster. In 
 this capacity he made monthly trips along the whole line of the 
 canal, from Honesdale to Rondout, paying the hundreds of 
 employes along the route. Millions of dollars passed through 
 his hands while serving as the company's disbursing officer, 
 every penny of which was satisfactorily accounted for. In 1882 
 he resigned as paymaster and shortly afterwards accepted the 
 position of General Agent of the Equitable Life Assurance 
 Company. To no one more than to him has Honesdale been 
 indebted for the special municipal and social advantages which 
 it has enjoyed for a generation. Gifted with fine musical talent, 
 he was for fifteen years of his earlier life a most efficient mem- 
 ber of the Honesdale Silver Cornet Band and other kindred 
 organizations, of which the place was at the time so justly 
 proud. For twenty-five years he was the leader of the choir of 
 the Presbyterian church, and during that time a foremost figure 
 in all the noted entertainments given under the auspices of the 
 Honesdale Musical Association, including the title roll in "Bel- 
 shazzar," Ahasuerus in "Esther," etc. When still a young 
 man he associated himself with William J. Fuller in the erection 
 of Liberty Hall, an act of enterprise which gave our town a 
 commodious place of entertainment, which has been instru- 
 mental in bringing within reach of the majority of our people, 
 talent which they could not otherwise have enjoyed. Nor was 
 his influence less felt in other and more practical directions. 
 For years a member of the Honesdale School Board and at the 
 time of his death its treasurer, his voice and vote were always 
 on the side of the largest advantages to, and the greatest practi- 
 
Hon. H. M. Seely 
 
 Stephen- G. Cory 
 
 Miles L. Tkacy 
 
MINISTERS, ELDEHS AOT) DEACONS. 97 
 
 cal good of tlie masses. As a member of the Town Council his 
 influence was invariably thrown in the direction of public im- 
 provement. As an officer in one of our banking institutions he 
 was efficient and courteous and, while sufficiently conservative, 
 he was ever in favor of a generous treatment of enterprising 
 business men. As a business man he was competent, prompt 
 and thoroughly reliable. For several years he was Chairman 
 of the Republican County Committee, in which capacity he 
 served with great ability, and placed his party under weighty 
 obligations. He held at various times nearly every office of 
 triist within the gift of the local community, and he was at one 
 time a Presidential elector. He was connected with the Presby- 
 terian Sunday school for about forty years as scholar, librarian 
 and teacher. When 17 years of age he united with the church. 
 For twenty years he was a trustee and for twelve years a ruling 
 elder, and in all these positions he was faithful in attendance 
 upon the meetings of trustees and of the session, and in the 
 Sunday school and choir. He was one of the finest looking 
 men that ever walked the streets of Honesdale. "Born in the 
 village when it was but a hamlet." "The child of worthy par- 
 ents he was reared to an examplary and useful life. As a lad 
 he was active and companionable, entering with unusual zest 
 into the pastimes of childhood; as a school boy he was hand- 
 some, bright faced, clear headed, ranking among the first in his 
 classes; as an adult he measured up to the full stature of robust, 
 generous, thoughtful, useful manhood." Mr. Tracy married 
 Mary P. Hand, daughter of Ezra Hand, who is still with us, 
 being a useful member in our church. His children, Howard, 
 Annie and Mary are valued church members. 
 
 Stephen Genung Cory was born in Mendham, Morris Co., 
 N. J., January 16, 1814 He came to Wayne county in 1822, 
 and lived with his uncle, Ira Genung, in Dyberry, removing to 
 Honesdale in 1830, where he learned the wagon makers' trade 
 of Elkanah Patmor. He was in partnership in the wagon 
 making business with William T. Estabrook for a number of 
 years after which he carried on the trade alone untU 1870, 
 
98 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CHUECH. 
 
 when he retired. His shop was on the corner of Church and 
 Twelfth streets and is now occupied by Otto Keltz and E. T. 
 Smith. He was the eighty-eighth member of the church and 
 was a useful member for fifty-six years. He was an efficient 
 Sunday school teacher, a most careful and painstaking trustee, 
 and a devoted and conscientious elder. He was sexton of the 
 church for many years until he was a familiar figure about the 
 church. He was an industrious, honest citizen and died as the 
 good man dies, April 7, 1889, aged 75. He married Phebe, 
 daughter of David Beers, in 1837. She died in April, 1898, 
 aged 76. S. Frank Cory is their only son. 
 
 Eev, Stephen Torrey was born at Bethany, November 9, 
 1808. The county was then largely a wilderness and he and 
 his brothers and sisters were inured to the hardships incident 
 to pioneer life. He was educated at the district schools and 
 Harford Academy, having attended the latter school in the 
 years 1819-20. He was converted at the age of 12 and joined 
 the Presbyterian church at Bethany. At this time he desired 
 to enter the ministry but his father had other plans for him. 
 He took charge of his father's real estate and in this connection 
 came down to Dyberry Forks, and helped clear the land where 
 Honesdale now stands. September 18, 1833, he married Mary 
 Chapman, of Durham, Greene county, N. Y., and like her sisters, 
 Mrs. Hand and Mrs. Kirtland, she was an excellent woman. 
 She died August 4, 1870. Of his three children, Jason only, 
 grew to manhood and he died in 1868, aged about 30. After 
 Mr. Torrey was married his mind again turned to the ministry, 
 and to that end he went to Harford to study Greek, but his' 
 health failed and he returned to Honesdale, entered his brother 
 John's land office and engaged in surveying. In this connec- 
 tion he and Edward Weston surveyed the lands along the Del- 
 aware & Hudson Canal and made carefully prepared maps of 
 the same, which were bound and preserved by the company. 
 Subsequently they surveyed the lands belonging to the com- 
 pany in Lackawanna vaUey. They also surveyed many tracts 
 in Wayne county, and Mr. Torrey was remembered for years 
 
MINISTEBS, ELDEES AND DEACONS. 99 
 
 afterwards, by those who carried the axe and chain, for his 
 great pedestrian vigor. Mr. Torrey was an extensive traveler, 
 his journeyings extending from California to the Holy Land 
 and Egypt. During these extended visits he observed the moral 
 and religious condition of the people with reference to establish- 
 ing missions, for the world was his field as he never lost sight 
 of the Christianization of the people. Mr. Torrey's religious 
 life was very pronounced. He early became a member of the 
 Sunday school at Bethany, from which he was considered a 
 graduate, according to the Sunday school idea of the times, 
 after he had repeated scripture verses enough to entitle him to 
 receive a Bible. He became a Sunday School teacher in the 
 old Glass factory school when he was 16 years of age; from 
 that time forth he may be said to have had a mission and a 
 parish. He taught in the schools of Honesdale and vicinity 
 until his knowledge of the Bible was wonderful. He was one 
 of the organizers of the first Sunday school in Honesdale, which 
 is still continued as the Presbyterian Sunday school. He also 
 had Sunday schools at Smith Hill, Prompton, Paupack Eddy, 
 now Hawley, and Indian Orchard. After Sunday school at 
 these places he talked to the people or in other words he 
 preached to them, and many persons, years afterwards, some 
 of them in the far west, made Mr. Torrey's heart glad by as- 
 cribing their conversion to his disinterested labors. In 1872 
 the Presbytery, being aware of his zeal in the Sunday school 
 and missionary cause, made him Home Missionary of Lack- 
 awanna Presbytery to look after the feeble churches within its 
 bounds, and as he was a man of some means he expended 
 yearly much more than his nominal salary. Presbytery re- 
 newed his license from year to year and finally November 9, 
 1885, on his 77th birthday, as a tardy act of justice, this old 
 veteran in the service was regularly ordained to the gospel 
 ministry in the Honesdale Presbyterian church. He was 
 greatly appreciated among the small country churches whose 
 cause he so ably championed in Presbytery, and whose interests 
 were so carefully looked after by him. He lived a strenuous 
 
100 HONESDALE PKESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 life in the service of his Master. An estimate of the work and 
 character of this robust Christian is given elsewhere. And it 
 must not be forgotten that while he did so much outside work 
 he was a true man to his own church. As elder he represented 
 the church frequently in Presbytery, Synod and General As- 
 sembly, where his influence was felt. Always a liberal con- 
 tributor to all the benevolent causes and missions of the church, 
 at his death he left a large portion of his fortune to be distrib- 
 uted to the same purposes by his executors. He was the last 
 of the charter members of the church and one of the grandest 
 men that was ever connected with it in any capacity. His 
 kindly Christian character and pleasing reminiscences* will 
 never be forgotten by the author of this book. "On Monday 
 
 *Note. Stephen Torrey, In his old age, sometimes grew reminiscent, 
 and his experiences showed the roughness of the pioneer characters that 
 he had to deal with. Mr. Kimble invited him to preach at White Mills or 
 Indian Orchard, and the men sat around the door of the school house talking 
 and laughing, Mr. Kimble was angry and stepped up and told Mr. Torrey 
 that he would talk to the men awhile. He talked to them, In the language 
 of the backwoodsman. Interlarded with more or less profanity. He gave 
 them to understand that Mr. Torrey was there by his invitation, and that 
 he should receive a respectful hearing. They gave Mr. Torrey attention 
 after that. In connection with his secular employment he caught Mr. B., 
 of Sterling, just after he had felled a fine pine, on lands for which his father 
 was agent. This was about twenty miles from Honesdale. He told the 
 man not to move the tree and went home. About two weeks afterward 
 Mr. Torrey was down that way again and whom should he meet but Mr. B. 
 with a pine log from this tree hauling It to his mill. Mr. Torrey recognized 
 the log and ordered him to throw it off by the side of the road, which he 
 did. Sometime afterwards Mr. Torrey went down that way again and he 
 caught the thunderstruck timber thief just as he was In the act of rolling 
 this log on to the logway of his saw mill. Mr. B. concluded that that log 
 was hoodooed or bewitched and he settled with Mr. Torrey In some way 
 for the timber. 
 
 Mr. Torrey worked the ground very thoroughly as Presbyterial Mis- 
 sionary. Churches that have been a long time without a pastor are not 
 always easily aroused. I remember one time when he came to Salem. He 
 went to see Elder Cook, two miles in one direction, from the church. He 
 then went to see Elder J. T. Stocker two miles in another direction, then 
 came down Into the back lots eighty rods from the road, where he found 
 the writer hoeing corn. In this careful way he canvassed the field to as- 
 certain If It would be possible to hire a student to preach In the church 
 during the summer. Mr. Torrey understood the people In the country 
 districts, and he represented their needs with great enthusiasm and power 
 before Presbytery. Perhaps Mr. Torrey had a special Interest In Salem 
 church, owing to the fact that his brother-in-law, Elijah Weston, was one 
 of Its first elders, but his indomitable perseverance and energy were felt 
 throughout the whole Presbytery, and more than one feeble church re- 
 ceived substantial aid from his purse. 
 
MINISTEES, ELDEES AND DEACONS. 101 
 
 morning, June 17, 1889, after a brief illness, God's aged ser- 
 vant gently fell asleep." "He walked with God: and was not; 
 for God took him." 
 
 Hon. Henry Maurice Seely, Son of K. L. Seely, was bom 
 at Seelyville, Wayne county. Pa., September 18, 1835. He 
 graduated at Yale in 1857 and read law with Hon. F. M. Crane, 
 one of the foremost lawyers at the V^'^ayne county bar, supple- 
 mented by attendance at Albany Law school. He was admit- 
 ted to the bar in New York in May, 1859, and in September of 
 that year he was admitted to the bar of Wayne county, where 
 he commenced to practice in 1861. In due time his ability 
 commanded attention, and upon the death of Judge Waller in 
 1882, he was appointed to fill the vacancy, his commission ex- 
 tending until the first Monday of January, 1884. He was 
 nominated by the Republicans and elected to the full term of 
 ten years succeeding the time of his appointment. He rented 
 an office and made arrangements to practice in Scranton when 
 he was prostrated by sickness, dying Christmas eve, 1894. 
 While at the bar he made exhaustive preparation and thoroughly 
 tried every case that he undertook. His arguments were sin- 
 cere and impressive and bore the marks of sincere and positive 
 conviction. As a judge he was conspicuous for his breadth of 
 view and comprehensive grasp of the questions involved. A 
 marked conscientiousness also pervaded his juridical work. 
 He was elected elder in 1870 and served until his death in 1894. 
 Mr. Swift said of him: "Most clearly did his sincerity reveal 
 itself in his religious life. He was fortunate in his ancestry. 
 From his father he inherited that genial, generous, openhanded, 
 large souled, sympathetic, helpful nature, that made him be- 
 loved by the unfortunate, the sin stained, the heavy ladened, 
 under whose burdens he put his own heart, and for whose re- 
 lief his purse was always open; and from father and mother he 
 inherited a rich religious nature, unbending integrity, love of 
 the church and unremitting activity and fidelity in Christian 
 work. He never felt that his position relieved him from the 
 responsibility of church membership." "He was clerk of the 
 
102 HONESDALE PKESBYTEBIAN CHTJECH. 
 
 session for years. Day and night his duties on the bench 
 might have been most exacting, but Sabbath morning found 
 him in place in chui'ch; then he taught his large Bible class in 
 the Sabbath school; then superintended the Tracy ville Sunday 
 school. He loved to solve the hard problems presented by 
 complicated law questions. He would discuss them with 
 keenest zest, then turn with keener zest to the study of God's 
 infallible Word to find truth to strengthen his own spiritual life 
 and feed the souls of others. However hard pressed and driven 
 with work, however tired or exhausted he might be, his place in 
 the Wednesday night prayer meeting service was always filled 
 and his part contributed to the helpfulness of the meeting. 
 Profoundly intellectual was his prayer and yet so simple that 
 a child could grasp it." "He said to me in his last sickness, 
 'All my judicial honors seem to me valueless.' 'Only that 
 seems of worth which has had its inspiration in the life and 
 atoning death of Jesus Christ.' 'I would give all I have in the 
 world,' he said, 'for the assurance that one life had been made 
 nobler, purer, truer, through my influence.' " He married 
 Kate Tracy, daughter of Thomas H. E. Tracy. She was a true 
 companion to him as well as a valuable worker in the Sunday 
 school where she had charge of the infant class for many years. 
 Judge Seely was a temperance man advocating the constitutional 
 prohibitory amendment along with his classmate and friend 
 Justice Hand. During his law practice he never made appli- 
 cation for a license. Altogether Judge Seely was one of the 
 ablest men that has held the ofiice of elder in the Honesdale 
 Presbyterian church. His opinions justly carried great weight 
 while he was a member of the session. 
 
 Elder William Butler Holmes was born in the town of 
 Binghamton, N. Y., April 17, 1837, of New England ancestry. 
 His boyhood was that of a farmer's son working hard in the 
 fields summers with the privilege of attending public school in 
 winter. And like many another farmer's boy, being ambitious 
 to rise in the world, he had a great desire to obtain a thorough 
 education; to that end he prepared at the best schools of Bing- 
 
MINISTEES, ELDERS AHfD DEACONS. 103 
 
 liamton to enter the sophomore class in college, but the exhaust- 
 ing labors of the day, and close application to study far into 
 the night, overtaxed his strength and he was compelled to 
 relinquish his cherished plans. Having an older brother in 
 the mercantile business he entered his store, where he acquired 
 a thorough knowledge of business. In 1863 he married Miss 
 Mattie K. Conklin and with his young bride came to Hones- 
 dale, with a small amount of capital and a large amount of faith 
 in the future prospects of the town and in his ability to succeed 
 here. In arriving at a decision to locate here he and his 
 talented wife were not unmindful of the moral, intellectual and 
 social advantages of the place. Mr. Holmes immediately after 
 coming to Honesdale engaged in the wholesale and retail gro- 
 cery business, iirst occupying a store on the site of the present 
 Independent building and five years later purchasing the Tracy 
 property on Main street between Eighth and Ninth streets. 
 The building which he occupied for a time was burned in 1872, 
 and his present three story brick structure was erected. That 
 a man should succeed in the wholesale grocery business, with 
 such transportation facilities as there have been at Honesdale 
 has been a marvel to Mr. Holmes' friends; but, like most men 
 who are the architects of their own fortune, he has found a way 
 out of all these difficulties and has built up a paying business. 
 Mr. Holmes has been a director in the Wayne County Savings 
 Bank for a number of years and he is recognized as one of 
 Honesdale's brightest business men. For a number of years 
 Mr. Holmes was on the School Board and he has also been a 
 member of the Town Council, and in whatever position he is 
 placed he is the same liberal spirited, progressive man. Mr. 
 Holmes and his wife when they came here brought their letters 
 with them and they identified themselves with the Presbyterian 
 church as active, efficient working members in the Sunday 
 school, social meetings and every department of church work. 
 Mr. Holmes was elected an elder in the church September 22, 
 1874, and since the death of Judge Seely he has been clerk of 
 the session. He has represented the church ia Presbytery and 
 
104 HONESDALE PBESBYTERIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 General Assembly. He was superintendent of the Sunday 
 school a number of years, and in all matters pertaining to the 
 church work his counsel is sought. Mr. Holmes is a thought- 
 ful man of others' needs, and he does things that all can see 
 ought to have been done after he has done them. He is a 
 liberal man, contributing to the advancement of good causes. 
 Since its organization he has been one of the directors of the 
 East Stroudsburg Normal school. Of his children, Daisy M. 
 died at the age of 26. Helen B. is the wife of B. C. Mills, of 
 Brookline, Mass., and has a family of four daughters. Mrs. 
 Holmes is active in church work and a teacher in the Sun- 
 day school. 
 
 Horace Chapman Hand was born May 15, 1830, at Wind- 
 ham, Greene county, N. Y. He was brought to Honesdale by 
 his parents the following year. He was educated at Hones- 
 dale Academy, at Montrose and Bloomfield, N. J. After leav- 
 ing school he clerked in his father's store a short time and in 
 1848 he went into the Honesdale Bank as clerk. March 17, 
 1864, the following record appears in Honesdale Bank history: 
 "The cashier laid before the board, the resignation of Horace 
 C. Hand, as teller of the bank, of a service as clerk and teller 
 of nearly sixteen years, to take effect March 31, (1864,) to en- 
 able him to enter into active business, which resignation was 
 accepted with regret by the board, and with expressions of ap- 
 preciation of the faithful and valuable service rendered by Mr. 
 Hand." Mr. Hand purchased the Hand & Kirtland business 
 and conducted it for a short time selling out to S. W. Powell. 
 November 1, 1871, The Wayne County Savings Bank was 
 started in the northern part of the Keystone Block, then owned 
 by W. W. Weston, and Mr. Hand was made cashier. He was 
 alone in the bank until H. S. Salmon came in as clerk in Jan- 
 uary, 1873. Mr. Hand was cashier until January, 1898, since 
 which time he has been president of the bank; and it is not too 
 much to say that the prosperity of the bank is in a large meas- 
 ure due to his progressive and liberal management. He was 
 trustee and treasurer of the church for some thirty years, and 
 
n 
 
 M 
 
 a 
 
 o 
 
 w 
 
MINISTEBS, ELDERS AND DEACONS. 105 
 
 the systematic manner in which he kept the accounts and the 
 conciliatory manner in which he looked after the pew holders, 
 seeing that every one obtained a good sitting, has contributed 
 in no small degree to the harmony and well being of the church. 
 He has been a conscientious elder since 1876, and he taught in 
 the Sunday school for thirty or forty years. He is the only 
 person living that has been an officer in the Honesdale Water 
 Company since its organization in 1863. In every position he 
 has held there has been the same marked fidelity, integrity and 
 continuity. He has never sought many positions but has held 
 what he had for life. He has cheerfully and faithfully per- 
 formed his duties to the entire satisfaction of those that have 
 trusted him, and has apparently been contented and every one 
 else has been satisfied with him. The world needs more men 
 like Mr. Hand, who are contented with their lot, and who are 
 willing, to serve their day and generation in some useful em- 
 ployment with constancy. In 1854 he married Charlotte Niven 
 Stone, and she is a most excellent woman. She has abounded 
 in good works for the church as its records show. They had 
 three children, Charles W., treasurer of the Foreign Mission 
 Board of the Presbyterian church, Eev. Alfred C. Hand, de- 
 ceased, and Henry S. Hand. This year, 1904, their numerous 
 relatives and friends gathered at their residence and congratu- 
 lated them on their golden wedding. At that time the county 
 newspapers said many complimentary things of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Hand. 
 
 John Thomas Ball was born in Orange, N. J., June 13, 
 1833, near the Brick Presbyterian church of which his parents 
 were members. He moved with his parents to Centerville, 
 Orange county, and when he was five years old the family 
 moved to HuntsviUe, Luzerne county. In Lehman township 
 his father purchased land several miles in the woods where he 
 erected a house, during which time John and Charles carried 
 provisions through the woods to the workmen. When 10 years 
 of age he engaged with a farmer to work for his board and 
 clothes and three months' schooling during winter, which he 
 
106 HONESDALE PKESBYTEKIAN CHUECH. 
 
 did not always get, as the farmer had work during winter and 
 often needed help. When 15 he worked six months for $36 
 and it seemed like a great sum to him. His father moved to 
 Honesdale about 1848, and he worked in the old Captain Hole 
 brick yard near Bethany, for Beers & Tillou — Elias T. Beers 
 and Daniel Tillou — here he drove two yoke of oxen and de- 
 livered brick in Honesdale for the Armory Prescott house and 
 other buildings; next he worked at carpentering summers and 
 spent seven winters in Elk, Tioga, Clearheld and other western 
 counties, cutting and driving logs. Aiigust 15, 1861, he mar- 
 ried Mary F. Aunger, of Waymart, and located in Honesdale. 
 He worked nine years on the dock for the Delaware & Hudson 
 Canal Company under U. V. Wheeler, then succeeded him as 
 foreman for nine years more when he resigned and went upon 
 the road as an insurance solicitor. He was converted in 1865, 
 when Eev. Dr. Kesler, of Brandt, was assisting Dr. Dunning in 
 holding services. He was elected deacon in 1870 and ruling 
 elder in 1878, a position which he still holds. He superin- 
 tended the Indian Orchard Sunday school one year, then he 
 organized the Seelyville Sunday school and was its superin- 
 tendent for twenty-nine consecutive years. This is Elder Ball's 
 most enduring monument. During those years he exercised 
 almost a pastoral oversight over that field, visiting their sick 
 and some times burying their dead. He talked to the people 
 there Sunday nights more or less for a number of years. He 
 has also been conspicuous in Sunday school convention work 
 throughout the county, every township and borough of which 
 he has often visited, in more recent years as Field Secretary. 
 Altogether Mr. Ball's life has been an active one in doing good 
 in many fields. He knows the people of the county and where 
 they reside as well or better than any one else in Honesdale. 
 John T. Ball is a practical hard sense man and without many ad- 
 vantages for an education, he has accomplished much, especially 
 among the working people. He was one of the first deacons in 
 the church and has been a ruling elder since 1878, and has 
 represented the church in Presbytery and Synod. 
 
MINISTEES, ELDEES AOT) DEACONS. 107 
 
 Andrew Thompson was born at Mt. Hope, Orange county, 
 N. Y., April 3, 1845. He is the son of Augustus P. Thomp- 
 son and Clara A. Dodge Thompson, and the grandson of a 
 Presbyterian minister, Rev. Andrew Thompson. His father 
 was elected cashier of the bank of Port Jervis to which place 
 he removed with his family in the spring of 1853. Andrew 
 was educated in the private and public schools of Port Jervis, 
 together with a three years' course at the Institute at Flushing, 
 Long Island. In 1862 he entered Williston Seminary at East- 
 hampton, Mass. The following summer he was compelled to 
 relinquish his studies on account of ill health. From 1863 to 
 1865 he was employed in New York, then he returned to Port 
 Jervis and clerked in the National Bank until 1871 when he 
 came to Honesdale and entered the firm of Durland, Torrey & 
 Co. in January, 1872. In 1873 he married Fanny E., youngest 
 daughter of John Torrey. The new boot and shoe company 
 was in competition with old and established houses whose goods 
 were known, particularly from Binghamton, and it had a repu- 
 tation to gain, and to add to their difficulties, the transporta- 
 tion facilities were so bad that much business was lost through 
 delays in delivery of goods that were sold. Mr. Thompson as 
 sales agent traveled the counties of Wayne, Pike and Monroe, 
 introducing these goods and through his candor and good judg- 
 ment, which impressed the buyers as well as the character of 
 the goods, he was enabled to help establish a good business in 
 this vicinity. In 1887 E. N. Torrey died and John D. Weston 
 succeeded to that interest and the firm became Durland, Thomp- 
 son & Co., and in 1898 the concern was incorporated as Dur- 
 land-Thompson Shoe Company. Mr. Thompson became vice 
 president of the company and when Coe Durland died in 1902 
 he became president. Mr. Thompson is also a director and 
 vice president of Honesdale National Bank. In addition to his 
 business interests Mr. Thompson has been conspicuous in church 
 work. He has been connected with the Sunday school of the 
 church either as teacher or superintendent ever since he came 
 to Honesdale, being superintendent some nineteen years. He 
 
108 HONESDALE PKESBYTEEIiN CHURCH. 
 
 ■was elected elder in the church in 1882. Since that time he 
 has represented the chui-ch in Presbytery, Synod and the Gen- 
 eral Assembly, where he is recognized as an influential man. 
 Mr. Thompson bears a high reputation in this community 
 where his probity and integrity is unquestioned. He is recog- 
 nized as one of Honesdale's most reliable and substantial men. 
 He is a leader in the church and his advice is sought in all im- 
 portant matters. His candor and conservatism make him a 
 valuable man in the session where matters requiring care and 
 sound discretion sometimes have to be decided. He has a suf- 
 ficiency for comfort and some of the luxuries of life, and he is 
 a substantial contributor to the church and its benevolences. 
 He occupies the John Torrey homestead and is a worthy suc- 
 cessor of a family that has done so much for the church and 
 community. The first time Honesdale church was represented 
 in Presbytery, Elder Stephen Torrey was delegate and the min- 
 utes were approved by Eev. Andrew Thompson, Moderator of 
 Hudson Presbytery, at Bethlehem, Orange county. Rev. An- 
 drew Thompson was grandfather of Elder Thompson. He was 
 an old time minister and he reared a large family on his small 
 salary and educated them well. Of Elder Thompson's three 
 children, Augustus P. is engaged in the shoe business with his 
 father, and Rebecca and Charles are home. 
 
 Joseph Alonzo Bodie was born in Dyberry township, June 
 20, 1852, and like most successful boys he was reared on a 
 farm, during which time he attended the public school. At the 
 age of 15 he entered the employ of H. B. Hamlin as clerk in 
 his store on the corner of Maia and Twelfth streets. While at 
 Hamlin's he was associated with a number of other young men 
 who were organized in a debating society, which culminated ia 
 a public library that was subsequently donated to the School 
 Board. After spending five years clerking he began to learn 
 photography of E. I. Steams. In 1875 he purchased a half 
 interest in the business and three years later became sole pro- 
 prietor in the same place where he is now located. Here he 
 has successfully conducted the business imtil his gallery is 
 
MimSTEES, ELDEES AKD DEACONS. 109 
 
 well known throughout Wayne county. Mr. Bodie identified 
 himself with the Sunday school and Presbyterian church when 
 he came here. When Mr. Ball needed help at Seelyville he 
 went there and January 1, 1899, he was chosen superintendent 
 of Seelyville Sunday school, a position which he continues to 
 fill acceptably to the people. He was leader of the Presby- 
 terian choir for about fifteen years, which improved very much 
 under his management. Since June, 1890, he has been an 
 elder in the church and has discharged the duties of the office 
 with faithfulness. He is a conservative, candid man, in favor of 
 temperance and every good word and work for the upbuilding 
 of the community. Socially he is identified with the Eoyal 
 Arcanum and Odd Fellows' orders. Mr. Bodie takes rank with 
 the good citizens and progressive business men of the town. 
 
 William Jessup Ward, son of S. D. Ward, was born in 
 Honesdale, August 12, 1859, and was educated in the public 
 schools of Honesdale. He entered the Wayne County Savings 
 Bank in 1876, as clerk, he then became second teller and in 
 1898 was made assistant cashier. Mr. Ward is a careful ac- 
 countant and a courteous and obliging officer in the bank. He 
 has been borough auditor and collector of taxes, aside from that 
 his business life has been spent in the bank. He has been a 
 faithful and efficient teacher in Seelyville Sunday school for 
 some twenty years and an elder in the church since 1890. He 
 has attended and helped to maintain the Young People's So- 
 ciety of Christian Endeavor. In 1897 he married May D. 
 Foster and they have three children. Mr. Ward is recognized 
 as one of Honesdale's conscientious business men, and it is 
 high praise to say that he is a worthy successor of his an- 
 cestors. 
 
 John Adam Eeitenauer was born May 18, 1846, in Elsass, 
 Germany. He came to Honesdale with his parents when he 
 was four years old. He went to German school until he was 
 old enough to be confirmed in the Lutheran church, this was 
 supplemented by one winter at the English school in Tracyville. 
 When nine years of age he started boating on the Delaware & 
 
110 HONESDALE PKESBYTEEIAN CHXIEOH. 
 
 Hudson Canal with his father and brothers. His father soon 
 after was drowned in the canal. After boating for sis summers 
 he worked for the same company feeding canvass, as they called 
 it, when they kept coal on the canvas belts that carried the coal 
 into the boats; then he worked two years in Ellenville for a 
 glass company; next he was on a farm one year when he en- 
 gaged in blacksmithing for Cory & Estabrook. He remained 
 with them twenty-one years when he went into the furniture 
 business with W. T. Moore. After four years partnership he 
 set up for himself in the store on Main street that he now oc- 
 cupies. Through the influence of Elias T. Beers, his Sunday 
 school teacher in the Mission school, and Mrs. Cory, he was 
 led to see his duty in a new light and as a result he became a 
 member of the Presbyterian church, and in 1895 he was elected 
 to the eldership. Mr. Reitenauer is respected in the com- 
 munity as a sincere Christian man, and a willing worker in the 
 church and Sunday school. He does personal work which is 
 very effective in reaching some men that would not be reached 
 by preaching. 
 
 Ehamanthus Menville Stocker, son of Albert Stocker and 
 Lydia Rebecca Peet, of Litchfield county. Conn., was born 
 in Salem, Wayne county, Pa., October 5, 1848; educated in 
 public schools and Lafayette College; taught school ten or 
 twelve years; engaged in merchandizing and farming for a time; 
 Supervisor of Salem one term; Register and Recorder of Wayne 
 county, 1881-84; admitted to Wayne county bar, 1886; assisted 
 in writing history of Wayne, Pike and Monroe, 1886. Had 
 editorial charge of Centennial History of Susquehanna county, 
 1887; married Maretta Brown, 1893; elected elder in Hones- 
 dale Presbyterian church, 1895; Superintendent of Honesdale 
 Water Company, 1895-1905; writes for newspapers occasionally; 
 has taught in Sunday schools since 1870, teaching in eleven 
 different schools, three of which he superintended; these 
 schools being located in four different counties of Pennsylvania. 
 He has been engaged in many employments and has always 
 found something to do. He advocates temperance for the in- 
 
MIOTSTEKS, ELDEBS AKD DEACONS. Ill 
 
 dividual; Democracy as against Plutocracy for tlie state, and 
 Biblical Christianity for everybody. 
 
 Deacons. — Elias T. Beers was born October 24, 1816, at 
 Hanover, Morris county, N. J. He was a mason by trade and 
 coming to Honesdale in 1837 he erected many of the finest 
 brick buildings in the town. He and Daniel B. Tillou pur- 
 chased the Captain Hole brick yard near Bethany and made 
 the brick that were used in Honesdale from 1846 to 1865. He 
 and David Beers were in partnership with William Eeed and 
 conducted the planing mill at Industry Point, as Beers, Reed & 
 Co., for a number of years. John Gray and Mr. Beers fur- 
 nished all the flagging that was used in Honesdale until after 
 the Civil War. In addition to these employments in later years 
 he and his son Ulysses conducted farming. Mr. Beers' whole 
 life was one of active industry. He was also a good honest 
 citizen. His ruddy countenance and boy like laugh never left 
 him until death. The town for years was divided into upper, 
 middle and lower school districts; Mr. Beers as school director 
 earnestly advocated the purchasing of the old academy build- 
 ing and the establishment of a graded school. He was elected 
 deacon in 1870, when that office was first established in the 
 church, and by reelections held the office until his death in 1903, 
 a period of thirty-three years. During that time he kindly 
 administered the funds of the church, which were appropriated 
 to relieve the wants of the needy. Mr. Beers was also a strenu- 
 ous advocate of temperance and the prohibition of the liquor 
 traffic. His life iu Honesdale was that of an honest hearted, 
 open handed, hard working man. He left his children the leg- 
 acy of a good name, which is better than riches. He married 
 Harriet Pruden in 1841 and left three children, Ulysses, Har- 
 riet Adelia Roper and Fannie S. Beers. 
 
 Daniel M. Eno, who was elected one of the first deacons, 
 was born October 28, 1812, in Litchfield county. Conn. He 
 married Eunice A. Sage and came to Wayne county in 1838 
 and located on a farm in Texas township about two miles from 
 Honesdale. He was a prosperous farmer and consistent mem- 
 
112 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHTJECH. 
 
 ber of the church. Of his children, Alfred W. resides on the 
 homestead, Laura married Eben H. Clark and Susan married 
 John K. Jenkins, a hardware merchant and Prothonotary of the 
 county one term. Mr. Eno died Christmas Day, 1891, in his 
 80th year. He was a trustworthy, kind hearted farmer. His 
 wife died in 1903 aged nearly 90. She was a good Christian 
 woman. 
 
 James B. Eldred, who was deacon for a time, was born in 
 Pike county, February 14, 1820. He was Sheriff of Wayne 
 county 1855-58 and Justice of the Peace in Honesdale for 
 twenty years. He was of cheerful disposition and a familiar 
 figure about the Court House for many years. He died Feb- 
 ruary 13, 1893, aged 73, lacking one day. He left one son, 
 Charles P. Eldred the jeweller, and Mrs. Lee Stearns, of Wilkes- 
 barre, is a daughter. 
 
 James S. Gillen was bom at Philadelphia, April 22, 1838. 
 He was educated at St. Joseph's Academy and at Stoddard and 
 Tewksbury's school at Montrose. When 17, Prof. Tewksbury, 
 who had become County Superintendent, requested him to take 
 a school, which he did and he successfully taught sixty pupils; 
 and his life work became that of a teacher. He taught three 
 years at Auburn, Susquehanna county. Pa., and in 1883 came 
 to Honesdale where he taught in the public schools of Texas 
 township for thirteen years, and at one time he received several 
 votes for county superintendent. He enlisted in the One Hun- 
 dred and Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, November 11, 1861, 
 for nine months. December 13, 1862, he reenlisted in the One 
 Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Lafantry and served 
 until the close of the war. He was slightly wounded by a limb 
 cut from a tree by a shell. He drew a gun on an officer and 
 ordered him to stop abusing a private. This incident illustrates 
 the fearless character of Mr. GUlen; he would imperil his life 
 for what he thought was right. He came near getting into 
 trouble about this but the matter was finally dropped, Mr. 
 GiUen was a faithful teacher in Tracyville Sunday school until it 
 wa& discontinued. He also taught the Bible class after Judge 
 
J. S. GlI.LEN 
 
 Elias T. Beers 
 
 D. M. Eno 
 
MINISTEBS, ELDEES AM) DEACONS. 113 
 
 Seely's death. In 1895 lie was elected deacon and served in 
 that office until his death. He was a faithful and true man in 
 every position that he filled. In 1868 he married Myra Wood. 
 Their children are Mattie, Millicent and Rebecca. Mr. GiUen 
 died January 9, 1898, and is buried in Glen Dyberry cemetery. 
 
 George W. Penwarden is president and treasurer of the 
 board of deacons. He was born near Prompton, May 25, 1852, 
 and attended gravity plane No. 16 as footman at 13 years of 
 age. He served in various capacities on the railroad until 1900 
 when he became yard master and engine dispatcher at Hones- 
 dale yard. June 18, 1873, he married Louise, daughter of 
 Samuel Jenkins, of Prompton. They have three children, G. 
 Willard, Mary and Harry. 
 
 John Congdon was born December 25, 1861, in Gornwalh 
 England. He came to South Canaan with his parents in 1881. 
 He worked for his brother-in-law, Richard Bone, for a time. 
 After working on a farm for a short time he commenced paint- 
 ing. In 1883 he married Carrie, daughter of Paul Swingle, of 
 South Canaan. They removed to Honesdale shortly after their 
 marriage where Mr. Congdon has been engaged in the occupa- 
 tion of painting and paper hanging ever since. He has been a 
 deacon in the church for a number of years. They have two 
 children, Stella and Doris. 
 
 John Boyd is a young man of good character, a shoemaker 
 by trade. He was elected deacon a few years ago. He is a 
 stepson of Hon, F. V. Carr and his wife is a daughter of E. T. 
 Smith, wagon painter. 
 
 The ministers, elders and deacons of the Honesdale Pres- 
 byterian church have not been faidtless, but as a whole it has 
 been a body of strong conscientious men, and there has never 
 been a time in the history of the church when there has not 
 been able and conscientious men in the session. The first ses- 
 sion contained Isaac P. Foster and i^tephen Torrey. These 
 two names were sufficient to give character to the session. 
 Later on E. P. Kingsbury and S. Z. Lord were added. After 
 the break-up of the session R. L. Seely and H. Tracy upheld 
 
114 HONESDALE PKESBYTEBIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 the majesty of tlie session. Dr. Strong, Judge Seely, S. D. 
 Ward and others were strong men. How many delicate mat- 
 ters have received careful treatment by the conscientious men 
 who have been in the session. How much anxiety have they 
 felt concerning the work committed to their care, the session 
 only knows. It may be impleasant for a church member to be 
 disciplined, but it is quite as unpleasant for the session as for 
 the offender. The present session consisting of Eev. Dr. Swift, 
 and Elders Holmes, Hand, Thompson, Ball, Bodie, Ward, 
 Eeitenauer and Stocker is the Nineteenth and Twentieth cent- 
 ury session. Who will be in the session one hundred years to 
 come? 
 
 A few more years shall roll, 
 
 A few more seasons come, 
 
 A few more suns shall set 
 
 O'er these dark hills of time, 
 
 A few more storms shall beat 
 On this wild rooty shore, 
 
 And we shall be where tempests cease, 
 And surges swell no more. 
 
 — Bonar. 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 115 
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 
 
 At a meeting held in the school house April 11, 1828, to 
 consider the propriety of establishing a Sabbath school in 
 Honesdale, Isaac P. Foster was appointed chairman and Amzi 
 L. Woodward, secretary. The meeting was opened with prayer 
 by Mr. Smith, and after discussing Sabbath schools in general 
 it was unanimously resolved to establish one in this place. To 
 that end Stephen W. Genung, Stephen Torrey and Joseph L. 
 KeUogg were appointed to prepare a constitution for adoption 
 or amendment at the next meeting and was resolved to open the 
 school the next Sabbath at 1 o'clock p. m. On Friday evening, 
 April 18, the following was adopted: 
 
 Article 1. This Society shall be called the Honesdale 
 Sunday School Society. 
 
 Article 2. The object of the Society shall be to instruct 
 children in the principles of Christianity. 
 
 Article 3. This Society shall consist of subscribers to its 
 funds of twenty-five cents or more, payable annually in advance. 
 Donors of five dollars or more shall be considered members 
 for life. 
 
 Aiiicle 4. The school shall be conducted by a superintend- 
 ent and secretary, to be elected annually, and a Simday school 
 
116 HONESDAIiE PEESBYTEBIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 committee which shall consist of all those who shall be actively 
 engaged as teachers. 
 
 Article 5. It shall be the duty of the superintendent to 
 watch over the concerns of the school, to preside at all stated 
 or special meetings, and to see that all things are conducted 
 with order and propriety. 
 
 Article 6. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep a 
 record of all the teachers and scholars belonging to the school, 
 to make a report of the progress and condition of the school at 
 least once a quarter, to record the proceedings of every meeting 
 whether stated or special, and in the absence of the superin- 
 tendent, to perform the duties which this constitution assigns 
 to him. He shall also have charge of the funds of the Society 
 and report the state of the same annually, together with the 
 state and condition of the school. 
 
 Article 7. It shall be the duty of the teachers to be punct- 
 ual in their attendance, and to remain by their classes during 
 the whole time of teaching; they shall encourage their scholars 
 to be regular in their attendance at the opening and closing of 
 the school and add to their precepts their example. They shall 
 cooperate with the superintendent and secretary in preserving 
 the strictest order in their several classes, faithfully exercise 
 them upon their lessons, and endeavor as much as possible to 
 enlist their feelings and engage their attention; and especially 
 to impress upon their minds, by every proper means, a sense of 
 their duty to God, and of the value of their immortal souls. 
 
 Article 8. There shall be a regular meeting of the com- 
 mittee as often as once a month to unite their prayers before 
 the throne of mercy, for the blessing of God on their labors, 
 and to consult together on the interests of the school. Every 
 teacher shall consider it his duty to attend unless something 
 special prevents. 
 
 There were three other formal articles to the constitution 
 which together vsdth a list of officers were forwarded to the cor- 
 responding secretary of the American Sunday School Union, 
 with the admission fee necessary to become auxiliary to that 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 117 
 
 organization. The committee was also empowered to procure 
 a library for tlie use of the school and to subscribe for as many 
 copies of the "Youths' Friend," a monthly published by the 
 American Sunday School Union, as the school would need. 
 
 April 13, 1828, the first Sunday school in Honesdale was 
 held in the school house. The record reads that it was stormy, 
 but four boys and four girls braved the storms and J. L. Kel- 
 logg, the superintendent, opened and closed the school, pre- 
 sumably with prayer. The scholars were directed to commence 
 recitation at the second chapter of St. Matthew's gospel. 
 
 The nest Sunday, April 20, the school was opened by the 
 superintendent reading the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah followed 
 with prayer by the secretary, Stephen Torrey, and there were 
 present three boys and three girls. 
 
 The next Sunday there were five boys and ten girls which 
 was more encouraging and the school was closed by Col. S. 
 Chamberlain. There were thirty-seven scholars enrolled dur- 
 ing the season, and the largest attendance reported at any one 
 session was eighteen. 
 
 It was evidently not an easy matter to attract the children 
 to the school with inducements such as they had to offer, which 
 were strict attention and the task of committiag to memory an 
 untold number of verses from scripture. To assist in gaining 
 scholars, at a meeting held October 2, 1828, at which J. L. 
 KeUogg, Stephen Torrey, H. Baldwin, John Torrey and Amelia 
 Kellogg were present, it was decided to give credits as follows: 
 For thirty verses well recited one cent, regular attendance at 
 church one cent per month. After receiving fifteen cents credit 
 the scholar was entitled to a testament and for sixty cents credit 
 he was entitled to a Bible. That three scripture proofs to ques- 
 tions given to the school, found without concordance or refer- 
 ence, or five questions answered with such help, entitles the child 
 to a copy of Youths' Friend or a tract. And children that at- 
 tended regularly and were diligent in getting their lessons were 
 entitled to draw a book from the library. Such inducements 
 would not be esteemed very highly by our present day Sunday 
 
118 HONESDAIiE PRESBYTERIAN OHUEOH. 
 
 school children. These prizes were offered in good faith how- 
 ever, and doubtless had their effect. August 31 three teachers 
 are mentioned. 
 
 The patrons of the school were Thomas Young, I. P. Fos- 
 ter, Jason Torrey, life members; Joseph L. Kellogg, Stephen 
 Torrey, Horace Baldwin, Charles P. Clark, Stephen Brush, J. 
 F. Eoe, Charles Forbes, Edward Mills, D. St. John, Uri Whit- 
 tenhall, John "Williams, James Hulbert, Timothy B. Jervis, A. 
 C. Baldwin, Edgar Hudler, James Clark, Eben Watts, Oliver 
 White, S. Benedict, Enos Woodward, Stephen Kimble, H. S. 
 EUting, Mr. Beech, John Eaymond, Thomas T. Hayes, total 
 receipts $35.50. The first year the name of Amelia Kellogg 
 stands alone among the names of women that appear on the 
 records. The next year J. W. Griswold, Asa Torrey, George 
 Tarbox, Dr. E. T. Losey, William C. Kose, Diantha Brush and 
 Emaline Losey are among the contributors, also Polly G. Brush 
 Olive P. Baldwin, Eunice S. BuUard, Sarah A. Shaffer, Phebe 
 Jagger, Elijah Weston, C. Comstock, Almira Jagger, Adaline 
 Plum, C. Beardslee. Bussel F. Lord became a life member 
 by paying five dollars. In 1832 the school at Paupack Eddy 
 is mentioned, showing that Stephen Torrey was conducting the 
 first Sunday school at the Eddy, now Hawley, at that time. 
 There were six teachers the first year, three male and three 
 female. Several scholars won testaments for learning verses. 
 
 In 1831, May 15, there are reported thirty-eight present 
 and eight absent making a total membership of forty-six. At 
 this time ten teachers are reported present and one absent. 
 There were over sixty children in the school during the year 
 1831. April 1, 1832, the Sunday school held an anniversary 
 at which an address to parents and teachers was made by Bev. 
 Mr. Richardson and an address to the children by Eev. Joel 
 Campbell. The next Sunday the plan of taking monthly con- 
 tributions to assist Sabbath schools in this section of the coun- 
 try was adopted. Thus early did the Sunday school commence 
 to do home missionary work. There were about eighty scholars 
 in the school in 1832 and the officers were Stephen Torrey, 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 119 
 
 superintendent; S. Z. Lord, secretary; and tte teachers were 
 Stephen North, Jr., Josiah Foster, "William Foster, Elizabeth 
 Foster and Catharine Hulburt, also Sophia Forbes, Miss Chap- 
 man, Miss Blandin, Mr. and Mrs. Bidwell, Miss Eliza Earl, 
 Mrs. Lord, Catharine Waldron, Amelia Waldron, Almira Foote, 
 Almira Jagger. In 1833 there were ninety-two scholars. In 
 1838 Horace Baldwin was superintendent and the teachers were 
 I. P. Foster, William Foster, M. S. Cannon, Stephen St. John, 
 James Foster, S. D. Ward, Willard Davis, John I. Allen, H. S. 
 Bassett, Mr. Jackson, S. Z. Lord, Miss C. Neal, Miss A. O. 
 Neal, Miss A. Jagger, Miss Betsey H. Brush, Miss E. Foster, 
 Miss Mary Foster, Miss Lydia P. Sutton, Miss Phillips, Miss 
 Eaybold, Miss Cushman and Miss Lucina Farrer. Horace 
 Baldwin resigned and Willard Davis was elected superintend- 
 ent in 1839. S. Z. Lord was elected in 1841. 
 
 From 1841 to 1859 the records are imperfect. From the 
 researches of Andrew Thompson and the memory of others, the 
 following list of superintendents since the organization of the 
 school is given: Joseph L. Kellogg, Stephen Torrey, Ebenezer 
 Kingsbury, Jr., Horace Baldwin, Willard Davis, Solomon Z. 
 Lord, Benjamin C. Baldwin, Stephen D. Ward, George G. Wal- 
 ler, Otis Avery, Henry M. Seely, William B. Holmes, George 
 F. Bentley, Andrew Thompson, David L. Hower and Miles T. 
 Hand. Messrs. Baldwin, Davis, Kingsbury, Torrey, Ward and 
 Holmes were reelected at intervals. Eufus Cushman acted as 
 superintendent for a time. As assistant superintendent, An- 
 drew Thompson, E. M. Stocker, H. S. Salmon, W. W. Wood 
 and others have filled the position for a short time. Eev. Mr. 
 Scott in 1860 organized a class of adults from the male portion 
 of the congregation. Dr. Skinner also had a class of adults. 
 Dr. Dunning taught this adult class for a time, also the Wallers, 
 C. P. and G. G. In recent years H. M. Seely, J. S. Gillen and 
 Dr. W. H. Swift have taught the Bible class. Mrs. Kate Seely 
 and her sister, Mrs. Bentley, were teachers of the infant class 
 for many years. In 1860 the average attendance was about 
 ninety scholars and there were fifteen teachers. Some of the 
 
120 HONESDAI.E PEESBYTEEIAN CHUEOH. 
 
 records are of personal interest such as H. M. Seely entered 
 the school as teacher in 1861. W. B. Holmes commenced in 
 1863. March 19, 1865, the record reads: On Thursday even- 
 tag last the teachers unanimously elected Dr. Otis Avery assist- 
 ant superintendent in order to relieve Mr. Ward from some of 
 the care of the school and to allow him to take charge of the 
 Bible class. Dr. Avery entered upon his duties today and the 
 Bible class was taught by B. S. Bentley, Esq., of Montrose. 
 There were twenty-one teachers and one hundred and forty-two 
 pupils present that day. During those years the school was 
 frequently addressed by clergymen that happened to be present 
 and sometimes by Col. Seely or C P. Waller. In October, 
 1865, H. M. Seely was elected superintendent. 
 
 Sunday, April 15, 1866, Superintendent Seely makes the 
 following record: School met for the last time in the old church. 
 Opened the exercises by singing "Homeward Bound." Prayer 
 by C. P. Waller and addresses by S. D. Ward, Stephen Torrey, 
 George G. Waller, former superintendents, and H. M. Seely 
 the present superintendent. Sang "Love at Home," and "There 
 is a Friend that is Ever Near;" prayer by W. B. Holmes. Mr. 
 Seely expresses pleasure at seeing a number present who were 
 formerly connected with the school. 
 
 The next Sunday, April 22, the school assembled in the 
 Court House. Present, fifty-five girls, forty-one boys, twenty- 
 one teachers, twenty-eight in the infant class, with two teachers, 
 superintendent and librarian, total, one hundred and forty-nine. 
 The superintendent kept the minutes and W. H. Stone was 
 librarian and treasurer for years. Mr. Seely in his minutes 
 frequently notes with manifest feeling, that teachers are absent 
 without providing substitutes. Also he complains that teachers 
 are being persuaded to leave the school for a school out of town. 
 At this time the older classes were studying the catechisin and 
 the younger classes the heroes of the Bible. August 12, 1866, 
 there were one hundred and eighty-four present and Superin- 
 tendent Seely with characteristic frankness records his feelings 
 as follows: "It is very difficult to supply the school with 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 121 
 
 proper teachers. Tlie superintendent lias so far been unable to 
 find a teacher for Miss Waterbury's class, and he has been com- 
 pelled to take a class himself ever since her departure early in 
 July. And the superintendent having been notified of repeated 
 attempts, some of them made by a member of the session, to 
 induce some of our best teachers to leave this school for others 
 out of town, here records his sense of the wrongfulness of such 
 conduct, and of its injustice to the school and to those on whom 
 the care of the school depends. No one has any right to 
 weaken this school for the benefit of any other." This is a 
 view from the inside, and if those who were establishing schools 
 outside could be heard, their views were just the opposite. 
 Stephen Torrey with his schools all around Honesdale, Isaiah 
 Snyder with his mission school and John T. Ball with his 
 school at Seelyville, had always been crying for more help. 
 They felt that the home school had plenty of talent and could 
 well afford to send some of its number to other fields, and some 
 years later Judge Seely himself superintended a school at 
 Tracyville, but its sessions were in the afternoon late enough so 
 as not to interfere with the home school. The church has al- 
 ways had workers in other schools. It commenced with Stephen 
 Torrey and still continues, and in the end these efforts have re- 
 turned to bless the church. In God's vineyard it seems that 
 none can receive but those that give. 
 
 In October, 1866, Superintendent Seely read a letter from 
 Rev. H. H. Jessup asking if the school would take upon them- 
 selves the support of a little girl in the mission school in Syria. 
 The teachers met and agreed to appropriate fifty dollars per 
 annum for that purpose, and in November the school appropri- 
 ated fifty dollars for home missions. 
 
 After the close of the school in February, 1867, some forty 
 scholars remained for a familiar conversation with Dr. Dunning 
 on the subject of religion and many were deeply interested. 
 
 Mr. Seely held the office until October, 1867, when he was 
 succeeded by W. B. Holmes, who held the position until 1872. 
 The average attendance for 1866 was 146; for 1867, 166; 1868, 
 
122 HONESDALE PKESBTTEBIAN CHTJECH. 
 
 184; 1869, 193; 1870, 183; 1871, 182. Mr. Holmes was suc- 
 ceeded by George F. Bentley. The teachers in 1872 were Eliza 
 Dimmick, Mary Foster, Hattie Sutton, Mary Eoe, Eliza Cort- 
 right, Fannie Torrey, Emma Ward, Carrie Smith, Mrs. Snyder, 
 Mrs. Grennell, S. D. Ward, H. M. Seely, E. F. Torrey, JohnK. 
 Jenkins, W. H. Stanton, H. C. Hand, L. Stearns, A. Thomp- 
 son. There were eighty-four girls and fifty boys in the school 
 and in the Bible class, ten. Infant class forty-one; officers and 
 teachers, twenty-two. M. L. Tracy, Ella Scott, Mrs. W. B. 
 Holmes, Mrs. Q. N. Snyder, Caroline Torrey and Mrs. Lang- 
 don are mentioned in 1873. Total attendance in 1873, 252. 
 The school commenced the study of the international series of 
 lessons in 1873. About 1879 Mr. Holmes was again elected 
 superintendent and he held the position until 1885, when he 
 was succeeded by Andrew Thompson who held the office con- 
 tinuously until 1901. The superintendents who had long terms 
 have been Stephen Torrey, S. D. Ward, W. B. Holmes, George 
 F. Bentley and Andrew Thompson, and they were all devoted 
 and excellent officers. 
 
 George F. Bentley died at Honesdale, October 13, 1881, in his 40th 
 year. He was a young man of great promise and an efficient worker in 
 the church and Sunday school. His early death was greatly lamented by 
 the Sunday school which appointed a committee consisting of Andrew 
 Thompson, W. Sullivan and Samuel Foster, who reported resolutions highly 
 eulogistic of M^'. Bentley which were adopted by the school and recorded 
 among their minutes. Company E, of which he was the first captain, and 
 the court where he practiced law, also took action in relation to his death. 
 Though young he had made an abiding impression upon the church and 
 community for good. No life is lived in vain which accomplishes life's 
 great end. His principal work in the church was in the young peoples' 
 meeting and in the Sunday school, where his influence was uplifting. 
 
 Miss Clara T. Sutton was born in Honesdale, September 24, 1854, and 
 died May 14, 1902. The Sunday school appointed Miss Clara E. Torrey, W. 
 B. Holmes and K. M. Stocker a committee to prepare a suitable minute, 
 expressive of the Sunday school's great loss in her death. The following, 
 which on motion of Andrew Thompson, was adopted by a rising vote, was 
 reported by the committee: "Miss Clara T. Sutton was born, reared and 
 educated in this town, and her life work has been that of a teacher in our 
 schools. Her high attainments as a scholar were largely the result of self 
 culture. The persevering efforts necessary to obtain an education had 
 their disciplinary value and gave her a strong personality which impressed 
 
StrNDAY SCHOOLS. 123 
 
 itsell upon her pupils. Her education did not end with the studies of the 
 schools ; she learned to love God which is the beginning of wisdom. A 
 conscientious searcher for truth she discerned the path of duty and fol- 
 lowed unhesitatingly wherever It led. In the public schools, the Sunday 
 school, the young peoples' meetings, wherever she worked, her influence 
 was exerted to advance the cause of truth, goodness and righteousness. 
 "With a sublime faith in her God, she hoped all things, believed all things, 
 and did everything she could to advance the interests of her pupUs in 
 knowledge and in the love of God ; to that end she never lost faith in her 
 pupils nor gave up the hope of the ultimate salvation of the most wayward 
 of them. She followed them wherever they went with her watchful care, 
 her counsel and her prayers. Her chaste pure life, her modest tactful 
 methods, her fine attainments and loving heart, manifested so sincerely to 
 her pupils, attached them to her with an irresistible power, enabling her to 
 exercise a wonderful influence over them for good. Her pupils, scattered 
 far and wide, bear willing testimony to her devotion to their interests. 
 The public schools of the borough have lost an excellent teacher, this Sun- 
 day school and church have lost a conscientious, devoted Christian worker 
 whose pure life was an exemplification of the truths which she professed 
 and taught." 
 
 The Sunday school has lost many earnest workers whereof 
 here no account can be given. A large proportion of the church 
 members came into the church from the Sunday school. The 
 devoted labors of officers and teachers since the organization of 
 the school have been instrumental in doing an incalculable 
 amount of good. The records of the teachers in the early 
 history of this school are very imperfect and many worthy per- 
 sons will not receive the notice they deserve, but the result of 
 their work will abide for all time. The names of the teachers 
 in recent years have been, Mrs. E. N. Torrey, Bertha Wilder, 
 Miss Hallock, Hon. H. M. Seely, W. J. Gregory, Mary Waller, 
 Mrs. W. B. Holmes, H. C. Hand, Gertrude Foster, H. S. Sal- 
 mon, Mary H. Weston, E. M. Stocker, Mrs. M. L. Tracy, Mrs. 
 C. F. EockweU, W. B. Holmes, May D. Foster, Bessie Weston, 
 Emma Tillou, Sybil J. Aldrich, Miss Yonkers, Lizzie Vetter, 
 Mary Jenkins, Julia A. MUler, Hattie Wood, Helen B. Holmes, 
 Mrs. W. T. Moore, J. A. Eeitenauer, Mrs. S. F. Cory, Mary 
 Tompkins, Andrew Thompson, Clara E. Torrey, Alice Tillou, 
 Bertha Lane, Mrs. J. E. Eichmond, Mrs. Andrew Thompson, 
 Joseph A. Bodie, J. A. Hiller, Harriet Stanton, Florence S. 
 
124 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 Wood, Josepli F. Crandall, Harry Walter, Harriet Rockwell, 
 Kate 8. Tracy, Mr. Eunyon, Viola Wilcox, Daisy M. Holmes, 
 Grace Jadwin, Blanche Kesler, N. Hause, Mary Eogers, Anna 
 Sutton, L. Eichenbaker, Mrs. W. W. Wood, Mary Cliurcli, 
 Katharine E. Torrey, W. W. Wood, Carrie Weston, Bessie 
 Waller, Miss Kuhbach, E. C. Mumford, Clara Wilder, Mrs. W. 
 H. Swift, Eena Watts, Howard E. Tracy, Alice Bodie, S. F. 
 Cory, Grace Smith, Dessie Groner, A. J. Eehbeiu, Mrs. Grant 
 Tallman, Olive Wilcox, Jessie C. Grant, Mary Pregnall, Flor- 
 ence Jenkins, E. Louis Grambs, Annie Tracy, J. S. Gillen, 
 Susan Jenkins, Mrs. E. E. Searle, Adelaide Dodge, Elizabeth 
 Bentley, Blanche Wood, Clara T. Sutton, A. P. Thompson, 
 Irene Tibbetts, Mattie Gillen, Katharine Stanton, D. L. Hower, 
 Grace Jadwin, Jennie Schoonover, Mary P. Tracy, Marcia B. 
 Allen, Dr. W. H. Swift, Miss M. B. Keeler, Grace Salmon, I. 
 J. Many, Edith Swift, G. W. Decker, J. D. Eomaine, Kate 
 Erk, Eleanor Strongman. Primary teachers, Vinnie Eose, Liz- 
 zie Wood, Fanny Durland, Cora Keene, Eena Keene, Martha 
 Jenkins, Suzan Keene, Mrs. Alma J. G. Dix, Susan Jenkins, 
 Kate Minor, Mrs. G. F. Bentley. 
 
 Thomas H. Dickson remembers Charles T. Weston, Fran- 
 ces Eowland, Benjamin C. Baldwin, George G. Waller, Fred- 
 erick L. Chapman and Joseph Gustin as teachers. Mr. Holmes 
 remembers in the sixties, Harriet Ward, P. W. Bentley, George 
 F. Bentley, G. G. Waller, C. P. Waller, H. M. Seely, Mrs. H. 
 M. Seely, Miles Tracy, Mary Hand, Lucena Eeed, Dr. Otis 
 Avery, Eufus Cushman, Susan Foster, Edwin F. Torrey, H. C. 
 Hand, Stephen Torrey, Caro N. Torrey, Ada Torrey, Henry 
 Torrey, Mrs. E. A. Penniman, S. D. Ward and W. B. Holmes. 
 
 The Sunday school as constituted in 1904, is as follows: 
 Miles T. Hand, superintendent; H. S. Salmon and Herman 
 Harmes, assistant superintendents; Cora Keen, Susan Keen 
 and Antoinette Durland, primary; A. J. Eehbein, secretary, 
 treasurer and chorister; Howard E. Tracy, assistant secretary 
 and chorister; Ealph F. Martin, librarian; Charles T. Bentley, 
 John F. Eoe and W. W, Wood, assistants; Maude M. Collum, 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 125 
 
 oTganist; Maude Rehbein, assistant; B. M. Stooker and E. C 
 Mumford, auditors. 
 
 The teachers are Edith Swift, A. P. Thompson, John D. Eomaine, Mary 
 P. Tracy, Andrew Thompson, Katharine A. Erk, Martha M. Collum, Edith 
 Torrey, Mattie E. Gillen, Grace Salmon, Nettie Wilder, Herman Harmes, 
 Elaese Krantz, Mrs. Edwin P. Torrey, K. Milton Salmon, Ada Hiller, Cora 
 L. Watts, Eleanor W. Strongman, Millie M. Weaver, Grace Wilder, H. C. 
 Hand, Jennie Lee, Clara E. Torrey, Grace Jadwin, W. E. Holmes, H. S. 
 Salmon, David L. Hower, Carrie Weston, Eev. W. H. Swift, Mrs. Eugenia 
 B. Tears and E. M. Stooker, substitute teacher. 
 
 The report for 1903 shows the whole number of offices 
 and teachers to be 43, of scholars, 380; total membership, 423; 
 average attendance, 224. Total collections, $529.84; contributed 
 to missions, $227.60; used for school purposes, $268.71. Dur- 
 ing the time when the chapel was being built there was con- 
 tributed through the Sunday school treasury, $1,684.61, but 
 this did not include H. C. Hand's class with $500, and many 
 others. Mr. Thompson, who was superintendent and treasurer 
 at the time, estimates that one-fourth of the money for building 
 of the chapel came from members of the Sunday school, includ- 
 ing officers and teachers with the scholars. Mr. Hand's class 
 is deserving special mention for having contributed the large 
 sum of $500 which they raised by voluntary contributions and 
 through the sale of things that they made. The class is com- 
 posed of young ladies who had to make some sacrifice to raise 
 that amount. 
 
 The scholars in the Sunday school in 1904, were: 
 
 Class 1 — Merle Eldred, Faith Clark, Alice Wood, Beatrice E. Eehbein, 
 Florence Kimble, Florence Hiller, Florence Eeifler, Florence Smith, Lottie 
 Hartung, Helen Tryon, Helen Bishop, Ida Tonkin, Ethel Schiessler, Au- 
 gusta Hartman, Charlotte Lane, Isabel Gray, Minnie Bidwell, Madeline 
 O'ConneU, Gertrude Krantz, Mabel Wills, Emeline WUls. 
 
 Class 2. — Edwin A. Marsh, Winton F. Kreitner, Henry A. Brown, John 
 A. Kimble, Boger M. Lawyer, Edward E. Neubauer, Irving Ball, Fred S. 
 Berry, Clarence Helstern, Benjamin E. Bunnell. 
 
 Class 3 — Eobert Mauer, Eoyal Eichenbaoker, Harold Pohle, Eay Ham- 
 bly, William Allenbacker, Eobert Marsh, Eaymond Alberty, Edwin Bun- 
 nell, Charles Campfield, John McDonald, Duncan McTavish. 
 
 Class 4— Charles D. Thompson, Otto G. Weaver, James E. Mumford. 
 
 Class 5— Edson E. Kreitner, Joseph A. Bodie, Jr., Elmer C. Taylor. 
 
 Class 6 — Eussell Eomaine, Albert Krantz, Charles Gerry, Chester Gerry, 
 
126 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CHXTECH. 
 
 Harold Sohoell, Howard Fitch, Arthur Tonken, Kalph Bro-wn, Miles Gill. 
 
 Class 7 — Mary Babbitt, Josephine DeWitt, Catharine Eich, Florence 
 Eldred, Mamie Gerry, Charlotte O'Connell, Dorothy Eichenbacker, Marion 
 Eomaine. 
 
 Class 8 — Louisa Kraft, Lacita Hawkins, Elizabeth Mauer, Alice Slu- 
 man. Lulu Eichards, Hattie Hambly, 
 
 Class 9 — Kay Brown, Ford Eehbein, Walter Jeitz, Albert McMullen, 
 Harry Bishop, John Weaver, Ealph Jeitz, Walter Weaver, John Keed, Eay- 
 mond Bodie. 
 
 Class 10 — Bessie Bunnell, Mary Bodie, Emma Babbitt, Laura Cortright, 
 Florence Dailey, Permelia Dexter, Kate Eldred, Martha Kimble, Tillie Neu- 
 bauer, Maude Eehbein, Mignon Wood. 
 
 Class 11 — Blanche Shuman, Prances Prosch, Ida Daily, Helen Secor, 
 Angeline Weidner, Bertha Evans, Ora Evans, Mabel Schimmel, Dora Wiz- 
 zard, Minnie Wizzard, Carrie Schupper, Helen Bergman, Helen Terkes, 
 Anna Korb, Nora Brenhoefer, Hannah Brenhoefer, Edna DeGroat, Bertha 
 Weidenbein, Gertrude Koegner. 
 
 Class 12 — Wilbur Bodie, Lloyd Shuller, A. Bernard Eehbein, Edward 
 Hambly, Eaymond McMuUen, William Eeed. 
 
 Class 13 — David Peterson, Merton Canfield, LeEoy Kreitner, Clarence 
 Bodie, Kenneth Uglow, George Hambkee, John PuUis, Eoy Leinbach. 
 
 Class 14 — Kate Swift, Louisa Edgar, Florence Brown, Blanche Secor, 
 Amy Cory, Vera Elckard, Margaret Mumford, Bertha Jeitz. 
 
 Class 14 — Fred Hiller, William Eldred, Horace Noyes, George Foster. 
 
 Class 16 — Kate Babbitt, Irma Bond, Mable Beck, Stella Sparks, Kath- 
 ryne Schupper, Christina Weidner. 
 
 Class 17 — Marjorie Fowler, Helen Watts, Bessie Lawyer, Eva Harmes, 
 Alice Tallman, Harriet Smith, Dorelle O'Connell, Vesta Ballard. 
 
 Class 18 — SteUa Congdon, Eva Wilson, Anna Eeed, Alma Shuller, 
 Barbara Boos, Cora Eich, Edith Eich, Mary Fitch, Grace Moules. 
 
 Class 19 — Harold McClemons, Mortimer M. Stocker, Albert AUenbacker, 
 Charles Pethick, Earl Herbert, Gerald Gerry, Andrew Schaffer, Lester An- 
 drews, Homer Eidgeway, Harry Gray. 
 
 Class 20 — Millie Biebas, Lois Secor, Edith Hambly, Lydia Hambly, 
 Clara Kimble, Blanche Noyes, Mabel Eeed, Anna Brown, Queenie Cooley, 
 Mary Barnes. 
 
 Class 21— Bessie Swift, Florence Wood, Blanche Wood, Harriet Beers, 
 Jennie Schoonover, Mrs. Angle S. Bodie, Olive Fowler, Mrs. Grace PoweU, 
 Amelia MeuUer, Lydia Eeifler, Sophia Eeifler, Mrs. Miles T. Hand, Mrs. D. 
 L. Hower, Mrs. Clara B. Kreitner. 
 
 Class 22 — Jennie Lee, Lizzie Bassett, Marion Wilder, Alice Day, Clara 
 Wilder. 
 
 Class 23 — Kuth Schoonover, Ethel Penwarden, Florence Dodge, Anna 
 Seaman, Eebecoa Thompson. 
 
 Class 24^Graoe Babbitt, Florence Evans, Ethel Lee, Julia Schimmel, 
 Minnie ShuUer, MiUie Schwieger, Florence Watts, Margaret Weaver. 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 127 
 
 Class 25 — Emma Patterson, Mrs. John Komaine, Maggie Uch, Hattie 
 "Whittaker, Mrs. Willard Penwarden, Mary Lohman, Millie Brown. 
 
 Class 26 — Lena Eichenbacker, Mrs. U. G. Eidgeway, Louise Durland, 
 Isabelle Penwarden, Suzan Keene, Mrs. John Boyd, Mrs. Charles Iloff. 
 
 Class 27 — Edna Dimock, Meta Smith, Mae Wood, Fannie "Watts, Grace 
 Bishop, Mary Foster, Mary Mumford, Bessie Chambers, Mae Penwarden. 
 
 Bible Class— J. A. Eeitenauer, U. F. Beers, S. F. Cory, P. E. Collum, 
 G. W. Decker, E. C. Mumford, A. McDonald, G. "W. Osborn, "VV. H. Stone, 
 Mrs. G. F. Bentley, Mrs. H. W. Blandin, Mrs. C. M. Betz, Mrs. TJ. F. Beers, 
 Mrs. S. F. Cory, Mrs. C. A. Cortright, Mrs. Coe Durland, Mrs. George Groner, 
 Mrs. J. A. Hiller, Mrs. H. C. Hand, Mrs. Charles Irwin, Mrs. J. K. Jenkins, 
 Mrs. William Jenkins, Mrs. C. C. Lane, Mrs. E, C. Mumford, Mrs. Charles 
 F. Mills, Mrs. McGown, Mrs. McDonald, Mrs. G. W. Penwarden, Mrs. J. 
 E. Eichmond, Mrs. C. H. Eockwell, Mrs. E. A. Smith, Mrs, E. Searle, Mrs. 
 A. T. Searle, Mrs. W. H. Stone, Mrs. M. L. Tracy, Mrs. E. N. Tillou, Mrs. 
 E. N. Torrey, Mrs. G. Tallman, Mrs. VanDusen, Mrs. S. B. Wood, Mrs. U. 
 T. Wheeler Mrs. Wells, Mrs. Oscar Bunnell, Mrs. H. Harmes, Miss P. Ben- 
 nett, Ida Barnes, Susan Haines, Lottie Haynes, Florence Jenkins, Hattie 
 Sutton, Kate Schlund, Emma Tillou, Ida Tracy, Mrs. Emma C. Swift. 
 
 Class 29 — John Smith, Charles Bassett, Harry Penwarden, Harold Yer- 
 kes, Henry Wilder, Eben Keene, Asa Bryant, Eay 0. Bunnell, Herbei-t Hil- 
 ler, Leroy Wood, William Weiser, Benjamin Dittrich. 
 
 Class 30 — Frederika Turner, Helen Fowler, Grace Eeitenauer. 
 
 Class 32 — Adolph Schneider, Fred Mauer, Edward Jeitz, William H. 
 Barrable, George B. Woodward, G. Willard Penwarden, William H. Preg- 
 nall, George E. Helstein, William H. Hawken, Grant C. Tallman, Frederick 
 W. Kreitner, WiUiam K. Kreitner, John Congdon. 
 
 Infant Class— Helen Andrews, Louise Bishop, Helen Burns, Ora Bond, 
 Florence Canfield, Eva Canfleld, Maude Daily, Edith Hartung, Hazel Haw- 
 key, Eda Krantz, Alecia Krantz, Grace Kreitner, Emeline Keyes, Irene 
 Latourette, Adelaide Metzgar, Katharine McDonald, Bessie McDonald, 
 Florence Morrison, Mildred Pohle, Jeanette Pohle, Louise Penwarden, 
 Elsia Prosch, Florence Pregnall, Nira Eehbein, Laura Eehbein, Olive Eock- 
 well, Susie Starr, Edith Schimmel, Eowena Spencer, Mildred Weidener, 
 Margaret Walls, Natalie Eichards, Charlotte Peterson, Franklin Bishop, 
 Wayne Bond, Edwin Babbitt, Eobert Cory, Clarence Campfleld, Farrington 
 Burhart, Edward Daily, Charles Kreitner, Louis Kreitner, Wallace Kimble, 
 Clarence Metzgar, Irvln Morrison, Albert Morrison, Charles Hartman, Ber- 
 nard McArdle, Eay Martin, Charles Eiehenbaker, Milton Eichenbaker, 
 Charles Eeitenauer, William Spencer, Walter Schimmel, William Fitch, 
 Eussel Sherman, Herbert Campfleld, Alfred Kreitner. 
 
 Cradle EoU — The pioneer cradle roll of the Honesdale Presbyterian 
 school was organized in 1904. It is composed of children of members of 
 the church under three years of age. The following names are inscribed 
 on the roU and may be of interest to the curious fifty years from now : 
 Elizabeth Waller Martin, Jeannette Ward Burns, Elizabeth Hower, Frances 
 
128 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 Edith Eeitenauer, Florence Edna Keitenauer, Leah Edna Kimble, Helen 
 Eebecca Stocker, Doris Congdon, Eosa Andrew, Harold Layton "Woodward, 
 Frederiels Eookwell, George Bond. 
 
 Willard Davis, who was superintendent of the Sunday 
 school for a time, was a merchant in Honesdale for a few years. 
 He had a store on Main street where Bumard now lives. His 
 wife was Lydia Sutton, a sister of James H. Sutton. He re- 
 moved to Vermontville, in Michigan, many years ago and died 
 there. 
 
 Hon. Otis Avery taught in the Sunday school and superin- 
 tended it for a short time. He was born in Bridgewater, Oneida 
 county, N. Y., August 19, 1808, and he died in Honesdale, Feb- 
 ruary 22, 1904, in his 96th year. His life was a long and 
 eventful one. He had a common school education and learned 
 the watchmakers' trade in his father's shop. In 1827 he first 
 came to Bethany, working at his trade, and about that time he 
 came down to Honesdale and saw the trial trip of the Stour- 
 bridge Lion, and for a number of years before he died enjoyed 
 the distinction of being the only man living who rode on that 
 engine at that time. He finally concluded to learn dentistry 
 and to that end went to New York, and December 6, 1833, re- 
 ceived a certificate from Dr. Ambler, the only mode of graduation 
 at that time, and immediately began the practice of his profes- 
 sion, which he continued up to a short time before his death. 
 When he began dentists were sometimes mobbed for practicing 
 such an art. His practice extended from Utica to Honesdale 
 and for ten years at Columbia, S. C, during the winter season. 
 In 1850 he gave up practice in New York and elsewhere and 
 established himself in Honesdale where, without any sign, at 
 the rear of his residence, he had all the business he could do. 
 He was an inventive genius and made most of his dental tools, 
 besides inventing a sewing machine which was patented in 1850. 
 Had he been as good a financier as he was an inventor he 
 would have accumulated a fortune. He had quite a political 
 career. In 1855 he was sent to the legislature where he mani- 
 fested his independence. November 20, 1871, he was appointed 
 
Dr. Otis Avkrv 
 
 John F. Roe 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 129 
 
 Associate Judge by Governor Geary. He was nominated by 
 both the Democratic and Eepublican parties and elected to that 
 oifice for five years more and at the expiration of that term he 
 was elected by the Anti-Court House party for five years more, 
 receiving more votes when opposed by both parties than he did 
 when he had the endorsement of both parties. Dr, Avery was 
 a quiet man, attentive to his vocation and just the opposite of 
 what would be considered a politician. In reply to a question, 
 why he lived so long, he said that he never tried to run things. 
 In other words he attended to his own aifairs but he was not 
 unmindful of the good of community. He was not an agitator 
 or aggressive reformer, but when placed in position where he 
 had to act he would be found among the reformers. In his 
 younger days he was an exhorter in the Methodist church, but 
 for years before he died he was a member of the Honesdale 
 Presbyterian church. In 1829 he married Louisa Hoel. His 
 second wife was Mary Agnes Addoms whom he married in 
 1855; she is still living, a highly respected lady. Her son 
 Mortimer C. is a lawyer in New York, and Frederick E. is the 
 owner of a cattle ranch in Wyoming. The only daughter Agnes 
 C. is the wife of of Judge Purdy. 
 
 David L. Hower, who was superintendent of the Sunday 
 school for two years, was born on a farm in Lycoming county. 
 Pa. He graduated at Lafayette college in 1892, and that fall 
 entered Honesdale High school as vice principal which position 
 he held until 1896, when he was elected county superintendent 
 of schools. He is now serving his third term in that office. 
 He retains his class in the Sunday school and is recognized as 
 an efficient educator. 
 
 Miles Tracy Hand, the present superintendent of the Sun- 
 day school, is a son of Hon. Alfred Hand, of Scranton, by his 
 first wife, Phebe Ann Jessup. He attended Lackawanna school, 
 graduating in 1889. In 1894 he graduated from Williams col- 
 lege, after which he went to Turkey and taught mathematics in 
 Roberts college at Constantinople, one year. In the fall of 
 1895, he entered Cornell university and graduated as mechan- 
 
130 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHTJECH. 
 
 ical engineer in 1897. In 1902 he came to Honesdale and is 
 superintendent of the National Elevator and Machine company's 
 shops. 
 
 HONESDALE MISSION SUNDAY SCHOOL. 
 
 The Mission Sunday school was a Union school but its 
 officers and teachers were so largely dra-^Ti from the Presby- 
 terian church that an account of the school is not out of place 
 ill this volume. October 30, 1880, Superintendent Snyder, just 
 before he removed to Harrisburg, gave a history of the school 
 which was published in the Independent and from this account 
 it appears that addresses were given by Messrs. Caskey, Torrey 
 and Brown, which were followed by Isaiah Snyder's farewell 
 address, in which he says: 
 
 "In the autumn of 1858, a business man connected with a 
 large wholesale dry goods house in New York City, visited this 
 place. He was an active, energetic Christian, and, while he 
 had an eye to business, he was true and loyal to the interests 
 of the greater Master whom he willingly served. In looking over 
 the town he learned that it was the terminus of the canal, that 
 ordinarily a number of boats with their crews must be lying 
 here over the Sabbath, and, as there was at that time much in- 
 terest manifested in behalf of the boatmen along the line of the 
 Erie canal, in the state of New York, and much good was being 
 accomplished, he strenuously urged that a like effort be put 
 forth here. To the question as to where the proper man could 
 be found to undertake it, he replied 'You are the man.' When 
 the ordinary plea of incompetence, unfitness, business engage- 
 ments, etc., was put in, his prompt reply was: 'Can't you de- 
 pend upon the Elder Brother? He has promised to be with 
 you and you have nothing to fear. If you work for Him and 
 with Him, success will attend you.' The promise was exacted 
 and given that the effort should be put forth, which, after mature 
 deliberation and earnest prayer for guidance and strength equal 
 to the emergency, was faithfully made, with a result which time 
 only will reveal. The necessary preparation in the way of 
 books, papers, etc., was made, teachers and singers secured, and 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 131 
 
 the day appointed to commence. Printed handbills were freely 
 distributed among the boatmen and posted along the canal and 
 an earnest invitation and hearty welcome extended to all. The 
 teachers, meanwhile, had been at work about town inviting the 
 children to come, and all things seemed ready. Sunday, May 
 29, 1859, was the appointed day to begin, and the district school 
 house on Second street, near Sixth, the place. There were 
 present, as teachers, on that day, Isaiah Snyder, Mrs. I. Snyder, 
 Eev. L. D. Tryon, Misses Julia Strong, Josephine Turner, Hat- 
 tie Ingersoll, E. Tillou and Mrs. Leggatt. The Bible class and 
 choir were composed of the following: Dr. A. Strong, W. H. 
 Ham, E. B. Freeman, Miles L. Tracy, H. J. Conger, 0. H. 
 Brown, E.. J. Matthews, A. Cummings, F. P. Bennett, George 
 W. Allen, Horace Weston and Levi McCreery. In the junior 
 department there were ten scholars, as follows: John Eeif, 
 Philip Werstein, Martin Werstein, Robert Ferber, Hannah 
 Britenbaker, Paulina Grambs, Louisa Eeif, Phebe McCreery 
 and Sophie Grambs. Although there were thirty present in all, 
 there was not one from the canal, and this was generally the 
 case in the subsequent efforts. 
 
 "The school was organized on the Union plan, with the 
 Bible as the chart and Jesus of Nazareth as the great Pilot. 
 The school organized with Isaiah Snyder as superintendent, 
 and Eev. L. D. Tryon, since deceased, as teacher of the Bible 
 class. Singing was made an important part of each session, 
 and with success, as its popular concerts since that time have 
 fully attested. The teaching was unsectarian, being based on 
 those fundamental truths of God's word in which all Christians 
 agree. 
 
 "From a small beginning the school grew rapidly, so that, 
 at the end of the first year, there were in all 270 scholars, rep- 
 senting 125 families. At the second anniversary. May, 1861, 
 there were 314 scholars and 27 teachers, and at the Christmas 
 festival, held in Liberty, Hall, in 1867, there were present 500 
 scholars and teachers, representing 350 families of Honesdale 
 and vicinity. In 1862 the German Catholic church organized 
 
132 HONESDAIiE PRESS YTEEIiN CHUECH. 
 
 their first Sunday scliool, which drew off about one hundred of 
 the Mission school. The Lutheran school was organized Janu- 
 ary 1, 1869, and this took away about one hundred and fifty 
 scholars and four teachers. In January, 1871, the Seelyville 
 Sabbath school was organized by John T. Ball, and the scholars 
 from that neighborhood, to the number of about one hundred, 
 withdrew to attend there. Notwithstanding these and other 
 severe drafts made upon the school by the removal from town 
 of families, etc., still the work moved on quietly yet surely up 
 to today, at which time there is a present membership of one 
 hundred and ten scholars and fifteen officers and teachers. The 
 primary department, under the superintendence of Mrs. Snyder, 
 has, since 1875, increased from thirty-four to as high as ninety 
 in one year, and at present numbers sixty. In all there have 
 been over 2,000 scholars and 150 teachers connected with the 
 school during the twenty-one years." 
 
 In 1864 the school became so crowded that it was found 
 necessary to remove to Liberty Hall for more ample accommo- 
 dations, where it remained till 1868, when an arrangement was 
 made with Coe F. Young, manager of the Delaware & Hudson 
 Canal Company, whereby the school was located on Main street 
 in the old Watts building which stood about where the Town 
 Hall now stands. The school was maintained by means of con- 
 certs, subscriptions, etc. The singing was a prominent feature 
 in the development of the school. Superintendent Snyder secur- 
 ing the best talent available. The first musical director was 
 Prof. Ludwig who was at that time organist of the church. 
 When he removed from town in 1865, Mr. Snyder secured John 
 E. Kichmond, of Carbondale, to clerk in his store and take 
 charge of the singing. Mr. Eichmond trained the children not 
 only for Sunday school singing but for a number of concerts, 
 cantatas, etc. which were held in Liberty Hall. As many as 
 four hundred children were arranged on the stage, singing to 
 overflowing houses. Dr. Dunning in requesting the repetition 
 of one of these cantatas said, "It was the grandest and most in- 
 spiring Sunday school singing that I ever listened to." On a 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 133 
 
 program of the nintli anniversary the following officers and 
 teachers are mentioned: Isaiah , Snyder, superintendent; John 
 E. Richmond, secretary and musical director; Frank B. Brown, 
 librarian; Miss Josephine Coryell, organist. The teachers were 
 E. T. Beers, C. M. Scott, S. G. Cory, U. V. Wheeler, Leland 
 Steams, W. H. Stanton, John Torrey, Jr., James B. Bldred 
 Thomas Tracy. J. B. Lisk, L. E. Fowler, Mesdames E. Bassett, 
 George Conselman, Charles Myers, S. G. Cory, U. V. Wheeler. 
 Isaiah Snyder, P. P. Brown, Lewis Coryell, J. B. Lisk, A. B 
 Lacey, C. P. Clark, John Ball, Levi McCreery, Nicholas Holt 
 Margaret Morgan, E. T. Beers, John Kehbein, James Pragnell, 
 H. Kennedy, M. V. Booth, Horace Weston, Nancy E. Tillou, 
 Barbara Eeif, Misses Emma McCarter, Susan Bassett, Maria 
 McCreery, H. Hamlin, Jeannette Loud, Abbie J. Manning, M. 
 C. Field, Mary Heath, A. E. Marsh, Louise Stearns, Elizabeth 
 Pearn, Lydia Marsh, Sarah VanKirk, Mary Eaish, Lucy Sher- 
 wood, Charity Preston. Officers and teachers, fifty-three; schol- 
 ars, over four hundred. The ex-officio board of trustees were 
 Eev. G. C. Bird, Episcopal, Eev. 0. S. Dunning, Presbyterian, 
 Eev. W. J. Judd, Methodist, Eev. H. B. Garner, Baptist, Eev. 
 W. F. Heifer, Lutheran and I. Snyder. The trustees that were 
 elected by the school were Elias T. Beers, Stephen G. Cory, 
 George N. Snyder, C. M. Scott and U. V. Wheeler. Later, 
 Thomas Crossley, John E. Brown, J. Adam Eeitenauer, Joshua 
 Brown, Fred Brown, W. H. Lee, J. E. Eichmond, Mrs. W. T. 
 Moore and Kate Erk taught in the school. 
 
 Mr. Snyder in his address said the pastors of the several 
 evangelical churches in the borough have, without exception, 
 been ever warm friends of the school from its very beginning 
 and with counsel and help, in times and ways without number, 
 have strengthened and materially aided the superintendent and 
 teachers in their work. 
 
 After Mr. Snyder left the town the school was continued 
 for about three years. Other schools had been organized and 
 finally, by vote of the school, it voluntarily disbanded about 
 1883. 
 
136 HONESDALE PBESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 Mr. Ball says lie always kept before the school the impor- 
 tance of evangelistic work. Among those attending this school 
 for a few years until he was about 12 years old, was Henry A. 
 Eisner, and by his gifts he has returned to bless the school. 
 In 1891 the Christian Endeavor Society, which is an outgrowth 
 of the Sunday school, started a Christian Endeavor chapel ac- 
 count in the Wayne County Savings Bank. Mr. Eisner added 
 to this fund from year to year sums varying from $50 to $150 
 a year, thereby stimulating local effort imtil in 1901 when active 
 operations were begun to erect a chapel. The trustees were 
 Gustave Smith, George Erk, Chauncy Purdy, Robert Ransom, 
 Lillie G. Eno, Alice W. Birdsall and Jessie Olver, and John 
 Erk and W. L. Ferguson were added, constituting all as abuild- 
 ing committee. The latter did not act but the others went for- 
 ward and erected a neat chapel at a cost of about $3,500, R. 
 H. Brown contractor. Mr. Eisner contributed in all about $1,- 
 000 and there is a debt of about $500. It is a Union chapel 
 and services are lield in it conducted by the Presbyterian, 
 Methodist, Baptist and Episcopal ministers. 
 
 The officers and teachers of the Sunday school at present, 
 are superintendent, J. A. Bodie; assistant superintendents, W. 
 J. Ward, Lillian G. Eno, Mrs. B. E. PoUey; secretary, Flora 
 E. Ferguson; treasurer, Willard J. Birdsall; organist, Louise 
 M. Smith; assistant organists, Jessie Robinson and Mary Hol- 
 land; librarians, B. F. PoUey and Peter Kolmus; superintend- 
 ent primary department, Emma Birdsall; assistant superintend- 
 ent, Susie Eigler; treasurer, Lizzie Dunkelberg; organist, Abbie 
 Erk. The teachers are W. J. Ward, Lillie G. Eno, Mrs. E. 
 Holland, Louise M. Smith, Alice W. Birdsall, Isabel Bii-dsall, 
 Jessie Olver, Bertha Hawkey, Mae Erk, Almeda Smith, Mrs. 
 B. F. PoUey, Hannah Mackle, Alberta Thayer, Mrs. Henry 
 Smith, Gus Schmidt and Emma A. Smith. 
 
 TEACYTILLE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 
 
 October 6, 1888, the session appointed R. M. Stocker, 
 Gertrude Foster, Mr. Sohremser and J. A. Reitenauer a com- 
 mittee to investigate and report upon the advisability of organ- 
 
SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 137 
 
 izing a Sunday school at Tracyville, and January 4, 1889, the 
 committee's report in favor of the organization of a school was 
 presented to the session. The session appointed Judge H. M. 
 Seely superintendent and the school was regularly opened Jan- 
 uary 13, 1889, at 3:15 p. m., in the Tracyville school house. 
 About forty were present who were organized into eight classes, 
 taught by H. M. Seely, Bible class, Mrs. Gow, infant class, and 
 the other teachers were R. M. Stocker, Miss Gertrude Foster, 
 J. S. Pennell, W. W. Wood, Miss Cora Schremser and Adam 
 Eeitenauer. The first report showed eighty scholars and eight 
 officers and teachers in attendance. J. S. Gillen soon became 
 a teacher and he was faithfiil to the end. Judge Seely's report 
 for 1893 shovfed that the school numbered ninety-five. Dur- 
 ing all these years E.. M. Stocker acted as superintendent sum- 
 mers when Judge Seely was having his annual vacation. In 
 1894 the teachers were Mrs. Neimiller, Miss Katie Storms, Miss 
 Foster, Mrs. Eicharts, J. S. Pennell, Miss Addie Pethick, who 
 was also organist, Mrs. Decker and Mary Bond. Acting Super- 
 intendent Stocker reported one hundred and seven on the rolls 
 of the school, the largest attendance being on flower day when 
 ninety-eight attended and $11.05 was collected and sent to the 
 Sunday School Extension Committee. Judge Seely made a 
 tender address; it was the last time he attended the school, his 
 death being on the Christmas following. Eev. W. H. Swift also 
 addressed the school. Judge Seely took a deep interest in this 
 school, and every year a Christmas tree was provided with 
 presents for the children, being given largely from the Judge's 
 pocket book. After Judge Seely's death, by request of the ses- 
 sion, E. M. Stocker continued as superintendent until the school 
 was closed in June, 1896. W. B. Holmes taught for a short 
 time, also Louis Grambs and George Prentiss. July 5, 1896, 
 the ofiicers and teachers made a statement addressed to the ses- 
 sion, in which they say that the Tracyville school was organized 
 for the purpose of reaching children that did not attend any 
 Sunday school, while many had attended the school from the 
 beginning who were in attendance at schools in Honesdale, yet 
 
138 HONESDAM! PKESBTTEEIAN CHUKCH. 
 
 it had not been the policy of the school to take any pupils from 
 the Honesdale schools to build up this school, but rather to 
 create such a Sunday school sentiment as would lead all to at- 
 tend some Sunday school. They concluded that the Sunday 
 school sentiment was such that the children of TracyvUle were 
 nearly all attending Sunday school at Honesdale and while not 
 unmindful of the good accomplished by the Sunday school in 
 teaching the Bible, the officers and teachers of the school were 
 of the opinion that the school was not now necessary. After 
 deliberating on this statement the school was discontinued by 
 the session July 12, 1896, and was followed by preaching for 
 a time. Mrs. Tryon, Mrs. Markey, Mr. Hill, Mr. Gillen and 
 Mrs. Martin were faithful until the last session of the school. 
 
•woman's wore. 139 
 
 CHAPTEE V. 
 
 THE ladies' benevolent SOCIETY. 
 
 The women of the Honesdale Presbyterian church have 
 don^ their duty more faithfiiUy than the men, probably ever 
 since the church was organized. We can imagine that we see 
 them dipping candles for use in the old Tabernacle, and in the 
 care of the church and labors in the first Sunday schools they 
 took an active part, but Paul's injunction that women should 
 keep silent in the churches, was observed more carefully in 
 Presbyterian churches years ago than it is now. The most 
 active women in the early church were the three Chapman 
 sisters, Mrs. Kirtland, Mrs. Stephen Torrey and Mrs. Ezra Hand, 
 also there were Mrs. John Torrey, Mrs. E. L. Seely, Mrs. S. 
 G. Cory, Mrs. Jackson Bassett, Mrs. B. B. Smith, Mrs. S. D. 
 Ward, Mrs. Josiah Foster, Mrs. John F. Eoe, Mrs. Baldwin, E. 
 F. Lord's first wife, Mrs. John F. Lord, Mrs. Henry Stone, after 
 she moved here and her sister, Mrs. Spear, Mrs. Horace Tracy, 
 Mrs. Baldwin and others. 
 
 March 10, 1845, the session, after free conversation and 
 consultation on the state of the church, resolved, "that inasmuch 
 as there is a diversity of opinion as to the expediency of erect- 
 ing a lecture room whUe the church edifice remains in its 
 present neglected state, and as it is desirable for the spiritual 
 
140 HONESDALE PBESBYTEKIAN CHTJECH. 
 
 welfare of the congregation, that in the various objects under- 
 taken by them there should be entire unanimity, the session 
 recommend that the attempt be for the present suspended." 
 
 The men have left a record of their resolution and the 
 women left evidence of their work in the erection of the first 
 lecture room which stood north of the church facing Church 
 street. Elizabeth M. Spear, a sister of Mrs. Stone, and Mrs. 
 E23ra Hand circulated a subscription paper and through the 
 efforts of the women of the church a lecture room was erected. 
 Eev. H. A. Eowland preached a sermon from Proverbs xxxi, 10: 
 "Her price is far above rubies." This sermon had such a touch 
 of gallantry that its publication was requested by T. H. E, 
 Tracy, E. L. Seely, D. O. Skinner, James Dickson, I. P. Foster, 
 C. S. Minor, F. B. Penniman, Stephen Torrey and John Torrey. 
 In replying to this request Mr. Eowland says: "It is certainly 
 due the ladies of our society to acknowledge their self-denying 
 labors for the object which has been gained, and to accord to 
 them our heartfelt thanks for the good they have accomplished." 
 He quoted liberally Milton's great poem concluding with: 
 
 "Neither her outside formed so fair, nor ought 
 So much delights me, as these graceful acts, 
 These thousand decencies that dally flow 
 Prom aU her words and actions mixed with love." 
 
 The lecture room was dedicated in 1848 and undoubtedly 
 the ladies of the church had some kind of an organization to 
 carry on this work. It has been characteristic of the women 
 of our church to do their work so quietly and without making 
 a record of it, that many self-denying acts of many noble women 
 will remain unmentioned, but their monument is seen in the 
 good they have done, though we are unable now to connect their 
 names with the work. 
 
 The first record of woman's work that has been preserved 
 is as follows: The Ladies' Benevolent Society met according 
 to appointment at Dr. Eowland's; present, Mrs. Crane, Mrs. 
 Torrey, Mrs. Hand, Mrs. Weston, Mrs. Kirtland, etc., about 
 forty ladies in all. Mrs. Crane, Miss Fannie Eowland and Miss 
 
ttoman's woek. 141 
 
 Heed resigned tlieir offices and Mrs. Kirtland was elected mod- 
 erator, Mrs. J. F. Lord, secretary and treasurer, Mrs. H. Hand, 
 assistant. 
 
 This record implies that there had been a previous organ- 
 ization, but Mrs. Hand and Mrs. Richmond have no recollection 
 of this meeting. 
 
 They decided to meet in the evening instead of the after- 
 noon and each one was to bring her own work and pay into the 
 treasury whatever sum she chose. At the next meeting held 
 at Mrs. R. L. Seely's, December 27, 1855, there were present 
 twenty-one members and Mrs. Darling, of Cherry Eidge, sent 
 them one dollar. The society met at Mrs. Kirtland's, Mrs. 
 James Bassett's, Mrs. Ward's, Mrs. C. P. Waller's, Mrs. Pen- 
 niman's, Mrs. Denton's, thirty present, Mrs. J. F. Lord's, Mrs. 
 Stephen Torrey's, Mrs. E. Hand's. At this meeting they de- 
 cided to purchase a communion set and cushion the pastor's 
 pew. Subsequent meetings were held at Mrs. William Reed's, 
 Mrs. Young's, Mrs. Cummings'; then they decided to meet at 
 different places in alphabetical order, that each person should 
 furnish a plain tea, and a fine of five cents was imposed on any 
 member knowing the regulations who furnished more than one 
 kind of cake, fruit, sweetmeats, sliced or baked meats; green 
 and black tea allowed. The society was organized principally 
 for the promotion of Home Missions. Thus early were the 
 women of the church engaged in Home Mission work. 
 
 When the present brick church was erected the women of 
 the church had their hands full of work; but little record was 
 made of it, but from the memory of persons now living it ap- 
 pears that the church was carpeted mainly through their instru- 
 mentality. Receipts from A. T. Stewart & Co. aggregating 
 $2,846.06 show that the women were not idle, and the making 
 of this carpet was no light task. In addition to this work there 
 was an Organ Society which raised the money to purchase the 
 organ. 
 
 During the War of the Rebellion the women of the church, 
 along with the women of other churches, met day after day in 
 
142 HONESDAIE PEESBYTEKIAN CHUECH. 
 
 the old lecture room to make shirts and scrape lint and do 
 other work for the soldiers under direction of the Sanitary 
 Commission. About this time Mrs. C. F. Young and Mrs. C. 
 S. Minor collected fifty dollars for a flag. Isaac N. Foster and 
 his wife cut the material and it was so large that they spread 
 it out in the lecture room yard, while Mrs. Ezra Hand and Mrs. 
 Minor arranged the stars. This was one of the largest flags 
 ever seen in Honesdale, and it floated over the Presbyterian 
 church for some time during the war. The ladies of the town 
 also erected the Soldiers' Monument in 1869 and the Memorial 
 Fountain in Central Park. 
 
 The women of the church have had suppers and have raised 
 a large amount of money in that way. The Martha Washing- 
 ton dinner is the most elaborate thing of that kind in the town. 
 It was started in 1889 when Mrs. Horace C. Hand was presi- 
 dent of the Pastor's Aid Society. It is said to have been sug- 
 gested by Mrs. Coe F. Young.* The first one was held in the 
 rink or opera house, which stood on Park street opposite the 
 John Torrey homestead. The Independent gives an account as 
 follows: "The Martha Washington dinner, given under the 
 auspices of the ladies of the Honesdale Presbyterian church, at 
 the opera house was one of the finest church dinners that has 
 been given in Honesdale in many a day. The project is said 
 to have originated with Mrs. George S. Purdy and Miss Emma 
 C. Ward. Mrs. H. C. Hand, president of the Pastor's Aid 
 Society, and Mrs. George F. Bentley had charge of the tables. 
 These ladies were assisted by such ladies as Mesdames Torrey, 
 Thompson, Durland, Rockwell, Holmes, Tracy, Eose, Jenkins, 
 Cortright, Foster, Penniman and others. Cinderella and a min- 
 uet under charge of Miss Anna Sutton were given in the evening. 
 The attendance was estimated at five hundred and the receipts 
 were $250." This was such a success and gave such satisfac- 
 tion to the people generally that another was held on Washing- 
 
 *HoraceG. Young contributes S25 annually to the dinner as a memorial 
 to his mother. 
 
woman's woek. 143 
 
 ton's birthday the following year in Liberty Hall. And these 
 dinners have been followed by similar dinners every year since 
 then in the chapel, where very complete arrangements are made 
 for such gatherings. These annual dinners have become a time 
 for family reunion in the congregation and town. They are 
 very democratic and social and are attended by people of all 
 nationalities and denominations. The attendance was so large 
 in 1904 that notwithstanding that five hundred and fifty pounds 
 of turkey had been provided along with other things in propor- 
 tion, some had to go away without their dinner. The whole 
 congregation assists and it ^ is useless to try to distinguish 
 who does the most. There is about one month of preparation 
 and the whole town would be disajDpointed if the annual Martha 
 Washington functions were discontinued. Besides the dinner 
 there are booths tastefully decorated where fancy articles, candy, 
 etc., are sold. The chapel is trimmed to produce a winter, fall 
 or other effect. In 1904 some $800 was realized from the din- 
 ner. An orchestra is always in attendance to enliven the scene 
 with music and the main auditorium is used principally as a 
 place for greeting the assembled guests of the church. The 
 total amount realized from this source has been over $6,000 
 thus far. 
 
 Mrs. J. E. Richmond, treasurer of the Pastor's Aid Society, 
 furnishes the following statement: The first payment on the 
 chapel funds, the proceeds of dinners, suppers, fairs and enter- 
 tainments given prior to the establishment of the Martha Wash- 
 ington, was $1,000. The total receipts of Pastor's Aid from 
 1892 to 1904, $7,638.92. The society paid on the chapel debt 
 beginning with October 11, 1890, $5,575; and on the manse 
 since March 5, 1898, $800.02. 
 
 At the Colonial dinner, as it was called in 1905, $745 was 
 raised. The dinner was served under direction of a caterer and 
 the service was very satisfactory. 
 
 The following was written by Mrs. Mary F. Eoe Weston: 
 
 An interesting feature of the work of the women of the church was 
 that done In the interest of the men of our army through the Christian 
 
144 HOISTESDALE PEESBYTEEIAK CHUECH. 
 
 Commission, during the years of the Civil War. Almost the first expression 
 of patriotic feeling was shown in their obtaining the fine large flag which 
 floated from the roof of the church through years of varying fortune, in 
 sunshine and storm, in sight of all the people of the town and surrounding 
 country, voicing their confidence in the ultimate triumph and permanent 
 establishment of the principles of union for the nation; and freedom for all 
 the inhabitants thereof. The interest and effort of one of the foremost 
 patriotic women secured the fund which purchased it and women's hands 
 eagerly joined the red, white and blue in our country's fair emblem of pro- 
 tection to its loyal children upon land or sea. Then, as the conflict pro- 
 gressed and brought the need of supplies for the march or comforts for 
 sick and wounded men, these demands found ready response from, not only 
 the women of our own church connections, but all brave and tender hearted 
 women who joined in forming the Soldiers' Aid Society, and worked faith- 
 fully and well, to give aid to every defender of our country's flag, some 
 with the heart breaking anxieties of mothers, and wives and sisters of 
 loved ones "gone to the war" to inspire them in the work, and some with 
 sympathetic tenderness as if each soldier was a brother beloved, gave them- 
 selves to the preparation of all kinds of comforts which could be thought 
 of to aid or relieve suflering on field or in hospital, holding themselves in 
 readiness to meet any suggestions or demands of nurses, physicians or sur- 
 geons, and to supply all cases of special needs in emergencies as the knowl- 
 edge of these needs might come to them, while all the time the wise heads 
 and loving hearts were planning and preparing a supply of constantly 
 needed articles, which were sent at frequent intervals from the Presby- 
 terian lecture room, where the sewing was done, and delicacies were 
 gathered, and boxes packed, whence they were shipped to the Christian 
 Commission, the centre from which they were distributed wherever needed. 
 In return came most appreciative acknowledgements of the rare suitable- 
 ness of the goods sent, of the skill displayed in packing and of the cheer 
 and comfort they brought to the soldiers themselves, who many times 
 wished mention made and thanks sent for just what they received. This 
 beautiful work was continued with unwearying faithfulness, as long as aid 
 was required : its record is written on high where the majority of those 
 who carried it on have gone to receive the approval of our Lord who said 
 "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the suffering ye have done it unto me." 
 The ability and energy of women had been put to the test as never before, 
 resulting in new phases of effort on their part, leading on to their develope- 
 ment in all the broad fields of usefulness and prominence, in which they 
 have so proven their abUity in later years. 
 
 The Sewing Society of the church felt the beneflt of new methods, and 
 stimulated by the proposed erection of a new church edifice, which was 
 undertaken at the close of the war, entered upon a period of great activity : 
 coming to the aid ot church affairs their committee assumed the purchase 
 of an organ, on account of which the society took the name of the "Church 
 Organ Society." They eventually extended their generous plans to in- 
 clude the various furnishings required to make the house of the Lord fair 
 
woman's woek. 145 
 
 and beautiful ■within as beoometh the place of His worship. A pleasant 
 spirit of unanimity and zeal characterized the undertaking. War prices 
 ruled and the outlay required in the first pe-ws was very large. Much of 
 self sacrifice and real devotion impelled the wise heads that planned and 
 the skilful fingers that wrought all manner of cunning work, as in building 
 the Tabernacle, that would increase the revenue. It meant years of patient 
 untiring eifort, but the interest in the object was very general ; older and 
 younger women did what each could best do giving time, labor and money, 
 eagerly securing the filling of orders for the useful, pretty or decorative 
 articles which the hands of one or another could fashion so deftly. There 
 was always a demand for these things ; for those who could not give their 
 own work gave orders to be done, and the revolving wheels of fashion oc- 
 casionally brings to conspicuity and value today, the pretty fancy work of 
 the Organ Society of forty years ago. Suppers were occasionally given also 
 to help on the work. In this connection large hearted people opened their 
 houses for the use of the society. These suppers were always liberally 
 patronized and helped to augment the amount. A large bank note was 
 sometimes given as payment for a supper by an interested friend ; or an 
 old resident, remembering the effort that was being made, sent his aid. And 
 BO the fund increased, the work of the women kept pace with that of the 
 builder. When the church was ready for furnishing, the organ, carpets 
 and cushions were ready to be put in place. The completed edifice and 
 furnishings represented liberal giving on the part of both men and women. 
 There was much of sacrifice and love inwrought in every portion of the 
 structure from the foundation to final, making it a monument to the faith- 
 ful workers who gave themselves and their means so freely to its construc- 
 tion. 
 
 These sacrifices of the preceding generation to erect a 
 
 church, not only for themselves but for succeeding generations, 
 
 should fill all our hearts with gratitude for all that has been 
 
 done for us by those who have preceded us. 
 
 MISSIONAEY SOCIETIES. 
 
 The Honesdale Auxiliary of the Woman's Foreign Mis- 
 sionary Society of the Presbyterian church was organized in 
 the parlor of the parsonage, January 22, 1872. The first of- 
 ficers were president, Mrs. S. D. Ward; vice president, Mrs. 
 Ezra Hand; treasurer. Miss Mary E. Eoe; secretary. Miss C. 
 N. Torrey. At this first meeting six collectors were appointed 
 to visit the ladies of the congregation and ascertain what 
 amount would be pledged for an annual contribution. The 
 secretary was directed to appoint another meeting after the 
 collectors had reported to the treasurer and to prepare a notice 
 
146 HONESDAUE PEESBYTEKIAN CHUECH. 
 
 to that efifect to be announced from the pulpit. On the 22d of 
 February following, the society met at the home of Mrs. S. J). 
 Ward and the organization was perfected by the adoption of a 
 constitution which states the objects of the society to be to aid 
 the general society in sending to foreign fields and sustaining 
 female missionaries, Bible readers and teachers who shall labor 
 among the heathen women and children. The society decided 
 to take two scholarships in Beirut and one in Persia, if such 
 appropriation would be acceptable to the general society at 
 Philadelphia. After deciding to meet the second Thursday of 
 every alternate month the meeting adjourned. 
 
 The general board approved of this disposition of the 
 funds of the society, and they were so appropriated. In Janu- 
 ary, 1874, the treasurer reported that $272.35 had been con- 
 tributed during the year, $100 in gold was appropriated to 
 Beirut and $60 towards Mrs. Whipple's school at Oroomiah, in 
 Persia. March 5, 1874, it was reported that $142.55 had been 
 sent to Zacatecas, Mexico. October 10, 1878, Mrs. Ezra Hand, 
 the president, informed the society that a Presbyterial society 
 had been organized in Lackawanna Presbytery, which had been 
 divided into four districts, and a request had been made to 
 send delegates to Scranton to organize Scranton District. No- 
 vember 7, 1878, Mrs. Ezra Hand and Miss C. N. Torrey were 
 chosen delegates and Mrs. G. G. Waller and Mrs. W. B. Holmes 
 alternates. 
 
 At the annual meeting, January 16, 1879, the treasurer 
 reported a collection of only $187 during the year which showed 
 a diminution, but during the seven years that the society had 
 been in existence $1,755.50 had been contributed by the society 
 and $345 by mission bands. This closed the work of the 
 society as organized under the first constitution. 
 
 The Presbytery of Lackawanna was divided into four 
 districts, a combination of which forms the Woman's Foreign 
 Missionary Society of the Presbytery of Lackawanna. The 
 Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian 
 church in Honesdale beiag a part of Scranton District, Mrs. 
 
woman's 'Woee. 14:7 
 
 G. G. Waller was made the first treasurer of the Scranton Dis- 
 trict. In this society the reports are made quarterly. The 
 officers under the new organization elected March 13, 1879, 
 were Mrs. Ezra Hand, president; Mrs. E. Knapp, vice president; 
 Mrs. F. W. Grennell, treasurer; Miss C. N. ToiTey, secretary; 
 Miss Ella Scott, assistant secretary. Collectors, Mrs. Spencer 
 Keen, Miss Hamlin, Mrs. S. W. Powell, Miss G. Foster, Miss 
 A. Wilbur, Miss C. N. Torrey. At the next annual meeting 
 Mrs. H. M. Seely was made treasurer. Collectors, Mrs. Seely, 
 Mrs. Stone, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Eichmond and Miss Hamlin. 
 The presidents of this society up to the time when the Home 
 and Foreign Missionary Societies were merged in 1896, were 
 Mrs. Stephen D. Ward, 1872-74; Mrs. Ezra Hand, 1874-81 
 Mrs. Edwin F. Torrey, 1881-83; Mrs. W. W. Weston, 1883-84: 
 Mrs. Horace C. Hand, 1884-86; Mrs. G. G. Waller, 1886-89, 
 Mrs. Charles F. Eockwell, 1889-91; Mrs. E. T. Searle, 1891-94 
 Mrs. Horace C. Hand, 1894-5. 
 
 The Home Missionary Society was organized in 1886. At 
 a meeting of the Foreign Missionary Society held April 21, 
 1886, a committee was appointed by the president, Mrs. G. G. 
 Waller, to make nominations. This committee nominated Mrs. 
 W. H. Swift, for president; Mrs. Josiah Foster, for vice presi- 
 dent; Mrs. Eichmond, for treasurer, and Mrs. Eeed Burns, for 
 secretary. As Mrs. Swift was unable to take the office Mrs. 
 W. W. Weston was elected president October 27, 1886, when 
 the first regular meeting was held. The persons who became 
 members at the time of organization were Mesdames G. F. 
 Bentley, W. B. Holmes, J. E. Eichmond, Josiah Foster, Peter 
 P. Brown, S. W. Powell, W. W. Weston, G. G. Waller, Eeed 
 Burns, W. H. Swift, Horace Hand, Isaac N. Foster, Coe Dur- 
 land, Ulysses Wheeler, Charles F. Eockwell, Harriet Weston, 
 C. C. Jadwin, Andrew Thompson, Chancy Cortright, Ezra 
 Hand, Miles L. Tracy, John F. Eoe, S. B. Wood, A. P. 
 Thompson, Ulysses Beers, Eobert N. Torrey, Misses Caro 
 Torrey, Gertrude Foster, Annie Thayer. Mrs. A. T. Searle 
 joined the society somewhat later. 
 
148 HONESDAIE PEESBYTEKIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 October 9, 1895, the Home and Foreign Missionary So- 
 cieties were united under one set of officers excepting that each 
 society should have its own treasurer. During the existence 
 of the Home Mission Society Mrs. W. W. Weston was its only 
 president and Mrs. J. E. Richmond was its only treasurer. 
 Mrs. Weston in her annual address gave a resume of the work 
 of the society during the nine years of its existence. She said, 
 "It has held us close together, as it has held us close to the 
 interests of our country and its peoples, the needy and destitute, 
 the sin sick and weary, black and white, women and children, 
 the teachers and the taught, and how glad we have been to 
 carry them and their needs to our one Father in heaven. I am 
 glad for all meetings, for the many sweet associations growing 
 out of them, for the faithful work of officers with whom I have 
 taken counsel through all these years, and for the no less faith- 
 ful attendance and ready help of those not holding office." She 
 spoke kindly of Mrs. P. P. Brown who had died, having chosen 
 a life of simplicity, full of good works and alms deeds, a wel- 
 come visitant in the prison, upon the canal boats, in the needy 
 or the prosperous houses. The treasurer's report has told of 
 material gifts, of seed sown in far off Alaska, in the moral wastes 
 of the undefined west, among the ignorant degraded inhabit- 
 ants of the southwest, the colored race in the south, and the 
 mountain people of the central Atlantic states, to give to them 
 ideas of a higher and better earthly life and hope of a glorious 
 eternity. 
 
 At this union meeting, held November 13, 1895, the fol- 
 lowing officers of the United Home and Foreign Missionary 
 Societies were elected: Mrs. Andrew Thompson, president; 
 Mrs. W. W. Weston, first vice president; Mrs. Charles F. Rock- 
 well, second vice president; Mrs. W. H. Swift, third vice presi- 
 dent; Mrs. S. E. Jenkins, treasurer of Foreign Society; Mrs. J. 
 E. Richmond, treasurer of Home Society; Mrs. H. F. Weston, 
 secretary. An account of this first union meeting is an index 
 to all the meetings. The meeting was opened with singing, 
 prayer and reading scripture after which the South American 
 
woman's work. 149 
 
 foreign mission field was considered. Mrs. Eockwell had an 
 article on Brazil and Mrs. Eichmond had one on Chile, Mrs. 
 Searle and Mrs. Jenkins on the Republic of Colombia. The 
 home field was then taken up with an article on New Mexico 
 by Mrs. Swift. The pressing need of funds for the collegiate 
 institute at Salt Lake was laid before the meeting and it was 
 decided to appropriate $25 of the funds in the treasury to that 
 object. The meeting was closed with prayer. These meetings 
 are held monthly and the researches of the intelligent women 
 who constitute the membership of the society are of educational 
 value sufficient to make the meetings worth attending if there 
 were no higher motives. The women of the society have 
 studied the resources of heathen nations and the needs of the 
 people until they have a more extensive knowledge of some of 
 these countries than many of our business men. And the ob- 
 ject of this study is one of disinterested benevolence and help- 
 fulness. The home mission field has so enlarged in recent 
 years that home mission work partakes largely of foreign mis- 
 sion work. The noble women who are engaged in this work 
 would be amply repaid by the consciousness of well doing if 
 nothing else were left as a memorial of their work but the mis- 
 sions sustained by them which are constantly bearing fruit, 
 making an enduring monument. Schools and churches are 
 being organized and the people that are degraded are being 
 lifted up to the standard of Christian civilization. 
 
 October 20, 1897, Mrs. W. B. Holmes was elected presi- 
 dent, an office which she still holds in 1905. At that meeting 
 Mrs. W. H. Swift, Mrs. C. F. Rockwell, Mrs. W. W. Weston 
 and Mrs. R. T. Searle were elected vice presidents; Mrs. Horace 
 Weston, secretary; Mrs. J. E. Richmond, treasurer Home Mis- 
 sions and Mrs. S. E. Jenkins, treasurer Foreign Missions. At 
 the meeting of December 19, 1900, tributes were rendered to 
 the memory of Miss Gertrude Foster, a member of the society, 
 known for her good works. In 1901, in the tribute of Mrs. C 
 F. Rockwell to the memory of Miss Caro N. Torrey, she is 
 credited with having been the moving spirit in organizing the 
 
150 HONESDALE PKESBTTEEIAN CHUEOH. 
 
 parent society in 1872. She visited Philadelpliia and became 
 acquainted with the work, then she made personal appeal to 
 the women of the church and "to her wise counsel, her efficient 
 and faithful service, is due in large measure the formation and 
 the perpetuation of the society." She filled the office of secre- 
 tary for nine years and organized the first mission band of 
 "Helpful Workers" in 1873, more familiarly called "Miss Tor- 
 rey's Band." Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Horace Hand both spoke 
 fittingly of Miss Torrey. At the meeting of September 17, 1902, 
 Mrs. W. W. Weston's touching tribute to the worth of Mrs. W. 
 H. Swift, was read. Among other things she said Mrs. Swift 
 was from the first a member of the Home Mission Society and 
 for many years a vice president. Her satisfaction was great in 
 the organization of the society. She had long desired to see 
 this field for practical work opened. "She maintained in con- 
 nection with her husband's pastoral duties a close acquaintance 
 with the varied circumstances and needs of the constantly grow- 
 ing congregation, kindly sympathizing with those who were 
 in sorrow, and looking after and suggesting means of relief to 
 those who needed assistance of any kind." In 1902 Mrs. M. 
 L. Tracy was elected one of the vice presidents, and Mrs. An- 
 drew Thompson was made treasurer of the Foreign Missionary 
 Society, and in 1903 Mrs. B. C. Mumford was made treasurer, 
 and Mrs. J. A. Bodie secretary. At the meeting in 1903 the 
 following minute was made: "During the year two of our mem- 
 bers have passed on to the life immortal and triumphant, to the 
 rest and peace unending, May 6, 1903, Mary F. Ward ended 
 her earthly life. She was the first president of the society for 
 three years, from January, 1872, to February, 1875. She gave 
 time and care to all that came up while holding office reluc- 
 tantly. She was always an able and dignified officer, thorough 
 and conscientious. Mrs. D. M. Eno died August 22, 1903. 
 She was a true mother and never failed in her contributions to 
 the missionary work." 
 
 The members of the Home Mission Society in 1900 were 
 as follows: 
 
'WOMAN S WOEK. 
 
 151 
 
 MESDAMES 
 
 "W. W. Weston. 
 E. N. Torrey. 
 S. W. Powell. 
 Coe Durland. 
 H. F. Weston. 
 TJ. Beers. 
 M. H. Tracy. 
 E. A. Smith. 
 
 B. L. Wilcox. 
 
 C. E. Brady. 
 E. Tillou. 
 Xi. O. Eose. 
 
 C. M. Betz. 
 P. E. CoUum. 
 W H. Lee. 
 W. G. Jenkias. 
 Harry Eockwell. 
 Z. J. Lord. 
 George Penwarden. 
 E. S. Foster. 
 
 H. C. Hand. 
 
 D. M. Eno. 
 Irving Many. 
 George Baker. 
 
 E. M. Stocker. 
 H. W. Blandin. 
 Charles E. Mills. 
 E. Eansom. 
 
 G. S. Keen. 
 W. H. Stone. 
 G. E. Bentley. 
 W. E. Allen. 
 McKown. 
 
 MESDAMES 
 
 J. E. Eichmond, 
 M. E. Gillen. 
 P. B. Peterson, 
 C. Cortright. 
 F. I. Keen. 
 Oliver Bunnell. 
 Oscar Bunnell. 
 A. Eeitenauer. 
 John Congdon. 
 Isaac Tibbetts. 
 Andrew Thompson. 
 W. B. Holmes. 
 A. T. Searle. 
 E. T. Searle. 
 S. E. Jenkins. 
 Otis Avery. 
 E. A. Penniman. 
 W. W. Wood. 
 
 E. F. Torrey. 
 J. A. Bodie. 
 J. W. Kesler. 
 U. V. Wheeler 
 0. 0. Jadwin. 
 S. B. Wood. 
 
 F. B. Penniman. 
 E. C. Mumford. 
 W. H. Stanton. 
 W. H. Swift. 
 
 0. C. Lane. 
 Charles Crandall. 
 H. A. Woodhouse. 
 S. F. Cory. 
 
152 
 
 HONESDALE PEESBYTEKIAJSf CHUECH. 
 
 MISSES 
 
 Susie Haines. 
 A. V. Spettigue. 
 Harriet Sutton. 
 
 MISSES 
 
 Fannie Beers. 
 C. N. Torrey. 
 Fannie Bennett. 
 
 1900: 
 
 Names of members of the Foreign Missionary Society in 
 
 MESDAMES 
 
 E. W. Tillou. 
 E. A. Smith. 
 C. F. Eockwell. 
 S. W. Powell. 
 U. J. Beers. 
 E. N. Torrey. 
 C. Durland. 
 L. O. Eose. 
 H. S. Salmon. 
 W. H. Lee. 
 J. K. Jenkins. 
 H. Weston. 
 J. W. Kesler. 
 M. L. Tracy. 
 J. D. Weston. 
 E. F. Torrey. 
 E. T. Searle. 
 A. T. Searle. 
 J. A. Hiller. 
 C. C. Lane. 
 C. C. Jadwin. 
 G. F. Bentley. 
 Josiah Foster. 
 W. H. Stone. 
 H. C. Hand. 
 
 MISSES 
 
 C. N. Torrey. 
 Fannie Beers. 
 
 MESDAMES 
 
 W. B. Holmes. 
 E. A. Penniman. 
 G. S. Keen. 
 A. Marsh. 
 Otis Avery. 
 G. S. Purdy. 
 W. T. Moore. 
 
 D. M. Eno. 
 J. A. Bodie. 
 W. W. Weston. 
 A. Thompson. 
 L Tibbetts. 
 
 J. E. Eichmond. 
 W. H. Stanton. 
 W. H. Swift. 
 
 E. Burns. 
 
 C. Cortright. 
 
 E. C. Mumford. 
 
 E. H. Brown. 
 
 Wilcox. 
 
 U. V. Wheeler. 
 
 0. Eldred. 
 
 W. W. Wood. 
 
 G. W. Penwarden. 
 
 MISSES 
 
 H. Sutton. 
 
woman's woek. 153 
 
 In connection with this society there are a number of mis- 
 sion bands of children. The Hopeful Workers was the first 
 mission band and it was organized in 1873 by Miss Caroline N. 
 Torrey who was its faithful president for nine years. Lillian 
 Baker was secretary and Kate Dunning was treasurer of this 
 society, later Emma Ward was elected vice president. In 1883 
 Mary Jenkins was secretary, Bessie Weston treasurer and Mary 
 Baker collector. April 10, 1884, the two mission bands the 
 Mission Helpers and the Hopeful Workers were combined and 
 Mrs. M. L. Tracy was elected president, Bessie Weston and 
 Mary Waller vice presidents, Alice Tillou secretary, Mary Jenk- 
 ins treasurer and Hattie Rockwell collector. They chose the 
 name Mispah. Others mentioned in connection with this so- 
 ciety are Clara Torrey, Kate Wilsea, Bessie Waller, Hattie 
 Weston, Lizzie Vetter, Kittie Torrey, Helen Holmes, May Fos- 
 ter, Dessie Groner, Louise Jadwin, May Tarble, Annie Lane, 
 Blanche Kesler, Miss Wefferling, Emma Tillou, Jennie Lee, 
 Mary Weston, Carrie Weston, Marion Wilder, Jennie Searles, 
 Marcia Allen, Grace Jadwin, Margaret Tallman, Clara Wilder. 
 They raised about $31 a year from regular dues and appropriated 
 a portion of it to a scholarship at Kolapoor. In May, 1886, 
 $50.97 was realized from a concert in Liberty Hall, given by the 
 Ario quartette, Miss Seymour and Mrs. G. du B. Dimmick; 
 $130 was realized from a bazaar and equally divided between 
 the Mizpah and the Soldiers of the King bands. This band 
 was discontinued about 1896. 
 
 The "In His Name Band" consisted of Miss Clara E. Tor- 
 rey's Sunday school class and was organized about 1892. In 
 1904 they gave $75 to support a little New Mexican girl at 
 Santa Fe. Bessie Waller and Clara Torrey had a boys' band 
 for about two years and the boys contributed their dues freely. 
 The Loving Service Band was organized by Kate Stanton and 
 is now in charge of Irene Tibbetts Yerkes. 
 
 The second mission band in the church was organized in 
 1873 with Mrs. Holmes as president. It was called the "Yakoot 
 Baracat" band, being named for the Syrian girl whom the band 
 
154 HONESDiLE PEESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 v.'er6 educating. Tliis band existed about fifteen years and 
 when Dr. Jessup was here in 1903 he reported that Miss Bara- 
 cat had become the wife of one of the professors in the college 
 at Beirut and that she was a Christian woman of culture and 
 influence. "The Titus Mission Band" was organized April 30, 
 1890, with Mrs. Holmes as president, Miss Carrie Weston vice 
 president, Miss Angle Schoenover secretary and Miss Vinnie 
 Hose treasurer. This band consists of three Sunday school 
 classes of girls and is still active. "The Busy Bees Mission 
 Band" was organized in 1881 by Mrs. George G. Waller and is 
 still active under the management of Miss Edith Swift. 
 
 Mrs. Richmond states that the membership of the Home 
 Mission Society was originally thirty-three and they raised an- 
 nually $50.30. The present membership is fifty-two and the 
 annual offerings are $89.55. During these years the pledges 
 to various schools and teachers have been promptly paid. Also 
 donations to various objects have been volunteered. During 
 these eighteen years sixteen have been removed by death. 
 Since 1889 the society has contributed annually to Ingleside 
 Seminary, Virginia, $30; also since 1891, $30 annually to a 
 teacher's salary in Penasco, New Mexico. Meetiags are held 
 every third Wednesday in each month, foreign and home work 
 being taken up alternately. 
 
 MATERNAL SOCIETY. 
 
 In 1860 a Maternal Society was organized, largely through 
 the iustrumentality of Isaiah Snyder's first wife. In an un- 
 signed report the following is recorded, "Mrs. Snyder being 
 deeply impressed with the responsibility of mothers in the 
 training of their children felt that such a prayer cii'cle was 
 greatly needed and her efforts to awaken an interest upon this 
 subject were unwearied until she saw their accomplishment in 
 the formation of the society." The object of this society can be 
 gathered from the preamble and constitution: "Impressed 
 •with a sense of our entire dependence upon the Holy Spirit to 
 aid us in training up our children in the way they should go, 
 and hoping to obtain the blessing of such as fear the Lord and 
 
woman's work. 155 
 
 speak often to one another, we, the subscribers, do unitedly 
 pledge ourselves to meet, at stated seasons, for prayer and 
 mutual counsel in reference to our maternal duties and respon- 
 sibilities, with a view to this object we do adopt the following 
 constitution." The constitution provides that any mother in 
 1^x6 church may become a member by subscribing to the con- 
 stitution, also that they shall meet the first Wednesday of each 
 mouth for prayer and conversation tending to promote maternal 
 faithfulness and piety. Each mother was obligated to read 
 scripture and to pray for her children and also the children of 
 others, especially the children of a deceased member. A large 
 number of the devoted mothers of the church have been mem- 
 bers of this society, also bringing their children with them, 
 whose names they have enrolled as members. 
 
 For many years the women of the church held prayer 
 meetings. Mrs. Horace Tracy writes to Mrs. Miles L. Tracy: 
 "One thing I remember, in my own connection with the church, 
 is the weekly prayer meeting at Grandma Ward's that I used to 
 attend. Your mother and two aunts were nearly always there, 
 ( Mrs. Ezra Hand, Mrs. Daniel Kirtland and Mrs. Stephen 
 Torrey, ) Mrs. Stone, her sister, Mrs. Spear, and a few others. 
 I remember one incident, Mrs. Crane was nearly always there 
 and in the first meeting after her husband was converted, she 
 asked to have the hymn sung, 'O could I speak the boundless 
 worth,' etc. Nearly all present began to sing, one after another 
 dropped out until at the close only one or two were singing 
 with Mrs. Crane who kept on seeming so absorbed that she did 
 not notice the others had stopped. Mrs. Stone came to me 
 after the meeting and said I did not want to sing, I wanted to 
 hear Mrs. Crane sing. Wasn't it beautiful?" This was about 
 1856. William Crane and his wife and Putnam E. Williams 
 and wife removed to Neenah, Wis., sometime after this. The 
 women of the church have had a number of organizations and 
 prayer meetings in the years since that time. 
 
 In 1883 a Woman's Christian Temperance Union was 
 organized, comprising nearly all of the active Christian women 
 
156 HONESDALE PBESBYTEEIAN CHURCH. 
 
 in the cliurcli besides women from the Methodist, Episcopal 
 and other churches. This society is still active and working 
 for the education of the young ia the principles of temperance 
 and the uplifting of the masses. 
 
 The women of the church and congregation have had a 
 great many societies and organizations of various kinds for the 
 advancement of some good work of which no mention can be 
 made here, as it is beyond the limitations of this work to any 
 more than indicate the endless activities that have engaged the 
 attention of the noble women of the church. Every deserving 
 cause, even though it is unpopular, is sure of sympathy and 
 support at their hands. They have taken the initiative in many 
 of the improvements that have been made in the church prop- 
 erty. In fact not only Honesdale church but all of our churches 
 would languish if it were not for the consecrated work of the 
 Christian women of the land. The boxes and barrels of cloth- 
 ing and books that have been sent to freedmen and destitute 
 fields in the south and west, also flowers tliat have been sent to 
 the city hospitals, and many more acts of kindness and mercy 
 that have received inspiration and help from the kind-hearted 
 women of our church, are a part of the unwritten history of the 
 church which is of such a character that none of the kind doners 
 would care to have the details given. In God's great book of 
 remembrance the faithful will not be forgotten though their 
 deeds were never told on earth. 
 
 Mrs. Clarissa Tucker Tracy was born in Jackson, Susque- 
 hanna county, Pa., November 12, 1818, her maiden name 
 being Tucker. She commenced to attend school when she was 
 three and one-half years old and learned to read and write some 
 the first term. When 14 she began to teach and when 16 she 
 went to Harford Academy and took an advanced standing, hav- 
 ing G. A. Grow and Charles R. Buckalew for classmates. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Eichardson were her teachers. The last year she 
 was at Harford the Richardsons invited her to accompany them 
 to Honesdale to assist them in their school at that place. She 
 came and after two years the Eichardsons decided to establish 
 
woman's woek 157 
 
 a school at Bethany, and the trustees of Honesdale Academy 
 hired Miss Tucker to continue her teaching here, which she 
 did. She went to board with T. H. K. Tracy, where she met 
 her future husband, Horace H. Tracy, whom she married in 
 1844, their married life was terminated by his death in 1848, 
 after which she resumed teaching in the private schools where 
 she did such good work that she is still remembered favorably 
 by her old pupils. When the academy was built she went in 
 as the only lady teacher at first. She says, "we had a delight- 
 ful and prosperous school with five teachers." After a few 
 years she decided to go to Neenah, Wis., where P. R. Williams, 
 William Crane and Mr. Eobinson, Seelyville families, had gone. 
 She taught there a number of years then went to Eipon, Wis., 
 and was made superintendent of the female department of that 
 college. She says: "As near as I can estimate I have taught 
 in all sixty-four years. I have taught every graduate of Ripon 
 up to '95 or '96 and some since. I have taught seven or eight 
 judges, including Judge Seely, of Honesdale, and Judge Hand, 
 of Scranton, seven or eight senators, several scores of lawyers 
 and doctors, and four or more scores of ministers, and about a 
 dozen missionaries in the foreign field. I am profoundly 
 thankful to my Heavenly Father that he has permitted me to 
 do this work. I passed my 85th birthday the 12th of Novem- 
 ber last, ( 1903 ). My title in the faculty now is professor 
 emeritus, but I have many things to do still and hope I may 
 continue to have while I remain in this life." 
 
 Mary Franks Goldsmith Haines was born at Coldenham, 
 Orange county, N. T., December 22, 1808, and she died in 
 Honesdale, September 3, 1895, aged nearly 87. She joined 
 the Goodwill Presbyterian church at Montgomery, N. Y., when 
 she was 17 years old and she took her letter to Darnestown 
 Presbyterian church, Maryland, whence she took her letter to 
 Honesdale church in 1887. She had been a Presbyterian 70 
 years when she died. She was an industrious, kind, hospita- 
 ble, truthful, honest Christian woman, with an abounding cheer- 
 fulness even to old age. Her daughter, Susan, is a faithful 
 
158 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 member of the church and her son, Benjamin, is the well known 
 editor and proprietor of the Wayne Independent. 
 
 Lucy Waite Forbes, one of the charter members of the 
 church, was born ia Brookfield, Worcester county, Mass., Oc- 
 tober 11, 1785. Her husband, Charles Forbes, was born June 
 28, 1785. They came to Honesdale from Smiley Hollow, Sus- 
 quehanna county, Pa., in 1827, and in 1828 he erected the 
 Wayne County House on the corner of Park and Main streets 
 where Hotel Wayne stands. His hotel was the first polling 
 place in the town, and here the first subscription paper for 
 preaching in Honesdale was circulated by the hotel clerk, Ed- 
 ward Mills. The first postoffice in Honesdale was established 
 in 1828 with Charles Forbes postmaster. He was also a trustee 
 of the Presbyterian church for a time. Mrs. Forbes was re- 
 lated to the late Chief Justice Waite of the supreme court, and 
 she was the mother of seven children, Lucy Ann, Sophie W., 
 Clarissa E., Catharine G., William E., Aaron G., and Mary E. 
 Two of these children, Sophia and Catharine, became members 
 of the church. Lucy Ann married Zenas H. Russell and be- 
 came a member of Grace Episcopal church, and Mrs. Russell's 
 children, Mrs. R. J. Menner, Mrs. W. H. Dimmick and Henry 
 Z. Russell, were all prominent members of Grace church. Mrs. 
 Forbes died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Z. H. Russell, 
 August 25, 1855, aged 70. She retained her membership and 
 her pew in the Presbyterian church as long as she lived. 
 
 Rebecca Sohoonover, wife of Levi Schoonover, was one of 
 the nine constituent members of the Honesdale Presbyterian 
 church. Her maiden name was Rebecca Tompkins and she 
 came from Morris county, N. J. She was converted under the 
 preaching of Rev. Phineas Camp and she joined the Bethany 
 church on profession of faith soon after that church was organ- 
 ized in 1818, and she came to Honesdale church with her letter 
 from Bethany church. Her children were Daniel, George, 
 Faimy and Levi. She died in 1841, aged 42. Levi Schoon- 
 over, her husband, was the son of William Schoonover, the 
 first settler on the Dyberry, and he was the first white child 
 
woman's work. 159 
 
 bom in the valley of that river. He lived to an old age and 
 died in Sussex county, New Jersey. 
 
 The three oldest members or the church are women. Mrs. 
 Phebe Gainsfort came to Leonardsville with her husband, Wil- 
 liam L. Gainsfort, who was a scow boss on the canal, about 
 1838. Phebe Gainsfort was received into the church by letter 
 from Milford church June 29, 1838. She is still liviag near 
 Port Jervis and will be 100 years old June 30, 1905. 
 
 Chloe H. Dibble, widow of John lach, became a member 
 of the church January 30, 1839. She was dismissed to Promp- 
 ton church in 1842. She is living in Carbondale at an ad- 
 vanced age. 
 
 Millicent Foster Woodhouse became a member of the 
 church February 1, 1839, and she still abides with us, the last 
 survivor of Elder I. P. Foster's large family. 
 
First Presbyterian Church o? Honesdai,k 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDERS. 161 
 
 This charter was amended on petition of the board of 
 trustees, who in said petition represent that said corporation is 
 embraced in corporations of the first chiss, specified in section 
 second of the Act of 1874; that the trustees in pursuance of 
 said act being desirous of altering, amending and improving its 
 charter did at a joint meeting of the trustees and the session of 
 the church hekl in the pastor's study at the chapel pursuant to 
 public notice on the 25th daj of November, A. D., 1895, adopt 
 amendments to the charter, in substance, as follows; "The 
 yearly annual income of the real estate and interest of money 
 shall not exceed $30,000." 
 
 " The board of trustees shall consist of not less than five 
 members, a m;ijority of whom shall be recognized by the church 
 as being in full communion with the church, and they shall be 
 chosen by ballot at such time and in such jolace as the by-laws 
 shall direct, of which election at least ten days previous notice 
 shall be given. The persons capable of voting at the election 
 of trustees, and at all other elections, shall Ije the subscribers to 
 this instrument and all other persons who shall become mem- 
 bers of this society and who adhere to the system of religious 
 faith adopted by the Presbyterian church; provided neverthe- 
 less, that no one shall be permitted to vote excepting pewholders, 
 who contribute to the support of the church and society, and 
 their families, who are members of said society, all of whom 
 must be of legal age. The trustees shall meet within ten da3's 
 of their election and organize by electing a president, secretary 
 and a treasurer. A majority shall constitute a quorum. The 
 trustees have power over the temporal affairs of the society but 
 cannot contract a debt or expend more than $500 nor alien the 
 property without the consent of the society. 
 
 The choice and salary of a pastor, the building of a house 
 of worship or the disbursing of any sum of money exceeding 
 $500, shall be determined by the vote of a majority of a meet- 
 ing of the society, of which meeting ten days notice shall have 
 been given, the object of the meeting being clearly stated in 
 such notice." 
 
162 HONESDALE PEESBYTEELVN CHURCH. 
 
 The trustees to be chosen after the charter was amended 
 were divided into three classes, one class of three persons to be 
 elected for one year, another class for two years and another for 
 three years, so that thereafter three persons were to be elected 
 annually to serve for three years. There are now nine trustees 
 elected as the charter provides. 
 
 After obtaining the original charter, at the annual meeting 
 on the second Tuesday of November, 1830, five trustees were 
 elected, as follows: Isaac P. Foster, Charles Forbes, Eichard 
 L. Seely, Abraham I. Stryker and John Torrey. On Novem- 
 ber 21, they met at the house of Rev. J. Campbell and organ- 
 ized by electing A. I. Stryker, president, E. L. Seely, secretary 
 and John Torrey treasurer. S. Brush was elected trustee the 
 next year. December 5, 1832, at a meeting held at John Tor- 
 rey's, Jason Torrey informed the board that the president of 
 the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company had furnished him 
 with a copy of a resolution of their board agreeing to give the 
 Episcopal Society two lots for a site for a church fronting on 
 the public square providing he would give two lots, also front- 
 ing on the public square, to the Presbyterian Society for a site 
 for a church. He then presented a proposition to the board 
 that he would grant and convey to the Trustees of the Presby- 
 terian Congregation of Honesdale for a site for a church for 
 their society two lots fronting on the public square east of street 
 No. 2, now Church street, or he would give a lot of ground to 
 be selected by the trustees on the east side of street No. 2 ad- 
 joining or not adjoining said street and fronting on the public 
 square or such other place on the east side of street No. 2 as 
 shall be preferred at the election and preference of the trustees. 
 The lot not to be less than one hundred feet square unless dif- 
 ferent dimensions shall be fixed by agreement, also that he 
 would convey a lot of ground for a parsonage at the place 
 where the parsonage stables are now building, which shall be 
 of dimensions not less than one hundred feet front by two 
 hundred and fifty feet deep, which propositions were unani- 
 monsly accepted as satisfactory to the board, whereupon it was 
 
TRUSTEES Am) PEWHOLDEES. 163 
 
 resolved that copies of this minute duly certified be furnished 
 io the said Jason Torrey and to the president of the Delaware 
 & Hudson Canal Company. 
 
 In pursuance of the foregoing promise Jason Torrey, on 
 the 7th of August, 1845, conveyed one hundred feet square on 
 the corner of Tenth and Second streets, where the church now 
 stands, to the society "as a site for a House of Public Divine 
 worship." 
 
 A. meeting of the congregation was held at the meeting 
 house pursuant to public notice Tuesday evening, December 17, 
 1832. E. L. Seely was chosen chairman and I. P. Foster sec- 
 retary. At this meeting it was resolved, "That it is important 
 and desirable that measures be immediately taken to build a 
 comfortable parsonage house and that the trustees be requested 
 to take the necessary steps to raise funds to accomplish said 
 object." On motion of E. T. Losey it was resolved, "That Mr. 
 Campbell be requested to state the intentions of this socitity, of 
 their arrangements to build a parsonage house, to the American 
 Home Missionary Society and request a continuance of the 
 same aid from that society another year, with an expression of 
 gratitude on the part of the society for past aid." Russel F. 
 Lord was elected a trustee at this meeting. Eev. Mr. Camp- 
 bell informed them at that meeting that he had received a call 
 from a church in New Jersey and he requested the views and 
 advice of the society, whereupon it was unanimously resolved 
 that it is the desire of this meeting that Mr. Campbell shall 
 continue his pastoral charge over this church. If Mr. Camp- 
 bell was desirous of testing his congregation he must have been 
 greatly encouraged by this vote of confidence. At this same 
 meeting S. Z. Lord, Stephen Torrey and Daniel P. Kirtland 
 were appointed a committee of vigilance. Considering the old 
 time severity in discipline, it may be inferred by the appoint- 
 ment of this committee that the conduct of church members 
 was to be watched. 
 
 Stephen North, Jr., and S. Z. Lord were elected trustees 
 in 1838. At this meeting of the congregation the trustees were 
 
164 HONESDAIE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 directed to settle the accounts with Mr. Blandin concerning the 
 parsonage. They were to receive all the accounts that were 
 brought against the society and settle them as might seem right 
 and proper. This direction doubtless had reference to the fact 
 that subscriptions towards building at that time were often to do 
 a given amount of work, furnish lumber or material from a store, 
 and all these agreements had to be adjusted fairly. At a sub- 
 sequent meeting committees were appointed to get reports of 
 the persons who had charge of enlarging the Tabernacle, re- 
 specting the purchase of a parsonage, etc. 
 
 The Tabernacle is the place where the church was organ- 
 ized, then religious services were held in a small school house 
 a little back of the John Brown brick residence. This school 
 house was built in 1828. Afterwards an upper room in the 
 store house of Eussell & Wilcox was fitted up and used for a 
 time. This building then stood by the canal not far from 
 where the Delaware & Hudson freight depot now is. This 
 room was used but a short time however. The building on the 
 point, at the confluence of the Dyberry and Lackawaxen rivers, 
 which was erected in 1826 had been vacated, and in 1830 it 
 was enlarged by doubling its size. It was originally built 16x48 
 feet with one roof and this was its condition, with Hiram Plum 
 its occupant, when the church was organized. The building 
 was enlarged by adding sixteen feet to the width, then they had 
 a building 32x48 feet. When this building was enlarged and 
 furnished it evidently impressed the builders as a temporary 
 arrangement like the Tabernacle in the wilderness which pre- 
 ceded the Temple, so they called it the Tabernacle, a name by 
 which it has come down to us. This house, as fitted up, had 
 double doors in the gable facing south towards the Lackawaxen 
 river, and the pulpit was in the north end. There were two 
 long windows, one each side of the entrance door and three or 
 four windows on each side. Probably each sash had about 
 thirty or thirty-six of those smaU 7x9 inch glass made up at 
 the Water Company's First Pond. It was sided, but unpainted 
 and had an almost square, box-like appearance, characteristic 
 
TEUSTEES AJSID PEWHOLDEES. 165 
 
 of tliose old time buildings. It was used by the Presbyterians 
 for about six or seven years until the erection of the first church 
 on the present site. John Torrey, who had been on the board 
 of trustees since the organization of the church and was now 
 secretary of the board, made the first exhaustive report of the 
 financial condition of the church of which there is any record; 
 in that report made November 11, 1834, the expense of enlarg- 
 ing the meeting house, the Tabernacle, is given as $190.11 in- 
 cluding stoves and fuel. Of this amotint $104.75 had been paid 
 leaving $85.36 due. The expense of building the barn was 
 $85.30, and $18.53 was still due. The expense of the parson- 
 age house and lot was $1,000 and there was a balance due 
 Daniel Blandin on that of $37.50. The contingent expense for 
 fuel and candles for the year was $36.04. Then followed a 
 statement of the amount due from each man for the years 1830, 
 1831, 1832 and 1833, on subscriptions for salary, meeting 
 house and barn. Judging from the amount due on salary, Mr. 
 Campbell did not get his small salary any too soon after it was 
 due. 
 
 March 3, 1836, the trustees contracted with S. & E. S. 
 Kose, of Milford, for the erection of a church, 44x53 feet for 
 $2,850, subsequently enlarged to 45x60 feet. September 6, 
 
 1848, John H. Crandall, of Honesdale, contracted with John F. 
 Eoe, president, and the board of trustees, to enlarge the church 
 by adding twenty-three feet to the length, this was done, as 
 Judge Hand states, by sawing the church in two and removing 
 the rear gable back and filling in the space with new material. 
 The new church, 45x83 feet according to the contract, but Dr. 
 Dunning states 45x82 feet, was opened for worship in July, 
 
 1849. All this showed progress. The church was increasing in 
 numbers, wealth and influence. The first Lecture Eoom or 
 Chapel was built north of the church in the summer of 1847 
 and dedicated January 9, 1848. 
 
 The Hones dale Academy was erected about 1833 and the 
 building was rented for district school purposes until 1838, 
 when it became distinctively an academy. In this building, 
 
166 HONESDAIE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 which occupied the site of the present Graded school building, 
 there was evidently the first bell in town, and at the annual 
 meeting in 1834 Eev. Mr. Campbell and Col. Seely were ap- 
 pointed a committee to make arrangements with the other so- 
 cieties to have the ringing of the school house bell at such times 
 as to accommodate our time for meeting for worship on the 
 Sabbath. It was also decided to take contributions once in 
 two weeks until a sum sufficient be raised to pay arrears due 
 for contingent expenses and to purchase a supply of fuel and 
 candles, and two plates covered with flannel were ordered pur- 
 chased for taking contributions. The Methodists at this time 
 were worshipping in the school house. 
 
 The struggles of the pioneer churches cannot be fully ap- 
 preciated by us now. Money was scarce and hard to get, hence 
 subscriptions were largely in material. The trustees com- 
 menced as early as 1834 to agitate the subject of building a 
 church and a subscription was started with a view to raising 
 $2,600 and Kev. Mr. Campbell, in 1835, was requested to go to 
 New York and try and get aid there. The committee to pre- 
 pare plans were I. P. Foster, S. Z. Lord, S. North, Jr., Daniel 
 Blandin, trustees, and Eev. Joel Campbell, E. L. Seely and 
 Jason Torrey. Finally the trustees felt justified in making a 
 contract, and the church was erected as heretofore mentioned. 
 The subscription to this fund dated Honesdale, January 1, 1835, 
 is here given to show the amounts and kind of gifts that were 
 made. John Torrey, $200; E. L. Seely, $200, payable in lum- 
 ber; Jason Torrey, $300; Stephen North, Jr , $75, and $25 in 
 lumber; Stephen Torrey, $100, payable in lumber; Ezra Hand, 
 $50; David Cory, $50; Simeon S. Chamberlain, $40 in labor 
 and material; David Beers, $30, payable in joiner work; Stephen 
 Brush, $40, payable in material and labor; Eev. Joel Campbell, 
 $50; Isaac P. Foster, $150, payable in work and material; Dan- 
 iel P. Kirtland, $50, payable out of store; Andrew Crawford, 
 $25; Daniel P. Fuller, $30; S. Z. Lord, $40, payable in lumber; 
 T. N. Vail, $50, one-half out of my shop; N. B. Eldred, $10; 
 Abram V. Kimble, iu labor, $15; E. Kingsbury, Jr., $40; Hayes 
 
TEUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES. 167 
 
 & Williams, $50, in goods, etc., when called for; E. F. Lord, 
 $100; Tliomas H. E. Tracy, $25; Jonathan Brink, $10, in pine 
 lumher by his order; John Leonard, $25; Guilford Tracy, in 
 carpenter work, $8; H. Baldwin, $5; H. H. Farnum, $30; Samuel 
 S. Jessup, $30; Moses Ward, $15; Hiram Dibble, $15; Thomas 
 L. Eeese, $10; Abram I. Stryker, $30; (from New York, Philip 
 Hone, $50; Cash, $5; A. Tappan, $20; Mr. Halkead, $25; Mrs. 
 Cornish, $25); Mr. Williams, $5; A. H. Ives, $12, to be paid in 
 carpenter work; B. Patmor, $20; Ambrose Wheeler, $12; D. St. 
 John, $10; Calvin Earl, $5; Levi D. Stewart, $10; Eussell & 
 Farnham, $25, payable in goods out of our store; Chas. Forbes, 
 $20; Tarbos & Brown, in work, $20; Lewis Merton, $5; James 
 M. Keen, $5; Silas Stevens, $30, to be paid in lumber, work or 
 material; George M. Keen, lumber, at cash price, $30; John F. 
 Eoe, $20, goods at my store; S. & E. S. Eose, $50; Alfred Bliss, 
 SIO; Charles Wmts, $20; Sarah McMullen, $10; Stephen G. 
 Cory, $10; George Jenkins, $10, in lumber; Elisha S. Hand, 
 $5; Mrs. Chapman, $15. Total amount, $2,632. This was the 
 first great effort that was made to build a Presbyterian church 
 in Honesdale and it was successful. It may be of interest to 
 known who furnished the money to purchase the bell that still 
 rings from our church tower. The bell was to cost $400 and 
 it was purchased about 1839. It was sent in Mr. Graves' name 
 which siill is on the bell. The subscribers were E. L. Seely, 
 E. F. Lord, John Torrey, H. H. Farnum, T. N. Vail, H. Bald- 
 win, E. Kingsbury, Jr., Stephen North, Jr., I. P. Foster, Silas 
 Stevens, George M. Keen, Hand & Kirtland, Daniel Blandin, 
 Orren Townsend, Daniel Bolkcom, Andrew Crawford, Lewis 
 Morton, David Tarbox, Eev. Joshua B. Graves, Stephen Brush, 
 Elisha P. Hand, Daniel Edgar, I. N. Sanders, Eliakim Field, 
 P. Carlen, Z. H. Eussell, Charles Farnham, M. L. Delezenne, 
 E. Patmor, E. S. Pope, E. T. Losey, J. Worter, Samuel B. 
 Wait. 
 
 July 8, 1837, the trustees appointed Messrs. Seely, Tracy 
 and North to procure a Bible, lamps and necessary trimmings 
 for the new meeting house. On Thursday, September 20, 1887, 
 
168 HONJISUAXE PBESBYTEBIAH CHURCH. 
 
 the first pews in the new church were rented to R. F. Lord, 
 Thomas H. R. Tracy, Ebenezer T. Losey, Daniel Blandin, John 
 Torrey, George M. Keen, Richard L. Seely, Patmor & Stevens, 
 Stephen Torrey, Samuel S. Jessup, Isaac P. Foster, Stephen 
 North, Jr., E. Kingsbury, Jr., D. P, Fuller, Z. H. Russell, John 
 Neal, Brush & Tarbox, William Rockwell, T. N. Vail, David 
 Beers, Horace Baldwin, Andrew Crawford, Hand & Kirtland, 
 David Cory, S. Z. Lord, E. S. Hand, James Pinkney, Lewis 
 Merten, E. S. Rose, Harry Wheeler, George Cole, W. R. Mc- 
 Laury. The pew rentals aggregated $442 and Rev. Joel Camp- 
 bell's salary can be inferred from these figures. Rev. Walters 
 Warren was stated supply when the church was completed and 
 the congregation desired to engage him as their pastor, but he 
 wrote a letter to the trustees refusing to be considered as a can- 
 didate for the pastorate. Rev. J. B. Graves was elected pastor 
 and the difiiculties with him are treated elsewhere. In 1843, 
 after Rev. H. A. Rowland had been elected pastor, the trustees 
 concluded to sell the parsonage property up town but Dr. Row- 
 land preferred to live there and he loaned the society $500 to 
 repair the building. The building prior to that consisted of 
 the main building without the wing and here Rev. Joel Camp- 
 bell lived up stairs while Daniel Blandin lived on the first floor. 
 About 1835 Blandin built on the flats where his son Henry 
 now resides and moved there. Probably Graves occupied the 
 entire building. January 15, 1843, the trustees let the con- 
 tract to James B. Tillman to put on the wing for $525, and this 
 enlarged house was occupied by Rev. Henry A. Rowland dur- 
 ing his pastorate, which commenced at a salary of $750 which 
 was raised to $1,100 before his pastorate ended. At the an- 
 nual meeting in 1843 the rent of the parsonage was fixed at 
 $125 a year and that amount was applied on the indebtedness 
 on Rowland's salary; a good way to pay old debts certainly. 
 In 1844 at a meeting of the congregation it was resolved that 
 it was expedient to build a session room for the congregation 
 and David Beers, C. C. Graves and Z. W. Arnold were ap- 
 pointed a committee to act in concert with the trustees in the 
 
TRUSTEES AND PENHOLDERS. 169 
 
 matter. At a meeting of the congregation in 1846 Stephen 
 Torrey was appointed to request the ladies to place the funds 
 raised by their late fair in the hands of the trustees to be ex- 
 pended in painting the church. This is the first mention of 
 any money received from the ladies of the church and it appears 
 that about this time they began to take an active interest in the 
 matter of erecting a lecture room, and it was through their ef- 
 forts that this work was finally accomplished. 
 
 E. L. Seely reported $216 slip rents for 1843 which was all 
 paid to Dr. Eowland. From the report of treasurer S. D. Ward 
 May 4, 1844, $365.37 had been received from pew rents and 
 $1,068 from subscription, and the weekly collections for six 
 months were $43.42. November 11, 1844, completing the year, 
 he made another report showing that he received on 1843 pew 
 rents, $140.46, and on the balance of the year 1844, $277 pew 
 rents, rent of parsonage $78.13, subscription to pay debts $80, 
 penny collection $37.79. The total for the year 1844 for pew 
 rents was $782.83. They paid Dr. Eowland that year $478.38, 
 exclusive of the interest on the $500 which he loaned them. 
 Dr. Eowland appears to have been very considerate of his con- 
 gregation. He loaned money to the trustees to repair the par- 
 sonage, then they charged him $125 a year for the use of it. 
 He got his salary in payments of sums varying from $5 to $200, 
 and his salary of $750 was in arrears. In 1845 the total re- 
 ceipts from all sources were $954.17, of this amount Dr. Eow- 
 land received $694.70 in money and orders on stores. This 
 condition of affairs went on until 1847 when at the annual meet- 
 ing of the congregation, Z. W. Arnold in the chair, and C. P. 
 "Waller secretary, the chair presented for the consideration of 
 the meeting the following paper drawn up by the pastor. The 
 trustees propose to the society the adoption of the following 
 resolutions, viz: 
 
 1. Eesolved, that in renting the pews of the church hereafter it be on 
 the condition that the pew rent shall be payable half yearly in advance. 
 
 2. Besolved, that the trustees be authorized and directed to settle with 
 the pastor at the close of each half year ; and for this purpose to raise by 
 loan or otherwise the funds that may be necessary. 
 
170 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CHUKCH. 
 
 3. Kesolved, that inasmuoh as we deem it Improper that the pastor 
 should be compelled to go to the bank to raise money for his household ex- 
 penses while so large an amount of back salary is due from the society ; 
 therefore, resolved, that the trustees be authorized and directed to raise the 
 (winds) means and pay off the amount now due in the speediest manner 
 possible. 
 
 These resolutions were to the point with a clever touch of 
 Dr. Rowland's wit combined. The question being taken on the 
 first resolution it was lost and on motion of S. D. Ward the 
 other resolutions were laid on the table. Elder Horace Tracy, 
 who was a conservative and considerate man, offered the follow- 
 ing resolution which was adopted: Resolved, "that the trustees 
 be instructed to raise by subscription a sum sufficient to pay 
 up the back salary and the debt due the pastor, coming due 
 next spring, if they can." At this meeting James R. Dickson 
 and John F. Roe were elected trustees. 
 
 The last clause in Mr. Tracy's resolution shows that it 
 might not be possible to pay all that was due the pastor at 
 once, for the town was young and composed of young and 
 middle aged men who had been attracted here in the expecta- 
 tion of gaining a living. There was not much wealth in the 
 town at this time and embarrassing as it may have been for 
 Mr. Rowland not to receive his salary promptly, it was equally 
 embarrassing for the trustees to secure the money to pay him; 
 but more men kept coming into the village and the trustees 
 not only circulated a subscription to pay the salary, but they 
 also took a subscription to enlarge the church, and they suc- 
 ceed iu acoomplishiug both purposes. None succeed so well 
 as those who have the faith to go forward when there is a real 
 need for a forward movement. 
 
 In 1851 the trustees added a *premium bid for choice of 
 pews and decided to add whatever was received for choice to 
 the pastor's salary. This gave the admirers of Dr. Rowland 
 an opportunity to increase his salary, and his salary was in- 
 creased to $1,100 in 1852. 
 
 *Note, Paying a premium for choice of pew continues to this day. 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDERS. 171 
 
 At the annual meeting in 1853 John Torrey offered a reso- 
 lution reciting the fact that the trustees had used part of the 
 money arising from slip rents for other purposes than the pay- 
 ment of the pastor's salary without making arrangements to 
 replace said funds. It was resolved, "that it is the duty of the 
 trustees to apply all the receipts from slip rents to the pay- 
 ment of the pastor's salary, and that hereafter no part of said 
 slip rent shall be applied to any other purpose until after pro- 
 vision is made for the payment of all arrears to the pastor, and 
 for the residue of the year for which the slips shall have been 
 rented." This just arrangement to first pay the pastor from 
 pew rents is the law of the Honesdale Presbyterian church to 
 this day, and the pastor's salary is paid promptly every month. 
 
 In 1856 a new barn was built on the parsonage lot for 
 $315, Henry Heath contractor. 
 
 At the annual meeting in 1863 the subject of exchanging 
 the old parsonage for one more centrally located was discussed 
 and Miles L. Tracy, C. F. Young and H. C. Hand were ap- 
 pointed a committee to look after that matter. At the same 
 meeting F. B. Penniman, Elias T. Beers and David Beers were 
 appointed to examine the steeple of the church and report the 
 condition at the next meeting, which was held November 17, 
 1863, E. L. Seely chairman and George G. Waller secretary. 
 At this meeting, after hearing the report of the committee on 
 the condition of the steeple, it was decided to take the initiative 
 steps towards building a new church, and E. L. Seely and M. 
 L. Tracy were appointed a committee to circulate a subscrip- 
 tion to that end. E. L. Seely died and C F. Young and E. F. 
 Torrey were appointed to act with Mr. Tracy on this commit- 
 tee. The committee secured pledges for $21,075, and John 
 Torrey, C. F. Young, I. Snyder, S. D. Ward and E. T. Beers 
 were appointed a committee to procure plans. March 18, 1864 
 the trustees were authorized to sell the old parsonage property 
 to E. W. Hamlin for $1,500. The committee on plans decided 
 to build with brick and after reporting a plan were discharged 
 and John Torrey, C. F. Young, H. M. Seely, W. H. Foster and 
 
172 HONESDALE PEESBTTEBIAN CHUECH. 
 
 David Beers were appointed a building committee*; they also 
 decided to purchase a strip of land 20x110 feet east of the 
 church lot for $300. 
 
 April 30, 1864, the salary of the pastor was raised to $1,- 
 500. 
 
 July 30, 1864, Stephen Torrey in the chair and George G. 
 Waller secretary, it was decided to purchase the William F. 
 Wood property on the corner of Second and Tenth streets for 
 $4,000 and the vacant lot between that and the church where 
 the chapel now stands, for $2,200. In the fall of 1865 S. D. 
 Ward, Isaiah Snyder and D. P. Kirtland were added to the 
 building committee together with the trustees. A leave of ab- 
 sence was granted to Eev. C. S. Dunning while the lecture room 
 was being moved. April 9, 1866, the Vestry of the Episcopal 
 church tendered the use of their church to the Presbyterian 
 congregation any afternoon or evening they might choose dur- 
 ing the time of making their repairs. The Methodists also 
 verbally offered the use of their church. Beplies expressing 
 sincere thanks were sent to W. J. Puller, secretary of the Epis- 
 copal Vestry, also stating that should Mr. Dunning be present 
 they would avail themselves of their kind offer. The Metho- 
 dists were also thanked for their tender of their church. The 
 Presbyterians have since had opportunities to extend the same 
 courtesies to these brethren. This is but one illustration of 
 the friendly relations that exists among the churches in Hones- 
 dale. During the time services were held in the lecture room 
 the sexton was authorized to seat any respectable person in any 
 one's seat that is not fully occupied five minutes before the time 
 for services to begin. Eoom was limited in the lecture room 
 and it was necessary that it should all be occupied. In 1867 
 Dr. Dunning's salary was raised to $2,000, and in 1869 it was 
 raised to $2,500. In 1878, owing to the panic that commenced 
 in 1873, the church became embarrassed in meeting current 
 
 *Note. Appointing a building committee by the congregational meet- 
 ing autliorizing an improvement lias always been the custom in this church. 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES. 173 
 
 expenses. Dr. Dunning hearing of this wrote tlie trustees as 
 follows: ^ 
 
 "Gentlemen: I have learned that the annual income of the church 
 does not meet the annual expenses of the society, according to the present 
 scale of expenditure. Let me say that I sympathize with you in your em- 
 barassment — that I do not -wish to be a burden to the church and will not 
 be — that I am willing to bear my full share of the perplexities growing out 
 of the exigencies of the times. In view of the diminished financial re- 
 sources of the church from removals and by deaths and the peculiar times 
 through which as a nation, and a local community we are passing, I ask 
 you to make a reduction from my salary of $500. Thanking the board and 
 our faithful treasurer, for their kindness in the past I am 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 C. S. Dunning." 
 
 This letter was referred to a meeting of the church and it 
 was resolved that the trustees be authorized to accept the propo- 
 sition, with direction to express to Dr. Dunning, the sincere 
 regret of the congregation, that any reduction of his salary 
 should be necessary or even permissible, and their hearty ap- 
 preciation of his great liberality in voluntarily relinquishing so 
 large a percentage of his salary. 
 
 This voluntary sacrifice of salary speaks volumes for Dr. 
 Dunning, especially when it is remembered that he had re- 
 fused offers of from five to eight thousand dollars to go else- 
 where; but Dr. Dunning was a business man, and he knew that 
 churches as well as individuals must lire within their incomes. 
 He knew that his congregation were liberal and his letter shows 
 that he fully understood and sympathized with their embarrass- 
 ment. 
 
 From a report made by Treasurer Hand in 1871 it appears 
 that the total cost of the church was 141,192.11, that the cost 
 of removing and enlarging the lecture room was $2,146.85, and 
 by adding the cost of upholstering, pulpit furniture, carpeting, 
 etc., the total cost was $51,333.02. The first subscription 
 amounted to $21,045, and the second was $18,400. The Ladies' 
 Sewing Society furnished $599.79 in cash besides assuming 
 $1,900 indebtedness. The total receipts from pew rents at this 
 time were about $3,000 a year. 
 
174 nONESDAtE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 The pewholders from 1860 to 1870, some of them during 
 all of the period and others only during a portion of the period, 
 were, Henry Atherton, A. Allen, Samuel Allen, M. B. Allen, Dr. 
 Otis Avery, Asher M. Atkinson, Daniel Blandin, Henry Blandin, 
 George Blandin, James S. Bassett, Elias T. Beers, David Beers, 
 Thomas Benny, Henry Bunnell, Harvey Bishop, R. Barclay, H. 
 B. Beardslee, Miss Phebe Beardslee, Peter P. Brown, Dr. 
 Besaac, C. M. Ball, C. Brunnig, D. W. Brookfield, John T. 
 Ball, Bishop & Seaman, Mr. Briggs, Jeremiah Clark, Mrs. 
 Cbrk, H. J. Conger, E. H. Clark, Jr., Aaron Cummings, F. 
 Coon, R. Cushman, Dennis Chambers, Stephen G. Cory, David 
 Cory, J. P. Chambers, Charles Crandall, C. A. Corfcright, L. 
 Coryell, C. P. Clark, G. M. Cobb, J. P. Darling, Jesse Dexter, 
 Joseph Denton, Chauncy Damming, E. S. Dorin, A. Douglass, 
 Samuel E. Dimmick, Coe Durland, Dr. C. Dusinberre, William 
 T. Estabrook, James B. Eldred, Daniel M. Eno, T. S. Fitoh, 
 W. J. Fuller, L. R. Fowler, Isaac P. Foster, William H. Foster, 
 Isaac N. Foster, Josiah Foster, George Fox, Aaron Flower, 
 George Foster, A. G. Forbes, H. Goodman, Abram Gilpin, F. 
 W. Grennell, Emma Gustin, George Guinnip, Nathan Gray, 
 Ezra Hand, Henry Hoyle, Horace C. Hand, Abram Hoagland, 
 Horton B. Hamlin, Henry B. Hall, W. B. Holmes, M. H. Hart- 
 ley, N. R. Hankins, Mrs. Hall, Samuel P. Haley, John K. 
 Jenkins, C. C. Jadwin, Drs. Jones & Keefer, David Kenner, 
 George S. Keen, Robert J. Knapp, Dr. Consider King, R. W. 
 Kiple, John P. Kimble, D. P. Kirtland, Dr. E. T. Losey, C. C. 
 Lane, E. A. Ludwig, G. W. Lindsley, Dr. Joseph Leach, John F. 
 Lord, A. B. Lacy, Alexander Marsh, James Matthews, Charles 
 S. Minor, Joseph R. Mitchell, L. McCreery, John Mcintosh, J. 
 W. Manning, Jacob Marsh, Peter Murphy, Joseph Nichols, A. 
 P. Osmun, F. B. Penniman, George S. Purdy, C. E. Power, J. 
 Pregnall, Seth W. Powell, H. L. Phillips, Edward A. Penniman, 
 William Reed, C. F. Rockwell, John F. Roe, John Robertson, 
 J. E. Richmond, Oliver Rogers, John Rehbein, O. J. Rowe, H. 
 H. Roe, Adam Reitenauer, Benjamin B. Smith, Robert A. Smith, 
 Henry W. Stone, C. N, Spencer, R. L. Seely, Henry M. Seely, 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEKS. Lib 
 
 George D. Seely, Isaiah Snyder, J. H. Sutton, W. H. Stanton, 
 Walter Spry, Dr. A. Strong, Benjamin Sherwood, C M. Scott, 
 E. I. Stearns, L. E. Stearns, M. H. Stanley, Charles B. Shaw, 
 Charles M. Salmon, Bobert N. Torrey, John Torrey, Stephen 
 Torrey, Edwin F. Torrey, Mrs. A. A. Tracy, Miles L. Tracy, 
 Mrs. Tilloii, Thomas H. E. Tracy, Lewis Taylor, Eodney Til- 
 lou, Isaac Tibbetts, Tompkins & Salmon, H. J. Tarble, Harri- 
 son Valentine, Jesse VanSteenberg, M. F. VanKirk, M. Yande- 
 berg, William Wefferling, Stephen D. Ward, Charles P. Waller, 
 George G. Waller, Earl Wheeler, M. V. Wheeler, Mrs Wheeler, 
 William F. Wood, LeGrand Wright, E. G. Wood, William W. 
 Weston, J. & F. Wagner, H. A. Woodhouse, Benjamin L. Wood, 
 S. B. Wood, George F. Wilbur, Henry Watts, Coe F. Young, 
 making one hundred and eighty-five different pewholders dur- 
 ing the ten years. Up to 1890 other names appear as pew- 
 holders as follows: L. A. Adams, D. B. Atkinson, Joseph 
 Atkinson, Miss Avery, Mrs. Bigart, David Bodie, Mrs. T. S. 
 Brown, Harvey Bishop, Richard H. Brown, L. Bishop, Oliver 
 Bunnell, Aimie Ball, George Baker, Joseph A. Bodie, Dr. Keed 
 Bums, L. Borner, Henry S. Battin, T. A. Black, C. M. Betz, 
 George F. Bentley, Conrad Bates, Howard Bodie, Isaac Ball 
 Mrs. John Bassett, John Brown, Dr. C. E. Brady, Charles Cran- 
 dall, Lewis S. Collins, Mrs. Cady, John Congdon, O. T. Cham- 
 bers, Dr. Cummings, Peter E. CoUum, F. V. Carr, D. S. Car- 
 penter, Miss Mary Church, W. Coleman, Harry Cole, Miss 
 Lavinia Dimmick, Misses Erk, Miss Emma Denton, W. L. 
 Ferguson, Thomas Fowler, Samuel J. Foster, H. Foster, Jr., 
 Lorenzo Grambs, WUliam Gale, W. J. Gregory, Homer Greene, 
 Mrs. L. F. Gardner, J. C. Gunn, J. Gillan, W. H. Howe, Mrs. 
 C. C. Hand, B. F. Haines, J. A. Hiller, Miss Holbert, William 
 Hartwell, George E. Hatch, Henry Jackson, John and Mary L. 
 Kuhbach, Knapp & Spettigue, Charles E. Knapp, Dr. James 
 Kesler, William H. Krantz, F. I. Keen, Walter S. Lambert, W. 
 H. Lee, H. B. Larrabee, Horace Marsh, William T. Moore, 
 Mrs. McArthur, John Meyers, Miss Lizzie Mackle, E. C. Mum- 
 ford, E. W. Murphy, Claudius Mclntyre, Joseph Nichols, D. 
 
176 HONESDALE PEESBSTERIAN CHUECH. 
 
 W. Noyes, G. B. Osborn, W. H. Pregnall, Samuel Penwarden, 
 G. W. Penwarden, Miss Helen Purdy, William Power, Miss 
 Thane Quackenbush, Lyman O. Rose, E. G. Eeed, Kobert E. 
 Ransom, Philip Eeitenauer, George Eobinson, Miss Laura 
 Eichenbaker, Henry Eehbein, A. J. Eehbein, L. B. Eichtmyer, 
 Miles S. Sherwood, H. S. Salmon, H. K. Stone, WHliam H. 
 Stone, Mrs. Shumway, E. T. Smith, John Scaife, Charles W. 
 Spencer, E. M. Stocker, Walter Sullivan, Mrs. Munson Sher- 
 wood, William Stenzhorn, Clarence E. Salmon, Alonzo T. Searle, 
 Lawrence Spragle, H. L. Schremser, O. M. Spettigue, A. C. 
 Stewart, Andrew Thompson, F. D. Thayer, Isaac E. Tibbetts, 
 Mrs. N. E. Tillou, Mrs. Titus, Eodney Tillou, Conrad Thomas, 
 Daniel Weston, John D. Weston, Francis West, Fred B. Whit- 
 ney, E. M. Wilder, Graham Watts, B. M. Wilcox, Mrs. Horace 
 Weston, W. J. Ward, George Wolf, Henry Wilson, Miss Yon- 
 kers, G. E. Zippel. From 1840 to 1860 there were a number 
 of pewholders whose names are not here mentioned, but all of 
 these names will be found among the list of church members. 
 James E. Dickson, Zara W. Arnold, William Crane and others 
 of prominence were members during that time. 
 
 BUILDING OF THE CHAPEL. 
 
 For a number of years the members of the Honesdale Pres- 
 byterian church and congregation had felt that their chapel ac- 
 commodations were insufficient for the needs of the church and 
 Sunday school, but nothing practical was done towards the 
 erection of a new building until the holiday entertainment of 
 the Sunday school in 1888, when Horace C. Hand's class 
 donated fifty dollars towards the erection of a new chapel. 
 Superintendent Thompson commended the project and Eev. W. 
 H. Swift spoke earnestly in its favor. As it was very warm 
 that evening he said he hoped that it would become so warm 
 that Eev. Stephen Torrey, who was noted for his liberality, 
 could not stay there, or words to that effect. Mr. Torrey was 
 very much stirred by the appeal and asked Mr. Hand how 
 much a chapel would cost and being told that the Port Jervis 
 chapel cost $10,000 he placed $1,000 in the Wayne County 
 
The Chapei, 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES. 177 
 
 Savings Bank, supposing that he was contributing one-tenth of 
 the cost, subject, however, to the building of the chapel within 
 five years. Eev. Mr. Swift, in a sermon delivered after the six- 
 tieth anniversary, urged the undertaking, and at a meeting of the 
 congregation, November 8, 1889, Mr. Hand, having reported the 
 church out of debt, the project was again discussed and Messrs. 
 Holmes and Thompson were appointed to obtain plans and 
 specifications with estimates of cost. November 22d the plan 
 of Architect T. I. Lacey, of Binghamton, was presented and J. 
 E. Richmond was made chairman of a soliciting committee and 
 Deceniber 8 he reported subscriptions amounting to $9,998. 
 February 14, 1890, Mr. Thompson reported $12,320 subscribed. 
 At this meeting, on motion of H. 0. Hand, seconded by K. M. 
 Stocker, it was ordered that a new chapel be built, and on motion 
 of E. E. Torrey the building was not to cost over $15,000. It 
 was further directed that the building committee should consist 
 of Isaac N. Eoster, president; S. W. Powell, secretary; H. C. 
 Hand, treasurer; E. E. Torrey and W. H. Stanton, trustees, 
 together with Hon. H. M. Seely, Andrew Thompson, William 
 B. Holmes, Dr. E. Burns, W. W. Weston and Coe Durland. 
 H. S. Salmon was made treasurer of the building fund. April 
 21 the committee reported that they could not erect such a 
 building as was needed for the sum to which they had been 
 limited and the congregation authorized them to expend $17,- 
 000 in the erection of the building. Pursuant to this direction 
 the committee contracted with E. H. Brown for the construction 
 of the building according to plans furnished by T. I. Lacey for 
 $15,698 to which $90.77 were added for extras. Mr. Brown 
 did his work well and a beautiful chapel is the result. The 
 entire cost of the building and furnishiag was about $20,200. 
 Ground was broken May 21, 1890; the first stone was laid June 
 3 and the building was ready for occupancy and dedicated 
 October 27, 1891. The dedicatory services were appropriately 
 opened by singing, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow" 
 and reading of that Scripture wherein Solomon dedicates the 
 Temple to God's service. After the dedicatory prayer by Eev. 
 
178 HONESDALE PEESBITEKIAN CHXJECH. 
 
 H. H. Welles, of Kingston, Pa., Judge Seely acting as chairman, 
 introduced the speakers in a very happy manner. Kev. H. C. 
 McDermott, of the Methodist church, of Honesdale, made an 
 excellent address in which he characterized the Presbyterians 
 as a people of broad culture and he welcomed their improve- 
 ment in a generous and catholic spirit. Eev. Dr. N. G. Parke, 
 of Pittston, who came into the Lackawanna valley when Slocum 
 Hollow constituted all there was of the present city of Scranton, 
 spoke of the great influence of a man of character. He also 
 paid a tribute of respect to the memory of Eev. Stephen Torrey. 
 Henry Dunning, of Wilkesbarre, spoke in the spirit of his father. 
 His address was in good taste and was well received. He was 
 followed by Messrs. Frederick Fuller, A. W. Dickson, James 
 H. Torrey and Hon. Alfred Hand, all leading men of Scranton. 
 These parties seemed to be proud of the fact that they were 
 natives of Honesdale and were grateful for the instructions that 
 they had received at the hands of Dr. Eowland, Dr. Dunning 
 and Sunday school superintendents and teachers in the Presby- 
 terian church. Judge Hand also donated $500 towards the 
 chapel fund. After the benediction by Rev. G. C. Hall, of 
 Grace Episcopal church, the large audience engaged in hand 
 shaking and in looking over the building, many remaining to 
 partake of the free lunch that the ladies had prepared in the 
 chapel parlors. The building faces the park south and you 
 enter the hall by means of solid stone steps. The first room 
 on the left is the pastor's study which was elegantly furni&hed 
 by the Bible class. The next room on that side is the infant 
 class room. This opens into the main auditorium, which is 
 surrounded on three sides by a gallery adapted for Sunday school 
 purposes. The gallery is entered from the end of the hall on 
 the right; adjoining this in the semi-rotunda is the library room, 
 and to the right as you first enter is the public reading room, 
 while the kitchen, dining room and ladies' parlor are in the 
 second story over the reading room, pastor's study and infant 
 class room. The reading room was opened to the public im- 
 mediately. Eev. Mr. Swift, as president of the Christian En- 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDERS. 179 
 
 deavor Society, appointed W. J. "Ward, J. A. Bodie, E. M. 
 Stocker, Misses Clara T. Sutton, May D. Foster and Jennie 
 Lee a committee to select literature for the room and take charge 
 of it. The committee solicited subscriptions and ordered a 
 large number of the leading magazines and newspapers. The 
 room has been kept open afternoons and evenings until recently, 
 when only in the evenings is the room open for the public. 
 The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor have fur- 
 nished volunteers from their number to look after this room free 
 of charge for more than twelve years. Among the pleasing 
 features of the dedicatory services was the presence of a daugh- 
 ter of Eev. Dr. Kowland and a son of Eev. Dr. Dunning, and 
 representatives of nearly all the former superintendents, John 
 Torrey, who had seen every church built that had been erected 
 in Honesdale, and Mrs. Ezra Hand, who had helped erect two 
 churches and two chapels. The Wednesday evening following 
 Eev. W. H. Swift, who had watched the building with great 
 interest and faith, delivered an earnest address looking towards 
 the sun rising, earnest and progressive. He was followed by E. 
 M. Stocker, who compared the old style of forbidding church, 
 with its austere pastor, perched on high in his pulpit, railed in, 
 having a sounding board over his head, with the present style 
 of chapel, which is a church home, pleasant and inviting with 
 modern appliances. He said Eev. Stephen Torrey would have 
 rejoiced to see this day, but he speaks mutely, yet eloquently, 
 through the bricks which his money helped to place in this 
 chapel. The following Sunday the regular exercises were omit- 
 ted and the time was occupied by Messrs. John T. Ball, "W. B. 
 Holmes and Hon. H. M. Seely, who made addresses appropriate 
 to the occasion. 
 
 In the fall of 1893 the Sunday school decided to fresco the 
 walls of the chapel if the trustees would permit them to do it, 
 this the trustees permitted and the frescoing was done by Bald- 
 win & Dabelstein, of Utica, for $330. The total expense of 
 frescoing and putting down carpeting, etc. was some $400. 
 
 June 26, 1895, E. F. Torrey, representing the children of 
 
180 HONESDAIiE PBESBYTEBIAN CHURCH. 
 
 John Torrey, deceased, gave two bonds of $1,000 each, the in- 
 terest of which is to be applied to the payment of the pew 
 rental of the John Torrey pew, which since the death of his 
 daughter Caroline N. Torrey, has been an endowed free pew. 
 
 At a meeting of the trustees held at the National Bank, 
 November 20, 1895, the following appears: "The charter of our 
 society having been mislaid and out of sight for a number of 
 years, but recently found, it is thought advisable to make some 
 amendment to it." The following resolution was passed: "Ee- 
 solved, that Andrew Thompson, E. C. Mumford, E. M. Stocker, 
 Henry Wilson and A. T. Searle be appointed a committee to 
 examine the charter and advise what amendments are needed 
 to make it more effective and what legal steps can be taken to 
 secure such amendments, and report when ready to a joint meet- 
 ing of the trustees and sessions." November 25, 1895, a joint 
 meeting presided over by E. F. Torrey was held in the pastor's 
 study in the chapel. There were present H. C. Hand, Andrew 
 Thompson, E. M. Stocker, J. A. Bodie, W. J. Ward, E. F. Tor- 
 rey, H. S. Salmon, W. W. Weston, E. C. Mumford and S. W. 
 Powell, secretary. The committee made their report and the 
 amendments to the charter heretofore mentioned were adopted, 
 and on regular application to the Court, were approved. 
 
 This charter provided for an election of a board of nine 
 trustees. Some irregularities in relation to the time of holding 
 elections had prevailed during the time the charter was mis- 
 laid, so all the old board resigned; and Wednesday, February 
 12, 1896, with Eev. W. H. Swift as chairman and S. W. Powell 
 as secretary, an entire new board was elected as follows: E. F. 
 Torrey, W. W. Weston and S. W. Powell for three years, W. 
 H. Stone, Hon. George S. Purdy and A. T. Searle for two years, 
 E. C. Mumford, H. S. Salmon and J. D. Weston for one year. 
 This board organized by electing E. F. Torrey, president; S. 
 W. Powell, secretary; H. S. Salmon, treasurer. 
 
 The parsonage had become dilapidated and the new board 
 of trustees with commendable diligence began to investigate the 
 matter and at a special meeting of the society held June 2, 1897, 
 
TETJSTEES AND PEWHOLDEBS. 181 
 
 R. M. Stocker chairman and S. W. Powell secretary, E. C. 
 Mumford chairman of the committee of trustees reported what 
 had been done in relation to plans and after much discussion 
 H. 0. Hand offered a motion which was seconded by Mr. 
 Thompson that the trustees be authorized to incur an indebted- 
 ness of $2,500 to remodel the parsonage. Mr. Holmes offered 
 an amendment increasing the amount to $6,000. The amend- 
 ment was accepted by the original movers and carried. With 
 this authorization the trustees employed Mr. Decker as archi- 
 tect and contracted the work to John D. Bryant for $4,350. 
 During the building of the manse as the new parsonage is called, 
 Eev. W. H. Swift and family resided on the corner of Sixteenth 
 and Main streets in the building now owned by Dr. E. T. Brown. 
 In the spring of 1898 the manse was ready for occupancy and 
 Rev. W. H. Swift and his family moved into it. 
 
 At the annual meeting February 13, 1901, Augustus P. 
 Thompson was appointed to collect the subscription which had 
 been made to pay off the debt of $4,100. This money was col- 
 lected and the debt was paid. The last $200 of this indebted- 
 ness, which included part of the chapel indebtedness, was paid 
 with that part of Pvev. Stephen Torrey's gift which was to re- 
 main in bank until the society was freed from debt, and the 
 interest was to go to the session for a library. 
 
 The persons who have been trustees of the church since its 
 organization are Isaac P. Foster, Charles Forbes, Richard L. 
 Seely, Abraham I. Stryker, Stephen Brush, John Torrey, Eussel 
 F. Lord, Stephen North, Jr., Solomon Z. Lord, Daniel Blandin, 
 Thomas H. E. Tracy, E. Kingsbury, Jr., Horace Baldwin, John 
 Neal, David Tarbox, Daniel P. Kirtland, Stephen Torrey, Wil- 
 liam Reed, Piatt Darling, Stephen D. Ward, John I. Allen, John 
 P. Darling, Zara W. Arnold, Ebenezer Leighton, John F. Roe, 
 James R. Dickson, C. C. Graves, P. R. Williams, Charles P. 
 Waller, Edward W. Weston, Josiah Foster, Stephen G. Cory, 
 David Beers, William H. Foster, Ezra Hand, George G. Wal- 
 ler, Thaddeus S. Fitch, W. W. Weston, Samuel Allen, Horace 
 C. Hand, Coe F. Young, R. J. Knapp, Miles L. Tracy, Edwin 
 
182 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 F. Torrey, Isaac N. Foster, F. W. Grennell, E. N. Torrey, John 
 K. Jenkins, Seth W. Powell, William H. Stanton. 
 
 The present board, 1904, are Hon. George S. Purdy, presi- 
 dent; E. A. Penniman, secretary; H. S. Salmon, treasurer; E. 
 F. Torrey, S. W. Powell, W. H. Stone, A. T. Searle, E. 0. Mum- 
 ford and John D. Weston. One of the most important offices 
 is that of treasurer, and prior to 1860 this office was being 
 passed from one to another constantly, but in 1858 Horace C. 
 Hand was elected and he discharged the duties of the office 
 almost continuously until 1893. A period of thirty-three years 
 of actual service was performed by him. He has found a 
 worthy successor in H. S. Salmon who has held the office since 
 1893. The treasurer has charge of the funds of the society and 
 he is expected to placate the dissatisfied pewholders and per- 
 sons who have neglected to secure their pews in time. All this 
 requires tact and patience and the prosperity of the church de- 
 pends very largely upon the efficiency with which this office is 
 conducted. The church is to be congratulated upon the effi- 
 ciency with which this work has always been performed from 
 the days of John Torrey, the first treasurer, down to the present 
 time. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the congregation held May 8, 
 1888, Hon. H. M. Seely president and E. M. Stocker secretary, 
 W. B. Holmes moved that the trustees be authorized to raise 
 the salary of Eev. W. H. Swift, our pastor, $200 per year, pro- 
 vided the increase in the rental of the pews justified such action. 
 After a discussion participated in by W. B. Holmes, George G. 
 Waller and W. H. Stanton the motion was carried unanimously. 
 The pew renting then proceeded, W. H. Lee, Esq., acting as 
 auctioneer. The highest premiums were paid by C F. Young 
 and John Torrey, making their pew rentals $125 and $100 re- 
 spectively. The seats sold rapidly showing a gratifying in- 
 crease and the pastor's salary was increased accordingly to 
 $2,000 and has remained at that figure since that time. The 
 salary was honestly won by merit and deservedly remains where 
 it was placed. This action of the congregation was unani- 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEATHOLDERS. 183 
 
 moTisly approved by the trustees at a meeting in Foster & Co.'s 
 store on motion of E. F. Torrey, seconded by W. H. Stanton, 
 and a letter to that effect was sent to Mr. Swift by I. N. Foster 
 president and S. W. Powell secretary. 
 
 Kev. Stephen Torrey appeared before the trustees in be- 
 half of the church at Little Equinunk, representing that they 
 desired a loan of $500 from the church erection fund of the 
 Presbyterian church and in order to obtain it some church now 
 organized must sign the application. It was then decided to 
 sign the application for the mission station at Little Equinunk 
 which was accordingly done. 
 
 November 23, 1888, G. G. Waller, who had been elected 
 president of the board of trustees, was present and considerable 
 business was transacted. A note subsequently added by the 
 secretary reads: "The above was thought to be the last business 
 transaction of George G. Waller, Esq., as he and his family left 
 for Brooklyn the following morning at which place he was taken 
 sick and died in a few days." 
 
 The trustees after their number was increased to nine 
 members, took full charge of the building of the beautiful 
 Colonial style manse which now is part of our church property. 
 The Presbyterian society has been fortunate, largely through 
 the foresight of the founders of the church, in securing the en- 
 tire south front of the block on Tenth street, between Church 
 and Court streets, facing Central Park. All these properties 
 face south towards the Park. The church is 65x86 feet and 
 has a gallery over the entrance. It has a seating capacity of 
 six hundred persons. The church and chapel are of brick and 
 the manse is of wood, and taken together they constitute a 
 handsome and desirably located property. 
 
 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. 
 
184 HONESDALE PEESB¥TEEIAN CHURCH. 
 
 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. 
 
TEUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEBS. 185 
 
 At a meeting of this committee E. 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 E. 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 E. H. Brown at a cost of $275. The women of 
 the church fiirnished the new carpet and cushions for the pews. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the congregation held in the 
 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. 
 
186 HONESDALE PEESBYTERIAN CHTJUCH. 
 
 The members of the Presbyterian choir were, Misses Anna 
 Brown, Cora Keen, Charlotte Brown, Jennie Schoonover, Edith 
 Swift, Florence Wood, Mrs. C. E. Brady, Mrs. C. H. Eockwell, 
 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 Eehbein, Marguerite Dolmetsch, 
 Mabel Broad, Jennie Hagaman, Minnie Smith, John Smith, 
 Charles Truscott, C. E. Dodge, Norman Parnham 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 Eidge, 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. 
 Steams, 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 
 
TKUSTEES AND PEWHOUJEBS. 187 
 
 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. Majhew 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 Eebecca 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 
 Diethodical 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." Eev. Dr. Swift quoted 
 Kev. Dr. Eowland as saying of Jason Torrey what was appro- 
 priate to John Torrey, as follows: "Mr. Torrey was a man of 
 
188 HONESDAiE PRESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 uncommon energy of character and of a determined fixedness 
 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 Dirae 
 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 conti'ibutor 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. Eobert N. died at 
 
Daniel Bi,andin 
 
 RUSSEL F. IvORD 
 
 Hon. Thos. H. R. Tracy 
 
TKUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES, 189 
 
 Honesdale, April 30, 1887. Caroline N. also is dead, and Ed- 
 win F., Henry F., of New Jersey, John, of California, and 
 Frances E., wife of Andrew Thompson, are living (1904.) 
 Thomas F. Torrey died in May 1905. 
 
 Enssel F. Lord was born in Eome, Oneida county, N. Y., 
 Aiigust 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 Fortius Eoot, resident engineer, who had charge 
 of the construction of the canal. In 1827 he was made resident 
 engineer of the Lackawasen 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 
 
190 HONESDAIE PKESBYTEEIAN CHUKCH. 
 
 ttrough 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 Eev. 
 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. E. 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. E. Tracy was born in Connecticut, May 15, 
 1806, but while a youth his parents removed to Columbus, 
 Chenango county, N. T. 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 
 
TEUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES. 191 
 
 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 K. 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, E. 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 ofiicer in the War of the Eebellion and now is connected 
 with the Boston navy yard. Kate, wife of Judge Seely, and 
 Miles L. are dead. Thomas H. E. Tracy, Jr., married Miss 
 Lucy Sherwood and their daughter Kate is the wife of Dr. 
 Barckley, now residing at Milford, Pa. 
 
 Daniel Blandia was born at Attleboro, Mass., April 4, 1806. 
 
192 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 "VSTien 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 ofiice 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. Penni-Man 
 B. B. Smith 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES, 193 
 
 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 Koe, 1806-1889, was the son of John and 
 Elizabeth Foster Koe, 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 Houesdale 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 chiurch at home and abroad, 
 
194 HONESDALE PEESByTEKIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 by regularly giving to its aid, to the end of bis 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 Euth 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. E., widow of W. W. Weston. His last wife was Ann Fuller, 
 of Kent, Conn., and John Fuller Eoe is their only son. 
 
 George Murray Keen was born at Middletowu, N. Y., Sep- 
 tember 16, 1793. He was a schoolmate of Henry Dunning, 
 father of Eev. 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 di-ew 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. Eev. 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, 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEKS. 195 
 
 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. B, 
 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 Eevolution. Dr. Bowland 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 Eebel- 
 lion. 
 
 Nathaniel Beers was born on Morris Plains, N. J. He 
 married Sarepta Tompkins and came to Honesdale in 1837. 
 
196 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 His children were Deacon Elias T. Beers, Nancy E., wife of 
 Daniel Tillou, and Caroline A., wife of U. V. Wheeler. He 
 was a Christian man and a member of the church, known as 
 father Beers in his time, 
 
 David Beers, a brother of the foregoing and known as G-en- 
 eral Beers from the fact that he was in the war of 1812, came 
 here about the time that his brother did and resided on Beers' 
 Hill, now known as High street. His children were Phebe 
 Ann , wife of S. G. Cory, Elizabeth, wife of Jackson Bassett, 
 and Simeon Cory Beers. 
 
 David Cory was a wagon maker. He had his shop on the 
 corner of Main and Fourth streets. Of his large family Stephen 
 G. Cory is the only one that remained in Honesdale. He and 
 his wife, Catharine, are numbers sixty and sixty-one on the 
 church roll. They united with the church in 1832. 
 
 Jabez Bockwell was born in Fairfield county. Conn., Oc- 
 tober 3, 1761. He was of the sixth generation from Eev. Wil- 
 liam Rockwell, a Baptist minister, who came to Massachusetts 
 in 1630. His ancestors were all Baptists but when he came to 
 Milford he united with the Presbyterian church there from 
 whence he took his letter to the Honesdale Presbyterian church 
 in 1838. He enlisted in the Seventh Connecticut Regiment in 
 the Revolutionary army and fought at Germantown, Monmouth 
 and Stony Point, under General Wayne. He wintered with 
 Washington's army amid the privations of Valley Forge. He 
 was twice married and had seven children by each marriage. 
 His first wife was Sarah Rundell and his second wife was Eliza- 
 beth, daughter of Abram Mulford, the third sheriff of Wayne 
 county. He was a faithful Christian, his faith being of the un- 
 limited kind that recognized the hand of the Lord in every- 
 thing along the way of life. As he stood in prayer with up- 
 turned face, long white hair and clasped hands his pastor said 
 that he would have made a fine subject for the artist's canvas. 
 He was a fifer and at his request the "Masonic Adieu" was 
 played on the fife by P. G. Goodrich all the way from his home 
 in Leonardsville to Honesdale when he was buried. He died 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDERS. 197 
 
 in 1847 aged 86. One of his daughters, Phebe Grainsfort, is a 
 centenarian still living in 1905. John B. Kockwell, a son of 
 Jabez Kockwell, and his wife, were members of the Presbyterian 
 church at Milford, where Charles F. Eockwell was born in 1825. 
 C. P. Eockwell was a merchant and postmaster at Equinunk in 
 1861-66, removing to Honesdale in 1866, since which time he 
 has been a pewholder in the Presbyterian church. He was 
 county treasurer one term and express agent until 1885. In 
 1855 he married Harriet S., daughter of Isaiah Scudder, an in- 
 telligent woman and member of the church. Their children, 
 Harriet, a school teacher, and Harry, are also members of the 
 church. 
 
 John I. Allen was born at Pittstown, Rensselaer county, N. 
 Y., August 26, 1804. He read law in Schoharie county and 
 came to Wayne county about 1839 when he was admitted to 
 the bar. He took an active interest in politics and January 1, 
 1842, became editor and proprietor of the Wayne County Her- 
 ald, the Democratic organ of the county. About this time he 
 became one of the trustees of the church. In December, 1845, 
 he sold the Herald to Hon. W. H. Dimmick, then State Senator, 
 and went to Baston and was connected with the Easton Senti- 
 nel about two years. He was accidentally drowned by falling 
 from the towpath bridge into the Lackawaxen, June 5, 1859. 
 
 Benjamin B. Smith was born in Franklin township, Sus- 
 quehanna county, Pa., in 1815, and was educated at Harford 
 Academy and Union College. He worked on the farm in his 
 youth and taught district school and after he came to Hones- 
 dale he was principal of the academy from 1841 to 1851; then 
 he had a book store, on Main street in the Foster block for a 
 time, and finally in the block between Eighth and Ninth streets 
 where Neilsen now has his store. Mr. Smith and his son Henry 
 were largely self-educated and their conversation was instruct- 
 ive and uplifting. It has been remarked that one could not go 
 into B. B. Smith's store and enter into conversation with him 
 for any length of time without coming away with some good 
 thought. Unlike many stores, where only that which is vulgar 
 
19S HONESDALE PEESBYTEKIAN CHUECH. 
 
 holds sway, the thoughts advanced in Mr. Smith's store were 
 piire and ennobling. Mr. Smith was a reformer, and he suffered 
 in his business as such men always do, for advocating that 
 which was in advance of his time. He was an anti-slavery and 
 temperance advocate, being the leader of the Prohibition party 
 for many years. He studied evolution and heredity, writing a 
 number of articles which were published in one of the county 
 newspapers, on the latter subject. His scientific studies did 
 not cause him to abandon his faith in God nor his belief in the 
 life beyond the grave. He thought that the church did not 
 take as deep an interest in temperance work as it should and 
 he did not always measure up to the standard in doing church 
 work, but he was an honest outspoken man always ready to per- 
 form his part in promoting civic righteousness*. In 1841 he 
 married Betsey H. Brush, daughter of Elder Brush, and of his 
 children, Carrie A. is the widow of L. L. Deming, and lives at 
 Wilkesbarre, and Henry A. died at Whitney's Point, N. Y., 
 where he was engaged in teaching school. Mr. Smith died in 
 1885, 
 
 Charles S. Minor was born in Washington, Conn., January 
 11, 1817. He graduated from Yale in 1841 and came to Hones- 
 dale where he was admitted to the bar in 1841. In 1862 Gov- 
 ernor Curtin commissioned him to make the first draft in Wayne 
 county for troops for the Civil War, and in 1869 he became a 
 trustee of Danville Insane Asylum, a position which he held 
 until his death in May 1900. His first wife, Miss Harriet I. 
 Bach, died in 1846. In 1848 he married Miss Nancy P. Brown 
 who together with his daughters Harriet E., and Katharine B., 
 occupy his late residence. Mr. Minor in scholarly attainments 
 
 *B. B. Smith belonged to the celebrated Smith family mentioned in 
 Eev. A. E. Eaymond's sketch. His independence was hereditary and he 
 illustrated in his own life the truthfulness of the doctrine of heredity. Off- 
 spring receive traits from ancestors that are many times controlling on the 
 life, but these influences are sometimes overcome by other influences. If 
 we were absolutely governed by the dispositions and powers that we in- 
 herit from our ancestors and our environment, as some contend, then re- 
 sponsibility would be at an end. 
 
TRUSTEES AUTD PE-WHOLDEKS. 199 
 
 and years of experience was regarded as the Nestor of the bar 
 for many years. He was a courtly gentleman of the old school 
 whose conversation was entertaining and whose reminiscences 
 were worth remembering, and he was the last of that literary 
 coterie of gentlemen who for many years had charge of all the 
 literary entertainments that came to Honesdale. His kindness 
 of heart was ever manifest in his home, his office or on the 
 streets. He occasionally wrote poetry and his mind was spirit- 
 ual as opposed to the low and sensual. He devoted more or 
 less of his time for thirty years to the study of all religions, 
 and his mind like that of many others was lost in the vastness 
 of those infinite problems which no man by his unaided reason 
 has ever been able to fathom or solve. In course of time Mr. 
 Minor adopted the view that many things in the Bible were al- 
 legorical and not historical and holding these views, November 
 6, 1879, he sent the following communication to the session: 
 
 Gentlemen : — In the course of my investigations upon the origin of 
 religions my opinions have undergone a great change, to the extent of be- 
 lieving that the accounts in the Bible, that have generally been regarded 
 as historical by the churches are allegorical, not historical. Believing this, 
 while I still regard love and reverence to God and charity to man as the 
 great fundamental duties of life, I deem it best to withdraw my connection 
 with the church and request you to take such action as may be necessary 
 to dissolve the connection. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 C. S. Minor. 
 
 The session in their preamble set forth that they knew of 
 no charge whatever against the moral character and upright 
 conduct of the said Charles S. Minor but after careful delibera- 
 tion they were of the opinion that the views of said Charles S. 
 Minor, as expressed by him, are at variance with the word of 
 God and the belief of the Presbyterian church and are incon- 
 sistent with his membership in the church. It is usual in such 
 cases to have a church trial but Mr. Minor's honest statement 
 of his views rendered it unnecessary in his case and the action 
 of the church in permitting his name to be cut off from com- 
 munion with the church was publicly announced from the pulpit. 
 This voluntary severing of his connection with the church was 
 
200 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 conducted in a spirit of charity and kindliness on the part of 
 both Mr. Minor and the session, and the kindest of feelings 
 prevailed between Mr. Minor and the session ever afterwards. 
 Mr. Minor acknowledged his faith in God and love to man and 
 the writer will not attempt to judge him. The God in whom 
 he admitted that he believed, will judge righteously. 
 
 Coe F. Young was born at Mount Hope, Orange county, 
 N. Y., May 15, 1824. He was educated in the public schools 
 and private academies and when 13 j^ears old he was a driver 
 boy on the Delaware & Hudson Canal, next he clerked for 
 Thomas W. Cornell & Co. at Eddyville, N. Y., and later he 
 opened trade at Barry ville, N. Y., in connection with Calvin P. 
 Fuller. In 1852 the freight line of Thomas Cornell & Co. was 
 organized, and Mr. Young removed to Honesdale, Pa., where 
 he resided until his death in 1889. In 1864 Mr. Young en- 
 tered the service of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company as 
 superintendent of the canal department and in 1869 he was 
 made general superintendent, and after three years he became 
 general manager. After the death of Thomas Dickson in 
 July, 1884, he was elected vice president and general manager 
 of the company. He was also president of the Albany & Sus- 
 quehanna railroad and vice president of the Cherry Valley & 
 Susquehanna railroad and president of the Honesdale National 
 Bank for a time. During the time he was managing the Del- 
 aware & Hudson Canal Company its output of coal increased 
 from 800,000 tons to 4,500,000. He managed the affairs of the 
 company with integrity and was a liberal supporter of churches 
 and schools. He had a pew in the Presbyterian church, of 
 which his wife was a member, and he was for a number of years 
 one of the board of trustees. He married in 1849 Mary A, 
 daughter of Peter Cornell. Of his children, Cornelia Alice is 
 the wife of George W. Barnes, Horace G. was for a time vice 
 president of the Delaware & Hudson railroad, Edward, a law- 
 yer, is dead and Mary A. married Joseph B. Dickson. 
 
 Francis B. Penniman was born at Utica, N. Y., November 
 13, 1812. In 1826, when 14 years of age, he entered a print- 
 
Geo. G. W vt.ler 
 coh f. youxg 
 
 Hon. Chas P. Waller 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEBS. 201 
 
 ing office in his native town and began in the humblest way to 
 learn the printer's trade. In 1834 he was in Cleveland, O., 
 working on the Oberlin Evangelist, Ohio Observer, organ of the 
 Presbyterian Synod of the Western Reserve, and the Agitator, 
 one of the first anti-slavery papers published. He was in 
 Binghamton, N. T., thence removed to Honesdale in 1844 
 where he founded the Democrat, a Whig paper. This paper 
 was piiblished in the building now occupied by J. Adam Keite- 
 nauer as a furniture store. H. A. Woodhouse came with him 
 and took the first paper from the press. Mr. Penniman edited 
 the Democrat about twenty years and in 1865 he took editorial 
 charge of the Pittsburg Gazette. In 1870 he returned home 
 broken in health and undoubtedly disappointed in his political 
 aspirations. He was a forceful writer and did much service 
 for his party, which signally failed to honor him with ofiice. 
 He was Associate Judge by appointment for a short time and 
 presidential elector in 1860 and helped to elect Abraham Lin- 
 coln to the presidency. He had a comprehensive and critical 
 knowledge of the public men of his time and his accuracy in 
 drawing pen pictures of them; his fearlessness in delineating 
 individuals; or to give a summation of a man's life and an esti- 
 mate of his character in a few chosen words that gave a good 
 idea of the man, were strong characteristics of Mr. Penniman. 
 Strongly Calvinistic in his theology, a genuine Dissenter, he had 
 been priest in his own family, as he observed to a friend a short 
 time before he died, for the last forty years. His independ- 
 ence isolated him both in his party and in his church relations 
 and largely destroyed his influence and efficiency in the later 
 years of his life. He had lived long enough to see the vanity 
 of worldly hopes and expectations and expressed himself as 
 willing to go whenever the Supreme Ruler saw fit to summon 
 him away. In 1835 Mr. Penniman married Jane W. Broad- 
 well, of Iltica, N. Y., who is still living, aged 95. His children 
 are Edward A., Francis B., now deceased, and Mary, wife of 
 W. K. Dimmock. 
 
 Hon. Charles P. Waller was a trustee of the church for a 
 
202 HONESDALE PRESBYTEBIAN CHUECH. 
 
 time and a Sunday school teacher for many years. During the 
 controversy with Dr. Skinner he was one of the leaders in 
 championing the cause of his pastor against the elders. He 
 was bom at Wilkesbarre, Pa., August 7, 1819, and was educated 
 at "Wilkesbarre and Williams College. He taught school at 
 Bloomsburg, Pa., for three years, and in 1841 entered the oiScp 
 of Judge Collins as a law student and was admitted to the bar 
 in 1843. He located in Honesdale in 1844 and soon took a 
 leading position as a lawyer. In 1850 his brother George was 
 taken into partnership with him. He was a good real estate 
 lawyer and being an affable gentleman, as he traveled about in 
 connection with other ventures he became well acquainted 
 throughout the county. After Monroe and Carbon counties 
 were placed in the Forty-third district. Judge Dreher chose to 
 preside over his home district and in a three cornered contest 
 between Waller, Crane and VanAuken Mr. Waller was elected 
 Presiding Judge. He served from 1874 until his death, August 
 18, 1882. April 3, 1846, he married Harriet Ward Stone, 
 daughter of Henry W. Stone. She died May 24, 1884. Their 
 children were Lizzie and Mary S. Lizzie was the wife of W. 
 H. Stanton. Mr. and Mrs. Stanton are both dead. Mary S. 
 was the wife of Henry M. Crowell, who died in 1904. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Stanton had two daughters: Harriet, wife of Ralph F. 
 Martin, who is connected with the Honesdale Shoe Company, 
 and Kate, who married J. E. Barbour, of Paterson, N. J. 
 
 George G. Waller was born at Wilkesbarre, May 3, 1821. 
 He was graduated from Williams College in 1844 and read law 
 with Judge Collins. He was admitted to the bar of Luzerne 
 county in 1846, and commenced practice in Bloomsburg, Co- 
 lumbia county, where his brother Rev. David Waller resided. 
 In 1849 he came to assist his brother Charles who had been 
 practicing here since 1844 and in 1850 they formed a partner- 
 ship which continued until Charles was elevated to the bench. 
 George F. Bentley his brother-in-law was in partnership with 
 him for a number of years and after his death A. T. Searle be- 
 came his partner. Mr. Waller was one of the ablest and hardest 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES. 203 
 
 working lawyers at the bar at the time of his death in 1888. 
 Without any of the grace of oratory he was still a very effective 
 speaker before a jury. His very hesitancy of manner seemed 
 to lend candor to his statements. He never seemed to present 
 his cases in any regular order but just sprang right into the 
 center of the subject and struck right and left until he had 
 touched upon every important point in the case, "bringing out 
 its most telling features while masking its weak points by an 
 ingenious construction of ambiguous testimony that developed 
 its strongest aspect," and riveted the attention of the jury upon 
 the points most favorable to his client. These qualities made 
 him a powerful advocate before a jury. He was probably the 
 greatest trial lawyer that was ever at Honesdale bar. No mem- 
 ber of the bar ever tried so many cases as he did. He was an 
 active member of the church, Sunday school teacher, superin- 
 tendent, and trustee. One characteristic of Mr. Waller was his 
 humility, which manifested itself particularly in prayer meeting 
 where he always supplicated the Supreme Judge of the Uni- 
 verse as one who realized the awful majesty of the Divine 
 presence. In 1854 he married Lizzie J., daughter of Hon. B. 
 S. Bentley. Their daughter Bessie married Alexander Neely, 
 of Philadelphia. 
 
 James H. Sutton was born near Snake Creek in Susque- 
 hanna county. Pa., April 28, 1817. He was early thrown on 
 his own resources and in 1834 he walked and caught rides 
 from Montrose to Honesdale, following the old Milford and 
 Owego turnpike. He came to Honesdale for the purpose of 
 learning the printer's trade of his brother-in-law Isaac Fuller 
 who at that time was publisher and E. Kingsbury editor of the 
 Wayne County Herald, which was printed in the building now 
 occupied by Henry Eoe as an office. The paper was printed 
 in long primer and owing to the sparsely settled new country 
 had only a limited circulation. He went back to Montrose and 
 worked at the tin trade; returning to Honesdale in 1837 he was 
 employed by Baldwin, Bliss & Co. who had a store in the build- 
 ing now occupied by Mr. Schuerholz, which firm was succeeded 
 
204 H0NB8DALK PBESBYTEBIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 by Baldwin & AJdridge. M. B. Bennett, of Vermont, came 
 here in 1842 and the firm of Bennett & Sutton, hardware mer- 
 chants, ooccupied the corner where Buel Dodge now has a drug 
 store. In 1851 Mr. Sutton sold his interest in the firm and 
 bought out Charles Salmon who was successor of Mr. Sutton's 
 old employer. His stove and tinware business extended from 
 Barryville to Hancock along the Delaware Valley and westward 
 to Carbondale, and they sold goods at wholesale in Slocum 
 Hollow, now Scranton. For many years he was superintendent 
 of the Honesdale Gas Company. He married in 1846 Abigail 
 C. daughter of Sheldon Norton and their children were Hattie 
 S., Clara T., now deceased, and Ella F., wife of E. C. Mumford, 
 Charles W., of Duluth, Minn., and Annie, wife of Daniel A. 
 Noble, of San Antonio, Tex. Mr. Sutton was a member of the 
 Presbyterian church for many years. He died April 30, 1902, 
 at an advanced age. Clara T. Sutton died a short time after 
 her father's death. She was educated in Honesdale High 
 school and by continuous home study she became a good 
 scholar. Her whole active life was that of a teacher in Hones- 
 dale High school with the exception of one year in Hawley 
 school. She found her mission in work in the school and 
 church only a few hundred feet from where she was born and 
 reared, and where she died, and yet her influence was not cir- 
 cumscribed; it extended wherever her pupils roamed, and that 
 influence was wholesome and uplifting. Prof. March said that 
 she aimed at nothing less than character building in her teach- 
 ing, and that had she taught in a school whose graduates give 
 fame to its teachers, she would have taken rank among the 
 great teachers. She did personal work among her pupils and 
 by studying their capabilities succeeded in directing them to 
 higher and better developement. A teacher has exceptional 
 opportunities to mould the lives and characters of her pupils 
 and Miss Sutton improved her opportunities with unusual 
 ability and power. She had taught so long and so successfidly 
 that "she seemed to belong to the town," as one lady said at 
 the time of her death, when her pupils and friends of all nation- 
 
TBUSTEES AND PEWH0LDER8. 205 
 
 alities and religions assembled in the church to hear tributes 
 to her worth on the part of the School Board, the school and 
 the church. The estimate of her worth by the Sunday school 
 is given elsewhere. "If you want a mission, you can find it 
 anywhere." This modest woman, without ostentation or dis- 
 play exerted a quiet and extended influence, because she did 
 her work honestly, sincerely, truthfully and thoroughly. 
 
 Horace A. Woodhouse was a Baptist, but he never affili- 
 ated with that church in Honesdale. He was a pewholder in 
 the Presbyterian church and regular attendant upon its preach- 
 ing services. He was born at Montrose, Susquehanna county, 
 in 1824, where he learned the printer's trade. He came to 
 Honesdale in connection with F. B. Penniman and was foreman 
 on the paper which he established. He was a man of advanced 
 ideas on the slavery and temperance questions. He married 
 Millicent, daughter of Isaac P. Foster, and was in full accord 
 with his father-in-law as an anti-slavery and temperance advo- 
 cate. He gave his first vote for John P. Hale the Abolitionist 
 candidate for president and afterwards voted with the Eepubli- 
 can party until the organization of the Prohibition party of 
 which party he was presidential elector and candidate for Asso- 
 ciate Judge. He and B. B. Smith stood almost alone in their 
 advocacy of Prohibition in Honesdale for many years. He 
 met with much to discourage him from those that might have 
 accorded him honesty and sincerity of purpose if nothing more, 
 but he, like all reformers, soon learned to disregard the jeers 
 of thoughtless men, and but few men had a happier way of 
 turning the tables on their opponents than had Mr. Woodhouse. 
 He was of such a genial, jovial disposition that even the liquor 
 dealers could not say that he was personally offensive, although 
 they detested his opinions. With all his radical views he 
 could not be classed among the sour pessimists of this world. 
 He was a ready writer, a good speaker and singer and alto- 
 gether was one of the most genial and companionable men in 
 town. He died in 1890. His wife joined the church in 1839. 
 There are none living in Honesdale that now are members 
 
206 HONESDALE PKESBYTEEIAN CHtlECH. 
 
 whose time of joining the church was prior to this. 
 
 Lewis S. Collins is a pewholder in the church. He was 
 born at Bethany, May 18, 1828. In 1853 he was elected 
 county surveyor. He farmed, had a store and postoffice at 
 Cherry Eidge, and clerked at Eobertson & Gale's tannery for a 
 time and was Deputy Sheriff under J. B. Eldred in 1856. He 
 clerked for Eobertson again for sis years, then retired to the 
 homestead farm where he lived for twenty-seven years, during 
 which time he was school director, assessor, auditor and justice 
 of the peace. He was elected county surveyor in 1877 and has 
 held the office continuously ever since. Mr. Collins is de- 
 scended from Eev. Timothy Collins the first pastor of the Con- 
 gregational church at Litchfield, Conn., in 1723. His grand- 
 father Dr. Lewis Collins was the first doctor that located in 
 T\ ayne county, and his father Lucius was twice Sheriff of the 
 county, and he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian 
 church at Bethany. His grandmother belonged to the cele- 
 brated Huntington family. She was a good Presbyterian and 
 died at the homestead in Cherry Eidge in 1858 in her 96th 
 year. Mr. Collins is a resident of Honesdale now and he is 
 the best authority we have on old land lines since John Torrey's 
 death. Miss Bennett his adopted sister is an efficient worker 
 in the church. 
 
 Ulysses Valentine Wheeler was born February 5, 1819, 
 and he died in January, 1869. He was a grandson of Benjamin 
 Wheeler, of Mount Pleasant. He married Caroline A. Beers 
 daughter of Nathaniel Beers, April 27, 1843. He learned the 
 blacksmith trade of his uncle Ambrose Wheeler and had his 
 residence on the corner of Court and Eleventh streets. 
 He was an ingenious man and attracted the attention of the 
 Delaware & Hudson Canal managers who gave him charge 
 of the horses and men on their road from Honesdale to 
 Way mart. He had thirteen horses of his own and was 
 foreman over three hundred men. His life was an active 
 one and after his decease the work that he had charge of 
 was divided up among four foremen. He took the Stourbridge 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES, 207 
 
 Lion* apart and as it was largely composed of wrought iron, 
 he forged it into bolts and other irons that were used on the 
 track from Honesdale to "Waymart. In his effort to save some- 
 thing for the company he destroyed parts of a valuable relic. 
 Notwithstanding his many temporal duties he found time to do 
 a vast amount of personal work for the Master whom he served. 
 He was a trusted helper of Dr. Dunning, who would say to him: 
 "Have you spoken to Mr. A? I think he is under conviction." 
 He was regular in his attendance at prayer meetings, and it 
 was said that there were few persons among his associates that 
 he had not spoken to on the subject of religion. He died 
 when only 50 years of age but he left a name for personal work 
 that is still remembered in the church. Of his five children 
 one is living, Mrs. Jennie Goodwin, the well known singer, for 
 many years of Green Ridge, but now of New York. Mrs. 
 Wheeler still lives, cheerful and faithful at 80 years of age. 
 
 Thaddeus S. Fitch was born at Sherburne, N. T., in 1825. 
 He came to the Narrows in 1849 and entered the employ of the 
 
 *Note. Since writing tlie above there appeared in the Independent an 
 article copied irom the New York Sun in which it is stated that one Charles 
 Law, of Pittston, knows where all of the parts of the Stourbridge Lion are. 
 Mrs. Wheeler, February 11, 1905, made statements substantially as follows : 
 I was married to U. V. Wheeler in 1843 and he began to take the Stour- 
 bridge Lion apart before he married me. It stood above where the Fow- 
 lers' mill now is and he had a blacksmith shop where the company's barn 
 now is. He forged parts of the Stourbridge Lion on his anvil at different 
 times and the bolts and braces he made were used on the high works. He 
 forged up what I would call the handles, (probably the side bars.) He told 
 me that the Stourbridge Lion would be more valuable as a relic than the 
 value of the iron he was forging, in a few years, for it was beginning to be 
 talked about then, but he had to obey orders. Several men helped him as 
 strikers and Leon Smith one of these strikers told me after my husband's 
 death that he remembered that a spark from the anvil burned Mr. Wheeler's 
 wrist, causing him to lose a pint of blood while he was holding a piece of 
 the Stourbridge Lion on the anvil for the strikers. Mrs. Wheeler's mind 
 is clear and her account is so circumstantial that it seems certain that she 
 is correct in her statements and that portions of the valuable relic are lost 
 forever. John Torrey made exhaustive researches which are in the hands 
 of the government at Washington and they are making an earnest effort to 
 supply all of the parts of the first engine that was run on a track in America. 
 
208 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. The next year lie came 
 to Honesdale and after a time became foreman on the dock 
 where he worked until he died in October, 1892. He married 
 Mary Ward and his children were Lucy wife of R. H. Brown, 
 Howard, Emma wife of "W. G. Blakney and Benjamin. Mr. 
 Fitch was a church member and a trustee for a time. Eichard 
 H. Brown, son of John R. Brown, is a contractor and builder. 
 As such he built the chapel and did the repairing on the church 
 in 1904 and 1905. 
 
 Lieutenant Robert N. Torrey, son of John Torrey, was born 
 August 1, 1838. He graduated from Yale Scientific school and 
 May 13, 1861, enlisted with Company C, Sixth Pennsylvania 
 Reserves, of which company he was first lieutenant, and he be- 
 came quartermaster of the regiment. He resigned on account 
 of ill health but enlisted again in 1862 in Company G, One 
 Hundred and Forty -first Pennsylvania Regiment under Colonel 
 Madill. Li 1863 he became brigade quartermaster. He was 
 injured by a tree falling on his tent and again by his horse fall- 
 ing on him. October 24, 1864, he was mustered out. He was 
 married February 23, 1864, to Elizabeth D. Thompson eldest 
 daughter of A. P. Thompson, of Port Jervis. Shortly after the 
 war he entered into partnership with Coe Durland in establish- 
 ing the Durland & Torrey Shoe Company, which became Dur- 
 land, Torrey & Co., after Andrew Thompson came into the 
 concern. He was on the Borough Council a number of years 
 and was a trustee of the church for several years. He died 
 April 30, 1887, leaving two daughters, Clara R. and Edith F. 
 Mrs. Torrey and her daughters are active workers in the church 
 and Sabbath school. Miss Clara R. Torrey in particular, is 
 active in mission work and Sunday school work, besides being 
 a member of the choir and Christian Endeavor Society. 
 
 Isaac N. Foster, son of I. P. Foster, was born June 22, 
 1824, at Montrose. He accompanied his parents to Honesdale 
 in 1827 where he lived until he died September 5, 1897. He 
 and his brother William went into business with their father 
 in the store on the corner of Main and Ninth streets and in the 
 
TEUSTEES AND PEWHOLDERS, 209 
 
 tannery at Blandin. He and George Foster, son of William, 
 continued the mercantile business until 1894, when a fire occur- 
 ring that destroyed a portion of their stock of goods, they closed 
 out and converted the second story into offices. The postoffice 
 property with offices in the second story is also a part of the 
 Foster property. He married Caroline Conger, of Montgomery, 
 N. T., and their children are Susan, widow of E. W. Ham, and 
 Grace, wife of George Post. Mr. Foster and his wife were 
 members of the church and he was for a number of years presi- 
 dent of the board of trustees. 
 
 William W. Weston was a trustee of the church for a time 
 and he was a pewholder and member for many years. He was 
 born at EUenville, N. Y., November 7, 1828. After receiving a 
 common school education he worked for his father in the man- 
 ufacture and sale of stone-ware. In 1849 he erected the pot- 
 tery which his brother Horace continued to operate after 1854, 
 when he engaged in mercantile business with C. W. and Smith 
 Eequa, running a line of canal boats from Albany, N. Y., in con- 
 nection with their Honesdale and EUenville stores. In 1857, 
 after the building of the Erie railroad, the Requas took the 
 EUenville store and Weston continued in the Honesdale store 
 until he died. Besides his store business he was engaged in a 
 tannery at Little Equinunk, Honesdale Glass Company, and 
 creameries. He helped organize the Wayne County Savings 
 Bank in 1871 and was its president until 1896. October 1, 
 1857, he married Anna E., daughter of I. P. Foster. His 
 second wife was Mary E., the accomplished daughter of John 
 F. Eoe. Of his children, Bessie B. is the wife of L. D. Spragle, 
 Harriet E. is the wife of H. S. Battin. The boys are William 
 F., Charles W. and George C. Weston Attorney at Law in Phil- 
 adelphia. 
 
 Hon. Cornelius C. Jadwin has been a pewholder and con- 
 tributer to the church since he came to Honesdale in 1862. 
 He was born in Carbondale, March 27, 1835, and was educated 
 in the public schools, becoming a school teacher. He has been 
 engaged in the druggist business since he came to Honesdale 
 
210 HONESDALE PBESBYTERIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 and was one term, 1880-2, in Congress. He was also a mem- 
 ber of the School Board a number of years. He married Lottie 
 E., daughter of Ezekiel Wood, of Seelyville, April 1, 1864. 
 Captain Edgar Jadwin, his son, graduated with honor at West 
 Point, and the only living daughter, Grace, is a teacher in the 
 Honesdale High school. Mrs. Jadwin and the children are 
 members of the church. 
 
 Lyman O. Eose, the last Superintendent of the Delaware 
 & Hudson Canal, was a pewholder in the church and his wife 
 and daughter Vinnie are members of the church. Mr. Eose 
 was born in Orange county, September 27, 1835, and he was in 
 the employ of the company from boyhood. His son Kirk is in 
 the employ of the company in the mining department. 
 
 Colonel Coe Durland was born in Orange county, October 
 31, 1832, and he died in Honesdale in 1901. He was in the 
 CivU War as Captain of Company M, Seventeenth Pennsylvania 
 Cavalry, and he became Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel by bre- 
 vet, commanding the regiment at last. He participated in fifty- 
 two battles commanding in thirty-three. In 1868, in connection 
 with Lieutenant E. N. Torrey, he established the Durland, Tor- 
 rey & Co. shoe business. He was a pewholder in the church 
 and his wife and several of his children are members. 
 
 Henry Wilson, editor of the Citizen and member of the bar, 
 has been a pewholder in the church for years. His wife and 
 his children were members. 
 
 O. T. Chambers, druggist, 0. M. Spettigue and Graham 
 Watts, hardware merchants, are members and supporters of the 
 church. The list of pewholders and church members will show 
 the names of the supporters of the Honesdale Presbyterian 
 church. Many of them are worthy of extended mention but 
 the limitations of this work are such that it can not be done. 
 
 Edwin Fuller Torrey, son of John Torrey, was born in 
 Honesdale, Jime 4, 1832, and he is the oldest man that was 
 bom in the borough, now living. He left home when about 12 
 years old and attended school at Flushing Listitute. He was 
 one year in Amherst Academy and two years in Amherst Col- 
 
w 
 w 
 
 s 
 
 H 
 
 ft 
 o 
 
 a 
 Pi 
 ■< 
 o 
 n 
 
TEUSTEES AND PEWH0LDER8. 211 
 
 lege. He then went into his father's land office where he re- 
 mained three or four years, then he purchased Charles Weston's 
 interest in the flouring mill at Honesdale, about 1854, and was 
 in partnership with James E. Dickson, and when Mr. Dickson 
 retired he purchased his interest. This was the principal flour 
 mill in the county and did as high as $140,000 business a year. 
 July 6, 1865, Mr. Torrey was elected a director in the Hones- 
 dale National Bank and he has been connected with the bank 
 ever since. On the morning of September 14, 1876, Stephen 
 D. Ward, the cashier of the bank, died suddenly and Mr. Torrey, 
 as one of the youngest of the directors, was called from his 
 business in the mill to take temporary charge of the afiairs of 
 the bank. October 1 of that year he was appointed acting 
 cashier and November 26, following, he was appointed cashier 
 pro tempore, and on July 6, 1877, he was appointed cashier, a 
 position which he still holds. During all these years he has 
 handled millions of dollars, including $1,250,000 of dividends 
 paid to stockholders, and not one dollar has passed through his 
 hands that has been unaccounted for. Years ago banks made 
 their loans to home business men. The National Bank capital 
 was increased on account of the large tanning, lumbering and 
 other interests that needed loans. This has largely changed 
 and banks are loaning money in the cities on corporate mort- 
 gages and other security. The first loan of that kind ever taken 
 by the Honesdale National Bank was negotiated by Mr. Torrey. 
 Such loans are customary now but it marked an epoch in Hones- 
 dale baniking when it was first done. Mr. Torrey was first 
 elected a trustee of the church in 1863 and he has acted in that 
 capacity a good part of the time since then, being presi- 
 dent of the board a portion of the time, having served a longer 
 time as trustee than any other person. His conduct as trustee 
 has been characterized by the same conservative management 
 as has given stability to all of his business life. He has been 
 trustworthy and thoroughly reliable in every position which he 
 has filled. By his first wife, Jeanette Stone he has two sons 
 living, John, of New York, and Edwin, of Clinton, N. Y. His 
 
212 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 second wife was a daughter of Eev. Adam Miller, of Harford. 
 
 Seth Ward Powell was born January 5, 1838, at Cam- 
 bridge, England. He came with his parents to America, who 
 located in Honesdale about 1840. Seth commenced to clerk 
 in the store of William H. Cushman when he was 17 years of 
 age and remained there with Cushman and his successor. Chap- 
 man, a number of years. He attended school after that and 
 then clerked for William Keed five years, after which he was 
 partner for five years. He nest bought out H. C. Hand and 
 went into the mercantile business where Henry Freund is. 
 After seven years there he bought out the Charles and Egbert 
 Eeed store, known as the old Arcade, about 1874, and continued 
 in business there until the store was burned out about 1889, 
 since which time he has not been engaged in any business. In 
 1863 he married Helen Bryant and has three children, Fred- 
 erick Powell, M. D., Y>^illiam, a dentist, and Mary, wife of 
 Martin Heft. He has been on the board of trustees for twenty- 
 sis years and secretary for about twenty years of that time. 
 He had oversight of the work for the Building Committee when 
 the chapel was erected, also when the manse was built. Mr. 
 Powell has made his own fortune and he is a faithful, upright 
 man in his dealings. 
 
 Hon. George S. Purdy, president of the board of trustees, 
 was born in Paupack, January 24, 1839. He is descended from 
 Eev. William Purdy who settled in Paupack in 1792. He was 
 educated in the common schools and taught school for a time. 
 Then he was commissioners' clerk, after which he read law with 
 Hon. S. E. Dimmick. In 1893 he was elected Presiding Judge 
 of the Twenty-secor.d Judicial District without opposition, and 
 reelected again in the same manner in 1903. In 1873 he mar- 
 ried Agnes Addoms, step-daughter of Hon. Otis Avery and sister 
 of Mortimer C. Addoms, of New York bar. They are regular 
 attendants upon the services of the church and helpful in its 
 undertakings. Judge Purdy enjoys the respect of the bar and 
 community for his integrity and candor as a judge. His de- 
 cisions are seldom reversed. As a trustee he exercises the 
 
TBUSTEES AND PE'WHOIDEBS, 213 
 
 same candor as in his other relations, and his opinions are 
 sought and his judgment is valued in maintaining the church. 
 
 Edward A. Penniman, son of Francis B. Penniman, was 
 born in Cleveland, O., April 4, 1836. He removed with his 
 parents to Binghamton, thence to Honesdale in May, 1845. 
 His father had preceded the family, having established the 
 Honesdale Democrat, now Citizen, September 17, 1844. Ed- 
 ward was educated at the Honesdale Academy, and commenced 
 to learn typesetting in his father's office when a boy. After 
 leaving school, when he was about 18, he entered into the work 
 of the printer, which has been his life work. On the second of 
 September, 1857, he went into partnership with his father and 
 the fourteenth volume of the Democrat was issued by E. B. 
 Penniman & Son. At the close of the fourteenth volume E. A. 
 Penniman purchased his father's interest in the concern and 
 became sole editor and proprietor and so continued with no 
 change in name or size of the paper until Jaiiuary 18, 1864, 
 when he changed the name to the Eepublic and enlarged it 
 somewhat. In 1868 the size was increased and it became the 
 Wayne Citizen, and in 1873 the Honesdale Citizen, with Henry 
 Wilson and E. A. Penniman as editors. Mr. Penniman has 
 especial charge of the local news department, which he has con- 
 ducted very successfully for many years. May 10, 1860, he 
 married Annie B., daughter of Alanson Blood. He has been a 
 member of the Presbyterian church for many years and he 
 and his wife sang in the choir for about twenty-five years. A 
 few years ago he was elected one of the trustees of the church. 
 Mr. Penniman is a pleasant conversationalist and a very com- 
 panionable man to meet on the streets, in his office or his home. 
 
 John Decker Weston was born in Ellenville, N. T., in 1856. 
 He came to Honesdale in 1873 to work for W. W. Weston. 
 After clerking for him five years he entered the employ of Dur- 
 land & Torrey Shoe Company as traveling salesman. In 1888, 
 when E. N. Torrey died, he purchased his interest in the shoe 
 company. In 1898 the Durland-Thompson Shoe Company was 
 incorporated and Mr. Weston became treasurer of the corpora- 
 
214 HONESDALE PBESBTTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 tion, and in 1904 he was elected vice president and treasurer. 
 Mr. Weston understands the boot and shoe business and has 
 secured a competence through good business management. He 
 is now one of the trustees of the church. He married Carrie, 
 daughter of Coe Durland, and she has a good reputation for 
 acts of charity. 
 
 Henry Scott Salmon, son of C. M. Salmon, was born at 
 Susquehanna, Pa., August 24, 1854. During his boyhood his 
 parents removed to Paterson, N. J., then to Port Jervis, thence 
 to Honesdale August 24, 1869, when Scott was 15. He was 
 educated in the public schools and clerked in Salmon & Dele- 
 zenne's store one year, when he entered the Wayne County 
 Savings Bank as clerk, ui January, 1873. He soon became 
 teller and in 1898 he was made cashier. He was school direc- 
 tor fifteen years and secretary of the board fourteen years of 
 the time. He has been trustee and treasurer of the church 
 since 1892 and a Sunday school teacher since 1877. He is at 
 present assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. He has 
 discharged his duties in all these positions with marked fidelity. 
 He married Margaret, daughter of E. A. Smith, in 1876; they 
 have two children, E. Milton, a graduate of Lafayette College, 
 and Mary Grace Salmon. 
 
 William H. Stone was born in Mount Pleasant township, 
 October 6, 1839. His father was Henry W. Stone, a merchant 
 at Mount Pleasant, and had a tannery and store at Beech Pond. 
 William was in the tannery at Beech Pond for a number of 
 years, then he was in the hardware business with Knapp & 
 Spettigue. After selling out he took the insurance business of 
 George F. Bentley, about 1878. He has been Notary Public 
 since 1890. He was librarian and treasurer of the Sunday 
 school about twenty years. He is one of the board of trustees 
 of the church. His sisters, Harriet, wife of Hon. C. P. Wal- 
 ler, Jeanette, first wife of E. F. Torrey, and Charlotte, wife of 
 Horace C. Hand, have all been active workers in the church. 
 Mr. Stone's wife was Miss Cornelia S. Short. Her mother, 
 aged 96, resides with her. Mr. Stone is true in his friendships 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES. 215 
 
 and faithful in the performance of his duties. 
 
 Elwin C. Mumford, son of Hon. James Mumford, was born 
 at Starrucca, Pa,, August 8, 1851. Of his seven brothers, two 
 were captains in the Civil War, and both were killed, Oliver at 
 the battle of Petersburg, Va., and James in the battle at Chan- 
 cellorsville. Elwin C. was educated in the public schools and 
 the Millersville Normal school. He commenced reading law 
 with Hon. M. J. Larrabee, of Susquehanna, Pa., afterwards 
 with Waller & Bentley, being admitted to the bar, September 6, 
 
 1876. In 1878 he was elected District Attorney of Wayne 
 county, and for six years he was attorney for the board of 
 county commissioners. He is also a member of the Town 
 Council and director in the Wayne County Savings Bank. He 
 is a shrewd collector and has an interest in several business 
 ventures. He is a trustee of the church and has favored the 
 improvements that have been recently made. He married Ella 
 F. Sutton and has an interesting family of children. 
 
 Alonzo T. Searle, son of Rev. E. T. Searle, a Congregation- 
 alist minister, was bom at New Marlboro, Berkshire, Mass., 
 September 13, 1856. He graduated from Amherst College in 
 
 1877. He taught for a time in Rutland, Vt., and in Chelten- 
 ham Academy near Philadelphia. He came to Honesdale from 
 the law office of B. S. Bentley, of Williamsport, Pa., to the of- 
 fice of George G. Waller in 1881, after the death of George E. 
 Bentley. He completed his law studies with Mr. Waller and 
 was admitted to the bar in 1882 and the same day formed a 
 partnership with his preceptor. Since Mr. Waller's death in 
 1888 he has practiced alone. In addition to his law practice 
 he is embarked in a number of other matters of business. He 
 is a director in the Wayne County Savings Bank, a trustee of 
 the Presbyterian church and a member of the School Board. 
 In 1882 he married Margaret B. Irwin and they have one son, 
 Charles, now at Amherst College. His mother, Mrs. Emily A. 
 Putnam Searle, is a talented lady and helper in the mission 
 work of the church. 
 
 William T. Moore was born at Stratford, a suburb of Lon- 
 
216 HONESDALE PEESBYTEKIAN CHUECH. 
 
 don, October 16, 1847. He came to Canada with a club 
 of three hundred laborers and after six months' stay there came 
 to Honesdale where he secured employment with John Brown, 
 with whom he worked five years, then he worked with Alanson 
 Blood for a time, and having learned the cabinet maker's trade, 
 he commenced business for himself in 1883. He is an honest, 
 temperate, successful furniture dealer and undertaker. He mar- 
 ried Susan Marsh, daughter of Alexander and Caroline Marsh, 
 and they are both active members of the church and useful 
 members of society. 
 
 William H. Lee was born January 1, 1849, in Clinton 
 township, Wayne count}', Pa. He obtained his education in 
 the common schools and Delaware Literary Institute, at Frank- 
 lin, N. Y. He taught school for a number of years, then read 
 law with S. E. Dimmick and Waller & Bentley and was admit- 
 ted to the bar in 1874. From 1875 to 1878 he was deputy 
 treasurer under Paul Swingle. He was chairman of the Eepub- 
 lican county committee for six years, winning some notable 
 victories for his party. In his professional life he has success- 
 fully managed several large estates. He married Louise E. 
 Wentz in 1878 and has two daughters the eldest, Louise, being 
 a graduate of Vassar. Early in life he was admitted a member 
 of the Baptist church. At Honesdale he is a regular attendant 
 upon the Presbyterian services, his wife and daughters being 
 members of the church. His sister, Miss Jennie S. Lee, is also 
 an eificient church worker. 
 
 Chancy A. Cortright, son of Volney and Philena Hamlin 
 Cortright, was born in Sputh Canaan, Wayne county. Pa., in 
 1838. His father's ancestors were from Flanders and were 
 among the pioneer settlers of New York. He married Lizzie 
 Battan and engaged in the mercantile business in South Canaan 
 for a few years, when he hired as clerk for John F. Eoe and re- 
 moved to Honesdale in 1865, where he has since resided. 
 After working for Mr. Eoe for eight years he opened a store of 
 his own on Main street, and he has been engaged in grocery 
 business, fruit business, livery and street sprinkling in recent 
 
John Boyd 
 Wm. T. Moore 
 
 G. W. Penwarden 
 
 John Congdon 
 
 Wm. H. Lee 
 
TRUSTEES AKD PEWH0LDEE8. 217 
 
 years. Mr. Cortright and his wife have been members of the 
 church for many years. They are very accommodating peoisle 
 and are helpful in the church and community in many ways. 
 Mrs. Cortright has been president of the Pastor's Aid Society 
 for a number of years and in that connection has done much 
 work for the chiirch. They have one son, Eugene H., who was 
 sheriff of the county one term. He married Florence Yale and 
 they have one daughter. 
 
 Stockholm B. Wood, son of Jesse E. Wood, was born at 
 Fishkill on the Hudson, February 18, 1830, and removed with 
 his parents to Wayne county in its early history. Jesse Wood 
 had a family of twelve children, ten boys and two girls. 
 Among the boys was Rev. John A. Wood, a Methodist minis- 
 ter, who died in California, July 7, 1905. In 1880 he wrote, 
 that with the exception of his sister Lucy and his mother, there 
 had been no deaths in that large family with all their descend- 
 ants for fifty-eight years. S. B. Wood married Marietta Hull, 
 of Hawley, November 2, 1854, and removed to Scranton for a 
 short time, then he came to Honesdale where he has since re- 
 sided, following the occupation of a cartman. His living chil- 
 dren are William, of St. Louis, Mo., Nellie, wife of Charles 
 Knapp, of Detroit, Mich., and Jessie, wife of Henry Z. Russel, 
 of Honesdale. Mr. Wood and his wife have been faithful 
 members of the church for many years. 
 
 Walter W. Wood was born in New York City, February 
 2, 1848. Educated in the public schools. Enlisted as a pri- 
 vate in Civil War at 16 years of age. He was married in 1867 
 to Elizabeth J. Kirkpatrick, and they have six children. Joined 
 the Methodist Protestants in 1868 and superintended the Sun- 
 day school; was steward and trustee of Attorney Street church 
 in New York. After this church sold their property and pur- 
 chased property in Brooklyn, Mr. Wood canvassed the field 
 and organized a Sunday school with 360 scholars. He came 
 to Honesdale in 1886 and connected himself with the Presby- 
 terian church. He, for a number of years, successfully man- 
 aged the National Elevator and Machine Company which gives 
 
218 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CHUKCH. 
 
 employment to about one Hundred men. He lias been assistant 
 superintendent and librarian of the Sunday school. 
 
 Augustus Porter Thompson, son of Andrew and Frances 
 Torrey Thompson, was born at Honesdale, Pa., December 29, 
 1873. He was educated at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., 
 and Yale University, from which he was graduated in 1892, 
 after which he became a member of Durland & Thompson Shoe 
 Company. He joined the church in 1888 and was elected 
 trustee in place of E. F. Torrey, resigned, at the annual meet- 
 ing of the congregation in 1905. June 6, 1901, he was mar- 
 ried to Miss Georgia E. Rowley, of Williamsport. 
 
 MEMBEBSHIP EOLL. 
 
 The following are the constituent members of the First 
 Presbyterian church of Honesdale, which was organized Feb- 
 ruary 11, 1829: 
 
 Isaac P. Foster. Kebecca Schoonover, wife of Levi 
 
 Mary Foster, his wife. Schoonover. 
 
 Horace Bald-vvin. Lucy Forbes, wife of Ohas. Forbes. 
 
 Olive P. Baldwin, his wife. Charles P. Clark. 
 
 Stephen Torrey. Joseph L. Kellogg. 
 
 These members all joined by letter. The subsequent 
 
 members have been: 
 
 Cvbil Luddington, March 6, 1829. Mary Ann Walden, June 25, 1830. 
 
 Miss Elmira Jagger, May 28, 1829. Deidama HoweU, June 26, 1830. 
 
 Miss Elizabeth Foster, May 28, 1829. Margaret Waldron, 1., June 26, 1830. 
 
 Maurice Wurts, June 1, 1829. Simeon S. Chamberlain, 1., Septem- 
 John Littlejohn, June 1, 1829. ber 6, 1830. 
 
 John B. Mills, June 1, 1829. Silas Stevens, 1., September 22, 1830. 
 
 Stephen Brush, July 15, 1829. Salome Stevens, his wife, 1., Sep- 
 Dianthe Brush, his wife, July 15, tember 22, 1830. 
 
 1829. Catharine Waldron, October 3, 1830. 
 
 Emeline Losey, wife of Dr. Losey, Ann Hill, October 3, 1830. 
 
 July 15, 1829. Abram G. Waldron, 1., October 3, 
 Albert Foster, July 15, 1829. 1830. 
 
 Richard L. Seely, October 11, 1829. Ebenezer T. Losey, March 8, 1831. 
 
 Isaac Kozel, October 11, 1829. Mary Hart, March 8, 1831. 
 
 Miles L. Benedict, 1., (letter,) No- Hiram Dibble, 1., March 8, 1831. 
 
 vember 25, 1829. Naomi Dibble, his wife, 1., March 8, 
 Sarah Barnum, 1., November 25, 1831. 
 
 1829. Eunice Eastman, wife of Dr. East- 
 Solomon Z. Lord, 1., June 25, 1830. man, 1., March 8, 1831. 
 Adeline Lord, his wife, 1., June 25, Mary Ann Gari-att, 1., March 28, 
 
 1830. 1831. Married E. F. Loid. 
 Kussel F. Lord, 1., June 25, 1830. John Torrey, 1., March 28, 1831. 
 Pvebeoca Campbell, wife of Eev. J. Eebeoca Torrey, his wife, 1., Maroh 
 
 Campbell, 1., June 25, 1830. 28, 1831. 
 
 Jeremiah Howell, June 25, 1830. Charles Torrey, April 3, 1831. 
 
TEUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEBS. 
 
 219 
 
 Adeline Blandln, wife of D. Blandin, 
 
 April 3, 1831. 
 Louisa S. Webber, April 3, 1831. 
 Laura Brink, wife of Jonath'n Brink, 
 
 1., June 29, 1831. 
 Elisha J. Hand, September 1, 1831. 
 
 Ann Hand, his wife, September 1, 
 
 1831. 
 Hulda Humphrey, wife of Chester 
 
 Humphrey, 1., December 2, 1831. 
 Susan Salmon, 1., December 2, 1831. 
 
 1832. 
 
 Mary Jane Keen, married "William 
 
 F. Wood. 
 Hannah Babcock. 
 Lurana Salmon, daughter of Benoni 
 
 B. Salmon. 
 Emeline Kirtland, wife of Daniel P. 
 
 Kirtland, 1. 
 Maria Seely, wife of K. L. Seely, 1. 
 Daniel Blandin, 1. 
 David Cory. 
 
 Catharine Cory, his wife. 
 Miss Minerva Huntington. 
 Sophia Forbes, married Christopher 
 
 Ward, went to Episcopal church. 
 William Horn. 
 Daniel P. Kirtland. 
 James Torrey. 
 
 Miss Delia W. Freeman, (colored.) 
 Miss Mary Ann St. John. 
 Elizabeth Kimble wife of Abraham 
 
 Kimble. 
 Catharine Forbes, married Henry 
 
 Hayes. 
 Mary Foster, married S. D. Ward. 
 Ansel H. Barnum. 
 Abram Kimble. 
 William K. McLaury, 1. 
 Mary McLaury, his wife, 1. 
 Stephen North, Jr., 1. 
 Miss Abigail Spaulding, 1. 
 William H. Foster, 1. 
 Mary Watkins, 1. 
 Patience North, 1, 
 Miss Ann Eliza Watkins, married 
 
 T. N. Vail, 1. 
 Catharine Hand, wife of Ezra Hand. 
 Miss Susan Westlake, married and 
 
 went to M. E. church. 
 John Bolles, 1. 
 Minerva Bolles, his wife, 1. 
 
 1833. 
 
 Maria Lockwood. 
 
 Eliza Spettigue. 
 
 Stephen G. Cory. 
 
 Simeon Cory, dismissed to M. E. 
 church. 
 
 James McKeon. 
 
 Martha Beers, wife of David Beers, 1. 
 
 Nancy Fuller, wife of Daniel P. Ful- 
 ler, 1. 
 
 Henry V. Dezen. 
 
 David Kobertson, 1. 
 
 Margaret Eobertson, his wife, 1. 
 
 Alfred Bliss. 
 
 Miss Mary Ann Bliss. 
 
 David Torrey, entered ministry. 
 
 Eveline I. Watkins. 
 
 Lucy M. Losey, wife of Dr. Losey. 
 
 David Beers. 
 
 Susan Vail, daughter of Timothv N. 
 
 Vail. 
 Sarah Henshaw. 
 
 1834. 
 
 Daniel P. Fuller. 
 
 John Kimble. 
 
 Catharine Kimble. 
 
 Asenath Snyder, wife of Dr. Sny- 
 der, 1. 
 
 Mary C. Torrey, wife of Stephen 
 Torrey, 1. 
 
 Levi D. Stewart. 
 
 Daniel Bolkcom. 
 
 Mrs. Daniel Bolkcom. 
 
 Andrew Crawford, 1, 
 
 Mary Crawford, his wife, 1. 
 
 Catharine F. Crawford, daughter, 1. 
 
 William Corse. 
 
 Spencer Blandin, 1. 
 
 Nancy Blandin, his wife, 1. 
 
 Miss Margaret Crichton, married 
 
 Joseph Doney, 1. 
 Louis Morten, 1. 
 
 1835. 
 
 Mary Westlake, married Mr. Pal- 
 mer and joined M. E. church. 
 
 Ann Eliza Day, wife of Carpenter 
 Day, 1. 
 
 Asa Jenkins, 1. 
 Ann Jenkins, his wife, 1. 
 Miss Margaret Caldwell, married 
 John Harvey, Methodist. 
 
220 
 
 HONESDALE PEESByTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 1836. 
 
 John H. Schenck, 1. 
 
 1837. 
 
 Elizabeth Tarbox, daughter of David 
 
 Tarbox. 
 Natlianiel B. Eldred, 2d. 
 James Harvey Cory. 
 Stephen N. St. John. 
 Stephen Halsey. 
 .Tosiah H. Foster. 
 Miss Eebeoca Covert. 
 Hannah A. Salmon, married C. B. 
 
 "Wrighter. 
 James B. Eldred. 
 Ulysses V. Wheeler. 
 Herman L. Mayhew. 
 Phebe Ann Beers, married Stephen 
 
 G. Cory. 
 Joanna "White. 
 
 Isaac Beardalee, 1. 
 Catharine Beardslee, his wife, 1. 
 Lucy Baldwin, wife of Horace Bald- 
 win. 
 Miss Julia A. Morton. 
 Abram I. Stryker, 1. 
 Decius Collins, not received because 
 letter was not produced. 
 
 George M. Keen, 1. 
 
 Matilda Keen, his wife, I. 
 
 Christopher Beardslee, 1. 
 
 Ebenezer Kingsbury, Jr., 1. 
 
 Elizabeth Kingsbury, his wife, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Anna Newmans, 1. 
 
 Clarissa Newmans, 1. 
 
 1838. 
 
 Seth Benedict, 1. 
 
 Mary Benedict, his wife, 1. 
 
 Betsey G. Brush, married B. B. 
 
 Smith. 
 Jabez Rockwell, 1. 
 Sarah L. Graves, wife of Eev. J. B. 
 
 Graves, 1. 
 .John Newmans. 
 Sarah S. Lord, wife of Solomon Z. 
 
 Lord, 1. 
 Lydia P. Sutton, married Willard 
 
 Davis, 1. 
 Caroline A. Neal, daughter of John 
 
 Neal, 1. 
 Harriet H. Jessup, married W. H. 
 
 Foster. 
 
 Ann 0. Neal, married Jno. F. Lord, 1. 
 George W. Seaman, entered minis- 
 try, 1. 
 Amanda M. Seaman, his wife, 1. 
 Eunice Eno, wife of D. M. Eno, 1. 
 Joseph Brown, 1. 
 Laura Brown. 
 
 Sarah Taft, went to M. E. church. 
 Phebe Gainfort, 1. 
 Millen S. Cannon, 1. 
 Clarissa J., his wife, 1. 
 Eliphalet S. Eose, I. 
 Jerusha 0. Eose, his wife, 1. 
 Delia Hand. 
 James S. Bassett, 1. 
 Maria Bassett, his wife, 1. 
 
 1889. 
 
 Daniel M. Eno. 
 
 Elam Cory. 
 
 William Holbert. 
 
 Timothy N. Vail. 
 
 "William Cory. 
 
 William L. Gainfort. 
 
 Martha W. Skinner. 
 
 Harriet Craig, (Carr.) 
 
 Marion PoUey Dibble. 
 
 Levi Bronson. 
 
 Harriet Bronson. 
 
 Eva "V. Conyne, widow, 1. 
 
 Phineas Arnold, 2d. 
 
 Hubbard L. Hadsal. 
 
 Frederick Bronson. 
 
 Isaac D. Conyne. 
 
 Chloe H. Dibble, married John Inch. 
 
 Blias T. Beers. 
 
 Nancy E. Beers, married Daniel B. 
 
 Tillou. 
 Millicent Poster, married Horace 
 
 A. Woodhouse. 
 Harriet I. Foster, married Joseph 
 
 D. West. 
 Josiah Foster. 
 Sarah A. Keen. 
 
 Abigail M. Keen, married Palmer. 
 Clarissa Bronson, married Arunah 
 
 Tiffany. 
 Frances Bronson, daughter of Urial 
 
 Bronson. 
 Martha A. Cory, married Eber Prit- 
 
 chard. 
 Emeline Poster, married Luther 
 
 Chase. 
 Eliza Garrett. 
 
TRUSTEES AND PE\\'HOLDEES. 
 
 221 
 
 James H. Sutton. 
 
 Harriet Brown. 
 
 Frances E. Beers, married J. S. 
 
 Bassett. 
 Elizabeth H. Salmon, married Mr. 
 
 Clough. 
 Charles M. Salmon. 
 Charles S. Cory. 
 Joseph A. Seaman. 
 Amzi A. Beach. 
 Simeon E. Beers. 
 David Tarbox, 1. 
 Adaline E. Lord. 
 Almira Bliss, married Mathews and 
 
 joined the M. E. church. 
 Willard Davis, 1. 
 Charity Clark, 1. 
 
 Stephen D. Ward, 1. 
 Julia Ann Willis, 1. 
 Jirah E. Decker. 
 Lovina Hamlin, 1. 
 Mrs. Anna Keen. 
 Elizabeth Allen, 1. 
 John I. Allen, 1. 
 Saphrona Willis, 1. 
 Margaret Johnson. 
 Rosette Brink, daughter of Jona- 
 than Bi'ink. 
 Mrs. Betsey Johnson. 
 Miss Elizabeth Keen. 
 Miss Amanda Soribner. 
 Nathaniel Beers, 1. 
 Serepta Beers, his wife, 1. 
 
 1840. 
 
 Elizabeth Crawford. 
 
 Nancy Lookwood. 
 
 Frances D. Stanton, married Daniel 
 D. Woodward. 
 
 Harriet Amelia Hamlin, daughter 
 of Oliver Hamlin, married Mr. 
 Eandall. 
 
 Chauncey Burr Goodrich, clergy- 
 man. 
 
 Thomas H. E. Tracy. 
 
 Anna Tracy, his wife. 
 
 Elizabeth Scofield, married Josiah 
 Foster. 
 
 Horace Tracy, Elder, 1. 
 
 Aaron Writer, 1. 
 
 William Eeed, Elder, 1. 
 
 Mary Eeed, his wife, 1. 
 
 Laura N. Chapman, married Ste- 
 phen N. St. John, 1. 
 
 Zelotes Lord, 1. 
 
 Sally Lord, his wife, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Jerusha Butler. 
 
 Samuel Darling, 1. 
 
 John P. Darling, Elder, 1. 
 
 Sarah Darling, his wife, 1. 
 
 Maria Darling, daughter of Samuel 
 Darling, 1. 
 
 Hezekiah Butler, 1. 
 
 1841. 
 
 Mrs. Laura M. Mapes, went to Bap- 
 tist church. 
 Elizabeth Vail, I. 
 Cornelia Skinner. 
 Robert Arnold. 
 Lucy Arnold, his wife. 
 Mrs. C. A. Robinson, 1. 
 Henry Eade, 1. 
 Ann Eade, his wife, 1. 
 
 John Neal, 1. 
 
 Dr. Adonijah Strong. 
 
 Almira Twing, 1. 
 
 Jacob Schenok. 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Sohenck. 
 
 Sarah Frances Collins, wife of Lor- 
 enzo Collins. 
 
 Mary Ann Knapp, wife of Robert J. 
 Knapp. 
 
 1842. 
 
 Miss Emeline Ludlow, 1. 
 Miss Angeliue Ludlow, 1. 
 Miss Delia Duffey. 
 Miss Maria Darling. 
 Ebenezer Leighten, 1. 
 Clarissa Leighten, his wife, 
 Joseph H. Beach, 1. 
 Lorenzo CoUins, 1. 
 Martin Strong. 
 Julia Strong, his wife. 
 
 Mrs. Fayetta Tuttle. 
 Mrs. Amy Hendricks. 
 Henry Henshaw, went to Beech 
 
 Pond Baptist church. 
 Jeremiah Clark, 1. 
 Charity W. Clark, his wife, 1. 
 Miss Harriet Hall, 1. 
 Alexander Marsh, 1. 
 Caroline Marsh, his wife, 1. 
 
222 
 
 HONESDALB PBESBYTEBIAN CHTJECH. 
 
 1843. 
 
 Moses "Ward, 1. 
 
 Jane Ward, his wife, 1. 
 
 Josiah Tracy, 1. 
 
 Benjamin B. Smith, 1. 
 
 Joseph W. Lewis. 
 
 Mrs. Mmira "Williams, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Jane Tuthill, 1. 
 
 George P. Howell, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Pamelia F. "Wheeler, 1. 
 
 C. C. Graves, 1. 
 
 Ezra Hand. 
 
 Ambrose S. Ludlow, 1. 
 
 Harriet Bowland, wife of Eev. H. 
 
 A. Rowland, 1. 
 Phebe L. Cory, wife of "Wm. Cory, I. 
 Daniel G. Stillman, 1. 
 Beulah Hornbeok, wife of Cornelius 
 
 Hornbeok. 
 
 1844. 
 
 Charles Oscar "Wright. 
 
 Elvira Mc"Wade, wife of James Mo- 
 Wade. 
 
 Eliza P. Wheeler, daughter of Earl 
 Wheeler. 
 
 Aaron Whitehead. 
 
 Miss Harriet N. Tiffany. 
 
 John Bennett Nichols. 
 
 Frances Bliss Rowland, sister of 
 Eev. H. A. Rowland. 
 
 William H. Richmond, 
 
 Lydia Sarah Harrison. 
 
 Joseph Schofield. 
 
 Margaret, wife of William Watts. 
 
 Mary Jane Ward, married Thaddeus 
 S. Fitch. 
 
 William 0. Freeman. 
 
 Miss Mary Ludlow Beach. 
 
 Fredrick L. Chapman. 
 
 Mary Hand. 
 
 Isaac P. Darling. 
 
 John Ford. 
 
 Mead T. Tuthill. 
 
 Enoch Reeve Tuthill. 
 
 Charles P. Waller, 1. 
 
 .John F. Roe. 
 
 Miss Margaret Hornbeok. 
 
 Joseph M. Gustin. 
 
 Miss Anna Clarissa Skinner. 
 
 Harmon T. Walter. 
 
 Henrietta N. Hamlin. 
 
 Presby W. Carlow. 
 
 Harriet Carlow, his wife. 
 
 Mary Schofield, married Dr. Den- 
 ton. 
 Putnam R. Williams. 
 Ellis A. Smith. 
 Lucena Chapman Reed, married J. 
 
 E. Richmond. 
 Eliza M. Kirtland, married Lathrop 
 
 I. Tracy. 
 Lydia Harrison, married Rev. Mr. 
 
 McElroy, 1. 
 Edward Yetter, 1. 
 Daniel B. TUlou, 1. 
 Ann Jane Warwick, married Mr. 
 
 Skinner. 
 Richard Hotchkiss. 
 Ann Hotchkiss, his wife. 
 Fanny Wheeler, wife of Earl Wheel- 
 er, 1. 
 Helen Mead Tracy, married H. A. 
 
 Clark. 
 Clarissa T. Tracy, wife of Horace 
 
 Tracy. 
 Zara W. Arnold. 
 Lucia A. Corbin, married George P. 
 
 Howell. 
 Elizabeth Thorp, wife of A. 0. 
 
 Thorp, 1. 
 Saiah Cushman, married James S. 
 
 Bassett, 1. 
 Charles S. Minor, 1. 
 Caleb Camp, 1. 
 Sarah Camp, his wife, 1. 
 
 1845. 
 
 Lathrop J. Tracy. 
 
 James Cookson, 1. 
 
 Sarah Cookson, his wife, I. 
 
 Sophia Arnold , wife of Zara Arnold, 1. 
 
 Margaret Snyder, wife of Isaiah 
 
 Snyder. 
 Edward W. Weston. 
 Joseph D. West, 1. 
 
 Leon 
 
 EmUy D. Green, wife of 
 
 Green, 1. 
 Caroline A. Wheeler, wife of TJ. V. 
 
 Wheeler. 
 Alexander B. Sloan, 1. 
 Francis P. Penniman, 1. 
 Jane B. Penniman, his wife, 1. 
 
TKUSTEES AKD PEWHOIDEES. 
 
 223 
 
 1846. 
 
 Elizabeth E. Woolley, 1. 
 Sarah Bishop, 1. 
 Charles T. Weston, 1. 
 
 Henry E. Conger, 1. 
 Zuluma Conger, his wife, 1. 
 
 1847. 
 
 Betsey Bennett, -wife of Moses Ben- 
 net, 1. 
 
 William Estabrook, 1. 
 
 Elenor Stott. 
 
 James E. Dickson, 1. 
 
 Caroline L. Dickson, his wife, 1. 
 
 Marietta I. Blandin, married H. M. 
 Jones. 
 
 Mary Keturah Wheeler. 
 
 Chloe M. Hall. 
 
 Maria C. Salmon, married Mr. Clark. 
 
 Mary Jane Sweet, married William 
 Beers. 
 
 Phebe Ann Terrell, married Horton 
 B. Hamlin. 
 
 Hannah J. Hamlin, married William 
 
 Gilmore. 
 Ann T. Lord, married Frederick E. 
 
 Tracy. 
 Jeanette S. Stone, married E. F. 
 
 Torrey. 
 Henry W, Stone, 1. 
 Catharine W. Stone, his wife, 1. 
 Elizabeth M. Spear, 1. 
 Charlotte Stone, married Horace C. 
 
 Hand, 1. 
 James Miller, 1. 
 Harriet W. Waller, wife of Charles 
 
 P. Waller, 1. 
 Philip E. VanFrank, 1. 
 William Cole, 1. 
 Sarah H. Cole, his wife, 1. 
 
 1848. 
 
 Mary Lanterman, I. 
 Eliza Lanterman, I. 
 Prudence Demming, widow, 1. 
 Mrs. Mary Ann Leggett, 1. 
 Chauncey Demming, 1. 
 Charles Nevin. 
 
 Sophia Lant«rman, 1. 
 Henry H. Hyde, 1. 
 Edwin West, 1. 
 Abbey A. Knapp, 1. 
 
 Isaac S. White. 
 Mary K. White, his wife. 
 Mrs. Lydia Hall, 1. 
 Miss Ann E. Hall, 1. 
 Marshall Wheeler. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Norris, 1. 
 
 1849. 
 
 Miss Caroline L. Scott, married Ben- 
 jamin Harrison, president of 
 the United States, 1. 
 
 1850. 
 
 Mary E. Strong. 
 
 Benjamin C. Baldwin. 
 
 Frederick E. Tracy. 
 
 Horace C. Hand. 
 
 Mary E. Seymour. 
 
 Ann Eliza Foster. 
 
 Henry B. Hyde. 
 
 Edwin E. Torrey. 
 
 Barnabas E. Hall. 
 
 Mary J. Tracy. 
 
 Hobart 0. Hamlin. 
 
 William D. Ketchum. 
 
 Charles C. Manna. 
 
 Elizabeth Allen, wife of John I. 
 
 Allen, 1. 
 Elizabeth Sehofield, 1. 
 Mary A. Clark. 
 Emeline W. Losey, married Mr. 
 
 Marsh. 
 Mary J. Fuller, married Mr. Gid- 
 
 dings. 
 Susan Seely Moore, married E. W. 
 
 Weston. 
 Ann E. Marsh. 
 Franklin A. Seely. 
 Mary E. Boe, married William W. 
 
 Weston. 
 Caroline N. Torrey. 
 Mary Ann Lord. 
 Sarah E. Post. 
 Mary E. Williams. 
 Anna F. Eowland. 
 Frances B. Eowland. 
 Elizabeth H. Conger, wife of John 
 
 Conger. 
 Mary C. Eoe, wife of John P. Eoe, 1. 
 
224 
 
 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Mary Jane Falls, 1. 
 Jesse CoUum, 1, 
 Mrs. Jane Heap, 1. 
 Mrs. Lucy Bennett, 1. 
 
 Dr. Consider King, 1. 
 Luoina King, his wife, 1. 
 Alfred Hand. 
 
 1851. 
 
 Eomer W. Lewis, 1. 
 
 Maria H. Crane, wife of "William 
 
 Crane, 1. 
 Mrs. Jemima Beemer, 1. 
 
 1852. 
 
 Emeline C. Kingsbury. 
 Hannah T. King. 
 
 1853. 
 
 Lucy Barrett. 
 
 Lydia Marsh. 
 
 Jane Peterson, widow. 
 
 "^'illiam Henry Fuller. 
 
 Thaddeus S. Fitch. 
 
 Vi'illiam Day. 
 
 Edgar B. Freeman. 
 
 Isabella K. Brown, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Charlotte Little, 1. 
 
 George F. Stratton, 1. 
 
 Isaac Fuller, 1. 
 
 Olive E. Power, married D. R. Burn- 
 ham, TJ. S. Army. 
 
 William Crane. 
 
 Robert J. Knapp, I. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Amelia Young, 1. 
 
 John Proctor. 
 
 Isaiah Snyder. 
 
 Henry B. HaU. 
 
 Jason Torrey, son of Stephen Tor- 
 rey. 
 
 Frederick W. Kirtland. 
 
 Miles L. Tracy. 
 
 George W. Allen. 
 
 Eussel F. Lord, Jr. 
 
 William Henry Stone. 
 
 James E,. Little. 
 
 John N. Conger. 
 
 Katharine S. Tracy, married H. M. 
 Seely. 
 
 Mary P. Hand, married M. L. Tracy. 
 
 Jane K. Letch. 
 
 Mary Elohards, married Enos Wil- 
 liams. 
 
 John Robertson, 1. 
 
 Clarissa D. Estabrook. 
 
 Isaac N. Foster. 
 
 Caroline M. Foster, his wife. 
 
 Abigail C. Sutton. 
 
 Ebenezer Pritohard, 
 
 Celia Manley. 
 
 Ellen Foster. 
 
 Mary W. Rowland. 
 
 Abby F. Roe. 
 
 Adeline N. Torrey. 
 
 Robert N. Torrey. 
 
 Catharine Butterfield, 
 
 George V. Wallace. 
 
 1. 
 
 1. 
 
 1854. 
 
 Dr. D. B. St. John Eoosa. 
 George D. Seely. 
 Henry W. Blandin. 
 
 William Brown. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Ann Leggett, 1. 
 
 Sidney B. Weston. 
 
 Harriet B. Hall. 
 Mrs. Ann P. Roe, 1. 
 Mary S. Philips, 1. 
 W. M. Hunter. 
 
 Frances J. Bennett. 
 Thomas H. Dickson. 
 Sophia S. CoUins, wife of 
 Collins, 1. 
 
 Seth Ward Powell. 
 
 Mrs. Russell, 1. 
 
 Margaret T. Morgan, widow. 
 
 1855. 
 
 Miss Ruth Williams, (Colored.) 
 Delia H. Roosa, 1. 
 Frank A. Seely, 1. 
 
 1856. 
 
 Elizabeth Hunter. 
 Harriet W. Kimble. 
 Elizabeth J. WaUer, 1. 
 
 1857. 
 
 Susan A. Eno, married John Jenkins. 
 John H. Sinclair, 1. 
 Lucius Prances A. Sinclair, 1. 
 James E. Herrick, 1. 
 
TETJSTBES AM) PEWHOIDEES. 
 
 225 
 
 Esther S. Herrlok, 1. 
 
 Elam Strong, 1. 
 
 Catharine B. Strong, his wife. 
 
 Dennis Baldwin, 1. 
 
 Temperance C. Baldwin, 1. 
 Catharine V. Hubbell, 1. 
 Eleanor B. Taylor, 1. 
 S. C. Theilgaard, 1. 
 
 1858. 
 
 Julia H. Strong. 
 
 Mary E. Kingsbury. 
 
 Thomas Benny. 
 
 Mrs. Clarissa Fields, 1. 
 
 Levi MoCreery, 1. 
 
 Jane M. D. McOreery, his wife, 1. 
 
 Catharine VanStenberg, 1. 
 
 Henry K. Chew. 
 
 Lenna A. Chew. 
 
 Sarah M. Eace. 
 
 George N. Snyder, entered ministry. 
 
 Harriet J. Foster, wife of H. "Weston. 
 
 (rertrude Foster. 
 
 Elizabeth Knorr, married Kodney 
 
 Tillou. 
 Jesse VanStenberg. 
 Louis Taylor. 
 Mary Marsh. 
 Loretta Green, (Colored.) 
 Harriet Cummings, wife of Aaron 
 
 Cummings. 
 Emily M. Skinner. 
 
 1859. 
 
 F. A. Doney, Methodist minister. Mary M. Wood. 
 
 Emeline Gustin, married Coe Dur- Olive Coryell. 
 
 land. Amelia Salmon. 
 
 Alice M. Bassett. Mrs. Sara Jury. 
 
 Eunice Eno. David Kenner. 
 Sarah M. Crawford. 
 
 1860. 
 
 Maria Crane, 1. 
 
 1861. 
 
 Mary Ann Brown, 1. 
 Henry F. Atherton, 1. 
 Caroline H. Jones. 
 Harriet Ingersoll. 
 
 Laura E. Eno, married Eben Clark 
 and joined the M. E. church. 
 
 Albert E. Ludwig, 1. 
 Frederica Ludwig, 1. 
 Elizabeth Coryell. 
 Phebe Beardslee. 
 Elizabeth W. Dickson. 
 
 1862. 
 
 Sarah A. Owen. 
 Alvira Nichols. 
 Mlda Mayhew, 1. 
 John K. Jenkins. 
 Albert S. Ludwig. 
 Charles H. Crandall. 
 Simeon Francis Cory. 
 
 Charles 0. Clark, 1. 
 
 Mrs. C. C. Clark, 1. 
 
 "William B. Holmes, 1. 
 
 Charles M. Scott, 1. 
 
 Sarah G. Scott, his wife, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Lydia Carman, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Elvira E. Perkins, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Frances Jane Carlll, 1. 
 
 Horace "Weston. 
 
 Eliza Any. 
 
 E. I. Stearns, 1. 
 
 M. A. Stearns, his wife, 1. 
 
 Harriet S. Sutton. 
 
 Harriet E. "Ward, married P. "W 
 
 Bentley. 
 Elizabeth J. "Waller, married "W. H 
 
 Stanton. 
 Matilda Steenberg. 
 
 1863-4 
 
 Lilly A. Stearns, 1. 
 
 Louisa J. Stearns, 1. 
 
 Samantha K. Holmes, 1. 
 
 Eebecca Enslen, 1. 
 
 Mrs. P. P. Brown. 
 
 Mrs. Hannah M. Eowe. 
 
 Amanda Bartron, 1. 
 
 Joseph P. Chambers, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Lucy A. Chambers, his wife, 1 
 
 Orlando G. Eowland, 1. 
 
 Mrs. George F. "Wilbur, 1. 
 
 Mary A. "Wilbur, 1. 
 
226 
 
 HONESDALE PEESBTTEEIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 Lucinda J. Valentine, 1. 
 Maria W. Dunning, 1. 
 George G-. "Waller. 
 
 Helen Powell, 1. 
 Sarah E. Scott, 1. 
 
 1865. 
 
 George V. Bruir, 1. 
 ' George F. Wilbur. 
 
 John T. Ball. 
 
 Mary F. Ball, his wife. 
 
 Sarah D. Smith, wife of Robt. Smith. 
 
 Charlotte E. Jadwin, wife of C. C. 
 Jadwin. 
 
 Edward A. Penniman. 
 
 Anna Penniman, his wife. 
 
 George S. Keen. 
 
 Mrs. Eliza J. Keen. 
 
 Mrs. James H. Ham. 
 
 Frances A. Laeey. 
 
 Maria J. MoCreery. 
 
 Amelia Marsh. 
 
 Mary E. Tillou. 
 
 Mary E. Woodhouse, married H. 
 Blandin. 
 
 Lucy A. Tracy, married G. F. Bent- 
 ley. 
 
 Mary E. Denton, married W. A. 
 Taylor. 
 
 Mary A. Penniman, married W. K. 
 Dimock. 
 
 George F. Bentley. 
 
 Charles W. Holmes. 
 
 "William H. Stanton. 
 
 Frederick C. "Ward. 
 
 Isaac F. "Ward. 
 
 L. E. Stearns. 
 
 Emanuel D. G. Ludwig. 
 
 John Torrey, Jr. 
 
 Henry F. Torrey. 
 
 P. "W. Bentley. 
 
 "Warren K. Dimock. 
 
 "William "W. "Weston. 
 
 ^Villiam F. Houenskiel. 
 
 Jacob AUiard. 
 
 Jacob Kaugher. 
 
 L. "Weston. 
 
 Charles E. Scott. 
 
 Mrs. Mary E. Carell. 
 
 Eliza Cortright. 
 
 Mary C. Crandall, married Harry 
 
 Foster. 
 Susan C. Marsh, married "William 
 
 T. Moore. 
 Josephine E. Morgan. 
 Mary H. Eaish. 
 
 Caro L. Tillou, married Minor Carr. 
 Mary R. Tompkins. 
 Martha H. Cummings. 
 Lucy S. "\Vood. 
 Martha N. "Valentine. 
 Fannie E. Torrey, married Andrew 
 
 Thompson. 
 Harrison "Valentine, 1. 
 James M. Pregnall, 1. 
 Emily A. Pregnall, his wife, 1. 
 Abbey Jane Manning, 1. 
 Irwin Jones. 
 Phebe Ellen McCreery. 
 Alice Jane McCarter. 
 Lucy Ann Sherwood. 
 Joseph "W. Manning, 1. 
 M. L. Manning, 1. 
 Ann A. Manning, 1. 
 Mrs. Chauncey Demming. 
 Thomas H. E. Tracy, Jr. 
 Mrs. Nancy Minor, wife of Charles 
 
 S. Minor. 
 Phelinda Clark. 
 
 1866. 
 
 C. M. Salmon. 
 Eugenia Bull. 
 Lucy Booth. 
 Henry "White. 
 Mrs. Harriet Beers, 
 
 Beers, 1. 
 "Ulysses F. Beers, 1. 
 
 wife, of E. T. 
 
 Fanny S. Beers, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Mary Bunnell, 1. 
 
 Charles Brunig, 1. 
 
 Almira Brunig, 1. 
 
 Almon Brunig, 1. 
 
 Ann M. Lane. 
 
 A. M. Drummond, Prin. of school, 1. 
 
 1867. 
 
 Mary Powers, 1. 
 
 Andrew Douglass. 
 
 Mary E. Douglass. 
 
 Sarah "W. Hale, wife of Dr. Hale, 1. 
 
 Margaret Lacey. 
 
 Dovie Tompkins. 
 
 Janette Loud. 
 Jane Perry. 
 Gilbert A. Forbes. 
 Joseph B. Leach. 
 Albert C. Blandin. 
 David Stuart Bassett. 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES. 
 
 227 
 
 Horace F. Marsh. 
 Mrs. H. S. Kockwell, 1. 
 Isaao Tibbetts, 1. 
 Lydia Tibbetts, his wife, 1. 
 
 Martha V. Frame. 
 Clara A. Holmes. 
 Lucy J. Fitch, married E. 
 Grace M. Wright, 1. 
 
 1868. 
 
 Brown. 
 
 Amanda W. Barkley, 1. 
 
 John B. Lisk. 
 
 Nelly C. Lisk. 
 
 Seymour A. Lisk. 
 
 Elizabeth A. Hall. 
 
 Sarah Eldred. 
 
 Ida Eldred. 
 
 Mathew H. Stanley. 
 
 Ambrose Allen. 
 
 Lucy A. Allen. 
 
 John M. Wood. 
 
 William T. Moore. 
 
 George G. Guinnip. 
 
 Hattie A. Guinnip. 
 
 Stockholm B. Wood. 
 
 Marietta Wood. 
 
 Olive S. Eodgers. 
 
 Abbie E. Eodgers. 
 
 Emma M. Eodgers, married Graham 
 
 Watts. 
 Jennie E. Eodgers. 
 Josephine Coryell. 
 Sarah B. Cushman. 
 Clara T. Sutton. 
 
 Ella N. Salmon. 
 
 Charles Mason. 
 
 Elizabeth Forbes. 
 
 Abraham P. Osman, 1. 
 
 Malinda P. Osman, his wife, 1. 
 
 James B. Eldred. 
 
 Jane Dennison. 
 
 J. Adam Eeitenauer. 
 
 Nathan W. Gray. 
 
 Mary E. Gray. 
 
 Frederika Pohle, married J. Adam 
 
 Eeitenauer. 
 Louisa J. Wood. 
 Susan C. Foster, married Eobert W. 
 
 Ham, Episcopal. 
 John Eehbein. 
 C. M. Eehbein. 
 Aaron Cummings. 
 Elizabeth J. Grennell. 
 John E. Eichmond, 1. 
 Margaret Amos, 1. 
 Emily Spry, 1. 
 Alice Jane Haley, 1. 
 Charlotte Vandeburg, 1. 
 
 1869. 
 
 Francis W. Grennell. 
 Llllle Eno. 
 Emma L. Gainsfort. 
 Chloe Gainsfort. 
 George D. Blandin. 
 William H. Cummings. 
 Ezekiel G. Wood. 
 George W. Fox. 
 Charles W. Spencer. 
 Sarah M. Tarbell, 1. 
 Sarah 0. Howell, 1. 
 
 Emma C. Ward. 
 EUa S. Scott. 
 Eobert N. Torrey, 1. 
 Elizabeth Torrey, 1. 
 Sarah M. Eeed, 1. 
 
 L. Bice. 
 
 Sarah Eioe. 
 
 Mrs. Lizzie Cortright. 
 
 Ira K. Bishop. 
 
 Graham Watts. 
 
 Joseph A. Bodie. 
 
 Lanian Weston, 1. 
 Dr. Otis Avery. 
 Mrs. Otis Avery, 1. 
 Abram Hoagland, 1. 
 Cornelia P. Hoagland, 1. 
 Jannette Salmon, 1. 
 Eugene Salmon, 1. 
 Dr. Henry J. Kiefer, 1. 
 Daniel T. Calkins, 1. 
 Dollie C. Beardslee, 1. 
 
 1870. 
 
 Emma H. Broadhead, 1. 
 Libbie P. Starnes, 1. 
 Hannah E. Spry, 1. 
 Mrs. Amelia S. Beers, 1. 
 
 1871. 
 
 Martin E. George. 
 Frank B. Brown. 
 Homer Parsons. 
 Oscar T. Chambers. 
 George A. Ehodes. 
 Mrs. Henry Wilson. 
 
228 
 
 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Mrs. Emma H. Bootli. 
 
 Sarah J. VanKirk, married David 
 
 Noyes. 
 Josepliine VanKirk. 
 Kannie A. Sherwood, married Frank 
 
 Genung. 
 Harriet S. Gummings. 
 Harriet E. Minor. 
 Carrie A. Smith, married L. L. Dem- 
 
 ing. 
 Anna B. Wilbur, married Joseph A. 
 
 Bodie. 
 Elizabeth Eockwell. 
 Laura J. Morgan. 
 Eva M. Brown. 
 May Beardslee. 
 
 Kate N. Bull, married Oscar Bun- 
 nell. 
 Henry A. Smith. 
 E. M. Wilbur. 
 E. P. Chambers. 
 Charles W. Hand. 
 
 William J. Pregnall. 
 William N. Foster. 
 Dr. Clarence E. Foster. 
 Amelia J. Murphy. 
 Louisa 0. Scheutz. 
 Eowena E. Spencer. 
 Ella F. Sutton, married E. C. Mum- 
 lord. 
 Lizzie T. Hamlin, married Samuel 
 
 Poster. 
 Caroline A. Durland, married John 
 
 D. Weston. 
 Frances C. Benny, married Harvey 
 Jackson. 
 
 Mary Kiefer, 1. 
 
 William Henry Foster. 
 
 Samuel J. Foster. 
 
 Martin Groner. 
 
 William W. Johnson. 
 
 Wilhelmina Kiple. 
 
 Delia E. Leach, 1. 
 
 1872. 
 
 Henry B. Hall, 1. 
 Elizabeth A. Hall, 1. 
 LUlie A. Langdon, 1. 
 Mary E. Buckingham, 1. 
 Virginia Dimmick, 1. 
 Alfred C. Hand, clergyman, 1. 
 John Manning. 
 Sarah P. Beardslee. 
 
 Maria C. Keen. 
 Matthias Vanderling. 
 Andrew Thompson, 1. 
 Abraham Osmun, 1. 
 Melinda C. P. Osmun, 1. 
 
 Sarah Scott Snyder, 1. 
 Elizabeth A. Bobertson, 1, 
 Beed Burns, M. D., 1. 
 Mary B. Burns, his wife, 1. 
 William P. Stocker, 1. 
 Fanny T. Wilbur, 1. 
 Anna M. Ball. 
 Adelia Kesner. 
 Emma J. Kiple. 
 Ida H. Stilson. 
 Maltilda H. Murphy. 
 Mary S. Waller. 
 Kate A. Dunning. 
 Carrie M. Hall. 
 Nellie F. Dunning. 
 Olaf M. Spettigue. 
 Eva M. Spettigue, his wife. 
 Frederick E. Salmon. 
 
 Harriet Bishop. 
 
 Julia C. Woodhouse, married E. 
 
 Andrews. 
 James Mathews, I. 
 Elmira Mathews, his wife, 1. 
 Eliza Mathews, 1. 
 Minnie Mathews, 1. 
 
 1873. 
 
 Fanny H. Walker, 1. 
 James H. Kennedy, 1. 
 Cornelia S. Stone, 1. 
 Mary Irwin, 1. 
 T. E. Noyes, 1. 
 
 1874. 
 
 Isaac E. Tibbetts. 
 John Williams. 
 William J. Vizard. 
 Charles P. Eldred. 
 Henry Kehbein. 
 Augustus Eehbein. 
 George M. Cooper. 
 John P. Burns. 
 Sarah Lindsley. 
 Mary E. Eodgers. 
 Hattie Eodgers. 
 Harriet E. Wood. 
 Henry W. Dunning. 
 William Haley. 
 George E. Valentine. 
 Elizabeth Holbert. 
 M. H. Marsh. 
 Libbie Tibbetts. 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOUDEES. 
 
 229 
 
 Alice K. Cory, 1. 
 Amelia Ames, 1. 
 John H. Torrey. 
 
 Grace Ball. 
 Philip Eeitenauer. 
 William L. Dunn. 
 Henry Scott Salmon. 
 
 Kobert J. Knapp, 1. 
 Mrs. K. J. Knapp, 1. 
 Estelle G. Cook. 
 Amanda J. Sharp. 
 Cornelius A. Parsons. 
 Jennie Wheeler. 
 Anna Watts. 
 Charlotte Eno. 
 
 August Dapper. 
 Mrs. George Keen, 
 Mary Seely. 
 
 William S. Torrey, M. D. 
 Mary Purdy. 
 Edgar Jadwin. 
 
 1875. 
 
 Lucy Gushing, 1. 
 Mrs. Kate S. Allen, 1. 
 
 1876. 
 
 Margaret Smith Salmon. 
 John Keif. 
 Alice E. Dall, 1. 
 Edgar B. Freeman, 1. 
 
 1877. 
 
 Helen Lord. 
 
 Mary Marsh Eobinson. 
 
 George Eobinson. 
 
 Mrs. Susan E. Waterbury, 1. 
 
 Maria E. Eockwell, 1. 
 
 Eebecca Bigart, 1. 
 
 Susan Hlllis, 1. 
 
 Mamie Coyle, 1. 
 
 1878. 
 
 Mary Jenkins. 
 Helen M. MUler, 1. 
 Emma Kessler. 
 
 1879. 
 
 Fanny D. Scott. 
 Hattie Ann Tillou. 
 
 1880. 
 
 Bessie B. Weston. 
 
 Hadley B. Larrabee, 1. 
 
 Ella B. Larrabee, his wife. 
 
 Walter P. L. Sullivan. 
 
 Frederick B. Hamilton. 
 
 Walter A. Wood. 
 
 Henry S. Hand. 
 
 Clinton W. Kellam. 
 
 Mattie G. Smith. 
 
 Nellie L. Wood, married Charles 
 
 Knapp. 
 Hattie E. Weston, married H. S. 
 
 Battin. 
 Jessie A. Wood, married Henry Z. 
 
 Eussell. 
 
 Mary H. Weston. 
 
 Annie N. Sutton, married D. Noble. 
 
 Helen B. Holmes, married E. 0. 
 
 Mills. 
 Edith W. Hamlin. 
 Mary B. Holmes, married Walter 
 
 A. Wood. 
 Eunice J. Avery. 
 Catharine E. Torrey. 
 Clara E. Torrey. 
 Emma Tillou. 
 Mrs. N. McArthur, 1. 
 Miss A. E. McArthur, 1. 
 Mrs. Mary Noyes, 1. 
 Mrs. E. A. Titus, 1. 
 
 1882. 
 
 Eliza Catharine Vetter. 
 Mrs. Louisa VanKirk, 1. 
 Mrs. A. J. Westwood, 1. 
 Miles Sherwood, 1. 
 
 Lorenzo D. Spragle. 
 Mrs. Louise Lee. 
 Jane Cady, 1. 
 
 1883. 
 
 Sibyl J. Aldrich, 
 Crandall. 
 
 married Charles 
 
 Mrs. Emma T. Eeynolds, 1. 
 Jacob H. Hiller. 
 
230 
 
 HONESDALE PEESBITEEIAN OHUECH. 
 
 Gertrude U. Hlller. 
 Mrs. Mary E. Oarill, 1. 
 Mrs. C. H. Y. Barnes. 
 
 Miss L. B. Waller. 
 Louise Jadwin. 
 
 1884. 
 
 Harriet E. Eookwell. 
 
 Lizzie J. Swift, 1. 
 
 Kate Seely Tracy, married Dr. B. 
 
 G. Barokley. 
 Mattie Holmes. 
 
 Anna Hand Traoy. 
 Charles C. Dusinberre. 
 Elnorah Kiple. 
 J. S. Gillen, 1. 
 Mrs. J. S. Gillen, 1. 
 
 1885. 
 
 John Scaife. 
 Henrietta Scaife. 
 Alice B. Tillou. 
 Harriet K. Stanton. 
 Anna E. Ogden, 1. 
 Keuben F. Hariison, 1. 
 Serenia Courtright. 
 Mrs. Afhelia Brown. 
 Dessie E. Groner, married Rev. 
 K. Pennell. 
 
 Emma M. Tarble. 
 
 Mary L. Kuhbaoh, married William 
 
 A. Sluman. 
 Mary E. Boot, married Horace F. 
 
 Marsh. 
 Nettie M. Haskins. 
 Mary A. Eeitenauer. 
 Mahala Atkinson. 
 Mrs. L. F. Gardner, 1. 
 Jennie B. Searles. 
 
 1886. 
 
 Blanche L. Kesler. 
 Bessie A. Brown. 
 Anna E. Thayer. 
 Henry W. Cole. 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Tibbetts, 1. 
 Mrs. Margaret A. Corby, 1. 
 Mrs. Alice E. Walter, 1. 
 Samuel Haley, M. D. 
 M. Eosa Haley, his wife. 
 Laura Kichenbaker, married 
 D. Eomaine. 
 
 John 
 
 Lucia G. Atkinson. 
 
 P. Davis Thayer, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Lydia M. Thayer, his wife, 1. 
 
 Mrs. L. P. Starnes, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Margaret B. Searle, wife of A. 
 
 T. Searle. 
 Ellen M. Maudsley. 
 Mary E. Hall. 
 James Slawter, 1. 
 Mrs. Eosanna T. Vogle. 
 Carrie F. Vogle. 
 
 1887. 
 
 Levi Schoonover, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Levi Schoonover, 1. 
 
 Frankie Schoonover, married John 
 
 Eeifler, 1. 
 Mrs. Annie Eehbein. 
 Thane Quackenbush. 
 William Stenzhorn. 
 Frank Grambs. 
 William H. Howe. 
 Edith Ida Lavo. 
 Hattie Jane Ban. 
 Emma L. Groner, married Eev. W, 
 
 0. Leinbach. 
 Mamie E. PregnaU. 
 Cora M. Sohremser. 
 Clara P. Wilder. 
 Marion H. Wilder. 
 Emma M. Brown. 
 Eena C. Tibbitts. 
 Carrie Haley. 
 
 Adaline Eichenbaker. 
 
 Florence S. Wood. 
 
 Fannie Durland, married Dr. C. E. 
 
 Brady. 
 Vinnie Eose, married Chas. Weston. 
 Mary A. Braman. 
 Margaret G. Eeed. 
 Lottie G. Tarble. 
 Mattie E. Gillen. 
 Katharine B. Minor. 
 Carrie L. Congdon. 
 Lillian E. Babbitt. 
 Jennie S. Bigart. 
 
 Mrs. Susan Eose, wife of L. O. Eose. 
 Mary A. Pohle. 
 Lena P. Bender. 
 Anna L. Bender. 
 Jennie M. Schoonover. 
 Angle J. Schoonover. 
 Clara E. Wolf. 
 
TRUSTEES AND PEWHOLDERS. 
 
 231 
 
 Jessie C. Grant. 
 
 Lizzie W. Bentley, married L. Gale. 
 
 Eliza J. Gummoe. 
 
 Julia D. Blandin. 
 
 Martha L. Jenkins. 
 
 Bertha Lane. 
 
 Kena J. Watts. 
 
 Mrs. Ann S. Bodie. 
 
 El win C. Mumford. 
 
 Frank D. Tarble. 
 
 Edgar W. Eoss. 
 
 Robert A. Smith, Jr. 
 
 ■William B. Powell. 
 
 ■William "W". Brown. 
 
 Charles "W. Henderson. 
 
 Clarence B. Hal). 
 
 Fred B. 'Whitney. 
 
 David Bodie. 
 
 Gustavus Zipple. 
 
 Edward W. Burns, M. D. 
 
 Henry L. Sohremser. 
 
 John K. Congdon. 
 
 Augustus P. Thompson. 
 
 Joseph F. Crandall. 
 
 Charles W. Weston. 
 Howard C. Keitenauer. 
 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. 
 Clarence E. Salmon, 1. 
 Jennie S. Salmon, 1. 
 Mrs. Mary F. Haines, 1. 
 Mattie Sharpsteen, 1. 
 Francis T. Dunkleberg, 1. 
 Lena Mackley. 
 Lizzie Mackley. 
 Lena Wenbauer. 
 Hanna Stegner. 
 Mrs. Louisa J. Penwarden. 
 George W. Penwarden. 
 Eobert Louis Grambs. 
 Cora M. Keen. 
 
 1888. 
 
 1. 
 
 Katie May Theobald. 
 
 Mrs. Henrietta Eansom, 
 
 Mrs. Julia Torrey, 1. 
 
 Thomas Fowler, 1. 
 
 Emma J. Fowler, 1. 
 
 Olive M. Fowler, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Jane Eebouse, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Ann L. Eockwell, 
 
 Eichard H. Brown, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Hattie M. Smith. 
 
 Mrs. Ida M. Coleman. 
 
 Mattie H. Bond, married William 
 
 H. Hawkins. 
 Clara 8. Erk. 
 Elizabeth Erk. 
 
 1. 
 
 Elizabeth Oldorf. 
 Eobert E. Eansom. 
 Edward E. Bunnell. 
 Daniel E. Potts, 1. 
 Mrs. Agnes M. Potts, 1. 
 Walter W. Wood, 1. 
 Eliza Carr, 1. 
 Flora E. Ferguson, 1. 
 Horace J. CoUum. 
 Sarah E. Colin m. 
 Mrs. L. H. Evans, 1. 
 Peter E. Collum, 1. 
 Mrs. M. J. Collum, 1. 
 Mrs. Clara Thompson, 1. 
 
 1889. 
 
 Mrs. Emma Neimiller, 1. 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth J. Wood. 
 
 Blanche J. Wood. 
 
 Isabel Durland. 
 
 Charlotte A. Muir. 
 
 Susan E. Jenkins. 
 
 Addle Daniels. 
 
 Sarah A. Eockwell. 
 
 Olive I. Eockwell. 
 
 Annie M. Kreitner. 
 
 Emma A. Kreitner. 
 
 Clara M. Bunnell, married W. H. 
 
 Kreitner. 
 Adelaide E. Dodge, married N. E. 
 
 Bigelow. 
 Joseph S. Pennell. 
 
 Eugene H. Walter. 
 B. M. Wiloox, 1. 
 Mrs. Almira 'VVilcox, 1. 
 Olive O. Wilcox, 1. 
 Viola K. Wilcox, 1. 
 Susie A. Haines, 1. 
 Mary E. Sogers, 1. 
 Claudius Mclntyre. 
 Jane H. Mclntyre. 
 Hattie E. Kimble. 
 Katie Grace, 1. 
 Anna Swartz. 
 John D. Eomaine. 
 Alice Z. Gregory. 
 E. M. Stocker, 1. 
 
232 
 
 HONESDALE PBESBYTERIAM CHUECH. 
 
 Carrie Weston. 
 Jennie Lee. 
 Anna D. Eldred. 
 Katharine N. Stanton. 
 Charlotte L. Lane. 
 Bessie E. Swift. 
 Emily A. Searle, 1. 
 Mary Fowler, 1. 
 
 Fred W. Kreitner, 1. 
 
 Ida Kreitner, 1. 
 
 Jeanette Dunlop, 1. 
 
 A. B. Pennell, entered ministry, 
 
 Grace A. Jadwin. 
 
 Mary H. Tracy. 
 
 Marcia B. Allen. 
 
 Edith K. Swift. 
 
 Florence Cortright, 1. 
 
 Bertha N. Adams, 1. 
 
 Elizabeth G. Lawyer, 1. 
 
 Anna V. Spettigue, 1. 
 
 Frances A. Burroughs, 1. 
 
 Eobert G. Barckley, M. »., 1. 
 
 Mina A. Bunnell. 
 
 Charles B. Hallock. 
 
 Florence G. Hallock. 
 
 Estelle May Hallock. 
 
 Charles Ledyard Hallock. 
 
 Sarah Miller, 1. 
 
 Emma D. Baker, 1. 
 
 William E. Bennett, 1. 
 
 Walter S. Alden. 
 
 Catharine J. Blaine. 
 
 Sarah A. Blaine. 
 
 Jesse Blaine. 
 
 Frank Bishop. 
 
 Winaeld D. Bush. 
 
 Charles W. Babbitt. 
 John T. Boyd. 
 Harriet A. Beers. 
 Electa Bassett. 
 Lizzie C. Bassett. 
 Charles L. Bassett. 
 Nellie M. Bodie. 
 Alice J. Bodie. 
 Anna H. Brown. 
 Millicent Brown. 
 Eugene H. Cortright. 
 Francis A. Dimock. 
 Frederick W. Dodge. 
 Susan F. Dodge. 
 Florence E. Dodge. 
 Louise M. Durland. 
 Mary Evans. 
 
 1890. 
 
 Elizabeth Fowler, 1. 
 N. E. Hause. 
 George B. Osborne. 
 Mary E. Church, 1. 
 Lena M. Pethick, 1. 
 Charles K. Brady, 1. 
 Sadie E. Hallock. 
 
 1891. 
 
 Mary E. Powell. 
 Kate Watts. 
 Kena J. Keen. 
 1. Elizabeth A. Dunkleberg. 
 George P. Greiner. 
 Barbara Greiner, his wife. 
 Fred S. Martin. 
 Albert A. Grambs. 
 William H. Pregnall. 
 Charlotte R. Martin. 
 Charlotte M. Martin. 
 
 1892. 
 
 Sadie E. Eade. 
 
 Mary E. Ferguson. 
 
 Carrie L. Gerry. 
 
 Milicent Gillen. 
 
 Grover G. HoUister. 
 
 Simeon Kimble. 
 
 Susan S. Keen. 
 
 William H. Kreitner. 
 
 Franklin McMullen. 
 
 Edith E. McMullen. 
 
 Mary I. Penwarden. 
 
 Hattie M. Pregnall. 
 
 Emma D. Pi-egnall. 
 
 Sarah A. Prouty. 
 
 Mabel L. Keury. 
 
 Fred E. Reury. 
 James A. Robinson. 
 
 Flora P. Smith. 
 
 Anna G. Seaman. 
 
 Catharine M. Tompkins. 
 Mary Tompkins. 
 Samuel D. Tompkins. 
 Kittie M. Varooe. 
 Emma D. VanSteinberg. 
 Thomas W. Wilbur. 
 Harriet Wilder. 
 Grace E. Wilder. 
 Julia A. Wilder. 
 E. Bruce Wilson. 
 May 0. Wooden. 
 Walter W. Wood, Jr. 
 Henry R. Ward. 
 Ida L. Teary. 
 Mattie M. Yeary. 
 
TEUSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES. 
 
 233 
 
 Mary F. Bodie. 
 Josephine H. Bush. 
 Orra B. Hadsall. 
 Anthony G. Shake. 
 Mary E. Bond. 
 Nelson E. Bigelow. 
 Emma Burns. 
 Mrs. A. H. Bennett. 
 Benjamin H. Beutley. 
 John B. Callaway. 
 Mary L. Crandall. 
 Grace A. Cory. 
 Dorothea Dittrieh. 
 Josephine C. Dittrloh. 
 Anna G. Dunkelberg. 
 Justo DeAyla, (Cuban). 
 William Erk. 
 Margaret Evans. 
 Prances Edgar. 
 Florence L. Fowler. 
 John E. Jenkins. 
 Edward G. Jenkins. 
 Lucy Kuhbaoh. 
 Sarah C. Kimble. 
 Agnes Martin. 
 Agnes Mackley. 
 Christine Mackley. 
 George G. Mackley. 
 Amelia B. Mueller. 
 John Miller. 
 George H. Marsh. 
 Jennie A. Marsh. 
 
 Catharine M. Erk. 
 Mary A. Erk. 
 "William H. Hawken. 
 Anna E. Tryon, 1. 
 Kena B. Loring, 1. 
 Jane Myers, 1. 
 
 Maretta B. Stocker, 1. 
 Freeman W. Secor. 
 Emma G. Secor. 
 Ulysses G. Kidgeway. 
 Mrs. Frank A. Lord. 
 Zebulon J. Lord. 
 Huldah Smith. 
 Dina G. Evans. 
 Eva Mosier. 
 Sarah Limner. 
 Adah Stocks. 
 Mary E. Stocks. 
 Alice L. Adams. 
 Chester J. Adams. 
 William H. Pregnall. 
 Lottie Pregnall. 
 
 George E. Eichart. 
 Mary E. Eichart. 
 Amanda D. Eeury. 
 Alice Eobinson. 
 Margaret S. Schiessler. 
 Emily M. Schremser. 
 Anna L. Leitz. 
 Anna L. Salmon. 
 Eobert M. Salmon. 
 William W. Swift. 
 Grant C. Tallman. 
 Margaret E. Tallman. 
 Henry A. Tingley. 
 Augusta H. Wefferling. 
 Anna B. Wolff. 
 John M. Erouwer. 
 Cora L. Watts. 
 Clarence E. Bond. 
 Anna Marie Spruks. 
 Eoscoe D. Beers. 
 Martha Northcott, 1. 
 Anna Hood, 1. 
 Mary M. Albertson, 1. 
 Caroline Mitchell, 1. 
 Florence Mitchell, 1. 
 Jeanette Eobertson. 
 P. B Peterson, M. D., 1. 
 Lizzie A. Bade, 1. 
 Margarette Eade, 1. 
 Mary M. Bishop. 
 Harvey Bishop. 
 Carrie A. Eay. 
 
 1893. 
 
 Sarah VanBuren, 1, 
 George Helstein, 1. 
 Mrs. George Helstein, 1 
 John Helstein, 1. 
 Elizabeth Varcoe. 
 
 1894 
 
 William H. Eunyon. 
 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. 
 Eebecoa A. Swinton, 1 
 
234 
 
 HONESDALE PBESBYTEEIiN CHUECH. 
 
 1895. 
 
 Mrs. F. A. "Whittaker. 
 Hattie E. Whittaker. 
 JTary H. Courser. 
 May Kimble. 
 Mary G. Solomon. 
 Alice A. Day. 
 Grace A. Eeitenauer. 
 E. Louise Lee. 
 Edith F. Torrey. 
 Rebecca F. Thompson. 
 Maggie Kolmus. 
 Emma Moules. 
 Mary E. Limner. 
 Theodore A. Kreitner. 
 Gale B. Jenkins. 
 
 Emma R. Patterson. 
 Frederika E. Turner. 
 Helen F. Fowler. 
 Martha M. CoUum. 
 Queenie C. Cooley. 
 David W. Noyes. 
 John Meyers. 
 Elizabeth Bodie. 
 Jennie Lovelass. 
 Julia Patten. 
 Samuel E. Morrison. 
 John H. Evans. 
 Eleanor W. Strongman. 
 Lizzie A. Ball. 
 Judson D. Gelatt. 
 Lillie Gelatt. 
 Alfred L. Scheuller. 
 L. Fred Krantz. 
 Grace L. Kimble. 
 Matilda K. Reitenauer. 
 Cora Evans. 
 George F. Britenbaker. 
 Frances M. Britenbaker. 
 
 Thomas S. March. 
 Jennie B. March. 
 Clara Hensey. 
 Almeda Grace Smith. 
 Maggie J. Solomon. 
 Elizabeth G. Babbitt. 
 Alice Hortense Dlx. 
 
 S. F. Wells. 
 Ophelia Wells. 
 Matilda Reifier. 
 Sophia Eeifler. 
 
 George W. Penwarden. 
 Robert C. Mueller. 
 Edward H. Mueller. 
 Warren J. Yerkes. 
 Walter R. Swift. 
 Myrta W. Burns, 1. 
 George Woodward, 1. 
 Cornelia B. Woodward, 1. 
 Edwina Schermerhorn, 1. 
 Fannie M. Slaughter, 1. 
 Sibelia Murphy. 
 William H. Krantz. 
 Bertha Krantz. 
 Gerardo Margotta. 
 
 1896. 
 
 Charles B. Wood. 
 Charles W. MoMuUen. 
 Elizabeth Vernooy. 
 William W. Kolmus. 
 Henry Smith. 
 Arthur Jones. 
 Estella A. Bond. 
 Ethel M. Neimiller. 
 Jennie L. Clemo. 
 Mary M. Pethick. 
 Alma J. G. Dix. 
 Henry Ackerman. 
 Dora Ackerman. 
 George J. L. Mueller. 
 Mary E. Schiessler. 
 Mary S. Foster. 
 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 0. Erk. 
 
 1898. 
 
 Lydia E. Reifler. 
 Margaret Mosier. 
 Martha Lutz. 
 MatUda Dershimer. 
 
TBUSIEES AND PEWHOLDEES. 
 
 235 
 
 Margaret Heller. 
 Eva Sonn. 
 Irving J. Many. 
 Sarah Many. 
 
 Edward E. Bunnell. 
 Charles S. Pregnall. 
 Lottie Haines. 
 Mrs. William Seitz. 
 Evelyna G. Bowen. 
 Mary I. Elokard. 
 Mary Moulter. 
 Anna A. Gredlein. 
 Kose Henzy. 
 
 Asa E. Bryant. 
 Hannah M. Mackle. 
 Abraham C. Mackle. 
 James G. Stegner. 
 George E. Helstern. 
 Henry Lang. 
 Zeraia 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 0. Scheuler. 
 Lilian Grace Babbitt. 
 Minnie L. Scheuler. 
 Millie M. "Weaver. 
 Prances J. Schimmell. 
 P. Genevieve Lord. 
 Stella E. Congdon. 
 Eva Lena "Wilson. 
 
 George J. "Weidner. 
 Florence E. "Weidner. 
 Nellie M. Dunkelberg, 1. 
 Oscar E. Bunnell. 
 
 Jane McKown. 
 Harold C. Yerkes. 
 Margaret Eeeler. 
 
 1899. 
 
 Isabel E. Monies. 
 Margaret D. Schmidt. 
 Alice G. Doney. 
 Lois A. Secor. 
 Andrev? 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. Buth Sohoonover. 
 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 T>. Thompson. 
 Otto G. Weaver. 
 James 0. Mumford. 
 Joseph A. Bodie, Jr. 
 Lydia Decker. 
 Herman Harmes, 1. 
 Sarah A. Harmes, 1. 
 Katharine L. Herbert, 1 
 Clara Moore, 1. 
 
 1902. 
 
 Annie G. Eeed. 
 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 E. Thompson, 1. 
 
 Mary H. Foster. 
 Katharine L. Chambers. 
 Mary S. Hower, 1. 
 Cora Decker, 1. 
 Millie I. Biebas. 
 Florence E. BroT\'n. 
 Louise Edgar. 
 Margaret S. Mumford. 
 Katrina D. Swift. 
 Alice M. Tallman. 
 Vera E. Eickard. 
 Amy G. Cory. 
 Elizabeth 0. Lawyer. 
 Hazel Blanche Secor. 
 Barbara T. Boos. 
 Edith M. Eich. 
 Cora M. Eich. 
 Vesta F. Ballard. 
 TiUie Neubauer. 
 Fanny E. "Watts. 
 Lillian M. Henzy. 
 
 George H. Lorenz. 
 Mabel G. Eeed. 
 Mary A. Mumford. 
 Mary E. Fitch. 
 Anna M. Ordnung. 
 Margaret E. Ordnung. 
 Lila M. Owen. 
 
 Edythe L. Jenkins, 1. 
 Charles J. Iloff. 
 Harry G. Peuwarden. 
 Katharina T>,'. Schlund. 
 Sarah Groner. 
 Florence V. Secor. 
 Mabel G. Secor. 
 Mary A. Lohman. 
 Charles Henry Eockwell. 
 Johnnes Gemre. 
 Amelia Schwieger. 
 Mary A. Keast. 
 Maude E. Eehbein. 
 Bessie M. Bunnell. 
 Laura E. Cortright. 
 Florence Kimhle. 
 Florence Eeifler. 
 Beatrice E. Eehbein. 
 Eva "W. Harmrs. 
 
 Josie M. Winnie, 1. 
 Lawrence S. Winnie, 1. 
 Adolphus Schneider. 
 
 1903. 
 
 Grace E. Erk. 
 Amy M. Benny. 
 Grace B. Moules. 
 Angus M. Lawyer. 
 Edward E. Newbauer. 
 Irving H. Ball. 
 Edward A. Marsh. 
 Clarence J. Helstern. 
 John A. Kimble. 
 Edson E. Kreitner. 
 Elmer C. Taylor. 
 Miles T. Hand, 1. 
 Helen C. Hand, 1. 
 Angus McDonald, 1. 
 Mrs. McDonald, 1. 
 Eoy Wood, 1. 
 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. 
 Eichard Eoberts, 1. 
 Annie Eoberts, 1. 
 
 1905. 
 
 Merle Eldred. 
 Louise Grace Geary. 
 Helene A. Bishop. 
 Alice B. Wood. 
 Ethel A. Sehiessler. 
 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. 
 Eussel E. Eomaine. 
 Lloyd F. Schuller. 
 H. C. Ford Eehbein. 
 Eaymond C. Bodie. 
 Albert B. McMuUen. 
 
TEDSTEES AND PEWHOLDEES. 237 
 
 Henry A. Brown. Ralph F. Martin, 1. 
 
 Henry S. Bishop. Eben P. Keen. 
 
 John H. Weaver, Jr. Antoinette B. Brown. 
 
 Benjamin Bay Brown. Lydia Inez Hambly. 
 
 Arthur "W. Helstern. May Agnes Jaynes. 
 
 Fred L. Hiller. Edith Joyce Hambly. 
 
 Barbara Jeitz. Edward F. Eice. 
 
 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 were 
 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 asli 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 thechureli well vi'cre 
 Isaac P. Poster and Stephen Torrey, of the organizers of the church. 
 John Torrey, Ellas T. Beers and Dr. Otis Avery were aged servants when 
 they left these earthly scenes. Mrs. Catharine Hand was over 80. 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 Honetdale in 1842 Tvith 
 her husband Alexander Marsh, who was an honest carpenter. Their chil- 
 dren were Ann E. Kalisch, Lydia Decker, Amelia Knipe, Edwin, Mary 
 Eobinson, 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 Eoosa deserves mention. He resides in New 
 York and is recognized as among the first eye and ear specialists in the 
 land. Dr. Eeed 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 187i aged 
 73, Ms 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 PEESBITEEIAN CHURCH. 
 
 borough was chartered. He had the reputation of being an honest man. 
 The family removed from the place many years ago. 
 
 Dr. Bbenezer 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 Kreit- 
 ner, who are among Honesdale's energetic and capable carpenters and 
 builders, and W. H. Krantz and Ealph Martin of the Honesdale Shoe Com- 
 pany, Bobert E. Eansom, a farmer living north of SeelyvUle, 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 B. 
 CoUum. 
 
HONESDAIE CHUJBOH IN PEESBITEBY. 239 
 
 CHAPTEK Vn. 
 
 HONESDALE CHUBCH IN PKESBYTEEY. 
 
 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- 
 
'2iO HONESDALE PEESBYTERIAN CHUBOH. 
 
 stitutad the Presbyteries of Sasquehanna 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. Eiev. 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. Eowland 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. 
 
HONESDALE CHUECH IN PEESBYTEBY. 241 
 
 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. 
 
 Tlie Montrose Presbytery met at Honesd'ale for all pur- 
 poses sixteen times and tlie Lackawanna Presbytery has met 
 here eight times. The Synod of New York and New Jersey 
 met in Honesiale 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 Keverends 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 Vfilliston, 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 PBESBYTERIAX CHUECH. 
 
 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: 
 
 Eev. Seth WlUiston was born in Suffield, Conn., April 4, 1770, he gradu- 
 ated from Dartmoutii 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. 
 
 Eev. 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. 
 
 Bev. 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, 184.J. 
 
 Eev. William Stone was born at Guilford, Conn. ; graduated at Yale 
 College 1786, and died in 1840. 
 
 Eev. 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. 
 
 Eev. James W. Woodward was born in Hanover, N. H., February 6t 
 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, Eev. E. Kingsbury, Har- 
 ford, Susquehanna county, Eev. Axd Hoyt, from Wilkes-Barre 
 and Kingston, Eev. Manasseh Miner York, from Wysox, Brad- 
 ford county, and Eev. 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 
 
 *Th6 church of Salem was the only church in Wayne county that ever 
 belonged to the Luzerne Association. 
 
HONESDALE CHXTKCH IN PEESBYTERY. 243 
 
 association. Nine churclies were novi^ in tlie 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. 
 
 At a meeting held in Harford, September 18, 1821, this 
 Presbytery of Congregational churches sought admission into 
 the Synod of New York and New Jersey. The following is 
 taken from the minutes of their meeting; 
 
 "The Susquehanna Presbytery, consisting of sis ministers 
 able to labor, and two unable, and having under their care 
 twenty-four feeble churches, and covering nearly one hundred 
 miles square, and embracing about 40,000 inhabitants, lament- 
 
244 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 ing the needy state of tliose precious souls, and conscious of 
 their own inability to afford the requisite relief, one year since 
 took under serious consideration the subject of seeking a con- 
 nection with the churches under the care of the General Assem- 
 bly. And after much inquiry and prayerful reflection, not 
 being able to devise any plan of equal promise to increase the 
 means of sound Christian instruction in their needy and exten- 
 sive region and to advance the interest of the Kedeemer's king- 
 dom: 
 
 1. Kesolved, That we seek a connection under the care of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly. 
 
 2. Resolved, That this bodj' will adopt the Confession of Faith and 
 Book of Discipline of the General Assembly. 
 
 3. Resolved, That we will seek a connection with the Synod of New 
 York and New Jersey, and endeavor to have the minutes of Presbytery so 
 formed that they may be accepted by the Synod, provided the individual 
 churches be allowed to manage their own concerns in their usual, or Con- 
 gregational, manner. 
 
 4. Resolved, That the Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve, Eev. Simeon E. 
 Jones, Rev. Lyman Richardson and brother Henry V. Champion, be a com- 
 mittee to carry forward an attested copy of the minutes of this Presbytery 
 to the Synod at its ensuing session in Newark, on the third Tuesday in 
 October, and use their endeavor to obtain the connection desired." 
 
 The Synod received the Presbytery in October, 1821, on 
 the "Plan of Union" as it was called. This anomalous Pres- 
 bytery containing twenty-four churches, only *two of which 
 were organized according to the Presbyterian form, were received 
 into the Presbyterian family. 
 
 The ministers were Ebenezer Kingsbury, Cyrus Gilder- 
 sleeve, Simeon R. Jones, Oliver Hill, Lyman Richardson, Sal- 
 mon King, Joel Chapin and Joseph Wood. The names of the 
 twenty-four churches cannot be determined with certainty. 
 Some were in New York. Bethany and Mount Pleasant and 
 later, Honesdale church, were connected with Hudson Presby- 
 tery. The following appear to have been the churches: Wilkes- 
 Barre, Kingston, Wyalusing, Orwell and Warren, Wysox, 
 Braintrim and Windham, Athens, Smithfield, Wells, Harford, 
 (Bridgewater 1st, now Montrose, Bridgewater 2d, now Brook- 
 
 *Bethany, in 1818 ; Wells, in 1821. 
 
hokesdam: church m peesbyteky. 245 
 
 lyn,) Springville, Middletown, Salem and Palmyra now Salem^ 
 Lawsville, Gibson, North "Windsor, South Windsor, Great Bend, 
 Ararat, Pike, Silver Lake and New Milford. The Presbytery 
 had Wilkes-Barre as its southern limit and Binghamton on the 
 north, one hundred and twenty-five miles apart, Salem and 
 Palmyra on the east and the church at "Wells on the west, being 
 one hundred miles apart, comprising a territory larger than the 
 state of Connecticut. These churches asked to manage "their 
 own concerns in their usual or Congregational manner," and 
 they continued as Congregational churches for many years. 
 The church at Mount Pleasant was reorganized as a Presby- 
 terian church in 1832. The Salem and Palmyra church was 
 reorganized by Eev. Joel Campbell and Stephen Torrey, as the 
 Pirst Presbyterian church of Salem in 1832. The Bethany 
 Presbyterian church was organized by Kev. Phineas Camp and 
 Deacon John Tyler, of the Congregational church, of Ai-arat, in 
 1818, and it appears to have been the first distinctively Presby- 
 terian church organized in Northeastern Pennsylvania. And 
 here is Deacon Tyler helping a Presbyterian minister organize 
 a Presbyterian church. The fact is the early settlers did not 
 recognize much difference between these two denominations, and 
 it was only a matter of convenience which form of church gov- 
 ernment should be adopted. 
 
 The Susquehanna Presbytery was divided in 1832 and the 
 churches in "Wayne became a part of Montrose Presbytery. It 
 consisted originally of seven ministers, E. Kingsbury, J. "Wood, 
 J. Chapin, L. Eichardson, Daniel Deruelle, Adam Miller and 
 Sylvester Cooke. There were eighteen churches, Harford, 
 Montrose, Great Bend, Ararat, Gibson, Lawsville, Middletown, 
 Silver Lake, Salem, Springville, Brooklyn, Dundaff, Conklin, 
 New Milford, Mount Pleasant, Bethany, Honesdale and Car- 
 bondale, the latter being in Luzerne county and Conklin in 
 New York. The first meeting was held at Harford, November 
 13, 1832. Li speaking of the Salem church Eev. Adam Miller 
 in his history of Montrose Presbytery says: "That church of 
 Salem and Palmyra — we utter the title with a kind of rever- 
 
246 HONESD.lLE PKESBYTERIAN CHUECH. 
 
 ence. The composite name has about it an air both of antiquity 
 and sacredness. A very Tadmor in the wilderness it was with 
 the Tabernacle of God in it." 
 
 The Presbytery of Luzerne was organized in 1843 to sup- 
 ply the need of the anthracite coal regions. This Presbytery 
 had no particular connection with the churches in Wayne county 
 until the reunion of the Old and New School Presbyterians in 
 1870, at Pittsburg, when the historic Presbyteries of Susque- 
 hanna, Montrose and Luzerne were consolidated into the Lack- 
 awanna Presbytery, comprising Northeastern Pennsylvania, with 
 the wealthy churches of the coal region, making it one of the 
 strongest Presbyteries in the land. Old Father T. P. Hunt, 
 the great temperance lecturer, Dr. N. G. Parke, Dr. S. 0. Logan, 
 Eev. C. C. Corse, Eev. Mr. Thomas, Kev. Dr. Stewart, Rev. C. 
 S. Dunning, Eev. S. F. Colt, Eev. Adam Miller and many others 
 will be remembered in connection with these Presbyteries. 
 
 June 21, 1870, twenty ministers and six elders met at 
 Spring Garden Presbyterian church, in Philadelphia, and or- 
 ganized Lackawanna Presbytery. They were ministers, S. C. 
 Logan, D. D., H. H. Welles, E. H. Snowden, William F. Arms, 
 J. B. Fisher, H. J. Crane, James W. Raynor, B. S. Foster, J. 
 G. Miller, Samuel F. Colt, Yates Hickey, E. H. Camp, Darwin 
 Cook, William J. Day, S. P. Gates, H. Armstrong, Albert B. 
 King, David Craft, Clark Salmon, John S. Stewart, and elders, 
 Stephen Torrey, of Honesdale, A. T. McClintock, of Wilkes- 
 Barre, William H. Jessup, of Montrose, S. N. Bronson, of Or- 
 well, James B. Adams, of Troy and A. Wickham, of Towanda. 
 
 In a history of Lackawanna Presbytery, prepared in 1887 
 by Eev. P. H. Brooks, in speaking of the feeble churches he 
 says: "When at times, during these seventeen years, the ec- 
 clesiastical cords have weakened and let a few of these vines 
 trail and lie on the ground, and the too hasty judgment has 
 arisen from the dust, that in this vast Presbytery no one cares 
 for our little churches; then one well known man has been our 
 representative. * * * Thus as year by year has 
 rolled around, the Eev. Stephen Torrey has been the only man 
 
HONESDALE CHUBCH IN PEESBYTEEY. 247 
 
 who lias filled the same offices from the origin of the Presbj- 
 tery until the present time, viz. : that of treasurer of Presbytery, 
 and he has also labored much of that time as Presbyterial mis- 
 sionary, and when on his 77th birthday anniversary Presbytery 
 laid hands of oi'dination upon him, in the Honesdale church, 
 setting him apart as an Evangelist, all felt that he had used the 
 office of a ruling elder well, and had purchased to himself a 
 good degree and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ 
 Jesus." 
 
 Lackawanna Presbytery held its first regular session in the 
 Honesdale Presbyterian church April 19, 1871. Eev. N. G. 
 Parke moderator, and Stephen Torrey represented the Hones- 
 dale church. Their statistical report to Presbytery was as 
 follows: Communicants, 429; added during the year, 42 by 
 profession, and 7 by letter; baptized adults, 19; infants, 5; 
 number of children in Sabbath school and Bible classes, 500; 
 funds collected for foreign missions, $770; domestic missions, 
 $726.60; education, $300; disabled ministers, $200; freedmen, 
 $100; contingent fund, $40; congregational, $4,000. 
 
 Rev. Peter H. Brooks, D. D., very kindly furnishes the fol- 
 lowing facts: WhUe in Montrose Presbytery Richard L. Seely 
 represented the Presbytery in General Assembly four times, viz. : 
 in 1846, 1855, 1859 and 1861. Eev. C. S. Dunning represented 
 Presbytery twice in the Assembly, in 1864 and 1869, and Elder 
 Stephen Torrey twice, in 1867 and 1870. After the organiza- 
 tion of Lackawanna Presbytery Rev. C. S. Dunning and Elder 
 Torrey represented Presbytery in 1871. Elders Torrey and H. 
 M. Seely at Baltimore in 1873. Elder Seely again in 1875. 
 Elder S. Torrey in 1878. Elder W. B. Holmes at Spring-field, 
 111., in 1882. Rev. C. S. Dunning Saratoga Springs 1883. 
 Elder S. Torrey in 1885, Cincinnati, O. Rev. W. H. Swift 1886, 
 Minneapolis. Elder W. B. Holmes 1891, Detroit, Mich. Eev. 
 W. H. Swift 1893, Washington, D. C. Elder A. Thompson 
 1894, Saratoga Springs. Elder R. M. Stocker 1898, Winona, 
 Lid. Rev. W. H. Swift, D. D. 1903, Los Angeles, Cal., but did 
 not attend owing to sickness in family. Elder Horace C. Hand 
 
2iS HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CffCJBCH. 
 
 New York, Fifth Avenue, 1902. 
 
 Prior to 1884 Synod was composed of pastors and elders 
 from different churches, but now a certain number are elected 
 by Presb3'tery. Lackawanna Presbytery has been represented 
 from Honesdale church by Eev. W. H. Swift and Elder S. Tor- 
 rey in 1884, by Elder Torrey in 1885. Elder Thompson in 
 1886. Eev. Stephen Torrey in 1887. Eev. W. H. Swift and 
 Elder A. Thompson in 1889. A. Thompson 1891. Elder J. 
 T. Ball 1895. Elder A. Thompson 1898. Elder E. M. Stocker 
 1901. Elder John T. Ball 1903. In the earlier years R. L. 
 Seely represented the church in Synod in 1844, 1846, 1848 and 
 1857. I. P. Foster in 1837. 
 
 Our church has generally been represented in Presbytery 
 by our pastor and one elder. Only a few times in its history, 
 particularly in recent years, has it been without a representative 
 at loth spring and fall meetings of this important governing 
 body. All of the elders in the church are called upon in regular 
 alphabetical order to represent the church at these meetings. 
 This is done in order that none of the elders shall be omitted 
 from the honors and responsibilities of this service. 
 
 Lackawanna Presbytery in 1904 had 84 ministers, 368 eld- 
 ers, 73 deacons, 16,029 members and an enrollment of 16,966 
 in its Sunday schools. It contributed for congregational ex- 
 panses in 1904, $237,553. Home missions $21,586. Foreign 
 missions $14,621. Education $3,768. Sunday school work 
 $1,677. Church erection $2,225. Belief fund $2,349. Syn- 
 odical aid $2,363. Aid to colleges $913. General assembly 
 $1,991.56. Miscellaneous $9,817. There were added to the 
 churches on examination 827, by letter 403, and dismissed to 
 other churches 475. These large sums of money, aggregating 
 nearly $300,000, are contributed annually by the churches of 
 Lackawanna Presbytery. The value of the church property of 
 this Presbytery would have to be expressed with seven figures. 
 "With all this wealth and adaptation for work the question may 
 well be asked whether the church is doing all that it should for 
 the elevation of the human race. Lackawanna Presbytery has 
 
HONESDALE CHUEOH IN PBESBYTEEY. 249 
 
 an immense population of immigrants from southern Europe 
 speaking a dozen different dialects, that need to be educated in 
 our customs and language and most of all they need religious 
 instruction. Rev. Dr. Logan is chairman and A. W. Dickson 
 is treasurer of a committee of Presbytery that is doing a great 
 work in educating and evangelizing these people. 
 
 The following note appears appended to the minutes Sep- 
 tember 18, 1904. E. M. Stocker, delegate, reported that im- 
 portant business was transacted at Presbytery, that proposed 
 amendments to Chapter XIII of the Book of Discipline relating 
 to judicial commissions was approved, that the Presbytery dis- 
 cussed the matter of allowing one Presbytery to be established 
 within the territory embraced in one or more Presbyteries now 
 established. This matter and another matter relating to union 
 with the Cumberland Presbyterians were postponed until spring 
 session. The evangelistic committee reported in favor of in- 
 augurating evangelistic work throughout the coal regions ex- 
 tending from Forest City to Nanticoke. The evangelistic com- 
 mittee was enlarged and instructed to secure the cooperation of 
 all the evangelistic churches throughout the entire Presbytery, 
 embracing a population of 300,000 people. This is the first 
 time that Lackawanna Presbytery ever moved as a body in 
 evangelistis work. In furtherance of that work a meeting of 
 as many ministers and elders as could find it convenient to at- 
 tend was held at the Second Presbyterian church at Scranton. 
 At this meeting certain plans were formulated and sent to the 
 pastors of the churches throughout the Presbytery. Rev. W. 
 H. Swift, D. D. and Elder R. M. Stocker attended the spring 
 Presbytery at Carbondale. At this meeting the overtures per- 
 mitting separate Presbyteries and favoring union with Cumber- 
 land Presbyterians were adopted. The first by a vote of 27 to 
 20 and the last by a vote of 33 to 16. Dr. Logan and some 
 others entered their protests against this action. Dr. Logan's 
 work began among the colored people and he brought the first 
 six colored delegates into the General Assembly tliat ever sat 
 in that judicatory, but this action is only permissive and colored 
 
250 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUKCH. 
 
 people are not escluded from the General Assembly by this ac- 
 tion. There are some eighty churches in the Presbytery and 
 only forty-four had reported to the evangelistic committee. 
 Those reporting showed that 950 persons had been received 
 into the church on profession during the year, while last year 
 the total number received throughout the entire Presbytery was 
 827. Tlie Honesdale church held special services in accord- 
 ance with the recommendation of Presbytery for four weeks in 
 the chapel. These services were conducted by Eev. Dr. Swift, 
 assisted by Kev. Dr. Joseph Odell, of Birmingham, England, 
 and Richard Roberts, a member of this church, preaching at 
 Bethany. 
 
 The session of Honesdale church recommended Mr. Roberts 
 to the Presbytery for license as a local evangelist. This recom- 
 mendation was presented to Presbytery by delegate Stocker and 
 the license was granted and Mr. Roberts was taken under care 
 of Lackawanna Presbytery and put in charge of Rev. Dr. Swift 
 who will direct his studies. Dr. Logan mentioned the fact, that 
 at one of their kindergarten schools established for the educa- 
 tion of foreign speaking people there were nineteen different 
 languages spoken among eighty pupils. There are 100,000 or 
 more of these people in the coal regions. Many of them are 
 Calvinists and the church has a great work to do for these peo- 
 ple. They look upon this country as the land of opportunity 
 and they have come to stay. They are not only invading the 
 coal regions but they are locating on farms, some of them in 
 Wayne county, and the future of our country is largely in their 
 hands. Here is home and foreign missionary work at our very 
 doors which we neglect at the peril of our institutions. The 
 assertion was made in Presbytery that there are 30,000,000 of 
 people of foreign birth in the United States of America. At 
 the rate these people are coming to our shores there is danger 
 that our manners and customs, our religion and institutions will 
 be entirely changed, but if we do our duty the grand heritage 
 which was bequeathed to us by our ancestors will not be lost. 
 Lackawanna Presbytery has expended many thousands of dol- 
 
HONESDALE OHUECH IN PBESBYTEBY. 251 
 
 lars in this work, with good results. At the last Presbytery a 
 Magyar was ordained to the Christian ministry and an Italian 
 was taken under care of the Presbytery. Mr. Hambroski, who 
 speaks a number of languages, and several others are constantly 
 going up and down the valleys of the coal region organizing 
 these people into churches and teaching them. 
 
 When the Congregationalists first organized in the wilder- 
 ness the population of Northeastern Pennsylvania consisted 
 largely of New England settlers with a few Germans and Irish, 
 later Welsh and Cornish English were added and for the last 
 thirty years thousands of immigrants from Southern Europe 
 have located within the bounds of Lackawanna Presbytery. The 
 composite character of the work forced upon us is indicated by 
 the ordination of four young men at the Presbytery at Carbon- 
 dale in 1905, representing as many nationalities, viz.: One 
 American, one Magyar, one Welshman and one Syrian. In ad- 
 dition to this one Italian and one Welshman speaking English, 
 were licensed as evangelists. The church is moving in line 
 with her duties and another generation will see the results. 
 
 The following Is the report of the Presbyterian church of Honesdale, 
 for the year ending March 31, 1905 ; 
 
 Dismissed to other churches 4 
 
 Added to the church 55 
 
 Deaths 4 
 
 Reserve roll 6 
 
 Elders 8 
 
 Deacons 3 
 
 Baptisms • 32 
 
 Sunday school membership 504 
 
 Membership of church 624 
 
 The membership when Dr. Swift assumed the pastorate, in 1884, was 
 344. einanoiaij eepobt. 
 
 Home Missions $ 896 00 
 
 Foreign Missions 475 00 
 
 Education 30 00 
 
 Sunday School Work 55 00 
 
 Church Erection 30 00 
 
 Relief Fund 30 00 
 
 Temperance 10 00 
 
 Freedmen 70 00 
 
 American Bible Society 27 91 
 
 Aid for Colleges 30 00 
 
 General Assembly 58 00 
 
 Miscellaneous 198 00 
 
 Congregational 8,364 00 
 
 Total $10,273 91 
 
252 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN OHUBCH. 
 
 Total amount raised by the church, during the past twenty-one years, 
 is $220,049.57, an average of $10,478.55 per year, about one-half of which 
 was expended outside of Honesdale. 
 
 The first floor of the chapel has been newly carpeted, at an expense of 
 some $150, and this the Sunday school has paid. 
 
 At a meeting of the session of the Presbyterian church, held April 
 15th, the following was unanimously adopted : 
 To The Pkesbttert of Lackawanna : 
 
 The session of the church earnestly ask that Eichard Roberts, of Beth- 
 any, a member of our church, be taken under the care of the Presbytery, 
 as a local evangelist. He is a young man of earnest piety, consecrated to 
 the work of Christ, and possessing gifts especially fitting him for the sacred 
 oface. 
 
 The following statistics of church membership in compari- 
 son with population will be of interest. Taken for everj decade: 
 
 Date. 
 
 Population of 
 
 Church 
 
 Total 
 
 Sunday 
 
 Total 
 
 
 Honesdale. 
 
 members. 
 
 to date. 
 
 School. 
 
 contribution. 
 
 1830 
 
 433 
 
 23 
 
 23 
 
 30* 
 
 $ 500 00* 
 
 1840 
 
 1086 
 
 175* 
 
 229 
 
 100* 
 
 1500 00* 
 
 1850 
 
 2263 
 
 250* 
 
 417 
 
 150* 
 
 3000 00* 
 
 1860 
 
 2544 
 
 275* 
 
 578 
 
 200* 
 
 5000 00* 
 
 1870 
 
 2654 
 
 432 
 
 781 
 
 500 
 
 7482 85 
 
 1880 
 
 2620 
 
 350 
 
 946 
 
 500 
 
 6845 34 
 
 1890 
 
 2816 
 
 450 
 
 1170 
 
 643 
 
 12311 45 
 
 1900 
 
 2864 
 
 580 
 
 1497 
 
 467 
 
 7421 00 
 
 1905 
 
 2950* 
 
 600 
 
 1687 
 
 500 
 
 10273 91 
 
 The Honesdale church and all of the churches in the Pres- 
 bytery are ever advancing onward and upward. The Presby- 
 terianism of Princeton, Auburn and Union Seminaries, grafted 
 on to the Congregationalism of Puritan New England, makes 
 an aggressive, stalwart Christianity, whose influence is for the 
 uplifting of the masses both at home and abroad. It is a type 
 of Christianity that believes in missions, both home and foreign. 
 "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every crea- 
 ture," is to them no unmeaning command. 
 
 *Those marked with a star are estimates. 
 
UBEBTY, CALVINISM AND OLD-TIME MINISTEES. 
 
 253 
 
 CHAPTER Vm. 
 
 IIBEETT, CALYINISM AND OLD-TIME MINISTERS. 
 
 No history of the struggle for existence 
 which characterized the pioneer churches 
 would be complete without giving a pen 
 portrait of the old-time minister. The 
 Colonies were settled principally by dis- 
 senters from the established churches in 
 the old country. True there was a cer- 
 tain number of Catholics and Episcopa- 
 lians, principally in Maryland and Virginia, 
 but the great body of the American Colo- 
 nists had fled from oppression at home and came here to make 
 a home in the wilderness where they could worship God ac- 
 cording to the dictates of their own consciences. The Scotch 
 and Irish Presbyterians, French Huguenots, Dutch Reformed, 
 Congregationalists and Baptists, all Calvinistic and impregnated 
 more or less with austere Puritanism, were the dominating 
 forces in America at the time of the Revolution. Philip Em- 
 bury preached to a handful of Methodists in an attic in 1766 
 and in 1773 they claimed one hundred and sixty members, con- 
 sequently the Methodists were not in the Revolution in any force. 
 Its great founder, John Wesley, was true to his own country 
 and wrote against the Americans, little realizing that in free 
 
254 HONESDALE PEESBYTEKIAIf CHURCH. 
 
 America the greatest extension of his church would be made. 
 The Adamses, shrewdly planned to have George Washington 
 Commander-in-Chief of the rebel forces in order to placate Vir- 
 ginia and the South, and there were a number of staunch sup- 
 porters of the American cause among the Episcopalians, but 
 the great body of them were among the loyalists almost from 
 necessity. There was no American Episcopal church then, it 
 was the Church of England, and the King was recognized as 
 nominal head of the church, consequently a rebellion against 
 the King was a rebellion against the head of the church. The 
 American revolution was essentially a Calvinistic Dissenters' 
 rebellion. The Catholics assisted because they were ready to 
 oppose England on general principles any time, and they ren- 
 dered good service in the fight for independence. 
 
 Bancroft says: "Calvinism saw in goodness infinite joy, 
 in evil infinite woe, and. recognizing no other abiding distinc- 
 tions, opposed secretly, but surely, hereditary monarchy, aris- 
 tocracy and bondage." The famous Mecklenburg Declaration 
 was drawn up by Ephraim Brevard, a ruling elder of the Pres- 
 byterian church and a graduate of Princeton, nearly a year 
 before the famous Declaration by Jefferson. The only minister 
 that signed the American Declaration of Independence was Eev. 
 Dr. John Witherspoon, a lineal descendant of John Knox, and 
 president of Princeton College. When the moment of signing 
 had come and some were hesitating, he delivered an appeal in 
 which he said: "That noble instrument upon your table, which 
 insures immortality to its author, should be subscribed this 
 very morning by every pen in the house. He that will not re- 
 spond to its accents, and strain every nerve to carry into effect 
 its provisions is unworthy the name of a freeman. For my own 
 part, of property I have some, of reputation more. That repu- 
 tation is staked, that property is pledged on the issue of this 
 contest. And although these gray hairs must soon descend into 
 the sepulchre I would infinitely rather they should descend 
 thither by the hands of the public executioner than desert at 
 this crisis the sacred cause of my country." It was in the 
 
UBEBTY, CALVINISM AND OLD-TIME MINISTEES. 255 
 
 spirit of this Presbyterian minister that the Dissenters revolted, 
 and there was reason for it. In 1815 John Adams wrote: 
 "The apprehension of Episcopacy contributed, fifty years ago, 
 as much as any other cause to arouse the attention, not only of 
 the inquiring mind, but of the common people, and urge them 
 to close thinking on the constitutional power of Parliament over 
 the Colonies. Passive obedience and non-resistance in the 
 most unqualified and unlimited sense were the principles in 
 government; and the power of the Church to decree rites and 
 ceremonies, and the authority of the Church in controversies of 
 faith, were explicitly avowed. In Virgiaia the Church of Eng- 
 land was established by law in exclusion, and without tolera- 
 tion of any other denomination. In New York it displayed its 
 essential character of intolerence. Large grants of land were 
 made to it, while other denominations could obtain none; and 
 even Dr. Kodgers' congregation in New York, numerous and 
 respected as it was, could never obtain a legal title to a spot to 
 bury its dead." In this same letter he says the dread of Epis- 
 copacy was one of the chief causes of the revolt of the Colo- 
 nists against Great Britain. This thing was well understood 
 in England where, in Parliament, Horace Walpole said, "the 
 Americans had run off with a Presbyterian parson," and Grood- 
 rich in his history of the United States says, "The bishops 
 sitting in a row in the House of Lords voted against the Ameri- 
 cans to a man and were in favor of putting them down with fire 
 and the sword." 
 
 The Calvinists in revolting against Episcopacy in America 
 were only continuing a contest of centuries. The same contest 
 had been waged in Switzerland, HoUand, Scotland and England, 
 viz.: The right of private judgment on the part of each indi- 
 vidual in matters of faith and practice. An eminent English 
 author says: "The first circumstances by which we must be 
 struck is that Calvinism is a doctrine for the poor and Armin- 
 ianism for the rich," and Bancroft says "a richly endowed 
 church always leads to Arminianism and justification by works." 
 The prelatical or Episcopal form of church government, which 
 
256 HONESDALE PEESBYTEKIAN CHUECH. 
 
 has always been connected with Axminian doctrines, asserts 
 that all church power is vested in the clergy; while the repub- 
 lican form, which has always accompanied Oalvinistic doctrines, 
 asserts that all church power is vested in the church, that is in 
 the people. If all power be in the clergy, then the people are 
 practically bound to passive obedience in all matters of faith 
 and practice; but if all power be in the church, then the people 
 have a right to participate in all matters pertaining to questions 
 of faith and practice. The one system leads to monarchy, the 
 other to democracy. On this point Dr. Charles Hodge says: 
 "The theory that all church power vests in a divinely-consti- 
 tuted hierarchy begets the theory that all civil power vests of 
 divine rights, in kings and nobles. And the theory that church 
 power vests in the church itself, and all church officers are ser- 
 vants of the church of necessity begets the theory that civil 
 power vests in the people. These theories God has joined to- 
 gether, and no man can put them asunder. It was therefore 
 by an infallible instinct that the unfortunate Charles of Eng- 
 land said, 'No bishop, no king'; by which he meant if there is 
 no despotic power in the church, there will be liberty in the 
 state," The idea that the Americans revolted alone on the 
 ground of taxation without representation is erroneous. The 
 Colonists fled from oppression at home and came to America 
 to establish civil and religious libprty. It was an old contest 
 that was resumed at Lexington which finally triumphed at 
 Yorktown. If the Revolutionary war was waged to escape a 
 few paltry dollars taxation then it were an ignoble strife, but if 
 it was waged for human liberty, civil and religious, it becomes 
 one of the most sublime contests in all history. To the close 
 student of American history there can be no doubt as to what 
 the great underlying principles of that contest were, and these 
 principles should be taught to our children in order that they 
 may understand at what a cost the liberties which we enjoy 
 were purchased. 
 
 Prof. Briggs in his American Presbyterianism says: "The 
 struggle for independence involved a religious struggle to which 
 
LIBERTT, CjVLVINISM: AOT) OLD-TIIHE MINISTERS. 257 
 
 Presbyterianism was committed from the start, and for which, it 
 was resolved to make every sacrifice. The sacrifices were great 
 but the reward was vastly greater, for the spirit of the conflict 
 animated American Presbyterianism with new vigor, so that it 
 became preeminently the church of constitutional government 
 and orderly liberty. The ecclesiastical polity of the Presby- 
 terian churches influenced the government of the state, and the 
 government of the American Presbyterian churches was in no 
 slight degree assimilated to the civil government of the country." 
 The independence of the Colonies carried with it the sepa- 
 ration of church and state, but some of the weaker sects feared 
 that the Presbyterians would take advantage of their preemi- 
 nence and make the Presbyterian church the established church 
 of the Middle Colonies. These apprehensions were allayed by 
 the Synod of New York and Philadelphia in 1783 when they 
 solemnly and publicly declared that they ever have and still 
 do renounce and abhor the principles of intolerance, and further 
 declaring that every member of society ought to be protected in 
 the full and free exercise of his religion. 
 
 It is not within the limitations of this work to further pur- 
 sue this interesting work of Presbyterianism. The churches 
 that were established by the pioneer ministers in this region 
 were very liberal and democratic in their government. Every- 
 thing of importance was decided in congregational meeting. In 
 fact the government of the Presbyterian churches in Northeast- 
 ern Pennsylvania has followed the Congregational form more 
 or less. It will be remembered that when the Congregational 
 churches became Presbyterian they asked to manage their own 
 concerns in their usual or Congregational manner. These 
 churches were reorganized as Presbyterian churches after a 
 time, still there lingered in their charters and customs many 
 Congregational methods. The Honesdale Presbyterian church 
 was never a Congregational church, but its charter gives the 
 congregation great power, even a pewholder, who is not a com- 
 municant, has many privileges. He may, if of legal age and a 
 contributor, vote for trustees, and for a pastor, on the subject 
 
258 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 of appointing committees and authorizing expenditures on the 
 church property, also on many other matters. The rule laid 
 dovm. by the General Assembly is that "no person shall be en- 
 titled to vote who refuses to submit to the censures of the 
 church regularly administered; or who does not contribute his 
 just proportion, according to his own engagements, or the rules 
 of that congregation, to all its necessary expenses." It will be 
 observed that the charter is more liberal than the rule of the 
 General Assembly, but it is probable that our charter and the 
 customs of the church will be followed unless sooie evil should 
 result therefrom. It has been the custom in the Honesdale 
 church to appeal to the congregation in every important matter, 
 and if the congregation does not proceed with a great degree 
 of unanimity, it is customary not to proceed further along that 
 line. This constant appealing to the congregation, by the 
 elders and trustees, gives each individual in the church an op- 
 portunity to be heard in all important matters. 
 
 The minister under the democratic government of the 
 Colonists occupied an important position. While New England 
 was not under a Theocracy like the ancient Hebrews, it was the 
 intention of the people to conform to the teachings of the Bible 
 as they understood it, in framing laws for their government. 
 These enactments have been termed blue laws, by men who 
 take more delight in breaking the ten commandments than in 
 keeping them. The ministers, in those days, were looked upon 
 with a certain awe and reverence that does not exist among the 
 people now. They were usually the most highly educated men 
 in the community, and they were leaders in educational as well 
 as religious matters. Before the county superintendency was 
 instituted ministers vrere generally on committees, in their sev- 
 eral localities, to examine teachers as to their qualifications to 
 teach; and they visited the schools more or less, and generally 
 speaking they were given prominence in every laudable under- 
 taking. The first ministers in Northeastern Pennsylvania were 
 missionaries that were sent out by the Congregationalists and 
 Presbyterians. The Baptists and Methodists also had ministers 
 
LIBEETY, CALVINISM AND OLD-TIME MINISTEES. 259 
 
 itinerating through this wilderness, known as the Beech Vfoods. 
 
 The Presbyterian ministers, as they began to locate, were 
 often furnished with a parsonage house and barn, together with 
 ten or fifteen acres of land, here with his horse, cow and chick- 
 ens he was indeed passing rich, at three hundred dollars a year. 
 There was no need for his congregation to petition him to pray 
 for rain, for he knew when shov/ers were needed from his own 
 experience. In fact his glebe of land with its attendant labors 
 placed him and his good wife in sympathy with a majority of 
 his congregation, as far as having similar experiences in the 
 same occupation was concerned. He was in position to apply 
 the parables taken from the husbandman's occupation with 
 added force, and he understood all the trials and disappoint- 
 ments in connection with the occupation of his hearers. He 
 knew how to live economically and it is wonderful how many 
 of these ministers reared large families and educated them well, 
 on some three or four hundred dollars salary. A brief notice 
 of some of these pioneer ministers is not out of place in this 
 volume. 
 
 Eev. Ebenezer Kingsbury itinerated all over this region, 
 and he had a son who was an elder in this church. It is fitting 
 that he should be noticed. He was born at Coventry, Conn., 
 August 30, 1762, and graduated at Yale in 1786. He studied 
 theology and in 1809 was sent into Northeastern Pennsylvania 
 by the Connecticut Home Missionary Society. He was in- 
 stalled the first pastor of the Harford Congregational chiirch 
 August 3, 1810, and continued in that relation until 1827. Dur- 
 ing all this time he spent one half of his time doing missionary 
 work in the surrounding country. In this work he traveled 
 over a large part of Bradford, Susquehanna, Luzerne and Wayne 
 on horseback, by marked trees and bridle paths, preaching in 
 log cabins, barns and school houses. As a preacher he was 
 grave and deliberate in manner and instructive in matter. In 
 social intercourse he was affable, unassuming and regardful of 
 the feelings of others. These characteristics made him a wel- 
 come visitor among the settlers in the wilderness. The Lu- 
 
260 HONESDilLB PKESBTTEKLUJ CHUECH. 
 
 zeme Association of Congregationalists was organized in his 
 home at Harford in 1810. He loved to look up the families 
 scattered among the hills where he was ever welcome. Hence 
 it is not surprising to find that he organized more of the churches 
 of the old Montrose Presbytery than any other man. He died 
 Marcli 24, 1842, aged 82, and is buried in Harford cemetery. 
 His wife died in 1859, aged 88. Her house was ever open to 
 the sons and daughters of want. He had four sons, Williston, 
 Payson, Samuel E., that remained in Harford, and Ebenezer 
 v.'ho came to Honesdale and took charge of the Wayne County 
 Herald. 
 
 Rev. Adam Miller, who succeeded Kingsbury, was the 
 Nestor of Montrose Presbytery. He was present when Hones- 
 dale churih was organized and was generally well known 
 throughout the Presl^ytery. He was born at Canajoharie, N. 
 T., January 13, 1807, graduated at Union College in 1824 and 
 at Auburn Theological Seminary in 1827. He preached one 
 year at Owego Falls and was married to Annie B. Curtis in 
 1828. That same year he went to Harford while in his 21st 
 year, and on the 28th of April, 1830, he was installed pastor 
 of Harford church. His ministry continued at a salary of about 
 five hundred dollars for fifty-three years. During that time he 
 preached not less than eight thousand sermons, attended sis 
 hundred funerals, married six hundred and thirty-five couples 
 and received into the church about five hundred and eighty 
 members. He preached until November and died in Decem- 
 ber, 1881. Three of his daughters reside in Honesdale, Julia 
 being the wife of Edwin F. Torrey Cashier of Honesdale Na- 
 tional Bank. 
 
 Rev. Phineas Camp was born at Durham, Conn., February 
 18, 1788. He graduated from Union College in 1811, and 
 studied Theology at Princeton. After completing his studies 
 he taught a classical school in Orange county, N. Y. July 15, 
 1817, he was ordained as an Evangelist by the Presbytery of 
 North Eiver, and sent into Wayne county in 1818 where he 
 labored for a time in Bethany and Salem. September 22, 1818, 
 
LIBEETY, CALVINISM: AND O.ID-TIME MmiSTEES. 261 
 
 lae organized the Presbyterian churcli at Bethany, wliicli was 
 the first distinctively Presbyterian church organized in North- 
 eastern Pennsylvania. The old churches at Wilkes-Barre, Wj- 
 alusing, Salem and elsewhere were Congregational churches and 
 were not reorganized as Presbyterian churches until after this 
 date. Eev. Gideon N. Judd assisted Mr. Camp in conducting 
 revival services at Bethany and the people became attached to 
 Mr Camp and they circulated a subscription and pledges were 
 secured to the amount of $400 for two-thirds of his time. This 
 siibscription was so worded as to imply an independence from 
 all ecclesiastical control and was declined by Mr. Camp as in- 
 judicious for both people and pastor. He strongly advised the 
 Christians to connect themselves with some recognized church 
 organization, and after free discussion of the form of church 
 government most desired they finally decided to organize a 
 Presbyterian church, which was done as before noted. How 
 much Honesdale Presbyterian church owes to the firm stand 
 taken by Bev. Phineas Camp at this important juncture can 
 never be know, but as Presbyterians, probably we should say 
 it was foreordained to be so and that is enough for us to know. 
 Bev. Mr. Camp afterwards labored within the bounds of the 
 Presbytery of Erie, part of the time as Evangelist and part of 
 the time as settled pastor, then he moved to Dixon, 111., where 
 he died January 30, 1868, aged 80. 
 
 Bev. Worthington Wright, the first settled pastor of the 
 Congregational churches in Wayne county, was born in the 
 town of Windsor, Berkshire county, Mass., June 16, 1785. His 
 grandfather, Asa Wright, was an architect and planned and 
 superintended the erection of Dartmouth College, New Hamp- 
 shire. His father, Asahel Wright, subsequently graduated at 
 that college, and after completing a medical course, was ap- 
 pointed a surgeon in the United States Navy during the War of 
 the Eevolution. He settled in Windsor and reared a large 
 family. He had eight sons all of whom were professional men. 
 At one time he and six of his sons were engaged in the practice 
 of medicine. Dr. Urial Wright, of Mount Pleasant, and Dr 
 
262 HONESDALE PBESBYTEBIAN CHDECH. 
 
 Erastus Wright, of Salem, were two of these sons, and both of 
 them were efficient members of the Presbyterian church. Dr. 
 Urial Wright being an elder in Mount Pleasant church and Dr. 
 Erastus Wright was prominent in the Salem church. His 
 daughter, Mary, was the wife of Rev. A. E. Raymond, who 
 labored ia Salem and Sterling for many years. Eev. Worth- 
 ington Wright graduated at Williams College in 1806. He was 
 ordained at Y^^'oodbury, Conn., as a Congregationalist in 1811. 
 After about a year he was troubled with inflammation in one of 
 his eyes and was dismissed. When his eyesight improved in 
 Maj', 1812, he was sent by the Connecticut Congregational So- 
 ciety to preach in the different settlements in Wayne county. 
 After he had labored a few months it was proposed that he be- 
 come the settled pastor of the Congregational societies of Salem, 
 PalmjTa, DybeiTy and Canaan, for a period of four years, de- 
 voting half of his time betv^een these towns and the other half 
 to labors in destitute portions of the county. Subscriptions 
 were accordingly circulated resulting in obtaining from residents 
 of Dyberry, including Bethany, $162; of Salem, $42.50; of Pal- 
 myra, $25; of Canaan, $27.50 — in all $257, a sum considered 
 ample for the purpose. In these subscriptions it was condi- 
 tional that Mr. Wright should reside at Bethany, or in Dyberry 
 township. The Salem subscribers agreed to double their sub- 
 scription if he would make that township his home, but Beth- 
 any was the county seat and its people prevailed. After pro- 
 curing this sum a committee consisting of Jason Toirey, of 
 Bethany, Dr. Lewis Collins, of Cherry Pddge, Joseph Wood- 
 bridge, of Salem, and Col. Asa Stanton, of Canaan, was ap- 
 pointed to negotiate with Mr. Wright in relation to his proposed 
 settlement. On the following day, December 23, 1812, he con- 
 sented to accept the offer conditional upon the consent of the 
 Missionary Society, and this was given. May 26, 1813, Eev. 
 Worthington V/right was installed at the Court House in 
 Bethany, in the presence of a large assemblage of people, the 
 first pastor of the scattered Congregationalists in the Beech 
 Woods of Wayne county. As people did not hesitate to go ten 
 
tlBEETT, CALVraiSM AND OLD-TIME MINISTERS. 263 
 
 or fifteen miles to cliurch in those days, it is altogether probable 
 that representatives of all these scattered societies were present 
 on this auspicious occasion. The liberality of the subscriptions, 
 considering the poverty of the people and the scarcity of money, 
 shows with what eagerness these dwellers in the valderness 
 welcomed the regular ministrations of a pastor. There were 
 no churches in the county at that time of any denomination. 
 The preaching was held in the Court House, private dwellings 
 and log school houses. The Bethany church was not erected 
 until 1822-4. Mr. Wright traveled long distances over wilder- 
 ness roads, proclaiming the gospel wherever he could get a 
 hearing in the county, and the Congregational church at Mount 
 Pleasant was organized by him and Eev. Ebenezer Kingsbury, 
 of Harford, January 26, 1814, with sixteen members, nine unit- 
 ing by profession and seven by letter. It was on his recom- 
 mendation that his brother. Dr. Urial "Wright, came to Mount 
 Pleasant. Mr. Wright's eye troubled him again after laboring 
 here about three years and he gave up the ministry, and 
 studied medicine which profession he followed for about fifteen 
 years. He resumed preaching in 1838 and was pastor at 
 Woodstock, Vt., 1838-50, and at Charlestown, N. H., 1852-5. 
 He nest went to reside with his son at Fredonia, N. T., and 
 died at Buffalo, N. Y., October 28, 1873, aged 88. Such was 
 the varied and honorable career of the first pastor of the Con- 
 gregational and Presbyterian churches in Wayne county. 
 
 Among the old-time ministers in Wayne county Eev. Joseph 
 Barlow deserves more mention than we have data to give. Bev. 
 Mr. Barlow came to the Presbyterian church from the Protest- 
 ant Methodists. He was an aggressive Englishman and em- 
 phasized the letter "h" where Americans do not. John Mitchell, 
 of Salem, told a good anecdote of him which occurred while he 
 was preaching in Salem and Palmyra. Among the early mem- 
 bers of the church at Palmyra were the Binghams, of Wallen- 
 paupack settlement. Hezekiah Bingham, Sr. and Hezekiah, 
 Jr. were among the first members in 1808. Along about 1838-40, 
 when Mr. Barlow was preaching at that place, there was one> 
 
264 HONESDALE PEESBTiTEEIAN CHUECH. 
 
 Dolph Bingham, who had said that no one should ask the bless- 
 ing at his table. He had become a skeptic, in fact, but the 
 Paupack people were hospitable and Mr. Barlow was there at 
 his table. He knew what Bingham had said but that did not 
 deter him. As he sat down to the table he said very deliber- 
 ately sounding the "h" in Bingham, "Brother Bing-ham it is 
 my custoii to return thanks before I eat," and he immediately 
 did so before the astonished Bingham could raise any objections. 
 This was the manner in which some of the old-time preachers 
 bade defiance to sinners. Mr. Barlow afterward preached at 
 Liberty and Franklin, in Susquehanna county. The parsonage 
 took fire and as he opened a door he was caught by the blaze 
 and perished. 
 
 Eev. Lyman Richardson is one of the most remarkable 
 men that ever labored in Northeastern Pennsylvania, both as 
 teacher at Harford and elsewhere, and as revivalist, he did a 
 vast amount of good. He was one of the most sincere men in 
 the state and his influence for good through his school and 
 preaching extends to this day. Jason Torrey's family all at- 
 tended his school, besides they had a school in Honesdale at 
 one time. There were three of the Bichardsons, Lyman, Pres- 
 ton and Willard. AJl of them were great teachers, and excel- 
 lent men. Some of the most prominent men in Northeastern 
 Pennsylvania were instructed by these earnest Christian teach- 
 ers. Bev. Lyman Eichardson assisted in revival work in Wayne 
 county. The good influence of the righteous man never ends. 
 
 Eev. Albert R. Raymond is a minister that should not be 
 forgotten in any history of Presbyterianism in Northeastern 
 Pennsylvania. He was born in Chenango county, N. T., No- 
 vember 5, 1806. His father died when he was young and he 
 was taken by his grandfather Lathrope to Malta, N. T. His 
 grandmother instructed him in Bible reading, Sabbath keeping 
 and church attending. He graduated from Union College in 
 1831 and subsequently from Auburn Seminary. Eev. Dr. 
 Eliphalet Nott was President of Union while he was there and 
 he ever spoke of him in the highest terms. He preached at 
 

 
 (k 
 
 Rev. a R. Raymond 
 Jason Torrey 
 
 Rev. Worthington Wright 
 Rev. E. O. Ward 
 
LIBEETY, CALTINISM AND OLD-TBIE MINISTEHS. 265 
 
 Nelson for a. time also at Liberty and Franklin in Susquehanna 
 county, here out of a membership of about seventy, over fifty of 
 them were descendants of seven Smith brothers, and a rare old 
 family they were according to Mr. Raymond's testimony. It 
 was customary to have a sermon in the morning and after a 
 short interval another sermon in the afternoon. During the in- 
 terval most of the congregation repaired to the horse shed where 
 they ate their dinners and discussed the morning sermon. They 
 were genuine dissenters, and as may be inferred, they did not 
 hesitate to criticise anything that had been said contrary to 
 their views. "Uncle Ephraim" had a weakness of the eyes 
 which caused him to wipe them occasionally vv'ith his hand and 
 as he threw the water from his hand his fingers would snap 
 together with a loud noise. Whenever he was agitated this 
 snapping was more frequent. One day it was quite noticeable 
 in church. Aiter the sermon was concluded he arose and re- 
 marked to llr. Saymond: "I don't believe one word you have 
 said." Mr. Eaj-mond asked the session to rem.ain, and among 
 them was a brother and other relatives of "Uncle Ejjhraim." 
 Finally after sitting there awhile one of them asked what they 
 were called together for. Mr. Kaymond told them he thought 
 there was reason enough if he did not preach the truth. "Oh 
 'Uncle Ephraim' will be all right," said they, and they would 
 pay no further attention to it but went home. No matter how 
 much they differed from the minister they always came to church 
 and there thej^ fought it out. Mr. Eaymond had a drunken 
 elder at one of his preaching places and hs got old Father Hunt 
 to talk. He gave one of those masterly temperance addresses 
 in Vi'hich he pictured the drankards traveling on the road to 
 perdition and at the tail end of the heap there comes a drunken 
 elder, staggering along. This lecture cost Mr. Eaymond his 
 place. He came to Salem in 1844 and occupied that pulpit 
 until 1863 when he resigned, but continued at Sterling until 
 1868. He was a wiry man standing erect, with a large nose 
 and mouth and a decided chin, indicating great will power. He 
 had an exalted idea of the ministry and was somewhat austere 
 
266 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHTJECH. 
 
 and reserved in his manner to those who did not know him in- 
 timately. He always entered the pulpit in a swallow-tailed 
 full dress coat, and no one ever presumed to be too familiar 
 with him. His life and conversation were singularly pure, how- 
 ever, and to those who knew him best, he was a very compan- 
 ionable man. He was naturally taciturn and he lacked that 
 savoir faire which wins friends readily, consequently he was 
 liable to be misunderstood. His mind was speculative and 
 better fitted for delving into the mj^steries of nature and Provi- 
 dence than it was for simple and plain discourse, consequently 
 he was often lost in the mazes of his own speculations. He 
 was so frequently lost in this manner that his despairing excla- 
 mation, "There are strange things in nature and Providence and 
 why things are so we cannot tell," became a well worn proverb 
 in the community. He married Mary, a daughter of Dr. Wright, 
 of Salem. The family are all dead but one, Helen, the wife of 
 S. W. Cook. Two of his grandsons, Frank and Claiide, sons 
 of James D. Stocker, reside in Jermyn, Pa. Mr. Raymond 
 died in 1888, aged 81. He never had only about $300 salary 
 a year and a glebe of land and parsonage, but he educated his 
 children and left an estate of several thousand dollars; part of 
 it however came through his wife, and he bequeathed a portion 
 of this to the missions of the church. In the later years of 
 his life he meditated much upon the Scriptures and became a 
 very spiritually minded man. 
 
 Kev. Elias O. Ward, who for so many years was pastor of 
 Bethany Presbyterian church, v/as an old-time minister of power 
 and efficiency who must not be forgotten. He was born at 
 Chatham, Morris county, N. J., February 5, 1810. He removed 
 with his parents to Bethany in 182.5, and worked there for years 
 at the trade of a hatter. He began to study for the ministry 
 with Rev. Preston Richardson, of Harford, under whose tutor- 
 ship he was prepared for college. He graduated from Hamil- 
 ton College in 1838, and from Auburn Seminary in 1841. He 
 became pastor of the church at Dundaff that same year, remain- 
 ing there twelve years. In 1858 he came to Bethany where he 
 
LIBERTY, CALVmiBM AND OLD-TMIE MINISTEKS. 267 
 
 remained until his death, January 9, 1899. He preached at 
 Bethany about forty years when old age compelled him to re- 
 linquish the pastorate, but he continued to superintend the 
 Sunday school for some time after he stopped preaching. 
 About 1859 Mr. Ward was appointed to iill a vacancy caused 
 by the resignation of S. A. Terrel as county superintendent of 
 the common schools. After that he served two full terms by 
 election. He was an uncompromising temperance man and 
 had decided views in relation to dancing and other amusements. 
 At the time he was superintendent, a teacher, at a spelling school 
 in Salem,* allowed dancing at the intermission in the school 
 house, one of the boys furnishing all the music that was fur- 
 nished by whistling. Some one reported it to Mr. Ward and 
 he annulled her certificate and the directors turned her out of 
 the school. His wife, Jemima Farrar, of Harford, was a good 
 woman. He lost one son in the Civil War and his son Edward 
 O. Ward is a resident of Newark, N. J., and Mary E. is the wife 
 of Dr. Seed Burns, the skillful surgeon, who now resides in 
 Scranton, and whose son, Edward, practices medicine in Hones- 
 dale. 
 
 Nearly all of the original members of the Presbyterian 
 churches in Wayne county were of New England origin, and 
 most of them were Congregationalists. They were stalwart 
 Christians of the Puritan type — men and v/omen of character. 
 Among the founders of the Salem church in 1808, were Joseph 
 Woodbridge, Elijah and Luther Weston, and George Goodrich. 
 
 *Note. This happened in the school that the writer attended. The 
 teacher was a pleasant, blithesome young lady who enjoyed the pleasures 
 of life. The boy that whistled sat next to mo. The teacher cried when 
 she heard her fate. The whistler musician whispered "I feel sorry for her, 
 don't you?" I certainly did, but my friend was alarmed about something 
 else, he had recently joined the Methodist church and he wondered if his 
 class leader would turn him out for whistling for a dance. I don't remem- 
 ber that we criticised Mr. "Ward. The sentiment against balls and dancing 
 in that community sustained the act, but the school directors, some of 
 them, danced themselves, and they were condemned for not keeping that 
 teacher until her term was out. 
 
268 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Josepli Woodbridge contracted yellow fever m New York, from 
 wliicti he died in 1816, while yet a young man. He had pur- 
 chased four hundred acres of land and was the leading Con- 
 gregation alist in the place. His widow, Ann Woodbridge, sub- 
 sequently, in 1818, started one of the first Sunday schools in 
 Wayne county. 
 
 In 1832, Eev. Joel Campbell and Stephen Torrey reorgan- 
 ized the Salem Congregational church as a Presbyterian church. 
 At that time George Goodrich, Elijah Weston and Luther Wes- 
 ton were made ruling elders. George Goodrich was a son of 
 Seth Goodrich and a brother of P. G. Goodrich. He inherited 
 the Little Meadows farm, famous as being the scene of a con- 
 flict between the first settler, Strong, and the Indians, the next 
 day after the battle of Wyoming. Mr. Goodrich had a large 
 farm, with flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. He was hospi- 
 table and it might truthfully be said of him, "His great fires up 
 the chimney roared." He was a justice of the peace, as well as 
 elder in the church, and was recognized as one of the substan- 
 tial men of the township and county. His death in 1854, at the 
 age of about 57, was a great loss to the church, 
 
 Elijah Weston was a patient, kind hearted, honest man. He 
 married Miuorva, daughter of Jason Torrey. One of his sons, 
 Edward W. Weston, was a trustee of the Honesdale church for 
 a number of years, and a member from 1845 to 1863, when he 
 was dismissed to the church at Providence. He became the 
 well known general land agent of the Delaware & Hudson Canal 
 Company. Another son, Charles, was known in connection 
 with the Weston Milling Company, in Scranton. Elijah Wes- 
 ton was born in 1799 and died in 1879. When he was dying 
 they offered him liquor in the hope of reviving his failing 
 strength, but the stern advocate of temperance refused it, pre- 
 ferring to die as he had lived, a total abstainer from all intoxi- 
 cants. 
 
 Luther Weston, a brother of Elijah, was born in 1792 and 
 died in 1872. He was an elder in the Salem church and a 
 pillar of strength therein for nearly forty years. He and hi& 
 
LIBESTY, CALVINISM AND OLD-TIJEE mNISTEItS. 2G9 
 
 good wife Lura, were good, honest, industrious Christian peo- 
 ple. They had no children but they worked and saved for the 
 church. Luther Weston, with an income of only a few hun- 
 dred dollars, would head the subscription list for salary for the 
 minister, with $100. After his first wife died he married the 
 widow Sally Hewitt, who died in 1905, aged nearly 101 years. 
 When Mr. Weston died he gave half of his fortune, amounting 
 to about $3,000, to the Home Missions of the Presbyterian 
 church, and the other half to his wife. Of subsequent elders, 
 John A. Cook was the resident manager of the Ledgedale tan- 
 nery as long as he lived. He was a substantial man and had 
 a son DarM'in who was Captain in the War of the Eebellion, now 
 a lawyer in Kansas City, also a son-in-law. Captain Joseph 
 Atkinson, in the same war, and his son George, deceased, was 
 a substantial business man in Chicago. Two others of the 
 elders, John Nash and Thomas Cook, were in the Civil War and 
 the only remaining elder, Jerome T. Stocker, furnished a sub- 
 stitute for the same war. The noble men that founded Salem 
 church are dead and their descendants have some of them 
 moved away, leaving 'the historic old church in a feeble condi- 
 tion. Whatever may befall the Salem church the good that it 
 has done will abide forever. All the elders are dead but J. T. 
 Stocker who was elected to the eldership in 1872. Thomas 
 Cook died a few years ago being over four score years old. He 
 was a conservative, substantial Christian man respected and 
 honored by his neighbors. 
 
 Virgil M. Diboll, M. D., came to Bethany and married 
 Philena Collins, the only daughter of Dr. Lewis Collins, Sep- 
 tember 22, 1818. He was made the first ruling elder of the 
 Bethany Presbyterian church, and the same year a Sunday 
 school was organized in Bethany largely through his instru- 
 mentality, he being the first superintendent and that one 
 of the first Sunday schools organized in the county. Subse- 
 quently he removed to Centremoreland near Wilkes-Barre, and 
 from there to Adams county, Ohio, where he died at an ad- 
 vanced age. He was an educated man and did much work for 
 
270 HONESDALE PEESBYTERIAK CHUECH. 
 
 Christianity. A letter from his daughter in 1858, stated that 
 he was in Brown county, Ohio, distributing Bibles. He has a 
 certain preeminence as being the iirst Presbyterian elder in the 
 tu-st Presbyterian church organized in Northeastern Pennsyl- 
 vania. In 1819, Loring Parsons, Jason Torrey and Pope Bush- 
 nell were added to the eldership of the Bethany church. 
 
 Jason Torrey was one of the parties that signed the char- 
 ter, and he gave the ground where the Honesdale church stands 
 and otherwise contributed to the building up of the church and 
 congregation, and he was so thoroughly identified with the 
 Bethany Presbyterian church, being one of its elders, and of 
 Presbyterianism in the county, that he is properly mentioned in 
 connection with our church history. 
 
 Jason Torrey, known as Major Torrey, was bom at Wil- 
 liamstown, Mass., June 30, 1772, and died at Honesdale 
 November 21, 1848. When 21 years of age he sought his for- 
 tune in what was then known as the Beech Woods and located 
 in Mount Pleasant, in 1793, where he rolled up a log house to 
 which home he brought his bride, Lois Mallery Welch, in 1798. 
 He was hired by Mr. Baird to help him in surveying and he 
 developed such aptitude that he soon mastered the art so that 
 he became a great surveyor. He learned from actual practice 
 and eventually surveyed a large part of Wayne and portions of 
 Pike and Susquehanna counties. For years he spent summers 
 and falls in surveying and winters in making calculations and 
 maps, and the Torrey map of the county is a historical docu- 
 ment. He was a ma-n of indomitable force of character and he 
 did a vast amount of labor. He located the Drinker lands in 
 Bethany and vicinity for which Drinker gave him four hundred 
 acres of land east of the village. He located Daniel Schoon- 
 over's tract of four hundred acres and received in payment what 
 is now the northern part of the borough of Honesdale. He 
 had an arrangement with President Bolton, of the Delaware & 
 Hudson Canal Company, to have the canal basin located on his 
 land above the bridge, for which he was to give the company 
 every alternate lot of land, but Maurice Wurts purchased Sam- 
 
IJBEETY, CALYINISM AND OLD-TIME MIOT;i3TEES. 271 
 
 nel Kimble's land for a small sum, and the company refused to 
 attach the seal to the agreement which their president had made, 
 and the basin was located on the Kimble tract. He had his 
 land cleared and plotted and as a result two villages sprang into 
 existence. Dr. Rowland gives the following: "He brought his 
 bride from their home in Massachusetts with an ox team. The 
 first house in which he lived was built by himself and man in 
 two days, while his wife in the meanwhile occupied the sled, 
 which had an awning thrown over it, and made herself as com- 
 fortable as she could. The log cabin was covered with hemlock 
 bark. Their table was a basswood log split and set on legs, 
 their chairs were of the same material sustained by three legs, 
 their floor was of split logs and their bedstead composed of 
 posts set up against the side of the house and covered with 
 bark instead of ropes and sacking. There were no sawmills 
 in reach, nor roads to transporb lumber. The nearest grist 
 mill was at Slocum Hollow and to supply this wanb he built a 
 fire on top of a maple stump and, when sufficiently hollowed, 
 bent a sapling to which a pestle was attached to crack grain." 
 While surveying one Fourth of July in the woods in Susque- 
 hanna county, he heard trees falling, and upon approaching 
 found thirteen trees nearly cut which were felled in succession 
 in celebration of Independence. This was on the ground where 
 Montrose now stands. Mr. Torrey was prominent in establish- 
 ing roads, in locating the county seat at Bethany and in mat- 
 ters of public concern generally in the county. He became 
 general land agent for the Philadelphia land holders who owned 
 most of Wayne county. This gave him congenial employment 
 and influence, which together with his lands at Bethany and 
 Honesdale, secured a comfortable fortune for himself and his 
 descendants. He was a man of inflexible purpose and keen 
 foresight and he must have passed through the wilderness with 
 great agility with his Jacob staff compass in order to accom- 
 plish the work that he did. He was liberal and progressive 
 towards churches and schools. His children were William, 
 Ephraim, Nathaniel, Minerva, Maria, John, Stephen, Asa and 
 
272 HOMERDALE PRESBTTEEIAN CHUBCH. 
 
 Charles br his first wife and James and David by his second 
 wife, Birs. Aehsah Tyler Griswold. John, Stephen and David 
 are noticed elsewhere. Maria was the wife of K. L. Seely and 
 Minerva, was the wife of Elder Elijah Y^eston, of Salem. Maj. 
 Torrey is buried at Bethany hard by the church of which he 
 was one of the first elders. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Whaley, who ministered to the people of 
 Mount Pleasant for twelve years, and who wrote a history' of 
 that township, was born in 1812. He preached at Fulton, N. 
 Y., a short time and in 1846 went to Mount Pleasant, V/ayne 
 county. Here he remained twelve years, then he preached in 
 Providence, Pa., for twelve years more, after which he preached 
 in Hampton, Ya., then he went west for a short time. After that 
 he was in Cutchogue church nine years. In 1893, by request 
 of the Presbytery of Long Island, he preached a sermon at 
 Greenpoint, L. I., entitled "Fifty Years in the Ministry." He 
 died at Eiver Head, N. Y, April 14, 1899, aged 87 years. He 
 says in his sermon: "On the 4th day of March, 1846, after 
 much prayer for the promised guidance of the Holy Spirit, two 
 young persons, whom God had united in holy matrimony, left 
 Central New York. It was one of those lovely winter days of 
 that region which makes sleighing a pleasure. For two days 
 they glided over the beaten snow paths, full of hopeful antici- 
 pations of what the Lord had prepared for them. The last 
 stage of this journey led through a dense wilderness of twenty 
 miles. Soon after entering it a heavy fall of snow began. 
 Deeper and deeper it fell until our path was obliterated. The 
 shades of evening drew on. Not a house nor a hunter's cabin 
 in this wild, desolate forest where the panther and the bear 
 roamed and foraged for their prey. Slowly and wearily our 
 horse broke his way through the heavy snow, but the same 
 faith which began this journey broke the silence of the desert 
 with singing, 'Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah, Pilgrim 
 through this barren land.' Our entrance into Belmont brought 
 no small relief. * * Here on this summit, the Hon. Samuel 
 Meredith, treasurer of the United States in Washington's cabi- 
 
:\IT. Pleasant Presbyterian Church 
 
LIBEETT, CAlTItfISM AKD OLD-TIME MINISTERS. 273 
 
 net, built a costly mansion in 1796 and gave name to tlie place. 
 Across the valley of the Lackawaxen on a hill rests the rnral 
 village of Pleasant Mount. Here all hearts were open to receive 
 us. "Words of welcome and blessing were abundant. On en- 
 tering the church a man of stalwart frame and venerable for age 
 met us. Extending both hands and suppressing his emotions, 
 he gave us his benediction saying: 'The Lord has heard our 
 prayers and sent you to preach to us his precious gospel, God 
 bless you my dear brother and sister,' a blessing that was never 
 withdrawn during the twelve years of our labors among that 
 people." The person referred to here was Deacon Anson Chit- 
 tenden, who had been the spiritual father of that church for 
 many years. He came from Clinton, Conn., in the fall of 1812, 
 with his family, and located north of the village. He died in 
 1849, aged about 80. He drew the people together and led 
 the worship being preacher, chorister and elder when they had 
 no minister. It is said of him that "he brought the Sabbath 
 with him when he crossed the Delaware." He organized a 
 Sunday school a short time after he came to the settlement, and 
 showed his zeal as long as he lived. He was a large man six 
 feet tall and was a fearless leader among hardy pioneers. After 
 the church was reorganized in 1831 as a Presbyterian church, 
 H. W. Stone, Dr. TJrial Wright, Jacob Eaton and Asa Smith 
 were elders. Henry W. Stone was elder and clerk of the ses- 
 sion from 1831 to 1847, when he came to the Honesdale church. 
 Dr. Urial Wright was elder from 1831 till his death in 1866. 
 He was one of the pioneer physicians of Wayne county, being 
 a brother of Eev. W. Wright. Asa Smith served until his death 
 in 1862. He bequeathed $1,950 towards missions and other 
 benevolences of the church. William K. Stone was deacon for 
 seven years and elder for twenty-nine years, until he was dis- 
 missed to Scranton in 1879. Ex-Superintendent James H. 
 Kennedy, who furnished most of these facts, speaks of him in 
 the highest terms. "He was an earnest worker in the church 
 and Sunday school. No one did more for the church than he 
 did. A man of education and ability a pillar in the church." 
 
274 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CHUEOH. 
 
 Deacon Zenas Chittenden served for forty years as an officer of 
 the church, and Elder William H. Chittenden for thirty-four 
 years. James and Mary Bigelow were among the founders of 
 the church and John Bigelow united with the church in 1829 
 and attended as long as he was able, though he had become deaf 
 before his death, which was in 1884, at the age of 94. Elder 
 William Wright, son of Dr. Wright, was an elder from 1858 
 until his death in 1889. He was a delegate to the General As- 
 sembly in 1864. When the church was without a pastor he 
 often supplied the pulpit, writing his own sermons. He did 
 this work when he was a cripple and had to be carried into the 
 church. Eev. S. Whaley says his parish had a diameter of 
 fourteen miles containing one hundred and forty families, in a 
 large proportion of which family worship was conducted and a 
 large majority of the members took part in the prayer meetings. 
 Of those who belonged to Uniondale and Mt. Pleasant churches, 
 five became clergymen, four have been in the legislature of 
 Pennsylvania, six. were lawyers and eight were physicians. Of 
 the eighty-six soldiers, who were in the War of the Bebellion 
 from the two townships, sixty were from the Presbyterian con- 
 gregations and one-fifth of the entire number died on the field. 
 Well done faithful little church on the mountain, your history 
 deserves greater amplification but this work will not permit it. 
 Surely the noble, stalwart Christians that organized and carried 
 onward the work in Salem, Mount Pleasant, Bethany and Hones- 
 dale Presbyterian churches, were Christians of the heroic mold, 
 sun crowned and steadfast as the eternal hills among which 
 these churches are located. 
 
MISOELLAJSIEOUS EECOEDS AND SKETCHES. 275 
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 MISGELLANEOrS EECOEDS AND SKETCHES. 
 
 Politically the diurch has had in 
 its membership Democrats, Whigs, 
 Republicans and reformers such as 
 ^ Anti-Slavery advocates, intense Abo- 
 
 ^ litionists, temperance men, Prohibi- 
 
 ^ ^ tionists, and during slavery days, 
 
 * Z Colonizationists. When the Anti- 
 
 ^ Slavery discussion struck the church 
 "'^ , ■^ ^'/^^•y^f^-^ it found most of its members con- 
 servatives, that is they did not exactly approve of slavery and 
 would have been glad if it had not existed, but it was intrenched 
 in the constitution, laws and usages of the coimtry and they 
 feared a disruption of the Union if the matter should be agi- 
 tated, hence they took the position of silence and said we can- 
 not disturb it so let it alone. Among the Honesdale Presby- 
 terians were found a number of Colonizationists who favored 
 purchasing the negroes from their masters and shipping them 
 to Liberia, Africa. A number of negroes were sent there from 
 this country, but the scheme was a failure. Among those who 
 favored this scheme, as near as can now be ascertained, were 
 
276 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIiN CHUBCH. 
 
 Kingsbury, the Torreys and probably the Lords, Tracy and 
 Seely. Isaac P. Foster was an intense Abolitionist and he ap- 
 pears to have had the support of Elders Brush and Bassett for 
 they all resigned at the same time, while those that had re- 
 signed before were Stephen Torrey, Solomon Z. Lord and 
 Ebenezer P. Kingsbury, Jr. In sympathy with Foster was B. 
 B. Smith, son-in-law of Elder Brush, S. D. Ward and Horace 
 Woodhouse, his own sons-in-law. F. B. Penniman and G. S. 
 Minor also in later years were in the Anti-Slavery ranks. In 
 fact as time wore on^the Anti-Slavery sentiment became more 
 pronounced and a constantly increasing number in the church 
 were in sympathy with the movement. The final outcome was, 
 as all the world knows, the emancipation of the slaves, whereat 
 all the world rejoices including the former slaveholders. 
 
 The negro question has taken a different form in this gen- 
 eration and the matter of social equality is now agitating the 
 church. The question is before the Presbyteries whether separ- 
 ate Presbyteries shall be permitted, covering the same territory, 
 founded on racial differences. There is an Indian Presbytery 
 covering territory where there are white Presbyteries and it is 
 argued that there can be no union between Northern and South- 
 ern Presbyterians unless the colored people are allowed to have 
 separate Presbyteries*. 
 
 On the other hand it is urged that "God hath created of 
 one blood all the nations of the earth" and that to permit col- 
 ored people to have separate Presbyteries would be a discrimi- 
 nation against our colored brethren. In this connection the 
 following from an editorial in the Westminster will be interest- 
 ing reading. The editor says: "In the 'no color line' argu- 
 ment we are much interested. We are the child of old-time 
 Abolitionists. We were a very ardent boy Abolitionist in 1854 
 and Uncle Tom's Cabin was our second Bible. We grew up 
 believing no slaveholder or Democrat could enter the Kingdom 
 
 Note. Since the above was written it has been decided to permit sep- 
 arate Presbyteries for colored people if they desire it. 
 
MISCELLiNEOUS KECOBDS AND SKETCHES. 277 
 
 of Heaven, and the cry for rights for the negro moves us might- 
 ily yet. But this line of defense will not check us as we ad- 
 vance toward a union of Presbyterians in this country. We 
 regret it should keep any one from voting for the proposed 
 union. All the talk about discriminating against the negro 
 seems to us foolish, if not wicked. * * * The 'color line,' 
 as it is being exploited by the anti-union people, is 'a bogey.' 
 The only color line that counts as a great and controlling factor 
 in the relation of white man and black man is the one that God 
 drew when he made the black man." So much for a man who 
 was taught to believe that "no Democrat could enter the King- 
 dom of Heaven," and such teaching was not confined to the 
 neighborhood where the editor of the Westminster resided. 
 There were persons in Honesdale Presbyterian church, about 
 the time of the Civil War, who if they would confess, would be 
 compelled to make a like admission. During the war period 
 George G. Waller was elected superintendent of the Sabbath 
 school. George W. Woodwafd was nominated for the governor- 
 ship of Pennsylvania by the Democrats. Woodward was reared 
 in Wayne county and Waller had practiced before him as a 
 Justice in the Supreme Court for years and admired him as a 
 man of character and ability; as a consequence he openly sup- 
 ported his old friend, but the lines were drawn so tightly that 
 he found it expedient to resign the superintendency of the Sun- 
 day school and Dr. Avery was elected in his place. We laugh 
 at such Pharisaic conduct now, but partizanship ran high at 
 the time preceding the war, during that conflict and for many 
 years afterward. Commercialism has now taken such a hold 
 of politics that conscientious men are voting with greater inde- 
 pendence every year. It is to be hoped that the outcome of it 
 all will be the betterment of the human race and purifying of 
 political life. 
 
 Honesdale Presbyterian church has had a certain number 
 of its members that have been office holders. Hon. Ebenezer 
 Kingsbury, Democrat, State Senator; Hon. H. B. Beardslee, of 
 the congregation, Democrat, State Senator; Hon. Thomas H. 
 
278 HONESDALE PRESEYTEBLiN CHUBOH. 
 
 E. Tracy, Democrat, Associate Judge; Hon. John Torrey and 
 Hon. Francis B. Penniman, Eepublicans, -^vere Associate Judges 
 by appointment for a few years; Hon. James R. Dickson, Hon. 
 William E. McLaury and Hon. Isaiah Snyder, Democrats, were 
 Associate Judges by election for the full term; Hon. Otis Avery 
 was appointed Associate Judge by a Eepublican Governor, 
 elected afterwards for a full term by both the Eepublican and 
 Democratic parties and afterwards elected for another term by 
 the Anti-Court House party with both of the old parties op- 
 posed to him, and the last time he received a larger majority 
 than he did the first time; Hon. Henry Wilson, Eepublican, of 
 the congregation, served a short time as Associate Judge by ap- 
 pointment. We have had President Judges Hon. Charles P. 
 Waller and Hon. Henry M. Seely, Eepublicans, and Hon. George 
 S. Purdy, of the congregation. Democrat. Eon. Otis Avery 
 was in the House of Eepresentatives as a Whig prior to the 
 organization of the Eepublican party. Ebenezer Kingsbury 
 and C. P. Waller were Deputy Attorney Generals, and F. B. 
 Brown, Democrat, E. C. Mumford, Eepublican, and Herman 
 Harmes Democrat, have been District Attorneys. James B. 
 Eldred, Democrat, and E. H. Cortright, Eepublican, have been 
 Sheriffs. E. M. Stocker, Democrat, and Stuart O. Lincoln, Ee- 
 publican, Eegister and Eecorder. John K. Jenkins, Eepubli- 
 can, Prothonotary. Hon. C. C. Jadwin, Eepublican, of the 
 congregation. Member of Congress. H. A. Woodhouse, Ee- 
 publican, of the congregation, Collector of Internal Eevenue. 
 C. F. Eockwell, Democrat, County Treasurer. Col. George B. 
 Osborne, County Treasurer. Besides holding these offices 
 many members of the church and congregation have held local 
 offices such as Justice of the Peace, School Director and Coun- 
 cilmen. Two County Superintendents, H. B. Larrabee and D. 
 L. Hower, were members of our church, and J. H. Kennedy 
 was a member some years ago. Some of the best men in the 
 church have been private citizens content to do their duty with- 
 out receiving any office. Stephen Torrey was a Justice of the 
 Peace in his younger days and received one of the largest votes 
 
MISOEIJiAJ^EOUS RECORDS AUD SKETCHES. 279 
 
 evei- given for a Prohibitionist candidate, as candidate for Asso- 
 ciate Judge. 
 
 During the years the Presbyterian church has been organ- 
 ized at Honesdale great things have bfen accomplished in this 
 country and throughout the world. In this nation of universal 
 education every community is a type of what is being done 
 throughout the land, and all important matters relating to 
 science, politics, good morals or religion are discussed. This 
 was particularly true in Honesdale. The first place of meeting 
 was in the Foster store where Kingsbury, Brush, Foster, Smith 
 and others would meet and discuss current matters. As Foster 
 was an extremist in matters of temperance and the freeing of 
 the slaves those matters were frequently up for discussion. In 
 later years B. B. Smith's book store was the place where the 
 progressive men of the town met and discussed science and 
 reforms. Mr. Smith followed the avocation of teaching for a 
 number of years and he never ceased to be a teacher. F. B. 
 Penniman, C. S. Minor, "W. H. Foster, C. F. Young, and many 
 school teachers, in later years, frequented his place and enjoyed 
 the elevating conversations that took place there. Mr. Smith 
 and his friends were practical reformers and they had very little 
 patience with people that did not vote as they prayed, as they 
 put it. The most outspoken men in the church or congregation 
 against slavery and intemperance were found among these men. 
 Very likely they relied upon the human arm too much, while it 
 is quite possible that others expected to have done for the com- 
 munity what they ought to have done themselves. B. B. Smith 
 said that a community was responsible for the evils that were 
 permitted to exist in it, that if Christian citizens woidd unite 
 and demand the right, the right would prevail. Between these 
 extremes is found the true course. Honesdale church had in 
 its membership and congregation representatives of various 
 political and scientific views and the ministers in charge have 
 preached many sermons with reference to those views. Eev. 
 Joel Campbell denounced amusements so severely that a num- 
 ber of his congregation united to form the Episcopal church. 
 
280 
 
 EONESDAIE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Kev. J. B. Graves raised a great storm in his time as has 
 been shown. Eev. Dr. Kowland was quite a controversialist but 
 he knew how to reprove without raising so much opposition. 
 The theoretical but sweet spirited Dr. Skinner ran against the 
 practical reformers, who were concerned less with religious 
 theories than they were with results. Some of Dr. Dunning's 
 masterful efforts were fulminated against the evolutionists, and 
 finally, when the Civil War tested the Union in every fibre, all 
 the questions gTowing out of that conflict were up for discus- 
 sion. The women of the church assisted the Sanitary Com- 
 mission and Dr. Dunning preached patriotic sermons while the 
 flag floated over the church. 
 
 Thanksgiving Day, 1862, Dr. Dunning preached a sermon, 
 which upon request of Isaiah Snj-der, George G. Waller, H. W. 
 Stone, E. L. Seely, D. P. Kirtland, C. King, M. D., John Tor- 
 rey, E. T. Beers, John K. Jenkins, Stephen G. Cory, William 
 T. Estabrook, John E. Eoe, James S. Bassett, Stephen Torrey, 
 Coe E. Young, E. J. Knapp, E. E. Torrey, H. B. Hamlin, Ezra 
 Hand, Earl Wheeler, S. D. Ward, H. C. Hand, William Keed, 
 H. A. Woodhouse, I. N. Foster, MUes L. Tracy, A. Strong, W. 
 W. Weston, A. Cummings, Jacob Marsh, E. A. Penniman, 0. 
 P. Waller and H. M. Seely, was published. The battle of An- 
 tietam had been fought and Lincoln, redeeming a promise which 
 he afterwards said that he had made to God, had issued the 
 Emancipation Proclamation. *Dr. Dunning's text was from 
 Habakkuk, third chapter, second verse, "In wrath remember 
 mercy." The nation was in peril for its sins but Dr. Dunning 
 found much to be thankful for. "General health has been 
 vouchsafed to us as a local community and as a state. And 
 while thousands of the families of our land have been called to 
 mourn over the desolations of civil war, while the bones of our 
 countrymen bleach along our coasts, from the Chesapeake Bay 
 to the Gulf, and ii? the valleys of our central and southwestern 
 
 *Hoii. Isaiah Snyder criticised this sermon in articles published in the 
 Herald, to which Dr. Dunning made no reply. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS AKD SKETCHES. 281 
 
 states, rendering the very soil sacred, yet, in the good provi- 
 dence of God these calamities of sanguinary war have not fallen 
 heavily upon us as a local community. It is true that we have 
 not been wholly exempt, but lightly has the scourge of war in 
 this regard fallen upon us in comparison with some other por- 
 tions of our land. * * * * It has been a year of great 
 abundance. There has been a demand for labor and labor has 
 had its revi'ard. Coming as we do today, to render the sacrifice 
 of praise and thanksgiving to God for His mercies, we cannot 
 if we would, shut our minds to the fact that there is now raging 
 in our land, a rebellion, the most thoroughly organized, the most 
 formidable in resources, the most extensive in territory, that has 
 ever occurred in our world. For nearly two years this gigantic 
 strife has been going on. Millions upon millions of treasure 
 have been expended and thousands upon thousands of lives have 
 been sacrificed, and still we cannot discern the end. Does God 
 mean to destroy us? Has the edict gone forth, 'Raze it, raze it 
 even to the foundations thereof?' Is this the sinful kingdom 
 that God will destroy from off the face of the earth? That we 
 have been and are still a sinful people there can be no doubt. 
 Our sins are many and aggravated; we have sinned by our for- 
 getfulness of God; we have sinned by our pride; we have sin- 
 ned by our profanation of God's Sabbaths; we have sinned by 
 our neglect of our political duties; we have sinned by our in- 
 temperance; we have sinned by our covetousness, our greediness 
 of gain; we have sinned by oppressing our fellow men. Is 
 God therefore about to give us up to remediless ruin? While 
 we recognize in our present calamities God's punitive hand, 
 still we cannot believe that the end at which He aims is the de- 
 struction of the nation, but its discipline and purification." As 
 a ground for this belief Dr. Dunning called attention to the 
 wonderful manner in which God had led us as a nation during 
 the years of our history up to that time. He then argued that 
 the question of secession had been settled. "That verdict is: 
 The Constitution of the United States is the Supreme Law of 
 the land." It must be remembered that this sermon was 
 
282 
 
 HOKESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHURCH. 
 
 preached during a dark hour in our history. Dr. Dunning said: 
 "Our experience during the past year has also rebuked our 
 national pride and seLf-conceit. We have, during the past year, 
 parted with much of our self-complacency and self-righteous- 
 ness. We needed to be purged of our pride and self-glorifica- 
 tion and we should be grateful to God today for this token of 
 His mercy. The following applies to the nation today: Our 
 rapid growth in material prosperity was undermining our virtue 
 as a people; luxury was sapping our national vigor; true patri- 
 otism and political justice were ebbing away. It may be that 
 God saw that it was best for us that our career of material pros- 
 perity should be for a time interrupted, that we should be for a 
 time summoned away from those pursuits which have garnered 
 up a wealth which has dug the grave of many an empire, to a 
 a great struggle, that we needed a new baptism of suffering, to 
 save us from the dangers which threatened us and fit us for the 
 vocation to which as a people He has called us. May He not 
 be thus disciplining us for greatness? May He not in the midst 
 of wrath be remembering mercy? We presume not to interpret 
 the purposes of God. But with the history of the past in our 
 hands we see that this is the method in which the Great Ruler 
 of the world has led his chosen nations on." Thus did Dr. 
 Dunning draw from the calamities of civil war which hung like 
 a dark cloud over the nation at that time, lessons of humility, 
 trustfulness, courage and hopefulness. Succeeding years have 
 fully justified the hopeful view of the future taken by Dr. Dun- 
 ning at that time. 
 
 The intelligent congregation of the Honesdale Presbyterian 
 church have been sensitive to all the great movements in our 
 history during the years of its existence, and to chronicle all the 
 discussions of these years would be to give a vivid impression 
 of the work of the Nineteenth Century. A few epoch marking 
 instances only can be noticed. When McKinley was ruthlessly 
 struck down the President appointed a day in September, 1901, 
 as a memorial day and union services were held in the Presby- 
 terian church presided over by Rev. Dr. Swift. There was a 
 
MISOELLANEOrS EECOEDS AND SKETCHES. 283 
 
 large attendance and Captain Ham Post, G. A. E., attended in 
 a body. "Lead Kindly Light" was sung by the choir and con- 
 gregation. Kev. J. P. Ware, rector of Grace Episcopal church, 
 read a portion of Scripture and Eev. G. A. Place, of the M. E. 
 church, prayed. "Some Day We '11 Understand" was feelingly 
 rendered by Mrs. C. H. Eockwell, assisted in the chorus by the 
 choir. Addresses were given by M. E. Simons, Esq.; Eev. C. 
 L. Percy, of tlie Baptist church; E. M. Stocker, Esq.; F. P. 
 Kimble, Esq.; Eev. J. Gilpin Fletcher, pastor of the Pittston 
 Presbyterian church, and Eev. W. S. Peterson, pastor of the 
 Nanticobe Presbyterian church. The exercises closed with 
 singing "America." The addresses were highly complimentary 
 of the manhood and character of the deceased President. 
 
 In this connection let us notice the address of Eev. Dr. 
 Swift at the dedication of the soldiers' plot in Glen Dyberry 
 cemetery, Memorial Day, 1903. Among other things he said: 
 "It is specially fitting today, men of Captain James Ham Post 
 of the G. A. E., that you should do honor to him whose name 
 you bear, who fell at the battle of Five Forks, the only soldier 
 killed on the field of battle whose mortal remains rest in this 
 beautiful sleeping place of the dead. A typical American 
 soldier was he. To be true to history it must be said, on the 
 authority of Col. Durland, that once he deserted — deserted from 
 the hospital, that he might share with his men the perils and 
 the fortunes of war and lead them into battle. Says Col. Bean : 
 'I can truthfully say that I never knew a braver man in the 
 hour of real danger. We rode together to and through the 
 Chancellorsville campaign. In the gloom of that disastrous 
 field he was undismayed. On the long and wearisome march 
 to Gettysburg, and in that terrible battle he was ever at the 
 post of duty. In all the great engagements and marches that 
 followed under Sherman and Grant, in the Army of the Potomac 
 in the Shenandoah Valley and finally to the left of Petersburg 
 and at Five Forks where he laid down his young and promis- 
 ing life, he was the same gallant, prompt and efficient volun- 
 teer officer.' * * 'Twas thirty-eight years ago that he laid 
 
284 
 
 HONESDALE PEESBYTEKIAN OHUECH. 
 
 down his precious life at liis country's call in defence of the 
 Union, that the marriage bonds between liberty and union 
 might not be severed, but he never more truly lived than he 
 lives today in the blessed results of that awful war, the shackles 
 of the slaves forever broken, the flag still floating over a united 
 country. Not one single star dimmed in the blue of that flag 
 that knows no sectionalism, that stands as never before the 
 world over as the symbol of all that is noblest in national life, 
 for justice, for freedom, for truth. "We dedicate this fair spot 
 by flinging to the breeze the flag that stands for liberty." 
 
 These extracts from the addresses of Dr. Dunning and Dr. 
 Swift will show the spirit in which the pastors of the Hones- 
 dale Presbyterian church met the issues growing out of the 
 Civil War. There are other issues of law and order, civic right- 
 eousness, temperance and all the old questions of greed and 
 covetousness that Dr. Dunning mentioned are still live issues, 
 and oppression comes in another form — that between labor and 
 capital. There was never greater need of strong Biblical teach- 
 ing than today. The mission of the ministry and the church 
 will never cease as long as wrong exists in the world. One of 
 the most hopeful signs of religious progress is found in the 
 assembling in 1905, of 500 delegates in Carnegie Hall, New 
 York, representing 30 denominations and 18,000,000 communi- 
 cants, for the purpose of formulating a system of federation 
 among the churches; so that two or three denominations shall 
 not occupy a field that should be held by one congregation. 
 The Young Men's Christian Association; the Society of Chris- 
 tian Endeavor; the International Sunday School Lessons, and 
 dividing of heathen lands among different denominations, have 
 all tended towards union or federation in church work. One 
 hundred years ago the denominational differences were accentu- 
 ated to the detriment of the church, today the points of agree- 
 ment, which are many, are magnified to the benefit of all. 
 
 WAH EECOED. 
 
 The war record of the Honesdale Presbyterian church is 
 not as great in proportion to the number attending the church 
 
MISCELLANEOtrS EECOKDS AKD SKETCHES, 285 
 
 as members or as a part of the congregation, as it was in its 
 sister Presbyterian churches in Mount Pleasant and Salem; but 
 there were a number of the congregation in the army and navy. 
 The Honesdale Guards, afterwards known as Co. C, 6tli 
 reserves, or 35th Pennsylvania Regiment, were organized in 
 Honesdale. Captain John S. "Wright a.nd Lieut. E. N. Torrey, 
 of this company, were from the Presbyterian congregation, also 
 Sergt. William H. VanKirk, Co. C, 67th Pa., Corporal Aaron 
 K. Pruden, Co. G, 77th Pa., Graham Watts, Co. C, 67 Pa., 
 promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant and was in Libby prison 
 six weeks, serving in all three years and nine months. And 
 of the 17th Pa. Cavalry there were Col. Durland, H. J. Tarble, 
 Corporal of Co. M and hospital steward, Ebenezer T. Losey, 
 bugler. Henry B. Hall, Co. G, 141st Pa. E. B. Freeman, 
 Quartermaster, 9th Pa. John Bassett and Corporal Lewis Cory- 
 ell, 4th New Jersey Light Artillery. Lieut. James H. Lord, 
 12th U. S. Lifantry, also in battery U. S. Artillery. C. M. 
 Ball, 2d Lieut. Co. G, 141st Pa. Hiram Dibble was in Co. D, 
 179 drafted militia. 
 
 Certain persons who served in the army and navy who 
 became members of the congregation were in the wars of our 
 country. Jabez Rockwell was a soldier of the Revolution and 
 David Beers was in the War of 1812. Joseph Schofield was in 
 Duncan's Battery, U. S. Army, in Mexican War, and Jesse 
 Blaine was in Co. K, 2d Pa. Vol. in Mexican War. 
 
 Lt. Col. George B. Osborn commanded the 56 Pa. Regi- 
 ment for a time and was engaged in twenty-six battles. He 
 removed to Honesdale after he was elected County Treasurer 
 where he died in May, 1905. 
 
 Stephen F. Wells, of Co. C, 112 Pa., Dr. H. G. Keefer, 
 Assistant Surgeon U. S. Volunteers; Charles F. Rockwell put 
 in a substitute, Archibald O'Hara, a seaman on the Santiago, 
 who was killed at Fort Fisher. Lewis S. CoUins was drafted 
 and sent a substitute at a cost of $900. Stewart O. Lincoln 
 served in Co. F, 50th New York Engineers. Henry Wilson 
 was 2d Lieutenant of Co. G, 177th Pa. drafted militia. 
 
286 SONESDALE PEESBTrEEIAS CK0KCH. 
 
 In September, 1862, about the time of the battle of Antie- 
 tarn the autliorities ab Hamsburg were apprehensive of an in- 
 vasion of Pennsylvania and the 24th Emergency Militia was 
 organized and reported at Harrisburg. They were there a week 
 or ten days and returned home. Company C was commanded 
 by Captain M. L. Tracy and among the number enrolled from 
 the congregation were Sergt. H. M. Seely, Corporal Thomas H. 
 Dickson, Corporal H. F. Atherton, Thomas H. E. Tracy, musi- 
 cian, P. W. Bentley, F. E. Addoms, John S. Eno, George Fos- 
 ter, Fred I. Keen, also afterwards in construction corps, E. A. 
 Penniman, S. W. Powell, William H. Stone, Abram G. Sher- 
 wood, Levi H. Schoonover, Jason Torrey, Henry F. Torrey, 
 Isaac F. Ward, George M. Wood. The boys had their hair 
 cropped close and called themselves "roundheads." A few 
 days after they arrived in Harrisburg Capt. Samuel Allen came 
 down with Company A, consisting of older men. Henry H. 
 Eoe was 2d Lieut, in this company. Stephen G. Cory and A. 
 B. Lacy were in this company. 
 
 After the battle of Gettysburg the 28th Volunteer militia 
 was formed for service within the state, James Chamberlain, 
 Colonel, commanding. William H. Jessup, of Montrose, was 
 Major of this regiment. Company B, was organized at Mont- 
 rose aind among its members were 2d Lieut. Henry F. Atherton, 
 George Foster, Henry F. Torrey and George F. Bentley. They 
 were mustered in June 18, 1863, and mustered out July 27, 
 1863. They worked on entrenchments at Harrisburg and one 
 of their number was wounded by a shell during the bombard- 
 ment of Carlisle, Pa. 
 
 The 35th Emergency Regiment served about the same time 
 as the 28th Eegt. H. M. Seely was Lieutenant of Co. B, and 
 other members from the congregation were Sergt. Horace Wes- 
 ton, Ulysses Beers, John Bassett, William H. Stanton, William 
 H. Stone, Isaac Ward, Thomas F. Torrey, Henry H. Eoe, Ad- 
 jutant. 
 
 Commander Charles W. Tracy, who was in the navy on 
 the St. Lawrence when the Petrel was destroyed, is now in 
 
MISCELLANEOUS EEOORDS AND SKETCHES. 287 
 
 Boston navy yard. J. W. Kesler was on the Mississippi with 
 Dewey when it burned and he swam ashore. Thomas H. Dick- 
 son was on the U. S. steamer Winona. He also furnished a 
 substitute in the army. Fred E. Addoms served in the navy. 
 
 John K. Jenkins, H. B. Hamlin, Isaiah Snyder, M. F. 
 VanKirk, E. A. Penniman and Coe F. Young furnished substi- 
 tutes. Edwin F. Torrey paid $1,000 for a substitute for three 
 years although he was not liable to the draft. H. C. Hand 
 paid $1,100 for a substitute of which amount the borough re- 
 funded $300. 
 
 Samuel E. Denton served in Co. H, U. S. Eegulars, and 
 died at Little Eock, Ark., September 11, 1866, and George H. 
 Clark, who was in the same company and regiment, died in the 
 same place three days later. 
 
 James S. Gillen was a veteran soldier of the Civil War. 
 Graham Watts enlisted in Co. C, 67 Begt. Pa. Infantry, December i, 
 1861. In 1863 they were stationed at Berryville, in Shenandoah Valley, 
 attached to 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 8th Army Corps. On advance of Lee's 
 army into Pennsylvania in June, 1863, they wore ordered to reinforce Gen. 
 B. H. Milroy at "Winchester. After the battle of Chancellorsville Gen. Lee 
 came up by way of Winchester and captured about half of Milroy's forces 
 and among the prisoners was Graham Watts, who was captured after a 
 desperate battle at Winchester. The prisoners were sent to Staunton, Va., 
 thence to Libby prison, thence to Belle Island and were released on parole 
 July 20, 1863, and sent to parole camp at Annapolis, Md. The regiment 
 lost twenty-two in Winchester battle. Watts, Charles Graham and two 
 others came home on foot from Annapolis, a distance of four hundred miles. 
 In October, 1863, he was exchanged and went to Brandy Station in the 
 Army of the Potomac in a part of the Third Army Corps. In January, 1864, 
 after Gen. Grant took command he was put into the 6th Corps, and Watts 
 reenlisted. The regiment went through the Wilderness campaign, and in 
 July, 1864, Washington was threatened and the Third Division was sent to 
 Baltimore and Monooacy where a battle was fought, and the Union troops 
 fell back to the Belay House. The balance of the 6th Corps arrived and 
 drove Early from near Washington. In August, 1864, Gen. Sheridan raided 
 Shenandoah Valley, and the battle of Opequan was fought where four of 
 Watts' company were killed. The loss was 4,000 men. They drove the 
 Bebels to Strasbourg and Sheridan outflanked them at Fisher's Hill, and 
 they drove them to Harrisonburg. Finally they fell back to Cedar Creek. 
 They lay on the north embankment of Cedar Creek and Gen. J. B. Gordon 
 attacked the army October 19, 1864, and surprised the corps and captured 
 8,000 prisoners and all the artiUery of the 18th and 19th Corps. They drove 
 
288 honesdjlle peeseyteeiah chukch. 
 
 the Union troops back to Newtown about twelve miles from "Winchester, 
 the 6th Corps was intact but the other two corps were routed. Gen. Sheri- 
 dan came up about 10 o'clock on the 19th. Watts saw Sheridan come up 
 entirely alone and he had his cap in his hand and said "Turn back, we will 
 whip them out of their boots and have our camps again." About 3 o'clock 
 he had the lines reformed and ordered an advance. They captured about 
 4,000 prisoners and got all of their artillery back. In December they were 
 sent back to Petersburg. On April 2, 1865, they charged the entrench- 
 ments in front of Petersburg and captured five guns and 1,700 prisoners. 
 On the same day they were sent to the right to help the 9th Army Corps. 
 After the city was evacuated on -4pril 6, they fought their last fight at 
 Saylor's Creek. There they captured about 8,000 men of Lee's army. On 
 April 9 Lee surrendered at Appomattox. 
 
 Sergt. William H. VanKirk was in this company and in its battles. 
 
 Franklin Austin Seely, son of Colonel Eichard L. and Maria (Torrey) 
 Seely, was born at Seely's Mills, now Seelyville, a suburb of Honesdale, Pa., 
 on April 4, 1834. After graduation he began the study of law at home, but 
 was hampered by weakness of the eyes, and so took up, in 1856, his father's 
 business of lumbering, in v/hich he was engaged until November, 1862. 
 He was then appointed assistant quartermaster of volunteers, with the 
 rank of captain, and was discharged in July, 1867, with the brevet rank of 
 lieutenant colonel. In 1865 he was assigned to duty on the Freedmen's 
 Bureau, and continued in the service of the bureau until its discontinuance 
 in 1871. He had been stationed in St. Louis, Mo., since March, 1867, and 
 continued in business there until 1873. He then returned to Honesdale, 
 Pa., and went into business there, but was unsuccessful and in December, 
 1875, obtained a position as assistant examiner in the United States Patent 
 OfB.ce. In April, 1877, he was made chief clerk, and in June, 1880, prin- 
 cipal examiner. The special division of work of which he had charge in- 
 cluded the subject of trade marks, and on this branch of the law, as well 
 as on aU questions affecting International relations, he became a leading 
 authority. He died at his residence in Washington on February 6, 1895, 
 aged nearly 61 years. He married on November 17, 1858, Mary G., daugh- 
 ter of General Henry W. Wessells, U. S. A., who died on July 13, 1876. 
 Their children were four sons and two daughters, of whom three sons and 
 a daughter are still living. He next married, on September 20, 1888, Delia, 
 daughter of Gilbert Kogers, of Waterford, Conn., who survives him. 
 
 George D. Seely, the only living son of Elder E. L. Seely, is an expert 
 in the electrical department of the Patent OfBce. He was born at Seely's 
 Mills, May 13, 1838. Graduated at School of Applied Chemistry, Tale, 1859. 
 Appointed United States Patent Office, July 1, 1877, In which service he is 
 at present. 
 
 Dr. Dunning was recognized as being the ablest man among 
 
 the clergymen in Honesdale and on great occasions his services 
 
 were in demand. When Captain James Ham, for whom the 
 
MISCELLANEOUS KECOBDS MD SKETCHES. 289 
 
 Honesdale Army Post was named, was brought home dead, Dr. 
 Dunning preached the funeral discourse. The following is from 
 the pen of T, J. Ham, as clipped from the Honesdale Citizen, 
 of June 8, 1905. VtHiile Honesdale was rejoicing over the sur- 
 render of Lee the news of Captain Ham's death came and T. 
 J. H. says: 
 
 "Captain James Ham, the intrepid ofacer who had led Company M, of 
 the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, through a score of bloody contests, was 
 doomed to fall almost in the moment of final victory, and his sad fate 
 plunged his townspeople into a grief as profound as their rejoicing had 
 been unbounded. It was while he was gallantly leading a charge at the 
 head of his column near the Southside railroad, his regiment, under Sheri- 
 dan, being engaged iu a flank movement on Kiohmond, that he was mortally 
 wounded, a bullet passing through his body. He died on the cars the next 
 night, Sunday, April 2d, while he was being taken, with other wounded 
 ofBcers of his regiment, to City Point, Va. His remains were forwarded to 
 Honesdale, and interred in Glen Dyberry cemetery on the 12th of April. 
 The funeral was a most imposing one. The body was taken to the Presby- 
 terian church, where services were conducted by Kev. G. S. Dunning, who 
 preached a most impressive sermon. The funeral cortege comprised not 
 only a very long procession of carriages and an immense throng on foot, 
 but the Masonic Fraternity and the Fire Department, of both of which 
 bodies he was a prominent and honored member, were present in uniform, 
 and a fine horse, equipped with cavalry accoutrements, and with the Cap- 
 tain's military boots reversed in the stirrups, was led behind the hearse. 
 During the sad funeral rites and the progress of the procession through 
 the streets all places of business were closed as a token of respect to the 
 dead. The Captain left a wife and one son, his only other child having 
 died a few weeks previously. He was a native of Launceston, England, and 
 came to this country when 16 years of age. When he entered the military 
 service he relinquished a situation <is deputy in the Honesdale post ofB.ce, 
 a position which he had filled with great acceptability, and in which he had 
 made himself deservedly popular by his eflBoiency and the invariable courtesy 
 which he extended to the patrons of the oiSce." 
 
 When Lincoln was assassinated, on the Sunday following the Presi- 
 dent's death, the Presbyterian church, of Honesdale, was draped in mourn- 
 ing in recognition of the National calamity. In front of the pulpit were 
 the colors festooned with crape. The desk was covered with black cloth. 
 In the rear of the pulpit was draped an Immense flag, trimmed with black 
 and bearing in its center a dark cross. Festoons of black also hung from 
 the gallery. The pastor, Kev. 0. S. Dunning, delivered a most impressive 
 discourse appropriate to the occasion. Similar, though not as elaborate 
 evidences of mourning, were displayed in the other churches, and all of the 
 pastors alluded feelingly to the great national bereavement. On the fol- 
 lowing Wednesday the funeral obsequies were observed by all the congre- 
 
290 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBIAN CUmiCH. 
 
 gations of the place in most impressive general services in their several 
 houses of worship, -which were invariably crowded. Every place of busi- 
 ness in the town was closed, and stores and dwellings were very generally 
 draped in mourning. Commencing at half past eleven the bells were liept 
 tolling until twelve, when the ceremonies began simultaneously in all the 
 churches. The addressses delivered were very impressive and touching. 
 Pursuant to a call determined upon at a preliminary meeting of the busi- 
 ness men of Honesdale held at the Allen House, on Tuesday morning, a 
 public meeting was held at Liberty Hall on Wednesday evening. There 
 was a very large attendance both of ladies and gentlemen. Z. H. KusseU 
 presided, with John Torrey and Earl Wheeler as vice presidents and H. A. 
 Woodhouse and Joseph C. Delezenne, secretaries. Eev. L. H. Grennell 
 read a portion of Scripture and Eev. Dr. Zechariah Paddock followed in 
 prayer. Eloquent addresses were then made by C. S. Minor, George G. 
 Waller and F. B. Penniman. All voiced the universal recognition of the 
 fact that a good and great man had fallen by wicked hands, and that an ir- 
 reparable loss had been sustained by the nation. After the reading by T. 
 J. Ham, of a series of resolutions appropriate to the occasion, which had 
 been prepared by a committee comprising himself, F. B. Penniman, P. M. 
 Crane, William Weiss, John Torrey and John Hennigan, and their unani- 
 mous adoption by the meeting, Eev. P. D. Hoskins pronounced the bene- 
 diction and the commemorative services were at an end. 
 
 TEMPEEANCE. 
 
 The Honesdale Presbyterian churcli was organized in the 
 days when nearly every one drank intoxicants occasionally. In 
 fact it was hardly possible to have a house raising, barn rais- 
 ing or even a church raising without providing a siifScient 
 quantity of whiskey or rum. The merchants all sold it and 
 rolled it out on the towpath of the canal by the barrel. It was 
 customary to have something to drink at weddings and christen- 
 ings and in many homes there was the sideboard^ with its 
 decanter filled with liquor. This was particularly true in the 
 Eighteenth Century. In 1804 Dr. Benjamin Bush, of Phila- 
 delphia, called attention to the effects of alcohol upon the people, 
 and about 1832-3 Eev. Lyman Beecher preached six sermons 
 on the subject of temperance that attracted much attention, then 
 along in the forties came the Washingtonian movement which 
 has been followed hj the "Sons of Temperance," "Good Tem- 
 plars," and the woman's crusade, resulting in the "Womans' 
 Christian Temperance Union." These efforts work through 
 moral suasion. Political efforts have been made, through Lo- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS AOT) SKETCHES. 291 
 
 cal Option, Constitutional Amendments, and the Prohibition 
 party. 
 
 A number of the founders of the church were merchants, 
 and as such sold whiskey the same as the other merchants; but 
 about the time of the Washingtonian movement Elders Poster 
 and Brush signed an agreement not to handle liquor in any 
 way, and that was probably the first temperance pledge signed 
 in Honesdale. B. B. Smith, H. A. Woodhouse, F. B. Penni- 
 man, C. S. Minor and others were temperance men. John Tor- 
 rey and Stephen Torrey were men of strictly temperate habits. 
 In fact the ministry and eldership of the church have been 
 composed of temperance men, to the extent that they have been 
 men of temperate habits and a number of them have been total 
 abstinence men. It would be an anomaly to see a drunken 
 Presbyterian minister or elder. In this respect the churches 
 generally have improved greatly. The first pledges were 
 against alcoholic drinks, while the lighter wines and beer were 
 allowed to be drank. H. A. Woodhouse, who lived through 
 that movement, said, "We found that this was a slow but a sure 
 way to make drunkards." Temperance people soon abandoned 
 such reformation and adopted the total abstinence principle; 
 and the Prohibitionist went one step further and announced 
 total abstinence for the individual and prohibition for the state. 
 
 During the campaign, about 1854, when the question was 
 referred to the people, H. B. Beardslee, editor of the Herald, 
 and F. B. Penniman, editor of the Democrat, stumped the 
 county together in favor of the movement. Later on there was 
 a local option movement and some of the townships voted for 
 the movement and others against it. When the constitutional 
 amendment was voted on, the movement to organize the county 
 in favor of the amendment came from a meeting called by Eev. 
 Stephen Torrey that met in the Lecture Eoom. This meeting 
 was not largely attended, but an organization was effected which 
 led to the subsequent organization of every township in the 
 county. The most aggressive men in the congregation for the 
 Prohibition party were B. B. Smith, H. A. Woodhouse, Elias 
 
292 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN C5HTJRCH. 
 
 T. Beers and J. A. Bodie. The first two in particular were 
 county leaders of the movement as lon^ as they lived. These 
 reformers complained that the church did not sustain them any 
 more freely than it did the Abolitionists, which is true as far 
 as making the question a partizan matter is concerned, but the 
 church is a temperance body in its practice, and there are signs 
 that this great cause, which was temporarily set back during 
 the Civil War, is gaining ground again. The church must do 
 its duty in this matter. Our pastor occasionally treats this 
 subject from the pulpit and there are Sunday school lessons 
 arranged and taught with reference to this appalling evil. A 
 number of the women of our church are also connected with the 
 W. C. T. U. in connection with women from other churches. 
 The church has hardly measured up to its opportunities on this 
 great question. However it has done something, the session 
 September 19, 1837, at a meeting when Eev. Waiters Warren 
 was moderator and elders Foster, Brush, Baldwin, Lord and 
 Torrey were present, it was resolved that session will procure 
 and use the unfermented fruit of the vine at the sacrament of 
 the Lord's Sixpper, if it is practicable to obtain such a prepara- 
 tion. This action has never been repealed and it is the law of 
 the church to this day. 
 
 At the time of the local option movement Dr. Dunning 
 made an address in the Court House in its favor, which was 
 unanswerable by those who opposed the measure. H. M. Seely 
 also favored the law, and he declared from the bench at one 
 time that he never made an application for a license while 
 practicing at the bar, that is also true of R. M. Stocker, W. H. 
 Lee and M. E. Simons. 
 
 At the time the constitutional amendment was being agi- 
 tated, in 1889, the following paper was circulated: 
 
 We, the undersigned citizens of Honesdale and vicinity, 
 unite in a call for a non partizan, non sectarian citizens' meet- 
 ing, to be held at the Court House, in Honesdale, February 26, 
 (1889), at 7:30 p. m. for the purpose of listening to the report 
 of delegates from the HaiTisburg convention to be held Febru- 
 
inSCELLANEOOS EECOEDS AND SKETCHES. 293 
 
 ary 19, 1889, and to devise means and perfect plans for carry- 
 ing on the prohibition amendment campaign. Friends of the 
 movement throughout the county are invited to attend. This 
 call, which resulted in the organization of the county for effi- 
 cient work for the amendment, was signed by Eev. Stephen 
 Torrey, Andrew Thompson, R. M. Stocker, Eev. W. H. Swift, 
 W. A. Gaylord, Eev. H. C. McDermott, W. H. Lee, H. C. Hand, 
 Rev. L. O. Grennell, Ulysses Beers, H. B. Hall, J. ,S. Gillen, J. 
 A. Bodie, E. C. Mumford, Vv". T. Moore, David Bodie, J. Adam 
 Eeitenauer, S. Frank Cory, John Torrey, George Foster, H. S. 
 Salmon, William, J. Ward, Daniel Weston, Charles E. Knapp, 
 Joseph N. Welch, G. Watts, J. A. Brown, O. M. Spettigue, B. 
 G. Eeed, G. F. Wilbur, S. W. Powell, D. H. Menner, Buel 
 Dodge, Gyrene Dodge, S. A. Terrel, C. 8. Minor, F. B. Penni- 
 man, Eev. John B. Sumner, George W. Twitmyer, S. J. Foster, 
 W. H. Stone, John E. Brown, Fred G. Brown, Charles F. Bul- 
 lock, H. A. Yfoodhouse, J. J. Curtis, Thomas Crossley, W. B. 
 Holmes, A. E. Davis, Benjamin F. Haines, W. P. Schenck, F. 
 P. Kimble, E. A. Penniman, Eben H. Clark, M. E. Simons, P. 
 S. Barnes, Stephen G. Cory, Alonzo T. Searle, W. H. Dimmick. 
 
 At the meeting which resulted from this call the county 
 was organized with Hon. William M. Nelson as chairman and 
 E. M. Stocker as secretary. The publication of the Honesdale 
 Lantern as a campaign sheet from the Independent office, edited 
 by the secretary of the committee, was endorsed and sustained. 
 During the campaign the very best men and women in the 
 county were engaged in sustaining the amendment. 
 
 Intemperance is an undoubted foe of morality and religion 
 and the church must wage unceasing warfare against it. The 
 staunch members of the church have also maintained the sanc- 
 tity of the Christian Sabbath. Law, order, temperance and 
 morality are the natural outgrowth of Christianity. 
 
 Honesdale Presbyterian church has given to the ministry 
 Chauncy Burr Goodrich, David Torrey, D. D., Stephen Torrey, 
 John H. Sinclair, George W. Seaman, George N. Snyder, Fran- 
 cis A. Dony, Alfred C. Hand, and A. R. Pennell. About Good- 
 
294 HOJTESDALE PRESBYTEBIAN CHUECH, 
 
 ricli, Seaman and Sinclair but little is known. Mr. Sinclair 
 was a teacher in the Academy for a number of years. F. A. 
 Deny was a newspaper editor and a Methodist preacher for 
 several years. He died a few years ago. Brief biographies of 
 the others are given. This church has also given such men as 
 Hon. Alfred Hand and Charles W. Hand, Thomas H. Dickson 
 and A. "W. Dickson, also Henry "W. Dunning, as elders to other 
 influential churches. A. W. Dickson received his training here 
 and joined the church at Philadelphia soon after leaving here. 
 Among those born in Honesdale were Rev. James S. Dickson, 
 who was baptized in Honesdale church, and Henry A. Rowland, 
 son of Dr, Rowland, who did honor to the church and the town 
 by his great scientific attainments. Others who have gone from 
 us have shown the character of their training by the good work 
 they have done in the communities where they have lived. 
 
 Rev. David Torrey, D. D. was born in Bethany, Wayne 
 county, November 13, 1818, being a son of Major Jason Torrey. 
 He moved with his father to Honesdale, where he passed his 
 boyhood and prepared for college. He entered Amherst Col- 
 lege, Massachusetts, in 1840 as a sophomore, graduating at the 
 head of his class in 1843. His theological course was begun 
 at Andover Seminary and finished at Union Seminary, New 
 York. Between his graduation from college and his entry into 
 the seminary he taught school for something more than a year 
 in Honesdale. Among those whom he then prepared for col- 
 lege were several who subsequently won distinction in profes- 
 sional and business life, among them being Hon. Alfred Hand, 
 Hon. Henry M. Seely, both judges of the courts of Pennsyl- 
 vania, Henry B. Hyde, who founded and developed the Equita- 
 ble Life Assurance Association, of New York, Edwin F. Torrey, 
 of Honesdale, and others. Doctor Torrey was married in 1848 
 to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Heman Humphrey, D. D., 
 LL. D., at that time president of Amherst College. He filled 
 pastorates successively in the Presbyterian churches of the fol- 
 lowing places: Delhi, N. Y., Ithaca, N. Y., Ann Arbor, Mich., 
 Cazenovia, N. Y. In the latter place, after a number of years 
 
MISCELLANEOUS EECOKDS AND SKETCHES. 295 
 
 retirement from active duties of tlie ministry, he died in 1894 
 During his whole mature life Doctor Torrey was a very frequent 
 visitor in Honesdale and often preached in the Presbyterian 
 church. He occupied the pulpit statedly during several sum- 
 mer vacations of its pastors, and for a number of months prior 
 to the installation of Eev. Dr. Swift. The degree of Doctor of ' 
 Divinity was conferred upon him by Hamilton College, in which 
 lie held the chair of Metaphysics for a year after his retirement 
 from the active ministry. For a long time he was oue of the 
 Commissioners and Examiners of Auburn Seminary. He en- 
 tered the ministry from the Honesdale Presbyterian church of 
 which church he became a member December 28, 1839. His 
 son, James H. Torrey, is an elder in the Second Presbyterian 
 church at Scran ton, Pa., and a lawyer of high standing in Lack- 
 awanna county. 
 
 Eev. George Niver Snyder, son of Isaiah and Margaret 
 Hasbrouck Snyder, was born in Honesdale, March 27, 1844. 
 He united with the Presbyterian church June 30, 1858, and 
 was graduated from Hamilton College in 1868. He took the 
 regular course in Union Theological Seminary, graduating in 
 1871. During his last year in the seminary he supplied the 
 pulpit of the Eeformed church of Elmsford, Westchester county, 
 N. Y., and after finishing his course was installed pastor of that 
 church in June, 1871. He married Miss Sarah Scott, daughter 
 of C. M. Scott, of Honesdale, November 15, 1871. He was 
 now equipped for service, but sickness came and he returned to 
 Honesdale where he died November 2, 1872. Mr. Snyder was 
 a bright young man and seemed to have a fair future before 
 him, but the grim reaper death gathered him away from earthly 
 duties soon after he was prepared for usefulness. His widow 
 married Eev. James E. Hoadley, who is doing a good work in 
 one of the down town Presbyterian churches in New York City. 
 
 Eev. Alvin Eoss Pennell was born in the tov/nship of Pau- 
 pack in 1867, the son of Jonah Pennell, one of the earlier set- 
 tlers in that part of the town know as Purdyville. Alvin Eoss, 
 the youngest son of a large family, began his education in the 
 
296 HONESDALE FEESEYTlilEIAN CHUHCH. 
 
 common schools there and in his early teens, was sent to the 
 Waymart Normal Institute to receive his high school training. 
 After having studied there under Prof. J, F. Dooley for aperiod, 
 he engaged for a few months in teaching. Then he entered 
 Wyoming Seminary to pursue a regular course of study which 
 was completed in 1891; in that year he was graduated from 
 that institution with honors, having completed the classical 
 course. In his youth he had united with the only Protestant 
 church in the town where he resided, the Methodist Episcopal 
 church. Having felt a call to the Gospel ministry he united 
 by letter with the Presbyterian church of Honesdale in the year 
 1890, and the following year was taken under care of the Pres- 
 bytery of Lackawanna as a candidate for the ministry. He 
 entered the regular course of theological study at Auburn Semi- 
 nary, New York, in the fall of 1891 and was graduated with a 
 class of thirty in the spring of 1894. Before his graduation 
 he had received a call from the Presbyterian church at Cato, N. 
 Y. There he was ordained and installed by the Presbytery of 
 Cayuga, June 15, 1894. There he remained and did a success- 
 ful work for five years, until the fall of 1899, when he was 
 called to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian church of 
 Holyoke, Mass. This is a large and thriving church and dur- 
 ing his pastorate large additions have been received and a debt 
 of $8,000 on the church, from the time of its erection, has been 
 provided for. He was married October 17, 1894, to Evelyn 
 Dessie Groner, of the Honesdale Presbyterian church. She 
 is an active worker with her hnsband in the affairs of the church 
 life. 
 
 Hon. James E. Dickson was bom in Montgomery county. 
 Pa., in 1811. He became a resident of Honesdale in 1846, hav- 
 ing prior to that for some time been engaged in the wholesale 
 drygoods business in Philadelphia. He formed a partnership 
 in a general store with Henry Dart on his arrival in Honesdale, 
 and afterwards engaged in a flour mill with Jeremiah C. Gunn, 
 who later retired and was succeeded by Charles T. Weston, the 
 firm becoming Dickson & Weston, which subsequently became 
 

 Thos. H. Dickson 
 
 Hon. At^fred Hand 
 A. W. Dickson 
 
MISCELLAKEOrS RECORDS AND SICETCHES. 297 
 
 E. F. Torrey and Company, Mr. Dickson being the company. 
 In 1861 Dickson bought an interest in a tannery at AMenville 
 and removed there with his family, but finding the association 
 uncongenial sold out to his partner and returned to Philadel- 
 phia where he resided until his death in 1870. He was of 
 Scotch-Irish ancestry, by inheritance and conviction a Calvinist, 
 and a Democrat by instinct and party affiliation; conservative 
 by nature, generous in his impulses, kind in his disposition and 
 a friend of the poor and needy, he was one of nature's noblemen, 
 a man to respect, to admire and to love. Although deprived in 
 his youth of educational advantages, he had by an extensive 
 course of reading, acquainted himself with good literature and 
 was familiar with the writings of the best authors. "While a 
 resident of Wayne county he was known as an upright citizen 
 of public spirit and enterprise. He was a member of the Pres- 
 byterian church and a trustee for a time. He also took an 
 interest in education and was a trustee of Honesdale Academy. 
 In 1856 he was elected Associate Judge of the county and was 
 appointed an aid on the staff of Governor Packer with the rank 
 of Colonel. James K. Dickson married Caroline Louisa Stuart, 
 daughter of James Stuart, for many years an elder of "Old 
 Pine Street church," Philadelphia. Their children were Thomas 
 Hunter, Alexander Walker, Anna Moore, Elizabeth Walker, 
 Martha Mitchell and James Stuart Dickson. Taken together 
 they axe as clean cut and line a family as ever lived in Hones- 
 dale. 
 
 Thomas H. Dickson, son of J. E. Dickson, was born in 
 1840 and united with the Honesdale church in 1857. He ob- 
 tained his education at Honesdale Academy and under private 
 tutors. From 1857 to 1863 he was in the employ of Thomas 
 Cornell & Co., and C. F. Young. From 1863 to 1865 he was 
 in the U. S. Navy. He has been in the transportation business 
 since 1870 and is representative of the Northern Pacific rail- 
 road at St. Paul, Minn. He was ordained an elder in Mac- 
 alester church, St. Paul, in 1876, and has been Commissioner 
 to the General Assembly, at Cincinnati, 1885; Portland, Or., 
 
298 HONESDALE PRESBYTEmAiv' CHDi;CH. 
 
 1892, and Winona, Ind., 1898. Director and President of St. 
 Paul's Y. M. C. A. for several years, trustee of Macalester 
 College, 1891-1901, and president of the board the last four 
 years. He married Elizabetli, daiighter of E-ev. C. E. Gregory, 
 in 1870, and has had five children. The youngest son, Thomas 
 H. Dickson, Jr., is teaching and intends to become a medical 
 missionary. Thomas H. Dickson is a man of chiuvicter and 
 influence, a son of our church of whom vv^e need not be ashamed- 
 Alexander Walker Dickson was born in Philadelphia, Feb- 
 ruary 7, 1843, and came to Honesdale with his parents when 
 he was only three years old, in 1846, and returned to Philadel- 
 phia in 1861 and united shortly afterwards with the Tenth and 
 Arch street Presbyterian church, under the ministry of Eev. 
 William S. Plumer, D. D. He went to Scranton in 1865 and 
 was with the Weston Mill company until 1900 when the Del- 
 aware & Hudson railroad purchased the propertj^ for a depot 
 site and the company went out of business, then Mr. Dickson 
 organized the Dickson Mill and Grain companj', of which he is 
 president. He was ordained an elder in the First Presbyterian 
 church of Scranton, February 19, 1871, under the pastorate of 
 Eev. S. C. Logan, D. D. He has been honored by Pres- 
 bytery by being chosen as a Commissioner to General Assem- 
 bly five times, attending the meetings at St. Louis, Detroit, 
 Pittsburg, Minneapolis and Philadelphia. He has been a mem- 
 ber of the Presbytery's executive committee for work among 
 Foreign Speaking People since its organization in 189.3. He 
 was one of the charter members of the Thirteenth Eegiment, 
 N. G. P., when it was organized in 1877, and was a member of 
 the Scranton Board of Trade for twenty-one years, Ijeing its 
 president two years. He has been one of the trustees of the 
 East Stroudsburg Normal school since its oi'ganization. He 
 has one son, Eev. Spencer Cole Dickson, pastor of the Presby- 
 terian church at Point Pleasant, N. J., and one daughter, the 
 widow of Dr. Blanchard, resident of Scranton. Of the influ- 
 ences he was under while in Honesdale he writes: "The first 
 Sabbath school teacher I remember was Miss Anna Lord, daugh- 
 
]vnscEX_.LA:;Eous eegobds asd sketches. 299 
 
 ter of Enssel F. Lord, who married Frederick Tracy, of Mans- 
 field, O. Slie, was a lovely woman and had a gi-eat influence 
 over her boys. I remember the class was all in tears when she 
 left us. A later teacher was Mrs. Bennett and afterwards G. 
 G-. Waller, Esq. My recollections of Dr. Rowland are of the 
 pleasantest sort. I think he had a strong influence for good 
 upon me, .as had Stephen Torrey, of blessed memory, and that 
 most lovely Miss Ada Torrey, afterward wife of Dr. Grant, Bey, 
 of Egypt, Altogether as I look back upon my young life in 
 Honesdale and the old church and Sunday school, I am grateful 
 'that my lines were cast in pleasant places,' and that I grew up 
 under most excellent influences at home, in school, in Sunday 
 school and church." 
 
 Eev. James Stuart Dickson was born in Honesdale and 
 baptized in the Presbyterian church. That staunch Presby- 
 terian journal, the New York Observer, in an editorial Decem- 
 ber 29, 1904, says: "The college board, December 15, received 
 a report from its committee on secretary, unanimously nominat- 
 ing for that office the Eev. James Stuart Dickson, pastor of 
 Woodland church, Philadelphia. He was elected by ballot, 
 without a dissenting vote, and will soon begin his service of 
 the church and the board in the college cause. The board is 
 now fully organized, its members and committees taking hold 
 with vigor and wisdom of the work before them, and Mr. Dick- 
 son will enter upon a rare and great opportunity to influence 
 the future policies of the board and the welfare of our Presby- 
 terian colleges. Mr. Dickson was born in Honesdale, Pa., July 
 19, 1859. He was graduated from the University of Pennsyl- 
 vania in 1880, and went at once to the Princeton Theological 
 Seminary, to prepare for the ministry; he received his instruc- 
 tion in theology under Dr. A. A. Hodge. Among his class- 
 mates will be found the name of the Eev. James Walter Lowrie, 
 formerly of Peking, and later of Paotingfu, China, who rendered 
 very distinguished services in the days of the Boxer outbreak. 
 Mr. Dickson was ordained by the Presbytery of New Bruns- 
 wick, October 9, 1883, and installed as pastor of the church at 
 
300 HONESDALE PRESBYITSETAN CH-UECH. 
 
 DaytoB, N. J, He was called in 1S86 to assiime tlie responsi- 
 bilities of a city pastorate, and was installed over Woodland 
 church, Philadelphia, at a critical juncture in its history. He 
 addressed himself at once with characteristic energy to the work 
 of ridding the church from the burden of debt, and soon had 
 the pleasure of seeing it free from embarrassment and in the 
 enjoyment of marked prosperity. Under his administration 
 the church has become distinguished for its thorough organiza- 
 tion, and missionary activity. Every department has felt in- 
 cessantly the power of his personality, and been stimulated to 
 activity. His preaching has been marked by perfect loyalty to 
 the Word of God, by intense earnestness and a high degree of 
 spirituality. His pastoral labors have been performed with 
 loving zeal and untiring activity during the eighteen years of 
 his peaceful and happy relationship to his people. He has 
 been for a number of years a useful member of the Board of 
 Publication and Sabbath school Work; and has recently been 
 elected a director of Princeton Theological Seminary. When 
 the trustees of this institution undertook in 1902 to raise a 
 fund of §100,000 for the endowment of a chair in memory of 
 the life and services of Prof. William Henry Green, they turned 
 to Mr. Dickson as the man most fitted to carry the undertaking 
 to a successful issue. They were not disappointed in their ex- 
 pectations. The ^vork was done with promptitude and efficiency. 
 The larger work to which he is now called is one which will 
 put his ability to a new test, but he brings to it the prestige of 
 success, a-courageous spirit, a wide acquaintance with men, tact 
 and skill in dealing with them, and a strong physical constitu- 
 tion, capable of protracted labor. If Presbytery consent to 
 dissolve the pastoral relation it will be a sad day for the con- 
 gregation; but it will have the consolation of knowing that it is 
 releasing him for a work of much wider extent, and of supreme 
 importance for- the welfare of the church." 
 
 Henry White Dunniiig, son of E.ev. Dr. Dunning, was 
 educated in the private and public schools of Honesdale and 
 Yf illiston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass., from which institution 
 
MTSCELLilffiOUS RECORDS AND SKETCHES. 301 
 
 he was graduated in 1878. He became a member of the class 
 of 1882 at Princeton. He read law in the offices of William H. 
 Lee, Esq., of Honesdale, and Hon. H. B. Payne, of Wilkes- 
 Barre, Pa., and was admitted to Luzerne county bar June 5, 
 1882, since which time he has been engaged in practicing his 
 profession, which is principally corporation practice, althoagh 
 he does a general law business. He was married June 17, 1896, 
 to Miss Elise J. Sa,ndoz, a native of Switzerland, a woman of 
 superior culture. They have two daughters, Louisa S. and 
 Dorothy A. Mr. Dunning was elected an elder of the First 
 Presbyterian church, of Wilkes-Barre, in January, 1901. He 
 is one of the sons of the church who reflects credit upon it. 
 He frequently comes back to Vt^'ayne, spending his summers at 
 Bethany. His brother, Edward P., is a prosperous business 
 man, located in Chicago. Mrs. Dunning owns a handsome 
 residence in Wilkes-Barre and her daughters. Miss Kate A. and 
 Miss Maria W. Dunning, reside with her. Mrs. Dunning is 
 remembered in Honesdale as a careful woman in her family and 
 as having been helpful to her husband in many ways during his 
 memorable pastorate of Honesdale Presbyterian church. 
 
 The Hand family of Honesdale are descended from John 
 Hand who came to Southampton, L. I., prior to 1644. He 
 settled at Easthampton and was one of the pioneers in found- 
 ing the new settlement. He came from Etanstede, "Kent county, 
 England. Ezra Hand was of the seventh generation from John 
 Hand, and was born August 9, 1799. He had meager advan- 
 tages for schooling, but like most of his contemporaries had suf- 
 ficient schooling to be able to do business. June 1, 1829, he 
 married Catharine Chapman. They came to Honesdale in the 
 summer of 1831, and he went into the tanning and mercantile 
 business with Foster & Koe. Their store was where the Key- 
 stone block now is. About 1834-5 Hand and his brother-in- 
 law, Daniel P. Kirtland, entered into partnership and erected 
 the store on the corner of Main and Eleventh streets, 'now owned 
 by Henry Freund. They conducted the mercantile business 
 until 1864 when Horace Hand purchased the business. Ezra 
 
302 HONESDALE PRESBYTEEIAJI CHTJSCH. 
 
 Hand was a trustee of the church ancT he '.vas librarian of the 
 Sunday school for many years. His wife lived to be 90 years 
 old and was a highly respected woman. His son Horace is 
 noted elsewhere. Mary became the wife of Miles L. Tracy and 
 Alfred Hand became a resident of Soranton, Pa. 
 
 Hon. Alfred Hand was born at Honesdale March 25, 1835. 
 He became a member of the Honesdale Presbyterian church 
 January 11, 1852. He prepared for college in his native town 
 and was graduated from Yale in 1857. He read law with Wil- 
 liam & William H. Jessup at Montrose and was admitted to the 
 bar November 21, 1859. He married one of Judge Jessup's 
 daughters for his first wife and located in Scranton when there 
 were but few lawyers in that city. Hand & Post were a lead- 
 ing law fixm for many years. He was elevated to the bench by 
 appointment, March 4, 1879, and the following fall he was 
 elected law judge of the Forty-fifth Judicial District and served 
 from 1880 until 1887, when he served as Justice of the Supreme 
 Court for a short time by appointment. Jiidge Hand has been 
 an elder in the First Presbyterian church of Scranton since 
 1867. He was appointed on the first committee of Revision of 
 the Confession of Faith and served on that committee for two 
 years. He has been a member of General Assembly a number 
 of times and has served on regular and special committees of 
 importance. Mr. Hand is a leading citizen of Scranton and he 
 and A. \\'. Dickson represent the quality of Honesdale church 
 well in the elderships which they hold in the First Presbyterian 
 church at Scranton, Pa. Judge Hand was elected Moderator 
 of the Lackawanna Presbytery at its spring meeting in 1904. 
 This is the first time in the history of the Lackawanjia Presby- 
 tery that a lay member was ever elected to that position. Judge 
 Hand has a large family and one of his sons, Miles, resides in 
 Honesdale. 
 
 Elder H. C. Hand had three sons, Charles W., Alfred C. 
 and Henry. 
 
 Charles W. Hand was bom in Honesdale October 22, 1856. 
 He was a studious boy and was graduated at Phillips Academy, 
 
MISCELLANEOUS BECORDS AND SKETCHES. 303 
 
 Andover, after which he read law with his two uncles, Judge 
 Waller, of Honesdale, and Judge Hand, of Scrauton, and at the 
 latter place he was admitted to the bar. His uncle induced 
 him to go to New York to look after the Davis lard oil business, 
 a venture in which he was interested. He took a great interest 
 in the business and soon became superintendent of 'che refinery. 
 While thus employed he became an elder in Dr. Cuyler's, La- 
 fayette Avenue, Presbyterian church. In 1898 the treasurer- 
 ship of the Presbj'terian Board of Foreign Missions became 
 vacant and ]\Ir. Hand was induced to accept the position, which 
 he still holds. The position is a very responsible and import- 
 ant one, involving the receiving and paying out of about $1,000,- 
 000 annually. These disbursements go to all parts of the 
 world and many supplies for missionaries have to be purchased 
 by the treasurer, requiring judgment and care. He married 
 Julia EUmaker Waller, a daughter of Rev. David J. Waller, of 
 Bloomsburg, Pa., and they have four interesting and intelligent 
 daughters. 
 
 Rev. Alfred C. Hand was bom at Honesdale June 19, 1859. 
 He fitted for college at Williston Academy at Easthampton, 
 Mass., and graduated from Yale in 1882. He taught in Willis- 
 ton in 1888 and traveled in Europe in 1885, entering Union 
 Theological Seminary that fall. He completed his studies and 
 was licensed to preach by Lackawanna Presbytery at Hones- 
 dale April 18, 1888, and on the 27th of June, that same year, 
 he married Sara Lord Avery, of Mansfield, O. He received a 
 call to the church of the Covenant at Buffalo, N. Y., and entered 
 upon labors that were full of promise, but in a few months ill- 
 ness compelled him to relinquish the pastorate. He traveled 
 in Europe again and spent time in the pine ivoods of northern 
 Michigan, being a lover of woods, streams and mountains he 
 wrote, "Nature is good enough for me and most eloquent of 
 God." Eev. Mr. Hoadley says of him, "There was something 
 so attractive about his face and manner that it won all hearts." 
 He wrote of his home to his brother Henry. "How much we 
 owe to that Christian home, the gift of God to us. The joy 
 
304 HONESDAIJS PKESBYTEKIAN CHUKCH. 
 
 seems to ever increase as tlie opportunity of the years sends us 
 back to it." He died March 13, 1892, leaving his wife and one 
 son Avery Chapman Hand. It was said of him the only sor- 
 row he ever caused his friends was when he died. A noble 
 young man he died in the hope of the Christian's reward. 
 
 Henry Hand the third son of Horace Hand took his brother 
 Charles! place as superintendent of the oil business and he is a 
 successful business man residing in New York. He is a deacon 
 in the church in Brooklyn. 
 
 PBAYER MEEIINGS AND YOUNG PEOPLES' MEETINGS. 
 Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw ; 
 Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw, 
 Gives exercise to faith and love, 
 Brings every blessing from above. 
 
 — Cowper. 
 
 And Montgomery sings: 
 
 Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, 
 
 Uttered or unexpressed ; 
 The motion of a hidden fire 
 That trembles in the breast. 
 
 According to this definition all men pray, for all men have 
 desires, wishes and hopes, and we are ta,ught in the Bible that 
 men ought always to pray and not to faint. To be permitted 
 to intercede with the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, with the 
 assurance that one's petitions will be heard and answered, if 
 made in the right spirit, is the greatest privilege accorded to 
 any human being. Among the things complained of in the 
 Declaration of Independence is that "the right of petition had 
 been denied." Kings and rulers of the earth have often denied 
 the right of petition, but the Sovereign Euler of the Universe 
 has never denied this great privilege to mankind. The Bible is 
 full of promises that God will hear and answer sincere prayer. 
 The original members of the church met at the house of Isaac 
 P. Foster February 28, 1829, all of the nine being present, and 
 resolved that the church hold a regular meeting in the after- 
 noon or evening of the first Saturday of each month for the 
 purpose of prayer and mutual conversation. This was the be- 
 gijiuing of the church prayer meetings, and as far as we have 
 
Chas. W. Hand Henry \V. Dunning 
 
 Rev. Alfred C. Hand 
 
MISCELLWEUUS EECOEDS AND SICETCHES. 305 
 
 any records, prayer meetings have been held regularly by the 
 church ever since. For years there have been weekly meetings 
 m the lecture room and in the chapel. These meetings have 
 been well attended; although many members never think of 
 entering a prayer meeting, much less do they ever think of tak- 
 ing any part in such meetings. In 1876, after a great revival 
 in the church, a young people's prayer meeting was organized. 
 This meeting was held on Wednesday nights and the regular 
 lecture and churcli prayer meetings were held on Friday nights. 
 In 1889 the Young People's Society was changed into a Society 
 of Christian Endeavor which holdfi its meetings Sunday even- 
 ings before the chuich service begins. The other churches in the 
 borough also organized Young People's Societies, and in order 
 to have one uniform night for prayer meetings throughout the 
 churches in the town, the Presbyterians gave up their Friday 
 night meeting and the Methodists their Thursday night meet- 
 ing, and all the churches united on Wednesday night as prayer 
 meeting night, and the church bells are rung on Wednesday 
 evenings with as much regularity as they are on the Sabbath. 
 Dr. Dunning claimed that he had forty members that he could 
 call upon to lead in prayer in public, and the attendance at the 
 prayer meetings of the church has always been good. The 
 Christian Endeavor Society holds regular -n-eekly praj^er meet- 
 ings, besides doing a large amount of other work through its 
 various committees. It is to be hoped that the zeal of the 
 church in sustaining its prayer meetings will never end. In its 
 early history the congregation stood witli bowed head during 
 prayer but in recent years, since about 1879-80, the congrega- 
 tion sit with bowed heads. The old form brought all to their 
 feet. The new form does not always cause the listener to as- 
 sume a very reverential attitude. 
 
 June 7, 1897, the regular monthly meeting of the session 
 v/as held at Andrew Thompson's residence. Present, Eev. W. 
 H. Swift, moderator, and Elders Hand, Ward, Bodie, Stocker, 
 Thompson and Holmes, and by invitation Deacons Beers and 
 Penwarden. After transacting other business the subject of 
 
306 HUNESDALE PEESBrrEEIAN CHUHCH. 
 
 adopting the psalter edition of the hymnal was discussed, and 
 finally it v/as decided to adopt this edition of the hymnal, in 
 order that the psalter might be used in the morning service. 
 Prior to this there had been no psalter service in the church. 
 
 At a meeting held in the chapel parlor on the evening of 
 December 27, 1905, the church, after a trial of thirty-five years 
 of the rotary system of electing elders, by a unanimous vote 
 decided to return to the system of electing elders and deacons 
 for life. 
 
 Elder Reed had charge of supplying the communion table 
 for a number of years, and v?hen he died in 1879, Horace C. 
 Hand and wife undertook that very necessary service, and they 
 have performed it very acceptably ever since that time. The 
 commissioner to the General Assembly at Winona, in 1898, 
 reported that individual communion cups were used at the as- 
 sembly. This led to considerable discussion in the session, in 
 which it developed that the individual cup was favored from 
 sanitary and other considerations. A committee was appointed 
 to investigate and report cost of trays and cups. Finally, in 
 April, 1901, H. C. Hand and his wife donated a communion 
 service, consisting of six trays with forty glasses in each tray, 
 together with holders for the glasses, fastened to the back of 
 the pews. They also had a cupboard erected in the chapel for 
 storing the service. In some city churches the deacons serve 
 the communion, but that has never been the custom in Hones- 
 dale. The deacon, is an expression common enough, however, 
 as applied to elders. In the speech of the people it was Dea- 
 con Foster, Deacon Eeed and Deacon Darling, yet neither of 
 them was ever a deacon in the church. The term deacon, as 
 applied to elders, is undoubtedly a relic of Congregationalism, 
 which remains to this day. 
 
 The Young People's Christian Society of the First Pres- 
 byterian church of Honesdale was organized November 29, 
 1876. George F. Bentley was chairman and H. Scott Salmon 
 was secretary of the organization meeting. At this meeting 
 Andrew Thompson was elected president and John T. Ball was 
 
mSCELLANEOUS RECOEDS AND SKETCHES. 307 
 
 elected vice president, and H. S. Salmon secretary. The presi- 
 dent appointed Messrs. Bentley, Keitenauer, Poster and Miss 
 Clara T. Sutton a committee on constitution and by-laws. Thus 
 was organized the first Young People's Society in Wayne 
 county*. Other presidents were J. A. Bodie, J. T. Ball, Samuel 
 J. Foster, H. S. Salmon; secretaries, W. L. Dunn, C. W. Hand, 
 William Haley, John H. Torrey, William J. Ward; treasurers, 
 H. S. Salmon, W. J. Ward, L. D. Spragle. About 1883 the 
 old organization being in a disorganized condition, a reorgan- 
 ization was effected and Kev. W. H Swift was elected president 
 and L. D. Spragle secretary. In 1885 literature was distributed 
 among the boatmen through the agency of the society and some 
 charitably disposed women. Other presidents of the society 
 were W. J. Gregory, H. S. Salmon, R. M. Stocker; secretaries, 
 G. W. Lane, John Kuhbach, N. E. Hause, C. H. Eockwell; M. 
 L. Sherwood, treasurer. In 1889 the society was reorganized 
 as a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor and it con- 
 tinues as such until the present time. The young people's 
 societies in the church have been of great benefit to the young 
 people of the church. The first societies were modeled after 
 the society in Dr. Cuylers' church in Brooklyn, N. Y., and it 
 had most of the best features of the society of Christian En- 
 deavor. One of the presidents of the society in his annual 
 report said: "The introduction of a system of repeating Script- 
 ure, poetry and other gems, pertinent to the subjects considered, 
 has greatly improved our prayer meetings. This system has 
 been enforced through the adoption of the following resolution, 
 to wit: 'I promise to attend the Wednesday night prayer meet- 
 ings regularly when possible, and to take some part in the 
 meeting, each time, when necessary — opportunity to determine 
 necessity.' Thirty-eight of the members subscribed to the 
 resolution and the president thought they had tried to carry it 
 out according to its spirit and intent." The following have 
 
 *Aiidrew Thompson, and not J. T. Ball, should be mentioned as first 
 president on page 18. 
 
308 HONESDALE PEESBYTEBLUSf CHtTECH. 
 
 been presidents of the Christian Endeavor Society: Eev. TV. 
 H. Swift, W. J. Ward, D. L. Hower, S. M, Decker, J. D. Ko- 
 maine, Herman Harmes, Joseph A. Bodie, Jr. The church has 
 organizations enough. Their success always depends upon the 
 efficiency of each member. 
 
 MUSIC. 
 for a thousand tongues to sing 
 
 My great Redeemer's praise ; 
 The glories of my God and King, 
 The wonders of his grace. 
 
 — Wesley. 
 
 I will sing of mercy and judgment, unto Thee, O Lord 
 will I sing. Psalm ci, 1. 
 
 Music has been considered a necessary part of worship in 
 all ages, and the session early took measures to obtain good 
 music for the church services. At their meeting, March 11, 
 1830, Daniel B. Wilcox and John Tyler were appointed choris- 
 ters and Richard L. Seelj^ and Simeon S. Chamberlain assist- 
 ant choristers to manage the singing in the congregation. 
 
 In 1844 the session declined to accept T. H. E. Tracy's 
 resignation as chorister and appointed R. L. Seely to communi- 
 cate with him on the subject. Evidently Mr. Tracy had become 
 discouraged and resolutions were passed by the session promis- 
 ing encouragement to any suitable measures that should be 
 taken to advance the cultivation of music in the congregation, 
 and the chorister was requested to form an efficient choir by 
 selecting such voices as he found qualified; and the subject of 
 teaching the rudiments of music was commended to the congre- 
 gation as one that needed their heai'ty cooperation. 
 
 In February, 1845, session accepted Mr. Tracy's resigna- 
 tion and tendered him their thanks for leading the singing for 
 many years. Mr. Cummings led the choir until he died in 
 1846, and T. H. E. Tracy was again appointed leader by the 
 session. About this time Elizabeth Schofield, Eliza Wheeler 
 and Eliza Lanterman, afterwards wife of William Wardwell, are 
 remembered as being in the choir. The first instrumental music 
 was a violincello played by Mr. Tracy. Prior to that the tun- 
 
MISCELLANEOUS EECOBDS AND SKETCHED. 309 
 
 ing fork was used to give the pitch and Mr. Tracy marked time 
 with his hand. Mr. Littlewood organized a juvenile band ahout 
 1848, composed of H. M. Seely, Miles L. Tracy, Fred Kirtland, 
 E. A. Penniman, James Knapp and W. H. Ham. About 1850 
 ■0. N. Todd came to Honesdale to assist B. B. Smith in hia 
 school. He was an accomplished musician and he organized 
 the Alpine Glee Club. Miss Mary Foster, later Mrs. S. D. 
 Ward, Miss Betsey Brush, afterwards Mrs. B. B. Smith, Eliza 
 ■Chapman or Mrs. Stephen St. John, Horace Hand, H. A. Wood- 
 house, Anna Foster, Eliza Kirtland, Lucena E^ed, now Mrs. J. 
 E. Eiohmond, Eliza Wheeler, Mary Wheeler, Mrs. Clark, E. B. 
 Freeman and W. H. Ham, as flute player, are remembered about 
 this time as being in the club and choir. This glee club gave 
 some of the finest concerts that had been given up to that time 
 in Honesdale and Mr. Todd took hold of the Presbyterian choir 
 and brought it up to a higher state of efficiency than it had ever 
 attained before. After he left it appears that Frederick L. 
 Chapman, a brother of Mrs. Eichmond's, was appointed choris- 
 ter and Benjamin Baldwin is also remembered as chorister. H. 
 W. Stone's daughters, Mary Hand and others sang in the choir. 
 Miles L. Tracy and Henry M. Seely played, the one a flute, and 
 the other a bass viol, for a short time. Mr. Ludwig played a 
 little melodeon and Benjamin Baldwin played the organ awhile. 
 Miss Hannah King, Jason Torrey and Henry Blandin played 
 the melodeon for a number of years before they went into the 
 new church. Henry Blandin occasionally played the pipe organ 
 when Mrs. Kesler was unable to do so. Mr. Abbott was the 
 first singing school teacher in Honesdale and Eliza Kirtland 
 had the first piano and Marietta Blandin had the second piano 
 in Honesdale. She also sang in the choir. Francis B. Penni- 
 man, James E. Dickson, Julia Strong, Hattie Ingersoll and 
 Mary J. Tracy were singers at one time. Mary P. Hand, Miles 
 L. Tracy, Mrs. Eichmond, Mrs. E. A. Penniman, Sarah Scott, 
 E. A. Penniman, H. M. Seely, Emma Ward, J. E. Eichmond 
 and Mrs. Seely sang in the choir together for many years. 
 
 Miles L. Tracy led the singing for about twenty-five years, 
 
310 HONESDALE PRESBYTEEIAN CHUKCH. 
 
 during that time H. M. Seely and Edward A. Penniman were 
 bass, J. E. Richmond tenor, Mrs. Eiclimond and Mrs. Seely 
 sopranos, Mrs. Penniman, Sarah Scott and Emma Ward altos. 
 This choir rendered very acceptable music. Mrs. Kesler was 
 the first organist with the pipe organ. After her health became 
 impaired Mrs. Atkinson became the organist and her playing 
 was very much appreciated. 
 
 At a meeting of the session held September 10, 1880, on 
 motion of M. L. Tracy, Dr. Eobinson's book, called "Sacred 
 Songs for the Church and Choir," was adopted, then Mr. Tracy 
 retired, and the foUov/ing preamble and resolutions were 
 adopted: 
 
 Whereas, A communication has been received by the ses- 
 sion stating that the members of the choir have resigned and 
 the choir has disbanded and whereas Mr. Tracy has tendered 
 his resignation as chorister; 
 
 Resolved, That we express to the chorister and members 
 of the choir our gratitude for their long and efficient service of 
 song. We thank them for their uniform attendance at our ser- 
 vices in the church, the social meetings, the Sabbath school and 
 the house of mourning. We recall with gratitude their Chris- 
 tian fidelity to us through many years, some of them while a 
 generation has come and gone. We are thankful we shall not 
 wholly lose their services in the future, as years go by may their 
 voices with true devotion rise from pew or choir as God sees 
 best. 
 
 Resolved, That we request Mr. Tracy to withdraw his 
 resignation, to reorganize the choir, as in his judgment seems 
 best, and continue in the position of chorister in the future as 
 in the past. 
 
 Under this arrangement Mr. Tracy acted as precentor and 
 led the congregation in singing, for a short time, then Mrs. 
 Atkinson, the organist, in 1883 took direction and organized a 
 choir consisting of Joseph A. Bodie and L. D. Spragle bass, 
 Grace Foster and Lottie Wefferling sopranos, August Eehbein 
 tenor, and Alice B. Tillou and Hattie Weston altos. Mrs. 
 
'MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS AND SKETCHES. 311 
 
 Atkinson introduced an occasional solo. "When Mrs. Atkinson 
 removed to Albany Miss Emma "Ward became organist and J. 
 
 A. Bodie became leader of the choir by appointment of the ses- 
 sion December 5, 1885, and he did much to improve the sing- 
 ing. Anthems and solos were more freqiiently sung. Among 
 the solo singers who have given great satisfaction are Alice B. 
 Kockwell, Blanche Kesler Grambs, Mrs. Walter A. Wood, Miss 
 Florence Wood sopranos, Edith Swift, Anna Salmon altos. 
 Others who have sung in the choir are Lottie Brov/n, Helen, 
 Holmes, Kate Tracy, Kittle Torrey, Margaret Keeler, Howard 
 Tracy, George Woodward, Maria Woods, Joseph A. Bodie, Jr., 
 Miss E. Strongmitn, Blanche Wood, Fannie Brady, Anna Brown, 
 Frank Jenkins, George A. Smith, Cora Keen, Jennie Schoon- 
 over, Clara Bi. Torrey, Ilebecca Thompson, Mrs. Dix, B. H. 
 Brown, H. A. Tingley, Charles Bentley, Lizzie Bentley, Orra 
 
 B. Hadsell, Henry Ackerman, F. A. Doyle, Johannes Gemre, 
 Eoy Wood, Josie Dittrioh, Blaese Krantz, Florence Evans. 
 Dr. E. W. Burns has assisted occasionally with a violin and 
 
 C. T. Bentley with a flute. The preparation required from a 
 choir is such that it should be sustained by the church. Since 
 Mrs, Atkinson removed to Albany Emma C. Ward, now Mrs. 
 Yv . H. Swift, has been organist, and as such she has served the 
 church very faithfully. Music is an important part of worship 
 and since the days when Miriam led the hosts of Israel in a 
 song of triumph over the deliverance of the chosen people from 
 the hands of the Egyptians, it has been employed in sounding 
 the praises of the Lord of All. The psalmist says, "Sing imto 
 the Lord a new song and his praises in the congregation of 
 saints." * * Praise God in the sanctuary; praise him in 
 the firmament of his power, * * "praise him with stringed 
 instruments and organs." Praise the Lord; for the Lord is 
 good; sing praises unto his name for it is pleasant." 
 
 The singing of the church, like other features of worship, 
 is under direct control of the session of the church. Since the 
 time when Major Tracy, with tuning fork in hand, started the 
 tunes until the present time, there has always been a volunteer 
 
312 HONESDALE PEESBlTEniAN CHUBCH. 
 
 cljoir, which has rendered acceptable service in conducting the 
 singing, in which the congregation should join. The old-time 
 singers had no assistance from organs but had to carry the tune 
 without help. This method of singing deyeloped independent- 
 singers, and some of the pioneers had melodious voices and 
 their melody was not to be despised. The singing school 
 teacher who taught young people to sing by note, developed 
 many independent singers and some choirs, even in the country, 
 were commended for the rich melody of theii- music. Doubt- 
 less the old-time singing was much slower than the present 
 rapid time music, but it was much more devotional. Iiliiny of 
 the grand old hymns are prayers and all their sacredness ira 
 turned into sacrilege in the mouths of careless and indifferent 
 singers; hence every church is deeply interested in the char- 
 acter and make-up of its choir. The congregation of Hones- 
 dale church is expected to join in the singing of the regular 
 hymns because it is a part of the worship. Formerly all the 
 note books containing the tunes were in the hands of the choir. 
 Now the pews are supplied with hymns and tunes and all have 
 an opportunity of joining their voices in songs of praise to 
 God. 
 
 Jacob S. Davis, a surveyor and man of considerable genius 
 and prominence in Wayne county, built the first pipe organ in 
 the county. L. S. Collins remembers that it stood in the rear 
 end of Jason Torrey's house at Bethany, years ago. Orlando 
 Yv^eed built the first pipe organ for the Episcopal church in 
 Alanson Blood's cabinet shop about 1846. According to James 
 H. Sutton's recollections, Allen Plum was leader of the first 
 band in Honesdale. The other members were James H. Sut- 
 ton, who played the clarionet and trombone, Mr. Maule, an old 
 Scotch watchmaker, A. J. Bowers, the first hardware merchant, 
 Joseph Delezenne, Charles Wallace, J. A. Arnold and Ezra 
 Genung. They met in Captain Field's hotel to practice and 
 expended $200 for an instructor, who came down from Bing- 
 hamton, besides paying for their instruments. They made 
 great preparations for a celebration that was to be held in 
 
MISCELLAKEOCS EECOEDS AND SKETCHES. 313 
 
 Honesdale and played on tlie occasion. A collection was taken 
 up for the band and eight dollars were raised. The leader was 
 disgusted with this meager return for all his labor and the 
 organization disbanded. 
 
 There is another kind of music that must not be forgotten, 
 the music of the bells. Poets and musicians have been en- 
 tranced by the music of bells and they have sung sweetly of 
 their harmonious tones. The first bell in Honesdale was the 
 Academy bell, now in use calling the children of the Graded 
 school to their tasks. It has inscribed upon it "E. F. Force, 
 New York, 1833." The Methodists had a bell a year or two after 
 this date, and the Presbyterian church bell has cast upon it, 
 "Meenely bells of Troy, N. Y., 1839. " The address is still upon 
 it, "J. B. Graves, Honesdale, Pa., by Cornel & Bidwell's line, 
 by Kondout, N. Y.," v^hich was the old Delaware & Hudson 
 Canal freight line. All the Honesdale churches have bells and 
 may their ringing never cease to call the people of Honesdale 
 to their several places of devotion to render services of praise, 
 thanksgiving and adoration to the Supreme Euler of the Uni- 
 verse. The town clock was placed in the belfry of the church 
 about 1854-5, and when the present church was built the clock 
 was placed in the steeple where its hammer strikes the old bell, 
 tolling the time of the day and the silent watches of night, re- 
 minding all that the sands of time are constantly falling, as the 
 years roll by. 
 
 Members of the Presbyterian church and choir have as- 
 sisted in sacred concerts and in the rendering of cantatas and 
 oratorios. For a number of years a musical history club was 
 maintained in the borough, composed of the singers and musi- 
 cians from all the churches. This history club studied the lives 
 of the old masters in music and rendered some very fine classical 
 music during the years of its continuance. Eecently the teach- 
 ing of vocal music has been introduced into our public schools 
 in the borough, in response to a demand of the public. The 
 session of the Presbyterian church discussed the matter of in- 
 troducing vocal music into our schools and passed resolutions 
 
314 
 
 HONESDALE PEESBSTEEIAlif CHURCH. 
 
 urging the matter, which were sent to the principal of the 
 schools, and the influence of the session was exerted to that 
 end. The whole town will be benefitted when all the children 
 are taught to sing. 
 
 In connection with joyful sounds, it is fitting to mention 
 the old twelve pounder cannon, that was brought to Honesdale 
 to help celebrate the running of the Stourbridge Lion in 1829. 
 This was justly considered a notable event and it was properly 
 celebrated by the booming of cannon, but Alvah Adams lost an 
 arm as one of the results. This cannon, known as the "Baby 
 Water," seemed to belong to the town thereafter, and did ser- 
 vice for both of the political parties in celebrating victories, 
 besides waking patriotic echoes on 4th of July morning, arous- 
 ing the farmer boys from their dreams, for twenty miles around. 
 Dreams that had brightened life during the year, of the one day 
 when they could go free and enjoy a dinner in the woods with 
 their youthful companions. During the war patriotic emotions 
 were stirred by its thunder tones. Benjamin Loris lost an arm 
 also by its premature discharge, and about 1877 it burst from 
 an overcharge. Its reverberating sounds float down the corridors 
 of time and awaken memories in the hearts of many of joyful 
 days long since agone. 
 
 MISCELLAIJEOUS. 
 
 March 9, 1850, Benjamin C. Baldwin, Frederick E. Tracy 
 Horace C. Hand, Henry B. Hyde, Edwin F. Torrey and H. O. 
 Hamlin joined the church. It is seldom that as many strong 
 men join any church at one time as these men proved to be. 
 Mr. Baldwin was superintendent of the Sunday school at one 
 time. He was a surveyor by occupation and removed to Min- 
 nesota where he still lives at an advanced age. Frederick E. 
 Tracy married Anna Lord and removed to Mansfield, 0., where 
 he became a wealthy merchant and had some prominence. H. 
 O. Hamlin was for many years a merchant in Honesdale. 
 Messrs. Hand and *Torrey are prominently connected with the 
 
 *Note. E. F. Torrey entered the Honesdale National Bank as cashier, 
 September 14, 1874. The date, 1876, given on page 211, is a typographical 
 error. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS EECOEDS AKD SKETCHES. 315 
 
 Honesdale Banks and Henry B. Hyde was largely instrumental 
 in establishing the Equitable Life Insurance Company of New 
 York, which has grown to such great proportions. His father, 
 Henry H. Hyde, v,-as associated with G. C. Graves in the mer- 
 cantile business in a store which stood just north of the Dela- 
 ware and Hudson freight depot, and Henry B. Hyde clerked in 
 this store. None of his schoolmates ever dreamed that he would 
 become the head of such an immense financial concern as the 
 Equitable Life Insurance Company. 
 
 Among the notable women who have been connected with 
 the church Miss Caroline Scott must not be forgotten. When 
 the Honesdale Bank v/as established in 1836, John Neal, of the 
 Moyamensing Bank, of Philadelphia, was appointed cashier, 
 and became one of the trustees of the church. He resigned as 
 cashier October 31, 1842, and went to Hawley, where he erected 
 a building covered with sheet iron, which he designed for bank- 
 ing purposes, but it was a failure. He had two daughters who 
 were reared in refinement. One was the wife of Eev. J. W. 
 Scott, of Mount Pleasant, O., and Anna became the wife of 
 John F. Lord. 
 
 Carrie and Lizzie Scott were frequent visitors at Hones- 
 dale, at their grandparents' and their aunt's. As a result of 
 acquaintance from these visits, Kussel F. Lord married Lizzie 
 Scott for his second wife. While Carrie was visiting her sister, 
 Benjamin Harrison visited Honesdale to see his future bride. 
 E. F. Lord made a large party in his honor to which the society 
 people of the town were invited. Mr. Harrison was afterward 
 a distinguished elder of the Presbyterian church. United States 
 Senator and President of the United States. After the death 
 of his first wife he married her niece, Mrs. Mary Scott Dim- 
 mick, a daughter of Russel Lord's by his wife Lizzie Scott. 
 
 John F. Lord, who married Anna Neal, was a trustee of 
 the church and a man of prominence in Honesdale along with 
 his brothers Eussel and Solomon for many years. He took con- 
 tracts to load boats on the canal and had a competence. He 
 resided where the Petersens' now reside, on Church street. He 
 
316 
 
 HONESDALE PEESBITEKIAN CHUECH. 
 
 was six feet tall, a Colonel as aid to Governor W. F. Packer, 
 and, generally speaking, was a society man of convivial habits. 
 But his conviviality went too far and the tide of success tm-ned. 
 He moved on to a farm near Cajaw Pond where his wife became 
 blind and where she died. After her death he went to Port 
 Jervis where he lived a lonely life on the mountains. A writer 
 said at the time of his death: "In picturesque Laurel Grove 
 cemetery, at Port Jervis, John F. Lord, 'the recluse of Eio,' 
 was buried, with his son Edward F., the only mourner." He 
 built a log cabin on the mountain side in the wilderness where 
 he lived with his books. One day when he was gone his cabin 
 burned down with his precious books, the loss of which he never 
 ceased to mourn as long as he lived. He died July 24, 1902, 
 aged 87 and his hair had retained its raven blackness and his 
 eyesight was undimmed. When he was dying his physicians 
 offered him liquor which he had not tasted during the thirty 
 years of his life of a recluse. He protested, piteously saying: 
 "Don't give me whiskey, I've had more than enough of that in 
 my life. Take it away." After the war both Kussel F. and 
 John F. Lord became intemperate and separated from their 
 wives. Russel died and John became a recluse upon the 
 mountains. 
 
 Two of the marriages of B. F. Lord's daughters were elope- 
 ments. Anna E. eloped with Frederick E. Tracy and Mary 
 Scott eloped with Walter, son of Hon. 8. E. Dimmick. The 
 latter was forgiven and is now widow Harrison, but the former 
 was not forgiven so readily, neither did Mr. Lord cease to re- 
 gard Eev. E. O. Ward with disfavor for having performed the 
 ceremony. The three Lord brothers were conspicuous men in 
 Honesdale in their days of business activity, but clouds over- 
 shadowed the lives of two of them towards life's ending. 
 
 Rev. J. W. Scott, the father of Lizzie Scott Lord and Caro- 
 line Lovina Harrison, supplied the pulpit in Honesdale for six 
 months at one time, and he preached here at various times and 
 taught the Bible class. 
 
MISCELLAN-EOUS KECOBDS AOT) SKETCHES. 817 
 
 SETENTY-FIETH ANNIVEESAEY. 
 
 W. B. Holmes, clerk of the session, makes the following 
 note: "In accordance with the appointment of the Rev. W. H. 
 ■Swift, D. D. committee, he arranged an excellent program. With 
 characteristic modesty, which increases with age, he assigned 
 the most important parts to others and left himself in the back- 
 ground; while not on the throne he was the power behind the 
 throne and to him was largely due the success of all the exer- 
 cises." The exercises were held February 21, 1904, in the 
 church. The church was handsomely trimmed with evergreens 
 and potted palms and ferns. The pulpit was covered with the 
 American flag and the names of the nine original members were 
 garlanded in evergreens about the organ loft. The church 
 decorations v/ere made under the skillful management of Mrs. 
 Andrew Thompson, with other ladies of the church, whose good 
 taste in such matters has been manifested on many occasions. 
 Dr. Swift presided in the morning, opening the exercises with 
 prayer and introducing the speakers with kindly compliments 
 that left nothing that was necessary unsaid. E. M. Stocker 
 gave the historical address and Hon. Alfred Hand, of Scranton, 
 spoke very feelingly of his connection with the Honesdale Pres- 
 byterian Sunday school and church, with which he was con- 
 nected until he was 18 years of age. He ascribed whatever 
 success he may have attained in life largely to the influences of 
 his early training under the church. He spoke very highly of 
 Eev. Dr. Rowland and also mentioned E. L. Seely, father of 
 Hon. H. M. Seely, who was a very jovial man. He had a play- 
 ful disposition and would let all the boys pile up on top of him, 
 th.en he would rise up like a giant and throw them off. He 
 was however a conscientious and good man. He spoke very 
 highly of Judge Seely, who was a classmate of his at Yale Col- 
 lege and they were both elected Judges about the same time. 
 In the afternoon, in the Sunday school, the regular lessons were 
 postponed and interesting talks were given by ex-Superintend- 
 ents W. B. Holmes, Andrew Thompson and D. L. Hower. The 
 speakers gave interesting accounts of persons with whom they 
 
318 
 
 HONESUALE PBESBYTEIILUJ CHUECH. 
 
 had been associated during the time they had been connected 
 with the school. The evening session of the anniversary exer- 
 cises v/as a laity meeting in which the various Protestant 
 churches were represented. On the rostrum were Keverends 
 Swift, Place, Walker, Ware and Behrens, of the Presbyterian, 
 Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal and Lutheran churches, re- 
 spectively; with them were the speakers, Hon. F. P. Kimble, 
 representing the Baptist church. Homer Greene, representing 
 the Episcopal church, W. W. Baker, v/ith the address of M. E. 
 Simons, of the Methodist church, and James H. Torrey, who 
 greeted the church in the name of his ancestor, Jason Torrey. 
 All interesting letter full of reminiscences, which is published 
 elsewhere, from Thomas H. Dickson, of St. Paul, Minn., was 
 read by llev. Dr. W. H. Swift, after wliich in a highly compli- 
 mentary speech he inti'oduced W. B. Holmes as president of 
 the meeting. Mr. Holmes was equal to the occasion, speaking 
 with a dignity and grace that left nothing to be desired. 
 
 Mr. Kimble esteemed it "a privilege and a gratifloation to join with 
 this congregation in the public celebration of the completion of a triumph- 
 ant epoch in the history of this church. Seventy-five years are but a brief 
 span in the Christian era, but measured by the period of man's activity, 
 they embrace the hopes, struggles and successes of more than three gener- 
 ations. Dviring this epoch the church has experienced great and important 
 changes. Important events have transpired. Many noble men and women 
 who were among its early founders have passed away. * * Naught re- 
 mains of them but their works, and these will remain until all God's workers 
 are gathered home. This church with its magnificent temporal structures' 
 with its strong bond of brotherhood, with its helpful social organizations, 
 and with its spiritual aggregation, is but the collective result of mighty 
 efforts and determined purposes. In all its dep.^rtments it stands out to- 
 night as a crowning memorial to God's promise that the consecrated work 
 of His people shall never go unrewarded. It is therefore a happy reflection 
 for us on this anniversary occasion to recall the unselfish devotion, the un- 
 tiring zeal and the Christian fortitude of those early workers amid the trials 
 and efforts incident to the establishment of a new Christian organization. 
 Men and woman were they of stable habits, business integrity and exem- 
 plary character, whose commerce in the world always imported verity, and 
 whose words and acts have made them as shining lights set upon a hill." 
 
 Mr. Simons said : "It affords me great pleasure to be here to-night and 
 see this large congregation, composed, I believe, of members from all the 
 different churches of Honesdale, assembled for the purpose of commemorat- 
 
UnSCELLANEOUS BECOEDS A.ND SKETCHES. 319 
 
 ing the establishment of the first church of our town, and to do honor to 
 the memory of its organizers. As a Methodist I gladly join our brothers of 
 different relationships in bringing greetings to this anniversary occasion. 
 I congratulate you as a church on the prosperity and success which has 
 come to you as the result of earnest, conscientious, self-sacriflcing work of 
 Christian men and women during the seventy-five years of your existence. 
 I wish you God speed in the great work which lies before you. Your battle 
 is just begun. With no disparagement of the good work of the past I still 
 believe there is a far greater future in store for you. Your pastor in in- 
 viting me to be present on this occasion said, 'Our church during this 
 month passes its seventy-fifth milestone.' Now I believe it would be better 
 to have these milestones along the pathways of our several churches, closer 
 together, if they be used as occasions for retrospection and the getting 
 together of the different denominations of the Christian church and the 
 making of more cordial alliances for working purposes. They will serve at 
 least as reminders, which we sometimes need, that we belong to the same 
 great army, in different divisions, it is true, but united in a common cause 
 '^or a common purpose. "We rally around the same standard, the blood- 
 stained banner of the cross. * * Anniversaries are much given to re- 
 trospection, and at such times, in fancy, we again travel the roads our 
 fathers trod, and we read again the story of their lives, their struggles and 
 privations, their successes and failures. Your own historian, our brother, 
 Mr. Stocker, this moiming told you of the early days of your church, which 
 was not so very long ago as we usually count time. It was not Ancient 
 History for you are only seventy-five years old, less than the span of some 
 lives. I doubt not there are some within the sound of my voice who lived 
 before the foundations of your church were laid. It was not long ago, 
 measured in years, when a few earnest Christian people met in the old 
 Tabernacle and organized the Presbyterian church, and at the same time a 
 few followers of John Wesley, without a church, met for prayer and class- 
 meetings in the homes of the members. So short a time, yet what wondrous 
 changes it has wrought." 
 
 Homer Greene, when called upon by Mr. Holmes, spoke somewhat as 
 follows : It is certainly a sincere pleasure to me to participate with you 
 in the exercises of this evening. More than that I feel especially gratified 
 that my profession has been so signally honored in the choice of speakers 
 for this anniversary occasion. A former Justice of our Supreme Court and 
 a prominent member of our bar spoke from this pulpit this morning. This 
 evening the addresses are from the lawyers. Surely no one can say after 
 this that both the law and gospel have not been expounded from this pul- 
 pit. And yet it is but Just that the bar should be honored on this occasion ; 
 for, within my own time and memory, I know that the lawyers have been 
 among the pillars of this church, and that the benign influence of those 
 long dead is still with you. I remember George Waller and his work here 
 I remember George Bentley, a strong, gracious and attractive personality, 
 and how he labored for this church and in its Sunday school. And I re- 
 member Judge Seely, than whom no man ever showed forth in his daily life 
 
320 HONESDALE PBESBTTEEIA-N CHTIECH. 
 
 more of the spirit which should actuate a follower of the Divine Master, 
 than did he. He was a Christian gentleman. For six years I was in his 
 class in the Sunday school. During the same six years I was in his office 
 as student and practicing attorney and during all that time I never saw 
 him do one thing, in his office, on the street, in his home, that was not 
 absolutely consistent with that which he taught in his class in the Sunday 
 school, or with the best ideals of a Christian life. It was such men as he 
 that made this church, and it was this church that made such men as he. 
 If there is one thing more than another for which I commend this church 
 it is that you have made it, not only a place in which to come together and 
 sing hymns and exhort and pray, but you have made it also a center from 
 which radiate intellectual culture, social enjoyment, human sympathy, 
 practical helpfulness and Christian charity through all the streets and all 
 the homes of the community. 
 
 James H. Torrey, elder in the Second Presbyterian church at Scranton, 
 lawyer, and a descendant of the Torrey family that came into this county 
 more than one hundred years ago, was introduced for the next address. 
 He said that Jason Torrey walked from Massachusetts westward into the 
 wilderness as far as "Wayne county in quest of a new location as early as 
 1793. After looking the territory over he went back to Massachusetts, but 
 five years later returned to Wayne county with his bride, went to work 
 with courage and energy, with both of which they were richly endowed, to 
 make their home in the wilds of this region. Jason Torrey owned the 
 greater part of the present site of Honesdale but spent only the last few 
 years of his life in our town. The influence of Jason Torrey and descend- 
 ants upon the people and interests centering in Honesdale institutions has 
 been far reaching for good. 
 
 The following is the letter from Thomas H. Dickson which 
 was read by Dr. Swift: 
 
 My first association with the Honesdale church was as a 
 Sabbath school scholar in Joseph Gustin's class. That was in 
 1846 or 1847. 
 
 The "Old Tabernacle," as it was called, was then standing 
 and in pretty good condition, but had long since been abandoned 
 as a place of worship and was used for storage of hay, etc. 
 We met in the church and, at that time or later on, used the 
 Union Question Book, published, I well remember, at No. 9, 
 Cornhill, Boston, and as was announced on the cover, "Two 
 Million Five Hundred Thousand copies" had been sold. Most 
 of the boys erased part of this sentence, making it read, "Two 
 million five hundred thousand pies sold" and found much sport 
 in the revision. 
 
MSCELLAKEOUS EECOEDS AND SKETCHES. 321 
 
 Stephen Torrey was our superintendent, and as energetic 
 and diligent in his duties as in every thing he undertook. We 
 sang the regular church tunes and I never hear "Brattle Street" 
 or "Armenia" without recalling those early experiences. Mr. 
 Gustin went to California, Frederick L. Chapman, another 
 of the teachers, accompanying him. He met the fate of thou- 
 sands of others who flocked to the new Eldorado and perished 
 of Chagre's fever. Mr. Chapman survived and returned to 
 Honesdale, where he resided for several years and then re- 
 moved to Neenah, "Wis. 
 
 Our nest teacher was Miss Frances Rowland, a sister of 
 the pastor, and I have very pleasant recollections of her. Pro- 
 fessor Sparrow, of the Academy, followed her and was a faith- 
 ful instructor to us. Among those in the class was Edward B. 
 Sill, a nephew of Doctor Rowland, a pale, thoughtful looking 
 boy of unusual mental endowments, which he subsequently 
 manifested in the composition of poems which have given his 
 name much celebrity. 
 
 Franklin Seely was also my teacher for a time. 
 
 Doctor Rowland, our pastor, was a man of ardent temper- 
 ament and impulsive spirit but with an attractive personality, 
 genial disposition and lovable nature. He enjoyed outdoor 
 life and found much pleasure in fishing. He had a delightful 
 family of five daughters and one son, the latter attaining high 
 rank as a scientist before his death which occurred a few years 
 since. The doctor was strongly attached to the church of his 
 fathers and had small room for what he regarded as the intoler- 
 ance of the prelatical clergy. The columns of the Honesdale 
 Democrat of that time will be found to contain quite a vigorous 
 controversy between him and Rev. Richard B. Duane, the rector 
 of the Episcopal church. Feeling between them ran quite high 
 and I shall never forget an episode resulting from it. Both 
 congregations held service on Sabbath afternoon, the Presby- 
 terians at 3 o'clock and the Episcopalians at 3:15, the latter 
 meeting temporarily in the Court House while their church was 
 building. The ringing of the Court House bell greatly annoyed 
 
322 HONESDALE PBESBTTEEIAJSt CHUECH. 
 
 Dr. Eowlaud, who imagined that it was an intentional disturb- 
 ance, and lie endured it with much difficulty. Finally it proved 
 intolerable and on one Sabbath, as the bell continued to ring, 
 he abruptly terminated the service while reading the Scriptures 
 and dismissed the congregation with a hasty benediction. He 
 was a gifted writer and published several excellent books, one 
 of which I recall by reason of its quaint title which was, "A 
 Light In A Dark Alley." After a long pastorate he accepted a 
 call to one of our churches in Newark, N. J., the people acqui- 
 escing with much regret. 
 
 Eev. Thomas H. Skinner, Jr., whose father, with Lyman 
 Beecher, Thornton A. Mills and Albert Barnes were New School 
 leaders, was Dr. Rowland's successor, and I united with the 
 church under his ministry. He was an uncompromising Cal- 
 vinist and a staunch defender of the doctrines of grace as set 
 forth in the Confession of Faith, I became strongly attached 
 to him and joined with a number of others in a public endorse- 
 ment of his views and in sustaining him in what was regarded 
 by some as an ultra conservative position. He resigned after 
 serving about two years and accepted a call to a Dutch Reformed 
 church on Staten Island, subsequently becoming a member of 
 the faculty of McCormick Theological Seminary, where he re- 
 mained until his death. He was a man of unusual intellectual 
 ability, and strong convictions, inflexible in his views of the 
 truth, but a delightful companion, and a generous and whole- 
 souled Christian minister. 
 
 The session of my youth was composed of Colonel Seely, 
 Stephen Torrey, Adonijah Strong, Stephen D. Ward, John P. 
 Darling and William Heed, men of Godly character and upright 
 lives. It was with much fear and foreboding that I appeared 
 before them as a candidate for membership, notwithstanding 
 they were, without exception, men of kindly instincts and genial 
 disposition. Colonel Seely especially, though quite mature in 
 years, had the heart of a boy and enjoyed fun as much as any- 
 body. I have always felt a keen sympathy with young folks 
 coming before a session that I was a member of, recollecting 
 
MISCELLANEOUS EECOEDS AND SKETCHES. 323 
 
 my own trepidation under similar circumstances. 
 
 My father sang for some time in the choir, which occupied 
 the gallery opposite the pulpit, and I was permitted, with a 
 number of the other boys, to occupy a seat near by. I remem- 
 ber very distinctly Major Tracy and Mr. Penniman, also Mrs. 
 Ward and Mrs. Eussel Lord as other members of the choir. 
 Ezra Genung sang with them occasionally and I think Mr. 
 Woodhouse did also. Fredrick Chapman aided and Professor 
 Charles N. Todd, of the Academy, for a long time served as 
 leader and very acceptably. 
 
 The hymn book used was called "Parish Psalmody," a 
 peculiar feature of which consisted of little marks and letters 
 adjoining the verses, indicating whether loud tones or mild 
 should be used in singing. The "Carmina Sacra" was the 
 favorite tune book, though I recall the "Shawm" and the "Can- 
 tica Laudis," also the "Mendelssohn Collection." The congre- 
 gation were in the habit of rising and turning about with their 
 backs to the pulpit, so as to face the choir, until Mr. Skinner 
 came, when by the use of some persuasion and a little tact, he 
 induced the people to discontinue the apparent discourtesy and 
 face the pulpit instead. 
 
 My earliest recollection of the instrumental part of the 
 music is associated with a number of brass pieces, such as trom- 
 bones, etc., played by young men of the congregation, who were 
 under the instruction of Professor Littlewood, and who subse- 
 quently formed themselves into an organization called "The 
 Silver Cornet Band" which gained high repute for excellent 
 music. Henry Seely, Miles Tracy and Jason Torrey were 
 among those who belonged to this band. 
 
 When the Hutchinson family, the "Continentals," or the 
 "Baker Brothers" made their annual visits to the town, they 
 usually came to our church, if they remained over Sabbath, and 
 assisted in the music, greatly to the delight of the congrega- 
 tion, and especially of the young folks, who listened to them 
 with great admiration. George Baker's remarkable basso pro- 
 fundo voice, in particular, was something that we considered 
 
324 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 marvelous. I liave a pleasant recollection of the literary en- 
 tertainments that were given during the winter in our church, 
 notably lectures by Eev. Dr. Eobert Baird, of the American 
 and Foreign Christian Union, Bayard Taylor, and Professor 
 Toumans, the celebrated chemist, whose disclosures by means 
 of the Calcium light made buckwheat batter appear one mass 
 of wriggling animation. 
 
 I have always been glad that my early years were spent in 
 Honesdale and in the wholesome atmosphere that prevaded the 
 town and which was largely attributable to the influence of the 
 Presbyterian church. It was, it is true, not congenial to my 
 perverse nature and I was often restive under it, but whatever 
 usefulness I have attained in life has resulted in a large measure 
 from it. The careful observance of the Sabbath in particular, 
 made a profound impression on my youthful mind which can 
 never be effaced. All business was entirely suspended, the cars 
 of coal remained untouched on the tracks, no amusement was 
 indulged in and there was a general recognition of the Lord's 
 Day. 
 
 May God's blessing rest upon the dear old church of my 
 childhood and make it the spiritual birthplace and nursery of 
 multitudes of immortal souls in the years to come. 
 
 Thomas H. Dickson. 
 
 The concluding part of E. M. Stocker's address was as 
 follows: This church has a glorious history. It has certainly 
 accomplished a great work in the town. It has received 1,600 
 members into its communion and it has reached and influenced 
 a large number of persons who have attended upon its services 
 and assisted in many ways in the upbuilding of this society, 
 who have never formally connected themselves with the church. 
 Persons who secure pews and attend regularly upon church 
 services must be interested in the ordinances of God's house. 
 A church in a community does not exist for the members alone, 
 but its doors stand ajar with the invitation to all to come in. 
 This church has an influence more extended than Honesdale. 
 It is felt wherever its members go. Some of Scranton's most 
 
MISCELLANEOUS KECOEDS AND SKETCHES. 325 
 
 influential men and elders in lier churches are from this church, 
 and in the west and various parts of our country they are to be 
 found, ever true in their devotion to this church. This church 
 has given to the ministry Reverends 0. B. Goodrich, David 
 Torrey, D. D., Stephen Torrey, George N. Snyder, Alfred Hand 
 and Alvin R. Pennell. It has sent its money in aid of missions 
 to earth's utmost bounds, but it has done no more than it should 
 have done. Considering the great ransom price that was paid 
 by the head of the church to save the human race, no service 
 can ever be too great to pay the debt of love we owe. This 
 church with all its excellencies is not perfect. Neither in its 
 individual membership nor as an organic whole. Its most 
 ardent admirers realize that fact clearly; but with all its short- 
 comings it stiU has hallowed associations for its members and 
 for the congregation that worships here Sabbath after Sabbath. 
 This celebration will have been in vain if our humility does not 
 keep step with our satisfaction over what the church has ac- 
 complished. 
 
 "Nothing in my hands I bring, 
 
 Simply to the cross I cling," 
 
 is the attitude of the true beliver. We recount the triumphs 
 of the past, not for the purpose of ministering to our pride, but 
 for the purpose of gathering inspiration from the consecrated 
 lives of those who persevered unfalteringly in the establishment 
 of this church. This church, founded on the Eock of Ages, as 
 we believe, has secured to us great benefits and placed upon us 
 great responsibilities. It is the duty and should be considered 
 the privilege of this generation to carry forward the work that 
 has been transmitted to it by the generation that has gone be- 
 fore. The influence of the consecrated dead of this church is 
 still an abiding force. The influence of the good man never 
 dies. The influence of a great Christian organization like this 
 church will undoubtedly have its efiect upon the human race 
 untn the end of time. It remains for us to perform our full 
 duty and transmit unimpaired all that we have received as a 
 heritage from the past. Yes, more ! We should transmit all 
 
326 HONESDALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 we have received, together with all that we have to give, in order 
 that the church may abide with increasing power for generations 
 
 yet to come. 
 
 *"Tliough all may fail, the church we prize, 
 
 The pastor and the saint depart. 
 Still stands thine ancient sacrifice, 
 An humble and a contrite heart. 
 Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet. 
 Lest we forget, lest we forget." 
 
 *Note. From Eipluig, first two lines changed. 
 
MISCEIiAKEOUS EECOBDS AND SKETCHES. 327 
 
 APPENDIX A. 
 
 Some persons who have been educated to believe that the American 
 Eevolution was provoked entirely on account of taxation without repre- 
 sentation, may still think there was no religious element entering into the 
 matter at that time. It is not eaay for us to understand at this day that 
 the intolerance of the old country was inherited by our ancestors and to a 
 certain extent established in the colonies. The Puritans of New England 
 fled from tyranny at home, but they were intolerent of the Quakers and 
 Baptists for a time. All these things were in keeping with the spirit of in- 
 tolerance of the age. John Adams has been quoted, page 255. Perhaps a 
 word from Thomas Jefferson, the author of the immortal Beolaration of 
 Independence, may not be out of place. In Jeffersonian Encyclopedia, 
 page 140, Jefferson is quoted as writing: "The first settlers of Virginia 
 were Englishmen, loyal subjects to their king and church, and the grant 
 of Sir Walter Kaleigh contained an express proviso that their laws 
 'should not be against the true Christian faith now professed in the Church 
 of England.' As soon as the state of the colony admitted, it was divided 
 into parishes, in each of which was established a minister of the Anglican 
 church, endowed with fixed salary, in tobacco, a glebe house and land, with 
 other necessary appendages. To meet these expenses, all the inhabitants 
 of the parish were assessed, whether they were or not, members of the 
 established church. Towards Quakers who came here they were most 
 cruelly intolerant, driving them from the colonies by the severest penalties. 
 In process of time, however, other sectarisms were introduced, chiefly of 
 the Presbyterian family and the established clergy, secure for life in their 
 glebes and salaries, adding to these generally, the emoluments of a classical 
 school, found employment enough in their farms and school rooms, for the 
 rest of the week, and devoted Sunday only to the edification of their flock, 
 by service and a sermon, at their parish church. Their other pastoral 
 functions were little attended to. Against this inactivity the zeal and in- 
 dustry of the sectarian preachers had an open and undisputed field ; and by 
 the time of the Bevolution, a majority of the inhabitants had become dis- 
 senters from the established church, but were still obliged to make contri- 
 butions to support the pastors of the minority. This unrighteous com- 
 pulsion to maintain teachers of what they deemed religious errors, was 
 grievously felt during the regal government, and without a hope of relief. 
 But the first Bepublican legislature in 1776 was crowded with petitions to 
 abolish this spiritual tyranny. These brought on the severest contest in 
 
328 HONESDALE PEESBYl'EBIAN CHTJEOH. 
 
 which I have ever been engaged." Jefferson then gives an account of the 
 debates that followed until 1779 when disestablishment was effected in 
 Virginia. 
 
 It is but just to our Protestant Episcopal brethren of America, to say 
 that they have lay representation and that in many ways they have become 
 very democratic in their church government. 
 
 The free spirit of our institutions has aifected the government of all 
 our churches. We are all learning to be more tolerant and more liberal. 
 Prof. White, D. D., of Washington and Lee University, says that "Hanover 
 Presbytery played a large part in securing the insertion of the principle of 
 religious liberty in the Virginia Bill of Eights in 1776 and also in forcing 
 through the Virginia Assembly Jefferson's bill for the establishment of 
 religious freedom, and thus for the first time in all history, secured the 
 complete divorce of the church from the state." 
 
 APPENDIX B. 
 
 MBCKIiBNBtTEG DECLABATION. 
 
 Twenty-seven Scotch Irish of Mecklenburg county in Western North 
 Carolina, of whom nine were Presbyterian elders, and one minister, met in 
 convention May 20, 1775, and unanimously 
 
 1. Kesolved, That whosoever, directly or indirectly, abetted, or in 
 any way form or manner countenanced, the unchartered and dangerous in- 
 vasion of our rights, as claimed by Great Britain, is an enemy to this 
 country, to America, and to the inherent and Inalienable rights of main. 
 
 2. Kesolved, That we, the citizens of Mecklenburg county, do here- 
 by dissolve the political bonds which have connected us to the mother 
 country, and hereby absolve ourselves from all allegiance to the British 
 Crown, and abjure all political connection, contract or association with 
 that nation, who have wantonly trampled on our rights and liberties and 
 inhumanly shed the blood of American patriots at Lexington. 
 
 3. Kesolved, That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and inde- 
 pendent people ; are, and of right ought to be, a sovereign and self-govern- 
 ing association, under the control of no power other than that of our God 
 and the general government of the Congress ; to the maintenance of which 
 we solemnly pledge to each other our mutual cooperation and our lives, 
 our fortunes and our most sacred honor. 
 
 The secretary of the meeting was Ephraim Brevard, a ruling elder of 
 the Presbyterian church ; and drew this bold declaration. Ephraim Bre- 
 vard was born about 1750. He graduated at Princeton and was a physician 
 by profession. When the British invaded the south Dr. Brevard and his 
 six brothers entered the American army. He was taken prisoner in 1780 
 at Charleston and his health so shattered that ho died In 1783. He was 
 one of the most scholarly men of his time. His burial place is unknown 
 and' unmarked, but the county seat of Transylvania county, N. 0,, is named 
 Brevard' in his honor. 
 
raSCELLANEOUS EECOEDS AND SKETCHES. 329 
 
 APPENDIX C. 
 
 CONTEMPORARY CHURCHES. 
 
 The First Presbyterian church of WUkes-Barre was organ- 
 ized as a Presbyterian church about 1830. The Wyoming 
 pioneers were largely Congregationalists from Connecticut, and 
 their first settled minister was Eev. George Beokwith, Jr., a 
 graduate of Tale, who was there in 1770. In 1773 Eev. Jacob 
 Johnson, another Tale man, became pastor of the church, con- 
 tinuing until his death March 15, 1797. The congregation 
 suffered much dxiring the Penamite War and their church was 
 destroyed in 1778 in the general disaster. In 1791 meetings 
 were held in the log court house situated on the Public Square 
 and in 1803 the church known as "Ship Zion" was completed. 
 Bevs. Jabez Chadwick, James Woodward, Dr. Porter and D. 
 Harrower ministered to the people. July 1, 1803, twenty-seven 
 members organized the Wilkes-Barre and Kingston church, 
 Eev. Ard Hoyt, Eev. D. Moulton and Eev. E. S. Barrows min- 
 istered until 1821 when Eev. Cyrus Gildersleeve became pastor. 
 In 1829 Eev. Nicholas Murray became pastor and it was under 
 his advice that the church changed from the Congregational to 
 the Presbyterian form. Eev. John Dorrance, a Princeton 
 
330 HONESDAUE PEESBYTEEIAlf CHTJUCH. 
 
 graduate, became pastor in 1833 and continued in that relation 
 thirty-six years. Kev. A. A. Hodge, Eev. S. B. Dod, Eev. F. 
 B. Hodge and Eev. Mr. FuUerton have successively ministered 
 to this large and influential church. Hon. Oristus Collins, son 
 of Dr. Collins, of Wayne coiinty, organized the first Sunday 
 school in 1818, the same year that his brother-in-law. Dr. Di- 
 boll, organized the Sunday school at Bethany. Dr. DiboU 
 learned of Sunday schools while visiting in Orange county, and 
 it is highly probable that he informed Judge Collins of his 
 work in Bethany, leading him to organize in Wilkes-Barre. 
 Judge Collins was an honored elder in the Wilkes-Barre church 
 for many years and Lee Stearns and Henry Dunning have been 
 contributed to the eldership of that church from Honesdale 
 church. This is the mother church of the Presbyterian churches 
 in Wyoming Valley. 
 
 In 1793 Eev. Ira Condit organized the first Presbyterian 
 church in the whole valley drained by the North Branch of the 
 Susquehanna, at *Wyalusing. There were thirteen members 
 and Uriah Terry was made Euling Elder. This church be- 
 came a Congregational church in 1809 and so continued until 
 March 31, 1831, when the church "Resolved, that we unitedly 
 agree to become a Presbyterian church." This church was rent 
 asunder by the slavery question, like many other churches. 
 There was an Indian misson at Wyalusing in 1762 established 
 by David Zeisberger, known as the great Moravian apostle to 
 the Indians, and a Delaware Indian convert named Anthony. 
 A second Presbyterian church was organized at Wyalusing, and 
 taken together the history of these old churches is interesting. 
 While the Wyalusing church had a temporary Presbyterian 
 organization prior to that of the Bethany church, it appears that 
 the Bethany church was the first permanently organized Pres- 
 byterian church in the Northeastern part of the state. A mis- 
 sionary sent out by the Presbyterians, traveling through this 
 
 *Note. This church was an organization in the wilderness, but it does 
 not appear to have ever been connected with, or recognized by any Pres- 
 bytery. 
 
MISOELLAUEOUS EECOEDS AND SKETCHES. 331 
 
 region, would organize a church and after a few weeks would go 
 his way. A Congregationalist sent out from Connecticut would 
 pass through this section and organize Congregational churches 
 the same way. The people had but little choice between these 
 two churches, they were anxious to have the gospel preached 
 to them and the denomination that had the best opportunity to 
 supply preachers was the denomination ultimately chosen. 
 
 Tlie First Presbyterian church of Scranton was organized 
 October 14, 1848. Eev. N. Gr. Parke preached to the inhabit- 
 ants scattered along the Lackawanna Valley in 1844 and organ- 
 ized the Lackawanna church. There was a searching of charters 
 and records to ascertain whether this church was located at 
 Scranton or Pittston, but it was finally decided that it belonged 
 to Pittston and Rev. N. G. Parke ministered there for half a 
 century. Father Hunt also traveled over this entire region as 
 a temperance lecturer and a sort of a free lance among the 
 churches. The pastors of the Scranton church have been Kevs. 
 J. D. Mitchell, J. F. Baker, M. J. Hickok, S. C. Logan and 
 James McLeod. Like tlie Wilkes-Barre church this is a wealthy 
 and influential church. Honesdale church has contributed 
 Hon. Alfred Hand and A. W. Dickson to the eldership, and 
 among its prominent members is E. P. Kingsbury, a son of one 
 of our elders, and a son-in-law of this same elder, Colonel F. 
 L. Hitchcock, is an elder in Green Eidge Presbyterian church. 
 
 The Montrose Presbyterian church was organized as a 
 Congregational church in 1810, and reorganized as a Presby- 
 terian church, September 12, 1823. 
 
 The Carbondale Presbyterian church was organized in 
 June, 1829, the same year that the Honesdale church was 
 organized, and they have been friendly contemporaries during 
 all the years of their history. Both these churches joined the 
 Hudson Presbytery at the same time, and they have been to- 
 gether in the same Presbyteries ever since. 
 
 There are many other churches and congregations within 
 the territory covered by Lackawanna Presbytery with thrilling 
 histories which cannot here be recorded. 
 
332 
 
 HONESDALE PEESBTTEKIAN OHTmCH. 
 
 . '-^\7j'^^^^^s ^.,^v-ym^ J . . 
 
 Note. — The running of the Stourbridge Lion from Honesdale up the 
 Lackawaxen toward Seelyville and return trip on August 8, 1829, with 
 Horatio Allen as engineer, is the greatest historical event in the history of 
 Honesdale, and a cut of the engine is herewith given. In 1814, Stephenson 
 had constructed a locomotive that made six miles an hour and October 6, 
 1829 he buUt the "Kooket" which ran from Manchester to Liverpool at the 
 rate of thirty-five miles an hour. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 In February, 1906, a handsome baptismal font was placed 
 at the right of the pulpit. It is of Vermont marble and was 
 presented by C. F. Rockwell. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the congregation, held in the 
 chapel Wednesday evening, February 14, 1906, the treasurer 
 reported that the indebtedness of the church was $5,200. At 
 the same meeting the resignations of E. C. Mumford and A. P. 
 Thompson, as trustees, were accepted and William T. Moore 
 and William H. Lee were elected to take their places. The 
 board of trustees now consists of Hon. George S. Purdy, Seth 
 W. Powell, E. A. Penniman, W. H. Stone, A. T. Searle, H. S. 
 Salmon, J. D. Weston, William T. Moore and W. H. Lee. 
 
 Many of the old families that were once prominent in the 
 church have become extinct in the town and others have but few 
 representatives among us. These people gave character to the 
 church and town and their influence abides with us to this day. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS EECOBDS Altt) SKETCHES. 333 
 
 but the Christian religion is not confined to families or places, 
 it has universal application and where one rests from labor an- 
 other takes it up. We stand on the threshold of the Twentieth 
 Century; behind us is the record of the wonderful Nineteenth 
 Century and before us are infinite possibilities. The seventy- 
 five years of our history are equal to almost one thousand years 
 of history prior to that time when measured by the world's ad- 
 vancement. When the Honesdale church was organized not a 
 single locomotive had ever run on a railroad in America. 
 August 8, 1829, the Stourbridge Lion, with wheels part wood 
 and part iron and great walking beams, weighing perhaps six 
 tons, with Horatio Allen as engineer, made a trial trip from 
 Honesdale to Seelyville over a track wholly inadequate for the 
 purpose. It consisted of green hemlock strips with flat iron 
 on top that had been imported from England, with cross ties 
 six or eight feet apart. Now engines weighing twenty times as 
 much as the Stourbridge Lion traverse over 200,000 miles of 
 substantial railroad track lq the United States. A trip from 
 London to the Pacific Coast then would have taken the best 
 part of a year. Now it can be taken in two weeks. With the 
 telegraph, telephone and printing press and a thousand other 
 discoveries and inventions the world has been revolutionized. 
 Wealth and worldliness have increased until at times it would 
 seem as though the church would be swamped in a deluge of 
 worldly success, but in the midst of the storm, in the din of the 
 strife, we hear the clarion voice of the reformer calling the peo- 
 ple back to civic righteousness and virtue. The minister stands 
 with his Bible proclaiming the old message, and the man who 
 falls below its high standard, in the end is covered with con- 
 fusion and shame. Our church is still young and is it too 
 much to expect that there are centuries of usefulness in store 
 for it, greater than the century that has past. The influence of 
 the church in the future, as in the past, wiU depend upon the 
 character and devotion of its pastor, ofiicers and membership. 
 To the maintaining of Christianity ia all its purity may all the 
 powers of the membership of the church ever be devoted. 
 
334 
 
 HONESDAIiE PRESBYTERIAN CHUECE. 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Asbury, Francis, 5. 
 
 Anti-Slavery Agitation, 29. 
 
 Avery, Dr. Otis, 128. 
 
 Allen, John I., 197. 
 
 Appendix A, 327. 
 
 Appendix B, 328. 
 
 Anniversary Addresses, 317-326. 
 
 Brainerd, Eev. David, 2. 
 
 Baptist Churches, 3. 
 
 Bethany Presbyterian Church, 12. 
 
 Bethany Sunday School, 16. 
 
 Baldwin, Horace, 81. 
 
 Brush, Stephen, 81. 
 
 Bassett, James S., 85. 
 
 Ball, JohnT., 105, 135. 
 
 Bodie, Joseph A., 108, 311. 
 
 Beers, E. T., 111. 
 
 Boyd, John, 113. 
 
 Bentley, George F., 122, 319. 
 
 Brown, Mrs. Peter P., 148. 
 
 Blandin, Daniel, 191. 
 
 Beers, Nathaniel, 195. 
 
 Beers, David, 196, 285. 
 
 Burns, Dr. Eeed, 237. 
 
 Barlow, Eev. Joseph, 263. 
 
 Beardslee, H. B., 291. 
 
 Bells, 167, 313. 
 
 Baldwin, Benjamin, 314. 
 
 Canaan Sunday School, 15. 
 
 CampbeU, Eev. Joel, 27, 64. 
 
 Cory, Stephen G., 55, 97. 
 
 Congdon, John, 113. 
 
 Charter, 161. 
 
 Church Erection, 171. 
 
 Chapel, 176. 
 
 Cory, David, 196. 
 
 Collins, L. S., 206. 
 Cortright, C. A., 216. 
 Congregationalist Association, 241- 
 
 242. 
 Chapin, Eev. Joel, 242. 
 Church Census, 252. 
 Camp, Eev. Phineas, 260. 
 Cook, John A., 269. 
 Cook, Thomas, 269. 
 Chittenden, Anson, 273. 
 Constitutional Amendment, 291. 
 Communion Service, 141, 306. 
 Choir, 308-9, 313, 323. 
 Cannon, "Baby Waker," 314. 
 Contemporary Churches, 329. 
 Carbondale Church, 331. 
 Conclusion, 332. 
 Dutch Eeformed Church, 1. 
 Dibol, Dr. Virgil M., 16, 269. 
 Dyberry Forks, 21. 
 Dunning, Eev. Dr., 42, 46, 54, 71, 
 
 173, 280, 288. 
 Discipline, 77. 
 Deacons, List of, 80. 
 Darling, J. P., 88. 
 Davis, WUlard, 128. 
 Dibble, Hiram, 194. 
 Durland, Coe, 210. 
 Denton, Samuel E., 287. 
 Dickson, James E., 296. 
 Dickson, Thomas H., 297. 
 Dickson, A. W., 298. 
 Dickson, Eev. J. S., 299. 
 Dunning, Henry W., 300. 
 Davis, Jacob S., 312. 
 Disestablishment in Virginia, 327. 
 
INDEX, 
 
 335 
 
 Episcopal Churches, 6. 
 
 Elders, List of, 78. 
 
 Elders, Election Eule, 79, 306. 
 
 Eno, D. M., 111. 
 
 Eldred, J. B., 112. 
 
 Eisner, Henry A., 138. 
 
 Emergency Militia, 286. 
 
 Foster, Isaac P., 22, 45, 88. 
 
 Forbes, Lucy Waite, 158. 
 
 Eitoh, T. S., 207. 
 
 Foster, Isaac N., 208. 
 
 Foster's Store, 279. 
 
 Federation ol Churches, 284. 
 
 Graves, Kev. J. B., 30, 32, 66. 
 
 Gillen, James S., 112. 
 
 Gainsfort, Phebe, 159. 
 
 Guild, Eev. George, 194. 
 
 Gage, Eev. Seth, 242. 
 
 Goodrich, George, 268. 
 
 Honesdale M. E. Church, 6. 
 
 Hawley Presbyterian Church, 13. 
 
 Honesdale Church Organized, 25. 
 
 Holmes, W. B., 102, 184, 317. 
 
 Hand, H. C, 103. 
 
 Honesdale Sunday School, 115. 
 
 Hower, D. L., 129. 
 
 Hand, Miles T., 129. 
 
 Honesdale Mission Sunday School, 
 
 130. 
 Hand, Mrs. Ezra, 140. 
 Holmes, Mrs. W. B., 149. 
 Haines, Mrs. Mary F., 147. 
 Hand, Alfred, 178, 302, 317. 
 Hudson Presbytery, 239. 
 narrower, Eev. David, 242. 
 Ham, Oapt. James, 283, 289. 
 Hand, Ezra, 301. 
 Hand, C. W., 302. 
 Hand, Eev. A. C, 303. 
 Hand, Henry, 304. 
 Hamlin, H. 0., 314. 
 Hyde, Henry B., 315. 
 Harrison, Benjamin, 315. 
 Inch, Chloe H., 159. 
 Judd, Eev. Gideon N., 23, 64. 
 Jadwln, C. C, 209. 
 Kimble, Samuel, 21. 
 Kellogg, Joseph L., 80. 
 Kingsbury, Ebenezer, 81. 
 Kirtland, Daniel P., 163, 237 
 Keen, George M., 194. 
 Kingsbury, Eev. Ebenezer, 259. 
 Lutheran Churches, 8. 
 Lord, Solomon, Z., 85. 
 Lord, Eussel F., 189, 315. 
 Lee, William H., 216. 
 Losey, Dr. Ebenezer T., 238. 
 Liberty and Calvinism, 253. 
 
 Lackawanna Presbytery, 241, 247- 
 
 248. 
 Luzerne Association, 246. 
 Lincoln's Death, 289. 
 Lord, John F., 315. 
 Moravian Missionaries, 2. 
 Methodist Churches, 4. 
 Mills, Edward, 23. 
 Ministers, List of, 63. 
 Missionary Societies, 154. 
 Minor, C. S., 198. 
 Mumford, E. C, 215. 
 Moore, William T., 215. 
 Membership EoU, 218-237. 
 Marsh, Alexander, 237. 
 Montrose Presbytery, 240-241, 
 Miller, Eev. Adam, 260. 
 Miscellaneous Eecords, 275. 
 MoKinley's Death, 282. 
 Ministers from Church, 293. 
 Music, 308. 
 
 Mecklenberg Declaration, 328, 
 Montrose Church, 331. 
 Neal, John, 315. 
 Office Holders, 277. 
 Osborn, George B., 285. 
 Organ, 145, 312. 
 Presbyterian Churches, 9. 
 Pioneer Churches, 1-12. 
 Petition for Preaching, 24. 
 Presbytery on Slavery, 31. 
 Penwarden, George W., 113. 
 Pew Eenting, 169-170. 
 Pewholders, 174. 
 Parke, Eev. N. G., 178, 331. 
 Purdy, Hon. George S., 184, 212, 
 Penniman, F. B., 200. 
 Powell, S. W., 212. 
 Penniman, E. A., 213. 
 Penniman, Mrs. F. B., 237. 
 Political Parties, 275. 
 Partizan Lines Drawn, 277. 
 Pennell, Eev. A. E., 295. 
 Prayer Meetings, 304. 
 Psalter Service Adopted, 305. 
 Eoman Catholic Churches, 7. 
 Eowland, Eev. Dr. H. A., 33-34, 66, 
 
 321. 
 Eeed, William, 45, 94. 
 Eevivals, 58. 
 
 Eeitenauer, J. Adam, 109. 
 Eichmond, J. E., 134. 
 Eichmond, Mrs. J. E., 143. 
 Eockwell, Mrs. C. F., 149. 
 Eeading Eoom, 178. 
 Eoe, John F., 193. 
 Rockwell, Jabez, 196, 285. 
 Eockwell, C. F., 197, 332. 
 
336 
 
 HONESDALE PEESBYTEEIAN CHtTECH. 
 
 Rose, Lyman, 0., 210. 
 Eoosa, Dr. D. B. St. John, 237. 
 Eansom, Eobert E., 238. 
 Representation in Assembly, 248. 
 Roberts, Richard, 250. 
 Richardson, Rev. Lyman, 264. 
 Raymond, Rev. A. R., 264. 
 Rotary System, 306. 
 Rowland, Prances, 321. 
 Salem M. E. Church, 5. 
 Salem Presbyterian Church, 11. 
 Sterling Presbyterian Church, 12. 
 Sunday Schools, Pioneer, 14. 
 Salem Sunday School, 16. 
 Stourbridge Lion, 29, 207, 332. 
 Skinner, Rev. Dr., 37, 69. 
 Strong, Dr. A., 45, 94. 
 Swift, Rev. Dr., 52, 61, 74, 283, 317. 
 Seely, H. M., 57, 101, 137,317, 319. 
 Session, 75. 
 
 Seely, R. L., 86, 169, 317. 
 Stocker, R. M., 110, 137, 184. 
 Sutton, Clara T., 122, 204. 
 Snyder, Hon. Isaiah, 134. 
 Seelyville Sunday School, 135. 
 Spear, Elizabeth M., 140. 
 Swift, Mrs., 150. 
 Snyder, Mrs., 154. 
 Sohoonover, Rebecca, 158. 
 Stryker, Abram I., 186. 
 Stone, Henry W., 192, 273. 
 Smith, B. B., 197. 
 Sutton, James H., 203. 
 Salmon, H. S., 214. 
 Stone, W. H., 214. 
 Searle, A. T., 215. 
 Susquehanna Presbytery, 240, 243. 
 Stone, Rev. "WUliam, 242. 
 Synod of New York and New Jer- 
 sey, 245. 
 Statistics, 251. 
 Stone, William R., 273. 
 Slavei-y Discussions, 30, 276. 
 Smith's Store, 279. 
 Seely, Franklin A., 288. 
 Seely, George D., 288. 
 Snyder, Rev. George N., 295. 
 Scott, Caroline, 315. 
 Scott, Rev. J. W., 315-316. 
 Scranton Church, 331. 
 Tabernacle, The Old, 20. 
 Tracy, Horace, 33, 85. 
 Torrey, Rev. Stephen, 36, 55-56, 98. 
 Torrey, Rev. David, 41, 53, 294. 
 Tracy, M. L., 50, 95, 309. 
 Thompson, Andrew, 55, 107. 
 
 TracyvlUe Sunday School, 13ff. 
 
 Thompson, Mrs. Andrew, 148. 
 
 Torrey, Caro N.. 149. 
 
 Torrey, Miss Clara E., 153. 
 
 Tracy, Mrs. Clarissa T., 156. 
 
 Torrey, Jason, 162, 270, 320. 
 
 Torrey, John, 166, 180, 187. 
 
 Torrey, E. F., 180, 210, 314. 
 
 Tracy, Thomas H. R., 190, 308, 311. 
 
 Torrey, R. N., 208, 285. 
 
 Thompson, A. P., 218. 
 
 Tarbox, David, 237. 
 
 Tracy, C. W., 286. 
 
 Temperance, 290. 
 
 Tracy, Frederick E., 314. 
 
 Van Kirk, W. H., 288. 
 
 Woodbridge, Ann, 16. 
 
 Wayne County House, 22. 
 
 Wurts, Maurice, 26. 
 
 Warren, Rev. Watters, 28, 66. 
 
 Ward, S. D., 44, 92. 
 
 Westwood, Rev. Dr., 50-51, 72. 
 
 Waller, G. G., 53, 183,202. 
 
 Ward, W. J., 109. 
 
 Woman's Work, 139, 169. 
 
 Weston, Mrs. Mary F. R., 143, 148. 
 
 Ward, Mrs. Mary F., 150. 
 
 Woodhouse, Millicent F., 159. 
 
 Waller, C. P., 169, 201. 
 
 Waldron, Gilbert and J. G., 186. 
 
 Woodhouse, Horace A., 205. 
 
 Wheeler, TJ. V., 206. 
 
 Weston, W. W., 209. 
 
 Wilson, Henry, 210, 285. 
 
 Weston, J. D., 213. 
 
 Wood, S. B., 217. 
 
 Wood, W. W., 217. 
 
 Williston, Rev. Seth, 242. 
 
 Woodward, Rev. James W., 242. 
 
 Wright, Rev. W., 261. 
 
 Ward, Rev. E. 0., 266. 
 
 Weston, Elijah, 268. 
 
 Weston, Luther, 268. 
 
 Whaley, Rev. Samuel, 272. 
 
 Wright, Dr. Urial, 273. 
 
 Wright, William, 274. 
 
 War Record, 284. 
 
 Watts, Graham, 287. 
 
 Weed, Orlando, 312. 
 
 Wilkes-Barre Church, 329. 
 
 Wyalusing Church, 330. 
 
 Toung People's Societies, 18, 46, 
 
 306. 
 Toung, Mrs. Coe F., 142. 
 Young, Coe F., 200. 
 Zinzendorf, Count, 1, 13. 
 
 Error page 314 — H. O. Hamlin was a land agent in Minneapolis, Minn