Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.djvu/88

58 COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES religious and material, will always remain interwoven in the fibre of the history of Pennsylvania, and brighten its pages for all time.

Were it not for the custom of the Quakers to care for the education of the children, but few of the settlers of other sects could have gained a knowledge of the necessary rudiments of the English language. And still more creditable to the admirable system of the Quakers was the fact that any could attend these schools without attempts being made to influence their religious belief.

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, OR QUAKERS

In the absence of regular ministers the Society of Friends was best equipped for establishing public worship, and the presence of a considerable number of this sect at Catawissa led to the founding of a meeting there in 1787. For twenty years it continued to be the rallying point for the denomination in this region. A monthly meeting was established here in 1796, but in 1808 this was removed to Muncy on account of extensive emigration of the sect from Catawissa.

In 1795 a meeting was established in Greenwood township, and a year later another was established in Locust. In 1814, a monthly meeting was established at the latter place and is still continued. A monthly meeting was also established at Berwick in 1800, which continued with gradually diminishing strength until about 1865, when it ceased to exist.

The society was more firmly established in Greenwood township, where many members of the sect have resided continuously since the first settlement. In 1834 the different meetings of the sect were associated in a half-yearly meeting here and in 1856 the Muncy meeting was transferred here also. Although the name is retained and occasional meetings held in Locust and Catawissa, the chief activity of this denomination is confined to Greenwood, where there are two well supported meetings.

PRESBYTERIAN

The Scotch-Irish were an important clement in the pioneer life of this State and gave early prominence lo the Presbyterian denomination, to which they generally belonged. James McClure, who came to the region of Bloomshurg in 1772, was probably the first representative of this sect in Columbia county, but it was some years later before any organized effort was made to propagate its tenets here.

In 1789 this region is mentioned under the name of Fishingereek, in connection with Mahoning, Chillisquaque and neighboring localities, as in the Presbytery of Carlisle. This Presbytery had been formed three years before, but this region probably remained unoccupied until 1792, when Rev. Mr. Wilson, a licentiate of the Synod of New York, and a Mr. Henry were appointed to cultivate the field. Two years later Rev. John Bryson was sent to this region and became pastor at Warrior's Run and Chillisquaque, where he continued to serve for nearly half a century. In the following year Kev. John Porter was commissioned to start from Fishing creek and missionize up the river to Wyoming and Tioga Point. The names of Rev. Benjamin Judd, Ira Condit and William Spear, the latter a licentiate, appear also as appointed to missionize at this period along the east branch of the Susquehanna. Revs. Andrews and Gray also did more or less missionary tabor in this field.

The first church of this denomination, known then as "Briarcrcek” and at present as "Hidlay" Church, was organized about 1796 in Centre township, the house of worship being built in that year. In 1817 a second church was organized in Bloomsburg with three members, who immediately set about erecting a commodious building. A third organization was effected at Berwick in 1827; another in Orange township in 1842; in Greenwood the following year; in Scott in 1853; in Sugarloaf in 1858; and in Centralia in 1867. The Sugarloaf church was later removed to Benton.

The first pastor to reside permanently in this section was Rev. Asa Dunham, whose home was near Buckhom. He was a soldier of the Revolution, having served directly under Washington. In 1799 he was appointed to serve in the counties of Luzerne and Northumberland, the latter then including Columbia county, and for many years served the churches at Briar Creek and Fishing Creek, traveling through the entire region and preaching wherever a class could be assembled.

After 1817 Rev. John B. Patterson and Rev. Samuel Henderson were engaged in the work in these counties, the former at Bloomsburg and the latter at Briar Creek. From 1824 to 1830 the pastors who labored in (his field were Revs. John Niblock, James Lewers, Crosby, Matthew B. Patterson, Robert Bryson, Robert Dunlap and Ezra S. Ely.

In 1832 Rev. John P. Hudson, a Virginian, was appointed stated supply for the churches at Bloomsburg, Briar Creek and New Columbia. He always rode a blooded horse, famous