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.pdf/210

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

A. R o ss; 1843, Thom as Tanneyhill, Thomas B o w m an; 1 8 ^, Francis N. M ills, W. L. Spotts­ w ood: 1 ^ 5. John Bowen, W. F. Pentz, T. Bow m an: 1 ^ 6, John Bowen. J. W ..B u ll, T. Bow m an: 1847, A. Brittain, J. S. M cM urray, T. Bow m an; 1848, A. Brittain, N. S. Bucking­ ham; 1849, Philip B. R eese; 1850, P. B. Reese, B. B. H am lin: 18 5 1. H. G. Dill, Justice A. M click; 1852, H. G. 1^ 1, Jam es C u m s; 1 1853, John Moorhead, J. C u m s; 1854, John Moorhead, Thom as Sherlock; 18 55, Thomas Barnhart, Samuel B arn es: 1856. Thomas Barnhart. M. L. D rum; 1857. H. ,G. Dill, Thom as Sherlock; 1858, H. G- Dill, John G u ss; 1859, A. W. Gtbson, C. H. Savid ge; i860, A. W. Gibson. S. L. Bow m an; i & i , S. L. BowTnan, J. F. P o rter; 1862, A. M. Barnitz. V. C. Ile s s e r; 1863, A. M. Barnitz, F. E. C hurch; 1864-65. M. r. Crosthwaite. S. C. Sw allo w; 1866, John A. Gere, W. H. Norcross. B f-r w i c k S t a t i o n .— Berw ick having grown in size and importance, and the church requir­ ing the entire time and service o f a pastor, the members petitioned the presiding bishop of the E ast Baltimore Conference (Bishop K in gs­ ley) in 1867 to set aside Bcrwicic as a separate charge. Accordingly. Berwick Station was duly established, with Rev. John A. Gere, D. D., a s pastor. U nder his w ise administra­ tion and superior management the station, with a membership o f about 140, w as thoroughly organized and equipped for the work before it. T he official board of the new charge em­ braced the following well-known persons: I » s c Bowman. W illiam H. Woodin, Morrison fe. Jackson, Mordecai W. Jackson, Oemuel R. Woodin. H enry C. Freas. Paul Fortner, W illiam J. K norr, E. B. H ull, J. W. Bowman, Jam es Jacoby. William H. Woodin was elected recording steward and Sunday school superintendent and in both capacities he served the church with marked fidelity and success. T he ministers from this period forw ard have been as follow s: 1867-68, John A. G ere; 1869-70, Finley B. R id d le; 10 7 1-7 3, William W. E v a n s; 1874-75. Samuel Creighton: 187678. Jam es H. M cG arrah; 1879-82, M artin L. Sm yscr: 1882-84, W illiam W. E v a n s; 188587. Ezra H. Y o cu m; 18 8 8 -^. Benjamin H. M osser; 18^1-93. Richard H inkle; 1894-96, T. L. Tom km son: 1897-90. Alexander R. M il­ le r; 1900-06, Richard H. G ilb ert; i9o(>-io, O rlandoG . H eck; 19 10 -15, J . Howard Ake.

territory equaling a quarter of the Common­ wealth o f Pennsylvania, while at an earlier period the circuit formed part o f a district which extended from Montreal in C a n a ^ to Berwick and Clearfield in Pennsylvania. T he Berwick Methodist Church has been connected with three Annual Conferences, the Baltimore, the E ast Baltimore and-the Central Pennsyl­ vania. T he itinerant ministr)' has given B er­ wick a large number o f ministers o f diversified talents, some o f whom were giants in their day and prominent in the councils of the church. One o f her ministers, born In B ria r­ creek, near Berwick, R ev. Thom as Bowman, who was attached to the Berwick appointment in early manhood, became president o f D ick­ inson Sem inary, at Williamsport. P a., and later the president o f D ePauw U niversity, at Grccncastlc, Ind., and subsequently, in 1872. was elected a bishop of the Methodist E p is­ copal Church. H is death at the advanced age o f ninety-six years occurred in 19 14 . Another, Rev. Jesse B . Young, D. D ., soldier, preacher, author and editor, was bom in Berwick and entered the ministry from the local church, filling many appointments, w as elected editor of the "Central Christian A dvocate" o f St. Louis, and in quite recent years published a histoiy of the battle o f Gettysburg, pronounced by critics a most accurate and comprehensive account o f this great battle. pROPEim’.— F o r a few years the Methodists occupied as a preaching place the second story of the old Market house (also used for school purposes), which stood in the center of M ar­ ket street immediately opposite the site of the ircscnt church building. A fterw ard s an old og building, originally erected as a dwelling, later arranged as a storeroom, became the sanctuary of these devout people. In 1 8 1 1. on the completion o f his new dwelling on Second street. Hugh Thompson tendered lo the grow ­ ing society the use o f his “ best room” fo r di­ vine service, and, being accepted. Ihe “ old log building" w as vacated. On special occasions o f cxtraordinar)' interest, the house not a f ­ fording sufficient accommodation, the congre­ gation worshipped in the bam . Encouraged by the increase in membership means were t.nken towards the erection o f a church. A lot on the corner o f Mulberry and Third streets was secured and in 18 17 a brick edifice was raised thereon and dedicated. T h is building still stands, now occupied as a dwelling. The CONNRCTIONAL SvSTEM AND TH E IT IN E R ­ increasing congregations and growth necessi­ ANCY. — T he Methodist Church o f Berwick in tated a more commodious and better arranged 1867 w as connected with a laigc district with edifice. T he lots on the com er o f M arket and many appointments and in extent embraced a .'second streets, then valued at $400. were do-

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