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/299

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COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES

Professor Schoonover and w ife did excellent work. T he school w as very prosperous under their administration. T hey b « a m c very much endeared to their pupils and were regarded as true benefactors. During this principalship M iss M ary A. Achcnbach taught music. In 1875 Rev. A. Houtz took charge of the academy and served it nearly two years with Fran cis H erring and M iss Sadie Spear as his assistant teachers. In 1876 and 1877 ser‘ed by John Aikman and Francis Herring. Rev. C. K. Canfield was principal from 1877 to 1882. M r. Canfield was a good solicitor and drew students from Bradford county and other distant points. He not only had a large attendance, but maintained a corps o f ^ o ^ teachers, among whom w ere: M rs. Canhcld, Augustus Y. B u r n e r, M iss Newman, Andrew Y. Husler, G. L. Jo lly, M iss Carrie Dicker and a M r. Harrison. Rev. M r. Canfield w as suc­ ceeded by P rof. Francis Heck, 1882 to 1884; P rof. Jam es F. Harkins, 1885-86; L. P. Ster­ ner. 1086-88: W. C. M auser and C. H. Moore, until 1894. It then ceased to be an academy and W'as sold to the township for school pur­ poses. When Orangeville b « a m e a borough the officials bought the building from the town­ ship. T he hall is now used for entertainments and the first fioor has iKcn repaired and is occupied as a high school. The school directors o f (.Orangeville a r c : A. Houtz. C arl Fleekenstine, (Tlinton Herring. Gerald Conner, Charles II. Dildine. T he school directors o f Orange township a r c : J. A. Kline. J. C. Montgomery. J. P. Houckc, n. J. Hippensteel, B. A. Steiner. REI.tOIOL’S

Before the founding o f Orangeville the old M cH enry church was built two milc.s west o f Orangeville on land given by .Andrew Larish in 1800. T be church was erected in i8 to and used as a house o f worship by the Reform ed, Lutheran and Presbyterian congregations for more than a quarter o f a centurj'. Edward M cH enry came into possession of the farm adjoining in 1828, increased the size o f Ihe graveyard and thus had the church named after him. It had been laid out as a cemetery in 18 13 by the previous owner. Harmon Faust. Among (he pastors who preached in (his church were Revs. Baughcy and Bcnninger, of the Lutherans; Dicffenbach. of the R eform ed; and Patterson and Hudson, of the Prcsb)'tcrians. In 1837 the roof of the church collapsed be­ neath a weight o f snow, and soon after the

ruins were removed to make way for a sclioolhouse. T he three denominations before mentioned in 1839 united in the erection o f a union church in Orangeville, at a cost o f $1,60 0. T his union church IS still the home of the Reform ed and Lutheran congregations, but the Presbyterians now have a home of their own. The Reform ed congregation o f Orangeville w as formerly part of the Bloomsburg charge. When Rev. William Goodrich resigned in ii5>5 the Orangeville charge, embracing also St. Jam es and Mbunt Zion, Rev. E. B. Wilson w as called to the charra in 1866 at a .salar)* o f $500 a year, and served until his death in 1868. F o r three years after the church was without a pastor and the membership decreased consid­ erably. In 1869 R ev. A . Houtz took charge, and at once the spirit of the congrs^ation re­ vived. He increased the membership and the salary also. The H idlay congregation w as an ­ nexed lo this charge in 18 7 1. Altc^cther M r. Houtz continued to minister to (he conCTcgations fo r forty years, when he resigned, still enjoying the love and respect of the entire communit)'. H is ministry w as one o f devo­ tion to his M aster and his people, and during that time the congregations were increased, the church buildings improved and a successful financial system adopted. He still resides in Orangeville, sometimes officiates in one of the pulpits, and is active and vigorous, being at present a member of the school board. R ev. v'. S . Gerhard was pastor until succeeded by Rev. .A. M. Shaffncr, in October, 1914. The Presbyterian appointment w as form erly a station of the old Briarcreek charge. O cca­ sional scrv'iccs were held in the f)rangcviUc schoolhouse by pastors on their way to the MeHenr)' church. When Rev. D. J.' W aller be­ came pastor in 1838 r ^ l a r services began, and in the following year they occupied the union church. T he form al organization of the church occurre<l in 1842. Samuel White. John B . Patterson and John B . E dgar being elected elders. T he other members were Sarah W hite. Ann Charity Patterson, Elizabeth Edgar, Isaac Kline. M ary Kline. John Tiite, Lucy W hite, Ann Kline. Ruth Dildine. M ary Welsh. T he subsequent pastors o f this church: Revs. Charles Williamson, George W. Newell. W . P. Tcit.sworth. Nathaniel Spear. D. J . W aller, J r .. C. K . Canfield. R . H. Davis, Jam es W . M artyn. F . B . Frisbic. J . B . Christ and John W . K e m . the present pastor. T h e present church was built in 1885 and dedicated (he following year. The congregation donated its share in the union