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/389

 COLUMBIA AXD MONTOUR COUNTIES Ixird's feet glorious with songs and testi­ monies. Others soon united with them, and the society increased in numbers." Up to 1804 Danville and the circuit in which it was plac4^ belonged to the Philadelphia Conference. In Ihat year a transfer of the entire district w as made to the Baltimore Con­ ference. Three years later the district was reassigned to the Philadelphia Conference. In 18 10 it was included in the Genesee Confer­ ence, with which it w as associated for ten years. In 1820 it w as again assigned to the Baltimore Conference. In >846 L in v ille was erected into a station, and from that time it received the ministrations o f its own pastors. A fte r worshipping for a number o f years in private homes the congregation then occupied an old schoolhouse on Church street called The Old Fort, situated between the old stone mill and Mahoning street. On special occa­ sions (he courthouse was used for religious services. Bishop A sb u o ’ preached there at one time, as did also the famous Ixirenzo Dow at another. The latter was a great occa­ sion, and people crowded to hear this gifted man. H e preached in (he afternoon in the courthouse and in the evening in the Union (later the Episcoral) church. He also preached twice the following day. In >839 a brick church w as erected, the building committee consisting o f Lyman Shotes, William Hartman and George B. Brown. 'This church was built on a lot con­ veyed by Gen. Daniel Montgomery to the trus­ tees. the present site of the high school build­ ing. O n Nov. 10, i8 w, this church was dedi­ cated, Rev. John Miller, presiding elder, preaching the scritKm. The first quarterly meeting was held in J e r ­ seytown M ay 2 t. 1836, the representatives from I>anville being: EUis Hughes, recording stew ard; William Hartman, and Lym an Sholcs. DanviUe had three cb sses at this time, led by William Hartman. EUis Hughes and Lyman Sholes. A single page o f EUis Hughes' class book contains the following nam es; W illamtna M . Hughes, M ary Hartman, Francis Ruch. Frances Ruch. WiUiam W hitaker and wife, Nancy Huston. William .Morrison, David Frees and wife. .Ann Tomisou. Sarah England. Mary Best. Ann D. Hughes, Ellen Ilughes, Isaac Ammerman. Charles Sholcs, .Mary Primer, Joseph Hiles. Isaac Ranck. Catherine Evans, M ary Linn, Susannah Phillips, Jam es Frieze. Samuel Schrock, Samuel Bowman. Mary Miller, Merritt and M ary Hyatt. M ary Rush. M ary Comelison and George B. Brown.

343

In 18 37 John Patton and (Tharlcs Sholes be­ came class leaders. In 1839 Samuel Alexander w as licensed to exhort and George W. Forrest and Merritt Hyatt became class leaders. In 1840 the con­ gregation was incorporated. In 1841 there were five classes, led by WiUiam Hartman, Thomas Woods, Edw ard Finney, George D. Leib and George W. Forrest. T his same year Irvin II. Torrence was licensed to exhort, and in April, 1842, licensed to preach. In 1846 there were seven church classes, ted by Edward Finney, M r. Patton, (Charles Sholes, Thomas Woods. G. W. Griffith, G. V. B. Clark and Samuel Coulston. These classes were held in the dwelling houses o f Henry H arris, William Deshay, WiUiam Hartman. EUis Hughes and Thomas Woods. K ev. Jolm G uycr was pastor at this time. In 1847 Rev. P. B. Reese was pastor, and during his term the subject o f building a new church was agitated, ilie r e was a diversity o f sentiment, but a vote taken in writing from each member decided in favo r o f a new build­ ing by a la ^ e majority. T he building com­ mittee appointed consisted o f Messrs. Reese, J. T. Heath. Thomas Woods, George B. Brown and Ellis Hughes, and they awarded the con­ tract to Anthony Whitman, March i t. 1848, fo r $5,400. T he cornerstone o f this new church, at the com er o f Mahoning and Pine streets, was laid Ju ly 22, 1848. by the Mnemoloton I^odgc o f M asons; two lodges o f Odd Fellows, the Sons o f Temperance. O rder of United American Mechanics and Danville Beneficial Society participating. In this year o f 1848 a new charter w as ob­ tained. A t this time there was no choir and no organ. Henry I-ong and John Simmons were officially requested to assist John Patlw i in "raising the tunes.” The new trustees for 1840 were W, R . G ear­ hart. D. C Hartman and Jam es Cousart. In the same year Rev. Thomas Mitchell w as pas­ tor. and that year the new church w as com­ pleted and dedicated, Rev. Jesse T . Peck, pres­ ident o f Dickinson Seminary', preaching the sermon. M r. Mitchell remained until 18 5 1. and during his pastorate a glorious revival took place. Then followed Rev. Joseph France, pastor from 1851 to i8c2. during whose term the hell was installed which still rings out the call to worship. Then came as pastors Revs. Jam es Brads. 18 53-54 : Thom as M . Reese, •flS.I-.Sfi: WiUiam Wilson. 1857-58: and W il­ liam Harden, 1858-59. Revivals o f great in­ terest occurred during the ministry o f each o f