Complex sentence: In 1855, there were four Roman Catholic families living in the village of Gowanda, and Rev. Pamphilius, a Franciscan friar who had traveled there from Ellicottville, celebrated religious services with them at the home of Daniel Hurdley.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1855, there were four Roman Catholic families living in the Village of Gowanda. At that time, Rev. Pamphilius, a Franciscan friar who had traveled there from Ellicottville, celebrated religious services with the families at the home of Daniel Hurdley.