Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-03-27

! CenGerVlllel, making 30 miles of q
bride path through an unbroken Wild
erness of forest; thence II miles to
Brockway's settlement near Benefits
Branch; thence % miles to the con-
fiuence of Benefits Branch with the
DrlftWood; thence 16 miles to the mouth
OF the Slnnamahoning; thence Is miles
to YoungWomanstoWn North Point:l
thence 81 miles returning to the con
f1uence of Benefits and DriftWood
(noW DriftWood); thence up the Drift.
wood IS miles to the Portage settle
ment NOW EmpOrium;) thence by
North Creek, by bride path. II miles
to Portage Greek; thence 10 miles to
Smethport, and over the mountains 10
miles to the Canoe Place; thence back
to Coudersport, the place of beginning.
Is miles. The mountains arc high
steep and rocky, the roads were rough
and not graded, the fordings over the
streams many and difficult, the valleys
narrow, and the people rough and un-
cultured, but ofkindly dispositions and
respectful toward religion. often leav-
ing their business on weekdays and
travelling many miles to attend servi-
ces, at which they were attentive list
eners. Meeting with this encourage
ment on the part of the people, the
preacher gladly braved the dangers of
forest and stream, making the rounds
OF this circuit about once in two weeks
and with such regularity, that during
the first three years disappointments
were unknown. Services being over
the Preacher led the Glass, and invited
all serious persons to remain for same.
In the interim of these ministerial
visits it was the custom to hold PRAYER
meetings at many OF the preaching
places, after the manner Of our present
class meetings, but no regular organic
ed classes with leaders were held in the
Valley Of tho Sinnamahoning. until
they were formed in 1887 by Samuel
Pitt During 1924 the circuit rider was
Rev. James Hazen, and in 1925 Rev.
Nathaniel Mills was appointed by the
Baltimore Conference. As he was an
old man, ordained by Bishop Asbury,
he was unable to endure the hardships
and exposure of his appointment, and
Rev. John Berien supplied the circuit
during the balance Of that year.
From 1926 to 1856 with the exception
of three or four years. regular appoint,
ments were made, about 40 different
preachers travelling the circuit during
that period, and as the work increased
two pastors We're appointed 10 do
Years work.
Shippen Circuit was formed in 1856,
and comprised Shipper, Portage and
Lumber Townships. In 1865 the name
Of the Circuit was finally changed to
Emporium, and c. w. &. NanFOssen
appointed pastor. The same year q
parsonage was built on the ground now
occupied by the residence CT William
Hackenberg.
In 1866 Rev. w. II. Stevens was ap-
pointed, to be followed during 1857
and 1865 by Rev James Mullin, father
Of Hon. II. II. Mullin, editor Of the
Cameron County Press. During 1867
Cameron was relinquished, and the
charge now consisted Of five appoint
ments, Emporium, Sizerville, Rich
Valley, West Creek and Beechwood.
Rev. NJ. L. Drum was pastor during
during 1869. 1870 and 1881. He was fol-
lowed by Rev. A. B. Hooveu, who
served during the years 1872 and 1873
and it was during his pastorate, that
the old Methodist Church and the
present Parsonage were erected I'm
fortunately this was followed by the
panic of 1874, and during the following
years, and up to 1888, the trustees were
kept busy taking down the Sheriff's
notices of the sale of the property.
Rev. J. w. Olewine was appointed HI,
1874 and served two years, and he was
followed il 1876 by the Rev II. T.
Cares, who also served two years. The
next pastor was the Rev. John Vroo-
man who served three years beginning
in 1875, Rev. 3. II. Crever, having
been appointed in 1881 served two
years. to be followed in 1855 by Rev.
r. III. Gilbert, now at Berwick, Pa.
Mr.. Gilbert was appointed for En-
porium, and Rev. n II. Schenck for
the circuit. At the first quarterly
meeting held, Mr.. Gilbert proposed
that the entire Church debt, amount
ing to 81, 600 be paid by Thanksgiving
day. The members received this pro-
position as an example of boyish en-
thusiasm, but on Thanksgiving day o.
that year, the Methodists were enabled.
to hold their first Jubilee services in
honor of the liquidation of the debt Oh
the old church. During the following
year the interior of the building was
improved at cost of $4,000 and dur.
ing the third year of his ministry here,
in 1885, Emporium Church was set
apart by the Conference as separate
charge, or single station.
In 1886 Rev. Z. M. Stevens, now the
Presiding Elder of Juniata District,
and the son of Rev. w. II. Stevens,
who had been the Pastor during the
year 1866, was appointed, and during
his administration, the exterior of the
old church was repaired and repainted
at cost of S550.00 He remained with
us for three years, and was followed ir
1889 by Rev j. w. Rue, who served
four years 1t was during his admins.
tration, and due to his energetic W0a'k,
that the present church huildiur ~yas