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had comparative prominence and affluence rendered his influence valuable and his counsel much sought after. His death, on November 28 1885, was sudden, and his relatives and friends experienced a sever shock when the fact was recognized. In 1835 he married Samantha Harding, and during their fifty years of wedded life she proved a helpmeet indeed, her care and affectionate sympathy ever giving the home circle a happy tone. She was the daughter of Abraham (1779-1856) and Deborah (Newman) (1779-1846) Harding. Her father was the son of Abraham Harding, of near Otisville, NY, a farmer who came from Nova Scotia. The children of Abraham and Deborah Harding were Lydia (1801-1840), was the wife of Robert Comfort, of Sullivan County, NY; Daniel W. and James E. both died in infancy; Henry O. (1807-1866) was a Sullivan County farmer (he came to Susquehanna County at an early day, but returned to his native county and died there); Abigail M., born 1809, is the widow of Thomas Wilson, a farmer of this township; Temperance A. (1811-1881) married Hiram Decker, formerly of Middletown, NYH, and now of Buffalo; Samantha, born 1813, married James Van Cott; and Harrison (1819-1856), a farmer of Sullivan County.
The two children of James and Samantha Van Cott are Harrison H., born 1842, a progressive farmer and stock dealer of New Milford, who married, in 1863, Amanda, the daughter of Robert Moore, of Bridgewater, and has two children, Wm. H. and Lewis; and William M., born 1846, an intelligent farmer also of the township, who married in 1871, Ada, the daughter of W. Youngs and Rebecca J. Wilson.
SCHOOLS.---One of the first schools in this section of the county was taught by Gurdon Darrow, in a little building near the cemetery, in 1812. A primitive school house was also built near the "Sand Bank", which accommodated the pupils of both the New Milford and Summersville settlements. The pioneer teachers were usually very thorough, and a number in this section taught excellent schools. Among those especially worthy of mention were L. W. Bingham, John Phinney, Miles Dikeman. After awhile the school house near the "Sand Bank" was moved away, and a little red school house with a square roof was erected near Doctor Bingham's, where a school was maintained many years. Years afterwards, another house was built near the Methodist Church, at the southern extremity of Back Street. It has lately been moved a short distance and fitted up for a private dwelling. After the school law went into effect more attention was given to the public schools, and better facilities were demanded. The graded school building was accordingly erected, near the Congregational Church, on the east side of the Park. It is one of the most beautiful locations in the place. The building was originally forty feet square, and two stories high, conveniently arranged for primary and intermediate schools on the lower floor, and a graded school on the upper one. It has lately been increased in length and an addition erected at the side, and, with its present neat arrangement and thorough management, affords facilities unsurpassed by any similar institution in the county. Three schools are taught in the lower rooms. Among the different principals who have conducted this school we notice the names of Professor M. L. Hawley, late superintendent of public schools in Binghamton, New York; Hon. Eugene B. Hawley, afterwards editor of the Montrose Democrat, and State senator from this district; Professor E. K. Richardson, at one time station agent at this place, and late principal of the graded school at Great Bend; Professor W. W. Watson, afterwards county superintendent, and for many years a very able attorney at Montrose; Professor H. L. Griffis, who left here in 1880, after serving two years, to accept the appointment of professor of natural sciences in the Binghamton High School, and Professor U. B. Gillett; who has recently been elected county superintendent. In most cases the assistant teachers have been especially proficient in their vocation, and have had a long and satisfactory experience. Among these we notice the names of Eliza Foot, Carrie Doolittle (now Mrs. Frederick Jay) and Mrs. U. B. Gillett.
CHURCHES.--Several of the early settlers of this place were church members before coming here, and in their new homes, in the heart of the great wilderness, they were lonesome and almost lost without some place to meet together for public worship. At a meeting of the Episcopalians on the 1st day of July, A. D. 1816, a permanent organization was effected, and preliminary steps taken towards the building of a church edifice. David Badger, Esq., was chosen moderator, and Chauncy B. Foot, clerk of said society. It was voted that David Badger, Esq., be appointed senior warden, and John Foot, senior warden (2nd). Arad Wakelee and Benjamin Doolittle were appointed vestrymen, and John Foot and Ressline Smith, choristers. A petition for a charter was signed by David Badger, John Foot, Arad Wakelee, Benjamin Doolittle, Samuel T. Beardslee, Belus H. Foot, Gaius Moss, Daniel White, John Phinney, Jos. Doolittle, Isaac Edson, L. W. Bingham and Samuel Ward. The charter of St. Mark's Church was widely given September 2 1817. Rev. Samuel Marks was widely known as one of the most influential clergymen of those times. David Badger and John Foot, who had taken such an active part in the organization of the church, were constituent wardens, and Arad Wakelee, Benjamin Doolittle, Julius Jones, Stephen Barnum , Samuel T. Beardsley, Belus H. Foot, William Ward and Freeman Badger, vestrymen. As soon as the proper arrangements could be made the church was erected, and its neat white belfry rose above the settlement in a very pleasing manner, to gladden the hearts of its many faithful adherents, and bid Christianity and civilization a hearty welcome. For many
years it was the only church edifice in the place; and its bell, which was the first to send its silvery tones rolling through the far extending forest to reverberate and echo among the far off hills on a silent Sabbath morning, was sometimes answered by the doleful howl of a distant wolf or the dismal hooting of owls, which at that day were often seen perched on some high dead limb around the borders of clearings, in the daytime. But it was also responded to in a different manner. A large congregation nearly always assembled; and most of them being willing workers, much interest was manifested, and, although it had many inconveniences to meet, as all pioneer churches did, it struggled bravely through and success crowned its efforts. Fifty acres of land were contributed to the church by the heirs of Isaac Wharton, which was sold June 30 1820, to Freeman Badger, for one hundred dollars, and the proceeds applied as directed. Henry Burritt, William Ward, Albert Moss and John Badger were prominent in the early history of the church and old Major Hammond, Richard Moss, Josiah Moss, Philander Phinney, Horatio Garratt, Albert Moss Jr., Samuel Moss and many more of the sober and enterprising citizens of both the borough and township have been active in its recent history.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.--Among the few settlers who gathered here about the beginning of the present century was Ichabod Ward, the father of William Ward, and the grandfather of the late William C. Ward. In him we may discover the first germs of the Presbyterian Church in this place. To him is due the honor of maintaining public religious worship, in his own large kitchen or the bar room of the Ward house every other Sabbath, and in the house of Deacon Titus Smith, in Franklin, every alternate Sabbath. Sometimes the two congregations worshiped together, at the house of Benjamin Doolittle, now the residence of Mr. Bisbee, on the hill a mile west of Phinney's Hotel. Mr. Ward also conducted services at funerals, in the absence of a minister. Occasionally an itinerant evangelist appear among the frontier settlements of the West, even as early as 1801 and 1802. The rude log dwellings in different sections were often crowded with earnest worshippers, and it was no uncommon thing in those days for people to go through the woods and new clearings from this place to Harford, Great Bend and Franklin to be present at preaching. It was largely due too the efforts and prayers of Ichabod Ward that, in 1813, a little band of twelve were gathered into the fold of the "Union Congregational Church" of Lawsville and New Milford (now the Presbyterian Church, of Franklin), from which have sprung the Congregational (now Presbyterian) Churches of Liberty and New Milford. At the head of the list of the original members of this mother church stand the names of Ichabod Ward and Mary, his wife. He died in 1824, and his widow four years later. Side by side their ashes sleep in the village graveyard.
Another not less prominent actor in these early scenes was John Hawley, one of the first deacons of the church in this place. The missionary found a welcome home under his roof, and his house was always open to the public for religious worship. For many years he conducted a distillery, an occupation which at that time was not deemed inconsistent with a Christian profession. Not only the cup of cold water was given in the name of a disciple, but too often, in accordance with the practice of the times, the inebriating bowl was offered and accepted. But, little by little, the light began to dawn upon the minds of intelligent Christians, and the demoralizing and destructive influence of intemperance began to be more widely seen and felt. It was related by Rev. Burr Baldwin, of Montrose, that, on his return from Synod, in 1828, where his mind hade been powerfully awakened by the discussion of the question of temperance, he met Deacon Hawley, and spoke to him of the alarming increase of drunkenness in the county, and of the responsibility of the church in regard to it, and asked him to give up his distillery. "Can't do it, Brother Baldwin," he replied, "it's the support of my family." Months passed on, and the parties again met. "How about the distillery, Brother Hawley?" "Brother Baldwin, I can't give it up; it's the support of my family." Other months went by, and the deacon again met his reprover. "How about that distillery?" "It's given up," was the reply. "Ah, indeed! But how about the family?" "Oh, they're living yet," he answered, with a significant smile. The victory was achieved; and from that day he became an earnest advocate of temperance. He served the church faithfully as deacon for fifteen years; but in 1841, in the midst of the anti-slavery agitation, in which he took high ground as an Abolitionist, he lost sympathy and patience with the church, and on account of words spoken in heated debate, which he afterwards refused to recall, he was dis-fellowshipped. He continued, however, to enjoy the confidence of all, and regarded the household of faith with a father's interest until his death, in 1856.
The history, proper, of this church begins with its organization, in 1826, though a few of its members had been identified with the mother church, while New Milford was an out station. During the ministry of Rev. Lyman Richardson, then in the height of his pulpit power, a great revival broke out in Franklin, in the spring of 1826, extending its quickening influence to New Milford. Encouraged by this token of the divine favor, a church of nineteen members was organized at the house of Deacon Hawley, in the following July, by Rev. Lyman Richardson and Rev. Burr Baldwin. The following is a list of the original members; John Hawley and Moab Hawley, his wife; John S. Handrick and Dotha Handrick, his wife; Joel Hotchkiss and Estella (Esther?) Hotchkiss, his wife; Hiram C. Baker; Phoebe Hawley, a widow; Hannah Doolittle, a widow, Mary Ward, widow of Deacon
chabod Ward, Dorathy Phinney; Eliza G. Handrick, now Mrs. Van Fleet; Mary H. Handrick, afterwards Mrs. Henry Bradley; Sally Hawley and Mary Ann Hawley, daughters of Deacon Hawley; Mary Foster; Rebecca Beardslee; Andrew Hawley, son of Deacon Hawley; and Lucretia Hotchkiss.
John Handrick, father of William C. Handrick, succeeded John Hawley as deacon in 1841. He is described as a man of strict and regular habits, maintaining with great fidelity the family altar, the prayer meeting, the Sabbath school and the public worship of the sanctuary. He served the church for ten years as its first clerk, frequently moderating its meetings, taught in its Sunday schools and diligently exercised his office of deacon from his election to the close of his life, in 1868. In all his sacrifices and services his wife, Dotha, bore a cheerful part, as an help-meet for him. She died in the fall of 1873.
Stephen K. Crane, the father of Rev. Henry J. Crane, was elected deacon with John S. Handrick, in 1841. His name frequently occurs as moderator of the monthly meetings, and for several years he superintended the Sabbath school. Prominent among the other deacons we notice the names of Seth Clark and Silas Corwin, elected in 1835; Kenneth A. Johnston and P. H. Corwin, elected in 1852. Shortly after the church was organized, the school house on Miller's Hill, near the C. M. Shelp farm, a little over a mile west of the borough, was fitted up for a place of worship and occupied alternately for many years, by the Methodist and Congregational Churches of this place. From 1826 to 1836, twenty members were added; from 1836 to 1846, thirty-three; from 1846 to 1856, fifty-two; 1856 to 1866, fifty-three; and from 1866 to 1876, forty-eight were received, making in all two hundred and twenty-five members during the first fifty years of its existence.
For many years the name of a Gospel minister rarely occurs in the records; but from incidental references it is evident that occasional crumbs did fall from the tables of surrounding churches, particularly those of Harford, Franklin and Great Bend, and once, at least, in June, 1834, a protracted meeting was held which continued five days. In June, 1838, Rev. E. Luce was engaged to preach here once in four weeks. Rev. Messrs. Pine, Loe and French are remembered in 1842, and Rev. Joseph Davison was here, more or less, from 1843 to 1846. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Hicks, who was in turn succeeded, in 1849, by Rev. William M. Wooley, then the young pastor of the church in Franklin. In 1850 the services of Rev. J. McCreary, of Great Bend, were secured. Meantime, from 1848 to 1850, Rev. Burr Baldwin, then Presbyterian missionary to the feeble churches, supplied the lack of other service, preaching in the neighborhoods. About this time the Sabbath morning service was transferred from Miller's Hill to the village. At first the upper loft of the flourishing tannery of the Pratt Brothers was utilized for a sanctuary and afterwards the large hall of the McCarty House. But the necessity of a new house of worship was fast becoming apparent to all, and in September, 1848, under the advice and encouragement of Mr. Baldwin, they resolved to undertake the work of building. A lot was presented by William Ward, Esq., lying in the vicinity of Mr. Garratt's, and a board of trustees was elected, consisting of B. B. Little, I. S. Corwin, R. L. Sutphin, James Boyle, H. A. Summers, P. H. Corwin and William C. Handrick, five of whom were appointed to a building committee. Solicitors were also appointed to raise subscriptions, who reported the following December ten hundred and forty dollars. Preparations were at once commenced to erect an edifice thirty-two by forty-six feet, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. By the following summer most of the material had been procured, and the work of framing, etc., was well advanced, when one day, while in the midst of their labors at a bee, where a number of willing workers had gathered, word was brought that, by the munificence of F. F. Badger, E. A. & O. Pratt, Henry Burritt, and others, land for a public park had been purchased and presented to the town, and a beautiful site on the east side was freely offered for a church and an academy. It is needless to say the offer was thankfully accepted. The building was raised the following October. A charter of incorporation was secured at the spring session of the court, and the dedication took place, with appropriate services, May 22 1850.
From the completion of their house of worship the church entered upon a brighter era. Rev. Henry Osborne, from the Presbytery of Catskill, became the first resident minister, in the spring of 1851, and continued till 1855. He is remembered as a gifted teacher, a faithful pastor and an able expounder of the Gospel, and under his ministry the church and congregation grew and flourished as never before. Rev. David A. Abbey ably served as minister from 1857 to 1861. Several brief engagements now followed, among whom were Rev. J. H. Crane, in 1861; Rev. J. H. Rickett, in 1862; Rev. J. P. Striker, in 1863; Rev. Wilbur Johnson, in 1865; Rev. Francis Rand, in 1866; Rev. Charles H. Wheeler, in 1867; and Rev. David M. Rankin, from the Great Bend Church, who preached here a part of the time until August, 1870. On the 10th day of April, 1869, the church, which had up to this time been known as Congregational, formally adopted the title and policy of a Presbyterian Church, and perfected its organization by the election of Willard Truesdell, Edward Whitlock and P. H. Corwin to the office of ruling elder. Rev. A. D. Barber entered upon the full service of the church in the fall of 1870, and continued about two years. He was followed by Rev. W. J. Arney, of Great Bend, who
preached here part of the time until the summer of 1874, when he was succeeded by J. O. Van Fleet, a student of the Theological Seminary of New Brunswick. Rev. H. H. Wells, of Kingston, was here a short time after Mr. Van Fleet, when the services of Rev. Willard P. Gibson were secured, who preached the "Semi Centennial Sermon" in 1876, from Job VIII. -8. Rev. R. N. Ives served as minister in 1878 and 1879, and the names of Rev. Charles S. Marvin and Rev. H. Benson also occur. The ministry of Rev. J. A. Rosseel, of Mount Pleasant, brings the history of the church down very nearly to the present time. In 1885, the building was raised and a neat basement built underneath, which, together with other extensive repairs, renders it all that could be desired as a pleasant and convenient house of worship.
The existence of a small Sunday school in connection with this church is still remembered on the hill, as early as 1829. It was first organized by J. W. Raynsford, Esq., of Montrose, it is thought, and afterward superintended by Deacons Hawley, Corwin and Crane, B. B. Little, P. H. Corwin, and others. Until about 1861 it was regularly closed during the winter, and was resumed early in May. Since that time it has generally been held the year round. It is usually well attended, has a fine library and is in a prosperous condition.
The history of the Methodist Church of New Milford may also be traced far back in the history of the settlement. Indeed, several of the earlier pioneers, including Benjamin Hayden, Captain Dean and others, were staunch Methodists when there was only an occasional break in the great woods, and but few settlers had dared the perils and privations of the borders. Their early church history is very similar to that of the Presbyterians. Prayer meetings were often held in the settler's houses, sometimes in the borough settlement and sometimes in the more isolated dwellings of the settlers in the township. Occasionally a minister came this way, and then everybody turned out and crowded the little log cabin to overflowing. Hymns were sung, for there were some good singers among the early backwoodsmen, and earnest prayers made and sermons were listened to with the greatest interest. It was no uncommon thing for the sturdy pioneer to bring out his oxen and sled on a bright moonlight evening, and taking his family, and perhaps some of his neighbors, go four of five miles through the woods to meeting. All formality and fashion were laid aside, and all met as equal brothers and sisters in a holy cause. The time was generally well spent, and they returned to their homes happy with the conscious knowledge that they had faithfully discharged their duty to God and man. Often the melodious sound of their voices rose in harmonious accord as they sang some familiar hymn on the return journey, which rang through the forest like heavenly music, such as only those who have listened to good singing in similar situations can understand and appreciate. A sketch of some of the earlier work of this society has already been given in the history of the township. The meetings at the school house on the hill west of the village were faithfully conducted for a long time, and are still remembered by older citizens.
On November 18 1848, the members of the society met, according to previous notice, for the purpose of appointing trustees for a contemplated meeting house, to be called the First Methodist Episcopal Church of New Milford. Rev. David Terry, pastor in charge, was chosen president. The following nine persons were elected trustees: Thomas Dean, Jared Beardsley, Joshua Phinney, Solomon R. Williams, Enoch Smith, Amos M. Brant, Dennis McKeeby, James B. Warner and Reuben Hatch. Joshua Phinney was elected secretary. At a meeting of the said trustees a few days later, C. C. Wright was chosen treasurer. After discussing different plans it was finally decided to build a house thirty-eight by fifty-three feet, and on January 22 1849, the contract was let to Simeon Lewis, for fifteen hundred dollars. Meanwhile a suitable lot had been secured at the foot of the "Dugaway Hill," where the Jackson road enters the town, the deed of which was given by Wm. C. Ward and wife, January 15 1849. A petition for a charter having been prepared, was duly signed as follows: Rev. George P. Porter, Joshua Phinney, Simeon Lewis, Solomon R. Williams, John F. Deans, Orrin Lester, Embley Shafer, P. Hinds, F. B. Chandler, Jonas Carter, Geo. V. Bentley, W. K. Hatch. The charter was filed January 16th and was granted by the court April 20 1849. The edifice was promptly pushed to completion, and the already large and flourishing society entered upon a still brighter era of its advancing history. It was by far the largest house of worship in the place, and its congregations, made up of both members and non sectarians, were generally large and attentive.
Among the many worth clergymen who have presided here we notice the familiar names of Rev. David Terry, who was here in 1848; Rev. George P. Porter; Rev. H. R. Clark, in 1857; Rev. S. Elwell, in 1866; and Rev. R. J. Kellogg, in 1870. At this time the church property was estimated to be worth four thousand five hundred dollars. Rev. J. S. Thomson came in the spring of 1871. He was an eloquent speaker, but his teachings were not deemed in accordance with the established doctrine of the church, and he was tried on the alleged charge of heresy and expelled. He afterwards organized a free religious society, and preached in Phinney's Hall, where immense congregations assembled to hear him, and later in the town hall, which was at first erected by a stock company, for his meetings. He was followed at the town hall by a Mr. Clark, but after a short time the members of the society became somewhat indifferent, and the meetings were discontinued. It was a hard blow for the Methodists, and Rev. Mr. Brooks, who succeeded Mr. Thomson at the church, found consid-
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