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erable dissension to quell. For a time the attendance was somewhat lighter, but during Rev. O. M. Martin's ministry a great revival occurred, and the church regained its former position. He was followed by Revs. J. W. Hewitt, C. V. Arnold, J. H. Weston, J. L. Wells and J. L. Race. During the ministry of Rev. J. L. Race the East New Milford Methodist Church was built, and the large congregation was divided. Mr. Race entered into an arrangement to preach there regularly on the afternoon of every Sabbath, as his predecessors had at the school house. Occasionally, however, when the weather was fair, numerous members from either place were seen in the congregation at the other house of worship.
A plot of land having been secured of Mrs. Ellen B. Whitlock for six hundred dollars, fifty dollars of which was donated to the church, a neat parsonage was erected, and on the 8th of April, 1884, a meeting of the board of trustees was held for the purpose of making arrangements for moving the church to the parsonage lot, near the residence of E. A. Pratt. On this occasion Samuel Green was chosen president and John Cobb secretary. H. B. Carpenter, John A. McConnell, J. E. Gunn, Charles Bronson, E. G. Lloyd, and Rev. J. L. Race (pastor) were present, and a committee having been appointed to solicit subscriptions to defray the necessary expenses of removal, it was resolved to undertake the work as soon as five hundred dollars should be obtained. The building was removed the following fall, and raised upon a spacious and substantial basement, and on the 28th of November, 1885, the job of finishing the church according to specifications was let to J. W. Gillespie for eleven hundred and twenty dollars. As a church edifice it ranks among the largest and finest in the county. The present pastor is Rev. J. F. Warner, who came here in the spring of 1885.
In looking back along the list of influential members of this church who have from time to time served as trustees, we find many worthy names, which are perhaps remembered with pleasure by people in different parts of the country,--Joseph P. Miller, an old man still living at East New Milford, and attending the sanctuary regularly; William Tinker, Benjamin Warner, Calvin Wellman and Oliver P. Tallman, all gone to their rest long since; Pierce Dean, another honored citizen, still living on his farm, a mile west of the borough; M. C. Dikeman, a well remembered school teacher of earlier days, long since departed; William Gunn, Thomas J. Tallman, Richard Hartt, Edwin Baldwin, R. J. Vailes, Joseph Rice, C. S. Page and more now numbered among our respected citizens.
A very flourishing Sunday school, conducted by an able corps of teachers, has nearly always been a prominent feature of this church, as well as others, and the order of work and style of instruction is, to say the least, highly commendable. It has in connection, a very fine library.
Among the churches in New Milford, the Roman Catholic compares favorably with those of other denominations in size and number of adherents. Its members represent about fifty families, many often attending from Great Bend and surrounding sections. What Ichabod Ward was to the Presbyterians in this locality, the Hon. John Boyle was to the Roman Catholics. A sort of mission was established here at an early day, and for a period of more than forty years previous to the erection of the church, religious services were held at his residence on the occasional visit of a priest, and it was mainly through the zeal and energy of that pioneer Catholic that this denomination is indebted for a place of worship here. For many years Rev. J. V. O'Reilly, a veteran missionary, whose death occurred in 1873, had charge of this and many other missions, which in those early days were scattered over the counties of Susquehanna, Bradford, Wayne and Luzerne. The labors of attending that extent of country were most arduous, and as the roads were in poor condition, many journeys were traveled on horseback. But O'Reilly was a man that never faltered in his religious duties, and he did not despair. His later years were made brighter as he looked back along the pathway he had trod, and beheld the fruits of his labor springing up, and the cross erected in many places where he had organized feeble missions in some settler's humble cabin years before, and he felt that the harvest was fully commensurate with his trouble. When the members in this locality became sufficient in numbers and means to demand a church edifice, Mr. Boyle came forward and liberally donated the land for its site, and in October, 1869, they commenced building a chapel twenty-six by fifty feet; but shortly after the frame work was raised, it was blown down by a terrific gale of wind. Undaunted in their efforts, they set to work with renewed energy, and in a short time the damage was repaired and the building was enclosed. It was completed and appropriately dedicated in July, 1871. For the dispatch and perfection of the undertaking much is due to the untiring efforts of the Rev. Edmund Fitzmaurice, then located at Dunmore, PA, who ably superintended the work. He is now located in Hazleton. The present pastor is Rev. P. J. McManus, of Great Bend.
Several Baptists were here at an early day, but when the Baptist Church was organized near Mr. Moxley's, in South New Milford, in 1827, they joined there, and no church was built in the borough. A complete account of the Baptist Church there is given in the history of the township. In the fall of 1885, a small Baptist mission was organized by Rev. O. W. Cook in a room over W. G. Smith's store, which finally developed into a more complete church organization. A charter has been applied for, and a plot of ground secured, and the time is probably not far distant when a Baptist Church will be numbered with the other churches here. The church is at present presided over by Rev. I. D. Mallery.
The Universalists have also lately organized, and the prospects are that they, too, will soon have a church edifice in New Milford. There are many of that persuasion in both the borough and township, and as they are generally people of considerable means, they can, if they choose, build a fine house of worship. Many meetings were held here during the winter of 1887, and much interest was manifested. They were principally conducted by Rev. L. F. Porter, of Brooklyn, Mrs. L. F. Porter, Rev. Mr. Hand and others.
NEW MILFORD CEMETERY.--The New Milford Cemetery is one of the oldest and most beautiful "cities of the dead" to be met with in Susquehanna County. It is pleasantly situated on a high, sandy knoll overlooking the town and valley at the southern extremity of the borough, and comprises several acres in extent. The original part was conveyed by deed to the township at an early date, before the incorporation of the borough, and is now mostly taken up. It has since been greatly enlarged, and it is thought there is now more dead buried here than there are living people in the town. An hour or two spent here calls up many memories of the past and awakens reflections on the future. In olden times the Newburg turnpike used to wind along the northern ascent to the cemetery, and pass over the hill on the back side; but with the change in the road, the western boundary of the cemetery was made to conform thereto. It is surrounded by a stone wall, with two entrances from the road on the west. Entering the northern gate, we pass up the steep ascent between the rows of unpretentious tombstones, and soon stand upon a small flat at the top of the elevation, where the first internments were made. Here, centrally situated, is a small, dark-colored slate stone, well preserved, bearing the following inscription: "In memory of Warner Corbett, who died March 23, 1795, Ae. 7 years"
It is thought to be the oldest tombstone in the county. Near by is another of the same description, which reads as follows: "Here lies Gitte, consort of Col. Christopher Longstreet, who died May 11, 1813. Ae. 73 years" "The sweet remembrance of the just shall flourish though they sleep in dust."
Among others are David Summers, died 1816; Nathan Mitchell, died 1816, aged thirty-five; Nicholas McCarty, died 1821, aged fifty-one; Wm. Ward, died 1849, aged sixty-four; Lemuel W. Bingham, 1794-1867; Robertson Wood, died 1843, aged fifty-four; Ogden Pratt, died 1859, aged thirty-five; Ezra Pratt, died 1875, aged eighty-seven; Richard Morse, died 1865, aged sixty; Henry Burritt, died 1878, aged seventy-eight.
SOCIETIES.---I.O.O.F.--One of the first societies organized here was the old "Canawacta Lodger," No. 207, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The charter was first issued October 19 1846, and the first regular meeting held on the 24th of December following. The following named persons were the first officers: Noble Grand, A. N. Meylert; Vice-Grand, Wm. C. Ward; Secretary, G. B. R. Wade; Assistant Secretary, James M. Ward; Treasurer, Nathan Cadwell. The subordinate officers were John Hayden, Right Supporter to Noble Grand; Allison Pratt, Conductor; Nathan Mitchell, Senior Warden; and Lemuel B. Mitchell, Inside Guardian. After about six years the lodge was moved to Great Bend, the first meeting there being held on the 1st of January, 1852. It was held there until 1856, when the charter was given up, and for a long time the meetings were discontinued. On the 17th of December, 1874, the charter was reissued, and the lodge re-established at New Milford. The new charter members were Tracy Hayden, A. C. Merryman, S. P. Smith, James Tennant, John Hayden, Stewart Meade, M. T. Very , William E. Lawson, C. E. Lawson, David Wellman, John T. Williams, J. N. Low, William Smith, John A. Dix, O. P. Tallman and David Summers , of New Milford, S. B. Chase, of Great Bend; and S. H. Morse, of Montrose. The following officers were elected: Noble Grand, Tracy Hayden; Vice-Grand, A. C. Merryman; Secretary, S. P. Smith; Assistant Secretary, James M. Tennant; Treasurer, John Hayden. The meetings of the lodge are held weekly over Dean Brothers, store. The present membership numbers thirty-six.
F. and A.M., No 507---A Masonic lodge was chartered in this place December 6 1872, with the following charter members: W. T. Ward, W. R. Brink, D. C. Ainey, M. Hayden and William S. Mead. The following were the first officers: Worshipful Master, E. K. Richardson; Senior Warden, W. T. Ward; Junior Warden, W. R. Brink; Secretary, M. Hayden; Treasurer, D. C. Ainey. Their meetings are held in the splendidly furnished rooms over J. C. McConnell's drug store. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, numbering among its thirty-seven members many of the leading men of the borough and township. Among the more prominent Past Masters are E. K. Richardson, N. O. Ainey, Daniel D. Tompkins, Dr. DE. C. Ainey, Norman Tingley, D. P. Little, W. S. Mead, C. M. Shelp, E. O. Perry and O. C. Tingley.
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for New Milford Borough township extracted from
Stocker Centennial History of Susquehanna County
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