The membership of this church is placed at fifty and the value of property at $5,000. The Baptist Church of Smethport had its origin in the society formed in Norwich township in 1820. The Baptist revival of May, 1836, was conducted by a Mr. Ketchum. He came to Farmers Valley to convert the people who scoffed at the preachers of the period. During the meetings a baby died at Smethport, and Mrs. Asa Sartwell went up to offer consolation to the parents. At the burial there was no one to say a prayer. Next morning she, with other women, went down to the camp, and arrived there just as Ketchum was reading the text-"Woe unto ye lawyers." After the rough address the women told him the state of affairs at Smethport, and he agreed to move on the village next day, provided the women would support him. He came and opened his batteries in the court-house. There was a Methodist class here composed of Richard Chadwick, Horace King, Mrs. Sol. Sartwell, Mrs. Ghordis Corwin and others, but they had no church house. All turned to Ketchum, who conducted the meetings for some days, when he was called away, leaving Mr. Denning, a Methodist preacher, to baptize sixty persons. In 1840 a soci ety was organized here with the following members: William Williams and wife, James Taylor and wife. Ann Taylor, William L. Oviatt and wife, Abner Lull, Benjamin Oviatt and wife, George Griswold and wife, Job Gifford, Sr., and wife, Elizabeth Holcomb, Amy Holcomb, Nelson Medbery and wife, Ghordis Corwin and Benjamin Corwin. The pastors have been Rev. S. Messinger, William Sawyer, Abner Lull, J. L. Smith, J. P. Evans, S. D. Morris, Columbus Cornforth, F. H. Gates, W. H. Willahan, C. H. Michelmore, and the secretaries have been George Griswold, William S. Oviatt, C. L. Douglas, Mrs. C. L. Douglas, P. D. Hopkins, J. H. Duntley and L. T. Medbery. In 1847 the church house was erected. This, with lot and other property, is valued at $5,000. The membership is fifty-six. The society was incorporated in June, 1850, on petition of Ghordis Corwin, J. L. Smith, Bester Corwin, William Williams, W. G. Oviatt and E. J. Cook. At the time of organization, in March, 1850, G. Corwin, William Williams, Wheeler Gallup, James Taylor, Benjamin Corwin and J. L. Smith were the trustees. The Catholic Church of Smethport may be said to be a continuation of the old mission of Instanter, established in 1809, and of St. Marys, founded in 1842, when the Reilly family came into the Daly settlement on Nunandah creek. A year later the Tracys came. In the fall of 1842 Father Berthy rode hither from Pittsburgh and held the first services of the church at James Daly's house. The settlement was subsequently visited by Father Alexander, by the present Bishop Mullin and other priests until Father Smith came, in 1845, to stay a few years. On March 1, 1848, John Keating donated to Bishop O'Connor, of Pittsburgh, in trust for the Catholic congregations in McKean county, a part of Warrant 2,050, near the lands of James Daly, Sr., while at Turtle Point, near William and John Crowley's lands, a tract of fifty acres was donated. A church building was erected in 1848-49 and dedicated by Bishop O'Connor. It was in use up to the time the church at Smethport was completed. At St. Marys Revs. John Burns and J. D. Cody were stationed, and a few missionary priests came hither until Father Madigan came; P. J. Patterson took charge and remained some years. Father Flood was here in 1869, after Father Patterson moved to Newell creek. Rev. John Smith came in 1881, and remained until Rev. J. J. Galligan was appointed, in 1884. St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church was founded at Smethport February 19, 1868, and in 1869 part of square 61 was donated for church purposes by Dr. William Keating. The proposition to build was received with favor, and a subscription book opened, Andrew Reilly subscribing $200; Eugene Daly, $125; Bernard McKean, $50; James Daly, $124; James W. Griffin, $95; Martin Burns, $70; Charles Hyland, $70; Hugh Glenn, $70; C. McElwee, $87; Timothy McCarthy, $60; Hugh McCabe, $60; Ed. McGill, $55; John Ward, $50; Mrs. McCullough, $50, and Timothy Lane, $35. Later B. D. Hamlin contributed $120; Henry Hamlin, $100, and Dr. Keating, $500. Other sums were subscribed by the Lynches, McCarthys and other members and citizens, subsequently, so that the building fund in August, 1874, was $4,624.48. The present church was dedicated April 25, 1874, by Bishop Mullin, assisted by Fathers Flood, Patterson and Kinsella. The first services 1842. There were Irregular services St Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church of Smethport. of the Episcopal church were held in the county seat in then only three members of the church living in the place. were had at long intervals up to 1872, when a mission was organized by Bishop Kerfoot, with an executive committee consisting of Messrs. J. C. Hamlin, P. Ford, J. C. Backus and D. C. Young. At that time there were twenty-four communicants. The progress was rapid, and in 1879 a parish, called 'St. Luke's," was organized and incorporated, and in the same year a handsome church building was erected. Rev. H. Q. Miller, the first rector, retired in 1880, and was followed by Rev. J. H. McCandless, the present rector. The church continued to grow rapidly year by year, and now, in 1890, it numbers sixty families, 160 communicants, and has a membership of about 300 by baptism. Many improvements have been made in the church property, a fine rectory has been built, and other additions are about to be made. The value of the church property, including the chapel at East Smethport, which was opened in 1887, is $8,700. The present vestry is composed of Dr. H. L. McCoy, Messrs. J. C. Hamlin, John Forrest, Henry Hamlin, D. C. Young, E. L. Keenan and W. D. Gallup. The Congregational Church of Smethport was chartered in January, 1851, with Dr. W. Y. McCoy, Ezra Bard and Zera R. Tubbs, trustees. The peti tion was signed by O. J. Hamlin, John E. Niles, A. A. Aldrich, Calvin Howard, Timothy R. Tubbs, George W. Pelton, Abner Rockwell, Jonah S. Aldrich and S. G. Curtis. Societies.- McKean Lodge No. 388, A. F. & A. M., Smethport, was instituted June 5, 1867, with S. C. Hyde, W. M.; J. C. Backus, S. W.; Miles Irons, J. W.; Warren Stark, S. D.; William Gifford, J. D.; M. A. Sprague, S., and S. D. Freeman, treasurer. Lucius Rogers, William Haskell, T. W. Hogarth, J. W. Stark, T. Seems and A. B. Armstrong, unofficial members. The names of past masters are S. C. Hyde, J. C. Backus, T. Seems, G. M. Smith, S. D. Freeman, J. W. Stark, A. B. Armstrong, J. G. Boyer, William Specht, O. D. Gallup, G. N. Barrett, W. T. Callar, H. T. Sawyer, D. Martin, G. M. Smith, M. A. Sprague, I. A. Holder, W. D. Gallup, H. P. Brawley, F. W. Brownell. T. R. Foster is the present master. The past secretaries are M. A. Sprague, L. Rogers, F. King, E. H. Bard and W. D. Gallup. G. M. Smith is the present secretary. The Masonic Hall Association of Smethport was incorporated in March, 1879, with S. D. Freeman, W. T. Callar, William Specht, M. A. Sprague, O. D. Gallup and H. T. Sawyer, stockholders. The capital stock was divided into 200 shares of $5 each. The hall was erected in 1878-79, and, with other property, is valued at $2,000. At present there are seventy-five members. Smethport Lodge No. 389, I. O. O. F., was organized and the by-laws approved by the grand lodge October 10, 1882. The charter members were H. W. Rubin, J. B. Brawley, Frank Rowlee,* W. B. Wagoner, H. W. Georgia, T. A. Morrison, W. H. Wetenhall, John McConaghy and A. Reynolds. * Among the present members, who are not charter members, are M. N. Allen, W. G. Holder, W. Z. Georgia, T. F. Richmond, G. W. King, C. H. Moore, A. R. Cory, M. A. Lillibridge, H. S. Sartwell, E. J. Hall, C. H. Calkins, B. F. and E. G. Pelton, B. Badger, A. Deshetler, William Bennett, C. A. Krueger, W. A. Young, W. B. Joiner, H. H. Wilson, C. J. McClure, R. McCord, F. C. Olds, D. B. Freeman, D. Ramsdell, M. Rosenfield, F. Westerland, John Malin, A. G. Farley, G. A. Hyde, H. Saunders, H. L. McCoy, E. B. McCoy, W. A. King, A. B. Hyde, H. B. Vincent, S. B. Sherwood, M. A. Hall, R. W. Bloodsworth, W. A. McIntosh, A. D. Bush and F. N. Taylor. A. T. Stranahan is present secretary of the lodge and H. M. Choate, noble grand. Among his predecessors in the chair were H. W. Rubin, J. B. Brawley, H. L. Wilson, Charles Beckwith and A. R. Cory. The officers elected in October, 1889, are: N. G., W. A. McIntosh; V. G., O. D. Bush; P. S., A. T. Stranahan; A. S., W. G. Holder; Treasurer, H. W. Rubin; Con., A. R. Cory; trustee, J. E. Stull. Smethport Encampment No. 273, I. O. O. F., was instituted January 18, 1888. with the following named charter members: M. N. Allen, Jacob Amend, R. W. Bloodsworth, W. E. Butts, Samuel Bedford, H. M. Choate, A. R. Cory, W. T. Callar, Julius Dupjon, M. Dunn, William Dunbar, J. Eberspacker, D. B. Freeman, A. G. Farley, Frank R. Foster, W. Z. Georgia, A. W. Hamm, W. G. Holder, G. W. King, W. A. King, G. W. Kunsman, George W. Weaver, D. M. Wright, R. E. Looker, W. A. McIntosh, Peter Martin, John C. Martin, C. H. Moore, H. L. McCoy, T. A. Morrison, Robert McCord, C. J. McClure, S. J. McKendrick, F. C. Olds, E. G. Pelton, B. F. Pelton, W. V. Provin, D. Ramsdell, H. W. Rubin, W. A. Russell, M. Rosenfield, J. Q. Sonbergh, F. N. Taylor, H. B. Vincent, W. A. Young, J. H. Tate and I. J. McCandless. The officers of the encampment in order of rank in October, 1889, were: H.-W. Rubin, C. P.; John O. Sonbergh, S. W.; F. C. Olds, J. W.; A. R. Cory, H. P.; T. A. Morrison, trustee; G. W. King, treasurer. The officers in March, 1890, are: A. R. Cory, C. P.; F. C. Olds, S. W.; G. W. King, J. W.; J. O. Sonbergh, H. P.; J. Amend, trustee; H. M. Choate, scribe. * The Smethport Odd Fellows' Hall Association was incorporated in July, 1889, on petition of M. N. Allen, H. M. Choate and W. H. Wetenhall, trustees of Lodge 389, and M. Dunn, E. G. Pelton and J. O. Sonbergh, trustees of Encampment No. 273. The lodges named, with J. H. Tate, * W. V. Provin, D. P. Ansall, G. W. King,* E. G. Pelton, A. R. Cory,* H. M. Choate," S. J. McKendrick, J. O. Sonbergh,* M. Dunn, H. W. Rubin,* Frank M. Taylor and Peter Martin, are also named as subscribers to stock. The names marked and F. C. Olds were chosen directors. J. H. Tate was elected president; H. M. Choate, secretary, and H. W. Rubin, treasurer, in December, 1889. This building was completed in April, 1890. This is a three-story brick, with stone facings, just north of M. A. Sprague's store. Keystone Encampment No. 77, Knights of St. John and Malta, was founded in January, 1890, and on February 1 the following named officers were installed: Eminent commander, F. A. Thomas; lieutenant-commander, J. W. Baker; captain of guards, A. H. Kidder; prelate, H. S. Rogers; chancellor, W. A. Curtiss; assistant chancellor, L. W. Dunn; almoner, William Masser; herald at arms, Fred M. Baker; sword bearer, Frank Green; marshal, George Thomas; first guard, William Bennett; second guard, B. A. East Not now members. |