1876 - 1881 Rev. Wm. Barrows (Later Years)
There's no exact date or time when the sheds were erected where the congregation would hitch their horses and carriages on arriving at the church. Twice during their early existence, they have been blown down, both in the same month only two years apart. In October of 1876, a committee of Rufus Styer and Joshua Burgoyne were to see about reconstructing the sheds, then again in October of 1878, brothers William and Isaac Nyman were to obtain funds to fix up sheds. Around September 1898, $140 was raised to fix the sheds. At this time a new material, corrugated iron, was used in the roof of the sheds. This would reinforce the roof and maintain it for a longer period of time.
Earliest known organization of the church to work with missions was the Women's Mission Circle which started on November 7, 1878. Once again Chrissie Fertig was the first chairwoman of this important group. At this first meeting, Anna Still was elected secretary and Anna M. Ewing was treasurer. Some of the early members included: Sarah Guest, Mrs. Enos J. Bertolett, Abbie Bertolett, Dolphy Bertolett, Anna C. Styer, Margaret Morris, Sallie Bertolett, Nettie V. Barrows, Matilda Rooke, Mary Morris, Fanny Brownback, and Martha Chrisman.
In November of 1879, there was discussion of raising $1000 either for land on which a parsonage would be built or adjoined to the church. $900 was already pledged by 20 individuals with only $100 more to raise.
On May 15, 1880, Rev. Barrows acknowledged a bequest from the estate of Mrs. Chester Christman in the amount of $300. The bequest stated the money could be used to pay any outstanding monetary debt against the church, so the following April, Edwin Morris, a cemetery trustee, was appointed to use the bequest to pay off the amount owed on a burial lot.
Rev. Barrows gave his farewell sermon on July 17, 1881. He left to take a calling at Windsor Baptist in Eagle, PA. just eight miles south on the State Road now Route 100.
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1881 - 1883 Rev. David R. Landis
On September 17, 1881, Rev. David R. Landis was procured to preach three consecutive Sundays starting on September 25th. He gave a rather enthralling recitation on Garfield's memorial as his first sermon the first Sunday. The saturday following the last of the three sermons it was decided to call Rev. Landis to the pastorate. Rev. Landis was ordained March 24, 1882.
Not much was recorded during Landis pastorate, but there were a number of conversions including some later day pillars of the church: Charles B. Morris, William J. Cochran, George Ewing, Harmon and Elizabeth Hughes, Edwin M. Wiley, Schuyler Wiley, Debby Potts, Clara Thomas, Adison Schick, Mary and Lizzie Mock, Ruth and Alferetta Bertolett, Annie Nyman, Elizabeth Benny, and Annie Miller. Some of the elected officials of the church were: trustees, Joshua Burgoyne, David Lockart, Harman Hughes, William Cochran, Charles Morris; treasurer, Edwin Morris; clerk, John Liggett; and deacon, David Scholl.
A humorous anecdote was told of Rev. Landis at the start of his pastorate. He was described as a bachelor, and not wanting to be "caught" by any singular women, had a very capable housekeeper in the form of his sister, Miss Emma, taking up residence with the pastor on his arrival to Pughtown.
By September 30, 1883, Rev. Landis gave his final sermon, and left for a call at West Chester, PA.
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1883 - 1888 Rev. James H. Hyatt
Rev. James H. Hyatt, an elderly man, preached a pair of Sunday sermons on October 21 and 28, 1883. He was well received and was asked to preach permanently. Having moved into the parsonage on November 21, 1883, a welcome committee had dinner prepared and hay and wood supplied for his convenience. His previous charge was at the Pequea church in Lancaster County for four years. The reverend was presented with a pieced quilt during his first Christmas at Pughtown.
In 1884, stone was donated from Jesse Hawley's property to build a dry wall along the north side of the cemetery by the road. The stone came from old dilapadated buildings on the Hawley property. Harmon Hughes, a newly acquired member, was responsible for building the said wall, being paid $13.75 for his work. During the year the Sunday school held a jug breaking contest to raise money toward this cemetery wall. Twenty-two jugs were sold and raised $53 towards expenses.
This same year $80.55 was raised for a new organ. The organ was bought only for $80.
At an anniversary sermon given by Rev. Hyatt, it was noted that eleven persons were baptized and two received by letters. Most of these converts could be attributed to the many revival meetings held here and other surrounding churches in the area.
A Christmas cantata was given on Thursday December 23 and Friday 24, 1886. The presentation consisted of 24 winter time characters which were some of the following: "Old Santa Claus", "Long Ago", "Queen Winter", "Storm King", "Jack Frost", "Four Winds", and "Four Shepherds". Although the "Storm King" seemed to have made a live appearance both evenings, the attendance was favorable.
At this time, David Scholl, another recent convert, presented a dozen new sing books entitled the "Glad Refrain". It was during Rev. Hyatt tenure that an active young people society which called itself the Mite Society flourished. It gave the young folks a chance to get up in front of an audience, usually youngsters of their own age. They would recited a poem or essay, or at times pair up and give a debate opposing two other youngsters on a given subject. More will be told later in this history.
A fence was erected on the south and east sides of the cemetery while a wire fence was erected in front of the church in 1886 and 1887 respectively. The cost of the wire fence was $90. Later in 1887 sandstone was obtained to replace the steps on the hillside in front of the church by the road.
By May 13, 1888 the date of Rev. Hyatt farewell sermon, there were 20 converts brought into the church, and a floating debt against the church was canceled. He was retiring after four and an half years at Pughtown. He left to reside at Pattenburg, Henderson County, New Jersey, where he would preach at Bethlehem Baptist church as well as Orient Baptist at Burrisville, Ocean County. He went to start his pastorate at these locations May 21.
Harmon Hughes was selected sexton for $35 a year. The sexton's job was to fix all minor repairs around the church and parsonage or to see that they were complete.
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1888 - 1896 Rev. Wm. O. Owen
On July 22, 1888 it was decided to call Rev. William O. Owens to the pastorate. He was to start August 16 on his taking up residence in the parsonage with a starting pay of $400 a year. With him came his wife, Rebecca, and children, Edith, Sadie and Mollie. Sadie would later marry George Wiley's son, Schuyler, and was listed frequently as organist or pianist for the church.
In December of 1888, the church members were invited in the organization of a Baptist church at the Falls of French Creek.
By the end of 1888, the following people were baptized or came into the church by letter: Jefferson Ortlip, John Thomas, Nathan Cook, John Y. Bertolett, Romanus Reigner, Florence Willauer, Annie Owen, Mary Buffington, Olivia Bickel, Clara Sellers, Susie H. Thomas, George Ewing, William Nyman, Walter Philips, Grant Detwiler, Bertha Detwiler, Bertha Liggett, Morgan Thomas, Carrie Scholl, Martha Scholl and Escoll Sellers. Escoll, later, became a seminary student and was given funds to help in his education. At times, he preached in the church too.
Members of the church decided to purchase ground for future use. A vacant lot across from the church was purchased for $400 from gentlemen by the names of Rupert and Philips. Later, when the transaction of the deed was concluded it showed the seller as John A. Rupert. This was around April of 1889.
In March of 1890, a piece of the vacant ground, which was bought the year previous, was sold to Isaac Scholl for the exact same amount. The remaining ground was fenced off as part of the parsonage. During the year of 1892, more converts were baptized and received by letter into the church: Levi Schoffner, Lily Murphy, Bell Sellers, Charles Bortz, Annie Montgomery, Edna Hawn, Ida Cook, Oliver Hoffman, and Mary L. Prizer.
In the March 18, 1893 church minutes, there is mention of a sale of personal things of Robert McNeely, who was an early church pillar. Some how the church got possession of McNeely affects and apparently were raising money for an unknown reason.
The passing away of Samuel N. Rowland, father of Rev. Judson Rowland, D. D., on August 7, 1893 and David Lockart on September 16, were noted in the church minutes of October 13. The tribute bears "testimony to the high social and religious character of these dear brethern - a character that was both an ornament and a demonstration of religion they professed."
On March 17, 1894, Fred Eggeling was hired as sexton, a position which he held for a number of years until early 1900's when Harmon Hughes was elected sexton. In January of 1898, the sexton's salary was raised from $36 to $40 a year for his "faithfulness and efficiency."
In a meeting of October 20, 1894, Rev. Owens emphasizes the need for the Sunday School to start at 9:30 A.M. sharp, as there was a good many people arriving late and interrupting the school. The pastor proceeded to give a miniature sermon on the adverse effects of lateness and interruptions caused by such persons. He encouraged the people attending the meeting to pass his word on to those who were not in attendance.
The building of additional sheds were erected at the cost of $125 in May of 1895. September 18, the pastor suggested to hold communion only once every three months instead of monthly. By the end of 1896, when Rev Owens quit his pastorate with Pughtown, he had lead the following to Christ as their Lord and Saviour: George Morris and Edwin, Jr., Mary Hewitt, Ada E. Davis, Elsie Morris, Elizabeth S. Rivenider, and Carrie R. High.
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1897 - 1900 Rev. Wm. T. Johnson (Early Years)
On April 17, 1897, a call to Rev. William F. Johnson was given. He was paid $250 for a year's service: one being on Sunday afternoon and on evening during the week.
January 11, 1898, it was decided to elect seven trustees. Up until this time, the number varied from year to year, as few as three and up to six at times. It was also decided that the president and secretary of trustees were to take care of business matters.
On March 15, 1898, it was decided to raise pastor's salary $15 a year more and request that he stay on as pastor for another year. This made his salary $265 a year.
The sheds received another face lift. With $2.01 in donations, it was decided July 14, 1898 to build more sheds and a committee was assigned to raise the funds. By September $140 was donated and it was decided to use corrugated iron again in the construction of the roofs of the sheds. By March 21, 1899, cost of construction was found to be $189.17, and by January 17, 1900, the new sheds had been completed and paid for in full.
By 1899, the decision was made to look for an individual communion service set as well as two offering or communion plates. A change of election of trustees resulted in the choosing of two members per year for a three year term of office on a rotational basis. As of January 17, 1899, George Wiley and Fred Eggeling were chosen for 3 years, Debbie Potts and Oliver Hoffman for two years, and Joshua Burgoyne and Sadie Wiley for a term of one year.
The monthly congregational business meeting did not meet on a regular basis. This fact was discovered during a review of church records. On January 17, 1900, it was changed to convene on a quarterly basis rather than monthly.
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Updated February 5, 2006.
