The Pioneer Church of Lackawanna, What is claimed by Rev. Dr. David Spencer, of Scranton, to be the earliest religious movement in the present bounds of Lackawanna County, was thus given in the Scranton Republican of January 25:

In 1794 Rev. William Bishop, a Baptist minister, settled here. He purchased nearly four hundred acres of land whereon Scranton is now situated. This purchase is on the records of Luzerne County. Rev. William Bishop was the first resident minister of any denomination in the Lackawanna Valley. His field of ministerial labor extended from Wilkes-Barre to Blakely. In all this region there was then one Baptist Church, at Pittston, organized in 1776. Of this he was the pastor. As many of the members of of this church lived in what was then Providence Township, in 1802, it was known as the "Pittston and Providence Church." This was for the sake of organic convenience. In 1806 merged into the Abington church constituted in 1802. Up to this merging Rev. William Bishop had been the pastor, but after it Rev. John Miller had the oversight. Many of the members resided within the bounds now embraced in Scranton. In the fall of 1833 Rev. William K. Mott took up his residence in Hyde Park, and the Baptist Church at Pittston was re-organized. On September 12, 1849, with Rev. W. K. Mott as pastor, the First Baptist Church, now situated on Scranton Street, below South Main Avenue, of which Rev. Owen James is the pastor, was organized. While there was not a continuous organization of the Baptist Church from 1802 to 1849, in what is now the city of Scranton, there was an organization in 1802, and members of it continued to reside in Scranton until the above distinct establishment in 1849. As to whether the Methodist, Presbyterian or Baptist were the first in this city, makes no difference to me, but I give the above as facts of interest in our early history, facts which date back to 1794, when the first Baptist Church of this city was in reality founded, if not distinctly constituted.

His residence, built by himself of hewn logs, stood on the spot occupied by the residence of the late William Merrifield, of Hyde Park, and his farm embraced land on both sides of the Lackawanna River. About fifty acres of this land, according to the records, were donated to him by the "Susquehanna Company" as the "first minister to settle in these parts." The remainder he purchased at a sum which, in contrast with the present value of the same property now, is simply the merest cypher. Just what were the exact or approximate boundaries of this original Bishop tract of land, would be a matter of great interest I should be glad, if any one knows, or could ascertain them from the records at Wilkes-Barre, to see just what part of the city was embraced by it.

DAVID SPENCER.

Pursuant to the above request of Dr. Spencer, a RECORD reporter made the search with the following result: The records in the early days of Luzerne County's history were made out in such an unscientific manner that it is difficult to find just what one is looking for. No deed whatever by the

Susquehanna Company is recorded as such, but the deed here referred to is recorded under the names of the trustees of the company, and is, somewhat curtailed, as follows:

Constant Searle, Daniel Taylor and James Abbott, appointed by the township of Providence, describe "the lands appropriated by the Susquehanna Company (so-called) to the use and benefit of the first settled minister of the Gospel in the said town, William Bishop, of New York City, New York," Sept. 20, 1795, as lying in the town of Providence, beginning at the line of Preserved Taylor's land by the main road, thence along the road to Jonathau Dolph's, thence south

55 degrees east along Dolph's line to the old road, along the road to Preserved Taylor's line, along that line to the first mentioned bound, contain ing about 35 acres of land. Three other tracts are mentioned also, one on the southeast side of the river beginning at a chestnut sapling on the land leased to James Abbott and Rubin Taylor about 10 rods from the bank of the river, running south 81 degrees east 28 rods, then north 35 degrees east about 6 rods to the river, then along the river to Stephen Gardner's land, thence south 55 degrees east 800 rods, to the town line, thence south 35 degrees west, 50 rods, then north 55 degrees west, 800 rods, to the place of beginning. Another lies north and west of the main road beginning at Preserved Taylor's line; another North and west of the Mill Creek, beginning at Jonathan Dolph's and another beginning from Dolph's line and the town line.

The deed is signed and sworn to in the presence of John Phillips, justice of the

peace.

The Smallest Man.

It is believed that Plymouth possesses one of the smallest, if not the smallest, man in the State. His name is Rees Wittler. He is 34 years of age, stands just 36 inches high and weighs 58 pounds. He is a native of Wales, a son of William Wittler, of Merthyr Tydvil. He came to this country in 1875 with Evan Rees, a harper, and lived for some time with the late John Jenkins, who kept the old Wyoming House on South Main Street, this city. Mr. Rees afterwards moved to Danville, Montour County, accompanied by Wittler, and after Mr. Rees's death the little man continued to live for some years with Mrs. Rees. Mrs. Jenkins, widow of the late John Jenkins, visited Danville some months ago and brought back Wittler with her to Plymouth, where she now resides, keeping the Palace restaurant on Main Street.

re

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Formal Acceptance of Mr. Osterhout's Bequest-All Publications Not Germane to the Society to be Deposited With the Free Library.

A special meeting of the Wyoming Historical and Gelogical Society was held June 3 to take action on the removal of the society's collection and library to the Osterhout Library Building. There were present, Gen. Dana, Ir. Ingham, L. C. Paine, R. J. Flick, Rev. H. L. Jones, Rev. H. E. Hayden, Rev. W. F. Watkins Jr., J. W. Hollenback, A. T. McClintock, B. M. Espy, H. C. Davis, G. M. Lewis, Thomas Graeme, G. R. Bedford, G. B. Kulp, O. C. Hillard, M. H. Post, S. C. Struthers, W. J. Flick and F. C. John

son.

The matter of transferring such portions of the library to the Osterhout Library as the society did not need, had been referred to a committee consisting of Dr. Ingham, Rev. Mr. Hayden and Lawyer Lewis, who reported in elabarate detail, at the same time going, as Chairman Dana said, into matters not contemplated by the appointment. The report awakened a warm discussion, in which it developed that, apart from the report, there was no definite understanding between the Osterhout trustees and the Historical Society and that in each waiting for the other to make advances, there had been absolutely no communica tion between the two. This was a matter of somewhat remarkable surprise, considering that the two are so made up largely of the same people.

There had as yet been no formal acceptance of the bequest of the late Mr. Osterhout, providing quarters for the society and in accordance with the committee's report, such formal acceptance was made.

The report recommended that in turning over the government publications, the society reserve the power, in the event of a possible separation of the two bodies, to withdraw such deposited books.

Trustee Paine objected to subjecting the Osterhout Library to the risk of having the government publications withdrawn in the event of a separation.

Historiographer Kulp thought the two libraries should be entirely distinct.

G. R. Bedford considered the public documents, as at present kept, as little better than old lumber. The Osterhout Library would have them made accessible by indexing and he was in favor of turning them over to the that body. He thought further that the removal should take place at once in order to save rent.

Mr. Hayden explained that the Historical Society was not the owner of the government publications, but was simply a deposi

tory, and the government has the power of recalling them at pleasure. As to the delay in removing the cabinet, Mr. Hayden said the Osterhout Library would be cramped for room, and the second story of the annex would not hold half of the cabinet.

Mr. Kulp wanted to have a new building erected at once.

Mr. Hollenbaok favored making a temporary addition to the church building in order to accommodate the Historical Society, there being 60 feet of land in the

rear.

Rev. Mr. Jones, an Osterhout trustee, said the trustees would probably entertain a proposition to build an addition.

Prof. Davis recommended further study of the subject in order to ascertain what accommodations the Osterhout Library can offer the Historical Society for its cabinet and library.

Mr. Bedford recommended a temporary one-story addition of corrugated iron for the cabinet collection.

Judge Dana, who is an Osterhout trustee, thought the discussion was enlarging beyond the proper limit and that the matter in hand was to arrange simply for the temporary accommodation of the Historical Society. The Osterhout trustees know nothing of what the Historical Society wants. No such information had been furnished.

The first resolution, formally accepting the bequest of Mr. Osterhout, was adopted. The second resolution, specifying that such portions of the library as did not pertain to American history and the scientific branches covered by this society, be turned over to the Osterhout library, was met with a proposition to postpone further action until the Building Committee report.

Gen. Dana said there was a lack of definite information as to what the society wanted. The Building Committee had no information to go by.

It then developed that there had as yet been no conference whatever of the Cabinet Committee with the Osterhout trustees.

Mr. Hayden suggested that they had had no word from the Osterhout trustees.

Trustee Jones thought that the matter of the custody of the government documents and the removal of the books should be decided at once.

Trustee Paine believed the society should waive all claim upon the public documents.

Mr. Kulp feared the Osterhout Library was likely to be only an aggregate of government publications. He believed the situatioa was becoming magnificently mixed,

Mr. Lewis stated that a minority of the committee favored the transfer of the entire library to the Osterhout Library.

The portion of the report specifying that such portion of the library not embracing

American history, genealogy and the scien tific branches coming within the especial scope of the Historical Society, be deposited with the Osterhout Library, to be used for reference purposes, was, after much amending, finally carried. The balance of the report was laid on the table.

Mr. Hollenback moved that the matter of space desired by the society, be laid by the Cabinet Committee before the Osterhout trustees at the earliest possible date, and to report to the society at a special meeting to be called by the chair.

Hokendaqua

Quakake

Chillisquaque

Aquetong Kisha coquillas Conoquenessing

It is said that the president of a temperance society once gave the following explanation of the origin of Chillisquaque: He stated that the creek was so named in honor of a cold water society which the Indians had formed on its banks. The writer begs to say that any statement of a president of a temperance society, dairyman, or any drug store label will not be accepted in explanation of this phenomena. All others will be thankfully received. C. F. HILL. Hazleton, May 12.

Recalling a Church Building Accident.

[Letter to the Editor.]

By the unfortunate accident at the new Presbyterian Church, we are reminded of the catastrophe that befell the first church erected by that denomination in 1830 upon the site of the present church. Cyrus Gildersleeve had been the pastor of the Congregationalists who worshipped in the old church on the Public Square. The parsonage was in the building now occupied by Agib Ricketts on Northampton Street. Nicholas Murray, a young Irishman, succeeded Mr. Gildersleeve, and under his administration the form of government was changed to Presbyterian, and frame church was built of the same style as the late church on the Kingston road on the Butler property, now taken down, called Corinthian. John Darken, of

8

Norwich, England, was the architect. They had raised the frame work of the building, and were hoisting the timbers for the roof when the whole structure collapsed and timbers, boards, plank and some half dozen carpenters went down together into the cellar. The men were badly hurt though none of them were killed. The late Ira Marcy was, I think, one of the injured.

This accident caused the trustees to lose faith in Mr. Darken, and was a great loss to him. He became so discouraged and disheartened that he shortly after left and returned to England, and the church was erected by other contractors. In 1833 Rev. Nicholas Murray was called to Elizabeth, N. J., and Rev. John Dorrance was called to the pastorate and during his ministry the present church was erected in 1850 and '51. "SCRIBE."

Paper a Hundred Years Old. The committee having in special charge the arrangements for the centennial celebration of Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, June 12-16, have issued an invitation and program which has the charm of antiquity and novelty. The paper on which it is printed is a fine hand-made linen fabric, with rough edges of the real kind, and no modern conceit or imitation. A few hundred sheets of this paper was found in one of the lofts of the old paper mill of J. M. Willcox & Co., near Philadelphia, dismantled some time ago. It had lain there undiscovered during the half century of disuse into which mill and machinery had fallen; these particular sheets upon which the Franklin and Marshall invitations are printed were made during the Revolution to be used for the Continental currency of that period.

Benjamin Franklin, one of the most farsighted statesmen and sagacious publicists of the formative period of our institutions, journeyed from Philadelphia to Lancaster, when far advanced in years, to lay the foundation stone of Franklin College. He was one of its most liberal patrons; and this year, when the college, with imposing literary and musical exercises, will celebrate its centennial, Fra klin will have fit eulogist in Dr. Wm. Pepper, provost of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, of which also Franklin was founder. Marshall College, founded in 1837 at Mercersburg, was joined with Franklin in 1853; and so the united college has both a centennial and semi-centennial to celebrate. Judge Hughes, of the United States District Court, Virginia, will pronounce the eulogy on Chief Justice Marshall. He is well known as a jurist, orator and disputant, and there is peculiar fitness in the selection of a Virginian for this task,

Remembering Wyoming's Slain.

A meeting of the Wyoming Commemorative Association was held at the office of the secretary, Alderman Wesley Johnson, on Saturday morning, for the purpose of making arrangements for the annual reunion at the monument on July 3. President Charles Dorrance called the meeting to order. The minutes of last year's meeting were read and approved. On motion of Gen. Dana, seconded by Mr. Johnson, it was Resolved, That we assemble at the monument at 10 o'clock am. July 3, and that after the customary exercises we proceed to the Wyoming Hotel for the usual commemorative dinner, in accordance with a standing resolution of the association.

On motion of Mr. Parsons, Hon. Steuben Jenkins, Payne Pettebone and John M. Stark, Esqs., were named as a committee to arrange the details of the service and also to prepare the grounds and decorate the monument.

On motion of Dr. Hakes, seconded by Mr. Parsons, it was resolved that Rev. A. H. Tuttle be invited to deliver a brief address at the monument.

Gen. Dana and Dr. Hakes were appointed a committee to invite speakers. On motion of Gen. Dana, seconded by Mr. Jenkins, it was

Resolved, That in the death since our last meeting, of Rev. Abel Barker, this association has lost the aid of an earnest, able and cherished associate:

That his presence at every meeting since its first organization, and his warm sympathy in its sacred purposes, have largely contributed to the interest of our meetings, and his absence on this, and our future assemblages, we do, and shall ever, deeply deplore.

Col. Dorrance said in view of the fact that so many of our late co-workers have passed from earth and it may be that others will be called to their final account before we again assemble at our annual meeting, he thought it appropriate and fitting for us to recur to the remarks of our late worthy associate, made upon the occasion of adopting the resolution providing for our annual pilgrimage to the monument grounds. He would therefore ask the secretary to read from the memorial volume the remarks of Mr. Barker made as there reported. Mr. Johnson accordingly read from the book as follows:

Mr. Barker said "It is expected that the inhabitants throughout the valley will display their flags at half-staff in honor of the first anniversary meeting, in this, the beginning of the second century after the battle and massacre, and at each succeeding anniversary thereafter; and it is hoped the custom may be kept up by succeeding genera

tions until the morning of the 200th year may again call the people to meet at this sacred fane as they did in 1878, to do homage to the noble dead of Wyoming's bloody day. The annual meeting of the survivors of the association, he could not regard but with feelings of mournful anticipation. We are nearly all of us men bordering on the middle age of life, some perhaps having passed the allotted three score years and ten vouchsafed by God unto his creatures. It must inevitably come in the near future of things, and that at no distant day, that some, in fact all of us will be called away to render an account of our stewardships here on earth, and it is with feelings of sadness with which I look ward to the time when the man, old, tottering and infirm, shall assemble himself in the shadow of the monument, on some hot July morning a few years hence, to partake of his lonely meal and pay a final tribute to the memory of his departed associates."

forlast

Dr. Hakes, treasurer of the association, reported that there is an unexpended balance in the treasury of $1.50, which amount is deposited in the Wyoming National Bank for safe keeping. Col. Dorrance was asked whether he regarded the Wyoming as a safe depository for the funds of the association. He said he thought it was, and the action of the treasurer was approved by the meeting. After some more pleasant chat, of by no means a solemn character, the meeting adjourned. to assemble at the monument on July 2, the 3d being Sunday.

Died in Colorado.

Thomas Truxton Slocum, died at his home on Slocum Ranche, Platte Canyon, Colorado, May 29th, in the 75th year of his age. He was a descendant of the original Slocums of Slocum Hollow, now Scranton, his father being Benjamin Slocum, brother of Ebener Slocum of the Hollow, and Joseph Slocum of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Slocum inherited from his ancestor a valuable farm at Tunkhannock, upon which a large portion of the town is now built. When Wyoming County was set off from Luzerne in 1842, he donated the site for the new County buildings. He was a man of enterprise and liberal with his means beyond what was prudent in one who desired to retain unimpaired valuable inheritance. After parting with his farm at a sacrifice he emigrated westward and was for many years a citizen of Kansas; was elected the first Free Soil mayor of Leavenworth and took a prominent part in the anti-slavery agitation of the Territory previous to its admission as a State. He married his wife in Wilkes-Barre, Miss Ann Dennis, a sister of Capt. James P. Dennis, yet living at their mountain home.

The Late Mr. Lowenberg.

The funeral of the late David Lowenberg, of Bloomsburg, took place June 10. The remains were conveyed to Plymouth on the D. L. & W. RR., and from that place to South Wilkes-Barre by the D. & H. Co. The funeral train consisted of two special cars, having on board the relatives and friends of deceased and Washington Lodge 265, A. Y. M., of Bloomsburg. Upon the arrival of the train at South Wilkes-Barre the body was transferred to the hearse in waiting, and then conveyed to the Jewish Cemetery in Hanover Township. A large number of Wilkes-Barreans, including many Masons and Odd Fellows, followed the remains to the grave. Rev. Dr. Rundbaken conducted the religious services at the home in Bloomsburg, and at the grave the Masonic ritual was observed. From 10 to 12 o'clock all places of business in Bloomsburg were closed, as a mark of respect to the man who did so much for the community at large without respect to creed or nationality.

Mr. Lowenberg was a relative of Mrs. Simon Long and Joseph Coons The Bloomsburg Republican has the following: The deceased was one of the leading business men and most public spirited citizens of the community. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1823, his parents being farmers. At an early age he was apprenticed to the trade of cloth making and at the conclusion of his three years' term he continued his avocation as a journeyman for nine years. In 1848 he emigrated to this country, landing at New York, and after remaining there a short time came to WilkesBarre and thence to Bloomsburg in 1860

where he opened a tailoring establishment on the site now occupied by his large wholesale and retail clothing store. Besides giving close attention to business, he found sufficient time to devote to politics and the improvement of the town. In the Buchanan campaign he was chosen chairman of the Democratic County Committee and has frequently since that time served in the same capacity. In 1864 he was a delegate from this district to the Democratic National Convention, and has represented the district at every succeeding convention, except in 1872, when he was a presidential elector. He served as county treasurer in 1870 and 1871. For four successive terms he was chosen president of town council, During the reorganization of the North & West Branch RR. in 1881, he was a member of the board of directors, and at the time of his death, he was president of the board of trade, treasurer of the Bloomsburg & Sullivan RR. Co., a member of the board of directors of the N. Y. B. & W. RR., Oak Grove Park and one of the trustees of the Normal School. He was also a member

of Washington Lodge of Freemasons, having been initiated in 1853. He leaves to survive him a wife, four sons and three daughters. Of Mr. Lowenberg one has said: "He is of Hebrew descent and religion, but his charity, however, knows no narrow limits of creed or bigotry. No man ever ranked higher in citizenship in this corporate town of Bloomsburg than he. Ever industrious in business and yet so conducting his work as to add to the common stock of knowledge and understanding. Courteous and affable, kind and condescending, he was always considerate of the feelings and wishes of those around him, and extremely jealous in his representative capacity of the rights and interests of all those who imposed confidence in him."

Death of A. G. Hull.

Areli G. Hull, whose illness was mentioned in the RECORD a few days ago, died at his home, 142 North Franklin Street, on May 28. Mr. Hull was born at Trenton, N. J., Feb. 22, 1826, but soon removed with his parents to Belvidere, N. J., where he learned the tanning trade with his uncle, Jas. R. Hull. After completing his apprenticeship he removed to Bushkill, Pa., where be conducted a successful business for several years, but meeting with financial reverses through unfortunate real estate ventures, he was induced to try a new field and came to Wilkes Barre in 1876, where he started in the leather and findings business on North Main Street, which he conducted with success to the day of his death. He was a man of strict probity and business integrity and leaves many sympathising friends to mourn his loss. He was married in 1851 to Miss Emily Tuttle of Hamburg, N. J. A widow and

two daughters are all that are left of the family. One daughter, Sarah E, is the wife of H. A. Jacoby, his partner in the business; the other daughter, Hannah, is unmarried, living at home. He became a member of the Presbyterian Church while yet a mere youth and has continued a faithful and active member since, being an elder of Memorial Church at the time of his death and at one time 8 trustee. The funeral was held at 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, services at Memorial Church, interment in Hollenback Cemetery.

Death of "Aunty" Williams.

The many readers of the RECORD, especially the older ones, will be sorry to learn of the death, on June 10, of Mrs. Annetta Williams, familiarly known as "Aunty" Williams, the old-time hostess of the Bear Creek Hotel, and latterly of the Spring and Prospect Houses. Mrs. Williams came of the ancient Wilkes-Barre stock, her maiden