Cameron County Genealogy Project
Grove Township
Methodist Episcopal Church-
Sinnamahoning Circuit 1867-1894
Historical Record
On the 22nd of March 1870 Bishop Ames appointed me Preacher in charge of Sinnamahoning Circuit and Rev'd. W. B. Gance Junior Preacher. We entered upon our labors immediately after the Conference. We found the church languishing to some extent, owing, probably, to the sickness and death of the Preacher in charge the previous year. The people however, gave respectful attention to the word of God, signs of improvement soon began to appear.
The plan of the Conference gave us eight appointments: McKendree having been dropped the previous year. We resumed that appointment, and also made an appointment in the school-house on Sterling Run. In the latter part of the year we also commenced to preach on Mason Hill.
At some of the appointments M.E. Sunday Schools were organized, and at others Union Schools. The only M.E. School that continued through the winter was the one at Sinnamahoning.
During the fall and winter we held protracted meetings at nearly all our appointments, and the Lord blest our labors by giving us a favorable record. About 165 persons professed a change of heart. The appointments which shared most largely in this good work, Driftwood, Sinnamahoning, Cameron, McKendree and Bailey's.
We found only four classes on the circuit and two of them had no leaders, while only one of those who had leaders met regularly. At the close of the year we report ten classes, all of whom meet more or less regularly except one. One of these classes is composed of converted children, residing at Driftwood and vicinity.
At Gilmore's appointment we had no house of worship, (the schoolhouse having been burned down the previous year) we were obliged to worship in private houses nearly all the year, while the Sunday School met in the open air during the warm season. A house was built during the latter part of the year for school and church, and we dedicated it to Religion and Science on the 7th of February, 1871, and then continued nightly meetings for nearly two weeks during which time about six persons professed a change of heart.
At Sinnamahoning we worship in Mr. Brook's new and commodious hall.
At Driftwood we held our services in a hired hall the greater part of the year, but now worship in the new school house, while a Union Protestant Church is in course of erection.
At Sterling Run a subscription has been circulated the latter part of the year and money subscribed for the erection of an M.E. Church, which will probably be accomplished if a lot can be secured on which to build it.
McKendree Church has been repaired by the Board of School Directors with the understanding that the Public School is to be held in it.
Scarlet Fever has prevailed on the Circuit nearly all the year and many of the people have been called to mourn the loss of their children who fell victims to this ravages.
Our labors this year have been abundant, sometimes almost beyond our strength, but we have seen a rich harvest of souls gathered into the fold of Christ and many of God's people encouraged and revived, and we lay the work down at the feet of Jesus, and say, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for the mercy and for thy truth's sake".
March 1, 1871 (Signed) I. S. Crone
On the 13th of March, 1871, I was reappointed to the Sinnamahoning Circuit by Bishop E.S. Janes. Having no colleague, Rev'd. T. Grundy, a Supernumerary Preacher, supplied the three appointments on the First Fork for a few months. About the middle of July, Rev'd. T.W. Brookbank was secured as Junior Preacher, who labored with me until the middle of November, when failing health obliged him to leave the work. During the remaining four months of the year the Local Preachers and Exhorters were employed to fill the appointments left vacant by the resignation of the Junior Preacher.
The appointments supplied with preaching are the same as the previous year, with the following exceptions; Lincoln and Sterling Run schoolhouse were dropped; but appointments were taken up at Round Island and Nelsonville in July, and supplied during the remainder of the year.
The Sabbath School work has been carried on at some of the appointments under the supervision of our church, and at others on the union plan. The school at Sinnamahoning adopted the Berean Lessons, and has prospered more than usual under the superintendence of Brother W. B. Clawson.
A woods meeting was held at Driftwood in the beginning of September where God's power was manifested in the strengthening of believers and the conversion and reclamation of about twelve souls. More or less conversions took place at other appointments, amounting to about twenty-five for the year. A class was organized at Miller's and is doing well. The two classes at Sinnamahoning have been united into one. Special meetings for the promotion of holiness have been carried on at Driftwood and Huntley, and a number of our people have stepped into the fountain which cleanses from all sin.
On the 27th of June the corner-stone for our new church at Sterling was laid with appropriate ceremonies. Rev'd. J. W. Langley preached an impressive sermon, and Rev'd. James Curns, P. Elder of the District managed the finances, which resulted very encouragingly. The building is not yet completed, but is expected to be finished and ready for dedication sometime during the coming spring.
At the 3rd Quarterly Conference we organized the Sinnamahoning Juvenile Missionary Society, to encourage the collection of missionary money by the children, and the missionary collection this year is far in advance of any previous year.
Owing to the want of a good flood last spring to take the lumber to market, our financlial matters have to contend with many difficulties; and yet the preachers have been paid, and all the usual claims met. We close the year with the circuit generally in a healthy condition. To God be all the Glory.
March 19, 1872 (Signed) I. S. Crone
On the 25th of March, 1872, I was re-appointed for a third year to Sinnamahoning Circuit by Bishop M. Simpson. The Presiding Elder appointed Rev'd. William Antes as my assistant.
What was formerly the Westport Charge, was annexed to this circuit. Nelsonville was dropped and Round Island was made a week night appointment. Cook's Run, Westport and Shinntown were made one Sabbath's work. At the end of the First Quarter Shinntown was dropped, and we preached twice a day at Westport until in the fall, when we took up Keating and gave it the Sabbath morning appointments.
The Sabbath School work has had a gradual growth. The brethren at Driftwood changed their school from Union to Methodist, and it has prospered. Our schools all closed in the fall except those at Sinnamahoning and Driftwood, which are kept up all winter.
We had no revivals except one at Gilmore's, where about eight persons professed conversion. We organized a class at that appointment, but it is in want of a Leader.
The new Church at Sterling Run was dedicated to the worship of God on Sabbath the 28th of September by Rev'd. James Curns, Presiding Elder of Williamsport District. The subscriptions and contributions during the day amounted to over $1500; sufficient to pay the debt on the church and to have a surplus. I have not the exact cost of the building, but I think it is about $3000.
Our work has been somewhat embarrassed during the year by the presence of Small Pox at Driftwood and Sinnamahoning, and also by the unusally severe winter.
Serious trouble arose in the class at Huntley, which resulted two Church trials, one expulsion and four withdrawals from the Church. The remainder of the class are now a peace with each other.
During the latter part of the year we gave considerable attention to the Temperance Question, in view of the election on School Optain; and we are gratified that Cameron County has given a majority against license.
Three of our members have died in the Faith during the year: Lucy A. Miller; James Shafer, Sr., and John Bailey. Father Shafer was the oldest member of the church and was ripe for Heaven. May they rest in peace.
I now close my third year on the Circuit. I desire to record my gratitude to God for giving me health and strength sufficient for the ardous labors on this large Circuit, and for preserving us amidst danders and diseases that have to some extent prevailed around us. May God's blessing be on the work in the future.
February 29, 1873. (Signed) I. S. Crone
NOTE:-
Apart of two deeds, recorded in the Cameron County courthouse at Emporium, Pa., are listed below:
Miscellaneous Book "A" page 409:- On May 4, 1871, a petition was filed with the Cameron County Court, for The Sterling Run First Methodist Church, in Lumber township, which was granted August 4, 1871, and recorded August 30, 1871. The trustees were:- George Chapman, John Chapman, John Mason, David Chapman and P. W. Whiting.
Deed Book "C" page 471:- On September 13, 1871, John Brooks and wife Martha of Gibson township, Cameron county, Pa., sold a lot in Sterling Run, Lumber township, Cameron county, Pa., 50 by 150 feet - 7500 square feet - for $200 to the Methodist Episcopal Church Trustees of Sterling, Lumber township, Cameron county, Pa. The Trustees were:- George Chapman, John Chapman, John Mason, David Chapman and P. W. Whiting.
The deed was recorded January 16, 1872.
This page was last updated on Thursday, August 08, 2002.
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