HISTORICAL TIDBITS Princeton UMC’s second pastor, Israel Saunders Corbit, was said to have been a brilliant orator, and church membership increased by 150 people during his tenure. Corbit was quite rigid, and actually removed Oliver Bartine and others from the Church rolls for failing to attend class meetings! Bartine left and joined the Cedar Grove church, but returned when Rev. Samuel Monroe was appointed as our third pastor. Corbit was responsible for setting up our church’s record keeping system. (SEE “Princeton Station” 1850 steward records below) In April 1849, the Conference changed Princeton M.E's status from Circuit to Princeton Station. The new building was dedicated on October 17, 1849. At the time, the church still had $1,600 in debt. A special offering was asked for that Sunday, but the offerings came up short, so the trustees approved of "the females" setting up a fair to help liquidate the debt. The fair was a success, and enough funds were raised to pay off the debt. (Go Methodist Women!) In the end, Dr. Oliver Bartine (the man Pastor Corbit had removed from the rolls) got his revenge, and was the first man to be married (to Miss Mary Cotrell) in the church in 1850.
Princeton Methodist Episcopal’s steward records from 1850.
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