The Methodist Episcopal Church of Pleasantville appears to have been the first of that denomination founded in this section of the country. As early as 1S00 a class meeting was organized on Bear ridge, near the residence of Mr. Jesse Barker. The present building was erected in 1820. Its pastor, in 1847, was the Rev. Charles T. Pelton. A small burying-ground surrounds the church, which contains memorials to the Clarks, Brouwers, Montroses, Searles, Romers, Ackers and others.

A short distance west of the village is situated the Westchester railroad depot ar.d hotel, in front of which rise high hills crowned with luxuriant woods ; among the former are most conspicuous, Searles' and Wild Boar hills.

a The present church edifice was erected the same year. b Religious 3oc Co. Reo., Lib. B. 73.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.

To the West of Pleasantville, almost bordering the Bronx river, rises Bear Ridge -- so called from a venerable relict of the bruen race, that in early provincial times resided in the stump of an ancient oak on its summit. Upon the south-eastern extremity of this elevated portion of the town, is situated the " Westchester Nursery," the property of the late Edward Jessup Carpenter, whose father, David R. Carpenter, bought the estate about twenty-five years ago of Underhill Quimby; it having formerly belonged to the Baker family. Nothing can be finer than the views from this beautiful spot, which commands a most extensive prospect of eight counties, viz : Suffolk, Queens and Kings, Long Island ; Fairfield, Conn.; Putnam, New York; Rockland, Orange and Bergen; besides beautiful views of the North and East rivers, the Palisades and the Hook on the west side of the former, the Dunderberg or Bread Tray Mountain, (so called on account of its shape.) on which the line runs between Orange and Rockland Counties.