USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of the Presbytery of Erie : embracing in its ancient boundaries the whole of northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio : with biographical sketches of all its ministers and historical sketches of its churches > Part 14
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During his pastorate of nine years, Mr. Stockton had charge of the Meadville Academy, and conducted it with ability and success. Ile was dismissed from the Presbytery of Erie on the 27th day of June, 1810, and soon after was received by the Presbytery of Redstone, from which he was transferred to that of Ohio, by act of Synod, October, 1822.
In 1809, he was elected Principal of the Pittsburgh Academy, which was subsequently merged into the
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" Western University of Pennsylvania." In this posi- tion he continued to labor with great success until 1820. In connection with his labors in the Academy, he gave his attention to the preparation of school-books. He published during these years, "The Western Spelling- Book," and "The Western Calculator," both of which have been extensively used throughout the region west . of the Alleghany Mountains. In addition to these edu- cational works, he devoted much of his time to the preparation of a theological work, but his life was not spared for its completion. His scholarship was consid- erable, and he took a deep interest in the education of the young. In 1827, he was one of the instructors in the Western Theological Seminary.
But his labors were not confined to the Academy, after removing to Pittsburgh. Hle still sought and em- braced opportunities of preaching the gospel, in the region around. Ile preached for a time to the soldiers at the United States garrison, two miles from the city, at what is now Lawrenceville. For several years he preached to the church of Pine Creek, at first devoting one third and afterwards one half of his time to this charge. Here his labors were greatly blessed to the ingathering of souls to the fold of Christ. At the time of his death, one hundred and thirty-six had been re- ceived on profession of faith. The remaining portion of his time was devoted to missionary labor, in connec- tion with the church in Alleghany City. The last three years of his life, his ministerial labors were wholly given to the Church of Pine Creek. During this period the town of Sharpsburg took its rise, and the popula- tion increasing, on petition from the people, the Pres- bytery of Ohio divided the congregation, forming a new one called Sharpsburg.
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Mr. Stockton was of the medium height, mild and pleasant in his manner, and was in every respect a most courteous Christian gentleman. He was always earnest in the defense of the truth. On one occasion, he met a gentleman who was skeptical in his views of divine truth. After laboring with him an entire evening in his attempts to convince him of his error, with little effect, the gentleman retired to his room. But Mr. Stockton was not satisfied and followed him to his room, and renewed the contest. " Admitting that you are right," he said, " when we pass to the world of spirits, I shall be as safe and well off as you. But if you are wrong, and I am right, you will be lost. Is not my ground then the safest?" The gentleman was forced to admit the soundness of the argument, and the untenable ground he had been occupying.
But his work upon earth was done. The Master had no longer need of his services, and he was called home to his reward. He was called suddenly to Baltimore, to see a son who was dangerously sick of fever, when he himself was attacked by cholera. After an illness, attended with extreme suffering, of twenty-four hours' continuance, he died, on the 29th day of October, 1832, in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and thirty-third of his ministry.
Although called to leave the world suddenly, and surrounded by comparative strangers, he was calm and resigned. Having requested the fifteenth chapter of John to be read, and joining in prayer with a minis- terial brother, he remarked: " The battle is nearly fought - Christ is with me." Ile frequently expressed a longing desire to be released, and that the time might speedily come, when he should see Jesus face to face He frequently prayed, " Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly,
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thy servant waits." Finally, sending his love to his wife and children, and an affectionate remembrance to his congregation and all his friends, he closed his eyes and passed to the other side, to look upon the face of God.
He left a widow, four sons, and three daughters. Ilis remains were laid to rest in the burial-grounds of the First Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, but in the year 1858 were removed to the beautiful cemetery near Alleghany city.
Mr. Stockton was one of the original members of the Presbytery of Erie, and for a period of nine years, one of its active and useful members.
(5.) ROBERT LEE.
1800-1842.
MR. LEE was one of the original members of the Presbytery of Erie. At the time of its organization, he was settled at Amity and Big Spring (afterwards Rocky Spring). He was the son of Thomas Lee, and was born in Donegal, Ireland, in the year 1771. In the year 1787, he emigrated to the United States with his father's family, and settled in Washington County, Pa. He was thus brought within the sphere of the influence of Cannonsburg. He remained at home, as- sisting in the maintenance of the family, until he was of age, when he commenced for himself the struggle with the world, yet without any means save his own hands, and trusting only in Providence.
It is not now known when he made a profession of religion ; yet in 1794, when he was in his twenty-third year, we find him commencing his studies, preparatory to the ministry, at the Cannonsburg Academy. He was prompted to this by the advice and persuasion of Dr.
*
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John McMillan. From Dr. McMillan he had also the promise of aid for his support, whilst engaged in study. Then commenced the great struggle with the world, and contact with the discouraging circumstances that always surround the student of limited means ; for although per- mitted to lean securely on the patronage of his friend, his independent spirit and sense of duty prompted him to lean on his own efforts. Ile had strong hands and a brave heart, and was habitnated to manual labor. So he resolved to assist himself in every way possible. Accord- ingly he engaged in small contracts to perform labor where it was required, and even cleared at one time ten acres of land. To accomplish this without neglect- ing his studies, he was often obliged to work at night, fixing up his log heaps, and attending to his fires, when others were sleeping.
After the completion of his classical studies, he studied theology under the direction of his patron, Dr. MeMillan, and was taken under the care of the Pres- bytery of Ohio, as a candidate for the gospel ministry, December 17, 1799. After passing through all his trials, he was licensed to preach the gospel, by the same Presbytery, on the 22d day of October, 1800.
After travelling through the vacancies as a mission- ary, he accepted calls from the congregations of Amity and Big Spring, to become their pastor, and was or- dained and installed on the 26th day of June, 1801. Here he continued to labor, under great discourage- ments, arising from a large field and a limited support, for about six years, when, on account of failing health, he asked the Presbytery to release him from his pasto- ral charge. The relation was dissolved, July 14, 1807. He remained, however, within the bounds of the Pres- bytery for five or six years, preaching in various
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churches as a stated supply. In 1810, he was supply- ing Slate Liek and Union.
On the 7th day of April, 1813, he was dismissed from the Presbytery of Erie, and on the 20th day of the same month, was received by the Presbytery of Red- stone. In the bounds of this Presbytery, he accepted calls from the congregation of Salem, in Westmore- land County, Pa., and was installed as pastor on the second Tuesday of August, 1813. Here he remained as pastor until October 20, 1819.
The West now began to attract his attention as a field of labor. Ile had a numerous family dependent upon him, and there was in the new field opening in northern Ohio, the prospect, not only of an interesting field of ministerial labor, but the way for the improvement of the worldly circumstances of his family. Accordingly, in November, 1821, he removed with his family to what is now Ashland County, Ohio. He was dismissed from the Presbytery of Redstone, April 17, 1822, and be- came connected with the Presbytery of Richland. In this new relation he became pastor of the congregation of Hopeful. This congregation afterwards became the congregation of Ashland. Here he labored for about four years. He then became the pastor of the Church of Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio, then under the care of Richland, but now Marion Presbytery. Ilis pas- torate in this church continued many years, and with encouraging success. After retiring from this field, he took up his residence in Leesville, Crawford County, Ohio, where he exercised the duties of a minister in various vacant churches and missionary points, until the close of his earthly labors. Sometimes he acted under : the direction of the Board of Domestic Missions, sometimes under that of the Presbytery, and sometimes
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he used his own discretion, preaching the gospel to the poor, and laboring wherever duty called. It was a sat- isfaction to him, that he was able to preach where Provi- dence opened the way, after retiring from the active duties of the pastorate.
At the age of seventy-one, a few weeks before his death, he had arranged to engage in ministerial labors in a destitute section of the country, some twelve miles from the place of his residence. But the Master had ordered otherwise. The work and the self-denial and the warfare must now cease, and instead, the crown and the palm and the sweet golden harp. He died at Lees- ville, Ohio, on the 9th day of February, 1842, in the seventy-first year of his age, and the forty-first of his ministry. His last words were, " Lord Jesus, if it be thy will, come quickly, that I may be at rest."
In January, 1800, Mr. Lee was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Swerngen, of Washington County, Pa., who survived him. In her youth she was a lady of great personal beauty, and throughout life a fitting helper to the pioneer missionary. Their family consisted of eight children. Four sons and one daughter are living, and are all members of the Presbyterian Church. Thus God remembers his children, and is the God of his peo- ple and of their families.
In person, Mr. Lee was tall, slender, and dignified in appearance and deportment. He was mild and concil- iating, yet earnest in defense of the truth. One who knew him in youth and in old age,1 says: "As a preacher, and in his address and manner, he was a fair model specimen of the ministers of the West, fifty or sixty years ago. Ile was firm in his belief of the doc- trines of the Bible as set forth in the standards of the
1 Rev. James Rowland.
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Presbyterian Church, of which he was the earnest ad- vocate, both in the pulpit and out of it. In the con- struction of his sermons, he never failed to present the leading points which he conceived to be contained in his text, by naming the order in which he designed to discuss each.
" In preaching, his enunciation was clear, distinct, impressive, strikingly sincere and solemn, as was also his manner. During the twenty years, the last of his ministerial life, in which he acted as a pioneer minister in the newly settled region of Northern Ohio, he aimed at doing all he could for the cause of Christ, and the good of souls. He was impeded, however, by an insuf- ficient support, which compelled him at times to labor with his own hands, for the support of himself and family."
(6.) JAMES SATTERFIELD.
1800-1857.
JAMES SATTERFIELD, the son of James and Mar- garet (Meed) Satterfield, was born in Queen Anne County, Maryland, in August, 1767. In his father's family there were four sons and two daughters. Ile was the fifth child. His father dying in Maryland, his mother married Mr. Davies, and moved to Washing- ton County, Pennsylvania, in 1786 or 1787, and settled on a farm. This brought him within the sphere of Dr. McMillan's influence, and in part accounts for the pur- suits of his subsequent life. He became a professor of- religion in his fourteenth year. His convictions of sin were so powerful that they influenced his views of religious experience forever afterwards.
He was a farmer in Washington County. One year
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he got his wheat ground, put it on board a flat-boat, and run it to New Orleans, then under Spanish dominion. The enterprise was a most profitable one, but attended with great peril. He then took a vessel and returned by sea to Baltimore, and from thence walked over the mountains home. This profitable venture, together with the atmosphere that surrounded Dr. McMillan's log-cabin, was, under God, the means of directing him to the ministry. He went to the Cannonsburg Acad- emy and pursued his studies there, in the meanwhile being one of the founders of the "Philo Literary So- ciety." He of course studied theology with Dr. MeMil- lan, and was licensed to preach the gospel by the Pres- bytery of Ohio, on the 3d day of September, 1800. After his licensure, he was sent as a missionary to the Indians, and travelled as far west as Detroit. In 1801, he removed to Mercer County, and on the 3d day of March, 1802, was ordained and installed as pastor of the congregations of Moorfield, Pa., and Upper Neshan- nock, now Neshannock, Pa., by the Presbytery of Ohio.
He was one of the original members of the Pres- bytery of Erie. In 1808, he was set off with others to form the Presbytery of Hartford, now Beaver. He was released from the charge of Neshannock, in the beginning of the year 1812, and from that of Moor- field in 1834. From 1812 to 1815, he had charge of the congregations of Brookfield, Ohio, in connection with Hubbard and Moorfield. He continued his connection with Hubbard, until April 6, 1831, and with Moorfield until he demitted all regular pastoral labor.
During the last years of his life he had no regu- lar charge, but preached quite frequently to vacant churches, and assisted at communion occasions. IIe was always ready to preach the gospel and to bear his
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testimony for Christ. His remarks were always appro- priate and happy on communion occasions.
Ile was a man of strong and robust constitution, and up to the last days of his life could mount a horse and ride to the place of worship. His last illness was brief. He complained of a sore throat after coming from church, and soon other unfavorable symptoms presented themselves. In his last act of family worship, he read the parable of the ten virgins, a favorite theme with him, and engaged in prayer. When informed by his physicians that he could not live, he replied, " My lamp is trimmed and burning." He was confined to his bed but three days. His death took place at the old home- stead, near Middlesex, Mercer County, Pa., on the 20th day of November, 1857, in the ninetieth year of his age, and the fifty-eighth of his ministry.
Mr. Satterfield was thrice married. Ilis first wife was Miss Polly Orbison of Washington County, to whom he was married October 28, 1800. She died July 23, 1802.
On the 27th of March, 1804, he was married to Miss Ann Gibson, a member of the congregation of Ne- shannock. She died September 12, 1815, leaving five children, two sons and three daughters.
Ilis third marriage was with Miss Sarah Mead, a daughter of General Mead, of Meadville, Pa. This marriage took place September 3, 1816. She died May 22, 1823, leaving one son and one daughter. This son was Rev. Mead Satterfield, pastor of the churches of Ilarrisville and Amity, who died in 1855. The daughter, Mrs. William Mathers, now resides at New Lisbon, Ohio. Besides the latter, two children by a former marriage still survive.
As a preacher Mr. Satterfield was plain and practical.
3
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Attempting no flights of fancy, his sermons were full of the marrow and fatness of the gospel. He was a most godly and exemplary man. The reputation he has left behind, is that of sterling integrity, unvarnished truth, and unblemished purity of heart and life. When a question of veracity would arise amongst the neigh- bors, it was a common remark to say, "It is just as true as though Clergy Satterfield had said it.", & This application " clergy," was one generally applied to him by his old neighbors.
Ile was most emphatically a man of prayer. During the last years of his life, he was in the habit of rising early to engage in secret prayer. Indeed, his children say that he often spent the greater portion of the day in private prayer. He walked with God here, and could well say at the last, " the lamp is trimmed and ready."
He was a systematic man. He always read the Scriptures in course, and as soon as he had read the last chapter of Revelation, commenced again at Gen- esis.
On occasion of the death of his son Mead, he writes to his children : " When I see an old tree standing almost alone in the field, whose limbs have fallen off one after another, till almost all have fallen, it appears a fit emblem of my condition, and I sometimes wonder that the old stock does not tumble to the earth. What the allwise and gracious God intends by it, I know not now, but I am certain I shall know hereafter."
He knows now, for he looks upon the face of God, and the lessons of life are all clear, and its mysteries all explained.
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(7.) WILLIAM WYLIE, D. D.
1800-1858.
MR. WYLIE was one of the original members of the Presbytery of Erie. Although not mentioned in the act of the Synod of Virginia erecting the Presbytery, he was ordained by the Presbytery of Ohio, between this act and the time appointed for the first meeting of the Presbytery of Erie. Ilis father was a native of Ireland, and a half brother of the Rev. Samuel Wylie, D. D., late of Philadelphia. At an early period his father removed to the West, and settled in Washington County, Pa. Here William Wylie was born on the 10th day of July, 1776. His mother was a woman of piety and prayer, and her influence was most blessed on the young mind of her son. While quite young in years he became the subject of deep religious impres- sions, and devoted himself to the service of the Lord. Soon after this he turned his thoughts toward prepara- tion for the gospel ministry. After engaging for a time in study at home, he repaired to Washington, in his own county, to attend a Latin and Mathematical School, taught by Rev. Thaddeus Dodd. After this he went to Cannonsburg to attend the Academy in that place. Here he pursued his studies for some time. Ile was now induced to go to the State of Kentucky, with the view of teaching to replenish his treasury, and at the same time continuing his studies as opportunity might offer. In this new State, he remained for a number of years, completing his classical studies, and engaging in theo- logical study, until in due time he was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of West Lexington.
Soon after this, and during the year 1800, he returned
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to his home in Western Pennsylvania, and began to itinerate within the bounds of the Presbytery of Ohio, extending at that time from the Ohio River to Lake Erie. He was received by the Presbytery of Ohio as a licentiate from the Presbytery of West Lexington, on the 2d day of March, 1802, received calls from the congregations of Upper and Lower Sandy,1 and Fair- field, accepted the same, and was ordained and installed their pastor on the 5th of the same month. At the same meeting he, with six other members of Presbytery, were dismissed to constitute the new Presbytery of Eric.
Mr. Wylie's field was a large one, requiring great labor in pastoral visitation, and his salary but slen- der, even for those times. Failure of health, and dis- couragement in his labor, induced him to think of seeking a new field. Although his pastorate had been one of usefulness and success, yet there were causes that led to the conviction that the path of duty led else- where. Accordingly at a meeting of Presbytery, held December 5, 1801, he asked for the dissolution of the pastoral relation. The reasons given were, " That said congregations had not fulfilled their contracts with him ; that he could not have a support from them for his fam- ily ; and that considering the weak state of his bodily healthı, le considered it to be his duty to leave them." The congregations were heard at full length, when Presbytery granted his request and the pastoral relation was dissolved. At the same meeting he received a dis- mission from the Presbytery, to connect himself with the Presbytery of Redstone.
On the 6th day of February, 1805, he was received as a member of the Presbytery of Redstone, and accepted calls to the pastoral charge of the congregations of
1 Now Georgetown and Mill Creek.
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Rehoboth and Round Hill. His ministry in these churches continued for about eleven years, with a com- fortable degree of success. The congregations had, some years before, passed through a season of revival, and a reaction had taken place, throwing many obsta- cles in his way. Many had been received into the churches, as is usually the case at such times, who had no root in themselves, and soon withered away ; and the great Adversary threw the apple of discord into the congregations, and troubled the camp.
In the spring of 1816, Mr. Wylie asked the Presby- tery to dismiss him from his united charge, when he removed to Uniontown, the county-seat of Fayette County. At this time there was no actual church or- ganization in Uniontown. The members of the Pres- byterian Church were considered as belonging either to Laurel Hill or Tent churches, which had been organ- ized in the vicinity. And during Mr. Wylie's period of labor there, there was no organization formed. The Tent Church was considered as embracing the town within its borders.
During his ministry, Mr. Wylie preached both in the Tent Church and in town, and administered the ordi- nances in both places. The elders lived in the coun- try, but met as a session in both places, as it proved to be convenient and necessary. In this way the entire charge came naturally to be known as the congregation of Uniontown.1 It was only after the lapse of two years from Mr. Wylie's departure from Uniontown, that a separate congregation was organized.
In Uniontown the labors of Mr. Wylie were eminently blessed. The state of religion when he came there was not only languishing, but there was much opposition to
1 Dr. Joseph Smith.
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religion itself. There was a practical infidelity abroad, especially amongst professional men, that was exercis- ing a most baleful influence upon the young men of the community. The influence of Mr. Wylie was most beneficial in removing this influence, and introducing a more hopeful spirit in its stead. This very class of men rallied around him and made his cause their own. Many of them became members of his Bible-class, and eventually of the church. The tide of religious influ- ence set in strongly, and there was an entire change in the prevailing feeling and practice. Ile preached in the orchards and groves, and sometimes in the Court- house, and wrought so zealously and faithfully, that when he left the place there were the elements out of which a strong and growing church was organized
From Uniontown he removed in 1823, and took up his abode in Wheeling, Va. Here he became a mem- ber of the Presbytery of Washington, being received October 9, 1823. By this Presbytery he is reported for many years as stated supply at Wheeling and Short Creek, or West Liberty. The state of affairs at Wheeling was not favorable to successful labor. It was then but a small town, with two ministers laboring in common, in town and country. Congregations are not perfect, ministers are not infallible. Stars become pale before the rising sun. So, although there was a very strong influence exerted to induce Mr. Wylie to re- main, he deemed it his duty to retire from the field.
On the 2d day of October, 1832, he was dismissed to connect himself with the Presbytery of Lancaster, now called Zanesville. Here he accepted a call to Newark, Lieking County, Ohio. In this place he continued to labor during the remainder of his pastoral life. IIe was a useful man here, not only to the general cause of
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religion, but to that of Presbyterianism. In fact he had that peculiar faculty of making his impression deeply and broadly upon every commimity in the midst of which he had his abode. And this impression was always on the side of truth and righteousness.
In 1854, at his own request, he was dismissed from the pastoral charge of the church of Newark, althoughi he did not remove from the place. The infirmities of age were upon him, and he felt it his duty to retire and give place for a younger and more vigorous pastor.
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