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 16
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reached Youngstown, and found a hospitable reception with the Presbyterian pastor, Rev. William Wick1 (2).
Here commenced a series of labors leading him in every direction, where the cabin of a settler was to be sought, or where a path was to be found through the woods. The winter was spent in the southern part of the Reserve ; but in the spring he extended his travels east as far as Hudson, thence north to Cleveland. By request of the Presbytery of Ohio, he went in company with Rev. Thomas Edgar Hughes (1), as far as Mau- mee and Detroit, to consider the propriety of establish- ing a mission amongst the Indians. In this expedition he was accompanied by George Blue Jacket, the son of an Indian chief.2 On his way he preached to the Dela- wares, through an interpreter. On his journey home- ward, he suffered great hardships. Exposure and
privation had reduced him to such a condition that he could hardly cling to his horse. Taking calomel one day and an emetic the next for five days in succession, he was finally so much reduced that he could not mount his horse without assistance. Still he pushed onward, and at length reached Hudson, Ohio, having subsisted for two days on chestnuts.
Having been absent fromn New England about a year, he returned to Connecticut. On his journey home- ward he was taken ill at Buffalo, N. Y., with fever, and reduced to the very borders of the grave. From this he recovered partially, and after other attacks at length reached his home and family. Here he made a report . of his missionary operations to the Board, and made arrangements for removing his family to the Western Reserve.
This journey was commenced on the 23d day of 1 Gillett's Ilistory ii. 134. 2 Dr. Elliott.
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February, 1802. It was a most unseasonable period to undertake a journey of four or five hundred miles. Yet it was undertaken in faith and hope. The outfit was a four-horse wagon, in which were stowed his wife and six children, together with their household effects. Soon the missionary family encountered snow, that in- creased in depth until his wagon wheels became solid with snow and mud, and they were fain to construct a rude sled, on which the wheels were laid, having been taken from the axles, and upon these the wagon body was placed and the journey resumed. At Troy, N. Y., the snow failed, the sled was discarded, and the wagon restored to its original condition. But the mud was fearful. Onward the noble horses toiled, one accident after another happened, until finally the forward axle- tree broke, bringing them to an unwilling halt. There was no wagon-maker near, nor any other mechanic that was available. So remembering his war experience, he collected what tools were at hand, procured a piece of timber, and made a new axle with his own hands. His next accident was the breaking of his king-bolt, re- placed at an expense of two dollars. He reached Aus- tenburg, Ohio, at length, after a journey of two months. Here he had organized a church during his first tour, October 1, 1801, consisting of eight male and six female members.
At this place, he prepared to pitch his tent. He built a rude cabin of logs, found sufficient flooring for it to spread their Connecticut beds furnished by good mother Noble, but without table or chairs, or even a door or chinking between the logs.
But the missionary had not come to finish off houses or seek personal comfort, but to preach the gospel to those that were beyond. So he left his family to plant
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the garden and the corn-field, and set out on a mission- ary tour that continued three months, when he returned home. These missionary tours continued with little cessation until April, 1803. It was on April 13, 1803, that Mr. Badger became a member of the Presbytery of Erie. The minutes of the Presbytery would indi- cate that he was received as a Congregational minister. The minute is to this effect: " Rev. Joseph Badger, a missionary from Connecticut, having expressed a desire to join this Presbytery, and having given satisfaction of his regular standing in the body to which he formerly belonged, was received, but still retains his privilege of riding under the direction of the Connecticut Mis- sionary Society." 1
He is seldom found at meetings of Presbytery, during the six years he continued a member. Ilis time was taken up in his missionary tours, and he depended on his brethren to take care of the interests of the church at home.
About this time, a letter was received from the Mis- sionary Board in Connecticut, informing him that his salary was reduced to six dollars per week. At this Mr. Badger felt greatly aggrieved. His whole time was devoted to his missionary work, and even with this small pittance he could hardly live. He wrote repeat- edly to the Home Board, reasoning and remonstrating against a policy that he denominated " injudicious and oppressive." Still he continued to labor on. A most blessed revival had been in progress for months where he was laboring, and although his family was actually suffering for many of the necessaries of life, he could not abandon the field.
The Connecticut Missionary Society have the follow-
1 Min. Erie Pres. i. 12.
BIOGRAPHICAL. 225
ing endorsement in their report for the year 1804: " Mr. Badger has endured great hardships in riding in stormy and severe weather, and in fording rivers. It appears from his journal, that he travels in that rough, and in some places, almost patliless country, nearly sev- enteen hundred miles a year ; and that he preaches one hundred and forty or fifty sermons. He attends many conferences and meetings for prayer, catechizes the children, and is abundant in family visits." 1
His patience having become exhausted, he resigned his commission from the Connecticut Missionary So- ciety, and accepted one from the " Western Missionary Society," located at Pittsburgh, Pa., as a missionary to . the Indians. This change took place in January, 1806. In this work he labored amongst the Wyandotte In- dians, in the region of Sandusky, Ohio, for about four years. In the autumn of 1807, he removed his family to Sandusky, but on acce the unhealthiness of the climate, moved back to following year. At the close of the year 1809, he made a journey to Boston, where he collected nearly eleven hundred dollars in aid of his mission. Returning, he resumed his labors amongst the Indians, spending his time away from his family, and heroically devoting himself to his great work. Dur- ing one of these absences, he heard of the death of a beloved daughter. Of her he makes this testimony : "The Lord gave her to us, and continued her a com- fortable child, until she was ripe for heaven. We have reason to believe that she has, through the righteous- ness of the Redeemer, made a happy change." "
Soon after this bereavement, he received a letter from his wife, informing him that their house had been burned, with nearly all its contents. He immediately
1 Evan. Intel. vol. i. 497. 2 lbid. vol. iii. 387.
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hastened home, went to work, and with the assistance of the neighbors, erected another cabin, and placing his family in it, turned his face to the wilderness once more.
Having resigned his commission to the Western Board, he removed, in the spring of 1810, to Ashtabula, Ohio, with his family. Here and in the neighboring settlements he preached, deriving his support in part from the people and in part from the Massachusetts Missionary Society.
During the war of 1812, he was a soldier once more, in which his versatile talent was brought into active ex- ercise. His connection with the army seems to have been providential, and without his own active agency. Perkins' brigade had been ordered westward to protect the western frontier. Many of his congregation were in the ranks, and some of them sick. Mr. Badger vis- ited them in the camp, and without his own knowledge or solicitation, he was appointed brigade chaplain, and postmaster of the army by General Harrison. He ac- cepted this appointment as a call to duty, and remained with the army until spring. During the winter he piloted the army across the country to Lower Sandusky, and went with it to Maumee, from which place he re- turned to his family in March, 1813.
Mr. Badger continued to preach in various places, without any regular support, until 1826, when, feeling the infirmities of age coming upon him, with a straitness in his means, he reported himself to the War Depart- ment as a soldier of the Revolution, and was placed upon the pension roll at ninety-six dollars a year. About the same time, he accepted an invitation to labor in Gustavus, Trumbull Co., Ohio, a small congregation of about thirty members, that had been organized by
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himself. Over this people he was installed as pastor by the Presbytery of Grand River, in October, 1826. Here he labored for eight years with encouraging. success, but on account of declining health, he was dismissed from his charge by the Presbytery of Trumbull, June 26, 1835.1 This dismission was at his own request, and against the wishes of his people.
In October following, he removed to Wood County, Ohio, to reside with his only surviving daughter, Mrs. Van Tassel. With her he remained until within three years of his decease, when he removed to Perrysburg, Ohio, where he died, April 5, 1846, in the ninetieth year of his age. His last sermon was preached on the day of the National Fast, appointed in consequence of the death of President Harrison, his old commander. With all his patriarchal age, "he retained his mental powers to the last moments, and died in the exercise of a triumphant faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." 2
In his ecclesiastical relations, Mr. Badger was first a Congregationalist, but finding none of his brethren in his new field of labor, he connected himself with the Presbytery of Erie. This new relation was consum- mated on the 13th day of April, 1803. In 1808, the Presbytery of Hartford (Beaver) was formed, when he became one of its original members. In 1814, he be- came a member of the Presbytery of Grand River,ยช and lastly of the Presbytery of Trumbull.4 It is said he always retained his preferences for Congregational- ism.
"In person," says President Pierce of Western Re- serve College, " he was about the medium size, of a strong and muscular frame, and yet not peculiarly cor-
1 Dr. Elliott.
8 Formed from Hartford, 1814.
2 Ibid.
4 Formed from Grand River, 1827.
I
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pulent. The features of his countenance were strongly marked - bold, expressive, and manly. In his man- ners, he was frank, open, benevolent, and sympathetic. A stranger soon felt at home with him, and prepared to receive with confidence information on all subjects within the field of his labors."
Ile was a man of great versatility of genius. He could assist the farmer in manufacturing and repairing his farming utensils, or administer medicine to the sick, whilst he was equally at home in shoeing his own horse, carrying hammer and nails in his saddle-bags for that purpose.
Whilst the army lay at Lower Sandusky, during his chaplaincy, in 1812, his genius was called into requisi- tion. Says President Pierce : -
" The settlement was small, and the army encamped in the woods was short of provisions, and suffered es- pecially in that they had no means for grinding corn. Mr. Badger, by boring and burning, scooped out a large oak stump in the form of a mortar. In this he placed an upright shaft, fitted at the end for a pestle, and gave it motion by means of a horizontal spring-pole, fastened to the neighboring trees, and thus the corn was pounded. When he had got his machinery in operation, he called on Colonel Darrow, the commanding officer of the sta- tion, and asked him if he had ever heard of priesteraft ? He replied, 'Yes.' ' Would you like to see a specimen ? ' ' Yes.' So he took him to the woods and showed him his contrivance."
The same authority gives us the following incident of his missionary adventures, that is well authenti- cated : -
"On the eve of a dark, rainy night, the streams be- ing much raised, he came to a ford on Grand River,
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and crossed, intending to encamp on the bank for the night. Ile was prevented by the snapping and growl- ing of some animal near. It soon became so dark that he could not see his hand holding the bridle, and he knew by the noise that a bear was continually ap- proaching. Having a horseshoe in his hand, guided by the noise, he threw it, but without effect. Ile reined his horse right and left, that he might find a tree and climb from danger. Succeeding in this, he fastened the bridle to the smaller limbs, rose upon the saddle and ascended the tree. The bear came to the root and, as he supposed, began to climb. Gaining a firm footing, he drew a sharp knife and prepared for battle. But as the bear did not approach, he ascended about forty feet into the top of the tree, found a convenient place to sit upon a limb, and tied himself to the tree with his handkerchief, that he might be more safe if he should fall into a drowse. The night was most dreary, with storm and wind and heavy peals of thunder. Prov- identially the horse was not frightened, but remained a quiet sentinel at the foot of the tree. Being drenched with rain, he shook his saddle, and so frightened the bear that he retreated a few rods, where he remained growling and snapping his teeth until near daylight, when he left the premises, and the missionary went to his home in safety."
Mr. Badger was twice married. His first wife was Miss Lois Noble, of New Milford, Conn., a sister of the wife of his early patron, Rev. Jeremiah Day. By this marriage he had seven children, three sons and four daughters. Mrs. Badger died on the 4th of August, 1818, in the sixty-fourth year of her age. She was a most estimable woman, sharing his hardships, conduct-
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ing the affairs of the house in his absence, and cooper- ating with him in all his missionary plans.
Ilis second wife was Miss Abigail Ely, of Wilbra- ham, Mass., who was visiting her sisters in Salem, Ohio. This marriage took place in April, 1819.
And thus his record closes upon earth, but who can doubt but that it is carried forward in heaven, in higher, holier, and more exalted service, where the peace and the joy and the glory will be eternal !
(12). ALEXANDER COOK. 1802-1828.
HERE is one who led a life of vicissitudes. In his earlier years, he was familiar with the broom and the heather of Scotia's classic vales. In later life he was an artisan at Berwick-on-the-Tweed, so famous in Scot- tish history, and still later a missionary in the northern and southern portions of the United States.
Alexander Cook was the son of Thomas and Isabella (Ogilvie) Cook, and was born at St. Monance, Fife- shire, near Glasgow, Scotland, on the 4th day-of Febru- ary, 1760, and was baptized on the 6th day of the same month and year. He received a moderate English education at Glasgow, and learned the trade of a silver- smith. He was at Berwick-on-the-Tweed in 1778, and emigrated to America in 1783. Hle lived for a time in the State of Maryland, and in 1797 was living in Can- nonsburg, Pa., and working at his trade as a silver- smith. In those days there seems to have been some- thing sacred in the very atmosphere of that town. The influence of Dr. McMillan seems to have reached al- most every professing Christian man, and to have drawn them, under God, into the ministry. So we find Alex-
1
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ander Cook working away most diligently in the fabri- cation of spoons and the renovating of watches ; and at the same time, although nearly forty years of age, study- ing at the Academy, with reference to the gospel min- istry. He studied theology with Dr. McMillan, and was licensed by the Presbytery of Ohio. He had been taken under the care of this Presbytery, January 21, 1802, as a suitable person to be sent to the Indians as a missionary, and for that purpose specially licensed, April 23, 1802. In the following August, it is recorded that he was commissioned by General Dearborn, then Secretary of War, as a missionary to the Indians. IIe had, however, an appointment of a more ecclesiastical nature, from the Synod of Pittsburgh. His history as a missionary is thus recorded : -
" Mr. Alexander Cook, a licentiate under the care of the Ohio Presbytery, was appointed to spend five months at Sandusky to instruct the Indians in the knowl- edge of the Gospel of Christ."
Afterwards it is recorded : " The missionaries have all fulfilled their appointments except Messrs. Joseph Patterson and Alexander Cook, who though they went to the places to which they were directed, did not meet that friendly reception they expected from the Indians, and returned in about two months." 1
He was regularly licensed for the settlements on the 30th day of September, 1802. On the 12th day of April, 1803, he was received under the care of the Pres- bytery of Erie, and having accepted calls from the con- gregations of Slippery Rock and Lower Neshannock, (now New Castle), was assigned Rom. iii. 31, as the sub- ject of a sermon as part of trials for ordination. Ile was ordained on the 22d day of June, 1803, and installed
1 Printed Min. Synod of Pittsburgh, page 12.
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pastor of the churches of Slippery Rock and New Castle. In these exercises John Boyd (8) preached the ser- mon, and Thomas Edgar Hughes (1) delivered the charges. This relation continued until June 14th, 1809, when it was dissolved by Presbytery. On the 6th day of March, 1810, he was dismissed from the Presbytery of Erie, and connected himself with the Presbytery of Hartford.
About this time Mr. Cook took a commission as a missionary to labor in the States of South Carolina and Georgia. This work continued for six months. IIe was also stated supply at Poland, Ohio, from 1812 to 1814. On the 3d day of January, 1815, he was received from the Presbytery of Hartford, by the Presbytery of Ohio, and installed pastor of the church of Bethany. This relation was dissolved April 1, 1820. And on the 3d day of April, 1821, he was received by the Pres- bytery of Alleghany, and on the 26th of June following, installed as pastor of the churches of Ebenezer and Bear Creek. This relation was dissolved on the 26th day of June, 1827. On the 19th of October following he was received by the Presbytery of Steubenville, and for a year supplied the churches of Annapolis and Bloonifield, in Jefferson County, Ohio.
In the winter of 1828, he left his home to organize a church in a Scotch settlement, in Columbiana County, Ohio. Reaching his destination on Saturday, he con- versed to a late hour of the night with the family whose hospitality he was enjoying, and retired to rest. Not appearing at the usual time of rising in the morning, examination was made, when he was found dead in his bed. ITis death occurred at the house of Mr. Johnston, on Yellow Creek, November 30, 1828, in the sixty-ninth year of his age and the thirty-seventh of his ministry.
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:
On the 2d day of January, 1787, Mr. Cook was united in marriage to Miss Alizannah Adams, of Abing- don, Md. They had ten children, three only of whom arrived at years of maturity. Mrs. Cook died at Slip- pery Rock, Beaver County, Pa., June 6, 1805. Her death took place on a Fast Day, whilst her husband was at church. Ile was afterwards married to Miss Clark, of Beaver County, Pa.
In person Mr. Cook was rather below the medium height, compactly built, dark complexion, dark brown eyes, with a sedate expression of countenance, generally, yet with a vein of mirth, cropping out in times of re- laxation. He had a good faculty of rendering himself ageeable to the young.
(13.) ROBERT PATTERSON.
1801-1854.
ROBERT PATTERSON was the son of Rev. Joseph and Jane (Moak) Patterson. He was descended from a family illustrious for its patriotism, and what is better, for piety and zeal for the service of the Lord. The father of Robert Patterson was born in the north of Ireland, in the year 1752. His father, though but a lad at the time, was at the famous siege of Derry ; and the sufferings to which the Patterson family were sub- jected in consequence of this siege, were most severe and distressing. This branch of the family emigrated from Scotland to Ireland, in consequence of the ter- rible persecutions, carried on by Claverhouse, under Charles II. The grandfather of Robert Patterson was the son of John, the founder of the Irish branch of the family.1
1 Sprague's Annals.
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Rev. Joseph Patterson, the father of Robert, was licensed to preach the gospel in 1788. He was a most useful and laborious minister, and died at Pitts- burgh, Pa., in 1832.
Robert Patterson, the subject of this sketch, was born at Stillwater, New York, on the 1st day of April, 1773, near the spot afterwards celebrated as the field of one of the most severely contested battles of the Revolution. Not long after his birth, his parents re- moved to Germantown, Pa. The battle of Germantown occurred during the sojourn of the family at that place, and Mr. Patterson, then in his fifth year, distinctly remembered many of its scenes. After a brief resi- dence in York County, the family removed to the West, and took up their abode in Washington County, Pa.
In the spring of 1791, Robert Patterson commenced his academical studies at the Cannonsburg Academy, then just opened. He recited the first lesson that was heard in connection with that institution - teacher and pupil seated under the shade of a tree, on the banks of the now classic Chartiers. After prosecuting his studies for three years in the Academy, he went east and entered the senior class of the University of Penn- sylvania, where he graduated in the fall of 1795. On his way to Philadelphia, the journey there being made on horseback, he met the forces sent out by the Gov- ernment to quell the Whiskey Insurrection.
Mr. Patterson had a great thirst for knowledge. He was not content with his collegiate course, and so lin- gered in the halls of his Alma Mater after his gradua- tion. He was employed for nearly five years as tutor in the University, at the same time prosecuting, still further, his studies in the languages and higher math-
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ematics. He returned to the residence of his father, who was then pastor of the Raccoon Church, in 1800, and on the 30th day of April, 1801, was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Ohio. Ilis theological studies had been prosecuted in part with Rev. Ashbel Green, D. D., while he was connected with the Uni- versity, and in part under the direction of Dr. Mc- Millan.
The next year after his licensure, Mr. Patterson took a tour over the destitute region of what was afterward the territory of the Presbytery of Erie. He visited the shore of Lake Erie, preached at various places, and finally was encouraged to think of settling in the congregations of Erie and Upper and Lower Green- field. These latter churches were afterwards known as Middlebrook and North East. Rev. Elisha McCurdy had preceded him here, and soon after Mr. Patterson's first visit, he, in company with Joseph Stockton (4), James Satterfield (6), and his own famous " praying elder," Philip Jackson, organized the churches of Upper Greenfield (Middlebrook) and Lower Greenfield (North East).
At a pro re nata meeting of the Presbytery of Erie, held at Pittsburgh, on the 30th of September, 1802, during the sessions of the Synod of Pittsburgh, Mr. Patterson was received under its care. At the same meeting calls were presented for his pastoral labors from the congregations of Erie and Upper and Lower Greenfield, of which he declared his acceptance. Acts iii. 19 was assigned him as the subject for a sermon as part of trials for ordination. At a meeting of Presby- tery held at Lower Greenfield, or North East, on the 1st day of September, 1803, the congregation of Erie, having from some cause declined entering into the
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arrangement, Mr. Patterson was ordained and installed as pastor of the congregations of Upper and Lower Greenfield. Ifere he labored faithfully and with the practice of mineh self-denial until the 22d day of April, 1807, when at his own request the pastoral relation was dissolved. During his labors in this field he re- sided at North East, and took frequent missionary tours up and down the Lake, and for a time preached a part of the time at a place called Portland. A wide-spread- ing fir-tree is still pointed out by an aged citizen of the neighborhood, as having been planted by Mr. Patter- son's own hand.
In April, 1807, he accepted an invitation to take charge of the Pittsburgh Academy, now the Western University of Pennsylvania. During the three years he presided over this institution, he numbered among his pupils many who afterwards filled prominent public stations, and who often spoke in grateful terms of his care and faithfulness as an instructor.
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