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 3
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Great attention was paid to the Shorter Catechism. All parents were expected to have it taught to their children, and to retain it likewise in their own memo- ries. No one was supposed to be too old to be called on to repeat his " Questions." Indeed it was custom- ary to have the catechism taught in the common schools. Nor was it common to find any objections raised to the practice in the schools. It was the custom to have the
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PRESBYTERY OF ERIE.
questions asked in families every Sabbath evening, in the assembled household. In addition to this, the min- ister examined the entire congregation onee in each year. Usually during one year, whilst making pastoral visitations, the catechism was reviewed in each family, separately ; during the next year public examinations were held in certain districts of the congregation, when all had an opportunity of showing their promptness and diligence in this matter.
It was under these circumstances, and in these times, that the Presbytery of Erie, the mother Presbytery of the Synod of Alleghany, set up its gates and entered upon its great work. From feeble beginnings, it grad- ually extended its influence until it became the mother of Presbyteries, and sent its missionaries to the aborig- ines of our own country, to the far distant nations of heathenism, as well as to every State and Territory of the Great West.
CHAPTER IL.
FROM THE ERECTION OF THE PRESBYTERY, TO THE FIRST DIVISION.
1801-1808.
THE Presbytery of Erie was erected by the Synod of Virginia, in 1801. It was the third Presbytery that was organized, west of the Alleghany Mountains. Redstone had been organized in 1781, and Ohio in 1798. The territory of these latter Presbyterians was large, and the way opening for the rapid spread of population ; and material seemed abundant for a new Presbytery. Presbyterianism was aggressive as re- garded the world and Satan, and its founders here were fully up to the times and to its spirit. So they desired a new Presbytery, that the new and promising field might be more readily occupied. There was probably another reason for its formation. The territory was within the bounds of the Synod of Virginia. The journey to meet- ings of Synod was laborious and burdensome. The Western members must cross the mountains and be ex- posed not only to fatigue but actual danger in acconi- plishing it. Besides, the great work of keeping the in- stitutions of religion abreast with the extending settle- ment of the country could be best attended to by erect- ing a Synod upon the new territory. This could only be done by first erecting a third Presbytery. Ac-
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cordingly, on petition of the members of the Presby- teries of Redstone and Ohio, the new Presbytery was erected. The following is the minute of Synod in the matter : -
" At a meeting of Synod. held at Winchester (Va.), October 2d, 1801, at the unanimous request of the members present from the Presbyteries of Redstone and Ohio, the Synod did and hereby do erect the Rev. Messrs. Thomas [Edgar1] Hughes (1), William Wick (2), Samuel Tait (3), Joseph Stockton (4), and Robert Lee (5), together with all the congregations north and northwest of the Ohio and Alleghany riv- ers, unto the place where the Ohio River crosses the western boundary of Pennsylvania, into a separate Presbytery, to be called the Presbytery of ERIE, and ap- pointed their first meeting to be held at Mount Pleas- ant, on the second Tuesday of April next. William Wiek was appointed to open the Presbytery with a sermon, and to preside until a new Moderator be chosen."
In obedience to this order of Synod, the Presbytery of Erie met at Mount Pleasant in Beaver County, Penn- sylvania, at the time appointed, April 13, 1802, and was opened with a sermon by Mr. Wick, on the words, " And the government shall be upon his shoulder " (Isaiah ix. 6).
After constituting with prayer, the following persons were found present to be enrolled, namely : Thomas Edgar Hughes, William Wiek, Samuel Tait, Joseph Stockton, and Robert Lee, ministers, with three elders, William Plumer, John Menteith, and William Waddell. James Satterfield (6) and William Wylie (7) having settled within the bounds of Presbytery since the ac-
1 The middle name does not occur in the minute.
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HISTORY.
tion of Synod, and having been dismissed from the Presbytery of Ohio for the purpose, were considered as members, and their names enrolled. Elder Ithiel Dodd was enrolled on the second day of the session.
Mr. Hughes was chosen Moderator, and Mr. Tait Clerk for the ensuing year. Mr. Wick was the first stated clerk of Presbytery. The territory embraced by the new Presbytery was taken from that of Redstone and Ohio, although all the original members were or- dained by the Presbytery of Ohio. This territory was large, embracing what are now the counties of Beaver, Butler, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Lawrence, and Venango, with portions of Warren and Clarion, in Pennsylvania, the whole of the Western Reserve in Ohio, with Chau- tauque County, New York.
The seven ministers who were now upon the roll of Presbytery were all settled at this time. Mr. Hughes was pastor of Mount Pleasant and New Salem. Ile had been ordained and installed on the 28th of August, 1799, by the Presbytery of Ohio. Mr. Wick was pas- tor at Hopewell, now in Lawrence County, Pa., and Youngstown, now in Mahoning County, Ohio. He had been ordained and installed on the 3d day of Septeni- ber, 1800, by the same Presbytery. Mr. Tait was pastor of Cool Spring and Upper Salem, in Mercer County, Pa., ordained and installed November 19, 1800. Mr. Stockton was pastor at Meadville and Sugar Creek (now Cochranton), Crawford County, Pa., ordained and in- stalled June 24, 1801. Mr. Lee was pastor at Rocky Spring and Amity, Mercer County, Pa. He had been ordained and installed June 26, 1801. Mr. Satterfield was pastor at Moorfield, and Neshannoek, Mercer County, Pa., ordained and installed March 3, 1802. Mr. Wylie was pastor at Fairfield and Upper and Lower
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Sandy, in Mercer and Venango counties, ordained and installed March 5th, 1802.
Mr. Hughes, who heads the long roll of this Presby- tery, was the first minister settled in the territory north and northwest of the Ohio and Alleghany rivers. The nucleus of his charge was constituted of several families that had emigrated from Washington and Westmore- land counties, and settled on the Beaver River, some ten or twelve miles above the town of Beaver.1 The war-whoop of the Indian was still heard and his war- path still traced, at the time of their coming. There were a number of pious families in this settlement, and feeling the importance of the regular ministry, they applied to Dr. McMillan and other of the pioneer min- isters to send one of their young men to settle among them as their pastor. Mr. Hughes, a graduate of Princeton College, who had just completed his theolog- ical studies at Dr. McMillan's log seminary, was sent to visit them. " He was," says Mr. Munson (28), "a young man of good address, of ardent feelings, and of genuine piety. I subsequently became a member of his church, and well remember the searching nature of his preach- ing. Ile labored much to remove all false confidence, and to shake to the foundation all deceptive hopes."
Mr. Hughes continued the pastor of the church of Mount Pleasant more than thirty years. Many interest- ing incidents are related in connection with his life and labors at this place. The following was communicated by a member of the church, who was present at the time of the occurrence. The congregation had assem- bled in a grove on a communion occasion. The com- municants were about going to the tables, when the heavens became overcast. The clouds rolled their 1 Munson's letter to Dr. Plumer, Pres. May. vii. 463.
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HISTORY.
sombre folds athwart the sky, and there was every ap- pearance of a great rain. Mr. Hughes arose and prayed most earnestly, that, if consistent with the Divine will, the rain might be stayed, and his people permitted to commune in peace. After this, it was noticed by the whole assemblage, that the clouds quickly dispersed, and there was no rain.
Mr. Wiek was the pioneer missionary in the Western Reserve, or New Connecticut, as it was then called. For some time he labored alone, serving his people at Youngstown and Hopewell, and making occasional tour; amongst the Indians. Hle retained his first charge until his death in 1815. .
Mr. Tait had much of the missionary spirit. He was endued with great physical strength and endu- rance, and used them well in the Master's cause. Having been sent out by the Presbytery of Ohio in the spring of 1800, to preach where he could find hearers, he came to a settlement called Cool Spring, in Mercer County, Pa., and abont five miles from where the town of Mercer now stands. Having preached on the Sabbath, he told the people that if they would procure a lot and build a church, he would come and preach to them. A lot was at once promised, and the next Thursday appointed as the day when the people would assemble to build a meeting-house. On the day appointed they assembled with their axes. The site was selected. "Axes were lifted up upon the thick trees," the forest resounded with the blows made by sinewy and willing arms. The bodies of the rough logs were cut off the proper length, but were too heavy to be brought into position, al- though near to the site of the building. There was but one team in all the settlement, and that was a yoke of oxen belonging to a professed infidel. It would not do
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PRESBYTERY OF ERIE.
to ask him to bring his team for such a purpose. Just as the necessity became pressing, Mr. S. was seen approaching with his oxen, crying out with his great merry voice, " Here comes the devil with his oxen, to help you build your meeting-house." The work then went gayly forward.
The next important thing was the appearance of Thomas MeLean, with a small flat keg of whiskey under his arm. This was placed in Mr. Tait's hands, when all took a drink, beginning with the minister and ending with the donor himself. Three cheers were then given for Thomas MeLean, with the promise that when the church was organized he should be the first elder. This promise was afterward fulfilled and Mr. McLean was the first elder that was elected.
By sundown, the church was built, covered with clap- boards, floored with' puncheons, and round logs rolled in for seats. The house was so located that a huge stump answered the purpose of a pulpit, with two puncheons set upright in front, and one across secured to the uprights with pins, on which the Bible might be placed. A puncheon seat for the minister completed the arrangement. Here was a building that afforded the people ample room and abundant comfort in the worship of God.
But luxury soon began to creep in to trouble the church. After a time one of the members of the con- gregation had a bench made and set in the church for his family to sit upon. During the recess on the next day of worship, little groups might have been seen dis- cussing the matter of the new bench ; some affirming that such pride should not be tolerated, and that if his neighbors could sit on a log to hear the gospel preached, William McMillan could do the same, as neither he nor
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HISTORY.
his family were better than others. Others affirmed that if William McMillan could afford a bench with legs to it, he had a right to have one. The contention, like that between Paul and Barnabas, waxed exceeding sharp, but was finally settled by the minister declaring for the largest liberty, each one being permitted to pro- vide such a seat as he chose.
Soon the first house was found too small to contain the people. The difficulty was remedied by cutting out the logs from one side of the building and erecting a kind of shed as an addition. Subsequently, as the con- gregation increased, another shed was erected on the other side.
Joseph Stockton was probably the youngest man ever ordained in the bounds of the Presbytery. He was but a few months past twenty at the time of his licensure, and a little past twenty-two at his ordination. His pastorate of ten years, at Meadville, was succeeded by labors in teaching and the preparation of school books.
Robert Lee was twenty-nine years of age when he entered the ministry. ITis was a life of labor, accom- panied with a calm patience and patriarchal dignity that was peculiar to his age.
James Satterfield, with his tall, erect form and self- denying labor, won a respect that was remarkable even in his day. He was a godly man and lived very near to Christ.
Dr. William Wylie, the last of those who constituted the first Presbytery, was a zealous pastor and a most earnest preacher. His letters that are extant, and writ- ten during his last days, possess a wondrous savor of piety and a richness of unction that would place them on a level with those of Rutherford.
Of the four elders at this meeting, William Plumer
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PRESBYTERY OF ERIE.
was the father of Rev. W. S. Plumer, D. D., and Ithiel Dodd belonged to a family for two centuries remark- able for two characteristics - piety, simple and child- like, and a talent for mathematics.
The first two licentiates that were taken under the care of the Presbytery, were John (8) and Abraham Boyd (9). They were two Irish boys, educated in this country and licensed by the Presbytery of Redstone. In those days, " supplications" for supplies were the constant order of the day. At the first meeting, there were supplications from " Slippery Rock, Westfield, Lower Neshannock, Breakneck, Thorn's Tent, Concord, Franklin, Big Sugar Creek, Oil Creek, Gravel Run, Upper and Lower Greenfield, Middlebrook, Presque Isle, Powers' Mills, Crossings of Cussawaga and Pyma- tuning."
The infant Presbytery seems to have set up its ban- ners in the name of the Lord. Alinost the first reso- lution passed was, to seek God's help in the great work :
" Presbytery taking into consideration their infant state, and the growing prospects of the new settlement under their care, and the necessity of Divine influence to aid and direct them in their arduous work, do re- solve to spend part of to-morrow in supplication and prayer."
The matter of education, and facilities for the prep- aration of young men for the gospel ministry, occupied the attention of Presbytery at its first meeting. Their resolution is to this effect : " Presbytery proceeded to take into consideration the necessity of a seminary of learning being instituted within their bounds for the education of youth ; Resolved, To give their aid to erect an academy at Greersburgh, and to solicit the aid of their respective charges." Greersburgh is now known
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HISTORY.
as Darlington, in Beaver County, Pa. This academy was long an efficient aid in the great work of fitting young men for the ministry. Sometimes they pursued their studies there preparatory to Jefferson College, but many received all their classical education within its walls.
It was commenced in 1806. The legislature of the State appropriated six hundred dollars towards it, when the charter was granted. The first teacher was Mr. Hughes ; afterwards it was taught by Rev. Robert Dil- worth, D. D. This academy was the result, principally, of the labors of Mr. Hughes, who travelled over the New England States, soliciting funds for its establish- ment. Before the erection of the academy building, he built a log cabin near his own residence that served as a school-room.
At this meeting the Boyd brothers, having accepted calls to settle within the bounds of Presbytery, were examined with a view to ordination, and were assigned subjects for trial sermons to be delivered at the next meeting.
Messrs. Tait and Satterfield were the first Commis- sioners to the General Assembly. Presbytery adjourned to meet at Union, Armstrong County, on the 15th of June, 1802, with the following order: "That mem- bers endeavor to bring forward, at our next fall meet- ing, an account of the time of their settlement, state of religion, number of families and communicants, and the number of baptisms in the congregations under their care."
And thus the Presbytery commenced its labors, few in number yet strong in faith. There was much land to be possessed, yet they trusted in God, and went for- ward.
In addition to the preaching of Mr. Hughes in the
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PRESBYTERY OF ERIE.
southern portion of the territory, perhaps the first in the extreme north was during the celebrated tour of Elisha MeCurdy and Joseph Stockton. This was in 1799. They preached at Sandy (perhaps the present Georgetown), Meadville, Waterford, Erie, North East, and other places.1 In 1802 another missionary tour through the same region was undertaken by MeCurdy, Satterfield, and MePherrin (16), with MeCurdy's " pray- ing elder," Philip Jackson, organizing churches and strengthening the brethren.
At this time the churches of Upper and Lower Greenfield were organized in Erie County, Pa. There were many people scattered through this region who had come from the counties east of the Alleghany Mountains, and some from Washington and Westmore- land, west of the mountains. They remembered the God of their fathers, and welcomed the pioneer minis- ters most gladly. There was a large Presbyterian ele- ment in all their early settlements, and for very many years the great religious element of the country was of this type of faith.
The organization of a church there was a most important era in the history of the people, and the dis- pensing of the ordinances made them feel that the trials and privations of the new settlements were pass- ing away.
And when the people of what is now Venango Town- ship, Erie County, Pa., met together to build a house of worship, it was a matter of more interest to them than they had felt in the erection of their own houses. It was with the thought that God would be with then, and be their God.
We have a minute account of the building of this
Dr. Elliott's Life of Me Curdy, p. 29.
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HISTORY.
house, and the circumstances attending it, in an old journal written by William Dickson, Esq., formerly of Erie County, Pa., but now of Canden, Illinois. An ex- tract follows : -
" Some time in August, 1801, a notice was sent to Mr. James Hunter, an old man, who the spring previous had emigrated to what is now Venango Township, Erie County. He had been an elder in Dr. Bryson's church in Northumberland County, and was to notify the people that the Rev. James Satterfield (6), a missionary, would preach at a place designated by them, on the following Sabbath. The notice was given, I believe, to every in- dividual in the township; and the place fixed upon for the meeting was at a . chopping' made by Robert Don- aldson, on the bank of French Creek, near the centre of the town. Four or five of us, all young men, went on the ground on Saturday, to prepare a place for worship. We selected a spot under a large beech-tree ; we split a large log, turning the split sides up, and raising them a little from the ground made a platform. We then
squared a block for a seat, placing it on the platform near the tree, which made a good stiff backing ; we then drove two stakes into the ground in front, pinning and nailing a clapboard across the top, to lay the Bible and Psalm Book on. I am thus particular in describing the first pulpit from which I ever heard the gospel in Erie County.
"Sabbath morning came, and every man and woman within our township was gathered, I believe, around the beech-tree. About the hour appointed, the minister came ; he had lost his way the evening previous, hav- ing nothing but marked trees for a guide, and had lain out all night. In the morning he found a cabin where two young men lived ; they gave him a good breakfast
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of indian bread and potatoes, and having his inner man strengthened, he ,appeared to come unto the work in the Spirit, and preached two sermons, and administered the ordinance of baptism. He stated it was possible the Synod of Pittsburgh would send us some more preaching that Fall. After preaching, and before the people dispersed, Mr. Hunter called several of us young men around him, and said, ' Boys' (for by that name he always called us), ' I want you all to meet me at a certain land corner (naming it) on next Thursday morning early, and bring your axes and dinners with you.' That was enough ; we all knew what was want- ing, and at the time appointed we were there almost to a man. The old man then stated the reasons for call- ing us together. He said the Lord had been mindful of us in that wilderness, and had sent us the gospel by the mouth of one of his servants, and we had no house to meet in, but heard it, as you know, under the beech- tree, in the open air. Now, if we wish to prosper, while we build houses for ourselves, we must build one for God ; and he had selected that spot, as it was the centre of the township.
" As the large hemlock-tree which marked the cor- ner stood in a swamp, - a place by no means suitable for our purpose, - a young man, whose name was War- ren, said that if we would agree to go a half or three quarters of a mile north, he would show us a good place on his land, where there was a fine spring of water, and he would give us a deed of two aeres, if we chose that spot.
" As it would shorten Father Hunter's distance in coming to meeting, which was no small consideration with us, we at once shouldered our axes and followed our leader to the spot ; and that day, before sundown,
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HISTORY.
we had cleared the ground, and built a habitation for the Most High to dwell in.1 In the evening, before we parted, Father Hunter called us around a large stump, and explained the propriety of supporting the gospel. He said that those men who came to preach to us, suf- fered so much in travelling through the wilderness that they ought to be well paid, and it would be best for us to have a find on hand for that purpose. He also said that he had made a calculation of the amount required to begin with, and it would be best to appoint a treas- urer, and each one pay twenty - five cents. We all stepped up to the stump and laid down our money, mostly fifty cents ; when we had all paid, the good old man laid down a dollar; and on seeing him do so, one of the party said : 'Father Hunter, you shall not go ahead of me,' and took up the fifty cents he had paid and laid down a dollar. Thus commenced a fund which never failed during my residence in that con- gregation of over twelve years, and I never knew a minister to preach in that place (who was a Presby- terian) but was paid promptly. A few days after we had built our house of worship, notice came that the Rev. James Satterfield and Rev. Elisha McCurdy were expected to preach, and organize a church in our new meeting-house. They came, and each brought his wife with him. They came on horseback, picking their way through woods, in many places only by lines marked on the trees ; encountering swamps, and every other obsta- cle imaginable, all without complaining. Here I will relate a little circumstance about Mrs. McCurdy. In passing through, they lodged for a night with one of my neighbors, whose cabin was very small and had but
1 This house is still standing. A drawing of it may be seen in Miss Sanford's History of Erie County.
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PRESBYTERY OF ERIE.
one bed (that used by the man and his wife), and a bunk in the corner for three or four children. Mrs. McCurdy saw that her hostess was preparing the bed for the strangers, and said, 'I perceive that you are giving yourself unnecessary trouble for us. Is not that the bed which you and your husband occupy ?' ' Yes,' was the reply. She said, ' Then sleep in it ; all we ask is room in your house, and I will provide a bed for me and Mr. McCurdy ; the floor will do for us.' The woman insisted that they should take the bed. . Where will you sleep?' was the next question. 'O, some- where here,' she replied. 'You shall not leave your bed for me' said Mrs. McCurdy ; 'my Master had not where to lay his head, and we have saddle-bags and blankets, and a house to shelter us.' By this time I found there was no room for me, so I went out to a stack where there was some straw, and made a nest under the side of it, where I slept comfortably.
" From thenee they went to Lower Greenfield, now North East, and organized a church, and returned to our log meeting-house, and organized a church, and called it Middlebrook. Mr. MeCurdy preached the sermon from these words, 'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.'"
At the second meeting of Presbytery, another licenti- ate was taken under its care. This was William Wood (10), a licentiate of the Presbytery of Ohio. At this meeting, John and Abraham Boyd were both ordained and installed, the former June 16, 1802, as pastor of Union and Slate Lick ; the latter on the following day, as pastor of Bull Creek and Middlesex. All these churches are in what is now Armstrong County, l'a.
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