USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Centennial biography : Men of mark of Cumberland Valley, Pa., 1776-1876 > Part 6
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of the same year, the Rev. Robert Kennedy accepted a call to " the united congrega- tions of East and Lower West Conococheague," or Welsh Run, and continued to be their pastor until 1816, when his relation to them, by his own request, was dissolved. Mr. Kennedy's successor was the Rev. James Buchanan, who served the church until 1840. The pulpit has subsequently been supplied by the following pastors : Kev. J. T. Marshall Davie, Rev. T. V. Moore, D. D., Rev. Edwin Emerson, Rev. W. M. Paxton, D. D., Rev. W. Beatty, Rev. J. W. Wightman, and the present incumbent, Rev. Mr. Richardson.
ASSOCIATE REFORMED CHURCHI.
At the time of the settlement of Mr. Buchanan in Green Castle, there was a congre- gation worshiping in what is known as the White Church, holding ecclesiastical con- nection with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church. Its relations had formerly been with the Reformed Presbyterian church, having for its first pastor the Rev. Matthew Lind, who came to this country from Ireland, 1774, and organized the church there, probably soon after his arrival. In 1782, when the partial union was effected between the Reformed and the Associate churches, Mr. Lind, taking his people with him, entered into that reunion, and from that date the church of which he was pastor became an " Associate Reformed church."
Their building, near town, was erected probably in 1792. The indenture was made by Messrs. James Mchanahan and John Allison jointly, transferring the ground on which the building was located, and bears date May 5th, A. D. 1791. The trustees to whom the transfer was made were John Gebby, George Clarke, Andrew Reed, John Coughran, and James Crooks. The building stood in the graveyard on East Baltimore street. It was originally built of logs, the timber of which was cut on the property of John Coughran, Esq. Afterwards it was weather-boarded and painted white. There, in that building, we may say, was the birth-place of the Associate Reformed church. There their Constitution and Standards were formally issued May 31st, 1799. There, in May, 1804, was hell the first meeting of their General Synod, at which time they formally inaugurated the movement for the establishment of the first Theological Seminary in the United States. There, too, at a later date, (or rather in the grove at the head of Bierly's Spring, for the want of room in the building. ) was held one of the warmest and most protracted discussions on the close communion question, in which the cause of liberty and charity was plead in person by its greatest champion, Dr. John M. Mason.
These frequent meetings of so important a body in Green Castle would indicate that the AAssociate Reformed congregation there was at that time large and flourishing. 'There are, however, no records of the church proper from which we can draw authentic information. Tradition tells us that the following were members of Session : James McClanahan, William Gebby, Andrew Reed, David Fullerton, George Clarke, and Joseph Gebby .*
CHURCH AT GREEN CASTLE.
The congregation at Green Castle had a house of worship as early as 1738. The character of that building, and even the certain location of it, are lost sight of. It probably stood, however, on or near the site of its successor. the old Red Church, at the Moss Spring. The Red Church, it is thought, was built in the first years of the pastorate of Mr. Lang. The date is not certainly known, but there are traces of it
* Rev. J. W. Wightman's ttis, Dis.
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extending back about that far. It was a frame building twenty-eight and a half by forty- two and a half feet, the pulpit of the old half-octagon style, perched upon a pedestal, was placed at the side, crossing immediately in front of it was the main aisle leading to a door in either end of the building. At right angles with this were two other aisles, leading each to a door in the side of the church, opposite the pulpit. This arrangement was odd, and the building unpretending.
The first Session of the church, of which we have any knowledge, included the following : Mr. Joseph Smith, Colonel John Allison, Elias Davidson, Sr., Andrew Robinson, Sr., and James Mclain. Their successors in office were Robert Crunkelton, Robert Robinson, John M. Davidson, John Watson, and Mr. Kellar.
STUDY HOUSE.
Near it stood, for many years, what was called the "Study House," used in part as a Session room, but more particularly as a sort of resort for the minister in the interval between the first and second service-a place where he might be alone, and prepare himself for his further duties. It was the custom then to have two sermons, with an intermission of half an hour, and the theory was, that the minister should spend this in the "Study House," while the people, lunch in hand, would gather to the spring-head and drink of its limpid waters, or stroll away at will among the rocks and trees of the surrounding grove.
In that same old 'Study House," says Mr. Wightman, there was, during the pastorate of Mr. Kennedy, a classical school, in which a number of young men received their training, who afterwards attained eminence in their several walks of life. Among these were Jolin X. Clarke, Matthew St Clair Clarke, Esq., Clerk of the House of Representatives, Thomas G. McCullough, Esq., Dr. John Boggs, and Rev. John Lind.
It is an interesting fact that the institutions of learning all over the country have grown up from just such schools as this, established in the beginning in connection with the church, and nurtured by the prayers and devotion of some godly minister. It is thus made apparent that the gospel of Christ is the germinating seed of the world's intellectual progress, and that the real fostering mother of these educational privileges of which we now boast so loudly, is not the form of government under which we live, but the faith which has been bequeathed to es by our fathers.
LUTHERAN CHURCHI.
The corner-stone of the venerable Lutheran church, which now stands in Green Castle, was laid September 13th, 1792, and the building was completed in 1795. when the Rev. John Ruthrauff became pastor, and served the congregation for forty years. The successive pastors have been Revs. John Reck, Jeremiah Hanful, Jacob Martin, Peter Sahen, Michael Eyster, James M. Harkey, Edward Breidenbaugh, William F. Eyster, Thomas F. Everett.
GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.
The first German Reformed church in Green Castle was a log building. In iso5, this was torn down, and a new church erected on South Carlisle street. The successive pastors have been Revs. Frederick Rauhauser, Frederick Schull, Hamilton Vandyke. Jacob Mayer, John Rebaugh, J. S. Foulke (during whose pastorate, from isso to 1858, a new church was built on East Church street), T. G. Apple, D. D., S. N. Callender, D.D., Moses Kieffer, D. D., and Stephen K. Kramer.
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INTERESTING INCIDENT.
Before we pass from Green Castle, there is an incident of a patriotic character which should not fail of record. Here W. H. Riels, of Philadelphia, the first soldier that was . shot on " free soil" during the late rebellion, fell within its corporate limits, on the 20th of July, 1863, in a skirmish with the Confederate army, when on its way to Chambersburg. He lies buried in the southern church yard, and the citizens, it is said, propose to erect a suitable monument to his memory.
LOWER WEST CONOCOCHEAGUE.
In consequence of the division in the Presbyterian church, previously mentioned, a church, then known as "Lower West Conococheague," and originally a part of " Upper West Conococheague," or what is now called Mercersburg, was organized at Welsh Run, so called because the original settlers principally came from Wales This organization was effected in 1741. Though it sprang mainly from the cause mentioned, it was required by the convenience of the congregation, the territory covered by the mother church being too extensive to allow the people to meet weekly in the same place of worship, and it was done with so much good feeling that both churches still adhered to the same Presbytery
The first house erected for their worship, (probably in 1741,) of which we give a representation, was built of logs and located near Mr. EHlion's. It was burned by the Indians about 1772. There seems to have been no other church erected until the close of the indian war in 1774, when one was built on the same spot where the present edifice stands.
The ground now held and occupied by the church, was originally given to it by Robert Smith, in 1774, or about that time. The buikling erected on this ground in 1774, originally log, afterwards weather boarded, having undergone various repairs, served its day and three generations, or a century of years. It was of the ancient model. with high pulpit, elaborately ornamented sounding-board, and scats having backs high as the tops of the shoulders.
The congregations assembled at this second buildling on sacramental occasions were so numerous that, the church being insufficient to accommodate them, it was not an unusual thing for two ministers to be preaching at the same time, the one in the church. and the other in a temporary building near at hand called the Tent. From this circumstance this place of worship was sometimes called the " Tent Meeting House."
The Presbyterian Historical Society, at Philadelphia, has in its possession one of the communion tables used in the old church at Welsh Run It is made of unpainted yellow pine, and is 12 feet 7 inches long, 14 inches wide and 30 inches high. When used it was placed in the centre of the aisle, with a white linen cover on it. Around this plain table God's people gathered, and having given to the elders the " token " which they had received previously as an evidence of their right to partake of the holy supper, renewed their covenant engagements to be the Lord's. Certainly there was much deeper solemnity in such an observance of the sacrament than accompanies the modern method of observing it. The society already mentioned has one of the tokens just referred to, with the inscription on it : C. C ; designating the name of the church at that date-" Conococheague Church."
The present noble and tasteful church edifice at Welsh Run, erected upon the founda- tions of the preceding building, by Elias Davidson Kennedy, of Philadelphia, only surviving son of Rev. Robert Kennedy, as an expression of his appreciation of the
OLD WELSH RUN CHURCH .- (BURNT 1772.)
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character and usefulness of his deceased father, was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, September 30th, 1871. Most appropriately did the Trustees, by an unanimous vote, resolve, in testimony of their gratitude to Mr. Kennedy, that the name of the church should be changed from " Welsh Run Presbyterian Church " to " The Robert Kennedy Memorial Church," and to have a marble corner-stone placed in the founda- tion, with this inscription on it. .
PASTORS OF WELSH RUN.
The first pastor of this church was Rev. James Campbell, from Scotland, who seems to have laboured with them fifteen years or more, or till the Indian war broke out. in 1756. After the expiration of Mr. Campbell's pastorate. the Rev. Mr. Dunlap seems to have supplied them with preaching till their first house of worship was burned by the Indians, about 1760, or a few years later. Just before the close of the Indian war, the Rev. Thomas MePherrin became pastor of the church (1774), and continued so for twenty-five years. The church then became connected with the Green Castle Church. and was supplied with the pastoral services of the Rev. Robert Kennedy. In the early period of its history, it was a large and numerous congregation, the entire population of the surrounding country being Scotch-Irish, all of whom were connected with it. Now the great mass of the people are Germans, and belong to the Dunkers and River Brethren Still, the church continues to prosper, as is indicated by the fact that. under the ministrations of its present pastor, the Rev. J. H. Fleming, thirty-six persons were added to it at their last communion, twenty-eight by profession, and eight by letter.
MERCERSBURG.
Where the town of Mercersburg now stands, a mill was built by James Black, about the year 1729 of 1730. William Smith purchased this property, and his son laid out the town, about the year 1786. The place was named in honour of General Mercer, of the Revolutionary army,# who had shown great kindness to the proprietor, or his father. while the army was encamped near New Brunswick, in New Jersey. Governor William Findlay, who filled the executive chair of Pennsylvania in 1817, and of whom our book gives a sketch, was born in this place about the year 1770.
"Mercersburg, in early days," says Mr. Day,t " was an important point for trade with Indians and settlers on the western frontier. It was no uncommon event to see there 5ยบ or 100 pack-horses in a row taking on their loads of salt, iron and other commodities for the Monongahela country. About three miles west of Mercersburg there is a wild gorge in Cove mountain, and within the gorge an ancient road leads up through a narrow, secluded cave or glen, encircled on every side by high and rugged mountains. Here, at the foot of a toilsome ascent in the road, which the old traders designated as 'The Stony Batter,' are now a decayed orchard and the ruins of two log-cabins. Some fifty years since a Scotch trader dwelt in one of these cabins, and had a store in
* Dr. Hugh Mercer, a Scotchman of talent and education, had taken up his residence in the southern part of this valley. nen the Maryland line, a short time before Bulduck's de feat. Having enjoyed some military training and experience in Europe, and having a taste for military life, he was, early in 1age, appointed a captain in the provincial service, in which he was continued for some years, being promoted to the rank of colonel. Colond Mercer was appointed by the American Con- gress a general in the Revolutionary army, on the recommendation of Washington, by whom he was well known and highly esteemed. General Mercer, who had the confidence of the army and the country, fell mortally wounded and mangled by the British soldiery, at the bottle of Princeton, in January, 1777, whilst gallantly and bravely leading his division against the royal army.
t Writing in 1843.
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the other, where he drove a small but profitable traffic with the Indians and frontier-men who came down the mountain-pass, exchanging with them powder, fire-arms, salt, sugar, iron, blankets, and cloths, for their ' old Monongahela,' and the furs and skins of the trappers and Indians. The Scotchman had a son born here, and James Buchanan was cradled amid these wild scenes of nature and the rude din of frontier life. The father. thriving in trade, moved into Mercersburg, after a few years assumed a higher rank in busi- ness, and was able to send his son James to Dickinson College, where he graduated in ISog. Passing over the intermediate scenes of his life, we find him, in his future history, one of the most accomplished, cloquent and distinguished members of the Senate of the United States," and we can add, Secretary of the State under President Polk's administration, Minister to Russia, Minister to England, and finally President of the United States.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
This part of the country began to be settled about the year 1736. The land being taken from the proprietors by those only who designed to settle on it, the settlements soon became numerous. About the year 1738 the Presbyterians formed themselves into a congregation and enjoyed supplies of preaching from that time. About the year 1740 the congregation, for a reason already assigned, divided. The " Upper Congregation " called the Rev. John Steele, previously of West Nottingham congregation. He was installed in 1754, holding also the charge of " East Conococheague."
In the next year the settlement was greatly disturbed by the irruption of Indians, in consequence of Braddock's defeat. This continued for two years, until the settlement was for a time entirely broken up, and Mr. Steele accepted an invitation to the church at Carlisle. After the people returned to their desolated habitations they adopted their old form of a congregation, and engaged supplies from the Presbytery of Donegal for several years, being in the years 1762 and 1763 again disturbed and greatly harassed by the Indian war .* They, after this, made some attempts to obtain a settled ministry.
REV. DR. KING,
Their efforts were unsuccessful till the year 1768, when they called Mr John King, then a candidate under the care of the Presbytery of Philadelphia Mr. King was installed August 30th, 1709, and continued to discharge the pastoral duties for more than forty years. He died in 1813, about two years after retiring fiom his ministry, having been so afflicted with rheumatism that. while he continued his ministrations, for several years be was obliged to sit in the pulpit during service.
Dr. King was a man of good natural parts, which he lost no opportunity to cultivate. During the intervals of his pastoral avocations he continued to increase his stores both of theological and miscellaneous knowledge. He was proficient in the Latin, Greek, Hebrew and French languages, and had attentively studied the several branches of natural science. In 1792 he was honoured with the degree of D. D. from Dickinson College. As a pastor, he was sound in doctrine, kind, sociable, cheerful and instruc- tive, and steady in attention to his duties. He left behind him a character without a
* The original place of meeting is two and a half miles from Mercersburg. The Church edifice in the town was created in 1794, and for a number of years was without a ceiling, floor, pews or pulpit. The ground on which it stands, and that which surrounds it, was given to the congregation by the Hon. Robert Smith. The fall wing persons composed the Session, in succession, from 1967 till S .: Witham Maxwell, William Smith, John McDowell, William McDowell, John Welsh, Alexander White, John Me Clelland, Jonathan Smith, William Campbell, Robert Femu.g. Sammel Templeton, Patrick Maxwell, Joseph VanLear, Mathew Wilson, William Lowery, James Mcfarland, Heury Helm, Warham Waddell, Archiball Irwin, James Crawford, John Holiday, John Mc Mullin, John John-hn, Edward Welsh, Witham Reynolds, Kobert MeFarland, John Mccullough, John Scott, Rebent MeDowell, Jumnes Dicke, .
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blot. He was the author of a doctrinal catechism, especially calculated to fortify the young against the spirit of skepticism and infidelity which threatened at that time the morals of youth ; of some pieces in the Assembly's Magazine, on the subject of a man's marrying his former wife's sister ; and of a dissertation on the prophecies, referring to the present times, &c. There were about one hundred and thirty families in the settle- ment at the commencement of his ministry. He has left a little book containing a list of all the heads of families, with their children, residing within the limits of his congre- gation. The names are almost universally Scotch-Campbells, Wilsons, McClellands, McDowells, Barrs, Findlays, Welshs, Smiths, &c.
In 1812, Mr. David Elliott (afterwards D. D., and of whom also our volume has a biographical notice, ) was called to the charge of the congregation, in which he continued about seventeen years. In 1831, Mr. Thomas Creigh (now D. D).,) of Carlisle, was installed over the church, and up to this time continues in charge of it. The Session was composed of the following members in 1767: William Maxwell, William Smith, John McDowell, William McDowell, John Welsh, Alexander White, John Mc Clelland, Jonathan Smith, William Campbell, Robert Fleming, Samuel Templeton-names probably of some of the most respectable and worthy families in the neighbourhood in that day .*
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
For a long time the Theological Seminary of the German Reformed church was located in Mercersburg. It was transferred there from York, about the year 1834. This removal was followed, in the course of a short time, by the resignation of the Professor of Theology, the Rev. Dr. Lewis Mayer, whose name had been identified with all the fortunes of the institution from the beginning. Dr. Frederick A. Rauch was assistant of Dr. Mayer. The vacancy thus created was filled, in isto, by the unanimous and earnest choice by the Synod of the church, of John Williamson Nevin, D. D., LL. D., who was at the time Professor in the Western Theological Seminary at Pittsburg. Dr. Rauch, to whom had been committed the Department of Biblical Literature, died in IS41, and was buried in a secluded corner of the tract of ground set apart as a place of burial for the use particularly of the institution. For a time all the duties of the seminary devolved upon Dr. Nevin. In 1844, the Rev. Dr. Philip Schaff was elected to the Professorship of Church History and Sacred Literature.
MARSHALL COLLEGE.
Marshall College, which was also founded by the Reformed church, was transferred to Mercersburg from York, a few years after the removal of the Theological Seminary. It sprang from the High School which had been established in connection with the Theological Seminary at the last mentioned place in 1832. The Institution was chartered by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, in the year 1835. The Presidency at the beginning fell, by the election of the Board of Trustees, on Dr. Rauch, by whom the original Grammar School had been established in York. On the deccase of Dr. Rauch, Dr Nevin was chosen President of the College. About the year 1855 it was removed to Lancaster, where it assumed the name of Franklin and Marshall College, and has ever since been in successful operation, Dr. Nevin still continuing to act as President. Not long afterwards the Seminary, which for some years was under the instruction of Bernard C. Wolff, D D., followed the College to the same city, where it
. I'rom an Historical Sketch by Dr. Creigh.
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still exists and prospers, its chairs being occupied by E. V. Gerhart, D. D., and Thomas G. Appel, D. D. From these institutions many men have gone forth who have reached literary, political, and theological distinction.
PATRIOTISM.
Patriotism was a predominant trait among the early settlers of the Kittochtinny valley. They were conspicuous among the Provincial troops in the old! French war. and throughout all the Indian wars they sustained nearly the whole burden of defending the frontier. When a new purchase was made, they were the first to make an opening in the wilderness beyond the mountains, and when the alarm of the American Revolution echoed along the rocky walls of the Blue mountain, it awakened a congenial thrill among the inhabitants of the valley which it bounded, especially in the blood of that race which years before, in Ireland and Scotland, had resisted the arbitrary power of England.
MEETING AT CARLISLE.
At a meeting of freeholders and freemen from several townships of Cumberland county, held at Carlisle, July 12th, 1774, in view of the first vials of displeasure which were being poured out by Great Britain upon citizens of Boston by way of forcing the colonies to servile submission, the following action was taken :
Resolved, I That the late act of the Parliament of Great Britain, by which the port of Boston as shut up, is oppressive to that town, and subversive of the rights and liberties of the colony of Massachusetts Day : that the principle upon which the act is founded is not more subversive of the rights and liberdes of that colony than it is of all other British colonies in North America, and therefore the inhabitants of Boston are suffering in the common cause of all these calomnie ..
2. That every vigorous and prudent measure ought speedily and unanimously to be adopted by these colonies for obtaining redress of the grievances under which the inhabitants of Boston are now lal ouring, and security from grievance of the same or of a still more severe nature, under which they and the other inhabitants of the colonies may, by a further operation of the same principle, hereafter labor.
3. That a Congress of Deputies from all the colonies will be one proper method for obtaining these purposes.
4. That the same purposes will, in the opinion of this meeting, be promoted by an agreement of all the colonies not to import any merchandise from now export any merchandise to Cheat Britain, Ireland r the British West Indies, nor to use any such merchandise so imported, nor tea imported from any place whatever. till these purposes shall be obtained, but that the inhabitants of this county will join di restrictiva of that agreement which the General Congress may think it necessary for the colonies to confine themselvesto.
5. That the inhabitants of this county will contribute to the relief of then suffering brethren in Boston at any time when they shall receive intimation that such relief will be most seasonable.
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