USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > Churches of the valley, or, An historical sketch of the old Presbyterian congregations of Cumberland and Franklin counties, in Pennsylvania > Part 17
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Churches of the valley, or, An historical sketch of the old Presbyterian congregations of Cumberland and Franklin counties, in Pennsylvania > Part 17
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LOWER MARSH CREEK CHURCH. 281
terians. The manners and character of the early settlers have been very generally inherited by their descendants,-many of whom still cultivate the same farms, worship in the same old churches, and hold fast to the rigid and venerated " form of sound words" of the Presbyterian Church. (Pennsylvania Historical Collections, p. 56.)
We make the following extracts, touching the his- tory of Presbyterianism in the region of Marsh Creek, from the Presbyterial Records.
" In 1740, Mr. Sankey was appointed to preach at Great Conewago and Marsh Creek, the second Sab- bath of August, and Mr. Samuel Thompson the fourth Sabbath.
" 1742. Upon reading of the minute of our last, re- lating to the Committee appointed to fix the site of a Meeting-House at Marsh Creek, appeared Commis- sioners from both those places with supplications, sig- nifying their acquiescence in the judgment of said Committee, viz. : that it is expedient that there be two Meeting-Houses, and that the people of Marsh Creek are agreed that their Meeting-House be at a certain spring near Robert McFerson's, which the Presby- tery approve of."
Some time after this, the Rev. Andrew Bay was called to take charge of the congregation of Marsh Creek, and was, in all probability, its first minister Whether he was installed or not, is not known. Mr. Bay was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. M'Mordie, whose pastoral relation was dissolved in 1761.
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In 1765, "A paper was brought in from Marsh Creek, Thom's, and Piney Creeks, respecting their having fixed the bounds between said congregations, which the Presbytery ordered to be entered on record, and which is as follows :
"We the subscribers, commissioners of the Marsh Creek, Thom's Creek, and Piney Creek congregations, being met this 25th day of April, 1765, in order to treat respecting the division lines between said con- gregations, have agreed, that a line being drawn straight from Marsh Creek Meeting-house to that of Thom's Creek, a line crossing that line at right angles, at the end of four miles and a half from Marsh Creek Meeting-house, and extended on the one side to Thom's Creek, and on the other till it intersect Piney Creek congregation, shall be the division line between said congregations, and that the division line between Marsh Creek congregation and that of Piney Creek, shall be midway between the meeting-houses of said congregations. Witness our hands this day and year above written."
(Et sic subscribitur.)
JOHN ALEXANDER, SAML. McFARRAN, WM. SHIELDS, ANDREW HART, WM. COCHRAN, JNO. McKINLY, JAMES McGINLEY, WM. PORTER.
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LOWER MARSH CREEK CHURCH.
The Rev. John Slemmons was ordained and in- stalled pastor of Lower Marsh Creek congregation in 1765, and dismissed in 1774. He was removed by death, July 10th, 1814, and his remains lie in the graveyard at Piney Creek Church.
In 1779, "the congregation of Lower Marsh Creek entered into an agreement with Mr. Martin for one year of his labours, to which agreement Pres- bytery acceded."
In 1781, a supplication having been brought in by William Finley and James Ferguson, commissioners from Lower Marsh Creek congregation, that they might have leave to join with Thom's Creek, this request was granted by Presbytery.
The Reverend John M'Knight (afterwards Dr. M'Knight), became pastor of this charge in 1783, and continued to be so until 1789, when he accepted a call from the united congregations of New York City. Dr. M'Knight was a very popular preacher, and greatly beloved by his people.
In 1792, the Rev. Wm. Paxton accepted a call from Lower Marsh Creek and Thom's Creek congregations, and on the 3d of October in the same year (Dr. Davidson and Mr. Lang officiating on the occasion), he was ordained and installed in the woods near to the church, where a temporary pulpit and seats were placed for the use of the congregation which the house could not accommodate, and where the services, on communion occasions, were for many years after- wards held.
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In 1794, the pastoral relation which the Rev. Mr. Black had sustained for some time to the congregation of Upper Marsh Creek, was dissolved by his request. We acknowledge our obligation to the present esteemed pastor of Lower Marsh Creek, for the following particulars :
" To me it seems that Lower Marsh Creek Church was formed by the division of the Presbyterian Church into Old and New Side. Lower Marsh Creek was New Side. I have seen no mention, on the minutes of Pres- bytery, of Lower Marsh Creek, for a long time after Upper Marsh Creek is mentioned. There is no men- tion of the organization of Lower Marsh Creek on the minutes of the Donegal Presbytery, as far as I remember. Its first minister was a member of the Newcastle Presbytery. It would seem that it was organized by some minister of the New Side. As far as I can determine, Rev. Andrew Bay was the first minister. He was a member of the Synod of New York during the separation." (Rev. H. R. Wilson, D.D., to Rev. D. D. Clarke.)
"The first house of worship was a log building, located at the graveyard, on the bank of Lower Marsh Creek. A stone in the yard bears date, 1749. It was rude throughout, benches being used instead of pews. While the congregation worshipped there, it was sup- plied for a time by a Mr. Balch.
"About the year 1790, the old log house was thrown down, and the present stone edifice erected. This building is about five miles southwest of Gettysburg,
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in 'Carroll's Tract,' a section of country named after the venerable proprietor and patriot, Charles Carroll of Carrollton. This was a considerable ad- vance in capacity and appearance on the old log house, yet it was unsightly. The seats were straight and high-backed, and the pulpit very narrow and deep, and elevated on the side of the building. It was sub- sequently placed at the end, and somewhat modern- ized. The entrance was by four doors, two at each end of the house ; the door in front of the pulpit was paved with brick, and had a gradual elevation to the opposite wall. There was no stove or fire used in winter, in the log house, nor in the present one, for many years after its erection.
"Lower Marsh Creek Church was incorporated in 1805. The first trustees were, Elijah Hart, George Kerr, Reynolds Ramsay, Samuel Witherow, William Miller, William Bigham. The Rev. William Pax- ton, Benjamin Reid, William M'Clean and Moses M'Clean, were appointed a committee to carry out the desire of the congregation in reference to the provi- sions of the charter.
" The names of but few of the first elders are now known. Among them were Mr. Cotton, James Fer- guson, James M'Gaughy, Benjamin Reid, William Hill, William M'Clean, Captain David Wilson, Sa- muel Witherow, Samuel M'Cullough, John M'Ginley, Abraham Scott. In later times, John Kerr, John Stewart, Hugh M'Gaughy, Amos Maginley, William
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M'Gaughy, William M. Scott, who have gone to their reward, while many of their descendants are still in the church of their fathers, and some have taken their place in the eldership.
" From this congregation the following persons have entered the ministry : Samuel Shannon, first lieu- tenant of the company of Captain David Wilson, an elder, and officer in the War of the Revolution. Mr. Shannon went to Kentucky. John M'Knight, one of the pastors ; John Linn of Shearman's Valley ; Sa- muel Waugh of Silvers' Spring; John Slemmons, another of its pastors ; Samuel Ramsey, who settled in Virginia ; Amos M'Ginley, D.D., of Path Valley ; H. R. Wilson, D.D., James Black, Virginia; John Waugh (of John), John Waugh (of David) ; Rev. John M'Pherrin of West Pennsylvania, it is believed, went from this congregation. All of the above, except Dr. M'Ginley and Mr. Black, have died. Several of the sons of those who were pastors of this congre- gation are now in the ministry, or preparing for it. We here insert the Obituary of Dr. W. Paxton, as it is found in the Presbytery's Book of Obituaries.
" The Rev. William Paxton, D.D., late pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Lower Marsh Creek, died at his late residence, in Fairfield, Adams County, Pa., on the 16th day of April, 1845, in the 86th year of his age, and in the 53d year of his ministry. He was born in Lancaster County, on the 1st day of April, 1760. Very little is known of his early life; but from what is known, it appears that he remained with his
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LOWER MARSH CREEK CHURCH.
parents until he was nearly thirty years of age, when he commenced his classical education, under the superintendence of the Rev. Nathaniel Sample, with whom, also, he pursued his theological studies. On the 29th day of April, 1789, Dr. Paxton was received under the care of the Presbytery of New- castle as a candidate; and on the 8th day of April, 1790, he was licensed by the same Presbytery, as a probationer for the Gospel ministry. On the 4th day of October, 1791, the churches of Thom's Creek and Lower Marsh Creek, within the bounds of the Presbytery of Carlisle, requested that he might be ap- pointed a stated supply to them, and the Presbytery of Newcastle gave him permission to preach to their churches for five successive Sabbaths. On the 21st of December, 1791, the churches of Thom's and Lower Marsh Creek, presented calls to the Presbytery of Newcastle for the ministerial services of Dr. Pax- ton ; and on the 4th day of April, 1792, he accepted these calls, and was accordingly dismissed from the Presbytery of Newcastle, to put himself under the care of the Presbytery of Carlisle. On the 7th of June, 1792, he was received under the care of the Presbytery of Carlisle, and on the 3d day of October, 1792, he was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry, and installed Pastor of the churches of Thom's and Lower Marsh Creek.
"It cannot be ascertained how long Dr. Paxton was pastor of the church at Thom's Creek; but the church of Lower Marsh Creek, finding themselves
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able to support him all his time, received the whole of his ministerial services from an early date.
"On the 20th day of January, 1794, Dr. Paxton was united in marriage with Miss Jane Dunlap, of Cum- berland County. This lady still lives, waiting for the salvation of God. Dr. Paxton had four children, all of whom, with one exception, preceded their father to the grave.
"On the 19th day of October, 1841, on account of the infirmities of age, Dr. Paxton applied to Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral connexion between him and the Church of Lower Marsh Creek; which con- nexion, after having existed for a period of forty-nine years, was accordingly dissolved. It may be proper, however, to add, that Dr. Paxton continued to supply the Church of Lower Marsh Creek occasionally, until they obtained their present pastor, so that it may be said that that church was favoured with his minis- trations for more than half a century. It is worthy of remark, also, that during the forty-nine years of his pastoral life, Dr. Paxton rarely, if ever, disap- pointed his people, by a failure in attendance upon the duties of the sanctuary. No inclemency of wea- ther ever prevented him from being in the house of God on the Sabbath, to preach the Gospel to those who might not be prevented by the same cause, from attending upon his ministry,
" The early life of Dr. Paxton was somewhat identi- fied with the struggles of our country for her national independence. He served in three campaigns in the
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Revolutionary War, in one of which he was in the neighbourhood, during the battle of Trenton.
" Although Dr. Paxton had not the advantage of a collegiate education, still, by close application, under private tuition, he attained to a standing in literature, science, and theology, rarely equalled by many who have enjoyed that benefit. Accordingly, the Trustees of Dickinson College, in virtue of his attainments in those acquisitions, conferred on him the honorary de- gree of Doctor of Divinity,-a title which in those days was far more the reward of merit than of favour. Dr. Paxton was possessed of a profound and discriminat- ing intellect. His pulpit performances bore ample testimony to the extent and variety of his acquisitions. His sermons were rich in thought, always exhibiting with great force and plainness the fundamental doc- trines of the Gospel.
" In his private intercourse, he was remarkable for affectionate simplicity; he claimed no distinction above the plainest individual ; and he seemed to be conscious of no superiority to others, either in understanding or knowledge. His habits were domestic, perhaps to a fault. The circle around his own fireside was so de- lightful to him, that he seldom sought enjoyment abroad. His door was always open to his acquain- tances and friends ; he was always particularly pleased with the company of his ministerial brethren, and few ever left his house without feelings of gratitude for his society and hospitality. As a Christian, his object appeared to be, to cultivate and cherish an intelligent
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piety. Humble and unostentatious in his deportment, his unabating confidence, amidst all the dealings of God with him, was founded on the merits of the bless- ed Saviour, whose Gospel he was permitted to preach to others. The venerable father is now at rest. With him, we trust, the agonies of dissolving nature were but the prelude to eternal joys. His dying was but the laying down of mortality to put on immortality, and He who is the resurrection and the life, will watch over the sleeping dust in its repose in the grave, and He will, in his own time, burst the bars of the tomb, and that which was born a natural, will be raised a spiritual body, in angelic splendour and beauty."
The Rev. D. D. Clarke, the present pastor of Lower Marsh Creek, was installed in June, 1843.
The following persons compose the Session at this time : James Blythe, Andrew Marshall, John Marshall, James Bigham, R. Cobean, John M'Ginley, J. J. Kerr, A. W. Maginley,-the two first of whom do not act, by reason of infirmity.
Recently, the house has been thoroughly remodelled. The improvements are, a new roof, floor, and pulpit ; the seats lowered and sloped in the back. Venetian blinds ; carpeting ; vestibule, with the entrance by two doors into the vestibule ; making it as neat and com- fortable as most of the country churches. The con- gregation, during the present pastorate, has suffered by death and removals, but it has received numerous valuable accessions. Harmony prevails among its
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CHURCH AT GETTYSBURG.
members the attendance is good; and the spirit of benevolence has greatly increased.
CHURCH AT GETTYSBURG.
THIS church was originally known as the " Upper Presbyterian Church of Marsh Creek." This is the name which it bears in the Act of Incorporation, passed 13th of September, 1787. The first pastor of the congregation of whom any notice is taken on the records of Presbytery, was the Rev. Mr. M'Mordie, who resigned his charge about the year 1762. The Rev. Mr. Black, who was a successor of Mr. M'Mordie, applied for, and obtained the dissolution of his pas- toral relation in 1794. " Of his history," writes the present pastor, the Rev. Mr. Johnston, "I cannot learn anything, excepting that tradition says he formed and sustained a temperance society before the present temperance movements had a being." It may be here stated that intemperance was the prevailing sin of the Church in its early history in this country, and more frequently than any other called for the exercise of discipline.
The congregations of Upper Marsh Creek and Great Conewago were united in 1798, and the Rev. David M'Conaughy was installed their pastor on the 8th day of October, 1800. "In that same year the formation of Adams into a separate county took
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place, and Gettysburg became the county seat. This town was situated about three miles from the site of the Upper Marsh Creek Church, and within the limits of that congregation. Increasing in wealth and population, and embracing within it a number of Presbyterian families, it was deemed too important a place to be left without the stated preaching of the Gospel by Presbyterians. For a time it was supplied by occasional preaching by Dr. M'Conaughy himself, and also by Dr. Paxton, the talented and eloquent pastor of the adjacent church of Lower Marsh Creek, one or more of the families belonging to whose church, resided in the town. After some years, however, the congregation of Upper Marsh Creek determined to remove their edifice to town, and in the year 1813, Dr. M'Conaughy preached his last sermon in the old church, previous to its demolition. From various causes the new edifice was not ready for occupancy for several years. In the mean time, the congregation were kindly allowed the use of the Associate Reformed Church, then vacant, until a pastor should be procured. Afterwards they worshipped in the court-house, until the completion of their edifice. In the month of August, 1816, the house, having been completed, was solemnly dedicated to the worship of the Triune God. The congregation still retained its original chartered name of 'Upper Marsh Creek,' and still remained in union with Great Conewago, under the same pas- toral care as before. In these united congregations Dr. M'Conaughy continued, in the faithful and
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CHURCH AT GETTYSBURG.
acceptable discharge of his ministerial duties, until the spring of 1832, when he was dismissed, at his own request, to connect himself with the Presbytery of Washington, within the bounds of which he intended to reside, as President of Washington College."
From the same source to which we are indebted for the extract just given, we derive the following condensed sketch of Dr. M'Conaughy's history and character .*
The Rev. David M'Conaughy was a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Menallen Township, York County (now Adams), about six miles from Gettysburg, on the 29th of September, 1775. His collegiate education he received at Dickinson College, Carlisle, where he was graduated on the 30th day of September, 1795, during the presidency of the Rev. Dr. Charles Nisbet. He had the Latin Salutatory assigned him, which, according to the usage of the institution, at that time, was considered the first
honour. After leaving college, he remained two years under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Nathan Grier, of Brandywine, in the prosecution of his theo- logical studies, when, on the 5th day of October, 1797, he was licensed by the Presbytery of New- castle to preach the Gospel.
On the 8th day of October, 1800, he was ordained
* A discourse commemorative of the late Rev. David M'Co- naughy, D.D., L.L.D., by the Rev. David Elliott, D.D., preached March 21, 1852.
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SUPPLEMENT.
and installed pastor of the united churches of Upper Marsh Creek and Great Conewago.
Dr. M'Conaughy watched over his flock with a shepherd's care, and was ever ready to bestow his labour and exert his influence for the advancement, not only of their spiritual, but also of their temporal interests. He was the pioneer in the temperance reform in his native county. Preparatory to the formation of a society, and with a view of gaining access to all classes, he appointed meetings to be held in the court-house in the evenings, at which he read the temperance essays of Drs. Rush, Beecher, and others. Through his agency the first temperance society in Adams County was formed, of which he was elected the first president.
On the 9th of May, 1832, Dr. M'Conaughy was inaugurated as President of Washington College. The number of students at the time of his accession, was one hundred and nineteen. Under his mild and paternal administration, the number continued to increase, and every year added to the strength and reputation of the institution, in the minds of intelli- gent and well-informed men.
On the 1st of October, 1849, Dr. M'Conaughy tendered his resignation of the presidency to the Board of Trustees, by whom, after they had ascer- tained that his purpose to retire was immovably fixed, it was accepted. The high respect and veneration entertained for him by the Board of Trustees, were indicated by the strongly expressive resolutions which
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CHURCH AT GETTYSBURG.
were passed immediately upon the acceptance of his resignation.
Dr. M'Conaughy, after the dissolution of his con- nexion with the college, pursued his mental labours with his accustomed activity. As evidence of this, during the next year after his resignation, he pre- pared and published a volume of "Discourses, chiefly Biographical, of Persons eminent in Sacred His- tory." These are admirable discourses,-" fine speci- mens of discriminating thought, lucid arrangement, vigorous style, and the skilful and profitable exhibition of sacred truth."
In the year 1838, he published, for the exclusive use of the senior class in Washington College, "A brief Summary and Outline of the Principal Subjects comprehended in Moral Science." This is a compre- hensive and well-digested outline, which, it is to be regretted, he did not fill up, and thus have furnished our colleges with a convenient and religious text-book on that subject. His other publications consist of some half dozen sermons, and a few of his Bacca- laureate Addresses. These are all written with his accustomed ability, and were well adapted to the oc- casion and circumstances which severally called them forth. Since his decease, a couple of tracts from his pen have been issued from the press,-one on the Doctrine of the Trinity, and the other on the Salvation of Infants.
Of Dr. M'Conaughy's early religious experience, and his first introduction into the kingdom of God
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we have no knowledge, but that he was a man of emi- nent piety towards God, no one acquainted with his character can entertain a doubt. His piety was intelligent, of a confiding character, cheerful, and eminently spiritual.
He died at his residence in Washington, on Thurs- day, the 29th of January, 1852, in the seventy- seventh year of his age, and the fifty-fifth of his ministry.
The Rev. James C. Watson, D.D., in June, 1832, became the successor of Dr. M'Conaughy in the churches of Gettysburg and Great Conewago, and continued to be their pastor until August, 1849, when he resigned, and the churches were separated. The Rev. Robert Johnston entered upon his labours as Pastor at Gettysburg, in January, 1850.
The names of the present elders of this congre- gation, are, George Arnold, Moses McLean, Nicholas Randolph, James M'Alister, Hugh Denwiddie, Robert G. M'Creary.
The present church edifice in Gettysburg, which is large and beautiful, was erected in 1842.
CHURCHES AT BEDFORD AND SCHELLSBURG.
BEDFORD COUNTY, originally part of Cumberland County, was established, March 9th, 1771. It then included the entire southwestern part of the State.
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BEDFORD AND SCHELLSBURG.
The establishment of Westmoreland in 1773, of Hunt- ingdon in '87, and Somerset in '95, and Fulton in 1850, reduced it to its present limits.
Bedford, the county seat, has, in addition to a Presbyterian church, churches for German Reformed and Lutheran, Methodist, and Catholic congrega- tions.
The Presbyterian interest in this borough and the circumjacent region, was watched over by supplies from Presbytery, from 1763 until about the year 1782, when, as the Records of Presbytery show, there was a congregation in existence of sufficient ability to call a pastor. This call was given to the Rev. Mr. Waugh, and contained an agreement on the part of the congregation, that if Mr. W. should become their pastor, his time should be divided, as follows : one-fourth in Providence Township, five Sabbaths in the year in Colerain Township and Cumberland Val- ley, and the remainder in the town of Bedford. This call was not accepted.
In 1786, a call from this congregation was given to the Rev. Mr. Bard, who consented to settle as pastor, and continued in this relation until the autumn of 1789. After this, the congregation was supplied by appointments of Presbytery, the Rev. Mr. Bard, also, frequently officiating for it, until 1808, when the Rev. Alexander Boyd accepted the Pastor- ate of the church, which he retained until 1815. The ruling elders of an early date, were, James Taylor, Sr., David Anderson, David Riddle, John Reynolds,
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William Reynolds, and John Ritchey. Mr. Boyd preached at his settlement, in the old court-house, and during his incumbency (1810) the first church edifice was erected.
The next Pastor at Bedford, was the Rev. Jeremiah Chamberlain, a native of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. C. took charge of the church in 1819, and re- signed his post in 1822, to accept an invitation, which, at the early age of twenty-seven, he had received, to the Presidency of Centre College, Danville, Ken- tucky. The following extract in relation to him, from a discourse on his life and character by the Rev. Joseph B. Stratton, on the occasion of his death as a victim of murder, in 1851, whilst President of Oak- land College, will be read with interest.
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