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 18
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 18
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" That his character was no ordinary one, the his- tory of his achievements sufficiently indicates. His intellectual endowments and acquirements, without being brilliant or profound, were such as qualified him to be a ready and clear-sighted student, and an able and perspicuous instructor. His life was too crowded with extraneous duties to allow him the opportunity to seek the scholastic eminence, which otherwise would have been easily accessible to him. It was rather as the man of practical energy, of high-toned loyalty to principle, of self-possessed sobriety, of forethought and farsightedness, of fertility of invention and aptness in execution, of firmness tempered by suavity, of strict uprightness and disinterested devotion to what- ever his heart and conscience approved, it is rather
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BEDFORD AND SCHELLSBURG.
as the paternal counsellor, the warm-hearted friend, the cheerful companion, the sincere and simple preacher, with the clear doctrine of Scripture ever on his lip, and the tear of emotion often in his eye, as the comforter in sorrow, and the helping brother to all who asked his sympathy or aid-it is in such cha- racters as these, that Dr. Chamberlain won distinc- tion, and merited all he won."
Dr. Chamberlain's successor at Bedford was the Rev. Daniel M'Kinley, who accepted the call given him in 1827, and resigned his pastoral relation in 1831, on account of the delicate state of his health, which unfitted him for the discharge of duty.
Mr. Mckinley was succeeded by the Rev. Baynard R. Hall, who served the congregation about six years ; the Rev. Elbridge Bradbury, whose pastoral relation, formed in 1839, was dissolved in 1841; the Rev. Alexander Heberton, who was installed in 1843, and resigned in 1845 ; and the Rev. William Maclay Hall,
who was pastor for several years. When Mr. Hall was released from the pastoral care of the church, on account of increasing infirmities, which, not long after, terminated by death the life which he had de- voted to the self-denying toils of the ministry, by renouncing a lucrative practice of the Law, the pul- pit was supplied for a length of time by the Rev. William L. McCalla, during which period the Schells- burg and Bedford churches were united by Presby- tery in one charge. In 1850, Mr. Thomas K. Davis, a licentiate, supplying the pulpit of the church at
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Fayetteville, was called to the pastoral charge of the Bedford and Schellsburg churches.
With the following data we have been kindly fur- nished by the Rev. Mr. Davis.
"The old building in Bedford was torn down about the year 1828, to give place to a more comfortable edifice. This building is of brick, and handsomely situated on the public square. It will accommodate 500 persons. The room in the basement is used for a lecture and Sabbath-school room. The building, although in many respects commodious and fine-look- ing, contains the lofty pulpit, and high-backed box- like pews of ancient times. The spirit of modern im- provement will, doubtless, ere long lower the pulpit, and give a comfort to the seats which they now lack.
" The congregation have a large and conveniently situated burying-ground, not far from the church. They have never as yet secured a parsonage.
" The church numbers eighty-four communicating members at the present time. There are but two ruling elders, Mr. James Rea, Sr., and John Mower, Esq.
" In May, 1833, Mr. James Taylor, Sr., and thirty- eight other members of the Bedford Church, made ap- plication and were organized as the Church of Schells- burg. The Rev. James G. Brackenridge was their first pastor. The memory of this devoted man is revered by the people, and the sudden and untimely death of their young minister and his excellent wife,
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THE CHURCH AT SCHELLSBURG.
when on a visit to their friends near Taneytown, Md., is still deplored. James Taylor, Sr., and Benjamin Gibbony, were the first ruling elders. The church building which is now used, was erected about the year 1835. It cost nearly $2200. It is pleasantly situated, has a neat appearance, and will accommo- date about 400 persons.
" The pastors who succeeded Mr. Brackenridge were, the Rev. Messrs. Samuel Montgomery, David D. Clark, and Geo. S. Inglis. In 1848, this church was connected with that of Bedford, in receiving the ser- vices of Mr. M'Calla; and in 1850, the present pastor of the Bedford Church was installed pastor of the Schellsburg charge.
" A part of the Schellsburg congregation now wor- ship statedly in a sanctuary of their own, recently built near 'The Forks,' about equally distant from Bed- ford and Schellsburg. ' The Stone Church' was commenced during Mr. Inglis's time, and finished in 1851. It is beautifully situated at the western base of Will's Mountain, on the banks of the Rays- town Branch, and is an interesting and encourag- ing field of labour.
"The Schellsburg Church now numbers one hundred members more than the parent church, which sent out the colony in 1833. The elders at present are, Messrs. James Taylor, Jr., John Smith, George W. Hunt, Robert M. Taylor, and James Mullin.
"With the exception of two small congregations in Wells' Valley, and at Green Hill, under the care of the
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Rev. Mr. White, and another on Yellow Creek, minis- tered to by the Rev. Mr. Hill, of the Huntingdon Presbytery, these are the only Presbyterian congre- gations in the county. We have Romanists in Har- man's Bottom, that dark corner of Bedford County, Hicksites in the 'Quaker Settlement,' north of Schellsburg, and Unitarian Baptists of the Christian connexion, in different parts, with multitudes of people in various sections, who are very, very destitute of Gospel blessings. If our Presbytery were not so far- sighted as to bestow their attention on distant parts of the land and on other continents, overlooking the home field, which is full of interest and full of impor- tance, we would have a missionary or two preaching sound doctrine and holy living, among the wild moun- tains and in the pleasant valleys of old Bedford County."
THE CHURCHES OF M'CONNELLSBURG, GREEN HILL, AND WELLS' VALLEY.
IT is with the Church of M'Connellsburg, as with most of the other churches of the Presbytery,-no re- cords of its early history can be found. The proba- bility is, that no such records were kept; but if they were, they have perished. It is, however, evident from the minutes of Presbytery, that " The Great
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CHURCH OF M' CONNELLSBURG.
Cove," (as the place was first called,) was a point fre- quently supplied with the preaching of the Gospel by appointment of Presbytery, as far back, at least, as 1769. There are also still living within the bounds of the congregation, some aged members of it, whose memories are of service in rescuing its history from oblivion. From this source, the Rev. N. G. White, the present pastor of the charge, received aid in the preparation of the subjoined satisfactory sketch.
" The congregation now worshipping in the Presby- terian church in the Borough of M'Connellsburg, was organized some time before the year 1791. I know not the precise date. It was called the 'Presbyterian Congregation of the Great Cove.' Its first elders were William Alexander, William Gaff, and Charles Tag- gart. To their number were added shortly after- wards, Alexander Alexander (familiarly known as ' Double Alick'), and James White. They worshipped for some time in private houses, mostly in that of John Dickey, who was an Associate Judge of Bedford County nearly fifty years, and was one of the first and most efficient members of the congregation. It was owing chiefly to Judge Dickey's instrumentality, that a small log church was built, about two miles south of the town, which continued to be occupied as a house of worship until the present edifice was erected, in the year 1811. A Mr. Barclay, a Scotchman and member of the congregation, left by will $500 towards the erection of a church in the town. This sum, to- gether with subscriptions of various sorts from diffe-
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SUPPLEMENT.
rent members of the congregation, enabled them to put up the present building. It continued (though occupied all the while) in an unfinished state for four or five years, when a pulpit, pews, and other fixtures were added, putting it in the state in which I found it when I first visited this place.
" Its first pastor was the Rev. Isaac Kellar, who was settled here in the year 1818, and remained about five years as minister of the congregations of M'Con- nellsburg and Loudon. After his removal, a Mr. Jewett, from one of the New England States, came and established an Independent church, which greatly distracted the Presbyterian congregation. They, however, obtained occasional supplies for several years after which the late Rev. Robert Kennedy, of the Welsh Run Church, was their stated supply, till the fall of 1833. During the winter of 1833-4, I preached to them ; in the spring following received and accepted their call, and was ordained and installed on the 11th of June, 1834. Perhaps I may say here, that I was licensed by the Presbytery of Newcastle, on the 2d of October, 1833. The call to me included not only the Church of M'Connellsburg, but certain inhabi- tants of Green Hill, and Wells' Valley, each of which is supplied with a comfortable and neat church, in which I preach every four weeks. The Session of the church in town, is at present composed of James Ag- new, John Jordan, Henry Hoke, and David Agnew.
"The Church at Green Hill was organized on the 12th day of September, 1835, consisting of twenty-one
GREEN HILL AND WELLS' VALLEY. 305
members, and John Jordan was elected and ordained a ruling elder. During the summer of that year, they put up a neat frame church, in which they still con- tinue to worship. The Session of that church is at present composed of James Austin, and James Lyon. William Alexander and Roland Austin have been re- cently elected elders, and will be ordained in a few weeks.
" The Church in Wells' Valley, which is twenty miles west of M'Connellsburg, never was formally or- ganized. It is composed chiefly of the descendants of Alexander Alexander ('Double Alick', referred to above), who was a member of the Church in town, and whose son John was chosen an elder, and served with great acceptance in that capacity, until his death in 1840. This John Alexander was in every respect a model of a good elder. He was one of the best men I ever knew. And though so modest and retiring in his disposition and habits, as to attract but little notice beyond the narrow circle of his acquaintance, yet few ministers of the Gospel of the present day possess as accurate a knowledge of the Scriptures, and of Systematic and Polemic Theology, as he did. He could repeat verbatim, nearly all of the New Testa- ment, and more than one-half of the old. The
Bible was his daily study for half a century, he imbibed its spirit, and he was truly 'clothed with humility.' No man that ever lived in this section of the country, possessed so strongly the confi- dence of the community, as a man of honesty, inte-
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grity, and true piety. Truly ' the memory of the just is blessed.' The elders of this church are, John Wishart and John B. Alexander.
"There are about one hundred and forty communi- cating members in the Church in M'Connellsburg, about fifty at Green Hill, and about forty in Wells' Valley,-making two hundred and thirty in the whole charge."
CHURCH AT CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND. 1
WE have been favoured with the following sketch by the Rev. John H. Symmes.
"We have no record among us of the date of the organization of the Presbyterian Church in Cumber- land, Md., but it is certain that there was preaching here occasionally, by supplies, from the beginning of the present century. The congregation was small and feeble for many years, struggling, as it were, for a mere existence. Among those who ministered in holy things to this feeble church, at different times, were the Rev. Messrs. Hays, Kennedy, Raymond, and S. H. M'Donald. During the time that Messrs. Hays, Kennedy, and Raymond laboured here, the church was able to do very little towards the support of a pastor. Messrs. Hays and Kennedy were successively princi- pals of the Allegany County Academy, in which they taught for many years. From this source they
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CHURCH AT CUMBERLAND, MD.
derived their principal support, and it is probable ex- pended upon it their principal labours. Mr. Ray- mond, at a later date, laboured a part of his time in Cumberland as a missionary, and was aided from the Missionary Fund. The Presbyterians in Cumberland, for many years had no place of worship of their own, but worshipped alternately in the Lutheran church.
" In connexion with the Episcopalians, they at one time erected a house of worship, under an agreement, that each denomination should have the right to wor- ship in it alternately, according to their respective forms. But in process of time, the Presbyterians were denied their interest and privileges in the build- ing; and the Episcopalians very unjustly appropria- ted the entire property to their own use. Had the Presbyterians appealed to Cæsar to avenge them of their adversary, the Episcopalians would doubtless have been compelled to abide by the terms of the agreement, and restore to the others their privilege, or its equivalent. But the Presbyterians, as usual in such cases, chose rather to suffer wrong.
" In the year 1838, they erected a house of worship for themselves, 45 by 55 feet, with a gallery in the end, and surmounted by a small cupola and a bell. At this time, they were efficiently aided by the indefati- gable efforts and labours of the Rev. S. H. M'Donald, who for the space of five or six years acted as their stated supply. He was succeeded by the Rev. B. Wall, who was installed as the first regular pastor of this church, on the second Sabbath of July, 1843.
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SUPPLEMENT.
The present incumbent, the Rev. J. H. Symmes, after labouring here from December, 1844, until the 9th of April, 1845, was on that day installed as pastor of the church, by a committee of the Presbytery. The congregation having increased so that the building was too small for their accommodation, in the autumn of 1846, an addition of 18 feet was made to the rear, and a lecture and Sunday school-room, 26 by 36 feet, mostly in the rear of the church edifice as altered. In 1846, the number of communicants was thirty-five ; they now number about one hundred and twenty. The present ruling elders are, John Boward, James M. Smith, M.D, J. P. Agnew, and Abraham Russell."
HAGERSTOWN CHURCH.
THE first pastor of this church, as far as we can learn, was the Rev. Thomas M'Pherrin. How long precisely, he was connected with it in this character, we do not know; but, as we find in the minutes of the Presbytery of 1774, a notice of his acceptance of a call from the united congregations of East and West Conococheague and Jerusalem, and then in the minutes of 1779, a notice of the dissolution of his pastoral relation to the people of Hagerstown, it is evident that his connexion with that congregation was of short duration.
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HAGERSTOWN CHURCH.
In 1788, in compliance with a supplication from Falling Waters, Hagerstown, and Williamsport, the Rev. Mr. Caldwell was appointed by Presbytery "as a constant supply for those places for one year."
In September, 1825, the Rev. M. L. Fullerton was installed as pastor of the church in Hagerstown, on which occasion the Rev. Mr. Elliott preached the sermon from 1 Thess. ii. 4, and the Rev. Mr. Paxton presided, offered up the consecrating prayer, and delivered the charges.
The pastoral relation of the Rev. Richard Wyn- koop, which had existed for four years, was dissolved by Presbytery in April, 1838.
The Rev. J. T. Marshall Davie was installed pastor of the congregations of Greencastle and Hagerstown, in October, 1840, and his connexion with the latter congregation, was dissolved in 1842.
Mr. William Love, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Baltimore, was called to the church of Hagerstown, in 1845. At the same time, the Associate Reformed Church of that place was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Carlisle, as " The Second Presby- terian Church of Hagerstown."
In 1846, the First Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church of Hagerstown, were, by a reso- lution of Presbytery, and on their own request, united, to be known as "The Presbyterian Church of Hagerstown," the name by which it was desig- nated prior to the separation. In the same year Mr. Love's labours among his people ceased, and he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Winchester, Va.
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The Rev. Septimus Tustin, who had for several years served as Chaplain to the Senate of the United States, was elected pastor at Hagerstown in 1848, and served in this capacity until 1850. Dr. Tustin afterwards settled in Germantown, near Philadel- phia, and now, having temporarily desisted from pas- toral labour, by reason of indifferent health, is residing with his son in Washington City.
The Rev. Robert W. Dunlap, who previously had charge of a church in Baltimore, was Dr. Tustin's successor at Hagerstown, and still labours among his attached people with encouraging success.
The building in which the congregation now wor- ship, was the first used by them, and was first occu- pied in July, 1817. Previous to that time, the con- gregation worshipped in the German Reformed Church. The church was built by subscription. A list of the subscribers is in the hands of the Session, and embraces the names of nearly all the citizens of the town and surrounding country.
The first Bench of Elders were-John Kennedy, Robert Douglass, John Robertson, Joseph Gabby. The present Session consists of Joseph Gabby, Samuel Steele, William Stewart, William Marshall, Joseph Rench, and James M'Dowell.
The Church at Hagerstown has passed through some stormy scenes, but its present condition is peaceful and prosperous.
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CHURCH AT SHERMAN'S CREEK.
SHERMAN'S CREEK.
THE following sketch of this congregation, is from the pen of the Rev. M. B. Patterson, its stated supply :
"The early history of the Sherman's Creek con- gregation, is involved in considerable uncertainty as to dates, from a want of authentic records. It can, at present, be learned only from the diverse and sometimes contradictory testimony, gathered from the fading memories of a few of the most aged members.
" It appears that towards the end of the last cen- tury, a few Presbyterian ministers had visited this region, of whom nothing more is remembered than their names, which were Rev. Messrs. Boyd, Porter, and Hoge.
" About the beginning of the present century, sup- plies were sent to this section of country, from the Presbytery of Carlisle, viz., Rev. Messrs. Sharon, Moodey, Wilson, and Brady.
" The majority of the first settlers of this peaceful and retired region, were of Scotch-Irish descent, and warmly attached to the doctrines and order of the. Presbyterian Church. In an early day, it was no uncommon thing for persons of both sexes, to travel on foot from ten to fifteen miles, when an opportunity offered of hearing the Gospel. The names of the families are, Adams, Boyd, Finley, Kirkpatrick,
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Ickels, M'Cord, M'Clintock, Smiley, Wallace, and White.
"In 1804, a lot of ground was purchased and a house for public worship erected. Its dimensions were twenty-eight feet square. The materials were logs, which were delivered on the ground by the members of the congregation, in fulfilment of a pre- vious contract entered into by subscription. The
logs were raised in 1804, but the building was not finished till 1805, owing to a prevailing disease.
" In the year 1805, the Sherman's Creek Church was organized by Rev. Joseph Brady, a member of the Carlisle Presbytery, who was regularly called and installed their first pastor. His salary was $400, one-third of which was to be paid by this congre- gation.
" The following named persons composed its first Session :- John White, Samuel Ickels, James Wal- lace, and Samuel Smiley. They all served this church in the capacity of ruling elders, till they were removed by death. There are no means of ascer- taining at the present time, the number of communi- cants composing their first organization.
"Near the church a burying-ground was made, in which reposes the dust of many of the early inhabi- tants of this region.
"In 1808, a session-house was built of logs, which is standing yet.
"This church continued under the pastoral care of Rev. Joseph Brady, until the time of his death, which took place April 24, 1821.
CHURCH AT SHERMAN'S CREEK. 313
"Mr. Brady was interred in the burying-ground at the Mouth of Juniata ; and the three congrega- tions, which he served about twenty years, in token of respect, erected at his grave a suitable monument.
"After the death of Mr. Brady, this church was supplied by Rev. Mr. Lochrain, Prof. M'Clelland, of Dickinson College, and other supplies from Pres- bytery, till November 12, 1826, when Rev. John Nib- lock, of the Northumberland Presbytery, was called and installed pastor.
"During Mr. Niblock's time, the church edifice was enlarged by the addition of fourteen feet of frame, and the whole was weather-boarded and plas- tered:
" April 16, 1829, the Sherman's Creek Congrega- tion was incorporated by an act of the Legislature.
"The pastoral relation between Mr. Niblock and this church was dissolved by death, August 11, 1830. Mr. Niblock was buried in the graveyard at Middle- ridge Church.
"Rev. Matthew B. Patterson supplied this church from January 1, 1831, until the 22d of November following, when he was installed its pastor.
"In 1833, the General Assembly's collection of Psalms and Hymns was introduced.
"In 1843, the present edifice was erected. The materials are frame. The dimensions are 28 by 36 feet. It is located two miles west of the old site.
" The members of the present Session are, Jesse Kirkpatrick, David Smiley, and Frederick M'Kasky."
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SUPPLEMENT.
MOUTH OF JUNIATA AND MILLERSTOWN.
THE present pastor of these churches, has kindly furnished us with the following information :
" The church at the Mouth of the Juniata, was organized by the Rev. Joseph Brady, A. D. 1804, who was ordained by the Carlisle Presbytery, Oct. 3, 1804. The church edifice (which was the first in this region), was erected in 1804. The first elders of this church were, Isaac Kirkpatrick, John Woodburn, William Patterson, and George M'Ginnes. Mr. Kirkpatrick is the only one of the first elders, now living in the bounds of this congregation. This church continued under the care of Mr. Brady till his death, which took place April 24th, 1821.
From this period it was supplied with the word and ordinances, by Messrs. Lochrain, Tod, and other persons appointed by Presbytery, till Rev. John Niblock was installed its pastor, Nov. 21, 1826. In 1826, Wm. Irwin, John Hearst, Samuel Willis, James Wilson, Jacob Steel, and Robert Galey, were elected and ordained elders.
This congregation was incorporated by the Legisla- ture, during the session of 1828-9.
Mr. Niblock died Aug. 11, 1830.
Rev. M. B. Patterson, who was received by the Carlisle Presbytery, Sept. 27, 1831, supplied this church from Jan. 1st, 1831, till the following Novem-
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MOUTH OF JUNIATA.
ber 22d, when he was installed its pastor. The pas- toral relation was dissolved in 1844 or '45.
The church edifice at the Mouth of the Juniata, having become very much out of repair, and the location being one difficult of access, it was deter- mined by the congregation to erect a new house of worship, which they did, in the village of Petersburg, one mile distant from the old church. The building was completed in 1841. Its dimensions are forty by fifty feet.
In 1845, John Mineer and Thomas White were elected and ordained elders.
The Rev. Charles B. Maclay, who was licensed by the Carlisle Presbytery, Abril, 1846, and ordained June 2, 1847, supplied this church from April, 1846, till Nov. 1847, when he was installed its pastor. The pastoral relation was dissolved Oct., 1848.
Mr. Hezekiah Hanson, who was licensed by the Carlisle Presbytery, Oct. 4th, 1848, commenced to supply this church, Dec. 26, 1848, received a call, and was ordained August 22d, 1849.
The church edifice in Petersburg was repaired in 1850-51.
The old church at the Mouth of the Juniata, is used occasionally during the summer; its dimensions are about 25 by 30.
The present elders ( { this church are, Isaac Kirk- patrick, Thomas White, William Irwin, and Jacob Steel.
The Presbyterians of Millerstown and vicinity
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erected a small house, in which they worshipped until after their present house was erected. The land upon which the first house was built, was con- veyed, on the 4th of May, 1808, to Thomas Cochran, William North, and Amos Jordan, and their suc- cessors in office for ever, as trustees of the Millers- town Presbyterian Congregation.
According to the most reliable information we can obtain, there was no regular church organization, until the Rev. N. R. Snowden, in 1818, organized the present congregation. Mr. Snowden, shortly after, was installed pastor over the united congrega- tions of Millerstown, Liverpool, and Buffalo. The elders who were then ele ted and ordained, were Wil- liam North, John Black, and Joseph Castles. About two years after, owing to some dissatisfaction, the pastoral relation between Mr. Snowden and the con- gregation was dissolved , The congregation was sup- plied with the word and ordinances, from this period, by Messrs. Hill, Grey, Lochrain, and other appoint- ments from the Hunting don Presbytery, till Novem- ber, 1829, when Mr. B. L. Collins, a licentiate of the Philadelphia Presbytery, was engaged to preach as a supply, which he did unt 'l he was installed pastor, November 29, 1832. In J ne, 1830, Thomas Coch- ran and Isaac M'Cord, were elected and ordained elders of this congregation. In consequence of the smallness of the house, the congregation determined to erect a new house of worship, in a more central part of the town. The building, 45 by 50 feet, was
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