USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Bridgeport > Hart's history and directory of the three towns, Brownsville, Bridgeport, West Brownsville also abridged history of Fayette county & western Pennsylvania > Part 29
USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > West Brownsville > Hart's history and directory of the three towns, Brownsville, Bridgeport, West Brownsville also abridged history of Fayette county & western Pennsylvania > Part 29
USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Brownsville > Hart's history and directory of the three towns, Brownsville, Bridgeport, West Brownsville also abridged history of Fayette county & western Pennsylvania > Part 29
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Renolds, Harry
Gribble, Eleanor Gombar, Thomas Gristofinal, Ida Higgins, Mac
Montsier, Garret
363
List of Teachers and Pupils
Taylor, E. Elizabeth
Vincqueirro, Charley
Vliet, Edna
Vliet, Lydia
Smith, Willie
Weston, Frank
Smith, Lela
Walters, Clarence
Simpson, Wallace
Willson, Wilbur
Striekler, Naomi
Wargo, John
ROOM No. 2.
TEACHER, MISS MARY MARTIN.
Allison, Willard
Mull, Lewis
Artman, Irvin
Marshall, Henry
Burnett, Aubrey
Minchart, George
Bulger, Kenneth
Marnelli, Alfred
Black, Joseph
Magee, Charles
Berry, Samuel
Moore, Ellen McHale, Marie
Butler, Maurice
Martin, Garnet
Brown, Olive
O'Donnell, Florence
Cumpston, Paul
Pendleton, Cornelius
Chalfant, Helen Cock, Lina
Pierce, Ruth
Carpenter, Blanche
Robinson, Carlton
Doriguzsi, Joseph
Rathmell, John
Davison, Jennie
Sampson, Wendell
Dillon, Rebecca
Smith, Susie
Daugherty, Sarah
Secrest, Holmes
Eckles, Jesse
Smith, Harold
Free, Bertha
Steffer, Emile
Gue, John
Springer, William
Gray, Celia
Smith, Marie Smith, Helen
Gue, Mamie
Simpson, Emma
Gille, Ruth
Stevenson, Jennie
Guesman, Ethel
Underwood, Elliott
Higgins, Sheridan
Harden, Ollie
Wilson, Dearth Woods, Willie
Hitlas, Martin
Winwood, Edith
Hart, Melissamı
Winwood, Anna
Johns, Carlton Johns, Orpah Kisner, Elmer
Woods, Helen
Wetzell, John
Ross, Arthur
Ross, Luca Seerest, Blanche Sorrell, Sheridan
Winwood. Henrietta
Thompson, Samuel
Leonard, Sara
Bolden, Grant
Pirl, Elmer
Gribble, Elizabeth
364
List of Teachers and Pupils
ROOM No. 3.
TEACHER, MRS. T. A. JEFFRIES.
Anderson, Williard
Berry, Joseph
Jeffries, Helen Jeffries, Thomas
Black, Lewis
Kisner, Sarah
Black, Rebecca
Kenney, Thomas
Baker, John
Lancaster, Joseph
Carpenter, Catherine
League, Charellotte
Couse, Catherine
Levy, Julius McGaroy, Willie
Coco, Alice
Mason, Robert
Crawford, Margaret
O'Donnell, Louis
Cumpston, Minnie
Patton, Duncan
Dyson, Rose
Patterson, Myrtle
Dyson, Cora
Prunty, Harry
Davis, William
Rockwell, Ollie
Davis, Eva
Simpson, Miller
Florence, Olive
Smith, Jean
Fenwick, Joseph
Smith, Robert
Gray, Clarence
Smith, Margaret
Gregg, Bertha
Story, Earl
Greene, Jessie
Underwood, Harry
Gue, Agnes
Whetzel, George
Gombar, Albert
Williams, Adda
Hackett, Jean
Williams, Riley
Hackett, Henry
Williams, Francis
Hackett, Georgia
Worcester, Lelia
Haikin, George Inghram, Anna
Worcester, Walter Wright, Playford
Washington, Urvie
ROOM No. 4.
TEACHER, MISS LUCY HORNER.
Anderson, Fred Annett, Charles Alcorn, Edith Bulger, Lawrence Bowman, Anna Bumry, Julia Clawson, Ralph Cain, Levon Cock, Verie
Dillon, John
Douglas, Mary
Darby, Helen
Ford, Irwin
Florence, Mattie
Gould, Thomas
Gillie, Ernest Garwood, Earle Guesman, Lawrence
Cope, Clyde
365
List of Teachers and Pupils
Melntosh, Alice
Marinelli, Mary Mason, Eleanor Orr, Marjorie O'Donnell, Mary
Hawkins, Mary Hurst, Adelaide
Polleck, Harry
Jones, Mildred
Ritz, Harry
Kirk, Harold
Smith, Arthur
Kisner, Elsie
Stiveson, Joseph
Kaiser, Martha
Secrest, Robert
Leonard, Frank
Smith, Clyde
Levy, Bennie
Steele, Jane Tynes, John
Manning, Bolden
Thompson, Mary
Minos, Espy
Taylor, Allice
Mitchell, Russell
Vincqueirro, Gactina
Mason, Robert
Wick, Bert
Williams, Donald
ROOM No. 5.
TEACHER, MISS ELIZABETH BAKEWELL.
Aubrey, Thomas
League, Russell
Arnett, George
Labin, Sarah
Arnett, John
Livingston, Sarah,
Anderson, Romola
Levy, Jessie
Bolden, Bessie
Mc Kenney, Eugene
Brady, Lizzie
Mason, Gertrude
Brady, Ada
McClelland, Anna
Carter, Beulah
Magee, Mazie
Christopher, Edgar Cock, Irene
MeHale, Lillian
Crawford, Watson
Pearsall, Lydia
Deangillis, Theresa
Smith, Janet
Davis, David
Smith, Harold
Everly, Earnest
Stephenson, Andrew
Farson, Myrtle Gould, Boyd
Simpson, Eddie
Gray, Wa ter
Vliet, Mamic
Gaines, Olive
Wilson, Emmitt
Hart, David M., Jr.
Weston, Carl
Harden, Fred
Whetzel, Louis
Kenny, Bessie
Wood, Clarence
Kisner, Effie
Kisinger, Ella,
Kirk, Freda
Patterson, Perry
Dusenbery, Alice
Smith, Jessie
Simpson, Birdie
Gains, Mary Honesty, Robert Hackett, Lottie Hall, Ethel
Miles, George McKenney, Katherine
Reynolds, Frank
Laughery, Lida
366
List of Teachers and Pupils
ROOM No. 6.
TEACHER, MISS MAY SMILEY.
Berry, Charley
Magee, Lee
Brown, Lacey
Minehart, Holmes
Brisbane, Agnes
Milliken, Louis
Butler, Maggie
Moorhouse, Rose
Conelly, Margaret
Mitchell, Eva
Craft, Edgar
Patton, Katherine
Crawford, Britton Davis, John
Pearsall, Hazel
Dusenberry, Josiah
Perry, Mary
Farson, Laura
Pierce, Elgie
Flood, Willie
Rathmell, Walter
Flood, Wylie
Roberts, Charley
Garwood, Frank
Robinson, Fred
Hart, Wilgus
Sargeant, Marshall
Henshaw, Lewis
Springer, Wallace
Higgins, Bert
Springer, Anna
Ingram, Ruth
Steele, Alice
Johns, Leola
Thompson, Chester
Keefer, J. D. Kenny, Verner
Thornton, Mamie
Lockeridge, Ruth
Vogt, John
Mason, Harry
Vleit, Jocob
Massy, Laura
Witt, Florence
Manning, Ellen McIntosh, Albert
Wagoner, Nellic
ROOOM No. 7.
TEACHER, MISS MARGARET SPROUL.
Alcorn, Ethel
Anderson, Nora
Arnette, Sarah
Jones, Campbell
Lanon, Charles
Brown, Lacey Bulger, Florence
Labin, Matthew
Bumry, Arnold
Leonard, Ellen
Connelly, Margaret Cock, Alma Chamberlain, Paul
Mitchell, Ollie Milliken, Louise
Marshall, Jane
McAlpine, Leta O'Donnell, Helen Perry, Maud Pierce, Elgie
Dusenberry, Howard Fenwock, Jolın Gregg, Edward Hurst, Julia
Higginbotham, Margaret Jones, Bertha
Thompson, John
Pearsall, Floe
367
List of Teachers and Pupils
Province, David RathmeHl, Walter Springer, Myrtic Springer, Ellen Steele, Alice Todd, Carrie
Vliet, Viola Wagoner, Nellie Worcester, Robert Wright, Nannie Wilson, Ethel
ROOM No. 8.
TEACHER, MISS ETTA DELANEY.
Adams, Lizzie
Miller, Charles
Bumry, Richard
McGill, Denny
Conelly, William
Polleck, Ralph
Darby, Viola
Parks, Josephine
Elliott, Ray
Pringle, Dixon
Florence, Charles
Roberts, Flo
Green. Florence
Risbeck, Earl
Henshaw, Martha
Stewart, Mircia
Harrison, Fannie
Steveson, Bessie
Herbertson, Edgar
Steele, Sara
Jones, Moses Kirk, George
Stewart, Ray
Thornton, Deuane
Lockridge, Russell
Wick, Jessie
McGarvey, Anna
Wick, Charlie
McAlpine, Karl Moore, Elisha
Wells, Boyd
Wilson, Charlie
ROOM No. 9.
TEACHER, MISS ALTA CURRY.
Allison, Carrie
Burnett, Fred
Kisner, Lizzie Lockridge, Ethel League, Lizzie
Daugherty, Nellie
League, Sara
Gray, Edna
League, Fannie
Hart, Isabel
McIntosh, Edna
Hibbs, Margaret Hibbs, Elma
Merray, Alfred Smith, Emma
ROOM No. 10.
TEACHER, PROF. J. F. SNYDER.
Davis, Andrew Darby, Lossie Dusenberry, Charles Gray, Bessie
Hatfield, Eli Mason, Lelia Porter, Louise
Craft, Clara
West Brownsville Schools
EARLY SCHOOL HISTORY.
In common with the other towns around, West Brownsville originally taught her schools in such buildings as could be rented for the purpose. Subsequently two small buildings were erected for School purposes. For many years scholars from that side of the river attended school in Brownsville and Bridgeport.
THE PRESENT SCHOOL BUILDING.
The present commodious and convenient public school building was erected in 1870 at a cost of $6,000. It contains six class rooms besides a school hall, has a cupola and bell and is handsomely furnished and properly equipped with the modern aids for teaching.
LIST OF PRESENT TEACHERS AND PUPILS.
ROOM No. 1.
TEACHER, MISS FANNIE ECKLES.
Baird, Ray
Kay, George
Bevard, Freda
Kay, Mary
Cross, Kathryn
Kress, Margaret
Cross, Margaret
Lacotta, Joseph
Dales, Walter Dowler, Verner
Lilley, Ruth
Dowler, Russell
Lopp, Jessie
Edwards, Charles French, Samuel Gwyn, Kirk Harrison, Sarah
Myers, Mary
Moffitt, Addic
Hardwick, Robert
Morgan, Bryan
Holliday, Bertha
McCullough, Roy
Hollowood, Willie Hormell, Alfred Hollowood, Ruth
Nicholls, Willie
Patterson, Margaret
Johnson, Ida
Phelps, Row
Phelps, Miller
Pastorius, Howard
Jones. Helen Kar, Rose Kennedy, Edith
Leonard, Harry
Lopp, Charles
Lunden, Richard
Nicholls, Leona
369
List of Teachers and Pupils
Pastorius, Richard Reese, Sara Resco, Mary Storer, Sarah Storer, Blanche
Taylor, Irene Taylor, Edward Troy, Karl Van Riper, Hugh Ward, Louise
ROOM No. 2.
TEACHER, MISS ETTA STORER.
Axton, Kathryn Bakewell, Freda
Bevard, Eva
Morris, Walter
Carlson, Clifford Charlton, Katie
McAndrews, Harry
Dent, Virginia
Mccullough, Earl
Dowler, Ethel
Patton, Wilda Porter, Ruth
French, Mamie Garwood, Helen
Pursglove, Josephine
Pursglove, Farnsworth
Gwyn, Harry Hormell, Linnie Holt, Harry
Stapleton, Clyde
Hutton, Edna
Snider, Willie
Leonard, Harvey
Taylor, Eva
Lilley, Willie Lesner, Katie Lunden, Carl
Taylor, Dearth
VanRiper, Sara
VanRipper, Ellen
ROOM No. 3.
TEACHER, MISS ETHEL SHEPLAR.
Baird, Edith
Baird, Bertha
Lilley, Elizabeth Marker, James Moffitt, Adelaide
Bevard, Alice Charlton, Elizabeth Cross, Arthur
Moffitt , Bertha
Morris, Virginia
Fulton, Carrie Gwyn, John Harrison, Rebecca
Mccullough, Edward
Patterson, Gussie
Province, George
Pursglove, Hester Reese, Stacy
Stapleton, Howard
Statham, Nellie VanRiper, Margaret
Holliday, Jennie Holliday, Olive Hormell, Naomi Johnson, Louella Leonard, Eva
Morgan, Dudley
Moffitt, Louie
McAllister, Edith
Sargeant, Martha
West Brownsville Public School Building
WEST BROWNSVILLE SCHOOL TEACHERS
Prof. Thos. L. Pollock
Miss Etta Storer Miss Ethel Sheplar
West Brownsville School Room No. 1
West Brownsville School Room No. 2
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West Brownsville School Room No. 3
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West Brownsville School Room No. 4
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376
List of Teachers and Pupils
ROOM NO. 4.
TEACHER, PROF. THOMAS L. POLLOCK, PRINCIPAL.
Clerbois, Lena
McGill, Denny
Cunningham, Warren
Province, David
Dowler, Nellie
Province, Wanda
Herrington, Belle
Snider, Charles
Harrison, Fannie
Snider, Louise
Leonard, Elsic
Stapleton, Ida
Marker, Ethel
Marker, Anna
Troy, Walter Wells, Boyd
McLain, Anna
BIOGRAPHY OF PRINCIPAL.
THOMAS LAZEAR POLLOCK is a son of Thomas W. and Harriet Jane (Sutterly) Pollock and was born in California, Washington County, Penn- sylvania, April 18, 1880. He received his education in the California common schools and in the State Normal at the same place. Mr. Pollock represented the California Literary society in the oratorical contest with the Philothenian society and won the prize.
Prof. Pollock has followed teaching ever since he graduated from the California Normal. During the winter of 1900-1 he was the principal of the Allenport schools. He was vice-principal of the North Belle Vernon schools during the winter of 1902-3 and has since then been principal of the West Brownsville schools and has met with flattering success.
Prof. Pollock is a young man of exceptional ability and is not only active in educational work but very popular in educational circles.
Religious History
BRIEF HISTORY OF SOME OF THE LEADING CHURCHES-BROWNSVILLE, BRIDGEPORT, WEST BROWNSVILLE, UNIONTOWN AND COUNTRY DIS- TRICTS-PICTURES OF PASTORS AND CHURCH EDIFICES- PIONEERS IN CHRISTIAN WORK IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
BROWNSVILLE CHURCHES.
CHRIST CHURCHI.
The district and country about Brownsville was settled originally by emigrants principally from Maryland and Virginia, many of whom had been reared in the principles and forms of the Episcopal Church, and hence brought with them their predilections for the same. This is evident from the fact that several log churches were built by the early settlers in this section for the purpose of retaining the services of the church among them, and trans- mitting the same to their descendants. As these buildings, however, were never occupied except by itinerating clergymen, and rarely at that, the in- tercsts of the people gradually declined, the buildings decayed, and the families whose preference had once been given to the Protestant Episcopal Church, sought elsewhere for the word of life.
With regard to the church in Brownsville the case appears to have been rather more favorable. Services were held from time to time with more frequency, and the temporal interests of the church especially sustained with more ability and zeal, though many untoward circumstances have in time past retarded materially the progress of the church. Among these the resemblances of her forms and ceremonies to those of the Church of England excited great prejudice against her in Revolutionary times.
It is now nearly a century and a half ago that Prayer-book services were used for the first time within the limits of what is now the borough of Browns- ville. In the year 1759, Rev. Mr. Allison is said to have come as Chaplain to the soldiers who were then stationed at Fort Burd. At that time Browns- ville was but a frontier fort or post known as "Redstone Old Fort."
Even before very regular services began to be maintained in Brownsville, five log churches had been built in the surrounding country, affording re- ligious homes to the many church families that originally settled this vicinity, having come principally from Maryland and Virginia. Today, Grace Church in Menallen township, six miles out on the national road, is the sole survivor, in which the service of the church is still heard, of that early effort to plant the church in the country districts of Western Fayette County. The present brick structure replaced the primitive log building at least fifty years ago.
In Brownsville itself several itinerant clergymen officiated from time to time in the early days. First came the Rev. Mr. Mitchell, in 1785. He was followed by the Rev. Robert Davis in 1795, who seems to have remained till 1805.
SOME OF THE FORMER MINISTERS OF OUR CHURCHES
Rev. C. R. Beacom
The Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D.
Rev. John C. Clay, D. D.
Rev. Boyd Mercer
Rev. C. A. McGee, P. E. Rev. J. T. A. Henderson
Bishop B. W. Arnett
379
Christ Church
Then came the Rev. Robert Ayres who in turn was succeeded by the Rev. Jackson Kemper, a man of truly apostolic character and zeal, who became, years afterwards, missionary Bishop of the Northwest, and still later, the first Bishop of Wisconsin. Mr. Kemper served the Church here in 1811. He made a subsequent visit in 1814 when the following persons were baptized : William Hogg, Ann Bowman, Harriet E. Bowman, Louisa Bowman, Matilda Bowman, William Bowman, Goodloe 11. Bowman, and Nelson B. Bowman.
Although as early as 1796 the ground on which the church now stands, was purchased from one, Samuel Jackson, by Dr. Charles Wheeler, William Ilogg, and Jacob Bowman, for the sum of 20 pounds sterling, no especial effort seems to have been made up to the year 1813, toward the organization of a parish or the erection of a church building. Of the three gentlemen who originally purchased the church ground, an old chronicle of the parish says that they were "mainly instrumental, under the wise providence of God, in the preservation of the Church in early years, and in the transmission of the same, a precious heritage to posterity."
In the year 1813, the Rev. J. C. Clay succeeded the Rev. Mr. Kemper as missionary of the Church "Society for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania," in the western part of the state. He arrived July 20th and shortly afterward urged the people to build a church on the lot they then had. The suggestion was favorably received, a meeting of the congregation was held, seven trustees were appointed to consider the matter, and $500 was subscribed toward the new church.
On August 26th, 1813, the first Vestry was organized with these gentlemen members: Jacob Bowman, William Hogg, Robert Clarke, Charles Wheeler, John Nin, Basil Brashear, Basil Brown, Charles Ford, George Hogg, Henry Stump, Thomas Brown and H. B. Goc.
A building committee was appointed, plans and proposals for the new church were considered, and finally adopted by the Vestry. The walls of the building had been raised and paid for, when the work suddenly ceased, and was not resumed for several years, during which time occasional services. only, were held by visiting clergymen. The Rev. Mr. Clay had left some time before. He afterwards was for many years the honored rector of Gloria Dei Church, Philadelphia.
The Rev. John Bausman was invited to take charge of the parish in con- nection with the work in Uniontown and Connellsville, and he began his labors March 22, 1823. The church edifice being still unfinished, the services were held for some months in the Presbyterian house of worship. By No- vember 30th of the same year, the building was ready for usc.
It was not until June 22, 1825, however, that the First Christ Church was consecrated. Then, upon the occasion of the first visit of the Right Rev. Dr. William White, first Bishop of Pennsylvania, to that portion of the diocese lying west of the Alleghenics, the new building was formally set apart to the service and worship of Almighty God.
A class of ten persons was confirmed by the Bishop the same day, the first time that confirmation had ever been administered here.
The Rev. Mr. Bausman continued his labor in the parish with signal suc-
13
Rev. Win. E. Rambo, Rector-Christ Church, Brownsville
381
Christ Churchi
cess until March 8, 1827, when the Rev. H. Phiffer, a brother-in-law, was elected to succeed him.
In August, 1829, the parish again became vacant, and remained so until the following spring, when the Rev. L. N. Freeman, (April 4, 1830), was elected to the rectorship. In 1841 steps were taken toward the erection of a suitable rectory. "A part of the land belonging to the church was exchanged for a certain piece of land belonging to Mr. George Hogg," and upon this ground the present commodious rectory was built.
On the 20th of September, 1841, the Rev. Mr. Freeman resigned, and was succeeded by the Rev. Enos Woodward. During Mr. Woodward's ministry, the parish was regularly incorporated under the name and style of "The Rector, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of Christ's Church, Brownsville." Of the seventeen persons whose names appear as petitioners for the granting of a charter to the parish, Mr. James W. Jefferies was the last to die, being past ninety at his death. The Rev. Samuel Cowell became rector of the parish June 6, 1845. At this time the congregation numbered some forty-eight families, with a total of 183 individuals. To the Rev. Mr. Cowell belongs the credit of carefully compiling, from various sources, the history of the Church's effort in this community from the earliest days until the year 1852, when he severed his connection with the parish. His painstaking and faith- ful efforts have made it a comparatively casy task to prepare this account of this venerable parish. About the year 1852 a suitable house for the Sexton's use was added to the church property at a cost of $1,200.
Two clergymen declined the call to the rectorship, but in April, 1833, the place was filled by the election and acceptance of the Rev. Richard Temple. 111 health compelled the resignation of Mr. Temple in July, 1854. In Decem- ber of the same year, the Rev. James J. Page, of Virginia, accepted an unani- mous election to the rectorship, taking charge in January, 1855.
The winter of 1855-'56 proved to be a very cold one, "and the church building then occupied being very open, many of the people suffered severely from the cold. It seemed impossible to get the church warm enough for comfort." The result was that a fund for the erection of a new building was soon started through the active efforts of Mrs. Mary M. Gummert. Mr. James L. Bowman was perhaps the first subscriber to the fund, giving $3,000 for himself and $1,000 for Mrs. Bowman.
At the meeting of the vestry held April 11, 1856, Messrs. G. H. Bowman, N. B. Bowman and John Johnson were appointed a building committee, and to act in an executive capacity for the rector and vestry in the matter of a new chuch, and Mr. J. L. Bowman was appointed treasurer.
The church then built cost about $20,000. It was consecrated by the Right Rev. Samuel Bowman, D. D. LL. D., July 12, 1859. After a suc- cessful rectorship of six years the Rev. Mr. Page resigned his charge in the winter of 1861-'62.
The next rector was Rev. John F. Ohl, who came from New Castle, Pa., and began his labors in the parish in July, 1862. Mr. Ohl's ministry of three years and nine months seems to have been very efficient.
In July, 1866, the Rev. H. H. Loring, of Olean, N. Y., became rector of
382
The Presbyterian Church
4
Christ Church, and after an incumbency of nearly six years, he closed his ministry here at Easter, March 31, 1872. Within the time of Mr. Loring's rectorate, St. John's Church, West Brownsville, was built and became an independent work, the outgrowth of years of mission effort carried on under the care or the auspices of the parent church. At present this work is under the care of the rector of Christ Church. On May 14, 1872, the Rev. Mr. Ohl, then at Zanesville, O., was again invited to become their rector, but he de- clined. The Rev. S. Denman Day, of Rockford, Ill., was called to the rec- torship in June, 1872, and after some delay, the invitation was accepted, and he began work January 16, 1873. Mr. Day's ministry at Christ Church lasted some twelve years. In the year 1882, the neat, substantial parish house and Sunday-school building was finished. It is built of native stone and cost about $3,000. The interior of this building has been much improved within the last summer.
The Rev. Henry B. Emsworth came from Chicago in the winter of 1885-'86 to succeed the Rev. Mr. Day, and after a ministry of more than eleven years, he resigned April 18, 1897. During Rev. Mr. Emsworth's rectorship, and largely through his efforts, many of the beautiful memorial windows, the memorial pulpit, altar, cross, vases, lecturn, prayer desk and chancel rail were given and placed in the church. The Rev. Mr. Emsworth died at Lis- bon, N. D., March, 1902.
The present rector, the Rev. William E. Rambo, was unanimously elected and took charge in October, 1897. Since that time the entire church property has been thoroughly repaired and improved at a cost of several thousand dollars, and the membership has been largely increased. St. John's Chapel, West Brownsville, has also been placed under the rector's care and its ex- cellent work has materially strengthened the parish life.
The parish activities are: The Women's Auxiliary, Aid Society, Sewing Guild, St. John's Guild, Daughters of the King, and the Sunday School which meets every Sunday at 9:30 a. m. The hours of church services are, Sun- days, 10:45 a. m. and 7:00 p. m .; Holy Days, 9:00 a. m .; Fridays, 7:00 p. m. At St. John's Chapel, West Brownsville, Thursday at 7:15 p. m.
The present Church wardens are: Messrs. C. L. Snowden, William B. McCormick, J. N. Snowdon, C. Bakewell, 1. R. Beasell, William C. Steele, C. W. Bowman, M. R. Jacobs, and W. B. McAlpine.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyterian church of Brownsville is one of the oldest organizations on this side of the Allegheny mountains. It came gradually into existence near the beginning of the last century. The earliest mention of Presbyterian preaching in this old historic town is found in the minutes of the Presbytery of Redstone to which it yet belongs. The record made there under date of October 15, 1811, shows that "the Rev. Boyd Mercer, of the Presbytery of Ohio, applied for permission to preach to the people of Uniontown and Brownsville." This fact is especially interesting to us because of the con- nection of one of the oldest and most esteemed families of Brownsville with
383
The Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church, Brownsville -- Rev. W. Scott Bowman, Pastor
this venerable pioncer of the Presbyterian faith in this part of the state. Rev. Boyd Mercer was the grandfather of Mr. Roland C. Rogers of Bridge- port. Thus the first seed of Presbyterianism was sown.
In the year 1813, on the 20th of April, a young man by the name of Rev. William Johnston, a licentiate under the care of the Presbytery of Ohio, made application to the Presbytery of Redstone for admission and was re- ceived on the following day. On the same day a call was placed into his hands from the congregations of Brownsville and Dunlaps Creek. "On the 20th of October of the same year he was installed pastor over the united congregations." His pastorate lasted for 25 or 26 years. When in 1839 Brownsville and Little Redstone Churches were separated from Dunlaps Creek, Rev. Mr. Johnston remained with Brownsville and Little Redstone congregations and continued to do so until his death, which occurred on De- cember 31, 1841.
The successor of Rev. Johnston was Rev. Thomas Martin who served the church until 1848. The Rev. Robert M. Wallace then became the pastor, and served until 1864. In 1864 the Rev. Joseph H. Stevenson became the pastor over the churches of Brownsville and Little Redstone. In 1866 the Presbytery granted leave to both of the churches to be organized into separate and individual congregations. When this separation took place, the pastor remained with the church of Brownsville and continued his work until April, 1868, when he resigned the charge.
384
The Presbyterian Church
Succeeding this pastorate was the work of the Rev. E. P. Lewis, who served the church as stated supply. His ministry continucd for two or three years. From 1874 to 1878 was the pastoral service of Rev. W. W. McLane. The Rev. A. S. Milholland, D. D., now pastor of the First Church of Union- town, served the congregation as stated supply from September 18,1878, until the spring of 1880. From March 9, 1881, until July, 1883, the church was under the care of Rev. A. B. Fields, who served in the capacity of stated supply by appointment of Presbytery. Then followed the ministry of Rev.
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