History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 47

Author: Smith, Robert Walter
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins
Number of Pages: 790

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The population of this township increased very slowly until about and after 1825. Its total num- ber of inhabitants in 1830, before it had been shorn of portions of its territory by the erections of other townships, was only 878. It was 1,875 in 1840. In 1850, after the curtailment of its terri- tory, it was 1,348. In 1860 it was 1,571 white and 5 colored. In 1870, it was 1,939 native and 89 for- eign. Its number of taxables, in 1876, is 395, from which its present population is estimated to be 1,867, exclusive of that of the borough of Dayton.

The present territory of Wayne was a part of Toby township from 1801 until 1806; a part of Kittanning township from then until 1809; and then a part of Plum Creek township until March 19,1821.

RELIGIOUS.

The religious interests have been fostered by the people of this township from its earliest settle- ment. The first clergyman who held religious ser- vices within its limits was Rev. Robert McGar- raugh, who was also the first Presbyterian minister who preached the gospel east of the Allegheny river in what are now Armstrong and Clarion counties .* According to the most reliable informa- tion, the first sermon ever preached within the limits of Wayne was preached by him, either in the house or in the barn of William Marshall, Sr., in 1803, while en route to the then wilderness region between the Red Bank creek and Clarion river, where he subsequently settled. He preached in this settlement twice a year for ten or twelve years after 1803, while going to or returning from his kindred in Westmoreland county and meetings of the old Redstone Presbytery, which is said to have extended from the ridge of the Allegheny mountains to the Scioto river, and from Lake Erie to the Kanawha river. The temples of worship

were the primitive log cabins of the widely-sepa- rated settlers, some of whom marked the dates of his appointments by placing pins at them in their almanacs. They loved to have the gospel preached to them in their wilderness homes .*

Glade Run Presbyterian Church was the first ecclesiastical body organized within the limits of Wayne. It germinated in the four Presbyterian families of James and William Kirkpatrick, Will- iam Marshall, Sr., and William Shields, who resided several miles apart, in 1804. From data which Rev. G. W. Mechlin, D. D., has given in his historical sketch of this church, it appears to have been organized in 1808 by simply electing James Kirkpatrick and William Marshall, Sr., ruling elders, who were ordained by Rev. Robert McGar- raugh. The original members of this church in the wilderness, now certainly known, were James and Margaret Kirkpatrick, William and Mary Marshall, William and Martha Kirkpatrick, and William and Mary Shields.

In this connection, the writer deems a brief per- sonal sketch of that pioneer minister, whose mis- sion of peace and good will and Christian charity so soon followed the savage cruelties and startling war-whoops of the aboriginal inhabitants of these hills and vales, to be in place. Rev. Robert McGarraugh was born January 9, 1771, in Bedford, afterward Westmoreland, county, Pennsylvania. His parents were Joseph and Jane MeGarraugh. He probably passed the early part of his life on his father's farm. His instructors during his academical course were Rev. James Dunlap, subse- quently the second president of Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, from April 27, 1803, until April 25, 1811, and Rev. David Smith, who resided in the "Forks of Yough." In 1793 he became a student in the Canonsburg Academy, where he completed his academical studies. He afterward pursued his theological course at Canons- burg, under the instruction of Rev. John McMil- lan, D. D. His marriage to Miss Levina Stille occurred December 10, 1795, which must have been while he was yet a student, for he was licensed to preach by the Redstone Presbytery, October 19, 1803. Very soon thereafter he visited the field of his future ministerial labors in what was then Armstrong, but which is now in Clarion, county. After preaching awhile to the families then there, he was invited to settle among them. Having accepted their invitation, he and his family, with their household goods, began, on one of the latter days of May, 1804, their journey to their new home in the wilderness, which they reached in the

* Rev. Dr. Mechlin's Sketches of Glade Run Presbyterian Church.

* Rev. Dr. Eaton's History of the Presbytery of Eric. 14

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course of seven or eight days, on the Ist of June. Wagon roads had not then been opened in this region, so they performed their journey through the forest on horseback, following Indian trails or the paths indicated by the settlers' blazes. They probably had three horses, one of which Mr. MeGarraugh rode, another bore Mrs. McGarraugh and two of the children. All the kitchen furni- ture was packed on the third, on the top of which John, the oldest son, was mounted. On their route they either forded or swam the Kiskiminetas, Crooked creek and Plum creek. They were detained a day at the Mahoning, and another at the Red Bank, where they were under the neces- sity of constructing canoes, in which they were conveyed across those streams, the horses swim- ming alongside of them. Their habitation, dur- ing the first year of their residence, near the pres- ent town of Strattanville, was a log cabin twelve or sixteen feet square, the door of which was made of chestnut-bark.

Father McGarraugh, as he was in later years called, was ordained by the Redstone Presbytery November 12, 1807, and installed as the pastor of the New Rehoboth and Licking churches, his pas- torate in which continued until April 3, 1822, after which time he preached at Callensburgh, Concord and some other places until his death, July 17, 1839, in the sixty-ninth year of his age and the thirty-sixth of his ministry. His successor, Rev. James Montgomery, says of him: "He was an humble, faithful, godly, self-denying and laborious minister of the Gospel, who labored long and well and laid deep the foundations of Presbyterianism in this region of country." Says Rev. Dr. Eaton: " He was not afraid of hardships; he did not love money; he sought not human applause. And so he was adapted to his field of labor. He pleased the people and God was with him. He was a plain, unassuming man, not of remarkable ability or blessed with the gift of eloquence, intent on this one thing-to stand in his lot and do his duty. And thus he lived, and to-day his memory is fragrant, whilst that of more highly gifted men is a byword. Today his record is higher than the stars, for it is written in God's great book of re- membrance." Says the writer of a historical sketch of Clarion county: "Rev. Robert McGar- raugh is represented to have been a good, God- fearing man, well educated, able in prayer, slow of speech, often taking two or three hours to deliver his sermon. So earnest was he at times that great tears would roll from his eyes to the floor. It was said that his tears were more eloquent than his voice," Says Rev. Dr. Mechlin: "I well remem-

ber, though but a boy, of seeing him once at a meeting of the Presbytery of Allegheny at Con- cord church, now in the Presbytery of Butler, the church of my childhood, and it will require many years yet to erase the impression his revered coun- tenance, his gray hairs, and his athletic-almost gigantic-form made on my youthful mind." He had three sons and four daughters. Mrs. Henry Black, one of the latter, and John McGarraugh, one of the former, are still living. Robert W. McGarraugh, a son of the latter, served in the Union army in the war of 1861 three and a balf years, having been confined eleven months at Andersonville, where he died.

The early records of this, like many other churches, were not kept in a book. All that are now known to be extant were kept on loose pieces of paper, which were preserved by the late George McCombs. They contain the minutes of the ses- sion from September 15, 1821, until October 24, 1836. It is not known how many, if any, members were admitted between 1804 and 1821. The ad- missions, September 15, in the last-mentioned year, were twenty-one on examination and seven on letters. It is not apparent whether any Pres- byterian clergyman preached here even occasion- ally between the time when Father McGarraugh ceased to travel this route and the advent of Rev. James Galbreath, who preached here a few times prior to 1820, when Rev. David Barclay com- menced preaching as a stated supply and continued about five years, during which period a considera- ble number were admitted. Joseph Diven and George McComb were ordained elders by Mr. Bar- clay in 1820," and John Marshall, Benjamin Irwin and William Kirkpatrick, July 24, 1825.}

The pastorate of Rev. Elisha D. Barrett, M. D., commenced December 9, 1828, and continued until November 29, 1840, during which period John Calhoun, James Wilson, William Gaghagan, Rob- ert Caldwell and Robert Wilson were ordained and installed ruling elders, and fifty-nine mem- bers were admitted on examination. Dr. Barrett was among the first advocates of the temperance cause and of Sabbath-schools and other great. moral and temporal interests of society in this region.

The pastorate of Rev. James D. Mason began June 16, 1843, and ended March 19, 1848, during which thirty-two members were admitted on exam- ination, and Wm. M. Findlay, John Henderson and Thomas Travis were elected, ordained and installed ruling elders. An elder remarked many

* Letter of Joseph Diven to Rev. G. W. Mechlin. + Sessional records.

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WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

years after Mr. Mason's departure : "It was a weeping time when he left."

The pastorate of Rev. Cochran Forbes com- menced about July 1, 1849, and continued until May, 1856, during which sixty-eight members were admitted on examination, and Benjamin Irwin, John C. McComb and John Wadding were elected, ordained and installed ruling elders.

The present pastorate of Rev. G. W. Mechlin, D. D., commenced February 20, 1857, during which there have been 281 members admitted on exami- nation and 131 on certificate, and James R. Mar- shall, Joseph M. McGuaghey, Harkley K. Mar- shall, Wm. C. Guthrie, Samuel S. Caldwell and Archibald Findlay were chosen ruling elders.

The numbers of members admitted on certifi- cates during the pastorates prior to the present one are not given, because, as Dr. Mechlin says, the roll of such is confused.

All the church edifices were erected on the same site, near the northern-angle of the triangle formed by three public roads, on the Pickering & Co. tract, covered by warrant No. 262. The first one was 30 × 30 feet, with walls of hewn logs, shingle roof and board floor. It was probably erected in 1821, as the subscription paper recently found among the papers of the late Benjamin Irwin shows that the "implements," as the materials are styled, were to be delivered to the building com- mittee by the first day of May of that year. One subscriber agreed to furnish five logs, another the same, another five pairs of rafters, two others "one summer," and so on until ample provision was made for the walls, roof and floor. Another paper contains the names of more than forty sub- scribers, who promised to pay, respectively, sums of money varying from $1 to less than twenty-five cents "for purchasing glass and nails and fixing the windows of the meeting-house." That edifice was followed by another in 1831, frame, 44 × 54 feet, which gave place in 1857 to another, 48 × 60 feet, which in 1871 was enlarged to its present di- mensions of 48 × 76 feet, all of which were from time to time required by the healthy increase of the congregation.

Many of the members of this church were some- what agitated by the proposal, made in 1825, to change the psalmody from Rouse's version to Watts' hymns. The latter were gradually intro- duced after close scrutiny, without which the scru- ples which some entertained respecting the heter- odoxy which they feared might lurk in those hymns were not removed. In at least one family Watts' hymnbook was for some time kept in a place of concealment, from which it was brought

out for examination after the children were put to bed and were supposed to be too sound asleep to hear the comments and discussions of their scrupu- lous parents concerning its merits or demerits. After a satisfactory examination they "could see nothing wrong in them," that is, in these hymns. So in due time that much-abused book was placed in broad daylight beside the Psalm-book. It is re- lated that Rev. Mr. Barclay gave great offense to some of his congregation when with his strong, ringing voice he read the first hymn given out in this church, containing these lines :

" Let them refuse to sing Who never knew their God."

In the course of time all fears of and prejudices against hymns vanished, for the present Presby- terian hymnal, having been adopted soon after its publication, "gives general satisfaction." The choir was organized in 1863, of which Archibald Findlay was appointed the leader, and it has ever since been composed of a goodly number of ladies and gentlemen of musical talent and culture.

The Sabbath-school connected with this church was established probably in August or September, 1826, and was organized at a schoolhouse near Abel Findlay's residence, which was then on the Hiltzimer tract, covered by warrant No. 5147. The officers on the first day were Joseph Reed, presi- dent, and John Calhoun and Abel Findlay, assist- ants. A list of questions in the handwriting of the last-named, on the 10th and 11th chapters of Matthew, closely written in double columns, filling a large sheet of cap paper, is still extant. In dis- crimination and point of adaptation to bring out the meaning of the text they are not excelled by those sanctioned by some of the publishing houses of the church. This, like other schools in the township, was soon thereafter merged in the one at the church. It has ever since been a beneficent and flourishing school. Among its devoted superin- tendents and teachers the name of William Kirk- patrick most frequently occurs.

In this centennial year the number of church members is 240, and of Sabbath-school scholars, 202.

This is not only the first church organized east of the Allegheny river, within the limits of this county, but it has been a parent church, from which emanated large portions of the original members of the Concord, Millville, Rural Village and Sinicksburgh churches, and a nucleus of the United Presbyterian church at Dayton. Its char- ter of incorporation was granted by the court of common pleas of this county September 7, 1857. Dr. J. R. Crouch, Jacob B. Guyer and John Mar-

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shall were appointed its trustees to serve until the first election .*

St. Michael's Protestant Episcopal church ap- pears to have the next one established in this township. It was organized by Rev. B. B. Killi- kelly January 7, 1836, who was its rector for sev- eral years. His report to the convention of that year shows that the congregation or parish then consisted of sixteen families, containing ninety-one persons; that six children had been baptized, eight persons confirmed and ten communicants added. The services were held in a private house, small and inconvenient. A portion of the members had previously belonged to St. Paul's at Kittanning. The next year the number of families was twenty- three; containing one hundred and thirty-four per- sons; fifteen communicants were added; there were eight baptisms; and $12.50 were collected for missionary purposes. A church edifice being much needed, the rector visited New York and the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for the purpose of soliciting aid for erecting one in this and another parish.

For this one he obtained $243.13, which he paid over to James McElhinny and George Stockdill, the wardens. A frame edifice of adequate dimen- sions was soon erected and was occupied before its completion. It is located on one of the above- mentioned Meason & Cross tracts in the southern part of the township, or it may be on both of them, for on April 2, 1861, Anthony Gallagher conveyed eighty-three and a half perches of the one called " White Oak Bottom," and A. Brice and William McElhinny the same quantity of the one called " Walnut Bottom," to William Borland, William Cook, William Gallagher, Andrew Stewart and James Stewart, and others, vestrymen. The rec- tors who succeeded Rev. B. B. Killikelly, D. D., were Rev. William Hilton and Rev. D. C. James. It is incorporated. Its charter was granted by the proper court June 6, 1866. The report to the con- vention for 1876 presents these facts: Rev. William Hilton, rector; James Stewart and Michael Camp- bell, wardens; families, 25; persons not thus in- cluded, 8; communicants admitted, 5; died, 1; present number, 54; baptized, infants, 8; confirmed, 7; public services, Sundays, 23; sittings in church, free; value of church and lot, $2,000; parsonage, $700; rector's salary, $355; parochial offerings, $405; diocesan offerings, $35.25. The rector further- more remarks that, although the parish is not so flourishing as he would like to see it, is neverthe- less in a very encouraging condition, the attend-

ance being good. A Sunday-school has again been established with very encouraging prospects.

The late Rev. Joseph Painter, D. D., commenced preaching in this township late in the fall of 1840, or early in the winter of 1841. By order of pres- bytery he and John Calhoun, who had previously emigrated from the eastern to the northwestern part of the township, organized the Concord Pres- byterian church at the house of Joseph Clever. Of that house Dr. Painter remarked : "It was a log cabin with one room. In it was a family of chil- dren and all the people that assembled at that time, and yet there was room for more, but the people were united and had a mind to work." One of the elders wrote to Rev. T. D. Ewing : "Doctor Painter usually rode out," (from Kittanning) " on Saturday, and returned on Monday, stopping with the people by turns, and although cooking, eating and sleep- ing were all done in the same apartment by most of them, yet his coming was hailed with pleasure by both old and young." He statedly supplied this church, which had thus arisen in that then newly settled region, until March 31, 1853, during which period eighty-six communicants were admitted. He then left it because more time and labor were required than he could give. It then became a part of the charge of Rev. Cochran Forbes until the fore part of May, 1856. From 1857 to 1866 it belonged to the charge of Rev. G. W. Mechlin, D. D. From 1867 until 1872 it was under the pas- torate, for half time, of Rev. H. Magill, and since then it has been under that of Rev. F. E. Thomp- son. Its present number of members is 173, and of Sabbath-school scholars, 130.

The first edifice of Concord church was erected in 1842 on land purchased from Robert Clever, being a part of the John Nicholson tract, covered by warrant No. 4574. It was a frame structure of adequate capacity for the accommodation of the congregation at the time of its erection. Archi- bald Glenn was the builder, and the committee which made the contract with him consisted of John Steele, David Buchanan, Joseph Clever and Noah A. Calhoun, Jr.

The Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in 1832 by Rev. Gabriel A. Reichert. Peter Kamardinier was the first elder, and Christo- pher Rupp and Abraham Zimmerman were the first trustees. After Mr. Reichert left, its pulpit was filled by several different pastors. For some years past this church has been under the charge of Rev. Michael Swigert. It adheres to the General Coun- cil. The present number of members is 72; Sab- bath-school scholars, 50. The first church edifice was a log one about 30×25 feet. The present is

* For a more detailed history of this pioneer church the reader is referred to Dr. Mechlin's historical sketch of it.

Hough M. Candless

PROF. HUGH MCCANDLESS.

The subject of this sketch, well known in his later years and at the time of his death as the principal of the Dayton Soldiers' Or- phans' School, was born in Apollo, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1835, He was the son of Jared and Elizabeth (Ford) McCandless, the former from Washington county and the latter from the vicinity of Gettysburg. When their son, of whom we write, was quite small, his parents moved into the country, a distance of five or six miles from Apollo, where they remained until he was abont fif- teen years of age. They then removed to South Bend township, where they passed the remainder of their days, hoth dying at a good old age in the year 1882. The subject of our sketch spent most of his youth at home, working upon his father's farm and gaining the rudi- ments of an education in the schools of the neighborhood. He was absent for a short time, attending school at Saltsburg. and he taught for a brief period at the early age of eighteen. When abont twenty, upon Jannary 4, 1855, he married Miss Mary A. France, who was born in Sonth Bend township February 17, 1831. Her parents were John and Mary (Klingensmith) France, both natives of Westmoreland county and the children of pioneers. Hugh McCandless and wife, immediately after their marriage, moved to Apollo. Mr. McCandless had contemplated running a boat upon the Pennsylvania canal, but finding that the usefulness of that old-time artery of commerce was very quickly to be superseded by the railroad, he abandoned his intention, and after a few months the young couple returned to South Bend township, where Mr. McCandless followed farming dur- ing the summer and taught school in the winter. After making a number of changes in location and ocenpation, he went to Missouri, in December, 18,9, whither his wife subsequently made preparations to follow. But while she was getting ready for the removal her chil- dren were taken sick and one of them died, This unhappy event brought the husband and father home. He subsequently went to Illinois and spent the summer on a farm near Galesburg, but returned home in 1860, and taught school during the winter following. The next summer he attended the Elder's Ridge Academy, for he was possessed of a strong desire to make educational progress. In 1863 he moved to his father's farm. In September, 1864, he quit school- teaching, in which he had again engaged, and enlisted as a corporal in Co. L, 6th Pa. Heavy Artillery, from which he was honorahly dis- charged at Fort Ethan Allen, Virginia, in June, 1865. After the close of the war he went to Pithole and Tidioute, where he was engaged in oil operations, and in the following year he interested himself in

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Moms. Many A. Mo Candles

the cattle business, but he soon returned to his favorite vocation, school-teaching, locating at Manorville, where his family moved the next spring. After teaching there three years he removed to Free- port, where he was elected principal of the graded schools. During the summer he carried on a very successful select school. Upon the 1st of April, 1871, he was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of Mr. Samuel Murphy as connty superintendent. This would have occupied his attention until June, 1872, but in Jannary of that year he was called to take charge, as principal, of the Dayton Soldiers' Orphans' School, and, accepting the position, vacated the county office, Mr. A. D. Glenn filling out his term. He took charge of the Orphans' School at a time when hard work was most emphatically demanded, and devoted himself assiduously to the task of bringing about perfect order and elevating the tone and condition of the iustitution. In this he was signally successful, but it was at a very dear cost. He was greatly interested in his work, and most con- scientiously and energetically labored to advance the school, with the result of obtaining for it a rank second to none in the state. Under the pressure of work, responsibility and anxiety, his strength gave way, and in 1876 he found himself the victim of a disease which slowly bore him down to the grave, He died January 16, 1882, lamented and respected by all wbo knew him. He was a man of true worth and of the most unswerving devotion to dnty His chief ambition in his early life was to obtain an education, and this landable desire was gratified through his patient and persistent application, and in spite of many obstacles and disadvantages. In his later years he songht to supply to his children the opportunities for edneation which had been missing in his own youth. Prof. McCandless was a consistent member of the Baptist church (as was also his wife), and he was a member in good standing of the Masonic fraternity.

During the years when Prof. McCandless was, to a greater or less degree, a sufferer from the malady which finally proved fatal, his eldest daughter, Miss Elizabeth (now Mrs. A. T. Ambrose), was his faithful assistant, and greatly lightened his labors. Upon his death she was appointed principal - a position which she still holds, and ably and satisfactorily fills, while Mrs. McCandless remains at the institution as matron. The other children of Prof. and Mrs. McCand- less are Ada, Susannah, Bertha and Augusta. The two first named are teachers and the two last named are pupils in the school. MIr. Ambrose has charge of the boys' department of the school, and superintends the farming and gardening.

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History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Part 47

Author: Smith, Robert Walter Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins Number of Pages: 790

Author: Smith, Robert Walter
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Waterman, Watkins
Number of Pages: 790