History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 69

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 69

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DOE RUN.

About the year 1740, John Filson, William Hanna, Francis Boggs, James Blelock, and others, residing in East Fallowfield township and vicinity, erected a house of wor- ship on the Strasburg road, in that township, and were organized into a congregation under the name of the " Doe Run Presbyterian Church." The building, which was of logs, stood within the grounds of the graveyard as at present inclosed. This was about the time of the division of tbe Presbyterian Church into " Old Side" and " New Side," and this organization belonged to the latter body. They had supplies from the New Side Presbytery of New Castle until about the year 1747, when the Rev. Andrew Sterling became their pastor, in connection with the Second Congregation of Upper Octorara, and continued in that re- lation about eighteen years, when he resigned. He died in August, 1765, shortly after his resignation. About the year 1743 the celebrated George Whitefield, in the course of his visitations in this county, preached at Doe Run, and also at the New Side Church of Upper Octorara, and at Fagg's Manor.

In 1768, Rev. William Foster became pastor of the church, in connection with that of Upper Octorara, giving Doe Run one-fourth of his time. In 1771 their second church edifice was erected. It stood between the present church and the graveyard, and was of hewn logs.

In 1785, Rev. Alexander Mitchel became pastor, and divided his time between this church and Upper Octorara, a's Mr. Foster had done. His pastoral relation with the latter church was dissolved in 1796, but he continued to take charge of Doe Run until 1809, when the infirmities of age prevented further service.

The church then had supplies until Sept. 29, 1813, when Rev. Samuel Henderson became pastor, and served until Aug. 9, 1814. Rev. Elkanah Kelsey Darc succeeded, and served from May 13, 1817, until his death, Aug. 26, 1826, giving half his time, the other half being devoted to Union Church, in Lancaster County .. The present house, which is of stone, was erected in 1821.

The succeeding pastors have been Rev. Alexander G. Morrison, from April 24, 1828, to Oct. 6, 1857, part of the time in connection with Union Church, Lancaster County, and part with Coatesville; Rev. John Wynne Martin, D.D., from April 13, 1858, to Oct. 19, 1860 ; Rev. John P. Clarke, from June, 1865, to April, 1868; Rev. Thomas Thompson, M.D., from April 26, 1872, to June 22, 1876, and Rev. Robert E. Flickinger since June 5, 1879.

UNIONVILLE.

The Unionville Presbyterian Church was organized about 1829, and a church building erected, which has since then been used for public worship. The congregation is small, and at present without a pastor.

DOE RUN VALLEY.

The Doe Run Valley Presbyterian Church was incor- porated Oct. 22, 1849, and a church building erected in

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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

the village of Doe Run, which is used for public worship in connection with the Doe Run Church.

BRANDYWINE MANOR.

This church, ecclesiastically known as Forks of Bran- dywine, but called in common parlance Brandywine Manor, constituted in early times a part of what is now Upper Octorara. It was originally under the care of Rev. Adam Boyd, but was organized as a separate congregation in 1735, at which time a house of worship had been erected.

The first pastor of the separate congregation was Rev. Samuel Black, who was installed Nov. 10, 1736, and was pastor until May, 1741. In the latter year occurred the schism in the Presbyterian Church which divided it into " Old Side" and " New Side," and this church became divided, and a second house of worship was erected by those of the "New Side." Rev. Adam Boyd ministered to those of the " Old Side" from the separation until the settlement of Rev. William Dean, which was about 1743. Mr. Dean died July 9, 1748.

The churches were reunited in 1760, and called Rev. John Carmichael to be their pastor. He was installed April 21, 1761, and in the same year a new house of wor- ship was erected. He was pastor until his death, Nov. 15, 1785. He was an eloquent man in his day, of ardent feelings, and what he did he did with his might.

The patent for the church property from the proprieta- ries was made to Matthew Robinson and John Smith the younger, May 6, 1786, and they on the 18th of the same month conveyed it to Rev. John Carmichael, John Cul- bertson, James Moore, William Denny, Samuel Mckinley, and Francis Gardner, "in trust for a site for a house of public worship, and for a burying-place for the congregation of people called Presbyterians," etc. The church was incor- porated Sept. 1, 1786. The first trustees under the char- ter were Samuel Culbertson, John Culbertson, Nathaniel Porter, Robert Smith, David Denny, Robert Lockhart, James Dunwoody, James McClure, and William Ander- son.

The successor of Mr. Carmichael was Rev. Nathan Grier, who was pastor from Ang. 22, 1787, until his death, March 30, 1814. . (See biographical sketches of Mr. Car- michael and Mr. Grier, in this volume.) He was succeeded by his son, Rev. John Nathan Caldwell Grier, who was pastor from Nov. 24, 1814, until April 14, 1869,-nearly fifty-five years,-when, by reason of his age and infirmities, he resigned. The pastorates of father and son together extended over a period of eighty-two years.

The church building erected in 1761 was accidentally burned, and was rebuilt in 1786, and roofed anew in 1827. In 1839 the house, with the exception of the walls and roof, was rebuilt and remodeled.

The church during this period gave of her strength to new churches of like faith and order, and Honeybrook, Coatesville, Fairview, and Downingtown were originally largely composed of members who went out from her fold. In 1835, after an extensive revival of religion, the number of members was nearly 700.

Dr. J. N. C. Grier graduated at Dickinson College, Sept.

27, 1809. In college he had as a classmate James Bu- chanan, afterwards President of the United States. He was a man of great force of character, and this gave him a very strong influence in the community, and secured him a prominent and leading position among his brethren. In 1837, when the temperance reformation commenced its on- ward movement, Dr. Grier espoused the cause, and brought to its advocacy in his neighborhood all the courage, posi- tiveness, and determination of his character, and naturally lost for himself and congregation the support and friend- ship of many who conscientiously held different opinions.

The pastors succeeding Rev. J. N. C. Grier have been Rev. William W. Heberton, from Oct. 28, 1869, to April 8, 1873, and the present pastor, Rev. John McColl, who was installed July 24, 1873, but who had occupied the pulpit from May 11th of that year. In 1875 the old church building was torn down, and in that and the suc- ceeding year a new one was erected, which is the finest and most complete and convenient church edifice of the Presbyterian Church in the county. It is Gothic in all its details, and has eight memorial windows. It was dedicated Dec. 14, 1876. The building committee were William Templeton, John Ralston, and Baxter B. McClure. The location of Brandywine Manor is on very high ground, and commands a view of the country for many miles around. The graveyard, which had become well filled, has been during the present year (1881) considerably enlarged.

A full and complete history of this church has been written by Mr. James McCluce, which it is proposed shortly to publish, and to which the reader is referred for fuller information.

OXFORD.

The early dwellers at Oxford seem for a time to have worshiped in the churches of Elk River, New London, Not- tingham, Fagg's Manor, or Upper Octorara, but as early as 1725 or 1730 they erected a house of worship for them- selves on ground taken up for that purpose and still held by the congregation.

In 1753 the church was organized, in connection with the Associate Presbyterian Synod of Edinburgh, and was one of the first churches of that branch of Presbyterians in the colonies. For a proper understanding of this history, it is necessary at this point to look backward for a little and glance at the causes which led to the introduction of a new denomination into the colonies, and the organization of this church in connection with that denomination. In the year 1733, Ebenezer Erskine, Alexander Moncrieff, William Wil- son, and James Fisher protested against certain acts of the General Assembly of Scotland, seceded from that body, and formed, with their adherents, the Associate Presbytery of Edinburgh. Their opinions gained favor with the people both in Scotland and Ireland, so that in a short time one Presbytery was " too strait" for them, and they fornied the Associate Synod of Edinburgh. In this country there were some in full sympathy with this movement, and in 1750 a petition signed by a " respectable number from the Province of Pennsylvania," asking for the " dispensation of the gospel ordinances among them," was sent to the Synod of Edinburgh. In answer to this petition, the Synod, in 1753, sent two ministers,-Rev. Alexander Gellatley and

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Rev. Andrew Arnot. The latter liad a pastoral charge in Midholm, Scotland, and returned thither after two years. Mr. Gellatley remained in this country. These two mis- sionaries proceeded without delay to the people who had called for their aid. According to the authority committed to them, they constituted themselves a Presbytery, under the title of the " Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania," subordinate to the Associate Synod of Edinburgh. The principal settlements of the adherents to this body were found at Octorara and Oxford. From the two churches which were organized there Mr. Gellatley received a call to become their pastor. He accepted, and made these points the centre of his labors for about five years. He then resigned the charge of the Oxford Church, and re- mained at Octorara till the time of his death. He died in 1761, at Octorara, and was buried there in the churchyard (now Middle Octorara Church, United Presbyterians).

The second house of worship at Oxford was probably erected during the pastorate of Mr. Gellatley; it was built of hewn logs. We have no means of knowing the growth or strength of the congregation during Mr. Gellatley's ministry, but may infer that they increased in number and financial ability from the fact that at the end of five years they were able, in connection with Pencador, Del., to assume the support of a pastor. In 1760 the following persons constituted the session of the church : Samnel Jackson, John Hawthorne, John Fulton, William Ramsey, James Wherry, and William Ross.

Rev. Matthew Henderson, the next pastor, came from Scotland in 1758. He settled at Oxford, preached also at Pencador, and did missionary work at other points within the compass of his ability. He remained in this field till the summer of 1775, when he removed to the western part of the State.

After the resignation of Mr. Henderson the congrega- tion was supplied by Rev. John Smith. There was no regular pastor till 1796, when Rev. Ebenezer Dickey was ordained and installed in that office. Previous to this event a union between the Associate Presbytery of Penn- sylvania and the Reformed Presbytery (composed of Pres- byterians usually styled Covenanters) was proposed, and in 1782 was finally consummated. By this union the Oxford Church became a component part of the Associate Re- formed Church, and remained in that connection for forty years. In consequence of this change several members withdrew from the church fellowship, and this agitation, to- gether with that which pertained to the whole country after the events of the Revolutionary war, brought a time of trial and depression to the congregation. Of the particular obstacles to progress and the efforts to contend against them we know little definitely, as the church records from June, 1775, to May, 1839, are lost. Dr. Ebenezer Dickey's pastorate extended over a period of thirty-five years. He was an active and efficient pastor, an instructive preacher, and a wise and good man. The church evidently grew and prospered under his care. The third house of worship built by the congregation was finished during the early part of his ministry. In 1811 there were 72 families in the congregation. The descendants of these compose a large part of the present congregation, nearly all of the

old names having some representatives. During Dr. Dickey's pastorate a union was ratified between part of the Associate Reformed Synod and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and the pastor and congrega- tion of Oxford were brought under the care of the General Assembly. This ecclesiastical connection remains until the present time. A minority, however, withdrew, and formed themselves into what is now the United Presbyterian Church of Oxford.

Dr. Dickey was succeeded by his son, Rev. John Miller Dickey, who entered the pastorate in May, 1832, and remained in it till 1856. It is worthy of note that this church was ministered to by these two men, father and son, for nearly sixty years. The son was beloved of the people, and seemed to be one of the prophets who had honor in his own country. He was a man of carnest piety, intense philanthropy, and lovely Christian spirit; he gained a strong hold upon the affections of the people, and received great love and esteem as long as he lived. Shortly after he became pastor the fourth church building was erected. It was of brick, more commodious, and with better ap- pointments than the former ones. The ruling elders at the time of Mr. Dickey's installation were John Dickey, Samuel Dickey, John Hudders, James Ramsey, Arthur Andrews, James Wilson, Esq., and Robert Murdagh. In 1839, Samuel J. Dickey, Samuel Ross, Joseph Wiley, and Ebenezer J. Dickey were added to the board of elders.

During Dr. John Miller Dickey's pastorate, extending through a period of 24 years, there were added to the church 410 persons. After his resignation he made his home, for the most part, among the people of his former charge. His death occurred in 1878.

After Dr. Dickey's resignation the congregation was supplied for a short time by Rev. James D. Reardon. In September, 1856, a call was extended to Rev. Caspar W. Hodge ; he accepted, was duly installed, and remained till the summer of 1860, when he accepted a professor's chair in Princeton Theological Seminary. From November, 1860, until the summer of 1862, Rev. William R. Bing- ham served as pastor. Rev. F. B. Hodge was ordained and installed pastor in the spring of 1863. He remained till the fall of 1868, when he resigned to take charge of the church in Wilkesbarre. During his pastorate 175 persons were received into the church. In this period a new church was erected upon the site of the old one. The sum of $35,000 was expended upon this building. The labors of James R. Ramsey, who was treasurer of the board of trustees and an active member of the building committee, are worthy of special notice.

In January, 1870, a little more than a year after the removal of Mr. Hodge, the congregation extended a call to Rev. Orr Lawson, then of Sunbury, Pa. This call was accepted, and his labors began in March of the same year. During the next ycar a fine bell was purchased and placed in the belfry, and after a little time material improvements were made in the basement of the church. The debt resting upon the church was then, by earnest and persistent effort, lifted. In 1871 the following ruling elders were elected and ordained : Alexander McCormick, James R. Crosby, John F. Dickey, and De Witt C. Carhart ..

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TURBINE WINDMILL

"PROSPECT-PLACE." RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH PYLE, WEST GROVE.

17.

RESIDENCE OF CHARLES E. PENNOCK, COATESVILLE.

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PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

During Mr. Lawson's ministry 365 persons have been received into the church. The present membership is about 450. This number represents a large proportion of the population, and naturally gives to the church a con- trolling influence in the community. Having the advan- tage and the prestige of an old and established church, this one has had much to do with moulding the opinions and habits of the community.

NOTTINGHAM.

The Nottingham Presbyterian Church (formerly Upper West Nottingham) dates from 1802. It was composed of members of Lower West Nottingham Church, in Cecil Co., Md., residing in Chester County, who, on the change of location of that church, about 1800, rendering their at- tendance there inconvenient, withdrew and organized the "Upper West Nottingham" Church. A church building was erected in 1802, which was enlarged in 1810.

Dr. Samuel Magraw, pastor of Lower West Nottingham, was also pastor of this church until 1821. It was then supplied until 1826, when it was connected with the church in Oxford under one pastoral charge, and so continued until the close of Mr. Bingham's pastorate. (Sce Oxford Church.)

It then became a separate charge, and has had as regular pastors Rev. William F. P. Noble, from November, 1862, to July, 1863 ; Rev. Robert Gamble, from November, 1864, to April, 1867, part of the time as a supply ; and Rev. S. M. Pierce, from November, 1867, to November, 1868. From then to Dec. 3, 1872, they had supplies. At the latter date the present pastor, Rev. Lindley C. Rutter, Jr., was installed.

In 1878-79 a new church building was erected at Not- tingham Station, and the old one is about to be torn down and the ground included in a cemetery. The name of the church has recently been changed to " Nottingham."

OXFORD UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

In the sketch of the Oxford Presbyterian Church it is stated that that church, which was formerly in connection with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, came, with its pastor, Rev. Ebenezer Dickey, into the Presbyterian Church on the union of the Associate Reformed with the Presbyterian body, in the year 1822. Some of the mem- bers of the Oxford Church, however, refused to acquiesce in the union, and organized a new Associate Reformed church, to which the name of " East Nottingham" was given. This church, in connection with Octorara Church, in Lancaster County, of the same faith and order, called Rev. William Easton to be their pastor, and he was installed June 7, 1827. The East Nottingham congregation erected a small brick church between Oxford and New London, where the congregation worshipcd until Dec. 14, 1851, when a new building was erected in the borough of Oxford, -that being deemed a better location,-part of the materials of the old being used in its construction. On April 4, 1862, the house in Oxford was ready for occupancy, and has since then been used by the congregation. Mr. Easton continued in the pastorate until May 1, 1854, when he resigned. On the removal of the church its name was changed to Oxford. It is now, since the union between

the Associate Reformed and Reformed Presbyterian Churches into a body called the United Presbyterian Church, a member of that body.

Since Mr. Easton the successive pastors of the church have been Revs. James H. Andrew, from Feb. 20, 1855 ; E. T. Jeffers, from July 2, 1865 ; George A. B. Robinson, from April 20, 1873; and Robert T. Wiley, from May 6, 1877. The church is now (1881) vacant.

WEST CHESTER.

The First Presbyterian Church of West Chester was organized Jan. 11, 1834. Measures looking to that result were commenced in April, 1831, when the Presbytery sent Rev. William A. Stevens to cultivate the field. From the year 1790 there had been preaching from time to time by ministers of that faith, but there was no regular organiza- tion. Mr. Stevens entered upon his labors, a congregation was gathered, and a house of worship erected on the corner of Miner and Darlington streets, the corner-stone of which was laid on July 3, 1832, and which was formally opened for public worship in January, 1834.

Mr. Stevens became the first pastor, but died Oet. 3, 1834. He possessed talents of a high order, and was very popular. His life was blameless, courageous, and devoted to his high calling, and his death was a great blow to the iofant church.

The next pastor was Rev. James J. Graff, who was installed April 29, 1836. On the division of the Presby- terian Church at large into the "Old School" and " New School" bodies, this church became connected with the latter, and so continued until the reunion in 1870. Mr. Graff resigned in April, 1840.

The succeeding pastors have been Rev. John Crowell, from June 5, 1840, to July 17, 1850; Rev. William E. Moore, from Oct. 30, 1850, to April 9, 1872; and Rev. Benjamin T. Jomes, from Jan. 15, 1873, to the present time.

In 1860-61 the church building was enlarged by the addition of 25 feet, giving 40 additional pews, and at the same time the whole was painted, frescoed, and refur- nished. In 1871 the church was further improved and granite steps laid in front ; and in 1874 the position of the pulpit was changed, the columns which stood on either side of it taken out, the organ placed behind it, stained glass put in the windows, and the entire church re-pewed.

July 23, 1876, the church celebrated its forty third anniversary, on which occasion Rev. William E. Moore, a former pastor, then of Columbus, Ohio, read an elaborate and interesting history of the church.

The church has outposts at Goshenville, in East Goshen township, and Harmony Hill, in East Bradford township, at both of which places neat and commodious houses of worship have been erected.

The membership is now 455, ranking second of the Presbyterian Churches of the county, Oxford being the largest and l'agg's Manor the third.

DILWORTHTOWN.

This church was gathered through the efforts of the Presbyterian Church in West Chester. A church building was crected in 1877, and a church organized in April, 1878.

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Rev. Hector Alexander McLean was pastor from Sept. 9, 1878, to Feb. 24, 1881, and Rev. Joel S. Gilfillan, his suc- cessor, was chosen in April, 1881.

COATESVILLE.

In the spring of 1831 an effort was made to erect a house of worship in the village of Coatesville. The school-house, in which all denominations were accustomed to hold re- ligious services, had become too small for the accommoda- tion of the congregations that usually met for public wor- ship, and no one sect felt itself strong enough to undertake the erection of a suitable building exclusively for religious purposes. A public meeting of the citizens of Coatesville and vicinity who felt an interest in the enterprise was held in the school-house, which then occupied the ground on which the Baptist church now stands, and it was agreed that a united effort be made to secure a lot, and to erect thereon such a building as would meet the wants of the people for public religious services. Ezekiel Rambo, Joseph Miller, George P. Laner, Solomon Lukens, and Joseph Gardner were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions for the purpose above named. According to the terms of sub- scription, the building to be erected was to be used in com- mon by preachers in good standing belonging to the Pres- byterian, Baptist, Friends, Episcopal, and Methodist de- nominations. The ground on which the Presbyterian church now stands was secured, and the first building erected upon it was finished in the spring of 1832. The property was deeded to Thomas H. Gardner, Jesse Coates, M.D., and Benjamin I. Miller, for the use and benefit of the subscribers.

The subscribers, according to public notice, met on May 12, 1832, and adopted a constitution of twelve articles, which speak well for their religious sentiments and ortho- doxy. The " meeting-house," as it was called, was not to be used by every one calling himself a minister, for Article VIII. of the constitution says,-

"No stranger shall be allowed the use of the meeting-honse nn- less one or more of the trustees shall have good testimony that he is an authorized minister in good standing, belonging to one of the above-named Christian denominations."

A number of the subscribers believed in a free gospel, and in their constitution ample provision was made for carry- ing out practically their belief, as Article IX. says,-

"No minister shall receive u stated salary for preaching in this meeting-house, nor shall any collections be taken up in it for any purpose, except to defray the incidental expenses pertaining to the honse."

At a meeting of the subscribers, held Sept. 23, 1838, the above clause was stricken from the constitution by a majority of more than two-thirds.

The subscribers found their plan of a union meeting- house to be impracticable, and concluded to dispose of the property. An act of Assembly was passed June 23, 1842, authorizing the trustees to sell it to the Presbyterians, pro- vided they repaid, within one year from the passage of the act, such of the original subscriptions as should be called for within six months. This was done, and on Sept. 20, 1843, the property was conveyed to the Presbyterian Church of Coatesville.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 69

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162