USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 27
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Of the pioneer newspaper men, nearly all have passed away. Brady, Wise, McElhose, exchanging the peaceful life of journalism for the battle-field, gave their lives for their country. A few of the younger men, Loflin, Horn, and W. F. Brady, too have laid down the "stick " and the pen.
The oldest newspaper men who remain are Captain John Hastings, B. T. Hastings, and John Scott. The latter is the oldest printer in the county, having learned " his trade" in the office of the Blairsville Record, published by Thomas McFarland, in 1828. He afterwards, in 1831 and 1832, worked on the Allegheny Democrat, published by Leonard S. Johns, at Pittsburgh, and in 1833 was engaged with John Canan, in the publication of the Ebensburg Sky, under the firm name of Canan & Scott. In 1835 he commenced the publication of the Canal and Portage Register, at Hollisdaysburg (this paper is still published as the Holidaysburg Register). In 1837 he disposed of the Register, and returned to Ebensburg, where he established the Democratic
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Journal. When he had completed the publication of the "New (State) Con- stitution " he sold out to Robert L. Johnston, in February, 1839, and in May, 1841, removed to Perry (now Oliver) township, and in 1855 he commenced work on the Jefferson Star, and in April, 1856, was associated with Samuel McElhose in the publication of that paper, removing to Brookville in May, 1857.
CHAPTER XX.
THE CHURCHES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
The Presbyterian Church First Gains a Foot-hold in the County-The Old Bethel Church- The Pioneer Preachers-The Different Congregations-The Membership, Statistics, and Inci- dents-The Associate Reformed Church -The Early Pastors and People-The United Pres- byterian Church - The Organizations at Brookville and Jefferson-The Churches at Beaver Run and the Beech Woods-The Cumberland Presbyterian Church-Jefferson Congregation- The Other Organizations-Church Edifices and Membership.
T HE early introduction of the gospel into this county was given in a former chapter, and as it was written before these sketches of the different church organizations were furnished the writer, there may be some repetition of some of the earliest history of these denominations.
To show the rapid advancement in this respect in the number of churches, church membership, and amount of church property, we give the church statistics, as published in the census reports for 1850 and 1870:
1850.
No. of Churches.
Aggregate Accommodations. Church Property.
Baptist. 2 . 1, 100.
$2,000
Lutheran I
400. 200
Methodist. 6
2,100. 3.200
Presbyterian ... 9. 4,000. 11.800
Total number of churches, IS; aggregate accommodations, 7,600; value of church properly, $17,200.
1870. - Number of Baptist churches, 5; Evangelical Association, 5; Lutheran, 8; Methodist, 18; Presbyterian,1 21 ; Reformed German, 3; Ro- man Catholic, 3 ; total, 64. Sittings-Baptist, 1,950; Evangelical Associa- tion, 1,500; Lutheran, 1,500; Methodist, 5,350; Presbyterian, 6,685 ; Re- formed German, 750; Catholic, 570; total, 18,705. Value of church property, $163,900.
A comparison with the history of the different denominations given below with these statistics, shows the rapid growth in the churches in Jefferson county in the last fifteen years.
1 These included the United Presbyterian or Seceders.
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THE CHURCHES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 1
The founder of Presbyterianism in America was the Rev. Francis Makemie, an Irishman, who organized at Snow Hill, in Maryland, in 1684, what was probably the first church purely Presbyterian, in the new western world.
The founder of the same denomination in Pennsylvania was the Rev. Jed- ediah Andrews, a native of New England, who organized, under exceedingly discouraging circumstances, the first church of this name in Philadelphia, in 1698.
The distinction of laying the foundation of the same church in Jefferson county belongs to the Rev. Robert McGarrough. He was born on the Yough River, near Cookstown, January 9, 1771 ; prepared for the ministry under the tuition of Revs. James Dunlap, pastor of Laurel Hill Church in the Presbytery of Redstone, David Smith in the " Forks of Yough," and the greatly influen- tial and successful Dr. John McMillan, and was licensed to preach the gos- pel by the Presbytery of Redstone in the church of Rehoboth, in Fayette county, Pa., October 19, 1803.
The following April he visited upon invitation the churches of New Reho- both and Licking, in what is now Clarion county. These churches were under the care of Redstone Presbytery, and had, it is believed from traditions among old settlers in the neighborhood, been organized nominally by the Rev. John McPherrin in 1802. He is said to have preached the first sermon ever deliv- ered in all that region.
These churches made out calls for Mr. McGarrough, and in June of the same year he removed his family, consisting of a wife and three children, to the bounds of his first parish.
The journey required seven or eight days and was made upon two pack- horses, the family and all the fixtures and furnishings for housekeeping being thus conveyed. The venerable John McGarrough, the oldest son, who is now serving as a ruling elder in the Church of Concord, in Clarion county, says that his mother and two of the children rode one of the horses, and he rode the other, called " Old Dick," mounted on the top of the kitchen furniture and all the household belongings, which had been sewed up in bed-ticks, and swung across the old beast's back. The inference is that the preacher himself walked and led the horse. They were delayed a day each at Mahoning Creek and Redbank on account of high waters, and had to construct canoes before they could cross. Within a few miles of their destination they were met by a dele- gation of the parishioners, who escorted them the remainder of the journey. They went to housekeeping in a log cabin not more than sixteen feet square, the door made of chestnut bark, the bed constructed of poles and clapboards, an old trunk serving for a table, and blocks of wood for chairs.
And this was the man, and this was the manner of his coming and living,
I By Rev. Frank P. Britt.
27
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
who performed the pioneer work of his denomination in this whole territory, and was for nineteen years the only Presbyterian minister laboring within the bounds now embraced in the Presbytery of Clarion.
He was an exceedingly slow preacher, but intensely in earnest, and wholly consecrated to the winning of souls to Christ, and the building up of the Lord's kingdom. Concerning him it has been written, and all who knew of him and of his work say, truthfully,
" Sincere, soul-loving and God-fearing man, He sought not wealth of earth, nor"man's applause, But just to do his part in God's great plan, And work where God had sent him for His cause."
He worked for God; he walked with God; he waited upon God, and God has given him his reward.
Soon after Mr. McGarrough's settlement at New Rehoboth and Licking he began to preach at several out stations. One of these points was at the house of Peter Jones at Port Barnett, where a communion service was held in 1809, and occasional services afterward for several years. This communion is believed to have been the first ever held in the bounds of Jefferson county.
Another station some years later, where occasional services were held, was at the house of Mr. Samuel Jones in Rose township, four or five miles south- west from Brookville.
As nearly as can be ascertained from tradition and old records, the first Presbyterian Church in the county was organized near the last-named point in an old log school-house on the hill above the present site of the U. P. Church of Jefferson. This was known as the Bethel Church, and was organized in 1824.
Not long after the organization a dispute arose as to where the proposed house of worship should be built, and Mr. McGarrough was sent for to help decide it. Religious services were held and the text was " See that ye fall not out by the way," Gen. xlv, 24. At the conclusion of the services Mr. McGar- rough said that he had understood at the time of the organization that it was the wish of the people to build a church as soon as they could, at or some- where near the Four-mile spring on the State road. Then picking up his staff he said as he walked out, "All in favor of going to the State road will fol- low me." The whole congregation except one of the elders followed, and the matter was decided. The location was definitely settled and the church erected just a few rods north of the Susquehanna and Waterford turnpike, and about three miles west of Brookville, in close proximity to the present site of the brick residence belonging to the Widow Cowan.
This church, the first I presume in the county, was constructed of logs, small and closely notched together, and was seated with slabs and blocks of wood, resting upon a genuine earthen floor. There was no provision made for heating, and the only pulpit was a board placed upon two posts. All traces of this primitive church have disappeared, but the old graveyard can still be
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THE CHURCHES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
seen as you pass along the pike. The number of members at the time of the organization is unknown, but the subsequent year the church is reported as having a membership of sixty-eight.
The first regular preaching that Bethel Church enjoyed was under the Rev. William Kennedy, who was a stated supply from October, 1825, to April, 1827, for one-half of his time, the other half being given to the now extinct church of Redbank, located somewhere between Millville and New Bethlehem.
When Brookville was incorporated in 1830, the place of worship of the Bethel Church was removed from the log cabin church to the second story of the jail, and there is no evidence of the old log cabin being used as a place of worship after that time. In 1832 the first court-house was built, and this be- came the place of worship till 1842, when the first Presbyterian Church of the place was completed and dedicated. That building was superseded by the more modern and commodious structure which was dedicated January 16, 1870, and the first cost of which was about $11,000. An addition has since been made to the building in the shape of a gallery back of the pulpit in which has been built a large and elegant pipe organ.
May 13, 1842, the church was incorporated and the name changed from Bethel to Brookville. Almost one thousand members have been connected with it since its organization, and the report for 1886 shows a present member- ship of two hundred and forty-four. It has an excellent Sabbath-school, a prayer-meeting, and three good missionary societies and has done a grand work for Christianity.
The pastors and stated supplies of this church have been as follows, viz .: Mr. John Shoap, stated supply for half time from October, 1834, to the time of his death in March, 1835. On account of his failing health he was never ordained and installed. Rev. Gara Bishop, M. D., stated supply a good part of the time from June, 1835, until the early part of 1840. Rev. David Polk, stated supply for half time from June, 1840, to April, 1841, and from the latter date pastor until December, 1845. Rev. C. P. Cummins, M. D., pastor for half time from June 15, 1847, to August 5, 1856. On this last date he was released and in just ten days from this date he was recalled, and on September 26 was reinstalled. The final dissolution of the relation took place June 10, 1862. Dr. Cummins's pastorate of fifteen years is the longest in the history of the church, and under his ministrations it grew to be self-supporting, his successors giving their whole time to the church. Rev. S. H. Holliday, pastor from June 16, 1863, to February 11, 1868. Rev. J. J. Marks, stated supply from August, 1868, to April, 1872, and from the latter date pastor until De- cember of the same year. Rev. A. B. Fields, pastor from May, 1874, to April, 1880, having preached to the church one year regularly before being called and installed as pastor. Rev. T. J. Sherrard, pastor from November, 1880, to March, 1883. Rev. J. H. Stewart, pastor from June, 1883, to September,
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
1886. Rev. S. J. Glass took charge of the congregation April 1, 1887, preaching his first sermon as pastor April 4.
The Second Presbyterian church organized in the county was the Beech- woods Church. The organization was effected December 3, 1832, in the house of Matthew Keys, with fourteen members. A Sabbath-school, consisting of two teachers and a dozen scholars, had been held from house to house in the neighborhood for several years previous ; almost as soon, in fact, as the first settlement was made, which was not till 1823. These early settlers had not long been in the community until they were discovered by that faithful under- shepherd, Father McGarrough, and another devoted servant of God, the Rev. Cyrus Riggs, at that time pastor of the Scrubgrass church, in Butler county. These brethren, it seems, preached several times during the five or six years preceding the organization in the neighborhood, and they, along with ruling elders J. Wilson, Thomas Lucas, and W. Rodgers, of Bethel Church, constituted the committee of organization. The great majority of the members have been natives of Ireland, or the descendants of such, and a good, honest, willing, and warm-hearted people they are. The church has become self- supporting, and is well organized and equipped for church work. Its Ladies' Missionary Society is abundant in labors.
Their present house of worship and the first one built by the congregation, was erected in 1841.
It appears that for a time after the formal organization, the church was supplied by Mr. John Shoap.
Rev. Gara Bishop began preaching to them as a stated supply in 1835, and for eleven years preached to them more or less of his time.
Rev. Alexander Boyd was stated supply for about three years, commenc- ing with October, 1846.
The Rev. John Wray, a returned missionary from India, began his labors in the congregation in 1850, and for twenty-one years was the honored and efficient and successful pastor. Becoming entirely blind, he was compelled, much against his own will and to the great reluctance of a loving people, to ask for the dissolution of the pastoral relation, which was granted by Presby- tery April 26, 1871. The remainder of his days was spent in the bounds of the congregation to which he had devoted so great a part of his life, and in which he continued to manifest the greatest interest, and by which he was remembered with many tokens of kindness and esteem to the day of his death. He died at his home in Brockwayville August 16, 1883, aged 89.
The next pastor was Rev. W. H. Filson, for half of his time from May, 1871, to April, 1875, and for all his time after that date until released, in May, I883.
His successor and the present pastor is Rev. R. A. Hunter, who was or- dained and installed pastor in June, 1884, and it is hoped his will be one of the longest pastorates in a church where he has been so heartily received.
241
THE CHURCHES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Pisgah Church, located in the borough of Corsica, was the third organiza- tion. Pisgah is nominally a daughter of Bethel, and yet in reality would seem more like a twin sister, for she was organized not a great while after Bethel was removed from the log cabin, on the pike to Brookville, and her members principally consisted of the members of Bethel living west of the church, and the Bethel Church consisted of the members that lived east of the church, the old Bethel Church thus becoming two. So, on July 2, 1833, the members of the western division of the old Bethel, together with some from New Reho- both, were organized into Pisgah Church, by a committee appointed by old Allegheny Presbytery. The Rev. Cyrus Riggs was chairman of this commit- tee, and the meeting of organization was held in Mr. Philip Corbet's house, the same one now occupied by his son, R. M. Corbet, a half mile west of Corsica. There were twenty-five original members, twelve men and their wives and a widower. The widower gave the men a majority of one, but at the present day the women generally have by far the largest majority on all church rolls.
Six of the thirteen men, viz : William Corbet, William Douglass, Samuel Lucas, Samuel Davison, James Hindman, and John M. Fleming, were elected and there and then ordained and installed ruling elders.
From the old records of the church it is learned that a meeting preliminary to organization was held in the house of Robert Barr, sr., east of town, on the 22d of February of the same year, and another one on the 13th of April. At the first of these meetings it was resolved to unite as a congregation, to be known by the name of Pisgah, and that the place of worship be on the top of the hill south of McAnulty's, near the Olean road, and a committee was ap- pointed, vested with full power to select a site, purchase from five to ten acres of land on either side of the Olean road, and receive the deed in trust for said congregation ; and a commissioner was appointed to present the petition of the congregation to Presbytery for an organization.
At the next meeting the committee reported that they had purchased ten acres of land on the west side of the Olean road, to extend back to the county line, for the sum of fifteen dollars, being less by one dollar per acre than the sell- ing price, which donation of ten dollars Mr. White (the father of Judge Harry White) had given to the congregation, and that they had received the deed in trust, according to appointment. It was also resolved, at that time, that Mr. Philip Corbet's barn be the place of meeting for worship that summer.
The first house of worship was finished in 1841, at a cost of $1,000, and was a five-sided building, located just south of the present structure, the pulpit being one of those old, elevated box affairs, and situated in the V formed by the two western sides of the edifice. That structure gave way to the present large building, which was dedicated at a meeting of Presbytery in April, 1859. Its first cost was about $5,000. The congregation is raising money at the
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
present writing for extensive repairs. A valuable and convenient property was purchased in 1869 for a parsonage.
In all, about nine hundred members have been connected with this con- gregation, and at the present writing it is in a prosperous condition, harmony prevailing, and its members being cordial and unanimous in supporting the pastor in all good work. Three missionary organizations have made a record in that line, of which they need not be ashamed, and the good which they have wrought for the souls of the members, and for the church is far above all human calculations. In all they have sent away about $1,500. The sum total of the moneys raised by the congregation is estimated at not less than $40,000.
Pisgah was first regularly supplied by Mr. John Shoap, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Northumberland, who gave half time to Pisgah, in connection with Bethel, as a stated supply, in the winter of 1834 and 1835.
Rev. Gara Bishop, M.D., was stated supply for one-third time from May, 1835, to May, 1836.
For the next four years the church only had occasional supplies.
Rev. David Polk, alleged to have been a cousin of President James K. Polk, was the first regularly installed pastor that Pisgah ever had. His pas- torate extended from December, 1840, for one-half of his time, to December, 1845.
Rev. C. P. Cummins, M.D., was pastor from June, 1847, for half of his time, the other half being given to Brookville, until September, 1862. He resigned once in that time, on August 5, 1856, but in ten days was recalled, and the next month was reinstalled. The work accomplished by this brother in his long pastorate in the charge where he was so greatly beloved, was with- out doubt a very great work, and the power for good that he has been to the church and to this county cannot be estimated.
Rev. J. S. Elder was pastor for one-half time from December, 1864, to February, 1868, the church of Greenville, in Clarion county, taking the other half of his time.
Rev. J. M. Hamilton was pastor from June, 1869, to April, 1871, his time being equally divided between Pisgah and Greenville.
Rev. Ross Stevenson, D.D., was pastor for two-thirds of his time, the one- third being given to the church of Troy, from November, 1871, to February, I876.
Rev. Frank P. Britt, the present pastor for half time, was ordained and in- stalled August 24, 1877, the other half of his time being divided between the churches of Greenville and New Rehoboth.
The fourth church on our roll is Perry, situated in Perry township, and about five miles north of Punxsutawney. It was organized September 4, 1836, by a committee appointed by the Presbytery of Blairsville. The early
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THE CHURCHES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.
records of the church have been lost. A church building was put up at the time of the organization, which was superseded in 1879 by a very neat and substantial edifice, of which the people may be justly proud.
The church was incorporated in 1862, and in 1869 a comfortable parson- age, to which belongs several acres of ground, was provided for the pastor.
For the first four years after its organization, the church was without a pastor, but was statedly supplied a part of that time by the Rev. E. D. Barrett.
In June, 1840, Rev. John Carothers became pastor for half time, serving the church of Gilgal, now in Kittanning Presbytery, the other half. He was released in June, 1854.
Rev. John McKean was pastor from December, 1856, to September, 1860. Rev. H. K. Hennigh was stated supply from the fall of 1861 to the spring of 1864.
Rev. James Caldwell, pastor from September, 1869, to April, 1877 ..
Mr. J. E. Leyda was ordained and installed pastor in November, 1877, and was released in February, 1880.
Rev. J. S. Helm, the present popular and successful pastor, was installed in October, 1883, and is accomplishing in the united charge of Perry and Punxsutawney a most excellent work. How could he be spared from that charge ?
Mount Tabor stands as the fifth church organized, and is located on the Olean road, half a mile south-by-west from Sigel. The organization was effected in the latter part of 1840, the committee of Presbytery consisting of Revs. John Core and David Polk. There were only eleven original members. Messrs. William McNeil and James Summerville were elected, ordained and installed ruling elders. For the first seven years the congregation wor- shiped in an old log school-house. The first church was built in 1848 but was replaced in 1873 by the much more beautiful and substantial structure in which they now worship. Between three and four hundred members have been received into the church, and the change wrought in that whole commu- nity since its being established in it is simply marvelous. Its work in the interests of the temperance cause in the community deserves special mention and the highest commendation. In the beginning of the year 1866 there were as many as four licensed houses in the bounds of the congregation, fountains of iniquity and disturbers of the peace and prosperity of the whole community. The cautious and prudent pastor took his stand, laid his plans and went to work, and was ably assisted by the members of the church and a number of noble citizens outside. Organized and systematic work was quietly begun, and kept up until the whole available strength of the temperance element in the community was combined and concentrated against the evil, and the result was that all the applications for license were in due time successfully resisted ; and from that time to the present there has not been a glass of intoxicating
.
244
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
liquor legally sold in the entire bounds. All praise to the pastor and people who have wrought, by the blessing of God, so great a good for the commu- nity ! Mount Tabor also has her Ladies' Missionary Society, and her record in all benevolent work is most creditable. The following ministers have served the church : Rev. David Polk, stated supply the first two years after the or- ganization ; Rev. William Kennedy, stated supply from 1844 to the time of his death, November, 1850; Rev. David Polk, stated supply, a second time, from 1852 to 1856; Rev. William McMichael, stated supply in 1858 and 1859. The present earnest, faithful, hard-working pastor, Rev. Thomas S. Leason, was installed October 8, 1860. May he long be spared to serve a people among whom he has wrought so well !
Richardsville is found to be sixth on the list, and was organized in the fall of 1851 with a score of members, Revs. David Polk and C. P. Cummins, M.D., being the presbyterial committee. James Moorhead, sr., John Wakefield, and L. E. Bartlett, were ordained and installed at the organization as ruling elders, and D. W. Moorhead and John Slack as deacons. The name of the church at first was Pine Grove, but it was changed to Richardsville September 5, 1860. A school-house was used as a place of worship until 1858, when a comfort- able church building was erected. The total membership of the church has amounted to about 150 and at the present writing is reported at 30. Rev. David Polk, stated supply the first five years; Rev. William McMichael, stated supply for one year, from April, 1859; Rev. T. S. Leason, pastor from September, 1860, to April, 1863 ; Rev. W. H. Filson, pastor for one-fourth of his time from September, 1871, to April, 1875; Rev. A. B. Fields, stated supply from June, 1884, to April, 1886. Since that date to the present writ- ing the church has had no regular preaching.
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