USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of Mifflin County : its physical peculiarities, soil, climate, &c. ; including an early sketch of the state of Pennsylvania Volume I > Part 18
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"And for your encouragement we do promise, if God shall dis-
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
pose your heart to embrace this call, that we will pay dutiful atten- tion to the word and ordinances of God by you administered, and that we will be subject to your admonitions and reproof, should our falls and miscarriages expose us thereto ; and we will submit to the discipline of the Church exercised by you agreeably to the word of God ; and also, that we will treat your person with friendship and respect, and behave in all things towards you as becomes Chris- tians always should towards their pastor who labors among them in word and doctrine. And farther, as we are persuaded that they who serve at the altar shall live by the altar, we do promise, in order that you may be as much as possible freed from worldly in- ·cumbrances, to provide for your honorable and comfortable main- tainance in the manner set forth in our subscription papers accom- panying this our call, during your continuance with us as our reg- ular pastor. And in witness of our hearty desire to have you settle among us, we have hereunto set onr names this fifteenth day of March, Anno Domini 1783.
"WM. BROWN,
JOHN McNITT, WILLIAM WILSON,
JOHN COOPER,
ROBERT MONITT,
WILLIAM CORBET,
THOMAS THOMPSON,
JOHN McMANAGILL,
JOSEPH MCKIBBINS,
SAMUEL MITCHELL,
JAMES LAUGHLIN,
HUGH MARTIN, ROBERT ALLISON,
MATTHEW TAYLOR,
JAMES McCAY,
JOSEPH ADAMS,
WILLIAM FLEMING,
WILLIAM MOALVEY,
MATTHEW KENNEY,
WM. HARPER,
JAMES ALEXANDER,
JAMES REED, ROBERT MCCLELLAND,
JAMES REED,
JAMES GLASS,
THOMAS BROWN,
ALEXANDER McNITT,
ELIJAH CRISWELL,
JAMES BURNS,
JOHN FLEMING,
JOHN McDOWELL,
ROBERT CAMPBELL,
ALEXANDER BROWN, EDM'D RICHARDSON, WM. MILLER,
SAMUEL MILLIKEN, DAVID BARR,
ROBERT BARNHILL, WM. YOUNG.
BENJ. HALL,
JAMES S. MCCLURE, 12
NEAL McMANIGAL,
BENJAMIN CRESSWELL,
ROBERT GARDNER,
WILLIAM MILLER, JR.,
JOSEPH WISLEY,
WM. MITCHELL,
JAM'S SCOTT,
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
THOMAS ARTHURS, THOMAS ALEXANDER, SAMUEL ALEXANDER, SAMUEL WILLS,
HENRY TAYLOR.
ELISHA CRESWELL,
THOS. SANKEY,
WILLIAM THOMPSON,
WILLIAM NeNITT, PHILIP CLOVER,
ABRAHAM SANFORD,
DAVID KELLY,
JOHN KYLE,
ARTHUR BUCHANAN,
SAMUEL HOWER,
JOSEPH BROWN,
JOSEPH HESLOT,
JOHN MEANS, JAMES MEANS,
JOHN REED."
Col. Taylor also furnishes us another old paper, which contains an obituary notice of Rev. James Johnston : "At his residenee, on Monday night, January 3d. 1820, after a short but most severe illness, the Rev. James Johnston. The deceased was an eminent and zealous preacher of the word of God. He had for many years been stationed among and preached to two large congregations in Kishacoquillas and Dry Valley. His. talents as a preacher were super-eminent, and were exerted to the utmost in the cause of the Redeemer and the happiness of his people. He was tender and affectionate, and often have we seen him, while speaking from the pulpit, in the sincerity of his heart, become so much affected that utterance would for a moment be stopped, and his cheek suffused with a flow of tears. In conversation he was cheerful and animated. and his own fireside as well as that of his neighbors has lost one of its most cheerful companions. Those who knew him best can testify to his worth. His family has lost one of the kindest and best of parents, and his congregations a faithful and pious pastor. Our Saviour says, 'he who will confess me before men, him also will I confess before my heavenly father.' He has now left his earthly abode to join that heavenly throng on high, of which we have so often heard him speak in almost inspired strains. He has been a good and faithful servant of his Lord, and will no doubt re- ceive the cheerful plaudit, ' well done thon good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'
" However bitter may be the anguish of his family and friends at their bereavement, they have the consolation that his exemplary life justifies the belief that he has only been removed from this world of trouble to join the heavenly hosts in the world above, where pleas- ures never eease and where troubles never come."
We see by the dates of the above documents, that about thirty-
JOHN CULBERTSON,
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
seven years elapsed after his call till his earthly labors ceased. Few men have this experience ; few congregations are thus served.
A few days since, in a walk through the cemetery adjoining the Kishacoquillas Church, above referred to, we noted the following names and dates, many of which will be recognized in the list of signers to the above call :
Jane, wife of Alex. Reed, died 1841, aged seventy-one years, nine months; Jennett Kyle, died 1861, aged seventy-three years ; Jo- seph Kyle, died 1861, aged eighty-one years; Polly Flemming, died 1812; John Flemming, died 1820, aged eighty-six years; Mary Flemming, died 1849, aged seventy-five years; John McDowell, died 1849, aged eighty-one years, eight months; Richard Hope, born 1768, died 1849; Matthew Taylor, died 1823, aged eighty-one years; Sarah Taylor, 1819, aged seventy-nine years; Andrew Mayes, born 1762, died 1827; Ann Mayes, born 1766, died 1831; James Buchanan, son of Arthur and Mary Buchanan, died 1826, aged twenty-two years; Charles Naginey, died 1852, aged eighty years ; Agnes, wife of Daniel Sterrett, died 1849, aged eighty years; John McNitt, died 1822, aged eighty-three years ; Mary, his wife, died 1839, aged eighty-three years ; Sarah Maclay, died 1810, aged twenty-seven years; Mary, wife of William Brown, died May, 1815, aged sixty-eight; William Brown, died 1825, aged eighty-eight years ; Elizabeth Maclay, died 1835, aged eighty years; Jane, wife of Dr. Joseph Henderson, died 1848, aged sixty-five years ; Joseph Norris, of Brown's Mills, born 1771, died 1841; Nancy, his wife, born 1777, died 1853; B. Rhodes Cormer, born 1787, died 1840; James Milliken, born 1778, died 1851; Robert Milliken, died 1855, aged sixty-two years; Margaret Foster, wife of Samuel Milliken, born 1755, died 1798; Samuel Milliken, born 1736, died 1804.
A Walk in the Old Graveyard,
Brings to mind many solemn thoughts, "No storied urn nor animated bust," records the virtues and historical experiences of the venerable men and women sleeping here, and in the case of many not even marble in its simpliest form mark their resting place. The marks of old gray limestone have been defaced and removed, that even the resting place of some of these old pioneers are lost. Keep your sacrilegious hands off these venerable stones. Parian marble or Scotch granite could not replace the memories that linger around them. Connected with these homely marks of their graves are historical associations that ought not to be forgotten.
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
The scarcity of better material and the rudeness of monumental sculpture, the poverty of the country, the early struggles and pecuniary embarrassments of the pioneer at the period when these limestones were erected indicate, in plain language, the condition of the people of that date. Nothing modern, nothing polished, however magnificent could suggest the history of these old pioneers. These limestone do. Spare what remains of these broken memo- rials. "After life's fitful fever is over they sleep well" in the midst of these old gray stones, thongh no inscription marks them, but a historic interest attaches them, and a well-earned fame gilds them with a halo of glory, and a feeling of sadness creeps o'er us as we see them passing away. It is not only the old pioneer that lies sleeping here, but the little infants were laid by them. While the scythe of the harvester was passing among the standing crops and leveling them to the earth, the keener scythe of the great reaper, death, is passing to and fro among the ranks of men.
It.is not only the mature that he gathers into his great garner, but the tender and the frail, just as they are putting forth in the greenness and freshness of infant life. How many little graves are opened, what treasures of the household are swallowed up in their narrow but dreadful gulfs? How many bright eyes, the light of the family circle, grow dim ; how many voices tuneful with infant laughter are hushed ; how many pattering little feet are still? What interesting growth and expansion of body and mind are inter- rupted; what ruined hopes and darling plans of parents are crushed in the bud ? The cold, bnsy world, engaged with cares and griefs, which it considers of more importance, passes with more than its . usual indifference, the funeral of an infant. But there is an ex- «quisite tenderness in our grief for the loss of an infant that is Experioneed in no other affliction. The image of infantile helpless- ness, tenderness and innocence that is interwoven in our recollec- tions, imparts a peculiar poignancy to onr sorrows, and summons forth our tears. Then, there is much to comfort ns in the death of an infant. The lamb is gathered safely into the fold of the Shep- ard. No anxious doubts for its future well being now mingle in the hopes and plans of the parent.
Whatever may be said of the grown up ones, those that are called away early are safe. We are inclined to the fond imagination that God saw that it was necessary to take them away, in order to keep them within the merciful provisions of the covenant. They are spared the severe and perilous training of the world. Griefs shall
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
not cloud their brows ; sin shall not reign over them. They shall not grow up and know themselves chained to this body of death ; but near to God, knowing as they are known, seeing face to face, under the disciplining power, not of faith and hope, but of love alone, with the step of angels they advance along the path of holi- ness, so inseparably connected that we must treat of them both to- gether.
Stone Church and Little Valley.
At the earliest date we can get of authentic information, Rev. James Johnston served both congregations and for many years. Our design in making the record of these churches as full as we do, is to rescue from oblivion the labors of those early workers, and to perpetnate in the hands of their descendants and successors to their labors their work, their influence and their example. In addition to the clearing and cultivation of their farms, their moral and educational labors in church and schools are most worthy and com- mendable.
The unhewn log church building, without plastering, and some- times withont floor, but always without fire, and we refer to these two churches, true samples of this primitive style.
In the winter the minister would preach, and the people hear, with their overcoats buttoned closely, and seldom was the sermon less than an hour and a half long. Slab benches were the customary seats, and all "endured hardness as good soldiers." Organization of this presbytery was in Penn's Valley, in April, 1795, Rev. James Johnston, treasurer of presbytery.
On June 22, 1796, Rev. Johnston resigns charge of West Kisha- coquillas, which he had also served, which request was granted by the action of presbytery, October 5, 1796. He continued his other charges until his death, before noted, in 1820. His wife died in 1815. Small salaries were the characteristics of the early min- istry. Farm products were correspondingly low. Oats were from ten to twelve cents, potatoes the same ; wheat, twenty-five to thirty- seven, and not always a cash remuneration at these rates, but in goods at high prices.
The bottle was among the family gods of that day, and was set ont on every occasion, and the rule, habits and public opinion of the times made it a gross disconrtesy to the host if the guest declined to drink, and the minister, in his pastoral calls, would visit a dozen or more families would thus imbibe largely of the spirits, and be-'
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
fore his round would be complete he would be largely under their influence. But all were not drunkards, but these customs were often the means of the shipwreck of moral character. Presbytery met April 2, 1816, at the East Kishacoquillas church. The meeting of presbytery of 1820, commenced with a record of the death of James Johnston, on January 2, 1820. See prceding obituary. Rev. Mr. Hill then served a probation in East Kishacoquillas and Little Valley, was ordained pastor October 3, 1821. He was a na- tive of Ronte, in Ireland. February 8, 1825, Samuel Hill asks to resign these two charges, which was granted. He removes to Pitts- burgh, which not proving the paradise and place of success his am- bition had pictured it, he asks to be re-instated in these his former charges ; but his request was very decidedly refused. James Stu- art was his successor, and died in the work in 1829. Presbytery met at Little Valley, April 7, 1830. A call was sent to Rev. Wil- liam Anon, of Baltimore, which was accepted, and served a while in both congregations, until April 5, 1821, when East Kishacoquillas sent a call to James Nourse, of Philadelphia, and he was installed June, 1832. Presbytery met at Waynesburgh, and Mr. Anon pre- sented resolutions against his membership engaging in the custom- ary habit of dancing. Under the pastorage of Mr. Anon, was also introduced an enthusiastic temperance movement, which was an in- novation on the customs of those days, but Mr. Anon was equal to the work, and here begins the author's recollections of Rev. Wm. Anon. Rev. Mr. Reed was ordained at East Kishacoquillas, May 1st, 1833. James Nourse, the pastor's troubles begins as he, with Mr. Anon, undertook to advance the cause of temperance among his people, and had been done at Little Valley. Tract society was organized in 1833. Joshua Moore installed in East Kishacoquillas as Mr. Nourse's successor, 17th of June, 1835. In 1842, Moses Floyd resigned charge of West Kishacoquillas and Little Valley. Presbytery met again at East Kishacoquillas, April, 1847. April' 1848, Daniel L. Hughes leaves Little Valley. Joshua Moore, of East Kishacoquillas, died April 15, 1848.
S. H. McDonald was then pastor of West Kishacoquillas. A. Shotwell asks to resign charge of East Kishacoquillas, in 1857. James Williamson is at West Kishacoquillas, in 1858, and J. B. Strain at Little Valley. In 1862, Strain asks to leave Little Val- ley, which was granted, and was succeeded by Mr. Prideaux, in 1863. James H. Stuart was pastor in East and West Kishacoquil- las, in 1827.
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
Many anecdotes are related of Rev. James Johnston, who it seems was a model worker in the course of his Master among the pioneer people who composed his flock. The starehed and reserved dignity of the modern minister was to him unknown, and being possessed of the superior interest that he was, would have been unpraetieed. We relate the following: In a general conversa- tion, in a free and easy manner, in a company of his parishioners who were, like himself, of Irish origin, and fond of a joke, he was asking some questions of a moral bearing and among others he asked an Irish lady, "Where was the origin and whenee the tendency of pride?" She responded promptly, "It began with Judge Brown, and has came up to Mr. Johnston." Mr. Johnston considered it so good a reproof to himself, and so marked an in- stance of Irish wit that he used to frequently relate it.
The Sabbath School.
It may be interesting to our readers to have the data of the Sabbath school work in these churches at the early periods of their existence. It was the good fortune of the author to be pre- sent at a Sabbath school anniversary at the Little Valley church in 1878, more than a year before this work was thought of, when the people of that vicinity assembled to celebrate the anniversary of the organization of their initiatory Sabbath sehool. Miss Alice Sigler of that vicinity read the following historical essay :
" REMINISENCES.
" Fifty years ago, in the spring of 1828, a small company of the goodly people of Little Valley assembled at the house of Moses Kelly, (see Biography), a log structure, on the site now occupied by the residence of Mrs. Martha Stoneroad, for the purpose of organizing a Sabbath school, the result of an address delivered to them by a young man named Joseph B. Adams, who had just com- pleted his theologieal course at Princeton Seminary, and was employed as an agent of the American Sunday School Union. The projeet seems to have been entered into with reserve for in looking over the list of those present on the occasion, we miss many of those who were heads of families and active members of the church. The families represented were Mr. Long's, Mr. Roth- rock's, Mr. Bell's, Mr. Townsend's, and of these the following officers were elected, viz .: Superintendent, John Bell ; Assistant Superin- tendent, Abraham Rothroek ; Treasurer, Mrs. Henry Long ; Libra-
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
rian, Miss Mary Long, (now Mrs. Thomas Reed), who with Dr .. Rothrock are the only survivors of the first Sabbath School organi- zation.
"It was just three years after the dissolution of the pastoral relations existing between the Rev. Samuel Hill and the congregations of East. Kishacoquillas and Little Valley, and having no regular services in the church, the Sabbath school assembled in the school house. which stood in the south-east corner of the church-yard, and in a few years, the congregations joining heartily in the work, it became- a large and flourishing school.
"In 1831, three years after the organization of the school, Rev .. William Anon was installed pastor of Kishacoquillas and Little Valley Churches, and labored faithfully in both church and Sabbath school until that relation was dissolved, in 1835. At an adjourned meeting of the Huntingdon Presbytery, held in this church, in 1837, Rev. Moses Floyd was installed pastor of West Kishacoquillas and Little Valley churches.
"In 1838 Mr. Bell died, having served as superintendent ten years,. was succeeded in office by Mr. Long, who served five years, when he, too, was summoned away by death. He died in 1843. During the last year of Henry Long's superintendency, viz : in 1842, the Methodist families in the neighborhood became a separate organi- zation, known as the Dry Valley M. E. Sunday school, and there- after the two schools held their services in their respective houses of worship. Mr. Samuel Sharp succeeded Mr. Long in the Presby -. terian school, and served one year; and during that year the pres- bytery of Huntingdon held their session in this church, to ordain the Rev. Mr. Hughes its pastor, and in 1845, Mr. Sharp removing from the neighborhood, Mr. James Alexander became the superin- tendent, where he labored earnestly and perseveringly, as did those before him, during the pastorates of Rev. D. H. Hughes, J. Smith, T. P. Spear, J. B. Strain, W. Prideaux, J. P. Clark and J. Mckean to the present, a period of thirty-four years.
"Perhaps it would be interesting to the younger scholars of the present day to know how their forefathers worshipped in the days when James Johnston and Samuel Hill were the pastors of this and East End congregations. This building was entered in those- ancient days by two doors at the north, and at the south side was the pulpit, reaching almost to the ceiling, and accessible by a steep flight of steps, while the pews, ranging from the doors to the pulpit,. that those of our forefathers and mothers that were little boys and
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
girls, like some of you, while sitting in them could see little else than the minister in his elevated position. On Sabbath morning our grand parents, with their families, would start for church on foot or on horseback, and in road wagons, some coming quite a dis- tance for morning service.
"In these services the chorister, who stood in front of the pulpit, facing the congregation, led in the singing. After the morning service the pastor and people gathered in little groups and partook of the luncheon they had brought with them, after which they had afternoon services, and returned to their homes, feeling that the- Sabbath had been well spent.
" The exercises of the Sabbath school, which had been conducted without lesson papers, maps, singing from canvas, blackboard exer -- cises, &c., were as interesting as the schools of the present day. Of those who have grown to manhood and womanhood since its or -- ganization, all or almost all have become hopefully converted and united themselves with the church of their fathers. For this end was the Sabbath school organized, and the churches built, and for this end do teachers and superintendents meet with the scholars of these schools from Sabbath to Sabbath. And now, dear Chris- tian friends, we as a Sabbath school would ask you as a congrega- tion to join us in this work.
"You can aid us by your presence, and by bringing those children whose parents may be living near you who have no spiritual house, and whose children receive no religious instruction ; and when you enter your closets or kneel at your family altar, remember us as a Sab- bath school and as a congregation. Then let us work earnestly, knowing that God will bless our efforts as He has said, ' be not weary in well doing, for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not.'"'
St. Mark's Church, Lewistown.
For the following, we are indebted to the courtesy of Rev. W. H .. Platt, the present popular pastor of the above society.
" The first public service of the Protestant Episcopal Church held in Lewistown, was held in the court house, in 1820, by the Rev. Charles Snowden. In 1823, came Rev. Norman Nash, a ‘ mission -- ary for the advancement of society in Pennsylvania,' who organized the parish, when a vestry was elected. Late in the year the follow -- ing named made application to the State authorities for a charter- of incorporation, viz: Adam Strode, James Kellogg, jr., John . Hoyt, sen., Elias W. Hall, Christopher Marks, David Watts Huling,
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
William P. Elliott, William A. Patterson and Robert Buchanan. This instrument was granted January 2, 1824. Signed, Thomas Elder, Attorney General of the Commonwealth, James Trimble, Deputy Secretary, and William Tilghman, John B. Gibson, Thos. Duncan, Judges of the Supreme Court, and Andrew Shultz, Gov- ernor.
" Rev. Mr. Nash succeeded Rev. Robert Piggott, D. D., under whose supervision the church edifice was built, and who became rector of the Holy Trinity parish of Sykesville, Md. His memory is recalled very pleasantly by many of our oldest citizens as an en- ergetie worker, and a godly minister. The following is a list of his successors : 1828, Rev. John P. Robinson ; 1832, Rev. Corry Chambers ; 1835, Rev. T. M. Whitesides ; 1836, Rev. J. F. Hoff, D. D .; 1839, Rev. J. B. Noblitt ; 1840, March, Rev. W. T Brown ; 1840, August, Rev. W. W. Bronson; 1843, Rev. H. T. Heister ; 1849, Rev. T. B. Lawson, D. D .; 1850, Rev. T. S. Rom- mey, D D .; 1851, Rev. D. C. Billesly; 1853, Rev. Geo. P. Hopkins; 1854, Rev. J. T. Huteheson ; 1855, Rev. W. Bowers; 1860, Rev. John Leithead ; 1865, Rev. Edward Hall ; 1868, Rev. Thos. Martin : 1874, Rev. W. Henry Platt, the present inenmbent.
" During the existence of the parish, there has been 401 baptisms. 260 burials, and 80 marriages.
" Total contribution of the parish from its organization amount to a sum a little less than $70,000.
" October 24, 1824, Rt. Rev. William White, D. D. administered the Apostolie Rite of Confirmation to twenty-seven candidates, being his first visit to the parish. His successors in the diocese have laid hands on 196 candidates.
"April Ist, 1845, the Legislature incorporated St. Mark's eem- etery, situated in Derry township, on the storied Kishacoquillas creek, the land being the gift of Geo. D. and Caroline A. Morgan. The first interment was in 1844, a child of R. C. Hall, Esq. It is now the quiet resting place of many loved ones whose forms have gone out of the homes of all denominations of our town. In the wake of a long line of gradnal inprovement has followed a trans- formation so complete that the spot as it was cannot be recognized in the cultivated beauty that surrounds the place to-day. But with all that has been done to beautify and adorn, it is susceptible still . of larger improvement ; not that it has been neglected, but because of its situation which is such that every added improvement opens the way for new suggestions as to other parts of the whole. In
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
1872, additional ground was bequeathed by R. F. Ellis, Esq., who had for many years been an honored member of St. Mark's church, and whose remains now repose beneath the cemetery green. Among the buried are a brother and sister of State Treasurer Rawle, Reu- ben C. Hale, Quartermaster-general of Pennsylvania, Dr. J. Crom- well Adams, surgeon, U. S. Army, Theodore Franks, who laid out these grounds, Dr. Jos. Henderson, Dr. S. S. Cummins, Robt. Simms, John R. Weeks, Wm. Horner, a native of France, J. Ritz Burns, and twenty-two soldiers."
The present rector, W. Henry Platt, is untiring in looking after the interests of St. Mark's. He has done much hard labor during his administration of affairs, and ever " does with his might what his hands find to do." He attends to the wants of the parish with energy and devotedness, and in this he is seeonded by a congrega- tion which is able for work and willing for duty. The recent im- provement in the church edifice and Sabbath school building makes it one of the most eommodions, attractive and home-like of the many well-to-do churches of this town. Being centrally located and supplied by an able pastor it is not strange that it is the resort of the intelligent people who thus show the high appreciation of the mental food there dispensed, and the spiritual instructions there so ably given.
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