History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 131

Author: Crumrine, Boyd, 1838-1916; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Hungerford, Austin N
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : H.L. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 1216


USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 131


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220 | Part 221 | Part 222 | Part 223 | Part 224 | Part 225 | Part 226 | Part 227 | Part 228 | Part 229 | Part 230 | Part 231 | Part 232 | Part 233 | Part 234 | Part 235 | Part 236 | Part 237 | Part 238 | Part 239 | Part 240 | Part 241 | Part 242 | Part 243 | Part 244


Thus far everything seemed favorable. The war, however, came on that spring, and brought with it its fears of hard times and trouble in every way. Rev. Mr. Dodge declined both the call to the church and the college, which were tendered to him. Before long


-


Dr. Wishart went into the army, and so from one cause and another the whole project was held in abey- ance for some three years. During this time the peo- ple of the church worshiped with the First Church, between which and themselves the kindest relations subsisted.


From the first there had been those who half doubted the necessity of a second church, and to make the way clear for their return, the session of the First Church, on the 7th day of September, 1861, passed the following resolution :


" WHEREAS, On the 12th day of March, 1861, the Session dismissed a number of members of this church to be organized into a Presbyterian church : and whereas in the present disturbed state of the country and the depressed condition of money matters there would seem to be no possibility of such an organization being carried forward; and whereas the present church relations of the persons so dismissed are peculiar and embarrassing to all parties; therefore it is unanimously


" Resolved, That this Session do most cordially invite the persons thus dismissed to renew their former relation to this church, assuring them of a most hearty welcome to our fellowship, and to a participation in the cares and responsibilities of private and official membership, as here- tofore."


At a meeting of the congregation of the First Church in the spring of 1864 similar action was taken. This led to a meeting of the Second Church in the lecture-room of the First Church, April 7, 1864, at which meeting John Grayson, Jr., Esq., was called to the chair, and H. J. Vankirk appointed secretary, and the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :


" WHEREAS, At a late meeting of the First Presbyterian congregation an invitation was extended to us to resume our standing and connection with the same ; and whereas we, the members of the Second Presbyte- rian congregation of Washington, believe that to a great extent the same causes exist that did at the time the movement was originated ; there- fore


" Resolved, That while we appreciate the kind motives which prompted our brethren of the First Presbyterian congregation to extend to us the invitation to return, we deem it to be our duty respectfully to decline accepting the proposition.


" Resolved, That, as the members of the Second Presbyterian congre- gation, we regard it as incumbent upon us to go forward immediately and carry out the object originally contemplated by our organization.


"On motion, the following committee on supplies was appointed, to wit: H. H. Clark, Andrew Brady, and William Blair.


" On motion, the Trustees were instructed to procure a suitable place of meeting by the first Sabbath in May next, provided the committee are able to procure a supply by that time.


"On motion, the committee on supplies were instructed to take up a subscription to defray the expenses and pay the supplies.


" On motion, H. H. Clark was appointed to represent this congregation at the coming Presbytery, and was instructed to ask leave to furnish a supply."


As a result of this action, Smith's Hall was pro- cured as a place of worship, and on May 15, 1864, Rev. R. V. Dodge, then of Wheeling, preached for the new church; and so acceptable were his services that on the 30th of the same May, 1864, a call was made out for him, the salary being fixed at twelve hundred dollars, payable quarterly. He accepted the call, and was formally installed Oct. 4, 1864. He continued as pastor until May 3, 1868, when he preached his farewell sermon.


When he entered on his pastorate, which is the real beginning of the active history of the church, | the elders were H. H. Clark, W. B. Cundall, and


1


-


516


HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


John Grayson, Jr., being ordained and installed June 19, 1864. At the same time H. J. Vankirk and Wil- liam Blair were installed deacons. In April, 1867, F. Brady, Jr., and Morgan Hayes were added as deacons.


On the resignation of Mr. Dodge, in 1868, the church began to cast about for a successor, and on June 1, 1868, elected Rev. J. C. Caldwell, then pastor of the Mount Prospect Church, near Hickory. He accepted their call and was installed Aug. 2, 1868. During his pastorate (namely, on Feb. 14, 1869) Messrs. Robert Boyd, Hugh McClelland, Freeman Brady, Jr., and John B. Vowell were inducted into the office of the eldership, the last two being ordained, the first two installed. Mr. Caldwell's ministry was also highly successful, as it had been in his previous charge, and has been in those he has had since. He re- signed in December, 1869, to take charge of the church of Newberry, near Williamsport, Pa. From the begin- ning of the year 1870 until the August of that year the church was most of the time faithfully served by Rev. Henry Woods, a professor in the college.


In the winter of 1870 and 1871, Rev. George P. Hays removed to this place to take charge of the college, of which he had been inaugurated president. An offer of a call was informally made to him and ex- plicitly declined, but he became the stated supply of this church, with an arrangement that so many of the students of the college as see fit to worship here shall have seats free, and that so much of the services as may be thought best shall be directed specially to them ; and that the stated supply should not be held responsible for any pastoral work whatever, and should have liberty to be absent very frequently on the Sabbath.


For two years during the time covered by the min- istry of the Rev. George P. Hays, the duties of the college required his absence, and the church was most faithfully and acceptably ministered to by Rev. George Fraser, D.D., then Professor of Mental and Moral Science in the college. He enjoyed and deserved the confidence of the people, and the church steadily pros- pered under his ministrations. Of this period he thus speaks in a letter: "My time commenced with the first Sabbath of September, 1872, and closed with the last Sabbath of August, 1874, making two full years, for which the church paid me in full to the last cent ; and they were two years ever to be remembered as one of the most pleasant periods of my ministry."


The Smith Hall becoming unsatisfactory as a place of worship, an arrangement was made to lease for a ! term of fifteen years the church belonging to the , his pastoral duties. He died Feb. 9, 1864, in the Methodist Protestant congregation. Accordingly, it sixty-fifth year of his age. His life and work are alluded to with great respect by all who knew him. was thoroughly repaired and refitted at a cost of $3437.41, and was reopened for service on the 5th day of January, 1874, since which time it has been the regular house of worship.


On the 14th day of April, 1872, Messrs. James Rankin, Morgan Hayes, and James Houston were .


inducted into office as elders, all but the first being ยท ordained as well as installed. On the evening of the same day, April 14, 1872, Messrs. Robert S. Winters and Hiram Warne were installed as deacons.


Dr. George P. Hays sent in his resignation, to take effect the first Sabbath of September, 1881, having accepted a call from the First Presbyterian Church in Denver, Col. On the 30th of December, 1881, the Rev. J. G. Cowden, of Iowa, was called as a stated supply, which was accepted, and his services com- menced Feb. 1, 1882. The church has a present membership of three hundred and sixty-seven.


The United Presbyterian Congregation of Washington .- The Associate Presbyterian Congre- gation of Washington-which, when the union oc- curred between the Associate and Associate Reformed Churches in 1858, became the United Presbyterian- was organized in the year 1815. It was small and was without a house of worship. There was at the time a small body of the Associate Reformed Presby- terians in the place, with a meeting-house partly con- structed. As it was not prospering in its efforts, it agreed to sell its building, and the Associate congre- gation becoming the purchaser, it immediately pro- ceeded to provide itself with all the means of regular worship.


It was not, however, till 1834 that it felt strong enough to ask the services of a settled pastor, but in July of that year it extended a call to the Rev. Da- vid Carson, who had recently been appointed to a professorship in the theological seminary in Canons- burg. Mr. Carson was a man of earnest piety and great ability, but he was only permitted to preach a few times in Washington, and died Sept. 25, 1834. He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Beveridge, who was also a professor in the Canonsburg Semi- nary. He was installed in the pastorate in February, 1836. As pastor and friend he was universally re- spected, and as a preacher of the gospel he was es- teemed as of more than ordinary ability. His influ- ence was happy, not only in the congregation with which he was identified, but upon the entire commu- nity, and his name is still gratefully recalled by many of the older citizens. In September of the year 1849 he offered his resignation, which was accepted, and in November of the same year the Rev. Thomas Hanna, of Cadiz, Ohio, was called to fill his place. His la- bors extended over a period of thirteen years, at the end of which time he resigned because of failing health. Dr. Hanna was a genial gentleman, kindly in all his relations and faithful in the discharge of


The Rev. J. R. Johnston is the present pastor. He was called in the winter of 1863, and ordained and installed in the following June. The old church building in which the congregation worshiped for many years occupied a lot on West Wheeling Street


517


WASHINGTON BOROUGH.


near Second. It was abandoned in 1865, when a new one was erected on the same street, a few doors from Main. It is one of the most substantial buildings of the place. The congregation numbers about three : hundred communing members. The superintendent of the Sabbath-school is Mr. John H. Murdoch. The board of elders is composed of Messrs. William Gabby, John G. Clark, William Crosbie, Joseph D. McNary, John H. Murdoch, and A. M. McElroy.


The First Baptist Church .- The minutes of this church show that it was regularly constituted on Fri- day, Oct. 14, 1814. In response to letters missive the following churches were represented by their dele- gates : Ten-Mile, Rev. Matthias Luce ; Peters Creek, Rev. David Phillips, Deacon Joseph Phillips, Charles Dailey ; Union Town, Rev. William Brownfield. The right hand of fellowship was given by Rev. David Phillips on October 15th.


" It was unanimously voted by the church that our brother, Charles Wheeler, be this day set apart by ordination to the work of the gospel ministry and to the performing of the ordinances of the gospel. Ac- cordingly, after Brother Wheeler had given a satisfactory account of his views of the doctrine of the Scriptures, etc., he was ordained in the pres- ence of this church and full assembly met, and received the imposition of hands by Elders D. Philips, M. Luce, and W. Brownfield. This church held its first communion at the Lord's Table on the Lord's day follow- ing, viz., Oct. 16, 1814."


The persons named below were the constituent members, seven of whom belonged to the Ten-Mile Church, viz .: Rebecca Dye, Rachel Wilson, Enoch Dye, Jr., Mary Dye, Jane Dye, Rebecca Blaine, Mar- garet Moore, Charles Wheeler, Charity A. Wheeler, Rachel Colloway, and Phillis Waller. A covenant and constitution was drawn up, signed by the con- stituent members, and is followed by the names of the members of the church to the year 1830, numbering one hundred and twenty-three persons.


On the 29th of May, 1815, Hugh Wilson, Daniel Moore, and David Shields were elected trustees for one year, and requested to procure a lot of ground whereon to build a house for public worship. Aug. 26, 1815, the church voted to request admission to the Redstone Association. This request was granted by that body Sept. 2, 1815. At a church meeting May 11, 1816, Hugh Wilson reported : "That they had procured a Lott of ground on Wheeling Street, No. Seventy-Seven, which had been granted by John Hoge, Esq., [June 20, 1805] to James Gilmore, Robert Anderson and Alexander Little, Esqs., as Trustees for the purpose of Building Thereon a School-house and place of public worship, Said James Gilmore and Robert Anderson, Esqs., Conveyed said Lot of ground to Hugh Wilson, Daniel Moore and David Shields Trustees for the first Baptist Church and their succes- sors in office for ever, for the purpose aforesaid." Title to the lot was confirmed by act of Legislature March 25, 1877.


sider about building a house of worship." The brick school-house mentioned was in the rear of the lot they had purchased. The meeting was held Nov. 19, 1817, when a subscription paper was opened and a committee appointed to solicit subscriptions. Their efforts were successful, and a building committee was appointed. On the 11th of July, 1818, James Ruple was added to the " Building Committee to build the Meeting-House." The brick church edifice then built is the one still occupied. A meeting of the churgh was held Saturday, July 3, 1819, and the fol- lowing quotation from the minutes shows the time when the church was first occupied : " Agreed to hold our communion to-morrow [it being a day appointed by the Association for a similar meeting being held at that place], and to meet in our new Meeting-House for the first time." The first election of deacons took place Dec. 9, 1820, when R. B. Chaplin and Daniel Dye were elected. The Association met here with this church in the summer of 1822. At a meeting of the church on Saturday, Oct. 9, 1824, after an address from their pastor, the Rev. Charles Wheeler, " It was resolved that Brother Wheeler be requested to furnish the church with a copy of his address, and that it be published and distributed to the churches of the Red- stone Association. Resolved that this church does not consider itself bound by the Philadelphia Con- fession of Faith, nor any other human confession, but by the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, as their only guide of faith and practice." At a meet- ing Jan. 8, 1825, request was made by the Union congregation, afterwards the Associate Reformed (now the United Presbyterian), for the use of their church one-half of the time till they could build a church. After due consideration it was thought not advisable to continue the evening service through the winter, and they decided not to grant the request, but ex- tended to them the privilege of its use for preaching or communion when it was not occupied by them. At this time, Sept. 11, 1825, a request was made for the services of Mr. Wheeler one Sabbath of the month for the Ten-Mile Church. This request was granted, and he was to commence the first Sabbath of Novem- ber. In January, 1826, the church discussed the question whether it would be advisable to hold con- nection longer with the Redstone Association. Rev. Charles Wheeler, H. Wilson, Samuel Marshal, James Ruple, and R. B. Chaplin were appointed messengers to the Association in July of 1826.


The Association convened and refused to accept letters from all churches that did not mention the Philadelphia Confession of Faith as embodying their faith. This action brought about the rejection of fourteen churches, leaving but twelve to form the Association. The Washington Church was one of the fourteen, and non-fellowship was declared with it. The rejected messengers met at a house near by, and resolved to meet at Washington the Saturday


A notice was published in the Reporter of Novem- ber, 1817, calling upon the members of the Baptist Church "to meet at the brick school-house to con- | before the second Sunday in November, and then to


518


HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.


sit in council, and if agreeable to the majority form October, 1855. He assumed his duties Dec. 1, 1856, a new Association. Also that Brethren Matthias . and resigned July, 1857, his resignation to take effect Luce, Charles Wheeler, and Ephraim Eslip be a Sept. 1, 1857. A call to Rev. John Boyd was tendered April, 1858, and in June he took charge. A resigna- committee to meet at Peters Creek Church and draft rules and regulations for the government of the new : tion from him was received Dec. 2, 1859. In 1865, Association. Delegates from the following churches Rev. - Adams served for three months. R. Tal- ford was called Jan, 31, 1866. He accepted in Feb- ruary, but resigned June 10, 1868. The resignation was not accepted until June 28th. J. A. Snodgrass supplied the pulpit from Oct. 29, 1871, until 1875. July 25, 1875, a call was sent to the Rev. Malcolm C. Blaine. It was accepted, and he took charge August 8th. His resignation was made Sept. 15, 1878, to take met as agreed, Nov. 11, 1826 : Peters Creek, Maple Creek, Somerset, Connellsville, Big Redstone, Pigeon Creek, Ten-Mile, Bates' Fork, Ruff's Creek, Wheeling Creek, Cross Creek, Harmon's Creek, Brush Run, and Washington. Matthias Luce was moderator. The articles of the Association were read by one of the committee and adopted. There were copies sent to all churches. It was resolved that the Association , effect October 1st. A call to the Rev. J. C. Tuttle should meet at Washington in September of 1827. ' was given April 27, 1879; he accepted and assumed Entire harmony prevailed, and May 12, 1827, the . the position July 1, 1879. His resignation was received articles of the Washington Baptist Association were read and adopted by the church.


The Rev. Charles Wheeler, who was ordained Oct. 15, 1814, remained pastor of the church from that time until 1839. For several years the church was supplied with pastors whose calls were only temporary. There was a call to the Rev. - Davis, who occupied the pulpit for four months. In January, 1841, there were given calls to the Revs. Bell and Collins. A call to the Rev. - Bell, to serve the church until a settled pastor could be secured, was given April 3, 1841. A protracted meeting, at which it was decided to form a Sunday-school, was held, conducted by the, Revs. Bell and Collins. The Rev. - Collins was educated at Hamilton College, New York. He re- mained pastor until April 12th. During his pastorate one hundred and four were added to the church. The Revs. Charles F. Johnson, Billings, and Anderson each served a short time. The Rev. Charles T. John- son served in the year 1842-43. B. W. Tisdale, who became pastor Sept. 9, 1843, held his position until Feb. 13, 1846, when he resigned, his resignation to take effect April 1, 1846. On the 20th of September, 1846, a call to the pastoral charge of this church was extended to the Rev. Thomas Swain, of New Jersey. He accepted the call, and assumed charge the first Sabbath in October of that year. He was ordained Nov. 10, 1846. At this ordination delegates were present from the churches of Peters Creek, Grant and Spruce Street Church, Philadelphia. The charge


resigned his position Sept. 8, 1850. A call given to the Rev. George Young, Oct. 28, 1850, was accepted, and his position assumed Dec. 19, 1850; also a resig- nation, Nov. 12, 1854. The church was repaired in April, 1856. It was also received into the Pittsburgh Association, June, 1858. Daniel Moore had purchased a lot of ground for a parsonage Jan. 12, 1850. It was resolved to erect a parsonage as soon as the fund could be raised. Thomas Swain, H. W. Wilson, and James Ruple were the committee for that purpose. The Rev. Malachi Taylor became a chosen pastor in


July 9, 1882, which leaves the church at present without a pastor.


Following is an imperfect list of officers of this church, viz .: Trustees, Hugh Wilson, Daniel Moore, and David Shields, May 29, 1815; James Ruple, March 9, 1833; H. W. Wilson, Jan. 12, 1850; J. L. Dye, May 29, 1861 ; J. L. Dye, April 1, 1865 ; James Wilson, Henry Hull.


Clerks, Enoch Dye, March 1, 1815; Hugh Wilson, May 29, 1815; James Ruple, May 10, 1828; Henry Hull, Dec. 2, 1855 (still clerk).


Deacons, R. B. Chaplin and Daniel Dye, Dec. 9, 1820; Daniel Moore, July 9, 1829; Hugh Wilson (vice R. B. Chaplin, resigned), March 12. 1831; Henry Ritner (vice Wilson, deceased), May 9, 1836 ; Daniel Dye, May, 1842; James B. Riggs, - Little, November, 1851; - Jennings, - McDonough, Aug. 22, 1860; Samuel Kelley, Jan. 11, 1868 ; Bane, G. G. Holmes, Feb. 17, 1872; W. L. McCleary, Jan. 13, 1877.


The church has at present fifty-nine members. The present trustees are W. H. Wilson, John L. Dye, and Henry Hull.


For a more extended history of the early Baptist Church in this county reference is made to the his- tory of the Ten-Mile Baptist Church in Amwell town- ship, which contains the first minutes of Redstone Association, constituted in 1776.


Trinity Church (Episcopal) .- The first regular Street Church of Pittsburgh, Hollidaysburg Church, . Episcopalian services were held in Washington in the year 1843, when the Rev. Enos Woodward, of Browns-


was given to the candidate by Rev. James Eslip. He | ville, notified the Episcopalians here that if a suita-


ble place could be obtained he would preach to them occasionally. Through Prof. Richard H. Lee, the college chapel was procured and the services of the church were held on the fourth Sunday of each month. On the 12th of November in that year, by the Rev. Mr. Woodward, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Dyer, of Pittsburgh, the Lord's Supper was admin- istered for the first time in Washington, according to. the ritual of this church. Services were also held by the Rev. K. J. Stewart, of Connellsville, in the court- house and Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Under


519


WASHINGTON BOROUGH.


his advice the little congregation met at the house of Prof. R. H. Lee, and, after consultation, appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions for the purpose of erecting a church. The committee were Mrs. F. A. Barlow, Prof. R. H. Lee, R. P. Lane, M.D., and James R. Shannon. On the 22d of April, 1844, a meeting was held to effect a permanent organization. The following-named persons were organized into a so- ciety called "The Parish of Trinity Church :" Rich- ard Henry Lee, Joseph Gray, Curtis P. Brown, Abi- gail M. Brown, Mary C. Brown, Daniel Brown, Seth T. Hurd, William Howe, Hugh M. Reynolds, R. P. Lane, Anna E. Lee, Eliza H. Hill, Francis H. Lee, Flora Lee, Eliza M. Crafts, Letitia Poole, James Shannon, John Bollen, Harriet Bollen, R. Foster, Samuel Potter, F. Anika Barlow, Rebecca Burton, Harriet Burton, J. Bowman Sweitzer, James Mc- Corkle, and Leslie Carrons.


After the organization the following gentlemen were elected to constitute the vestry : R. H. Lee, R. P. Lane, Leslie Carrons, Joseph Gray, William Howe, James R. Shannon, and Hugh M. Reynolds. The Rev. Enos Reynolds was elected rector, and ac- cepted the office, which he held till May, 1845, when he resigned. He was succeeded by the Rev. E. J. Messenger, who remained until August of that year, when he tendered his resignation to become a mis- sionary to Africa. From this time to Dec. 1, 1850, the pulpit was filled by supplies, and Prof. R. H. Lee as a lay reader. On the 1st of December, 1850, the Rev. Samuel Clements became the rector, and remained until March 31, 1855, when he resigned. Prof. R. H. Lee was elected lay reader. In January, 1856, the Rev. George Hall became the rector, and served until December, 1856. In February, 1858, Prof. R. H. Lee was ordained a deacon by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Potter, and in October following was ordained a priest, and took charge of Trinity Church as its rector, and served till his death, Jan. 3, 1865. He was succeeded by the Rev. James A. Brown, Dec. 22, 1865, who served till Dec. 23, 1867. Jacob B. McKennan, who was appointed lay reader Jan. 1, 1868, supplied the pulpit until Oct. 17, 1869, when the Rev. J. K. Mendenhall became the rector, and was ordained Nov .. 5, 1869. The Rev. Samuel Earp was rector for a short time, and resigned in the fall | of 1881 to devote his time to Trinity Hall School, leaving the church at present without a rector.


cost of $3697.20. It was consecrated by Bishop Pot- ter Nov. 17, 1863. Services were held in the court- house during the time of its erection.


Methodist Episcopal Church .- The date of the organization of the Methodist Church in Washington is unknown, beyond the fact that it was prior to 1801. In that year its trustees-Thomas Lackey, Abraham Cazier, Abraham Johnson, Titus Rigby, and John Cooper-purchased lot 194 (sixty by two hundred and forty feet) of John Hoge for ten dollars, on con- dition that a house of worship should be erected for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This lot was on the southwest corner of Chestnut and Front (now Franklin) Street. The society through some unexplained mistake erected a log house (which is still standing), fronting on Chestnut Street, on lot 193, which is on the south- east corner of Chestnut and Franklin Streets. To effect a change in the title, a petition was made to the Legistature to give the trustees power to con- vey the title. An act was passed to this effect Jan. 5, 1811. On the 11th of January, 1812, a deed of lot 194 was given to Mr. Hoge by the trustees, and at the same time he conveyed to them the title to lot 193, on which their house was erected. The following, in reference to the trustees and the circumstances, is contained in the deed to Hoge : " Having by mistake erected and built their house for divine worship on lot numbered 193, the property of the said John Hoge, who has agreed to convey the same for the use of the said members of the Methodist Episcopal Church on receiving a conveyance for the within re- cited lot of ground. And as no legal authorized per- sons existed for that purpose, the Legislature of Pennsylvania, by a law duly enacted and passed the 5th day of January, 1811, did authorize and em- power the within-named Trustees to convey the title and interest of the members of the said Methodist Episcopal Church in the lot of ground to the said John Hoge in fee simple."




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.