History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 183

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 183

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Henry Graham, Aug. 24, 1790. Simummel South, Aptil 11, 1796.

George Elliot, April 14, 1840.

James Donahoo, April 14, 1840; ' April 15, 1845.

John Cole, April 15, 1845. James Donaboo, April 9, 1850. Juliu Cole, April 9, 1850. James Donahoo, April 10, 1855. Julin S. Duncan, April 12, 1859. Thos. M. Patterson, April 10, 1860.

James Donnhoo, April 21, 1862. A. E. Walker, April 20, 1864.

James Donahoo, April 9, 1807; April 12, 1872.

A. E. Walker, Jan. 9, 1874.

Juhn S. Duncan, April 28, 1874.

A. E. Walker, May 24, 1874.

Lysander Patterson, March 16, 1876.

James M. K. Reed, March 21, 1877. Lysander Patterson, March 9, 1881.

Presbyterian Church of Cross Creek.2-The re- gion of country called Cross Creek began to be settled about the year 1770-71. The first settlers were mostly Scotch-Irish. Some came directly from the north of Ireland and west of Scotland, some from York County, Pa., and from Winchester, Va., and a few From Mecklenburg, N. C. Among these pioneers vere some pious men, who began to hold meetings for worship as early as 1776-77. Two such societies were organized within the bounds of Cross Creek. One was on Irish Ridge. The leading members of this society were John Morrison and Robert McCready (both of whom afterwards became ruling elders of the church of Cross Creek), William McCandless and Samuel Strain. The other society held their meetings at the house of Maj. William Vance, and in the houses around. The leaders here were Maj. William Vance, James Campbell, John Stone, Robert Barr, and William Wilson. For several years the settlers were greatly harassed by incursions of hostile In- dians. Not a few of those who fell under their murderous tomahawks lie in the burying-ground of

1 Cross Creek township was a separate justice's district from its erection in 1790 till the erection of election districts, May 4, 1803, when it be- came endraced with other territory in D strict No. 3, and so remained till 1838, when the office of justice became elective, and the township an independent district. The names of the justices who held jurisdiction within this townslap down, the period to un 1503 to 18 18 will be found m. luded in the list of justices of Hopewell township. In 18 Jeferson was taken from the territory of Cross Creek and made an independent township.

" Taken from a historical she th of the church, by the Rev. Jo! n Stockton, D.D.

fled into Vance's and Wells' Forts; the former one mile north, and the latter five miles west of this church. In these forts social and afterwards public worship was kept up for about seven years, especially in summer and autumn, the seasons when the In- dians were wont to make their raids. At these meet- ings in Vance's Fort some seven or eight persons were converted. Among them were Thomas Mar- ques and his wife Jane. Mr. Marques subsequently became first a ruling elder, and afterwards a pastor of this congregation. The Rev. James Powers, from the Forks of Youghiogheny, visited this region, and preached the first gospel sermon ever heard in it, on the 14th of September, 1778. This was under an oak- tree just outside the gate of Vance's Fort. After the sermon twenty-one children were baptized. Among them was the first-born of Mr. and Mrs. Marques.

In April, 1779, the Rev. Joseph Smith, from York County, Pa., visited this region and preached several sermons. After his return home the Rev. John Mc- Millan (who had come with his family to Chartiers in 1778) preached a few sermons in the bounds of Cross Creek. These sermons greatly stirred up the people to obtain the stated ministrations of the gos- pel among them. In the early summer of 1779, James Edgar came from York County, Pa., and pur- chased a farm in Cross Creek [then Smith] township. About the same time Messrs. William Smiley and Robert Caldwell and others came from the same re- gion (Chanceford and Slate Ridge) to Upper Buffalo. These likewise desiring the ministrations of the gos- pel, the two companies met at the house of James Marshel, midway between Buffalo and Cross Creek, and made out a call for the Rev. Joseph Smith, who had been their minister in York County. This call was dated June 21, 1779. The salary promised was sev- enty-five pounds. This call was carried down to the Presbytery of New Castle, then met at Carlisle, by Mr. Edgar, and was accepted on the 27th of October, 1779. In the summer of that year ,a committee of- three persons from Cross Creek and three from Upper Buffalo were appointed to locate sites for the two meeting-houses. The three members of the commit- tee from Cross Creek were Maj. William Vance, Rob- ert McCready, and Henry Graham, and Messrs. Wil- liam Smiley and Robert Caldwell were two of the members from Buffalo. These located the sites where the houses now stand. Henry Graham, Esq., donated the land for the church at Cross Creek.

In the autumn of 1779 the Rev. Joseph Smith re- moved with his family to his new charge. Shortly after his arrival three ruling elders were chosen by vote of the congregation, viz. : James Edgar, John Morrison, and George Marques. Mr. Edgar had been ordained an elder in York County. Mr. Marques was | appointed the first leader of the singing in the church. In the autumn of 1779, mainly through the influence of Mr. Edgar, Joseph Patterson removed from York

CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP.

County into Cross Creek. He was a Seceder from the north of Ireland; had been a school-teacher in York County ; was an ardently pious man ; became an ac- tive leader in meetings for social worship; afterwards a ruling elder in the church of Cross Creek ; subse- quently a minister of the gospel, and for many years was the faithful, successful, and greatly beloved pastor of the congregation of Raccoon Church.

In the winter of 1781-82 there was a considerable revival in the congregations of Upper Buffalo and Cross Creek. In the autumn of 1782 the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered for the first time in Cross Creek. About fifty persons from both of the congregations were received into full member- ship. This work continued with but little abatement for six or seven years. In June, 1787, about fifty members were added to the church of Cross Creek. Mr. Smith preached his last sermon at Cross Creek (from Galatians i. 8), and died of fever and inflam- mation of the brain on the 19th of April, 1792, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. His remains rest in the cem- etery of Upper Buffalo. The epitaph recorded on his tombstone was written by his intimate friend and fel- low-laborer, Rev. Thaddeus Dodd, of Ten-Mile, Pa.

In the winter of 1782-83 the first addition was made to the session. This addition was made by the ap- pointment of the session, and consisted of Thomas Marques, Joseph Patterson, and Joseph Vance. Near the end of Mr. Smith's pastorate another addition was made, consisting of Robert McCready, Esq., William Rea, Esq., Henry Graham, Esq., Robert Lyle, Hugh Newell, and Thomas Marshall. They were elected by the people, and this has continued ever since to be the mode of addition. These were ordained and installed by the Rev. James Hughs, pastor of the congregation of West Liberty, after the decease of Mr. Smith. After being supplied by the Presbytery for a little more than a year, Cross Creek gave a unani- mous call to the Rev. Thomas Marques to become their pastor, which was accepted. The preaching of Mr. Marques was very popular, and soon he received three calls for his ministerial services,-one from the united congregations of Bethel and Ebenezer, another from Ten-Mile, and another from Cross Creek. The call from Cross Creek (dated Oct. 18, 1793), was ac- cepted on the 23d of April, 1794, and as the congre- gation of Cross Creek was under the care of the Pres- bytery of Ohio, he was dismissed to put himself under the care of that Presbytery, and was by them ordained and installed on the 13th of June following. About the same time Upper Buffalo had given a call to the Rev. David Smith, son of their former pastor, which he held in his hands for consideration, and by agree- ment Mr. Marques was to supply their pulpit half of the time till they obtained a pastor. This he con- tinued to do till the beginning of the year 1798. From that date all his ministerial labors were given to Cross Creek till October, 1826,-a little over thirty- two years from the beginning of his pastorate.

Under the ministry of Mr. Marques a revival began in 1799. This brought about thirty members into the church. A season of great religious declension fol- lowed. In the summer of 1802 there began to be an increased interest on the subject of religion, and some additions were made to the church. This feeling in- creased till on the 5th of October what has been called " the great revival" was fully ushered in. This work was attended by extraordinary bodily exercises. This exercise was never relied upon by the ministers and elders of the Presbytery as evidence of true religion. Some of the subjects never became pious ; some who were eminently pious were the subjects of it; and not a few of the subjects became hopefully pious, and held fast and adorned their profession till death. This revival continued through the years 1803-4, and brought into the church about one hundred members. During this pastorate two additions were made to the session: in 1807, John Wilkin, Esq., Thomas Smith, Esq., John Marques, Hugh Edgar, and Samuel Mckibben; and in 1818, John Henry, James Fleming, George Newell, Hugh Lee, George Miller, Andrew Farrer, and Joseph Smith.

Mr. Marques was a natural orator. The tones of his voice were so musical that he was commonly called the "Silver-tongued Marques." Before resign- ing his charge in 1825 he earnestly requested the Rev. John Stockton to consent to become his suc- cessor, and used all his influence to effect that end. Shortly after seeing his wish accomplished he went on a visit to Bellefontaine, Ohio, to visit his son-in- law, Rev. Joseph Stevenson, and while there was taken ill with fever, and died on the 27th of Septem- ber, 1827, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.

The Rev. John Stockton was descended from Scotch- Irish ancestors. His great-grandfather, his grand- father, and his father were ruling elders in the Pres- byterian Church, while many of his near relatives were ministers and elders in the same church. He was born in the valley of Chartiers, near Washington, Pa., on the 18th of November, 1803; graduated at Washington College Oct. 3, 1820; studied theology with several others under the direction of Dr. John Anderson, of Upper Buffalo, and the Hebrew lan- guage and church history with Dr. Andrew Wylie, president of Washington College, for three years; was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Washington April 20, 1825, and afterwards spent a year at Princeton Theological Seminary. Shortly afterwards he received two unanimous calls, one from the congregation at Congruity, in the Presby- tery of Blairsville, the other from Cross Creek. After consulting with Messrs. Anderson, McCurdy, Wylie, and O. Jennings, and the congregation agreeing to be satisfied with whatever ministerial services he might be able to give them, he accepted the call of Cross Creek in April, 1827. He began to preach statedly on the first Sabbath of May, and was or- dained and installed on the 20th of June following.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

In these services the pastor elect preached a trial ser- mon on a text chosen for the occasion by Mr. Mc- Curdy, viz .: Ps. cxxv. 1: "They that trust in the Lord," etc. Dr. Jennings preached the ordination sermon from Col. iv. 17: "Take heed to the minis- try," etc., and Dr. Anderson gave the charges to the pastor and the congregation.

In the winter of 1827-28 another revival began in Cross Creek. This work spread over every part of the congregation, and continued for between four and five years. And so powerful was it that at one time one hundred and twenty persons applied for privilege to come to the Lord's table. Again, in 1835, 1836, and 1837, was another revival, and some one hun- dred and forty members were added. Again, in 1840, 1841, and 1842, there was another season of refreshing, when about one hundred persons were converted. At the commencement of this pastorate the session con- sisted of the following members, viz .: Hon. Joseph Vance, Robert McCready, Esq., Samuel Mckibben, George Miller, James Fleming, Andrew Farrar, Hugh Lee, and George Newell. In 1831, Hon. Wal- ter Craig, and Messrs. William Cowen, Ebenezer Smith, and John Armspoker were added. In 1837, Gen. James Lee, Abraham Barber, and James Dins- more were installed ; in 1843, Messrs. George Miller, Jr., Robert Lee, Thomas Wilkin, and John McKib- ben; in 1854, Messrs. Joseph Graham, Joseph Vance, Jr., and Andrew Reed; in 1858, Messrs, William Lee, Russell T. Johnson, and Samuel Cowen; in 866, Messrs. James Walker and William Campbell ; and in 1870, Messrs. Samuel White, David Gault, Richard Wells, and James Donahoo, Esq. In 1866, Samuel White and John D. Cowen were chosen and ordained to be deacons, and in 1876, Messrs. Isaac M. Lawton, Daniel Haines, John M. Boyce, and William K. Lyle were added to the board.

The congregation of Cross Creek has erected in succession five houses of worship, viz .: The first in 1779 of unhewed logs, twenty-six feet long by twenty- two feet wide; the second in 1784 of hewed logs, sixty feet by thirty, one story high, and pulpit in the side. To this afterwards another story and a gallery were added. This house was burned (sup- posed to have been fired by an incendiary) on Sab- bath morning, April 20, 1803. Forthwith the con- gregation built another house of stone, fifty-six feet square. This was the house in which the congrega- tion worshiped at the beginning of the pastorate of Mr. Stockton. This house becoming too small, an- other was erected of brick in 1830, seventy-six by fifty-six, with a gallery. The walls of this house be- coming cracked, and in the opinion of some unsafe, were taken down, and the present house built in 1864 on the same site. This house is of brick, eighty-two feet by fifty-four, with a lecture-room, a session-room, and a library-room in the basement.

The writer of the preceding historical sketch of the Presbyterian Church of Cross Creek, its ven-

erable and beloved pastor, the Rev. John Stockton, completed a full half-century in his pastorate. Feeling the infirmities of age increasing upon him, he desired to retire from the charge of the congre- gation at the end of his fifty years of service here, and accordingly, about three months before that time would expire, on the 29th of March, 1877, he addressed to the session a letter of resignation, ex- pressing the wish that the pastoral relation should be dissolved on the 20th of June following, and ask- ing that they unite with him in a request to the Presbytery to accept his resignation. In response to this letter the church met on the 2d of April, 1877, and gave formal but regretful assent to Dr. Stockton's proposal by the passage of resolutions, the sixth of which was as follows: "That though thus consent- ing in these providential circumstances to the disso- lution of the pastoral relation, and the release of Dr. Stockton from the responsibility of jurisdiction and labor, yet it is our earnest wish that he will accept, and that the Presbytery will grant to him, the title of 'Pastor Emeritus' of this church." Messrs. I. M. Lawton and H. C. Anderson were appointed to pre- sent the letter of Dr. Stockton and the resolutions of the congregation to the Presbytery, which, at its next meeting at Burgettstown, April 24, 1877, took the desired action, accepting Mr. Stockton's resig- nation, and conferring on him the title "Pastor Emeritus."

Agreeably to the request of this congregation, the Presbytery met on the 20th of June following at the Cross Creek Church, whence an adjournment was made to the grove near the village, where the people and members of Presbytery present listened to an ad- dress by Dr. Stockton embracing a history of his long pastorate. The Rev. J. S. Marques spoke on behalf of the congregation, and the Rev. J. I. Brownson on behalf of the Presbytery. In the address of Dr. Stockton he said that during the ministry of the Rev. Joseph Smith between one hundred and two hundred members were added to the church; that under Rev. Thomas Marques four hundred members were gathered into its fold; that during his own pas- torate fifteen hundred and forty-five were enrolled, more than one hundred had become ruling elders, forty-three had become ministers of the gospel, and others had filled important places in the State. Of all who were members when his pastorate commenced, a half-century before, only one, he said, then re- mained, " a venerable mother in Israel, who is with us to-day, in the ninety first year of her age." This old lady (Mrs. Hannah Lee) lived nearly five years longer, and died Feb. 24, 1882, in her ninety-sixth year. Her funeral was attended by her old pastor only about two months before his death.

After his retirement from the pastoral charge of this church, Dr. Stockton passed the remainder of his useful life in the quiet of his home at Cross Creek village. He died on Friday, May 5, 1882, in the

739

CROSS CREEK TOWNSHIP.

seventy-ninth year of his age. The funeral services were held at the church on the 8th of May. " About thirty ministers were present. The services were in- troduced with a brief and affectionate statement by the present faithful pastor, the Rev. W. H. Mc- Caughey, Dr. Stockton's successor; the Scriptures were read by the Rev. Smith F. Grier, and prayer was offered by the venerable Dr. Beatty, of Steuben- ville, Ohio. Then came three most suitable and timely addresses by members of the Presbytery. The first was delivered by Dr. J. I. Brownson, who gave a beau- tiful life-picture of Dr. Stockton as a preacher, friend, scholar, educator, theologian, and presbyter, having known him intimately for more than thirty-three years. He was always the same in sunshine and in storms, in safety and danger. He was a wise coun - selor. He was always firm and decided, but never rash nor reckless. He was one of the most prudent men of his day. This was owing to his excellent judg- ment and profound common sense. These never failed him, but served as regulators to all his actions, and a balance-wheel to all his movements. He was ex- tremely modest and unassuming. He made no dis- play of his power or parade about his learning. But the speaker had no time to portray all the noble traits of character. Dr. Stockton was an eminent Christian man. His piety was not of the negative kind, but was a life in the soul, a principle that regulated all his actions. His life was an embodiment of all the truths he so ably preached for more than fifty-five years." The address of Dr. Brownson was followed by others by the Rev. W. H. Lester, Rev. John S. Marques, and Rev. Dr. C. C. Beatty. The services were of an unusually impressive character and at- tended by a great assemblage of people.

The successor of Dr. Stockton and present pastor of this church is the Rev. W. H. McCaughey, who first preached here as a supply July 8, 1877, about two weeks after Dr. Stockton's retirement. A call was extended to him on the 13th of August, which was accepted, and he was ordained and installed on the 31st of October, 1877. In 1878 a lot was purchased and a parsonage built upon it at a cost of about two thousand five hundred dollars. The present member- ship of the church is two hundred and twenty-five.

Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church 1 at Patterson's Mills .- During the years 1864 and 1865, Rev. Alexander Weills, a Lutheran minister, preached part of his time at the school-house at Patterson's Mills. In the spring of 1866, Rev. James Calderhead, an As- sociate Reformed Presbyterian minister, came into the vicinity and preached, and on the 8th of July, 1866, he organized the present congregation with forty mem- bers. Thomas McCorkle, William J. Patterson, and James G. Smiley were the first elders, and were or- dained May 10, 1867. Rev. Mr. Calderhead supplied the congregation until May, 1867. The Rev. W. M.

McElwee then came and supplied until 1869, when he was followed by Rev. W. S. Moffitt, who supplied during part of the year 1869.

During the summer of 1869 the congregation, which was still worshiping in the school-house, built a frame church at a cost of about $2500, on one acre of land purchased from Samuel M. Cowen for $100. On the first Sabbath of November of the same year the new church was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, the Rev. Moffitt holding communion services at that time. During the spring and summer of 1870, Rev. James A. Myers, of Kentucky, supplied the pulpit. On Wednesday, August 10th of the same year, Rev. W. S. Moffitt preached, and moderated a call for the Rev. Mr. Myers for two-thirds of his time and services, which call was accepted, and on Nov. 6, 1870, Mr. Myers preached his first sermon as pastor of this congregation, and on the 24th of April, 1871, he was installed by Presbytery, the Revs. Moffitt and Barrowes delivering the charges. Mr. Myers devoted the remaining one-third of his time to a congregation in West Virginia known as Roach's.

On the 21st of May, 1877, James M. K. Reed and W. C. Jackson were elected elders, and soon after Mr. Jackson was installed, but Reed declined. A Bible-class and Sabbath-school was formed in 1865, and continues to meet during the summer seasons.

Rev. Mr. Myers continued with much acceptance as pastor until May, 1881, when, on account of ill health of himself and family, he was constrained to resign his charge. Rev. R. H. McAulay has since supplied the pulpit. On the 14th of September, 1874, a choir was appointed with Joseph R. Brown as leader. which position he still retains. On the 28th of No- vember, 1871, the first interment in the burial-ground connected with this church was made,-a young son of Simeon Marques.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JAMES PATTERSON.

James Patterson, the elder, was born in Ireland in 1708, emigrated to America in 1728, and settled in Little Britain township, Lancaster Co., Pa. There he married and raised a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters. The sons were William, John, Samuel, James, and Thomas. The first-named son, William Patterson, was born in 1733. He was twice married. His first wife was Rosanna Scott, who died April 5, 1769. By her he had these chil- dren : Mary, Moses, Samuel, Thomas, and James. April 10, 1770, William married his second wife, Elizabeth Brown, by whom he had ten children,- John, Rosanna, William, Nathaniel, Rachel, Eliza- beth, Josiah, Hannah, Nathan, and Eleanor. In 1779, William removed with his family to Washing- ton County, Pa., and settled in Cross Creek township

1 By James M. K. Reed.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

upon a farm now owned by his great-grandson, R. M. Patterson, where he died June 29, 1818. His wife, Elizabeth Brown, died about the year 1828. Their son, "Gen." Thomas Patterson, was born in Lancas- ter County, Pa., Oct. 1, 1764, and was fifteen years of age when he came with his parents to Washington County. He was a farmer and miller, was a promi- nent and influential citizen, representing Washington County for a number of years in the United States Congress, and died Nov. 17, 1841. About the year 1795 he married Elizabeth Finley, of Westmoreland County, Pa. She died Jan. 6, 1837. They had twelve children. Two died in infancy. Those who grew to manhood and womanhood were William, James, Samuel, Mary, John, Thomas, Finley, Elizabeth, Moses, and Rosanna.

James, the second son of Gen. Thomas and Eliza- beth (Finley) Patterson, and whose portrait is here given, was born in Cross Creek township, April 24, 1798. His home was always in the township where he was born, and the principal business of his life was farming. But when a young man he was em- ployed in his father's mill, and was at one time en- gaged in merchandising. In 1837 he moved to the farm now the home of his son, T. M. Patterson, where he died Aug. 17, 1861. He was married June 29, 1820, to Eliza Walker, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Norris). Walker, of Cross Creek town- ship. Their children were eleven in number. The oldest and youngest died in infancy. Those who grew up and married are Elizabeth, the wife of Rus- sell T. Johnson ; Mary, the wife of Richard Wells; Thomas M., married to Sarah J. Barber, is a farmer in Cross Creek township; Alexander W., married Jane Hodgens. He is a wool dealer, and resides in New York City ; Jane, the wife of Robert Marques, died May 29, 1859, aged twenty-seven years; Am- brose, married Margaret A. Richey, and resides in Plattsmouth, Neb .; James M., married Eleanor Campbell, and resides in Plattsmouth, Neb. ; David F., married Mary Gardner, and is a lawyer, residing in Allegheny City ; Emily A. is the wife of Samuel Latta, and resides in Cass County, Neb.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 183

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

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