History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 186

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 186

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The borough of West Alexander was erected in 1873. At the May term of the Court of Quarter Ses- sions of Washington County in that year there was presented a petition of a number of persons " inhabit- ants of the village of West Alexander, in the said county of Washington," respectfully representing

" that your petitioners reside within the limits thereof as hereinafter set forth and described; and that the . same contains more than eighty freeholders ; that they are desirous that the said village should be incorpo- rated by the name, style, and title of the borough of West Alexander, according to the following bounda- ries," proceeding to describe the proposed boundary lines by a number of courses and distances. Upon the hearing of this petition the court ordered the same to be laid before the grand jury. That body made a favorable report, the action upon which by the court is shown by the record as follows :

"And now Aug. 18, 1873, the court confirms the judgment of the grand jury and decrees that the said town of West Alexander be incor- porated into a borough in conformity with the prayer of the petitioners; that the corporate style and title thereof shall be the borough of West Alexander ; that the boundaries thereof shall be as follows, viz. [de- scribing the boundary lines of the borough]; and that the annual bor- ougli election shall be held at the public school-house in said borough on the third Friday in March, in accordance with, and subject to, all the provisions of the laws regulating township elections ; and the court de- clare the said borough a separate election and school district; the court further decree aud fix the first election in said borough for the election of, the officers provided for by law at the public school-house in said borough on the 23d day of September, A.D 1873. . . . "

The first election was held at the time and place designated. The borough officers elected at that and succeeding annual elections were and have been as follows, viz. :

1873 .- Burgess, Samuel Kimmens; Council, Christopher Sheller, Thomas Frazier, William C. Anderson, Samuel Noble, Michael Daugherty. 1874 .- Burgess, Christopher Sheller; Council, Robert Davidson, Samuel Kimmens, J. B. Reed, Joel Truesdell, W. C. Anderson,

1875 .- Burgess, Christopher Sheller; Council, Benjamin L. Craven, Joel Truesdell, William C. Anderson, John R. Anderson, Dr. J. B. Reed. 1876. - Burgess, James Ely ; Council, Robert Sutherland, John Reed, Samuel Kimmens, James S. Waltz, William E. Spriggs, Michael Daugherty.

1877 .- Burgess, Joel Truesdell; Council, Joseph F. Mayes, Robert Suther- land, George C. Stoulfire, M. Daugherty, Dr. S. A. Craig, William M. Murray.

1878 .- Burgess, James Leyda ; Council, Samuel Kimmens, William A. Barry, James Alexander, Jolin R. Anderson, George C. Stoolfire, Joseph S. Mayes.

1879 .- Burgess, Michael Daugherty ; Council, Isaac Post, William L. Porter, James Leyda, Dr. S. A. Craig, John R. Anderson, William Frazier.

1880 .- Burgess, Isaac Post ; Council, Joel Truesdell, Samuel Kimmens, William E. Spriggs, Oliver E. Murray, Robert Sutherland, John Mc- Kenzie.

1881 .- Burgess, Robert Sutherland ; Council, William C. Spriggs, Wil- liam Guess, David Holmes, Samuel Bushfield, Michael Daugherty, Joseph S. Mayes.

The justices of the peace of West Alexander since the town became a borough have been the following named: Joseph F. Mayes, September, 1873 ; J. S. Waltz, March, 1874; Joseph F. Mayes, March, 1877 ; J. S. Waltz, March, 1879. Of those named in the list (given in another place) of justices appointed and elected for the township of Donegal, the following named were residents in West Alexander, viz. : Jo- seph Alexander (commissioned Feb. 9, 1799), died Oct. 1, 1834; Isaac Mayes (first commissioned July 13, 1811), died July 16, 1844 ; John Sutherland (com- missioned April 11, 1843), died Dec. 12, 1856; Wil- liam S. Alexander (commissioned May 19, 1857), died

1 Dr McKeehan was a surgeon in the war of 1812, in which service he Was wounded and taken prisoner at Malden, Canada. He came to West Alexander in 1826, and died Sept. 20, 1866, aged ninety-three years.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

WEST ALEXANDER, WASHINGTON CO., PAI

749

DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.

January, 1874; John C. Henry (April, 1860) ; and Joseph F. Mayes, who was elected in 1862, re-elected in 1867 and in 1872 in the township, and in 1873 and 1877 in the borough, as before stated. West Alex- ander, being located within a very short distance of the State line, has for at least three-fourths of a cen- tury been regarded as a sort of Pennsylvania Gretna Green, whither an immense number of couples have come from across the State line and elsewhere to have the marriage ceremony performed by the justices and clergymen of West Alexander. Up to the 4th of July, 1876, the Rev. William H. Lester had married more than five hundred couples. Joseph Alexander, Esq., married four hundred couples during the long time he held the office of justice of the peace. Justices Isaac Mayes and John Sutherland married, respec- tively, nine hundred and thirty and nine hundred and seven couples, and William S. Alexander, Esq., performed the marriage ceremony two hundred times. But all these figures are belittled by comparison with the record of Justice Joseph F. Mayes, who during his official career down to the 19th of September, 1881, had joined one thousand nine hundred and eighteen couples in wedlock. The total number of couples married by the justices and clergymen of West Alex- ander considerably exceeds five thousand, of which number a large proportion came from West Virginia.

Joseph Finley Mayes, the veteran justice above mentioned, who has now filled the office with honor for twenty years, is a native of West Alexander, . . . and a grandson of Charles Mayes, who came to Washington County with his family in 1786 from his previous home near Gettysburg, Pa., where he had lived on the " Carroll Tract," owned by Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence. Soon after his arrival in Washington County he purchased from Henry McDonough, of Somerset township, a tract of two hundred and forty-three acres of land in Donegal township, about one and a half miles east of West Alexander, paying therefor (whether in part or in full is not known) a rifle and a yoke of oxen. On this tract of land he settled and made his home. Charles Mayes' son, Isaac Mayes (the father of Joseph F. Mayes, Esq.), was a black- smith, and worked at his trade in West Alexander, which was his home for many years. He served as justice of the peace for the long period of twenty-nine years (1811 to 1840), and died in July, 1844.

The first school in West Alexander was taught by - Robinson, commencing about two years after tho town was laid out by Robert Humphreys. How long the first teacher continued in charge of it is not known. Samuel R. Mayes taught the school some time prior to 1810. The immediate successors of these early teachers are not now remembered. Of the great number who taught in the town since that time the names of a few are here given (though the dates of their teaching have not been ascertained), viz. : 48

Gilbert Marshall, Thomas J. Holliday, John Gordon, William Dickey, George McDonald, Miss Jane Pol- lock, Miss A. C. Bell, James McElroy.

The West Alexander Academy was established in 1828, with the Rev. John McClusky as principal. It became a chartered institution in 1840. In 1853, Mr. McClusky was succeeded by the Rev. William H. Lester, and in the next year the present fine academy building was erected. For twenty-four years the school remained in charge of the Rev. Mr. Lester. In 1877 it was in charge of Miss May Pollock. It is not now in operation. Fifty-nine students of this academy became ministers of the gospel.

Upon the erection of the borough it was made a separate and independent school district. It has now a good and commodious school building, of capacity to accommodate one hundred and twenty pupils. Two schools are taught in it. During the time that West Alexander has existed as a borough and an independent school district its school board has been composed as follows :

1873 .- Rev. M. Ormund, James Ely, Rev. W. H. Lester, Samuel Nuble, John R. Anderson, James S. Waltz.

1874 .- Samuel Kimmins, Dr. R. Davidson, William C. Anderson, James Ely, B. F. Craven, James S. Waltz.

1875 .- Dr. R. Davidson, J. R. Anderson, J. S. Waltz, Samuel Kimmius, David Howell, W. C. Anderson.

1876 .- J. R. Anderson, Dr. R. Davidson, Samuel Kimmins, W. C Ander- son, David Howell, J. S. Waltz.

1877 .- W. C. Anderson, David Howell, J.S. Waltz, William Barry, R. B. Daugherty, Joel Truesdell.

1878 .- W. A. Barry, J. R. Anderson, W. H. Nease, Dr. J. B. Reed, J. S. Waltz, R. B. Daugherty.

1879 .- W. A. Barry, J. R. Anderson, W. H. Nease, R. B. Daugherty, Samuel Kimmins, J. S. Waltz.

1880 .- Samuel Kimmins, J. R. Anderson, R. B. Daugherty, W. II. Nense, O. E. Murray, James S. Waltz.

1881 .- Samuel Kimmins, R. B. Daugherty, S. A. Craig, O. E. Murray, J. S. Waltz, W. II. Nease. 1

Presbyterian Church of West Alexander.1-The first Presbytery west of the Allegheny Mountains was Redstone. From its minutes Nov. 19, 1785, it is learned that "supplication was made for supplies from Three Ridges," now West Alexander. "Mr. Frisby was appointed to supply Three Ridges the last Sabbath in November." This is the earliest recorded mention of the church. After this its name is frequently found in the records of that body. In the published journal of Col. John May, who tray- eled through this part of the State in August, 1788, is found the following: "In the course of the day's ride I saw a little box, something like a sentry-box, near the side of the road, but several miles from any house I could see, and standing on four posts. I was told on inquiry that it was a pulpit, and to that spot people went to worship the God of Jacob. As all the earth is His temple, I think this is not an improper place for worship. Near this place was cut the sec- tion of a vista through the forest making the boun- dary line up to Lake Erie between Virginia and

1 By Rev. William H. Lester.

750

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Pennsylvania." This allusion to the boundary line makes it certain " the little box" was on the very place where the Presbyterian Church now stands.

In 1790 a call was made for the pastoral labors of Rev. John Brice. In April of that year he was or- dained and installed over the church. Being unable 'to support a minister the entire time, it was connected with the church of the Forks of Wheeling, each hav- ing the services of the pastor half of the time. This connection continued until 1814, when, through the increase of numbers and means, it was able to support a minister the whole time. This the first pastorate continued till 1807, when Mr. Brice, through infirmi- l"ties of age, resigned the charge. He died in 1811.

In 1809 the Rev. Joseph Stevenson became the pastor, and, like his predecessor, remained such seven- teen years. On account of the spiritual destitution of the then "Far West,"-Western Ohio,-he resigned the charge and settled in Bellefontaine, Ohio. He there organized a church, and spent several years in successful pastoral work. He died in 1865.

The third pastor was the Rev. John McClusky, D.D. He was settled over the church in October, 1828, and remained until 1854. He removed to Philadel- phia, and died in 1881. Through his efforts and un- ‹ler the care of this church the West Alexander Academy was founded. From this school nearly fifty ministers have gone out to preach the gospel. As preachers, lawyers, physicians, and teachers, its pupils may be found in almost every State.

The fourth pastor is the Rev. William H. Lester, who was ordained and installed here in 1854. Nearly twenty-eight years of pastoral service, and not un- blessed, have been rounded out, and he still remains to " break to the people the bread of life." This has been a church of long pastorates. The modern cus- tom of frequent ministerial changes has not as yet been imbibed by this congregation. Almost a hun- dred years have passed since its organization, and it has had only four ministers.

The first church building was a rude log house, the timber of which grew on the spot where the church stood. Its seats were slabs split from logs. It had no stoves for heating, and was destitute of every outward comfort. In the summer the preaching was in the woods. In rainy weather and winter it was in the church. Years afterwards the growing congregation required a larger building and increased accommoda- tions. It stood on the site of the old house, and was also a log one. It was seated with pews. It also had a pulpit, a lofty one. This church is said to have been the admiration of the whole region of country. The present building is brick, large, plain, neat, and comfortable, with a sitting capacity for six hundred persons, and is usually well filled. "God's word and its doctrines as formulated by the Westminster As- sembly of divines" is the creed. It has been blessed with "revivals" all through its history. From thirty to a hundred persons have many times been received

into membership at a single communion. Its most remarkable work of grace was at the great religious awakening in all this region of country about 1800, known as "The Falling Work." The preaching was of the kind called "the terrors of law," solemn and alarming. The hearers, becoming violently agitated in body and mind, would fall to the floor, and for a considerable time would remain unconscious. This state was followed after by an experience of peace and joy. The most wicked and hardened persons were those who would be the most affected. Without attempting to explain these bodily movements, it may be said the fruit of the work was a deep and abiding piety, the influence of which is felt even now. The old Scotch custom of communing (at the Lord's Sup- per) sitting at the tables was introduced here, and is still observed. This is almost the only church in the entire body which adheres to this form of communion.

This church has not always sailed on smooth seas and on peaceful waters. All the people here origin- ally worshiped as one congregation. "Rouse's Ver- sion of the Psalms" was the medium of praise. On the occasion of Mr. Brice using " Watts' Psalms" the division came. The grandfathers and grandmothers of those who now compose the United Presbyterian Church of this place, true to their grit and conscien- tious convictions, would not endure " human compo- sure," and so went out. An arbitration in regard to the church property followed. The whole matter was amicably arranged. The Presbyterians held the prop- erty on the payment of a sum of money, which was satisfactory to both parties.

The " Anti-Slavery" element in this part of the State has always been strong. This church is located on a line of a once slave and a free State. This no doubt increased the intensity of the feeling. Here the sub- ject passed beyond the limits of a political question. It became a religious one. The storm which gathered and broke over the country in 1861 gathered and broke over the church nearly twenty years before. A paper passed by the General Assembly to the effect that slaveholders were not to be debarred from Chris- tian fellowship and communion was regarded by many as an indorsement of the system. Sadly and con- scientiously a very considerable number left in 1849 and formed the Free Presbyterian Church. It har- monized in doctrine and polity with the old church, and in the main differed only on the manner slavery was to be viewed and treated. It was ministered to by the Revs. J. S. Poage, Robert Burgess, - Daw- son, and Samuel McLain. At the close of the civil war, slavery having been abolished, and the General Assembly having made deliverances on the subject, substantially agreeing with the views of the church, it was disbanded, and most of the members found a home in the church they left years before.

Emigration has drawn heavily upon the numbers and resources of this church, yet it is now perhaps as strong as at any previous time in its history. It has

751

DONEGAL TOWNSHIP.

a membership of fully three hundred, and its Sabbath- school is large and flourishing.

United Presbyterian Church of West Alexan- der.1-The precise date of the organization of the United Presbyterian Church of West Alexander is not definitely known. The earliest Presbyterial rec- ords to which the writer had access state that in the year 1793, " a supply of preaching was granted to the Associate Reformed Church of Three Ridges,". the name by which it was known at that time. But from other records it may safely be considered as having had an existence some years prior to that date.

Its first pastor was the Rev. Alexander McCoy, who afterwards became the leader of a party known as the " McCoyites."

Mr. McCoy was born in Ireland in 1754, came with his parents to the province of Pennsylvania in 1774. He had received a classical education in Ireland, and some time after his arrival in this country concluded to complete his studies, and entered Dickinson College in 1792. He studied theology under the Rev. John Jamison, and was licensed May 4, 1795, by the Second Asssociate Reformed Presbytery of Pennsylvania.

By the same Presbytery he was ordained and in- stalled Oct. 29, 1795, over the united charges of Three Ridges at West Alexander, Pa., and Short Creek, Ohio Co., W. Va.

The Associate Reformed Synod at its meeting in May, 1799, in Greencastle, Pa., adopted its constitu- tion and standards, and in doing so modified the doc- trine of the Westminster Confession of Faith concern- ing the power of the civil magistrates in matters of religion. Against this change Mr. McCoy protested, and declined the further authority and jurisdiction of the Synod. His name was therefore stricken from the roll of Presbytery June 25, 1799.

On the 11th of November, 1800, Rev. Robert War- wick settled in the vicinity of Cincinnati, also de- clined the authority of the Associate Reformed Synod, and for the same reason as Mr. McCoy these two min- isters, with two ruling elders, met in Washington, Pa., Jan. 27, 1801, and formed themselves into an inde- pendent Presbytery, naming it " The Reformed Dis- senting Presbytery." This new organization seldom numbered more than three or four ministers, and often not more than two. Its weak condition im- pelled it at last to a union with the Associate Church, in the year 1851. Meanwhile Mr. McCoy's two con- gregations adhered to him, and for some years he gave part of his time to a third congregation in Belmont County, Ohio. On account of an infirmity which made it difficult for him to ride on horseback, he resigned his charge about 1815 and moved to Pitts- burgh, Pa., and preached there until his successor, Rev. John Pattison, died (in 1825), at which time he returned and served his two original congregations for five or six years. The infirmities of age at length

compelled him to cease from his labors. He died of paralysis June 17, 1834.

His successor was the Rev. William Neil, who was born in Ireland about 1800 ; was educated at Frank- lin College, and studied theology with his predecessor, Mr. McCoy. He was licensed May, 1829, by the Re- formed Dissenting Presbytery, and accepted a call Oct. 18, 1831, from the united charge of Three Ridges and Short Creek. He performed the duties of pastor for a number of years, after which he joined the Re- formed Presbyterian Church, and then the Associate Presbytery of Chartiers, finally withdrawing alto- gether from the active duties of the ministry.

Rev. Joseph Shaw was the next pastor. He was educated at Franklin College, studied theology pri- vately, was licensed May 29, 1839, by the Reformed Dissenting Presbytery, and ordained and installed in 1840. In April, 1843, he and a majority of the con- gregation withdrew from the communion of the Re- formed Dissenting Presbytery and united with the Associate Church, which was the beginning of the Associate congregation of West Alexander.

When Mr. Shaw joined the Associate Church the validity of his ordination was called in question be- cause the Presbytery which had ordained him was composed of only one minister and two ruling elders. The Associate Synod, however, decided that the ordi- nation, although irregular, was valid. He remained pastor of the congregation until Oct. 5, 1852, when he resigned. In the spring of 1853 he moved to Belle- fontaine, Ohio, where he united with the Presbyterian Church, and conducted a High School. He died in December, 1875.

A short time after the resignation of Mr. Shaw, the congregation called Rev. J. C. Murch, who was born March 20, 1820, at Sandgate, Vt. He was a graduate of Dennison University, Granville, Ohio; studied theology at Canonsburg, Pa., and was licensed Oct. 29, 1850, by the Presbytery of Chartiers. He was installed pastor of the West Alexander congregation in September, 1853, and continued to labor there until the union of the two branches of the church in 1858. He took charge of the congregation of New Concord. Ohio, February, 1860, and continued there until Feb- ruary, 1876. On Jan. 15, 1879, he was installed over the congregation of Scotch Ridge, Wood Co., Ohio, where he remained until his death, May 27, 1879.

From 1799 the Associate Reformed congregation of Three Ridges lost its identity as such until the year 1838, when it was reorganized. After the reorganiza- tion in 1838, the congregation called the Rev. Joseph S. Buchanan, who was ordained and installed pastor Nov. 24, 1840, and who remained with it until 1854, when he resigned on account of ill health. He moved to Portersville, Pa., where he taught a classical school for some years, and eventually retired from active labors to Monmouth, Ill., where he now lives.

Rev. D. G. Bradford was the next pastor. He was ordained and installed April 8, 1856, and released

1 By Rev. W. M. Coleman.

752

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

October, 1857, when he became pastor of the Second Associate Reformed congregation of Allegheny City, l'a., and was released April 14, 1863, to take charge of the First Church of Monmouth, Ill., where he con- tinued until 1867. Subsequently he joined the Pres- byterian Church, and has filled several pastorates in it.

After the union in 1858, the two congregations united their strength and called Rev. Josiah Steven- son to be their spiritual guide. He was ordained and installed .December, 1859, and released November, 1870. From this he went to North Buffalo, Pa., where he remained until February, 1876, when he afterwards took charge of the congregations at Greens- burg and Latrobe, Pa., where he at present labors.

In the fall of 1871, Rev. Marcus Ormond was chosen pastor, who entered upon his new field of labor on January 1st, was installed June 11, 1872, and was re- leased Oct. 12, 1876. Some time after his resignation he was smitten with congestion of the brain, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. His memory failed him and he lost the power of speech. The ordinary transactions and acquirements of his past life he could recall, but the knowledge he had ac- quired in his college course became an entire blank, and did not return until the hour of his death.

On Wednesday morning, Nov. 28, 1881, he left his home in Oxford, Ohio, to go to Indianapolis, Ind. On Friday evening, having reached Milroy, Ind., he stopped for the night with a family with whom he was acquainted. An hour after retiring the family heard him moaning, and on going into his room found him just expiring. A few moments later and before the physician arrived, his spirit had taken its flight.

Rev. W. M. Coleman, the present pastor, was in- stalled Dec. 4, 1877. He found the congregation somewhat divided and depressed, but better days have come, and its members are united and earnestly at work.

On April 10, 1875, the congregation dedicated to the worship of God a beautiful and substantial struc- ture, built of brick, roofed with slate, and furnished after the latest and most improved style.

Like an individual life, the congregation has had its ups and downs, and as it made its progress through the years it has rested sometimes in the sunlight and sometimes in the shade. Though its history has been a checkered one, the Lord has been always on its side.

Methodist Episcopal Church of West Alexan- der .- A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized here before the year 1825. The first church was a log building on Main Street, occupied at that time by William Whitham. The early preachers were Rev. Hiram Gilmore, Rev. William Summers, Father Lock, Rev. Mr. Brock, and others. In 1835 a good frame edifice was erected, where a small congregation continued to worship until recently. The pastor having it in charge is Rev. George Sheets, of Clays- ville Circuit. The class-leader is Mr. A. Daugherty.

West Alexander Cemetery .- The company by which this cemetery was laid out was organized early in 1871, and incorporated August 31st in that year. The board of directors was composed of Thomas Frazier (president), Samuel Kimmins, William Arm- strong, E. Buchanan, William Reed, E. Brownlee, David Blaney, Joel Truesdell (secretary and treas- urer), James Todd, and Alexander McCleary. A traet of ten acres was purchased from W. A. Hagerty at three hundred dollars per acre. This tract was handsomely laid out as a cemetery in the modern style, with walks and carriage-ways, and tastefully decorated by the planting of evergreen and other trees. The cemetery occupies a beautiful site on rising ground, from the higher parts of which the views are fine and extensive. The first interment in this ground was that of Thomas McConn, who died in the fall of 1871. On his tombstone is an inscrip- tion (made in accordance with his wish, expressed a short time before his death) noting the fact that his remains were the first deposited in the ground of the new cemetery.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 186

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