History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 202

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 202

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engine was thereupon purchased for two hundred and seventy-five dollars of Ira Cummings, of Vermont. The engine was kept at the house of David Craig, who kept a store where the hotel now stands. It was in use for twenty years, and was then housed till 1868. On the 13th of March of that year the Council ordered the fire-engine and all pertaining to it sold. A report made to the Council, March 24th, shows that the engine, ladder, hooks, weigh-scales, etc., were sold, and for them twelve dollars and twenty-five cents was received. Since that time no attempt has been made to organize a fire department in West Middle- town.

Justices of the Peace .- Following is a list of jus- tices of the peace for West Middletown from 1840 to the present time, viz. :

James McFadden, April 14, 1840. Juhn Boyd, April 14, 1840; June 23, 1845.

Alexander Burns, June 23, 1845.

John Boyd, April 9, 1850.

James E. Lindsey, April 11, 1854. Thomas McFadden, May 25, 1857. James E. Lindsey, Aug. 8, 1859.

· Andrew C. Ritchie, April 10, 1860. R. B. McClure, April 20, 1864; Jan.

8, 1874.

D. M. Boyd, Feb. 1, 1874. R. B. McClure, May 24, 1874.

David M. Boyd, March 17, 1875.

R. B. McClure, March 27, 1879.

D. M. Boyd, March 30, 1880.

The following incident in connection with Squire Samuel Urie, who lived at West Middletown, is in- teresting. The docket from which it is derived is in possession of D. M. Boyd, Esq. On the 1st of Feb- ruary, 1818, complaint was made that a certain yeo- man did "yesterday, the 31st day of January, being the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday, at Hope- well Township chop off wood to the amount of two sticks as big as his leg or thigh and further sayeth not."

For this outrageous violation of law and order Squire Urie, on the 6th of February, five days after, delivered the following decision : " I do adjudge him to forfeit for the same the sum of four dollars." In addition, to this were the fees of the justice, seventy- five cents, and of the constable, twenty-five cents.

Post-Office .- The Postmaster-General's report of 1805 shows at that time there was a post-office at West Middletown, but fails to state who was postmaster. It is learned from the newspapers that David Craig was postmaster in 1808. He remained in that office till 1832, and was succeeded by Thomas J. Odenbaugh, who occupied the position till 1839. The following are the names of the postmasters of West Middle- town and their terms of office, viz .: John Smilie, 1839-45; Thomas B. Slemmens, 1845-49; Robert Dougan, 1853-57; David M. Boyd, 1857-65; Thomas McFadden, 1865-69; George McFadden, 1869-80; William Fowler, 1880 (present incumbent).

Schools of West Middletown .- The first school- house was a log building situated on the State road. School was taught in it by one of the McFaddens. The early history of the schools of the township, then embracing Independence, contains the history of the schools of this town up to the year 1856, when on the - 12th of May in that year it became a separate district.

818

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

The first school directors under this act were A. S. Ritchie, president; S. S. Quest, secretary .; and James Vasbinder, treasurer. Two schools were opened, and in 1863 there were one hundred and twenty-two scholars enrolled; the amount of money raised for school purposes of the district was $409.28, and the expenditures were $431.53. In 1873 there were one hundred and eight pupils ; receipts for school purposes, $625.80; expenditures, $587.33. In the year 1880, seventy-seven pupils ; receipts, $637.92; expenditures, $533.82.

Union Grove Seminary .- About the year 1828 this seminary was first opened, with James Sloan, principal. An anniversary meeting of the Franklin Literary Society, connected with the seminary, was held on the 4th of November, 1831. The trustees of the school at this time were Daniel McGugin, David Wherry, and William Lindsey. At an examination held on the 15th of November, the same year, J. An- derson, William Wallace, and Dr. Al. Hamilton were appointed by the trustees to take the charge. On the 22d of October, 1832, the school was opened under the superintendence of the Rev. Charles Wheeler as prin- cipal, and Mr. George Gordon (graduate of Washing- ton College) as assistant, and on April 7, 1834, George M. Hall was principal. The school flourished a few years after this time with varied success, and was finally discontinued at a date which has not been as- certained.

The old " Horse Mill Academy," established in 1844, the Upper Buffalo Academy, which commenced in 1853, and the Pleasant Hill Seminary, located near West Middletown, are mentioned on pages 453 and 455 of this volume, in Dr. Brownson's chapter on the educational interests of the county.

The West Middletown Christian Church.1-The early history of this congregation is so intimately associated with the movements of Thomas and Alex- ander Campbell, and the first church they planted on Brush Run, that the reader is referred to the article on the Christian Church, or Disciples of Christ, in the general history of the county, and the early labors of these men as there presented, as a necessary introduc- tion to a true sketch of the planting of this church.

Commencing in the year 1830, some of the former members of the old Brush Run Church, and of an- other church planted by the labors of Thomas Camp- bell, near to Hickory, began to meet for worship at Matthew McKeever's. The following are the names of some of the first members : Matthew McKeever and wife, Isaac Cox and wife, Martain and wife, Mother Buxton, George Webster and wife (colored), Mothers McCray and Gillen, James McElroy and wife, and occasionally Joseph Briant and others.

They afterwards met in a school-house at the east end of the village for some time, and also in other private houses besides Mckeever's. During these

years they were ministered to by the Campbells, by James McElroy, and others, who ministered Bible in- struction for their mutual edification and encourage- ment. There was, however, no regular organization of them into a church until the year 1837, which was effected at Pleasant Hill Seminary.

The following were then members : James McElroy and family, - Wort and family, James Ryon and family, Matthew McKeever and family, Polly Gillen, the Tarr family, and John Mendle and family. John Mendle and Matthew McKeever were chosen as their elders, and in addition to the labors of the Campbells they had for some time the labors of Matthew Clapp and Dr. A. W. Campbell, with occasional visits from other ministers of the word. After this they met for some time in town, in the school-house and in private rooms, until 1848, when they erected their first meet- ing-house, in the western portion of the village, a small brick building. Here they worshiped until 1861, when they sold their house and bought their present church building.

During these years, from the time of the erection of their first house for worship up to the present, many of the young ministers attending Bethany College have ministered to them the word of life, but for quite a number of years previous to his death T. C. 'Mckeever was their most active elder, laboring very acceptably to them and the public in word and doc- trine. After his death Samuel Matthews was located there for a while, and since his resignation the church has depended for preaching very much on the Bethany students.

This congregation has had much trouble and afflic- tion from internal dissension, which at times pros- trated it very much; but for some years past they have been doing well, having got rid of the disturb- ing element, and they are now in a good condition, though not strong, and their prospects for usefulness are very encouraging. The present number of mem- bers is forty-eight. The elders are Daniel Hare, John Nelson, and Thomas Lane. Their church property is worth about $1200.

United Presbyterian Congregation of West Middletown.2-The old minutes of this congregation have not been preserved, so that it is difficult to know the date of its organization. From the best informa- tion it was about 1810. Dr. John Riddle, of Robin- son's Run, preached the first sermon for our people in the month of May, 1802. From that time till 1814 more or less supply of preaching was furnished. In the month of June, 1814, Samuel Findley was settled here only a part of his time. His pastorate continued for eight years, when he demitted his charge; after- wards he spent most of his long life and labors at Antrim, Ohio. The congregation remained vacant until the fall of 1828, when William Wallace was settled here, in connection with Wheeling and Short

1 By the Rev. A. E. Myers.

2 By the Rev. Samuel Taggart.

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HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP.

Creek, West Middletown receiving half his labors. In April, 1833, at the urgent desire of the Wheeling branch, but much against the wish of the people here, he saw fit to demit his charge here and removed to Wheeling, where he spent the most of his labors, though he finished his course at Canonsburg. The memory of Drs. Findley and Wallace is dear to many here, and through a large portion of the church.

The present pastor accepted a call from the con- gregation, in connection with Mount Vernon, a new branch some nine miles east, two-thirds of his time to the former, and one-third to the latter. This rela- tion continued ten years, when for reasons deemed sufficient the Mount Vernon branch was demitted, and the whole time was given to West Middletown. This relation continued till the spring of 1855, when by mutual agreement he gave up the congregation and removed to Illinois. He found the climate did not suit his constitution, and though he had accepted a call in Peoria County, he concluded that he must have his home somewhere among the hills, he knew not where. After having been " well shaken," he re- turned from the West in 1856. He accepted the second call from his old charge, and remains here at this present date, January, 1882.

In 1818 the congregation built a house that re- mained intact until 1860, when we entered our new church. The present building is a substantial one, built of brick, with a view to utility rather than or- nament. It is fifty by seventy-five feet in size, with a gallery over the vestibule at the west end. It cost about four thousand dollars without the furniture. The people are pleased with it, and think it good enough for any country congregation.

This congregation belonged to the Associate Re- formed Church up to the period of the union with the Associate Synod in 1858. Then the present name . not been found practicable to obtain any connected of "The United Presbyterian Church" was assumed. history of the organization and subsequent progress of this church. There is also an African Methodist Church located in the borough of West Middletown. We have a legitimate claim to this title, for both these bodies were " true blue" Presbyterians previous to the union. While we do not claim to have attained to perfection, yet we are not ashamed of our creed, our profession, and our descent from faithful Scotch and Irish ancestors.

This congregation had about eighty communicants in 1834. It has varied from that number up to one hundred and seventy-five. There have been admitted to communion since that date more than six hundred, but from deaths and removals and other causes our number at present is about one hundred and thirty- three. Of the present congregation only one female member remains who had her name on the roll of membership when the writer was first settled here. About one-third of the ministers of the Presbytery of Chartiers have been called home to their reward since the union.

I will record the names of the ruling elders of the congregation who served here, most of whom have gone to the "house of silence :" Thomas Fullerton,

James Welch, Thomas Patterson, Thomas MeCall, Nathaniel Paxton, Thos. McCorkle, Samuel Patter- son, Thomas Ritchey, Jas. Thompson, Thomas Gorm- ley, Hugh Reed, John McCorkle, John W. Stewart, John Jamison, Samuel E. Brownlee, Aaron Welch, John Hemphill, all dead, making in all seventeen. Elders John Miloy and John Mustand removed from the bounds of the congregation, and are yet living. Walter Denny, R. C. Clark, D. F. Cummins, William Morrison, David McNary, and J. Forbes Welsh com- pose the present session. As to our progress in raising funds for ecclesiastical and benevolent pur- poses, we have advanced about one hundred and fifty per cent. In spiritual advancement we cannot speak with the same degree of certainty. The true con- dition of the soul is known only to the Omniscient One. The members attend regularly on the public ordinances, and we are generally favored with a num- ber of outsiders and others. We have generally enjoyed peace and harmony, so that, everything con- sidered, I can say this has been to me a pleasant charge. During the troubles in our country more than thirty communicants left this church. They sent to the South for a minister, and have a small congregation at Patterson's Mills. Whether they have gained by this change I do not pretend to de- termine. " To their own Master they stand or fall."

But I must bring this imperfect sketch to an end. In looking over our roll of six hundred and ninety ministers I find West Middletown has. the oldest settled pastor in the whole church. If the work done has not been very fruitful, we cannot complain that the time to perform it has been abbreviated.

Methodist Church .- A Methodist Church, located in West Middletown, has an excellent house of wor- ship, which was dedicated Jan. 15, 1878, but it has

Hopewelltown .- James Gillespie, who was a set- tler in the township prior to 1788 (his name being found on the assessment-roll of that year), conceived the idea of starting a town upon his tract of land. The land was on the east border of the township, nearly adjoining the present town of Buffalo. He in- serted an advertisement in the Washington Telegraphe and Western Advertiser of Feb. 10, 1797, which is here given :

" The subscriber has laid out a Town on his plantation (called Hope- well town) in Hopewell Township, on the great road leading from Henderson's Mills to Charlestown, mouth of Buffaloe, the 20th ultimo. The corner lots will be sold at twenty dollars each, the others at ten dollars each. The situation is elegant, about twenty rods from Heu- derson's Mills, and within one mile and a half from the two meeting- houses. Those that choose to purchase shall have a title in fee simple forever.

" JAMES GILLESPIE."

No further account of the embryo village is ob- tained till 1800. No deeds are on record prior to

820

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

that time that show that lots were sold, but on the 10th of June in that year Michael McClung sold to Francis Henry "lot No. 20 in Hopewell town," and the same was sold by him on the 26th of August, 1809, to John Trimble, William McClelland, Thomas Gillespie, and James Clark. Nothing more is known of it. All recollection or tradition of the town seems to have passed from the memory of man. Ezekiel Davis now lives on the James Gillespie property.

Schools .- Primitive schools, supported by sub- scription, were taught in this township, as elsewhere in the county, several years before the beginning of the present century ; but few particulars have been learned concerning them, or the teachers employed in them prior to 1828. Mr. William Hunter says he recollects at that time but four log school-houses in Hopewell, and that the teachers in that year, or in two or three years following, were John Ross, Bartley A. McClean, Nathaniel Jenkins, Samuel Eider, George Forester, and Joseph G. Chambers. The last named died in 1829.

Under the school law of 1834 the township (then comprising also the territory of Independence town- ship) was districted in that year and 1835 by a com- mittee chosen for the purpose, consisting of George Plummer, John Lowry, James Thompson, James Bell, Aaron Johnston, Abram Wotring. The num- ber of districts into which the two (present) town- ships was divided was twelve. There were then in the entire territory (Hopewell and Independence) four hundred and twenty-four persons liable to tax- ation for school purposes. David Craig and Hugh McGuire were elected the first school directors, and James Thompson treasurer. The amount of money raised in that year for school purposes was $349.37. In 1836 the township refused action under the school law, and only the State tax of $124.78 was raised. In 1837 the provisions of the law were accepted by the township, and a total of $718.15 was raised.

On the 26th of August, 1836, the township " resolved to build the necessary number of school-houses for the districts as soon as proper arrangements can be made, and that the secretary give notice in the Re- porter and Examiner for proposals on the first Monday of October next." Feb. 14, 1837, it was "resolved that the secretary be authorized to contract for brick for eight school-houses." David Craig and James Thompson were appointed "a committee to obtain right of school property for West Middletown Dis- trict, No. 3." Aug. 18, 1837, it was resolved that equal amounts be distributed among the several dis- tricts, except Middletown, No. 3, and Williamsburg, the former of which was to receive one hundred per cent. and the latter fifty per cent. more than the others. The secretary was authorized to contract with George Newcome to build these school-houses. The Adams school-house, No. 6, was also built by Newcome. Abraham Wotring, John Lowry, Henry Smith, Hugh McGuire, William Tweed, and James

Thompson were authorized to procure school lots, which they did, as follows .:

Lease, 99 years from James Boyd, 80 perches. $1.00

Purchase from Joseph Scott, 80 perches .. 1.00

Purchase from Alexander Adams and Aaron Tem-

pleton, 79 perches ... 10.00

Purchase from John Lowry, 72 perches .. 10.00

Purchase from William Jamison, 80 perches. 1.00

Purchase from John Dunkle, 80 perches. 12.00

Purchase from Joseph Bigham, 80 perches .. 1.00

Purchase from Isaac Manchester, 82 perches. 10,00

Purchase from Robert Harvey (Williamsburg), 3634 perches

60.00

These purchases were all made in 1837 and 1838. On the 27th of May, 1839, a lot was purchased of George Plummer, thirty-six perches, for the consider- ation " Love and respect for education, and the better maintenance and support of common schools." In 1845 the store of James McFadden was purchased for a school-house, in District No. 3. On the 14th of September, 1846, a lot was purchased of William Mc- Nulty for a school-house, and on the 16th of April, 1847, it was voted to proceed with the erection of a house forty-two by thirty-two feet, brick, thirteen inches thick, ten feet story, two stories in height. To this building another story was added in 1858.

The school report for the school year ending June 1, 1863, showed the following school statistics of the township : Number of schools, 6 ; number of teachers, 6; number of pupils enrolled, 216 ; receipts for school purposes, $983.69; expenditures, $695. The report for 1873 showed: number of schools in township, 6; number of teachers, 6; number of pupils enrolled, 162; receipts, $1389.95; expenditures, $1312.46. In 1880 the report showed the same number of schools and teachers ; number of pupils enrolled, 210; school receipts, $1356.11 ; expenditures, $1217.29. The pres- ent number of districts and school-houses in the township is six, exclusive of the West Middletown district, which has been separate and independent from the township in school matters in and since the year 1856.

Churches. - The Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church was organized in May or June, 1779.1 The location of the house of worship of this early congre- gation was a spot " near the northwest corner" of the old burial-ground, or "graveyard," as the old settlers in their austerity of speech as well as of manner loved better to express it. The building was simply a log house, differing in no essential particular from the meeting-houses of all denominations in the pioneer days, but it served the needs of this weak but devoted congregation for nineteen years, from 1779 to 1798. This included the period of the labors of their first pastor, the Rev. Joseph Smith. He had been called by the congregations of Upper Buffalo and Cross Creek, June 21, 1779. Each congregation agreed to

1 The reader is referred to the history of Cross Creek Presbyterian Church for the early history of this church ; also to the personal sketches of the Rev. Joseph Smith and William Smiley in the early settlements of this township. Much of the account here given of the Upper Buffalo Church is taken from the centennial addresses of the Revs. William E. Eagleson and James D. Walkinshaw, delivered June 19, 1879.

JOHN MAXWELL.

821

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP.

pay him seventy-five pounds. The story of his labors, pecuniary trials, and pastoral success is told elsewhere in the history of Hopewell township. He continued as pastor of both churches till the time of his death, April 19, 1792, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. During his pastorate, "in the latter part of the year 1781, the Lord began a gracious work in the congrega- tions of Cross Creek and Upper Buffalo. . .. At the time the Lord's Supper was administered at Buffalo, in the fall of 1783, about one hundred of the subjects of this good work were admitted to communion."

On the 13th of June, 1794, the Rev. Thomas Mar- ques was ordained and installed pastor of the Cross Creek congregation, and so continued until the be- ginning of the year 1798, during which pastorate he also acted as stated supply of the Upper Buffalo Church.

The second house of worship of this church was built in 1797-98. It was a large building, made of hewed logs, furnished with galleries on the ends and also on one side, the pulpit being on the other side. The first stoves were put in it in 1806 ; it was weather- boarded in 1808; pews were put in it in 1812. Some time afterwards the pulpit was painted and the house plastered. It was first used in 1798, and was occupied as a place of worship for forty-seven years.

The Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Society was incor- porated under civil law by act of Assembly passed March 29, 1804, and approved by Governor Thomas McKean. The first trustees of the society (named in the incorporation) were James Taggart, Sr., David Boyd, Alexander Hunter, William McComb, John Flack, Matthew Morrow, James Dinsmore, John Gilchrist, William Hughes.

From 1798 to 1800 this church was dependent on presbyterial and transient supplies. In October of the latter year the Rev. John Anderson, D.D., ac- cepted a call and at once entered on his pastoral du- ties. He was esteemed a good theologian, and super- intended the studies of a number of young men for the ministry, who took high rank among their minis- terial brethren; among them were Henry Hervey, D.D., William C. Anderson, D.D., James McKennon, D.D., and Rev. James Anderson.

The Rev. John Anderson, pastor of Upper Buffalo, was born in Guilford County, N. C., in April, 1768, and received his education, both academic and theo- logical, under the Rev. David Caldwell. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Orange in 1793, was shortly afterwards ordained as an evangelist, and spent several years in itinerant labor in the States of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. In 1799 he visited this part of the country, and in 1800, after the meeting of the General Assem- bly at Philadelphia, came here to remain as pastor of the church, as before mentioned.

concern. This was the beginning of that great work of grace that swept over this whole region in the beginning of the present century, commonly known as ' the falling work.' The most memorable Sabbath in the whole history of the church was the 14th of November, 1802, when the Lord's Supper was administered here. It is estimated that ten thous- and people were present. They brought their provisions with them, en- camped on the ground, and slept in their wagons. Fifteen ministers were present. On Saturday afternoon Dr. McCurdy and one of the other brethren preached simultaneously, one in the meeting-house and the other in the tent. Two sermons were preached in the same way on Sunday morning. Whilst Dr. Milligan and some of his brethren were administering the communion in the open space in front of the tent to about one thousand communicants, Dr. McCurdy preached his famous war sermon from a wagon some distance west of the meeting-house. The exercises on this occasion were continued until Tuesday evening. The divine power was signally displayed. Some hundreds were convinced of their sin and misery, and many of them sank down and cried bitterly and incessantly for several hours. Some fell suddenly; some lost their strength gradually ; some lay quiet and silent; some were violently agitated; and many sat silently weeping, who were not exercised with any bodily affections."

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 202

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