History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 219

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 219

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The church thus formed used as a place for their religious services a log house which was built on the Robert Estep property, which is now in Union town- ship, but then belonged to the territory of Peters township. The Rev. John Whittaker preached for them for some time after, but for what length of time is not known, as no church records are extant until the year 1793. From a road record filed in the re- corder's office at Washington, in this county, it is seen that in 1783 this society presented a petition that a road might be opened "from McKee's Ferry to the Peters Creek Meeting-House."

The trustees of Peters Creek Baptist Church pur- chased a building site of John Cox and wife, the transfer being made Sept. 10, 1788, according to the tenor of a deed recorded on page 462, Book 2, vol. i., of Washington County records. The church edifice was built on property now owned by Benjamin Lytle, ad- joining the Bradford mill.

Among the relics having reference to the early his- tory of this church is an ancient subscription paper which is now in possession of E. M. Townsend, of Peters township, and of which the following is a copy :

" We, the under-subscribers, do promise to pay or cause to be paid the sums annexed to our names, for the use of the Rev. David Phillips, for his labour in the gospel, into the hands of William Phillips, and that on or before the first day of March ensuing.

" Witness our hands this second day of May, 1789.

€ . d.

William Phillips.

Lemuel Sayer.

2 0

Joseph Phillips.

Samuel Foster.

1 0

John Masters ..

Peter Sharp ..

Richard Masters

1 Daniel Townsend.

Peter Rowletter.

Abram Whittaker

Thomas Rigdon.

William Rigdon ..

John Mallory.

1 The preceding is mainly based on information received from Sumuel King, of Allegheny County.

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

This paper shows that Rev. David Phillips was serving the church at that time. The church then consisted of two branches, one at Elizabethtown and one at Peters Creek. Rev. Mr. Phillips was called to the ministry of these two churches in April, 1781, and in the May following was ordained by a council con- sisting of Rev. Mr. Woods and William Taylor, and from that date preached at Elizabethtown, Finley- ville, and Budd's Ferry, on the Youghiogheny River, until 1793. In the assessment-roll for Peters town- ship in 1784 he is mentioned as "Preaching David Phillips," to distinguish him from Col. David Phil- lips, also a resident of the township.

In 1793 there occurred a revival in the Peters Creek branch, through which the church was greatly augmented in numbers, and on Jan. 1, 1794, they chose Rev. Mr. Phillips for their pastor. The con- solidation with the Elizabethtown branch soon fol- lowed, and the two were afterwards one society, and one pastor served both, there being two houses of worship in use, one at or near Gastonville, and one at Elizabethtown.

On April 3, 1810, the property at Gastonville was sold by the pastor and Daniel Townsend and Charles Daily, trustees of said church, to James Gaston. Two years later Samuel Gaston became the owner of the land. The proceeds of the sale of the church prop- erty were applied to the erection of a hewed log house upon another building lot, which was the gift of the pastor, Rev. Mr. Phillips, and which was used until 1832, when it gave place to the present brick edifice. Rev. Mr. Phillips continued to discharge the duties of pastor of the Baptist Church until 1824, when he had become disqualified by his great age. He died in 1829, of paralysis, leaving many relatives and friends, and loved and honored by all who knew him.

From 1824 to 1829 the church was supplied by several ministers, among whom were Revs. Charles Wheeler, John Winter, and Joshua Bradley. During this time the quiet of the church was so greatly dis- turbed by the doctrines preached by Rev. Alexander Campbell and others of his faith that on Aug. 5, 1829, a meeting was held and the society adopted the Philadelphia Baptist Confession of Faith, in concur- rence with its former church covenant and disci- pline, as generally expressive of its views of Scrip- tural doctrine.

Early in the year 1829, Rev. William Shadrach, a young man who had just commenced to preach, was given a trial in the church, and so pleased the people that he was called to the pastorate of the church, which he accepted. This relation existed for six years (the new brick church being built at a cost of $1250, and the cemetery renovated and improved during the time), when it was dissolved at the pas- tor's request. Revs. William Penny and Benoni Allen seem to have served the church jointly for the next three years, and were then succeeded by

Rev. Dr. James Estep, who was unanimously chosen pastor.

This relation continued for nearly a score of years, when Dr. Estep became enfeebled by old age and was obliged to resign, although he occasionally filled the pulpit afterwards. He died Feb. 26, 1861, after hav- ing given more than half a century to the ministry.

Rev. David Williams, who came to preach in the church in January, 1859, remained four years, and under his teachings the church grew and prospered greatly. Of Rev. George Saymore's service here it has been said, "His pastorate took place during the great Rebellion, which moved the heart and tried the spirit, resources, and patriotism of every loyal citizen, and this church felt deeply the paralyzing influence on its prosperity and piety." The Rev. J. W. Collins commenced his labors with the people of Peters Creek Baptist Church in March, 1866, remained two years, and through his influence a number of new members were added to the church, and the building was re- paired and improved. Rev. A. G. Collins succeeded him in 1869 and labored three years, when Rev. Henry Lewellen came to the place, and is still in charge, having served all the years in a most grat- ifying manner.

Since the organization of the Baptist Church the persons who have served as its deacons have been Joseph Phillips, Sr., Joseph Higbee, Charles Daily, Ephraim Estep, Isaac King, William Benson, John King, Joseph Phillips, John Maits, Sr., John Maits, Jr., Samuel Hetts, Peter Boyer, Samuel Boyer, Ed- ward Riggs, and Isaac Phillips. Between six hun- dred and seven hundred persons have been received on profession of faith, and the contributions of the church to the various evangelical societies have been very liberal in proportion to its ability. Of the many persons who have gone out from this church to engage in ministerial work, Charles and John Rigden labored in Ohio, James Estep and Henry Wade were two of whom but little has been learned, Joshua Phillips is now preaching in Ohio, and J. W. Higbee is in the University of Lewisburg as a licentiate. Sidney Rig- den went from here and for some time was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Pittsburgh. He first be- came interested in the peculiar tenets advocated by Rev. Alexander Campbell, and afterwards made a total wreck of his faith and the hopes of his brethren by associating himself with Joseph Smith in origin- ating and espousing Mormonism.

For more than a hundred years this church has been enthusiastic and generous in the advancement of religion, and for upwards of forty years has ably and creditably sustained its excellent Sabbath-school. The church edifice has always belonged to the old original territory of Peters township, but at one time was in the part since set off as Union township, then in Peters township, and is now within the limits of Library, Allegheny County, but a little distance from the county line.

893

PETERS TOWNSHIP.

Peters Creek United Presbyterian Congrega- tion .- A full century ago a religious association was formed in this section, which became the nucleus of the Peters Creek United Presbyterian Congregation, one of the most prosperous and influential religious institutions in Peters township. In January, 1809 this congregation purchased a site whereon they built a house of worship. It was on a lot containing two acres, surveyed from the tract " Crookston," granted to Richard Crooks in 1786, and sold by him in 1791 to James Mitchell. The purchase was made by John Frear, Andrew Borland, Robert Thompson, and Jo- seph Logan, who were the trustees of the church, and they paid ten dollars for the land. The deed conveying the property stipulated for the church the "liberty of the spring west of the meeting-house, and a foot-path to the spring from the meeting-house, and of a road from the main road between James Moss' line and James Mitchell's line." The following de- tails of the rise, growth, and prosperity of this church are chiefly taken from a historical sermon by the pas- tor, the Rev. R. M. Patterson.

A portion of the emigrants from Scotland and the north of Ireland who settled in this country were originally connected with the Associate Reformed Church of Scotland. Petitions had been sent by members in the eastern part of Pennsylvania to the Synod of Edinburgh as early as 1754 for missionaries, again in 1758, 1761, and in 1770. In the year last named came the Revs. John Smith and John Rogers. Some of those who had emigrated had found for themselves homes in Washington County. They were men like those who sent the first petitions home to Scotland for preaching ; they were anxious to have the means of grace ministered to them. Application was made to the Presbytery of Pennsylvania in 1773, and in answer to their prayers Revs. Smith and Rod- gers visited this section. It seems that the most cen- tral and most accessible place of meeting was at Can- onsburg. In 1775 the Rev. Matthew Henderson (who came to America as a missionary in response to the call of 1758) came to Canonsburg and ministered to their spiritual wants. The result of this visit was the making out a call for him to become their pastor. He accepted this call, and began his pastorate in 1781. This call, from the best data to be had, was a joint one from three congregations,-Chartiers, Buf- falo, and Mingo Creek. The early history of the first and second of these congregations is in a meas- ure complete. Of Mingo Creek there remains noth- ing but a fragment here and there. So that of the origin of this congregation but little is known and that little not well known. It appears that the first place of meeting together for worship was at or near Daniel Darragh's, on Mingo Creek.

That the congregation then called Mingo Creek and the one now called Peters Creek is one and the same appears from the fact that Mrs. Darragh offered the congregation a lot of ground on which to build a

church; and at the same time James Mitchell, Esq., offered a lot for the same purpose ; and by a vote of the members and those interested Mr. Mitchell's (being the better offer) was accepted, and the church located where it now stands.

There seems to be no doubt but this congregation formed part of Rev. Mr. Henderson's pastoral charge. He was one of those members of the Associate Pres- bytery of Pennsylvania who went into the union which gave rise to the Associate Reformed Church in 1782, but he did not remain long with that body. He withdrew and was received back into the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania on the 20th of October, 1789, when a letter was addressed to him by Presby- tery, and also to the three congregations over which he had the pastoral care, viz. : Chartiers, Mill Creek, and Mingo Creek. From this it seems evident the first pastor of this congregation was the Rev. Matthew Henderson, although there is no record to show that he was formally installed over it as a part of his charge, or that the congregation was organized by the election of elders during his ministry. It is probable none were elected, and that the members either went to Chartiers on communion Sabbaths, or the session of Chartiers came with the pastor to assist in the dispen- sation of the supper.

In the absence of any data to prove the installation of the Rev. Mr. Henderson or the election of elders, it is shown that the labors of Mr. Henderson were with a congregation in its swaddling bands, unable to walk or even bear a name, for it was not released from these or had an official name until October, 1795.

A short time after the Rev. Mr. Henderson's death, October, 1795, different ministers visited the congre- gation and preached to them, but only one name is remembered as having been spoken of by the fathers, Rev. James Proudfit.

In the summer of 1796 a call was made out for Rev. John Smith, and he, having accepted the call, began his pastoral labors about the 15th of Novem- ber. He remained as pastor of this congregation, it is believed, until the early summer of 1803, when he was released by the Presbytery of Chartiers, and at its meeting Aug. 31, 1803, he was suspended from the ministry.

From this time till 1808 the history of the congre- gation is a blank, but now the congregation is again settled by the Rev. Dr. Bunce taking the pastoral charge of it in connection with Pittsburgh. This re- lation continued with perfect harmony between pas- tor and people until the year 1814, when the relation was severed that his whole time might be given to Pittsburgh.

The congregation was again placed on the list of vacancies, and not until 1817 was it again named with the settled congregations.

On the 2d day of April, 1817, a call was made by the congregation for the pastoral labors of Rev. Alex- ander Wilson, and was by him accepted, and on the

894

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

8th of October he was ordained and installed pastor of this congregation. The Rev. Mr. Ramsey preached the ordination sermon from Eph. iii. 8, and the Rev. Mr. Anderson delivered the charge to pastor and people. The relation thus formed continued through a period of twenty-two years, when it was dissolved by his own act in severing his connection with the Associate Church and uniting with the Associate Re- formed Presbytery of Monongahela, and shortly after was settled in Cadiz, Ohio, where he remained about twenty years. He died at Philadelphia, Pa., June 20, 1867, in the seventy-fifth year of his age.

After the Rev. Mr. Wilson's withdrawal the con- gregation was without a settled pastor for about eigh- teen months, when, about the beginning of July, 1840, Mr. James Brown, a licentiate of the Associate Synod, having received and accepted a call to be- come pastor of the congregation, began his labors, and was ordained and installed Sept. 11, 1840. He continued his pastorate until the first Tuesday of De- cember, 1843, when he was released. He then took charge of the congregation of Keokuk, Iowa.

The congregation thus left vacant by the resigna- tion of the Rev. James Brown after a short but suc- cessful and acceptable pastorate, were without a pas- tor until the 14th of October, 1845, when the Rev. James C. Herron was ordained and installed. This relation he sustained until 1852, when he was re- leased to enter upon the mission to California, to which he had been appointed by Synod.

Again for a period of about two years the congre- gation was vacant. In the August of 1854, Mr. James B. Whitton began his labors as pastor, and on the 25th of October following he was ordained and in- stalled. Two years after his settlement he received and accepted a call from a congregation in the city of New York.

After the usual length of interval between pastor- ates, Mr. A. Y. Houston began his labors on the first Sabbath of January, 1858, and on the 17th of Feb- ruary was ordained and installed pastor. He re- mained with the congregation until December, 1864.

On the 21st of June, 1867, the Rev. John Patterson began his labors in the congregation, and was in the following September installed as pastor. He was re- leased on the 30th of April, 1872, and was installed by the Beaver Valley Presbytery over the congrega- tions of Mountville and Camp Run Aug. 25, 1874.

The Rev. R. M. Patterson, the present pastor, began his labors on the first Sabbath of January, 1873, and was installed on the 6th of February by the following committee of Presbytery : Rev. D. M. B. McLean, William Weir, and Thomas Balph. Thus in a period beginning with the first known election of elders, of eighty-one years, this congregation has had but sixty- one years of pastoral care, divided among nine pas- tors, being on an average of a little less than seven years to each one.

The first elders of the church, elected in October,

1795, were James Mitchell, Thomas Douglass, Neil McNeil, and John McCormick. When or by whom they were ordained and installed is not known. Dur- ing Rev. Mr. Smith's pastorate David Bower and Adam Gott were elected elders. It is not known that there was any change in the session from that time till August, 1812, when Mr. Gott died. In 1824, James Anderson, a member of the session, died. No record of his election as elder is found.

During the years 1825-26, Messrs. George Murray and Daniel Leggett were elected and ordained. In 1828 the session was increased by the election of Frederick Whitely, Hugh Lusk, and probably Hance Dunlap. These men were ordained and installed by Rev. Alexander Wilson. In 1830 another change occurred by the death of Mr. Thomas Arthur. The time of his election and ordination is unknown. Until July of this year, 1830, in so far as known, the four elders who constituted the first session still re- mained members of it; but at that time Mr. John McCormick died. Thus far the church was without a minute-book. On the 28th of May, 1831, the min- utes of Peters Creek session begin. The roll of mem- bers is as follows : D. Bower, James Mitchell, Hugh Boyd, Hugh Lusk, Frederick Whitely, John Calahan, Hance Dunlap, and George Murray. On the 27th of September, 1831, Mr. David Gibson was elected an elder, and on the 14th of October was installed, he having been an elder in the Secession Church. On the 11th of May, 1836, the session was enlarged by the election of James McCormick, Sr., James Craw- ford, and James McNeil. They were ordained and installed on the 26th, and their names added to the roll of the session. Between the 28th of May and the 18th of August two members of session, viz., Frederick Whitely and Daniel Leggett, were removed by death. The record of Jan. 7, 1839, records the death of David Bower. He had been an elder about forty years. James McCormick, Sr., who was elected a member of session in 1836, was in 1839 called away by death. On the 18th of January, 1841, Archibald McCallister and Ebenezer Archer were elected mem- bers of session, and on the first Sabbath of the fol- lowing March were ordained. The following note is found in the minutes in the year 1841: "James Mitchell, a very aged member of the congregation, and during most of his life a member of the session, was removed by death about the 1st of January." He was the last of the four original elders. He served the church as an elder forty-six years. From May 28, 1831, until Jan. 17, 1839, the minute-book reports thirty-nine meetings of sessions, and James Mitchell was at thirty-six of them. May 13, 1843, Ebenezer Archer was chosen clerk.

On the 16th of April, 1846, James McFadden and James M. Bryant were elected elders. They were ordained and installed on the 7th of May. The record of Oct. 26, 1849, shows that John Wilson and William Murray had been elected members of ses-

895

PETERS TOWNSHIP.

sion, and at this meeting it was ordered that they be ordained on the first Sabbath in November. The session was again enlarged by the election of William Howie, Andrew Crawford, and Richard Patterson. Messrs. Howie and Crawford were ordained, and Mr. Patterson installed, he having been an elder in Centre Presbyterian congregation. On the 12th of February, 1863, James McCormick, Samuel Murray, and James R. Wilson were ordained and installed members of session. The last addition to the session was made Sept. 2, 1867, by the election of Thompson Benton, Harvey Wadsworth, and Edward Wright. The for- mer of these was installed, being an elder in the con- gregation of Union, and the latter ordained and installed on the 28th of November, 1867. The present members of the session (1882) are Thompson Benton (clerk), James McFadden, Harvey Wadsworth, Rich- ard Patterson, Edward Wright, James McCormick, and James K. Wilson. The present trustees are Har- vey MeMurray, James Crawford, John Patterson, William McConkey, A. W. Pollock, and Alexander Douglas.

In 1841 the report to the Synod shows a member- ship of two hundred and four, and the same in 1851. In 1861 there is reported only one hundred members; in 1871, one hundred and sixty-nine; and there is now reported (1882) one hundred and fifty-six mem- bers of this church.

Peters Creek Christian Church.1-The Christian Church in Peters township, near Library, Pa., was the offspring of the agitation in the Baptist Churches of Western Pennsylvania about the year 1830. In 1829 the Baptist Church at Library had a great many accessions under the labors of William Shadrach, then pastor of the church. These converts were not committed to the doctrines of the Philadelphia Con- fession of Faith, and were disposed to allow greater freedom in the exercise of that "soul liberty" which had reflected glory upon the Baptist denomination.

Among these accessions was Henry Bennett, who, not agreeing with the Baptists in doctrine, was ac- cused of heresy, and in 1833 was excommunicated because he believed in baptism for the remission of sins, as taught in Acts ii. 38, and that in conversion the Holy Spirit operates only through the word of God.

About this time William Shadrach stated in the monthly church meeting that there was a report in circulation that some of the members of the church had embraced the heresies taught by Alexander Campbell, and moved that a committee of five be ap- pointed to draft articles of faith expressive of the views of the church in contradistinction to these heresies. This motion prevailed, and the committee was composed of William Shadrach, Enoch Wright, Esq., Daniel Van Voorhis, Samuel Boyer, and Edward Riggs.

At the instance of the committee the chairman, William Shadrach, wrote five articles setting forth the Baptist faith on the points in question. Four members of the committee signed these articles, but Edward Riggs refused to sign the paper for two rea- sons, viz. : First, he did not believe the articles were in contradistinction to the teaching of A. Campbell; and, second, if he did so believe, he would not sign them, for they, as Baptists, had no more right to pro- scribe Mr. Campbell in the articles of faith than they had to proscribe any other man with whom they might disagree. He believed in " soul liberty."

At the next meeting of the church William Shad- rach read the articles to the church, and moved that they be annexed to the church covenant, and that all the members be required to sign their names to the amended covenant, or be dealt with accordingly. A small minority of the members complied with this requirement, but a large majority declined to commit themselves. The minority then passed a resolution that all the members who did not sign the newly- amended covenant should be suspended from the fel- lowship of the church until they did so. Soon after this action this same minority removed the lock from the door of the meeting-house, and put a new one in its place, and thus retained possession.

While these events were transpiring, David New- myre preached occasionally at the house of Edward Riggs, who was yet a deacon in the Baptist Church. This aroused suspicion, and an ineffectual attempt was made to get him out of his position. At length in 1835 he was called a heretic and a disturber of the church and disowned. After his exclusion the most of the discontented members went back, and were reconciled to the church, the obnoxious articles having been previously expunged from the covenant.

The prominent members who were left out, under the leading of David Newmyre, planted a congrega- tion of Disciples of Christ at Edward Riggs' house in 1836, consisting at first of six members, to wit : Ed- ward Riggs, James Boyer, Samuel Blackmore, Henry Bennett, Sarah Moore, and Sarah Philips. These persons united themselves together to maintain public worship on every Lord's day according to the order of the primitive church, and were governed by the New Testament alone.

The infant church continued to meet in the dwell- ing-house of Mr. Riggs for about three years, and slowly increased in numbers, some coming from the Baptists, and others from the world by conversion. The preachers during this time were Robert Forrester, Warrick Martin, Richard Ward, James Darsie, and John T. Smith. Those added by immersion were Mary Tidball, Josiah Philips, Obadiah Higbee, David Higbee, Davis Hammond, Benjamin Abbott, and Margaret Philips.

In the autumn of 1839 a brick meeting-house was completed on a lot a little east of the site of the pres- ent house. In the spring of 1840 Thomas Campbell

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 219

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