History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 230

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 230

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Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church.1-The con-

gregational records of this church commence with the year 1812, and of the doings of the session nothing can be found prior to the year 1831 (the former ses- sional records having been, in some unexplained way, lost), hence the only fragments of its early history available have been gathered from other reliable sources. The first settlers in the bounds of this con- gregation were mostly of Scotch-Irish descent, and came principally from Eastern Pennsylvania, Dela- ware, and from near Winchester, Va.

As a class, they are described as being "intelligent, virtuous, and courageous," and having enjoyed reli- gious privileges in the various places from which they had emigrated, they early made efforts to secure the same privileges for themselves and their families in the home of their adoption.

The first sermon ever preached within the bounds of this congregation was on the Tuesday following the fourth Sabbath of August, 1775. Rev. John Mc- Millan was the preacher, and the place was the house of Mr. Arthur Forbes, where Mr. Frederick Whitely now lives.

In a short time after this Mr. McMillan returned to his home at Fagg's Manor, Chester Co., Pa. Near the beginning of the year 1776 he again visited this region, and preached at Pigeon Creek on the fourth Sabbath of January, and on the following Sabbath at Chartiers, and continued to preach alternately in these congregations until the last of March, when he re- turned to his home. Soon after his return a call was made out by the congregations of Pigeon Creek and Chartiers, was presented to him and accepted by him at a meeting of the Presbytery of New Castle, April 22, 1776. The Indians at this time being troublesome, he did not remove his family to the West until Novem- ber, 1778, yet he visited these churches as frequently as he could, ordaining elders, baptizing their children, and taking such care of them as the circumstances would permit.

The date of the organization of this church cannot be definitely ascertained, but from the best informa- tion we have it must have taken place some time near the beginning of the year 1776, and from the testi- mony of Hon. James Veech (now deceased), and of Rev. John Stockton, D.D., of Cross Creek village, Pa., it antedates by a short time the organization of the church of Chartiers, and is the oldest organiza- tion of the Presbyterian order in the county of Wash- ington.

The date of the dissolution of the pastoral relation between Dr. McMillan and the church of Pigeon Creek is not certainly known, but it is most likely that it took place in 1793, for in a book which he kept in which he recorded the names of all persons who were supporters of the church and the amounts sub- scribed, there is a subscription for the year 1793 (this

1 The substance of an address delivered at the centennial anniver- sary of Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church, Aug. 24, 1875, together with

some additional particulars of a later date, by Rev. John S. Marquis, pastor.

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book is now the property of Dr. Boyd Emery, Sr., of this church). In April, 1794, another pastor was called to this church. Taking the above facts in con- nection, it will appear that Dr. McMillan's connec- tion with this church continued near nineteen years.

So much has been written and already published respecting Dr. McMillan, his life and work, that it is not necessary to dwell on it at length here, and will only add that he was born at Fagg's Manor, Chester Co., Pa., Nov. 11, 1752; received his preparatory ed- ucation partly at an academy at Fagg's Manor, under the direction of Rev. John Blair, and partly at a grammar school at Pequea, Lancaster Co., Pa., which was under the superintendence of Rev. Robert Smith, and was graduated at Princeton College in the fall of 1772; studied theology at Pequea, under the direc- tion of Rev. Robert Smith, D.D .; was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of New Castle, at East Nottingham, Pa., Oct. 26, 1774 ; was ordained to the full work of the ministry June 19, 1776, at Chambersburg, by the Presbytery of Donegal, to which he had been dismissed by the Presbytery of New Cas- tle, and on the 6th of August following was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Brown.

He died Nov. 16, 1833, after a short illness, at the house of Dr. Letherman, in Canonsburg, Pa., aged eighty-one years and five days, and his mortal remains are interred in the cemetery at Chartiers Church.

The second pastor of this church was Rev. Boyd Mercer. Of his early history but little is known, ex- cept that he was born at or near Winchester, Va., in the year 1766, and was there brought up. He re- ceived a classical education, at least in part, at the academy at Pequea, Lancaster Co., Pa., which was then under the superintendence of Rev. Robert Smith, D.D., but whether he afterwards attended any college or was graduated is not known, nor under whose di- rection he studied theology. Neither can it be ascer- tained when he removed to the bounds of this church. In the records of the Presbytery of Redstone, which met at Chartiers, June 26, 1792, it is stated that he was taken under the care of the Presbytery with a view to his licensure, and he was licensed by the same Presbytery at Rehoboth Church, April 16, 1793.

He was called to the pastorate of this church April 22, 1794, and the relation was dissolved in 1798. His home was on the farm now owned by his grandson, Mr. Ebenezer Crouch. He and his wife deeded, March 10, 1826, for the sum of one dollar, ten acres of land for the use of Pigeon Creek Church. These ten acres had been surveyed and given for the use of the church by one Peter Swartz (alias Black), but he never gave a deed to the congregation, and when he afterwards sold his farm to Mr. Mercer he made no reservation of this tract.

Mr. Mercer is described as being under medium height, of an active temperament, and a good preacher. He died Feb. 5, 1841, aged seventy-five years. His dust sleeps with kindred dust in the cemetery of this

church, and is the only one of its pastors buried here.

Mr. Mercer's successor was Rev. Andrew Gwin, who was called to the pastorate in 1799, installed in 1800, and was released from the charge in April, 1817, a period of seventeen years.

He was an Irishman by birth, but nothing can be learned of the time when he came to this country, nor where educated. By those who remember him he is described as being a man of about medium height, of symmetrical proportions, a fluent and elo- quent speaker, and a preacher of great power. This was his last charge. He spent his last days near Wellsburg, Brooke Co., W. Va.

At the close of this pastorate there was a great dis- sension and alienation of feeling among the members of the congregation, and for a time the church was almost closed. This state of affairs continued to some extent until the beginning of the year 1822, when, by invitation, Rev. Andrew Wylie, D.D., took charge of the church as a stated supply, and continued to serve the church in this capacity until September, 1829, a period of seven years and eight months. During this entire period he was president of Washington Col- lege, consequently was only with the people of the church on Sabbath day. He was very successful in healing the divisions made in the congregation at the close of the former pastorate, and sowed the seed to a great extent from which so rich a harvest was gath- ered in the next succeeding years. Dr. Wylie was a native of this county ; commenced a course of classical study at an academy at Washington, then under the care of the late Judge Mills, of Kentucky ; was grad- uated at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa., in 1812, with the highest honors of his class; united with the church in his seventeenth year; studied theology under the direction of his brother William and Dr. McMil- lan; was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Ohio Oct. 21, 1812, ordained by the same Presbytery, and installed pastor at Miller's Run June 23, 1813 ; was elected president of Jefferson College at the age of twenty-three years; served in this capacity for the period of four years, when he resigned and was elected president of Washington College, sustaining this re- lation for several years. In 1825 he received the de- greee of D.D. from Union College, New York. In 1828 was elected to the presidency of Indiana State University, where he continued until the time of his death, which took place at Indianapolis, Nov. 11, 1851, in the sixty-third year of his age. Rev. Robert Baird, D.D., describes Dr. Wylie as being "a strongly-built man, not much above middle size, of rather light complexion and blue eyes, with a countenance indi- cating intelligence and thought rather than remark- able benignity. It cannot be questioned that he was one of the best educated men in the part of the coun- try in which he lived."

Rev. William P. Alrich, D.D., succeeded Dr. Wylie as stated supply, sustaining this relation for one year,

Brillian Smith

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when a call was made out by the congregation for his services as pastor. This call Mr. Alrich declined. · Near the same time he was elected to a professorship in Washington College, which he accepted, and labored in this capacity till near the close of his life.

In April, 1831, Rev. William C. Anderson, D.D., began to supply this church, and on September 26th of the same year was called as pastor. He was or- dained and installed pastor April 17, 1832. Resigned the charge July 15, 1836. His labors were greatly blessed, and at the close of his labors here he records that there were "two hundred and thirty-two per- sons added to the church on profession of their faith during the period of his connection with it." Dr. An- derson was the son of Rev. John Anderson, D.D., of Upper Buffalo Congregation in this county. He was The next pastor of this church was Rev. James Sloan, D.D., who was born and brought up in the bounds of Upper Buffalo Congregation, in this county. He was educated at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pa., where he was graduated in September, 1830, studied theology under the direction of Rev. John Anderson, D.D., was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Washington at Cross Creek, Pa., in April, 1834. His first charge was at Frankfort, Beaver Co., Pa., where he was ordained and installed, and his connection with that church continued for a period of nine years. He was called to this church April 8, 1844, was installed in December, 1844, and the rela- tion was dissolved in October, 1862, a period of eigh- teen years and six months. After this he for a time supplied the church of Waynesburg, Greene Co., Pa., but was compelled by disease of the heart to cease from the active work of the ministry, when he re- moved to Monongahela City, this county, where he died March 11, 1871, aged sixty-three years, and his body rests in the cemetery at that place. Dr. Sloan was a man of about medium height, of florid com- plexion. In his younger years he was slender in form, but as he advanced in years he grew corpulent. By his brethren in the ministry he was esteemed as a good scholar, an able preacher, and a good parlia- mentarian in the church courts. He was for many years a member of the board of trustees of Jefferson College, and the degree of D.D. was conferred upon very successful one; about three hundred and ninety- one additions were made to the church during his connection with it. educated in Washington College, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated September, 1824. Studied theology under the direction of his father, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Washington. After he left this church he was pastor of the Fourth Church, Pittsburgh, Pa., one of the churches in Cincinnati, Ohio, at New Albany, Ind., First Church, Washing- ton, Pa., and at San Francisco, Cal. He was also for some years president of Miami University, at Ox- ford, Ohio. He died at the house of his son, Rev. John A. Anderson, of Junction City, Kan., Aug. 28, 1870. Of him, Dr. Stockton, who was his intimate friend and companion, writes : "He was a delightful companion, an eloquent preacher, and labored with great zeal and success. After leaving Pigeon Creek Church, amidst the deep regrets of the people, he traveled far and wide, and has filled with honor many important positions in the church." He twice visited Europe, and on the last trip, in company with his brother John, extended it as far as Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Dr. Anderson's successor was Rev. Ebenezer Stevenson Graham. Mr. Graham was the son of John and Jane (Stevenson) Graham, of Cross Creek township, this county. His mother in her early years lived in the bounds of this church, and here first united with the church .. He commenced his classical course of study in an academy at Cross Creek village, Pa., which was then under the direction of Mr. George Marshall, afterwards Rev. Dr. Marshall, of the church | him by that institution. His ministry here was a of Bethel, in the bounds of the Presbytery of Pitts- burgh ; was graduated at Washington College, Sep- tember, 1834; studied theology under the direction of Rev. John Stockton, D.D., and was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Washington. He was called to this church Sept. 30, 1837; was ordained and installed October, 1837, and the congregation concurred in his request for the dissolution of the pas- toral relation, Oct. 3, 1842, and he was dismissed at the next meeting of the Presbytery of Washington.

Dr. Stockton, who was his pastor and spiritual father, in a letter addressed to the writer, says, "He became a professor of religion in the church of Cross Creek during a powerful revival of religion in that 60

church in 1828. He was a man of talents, of scho !- arly attainments, of eminent piety, and labored in Pigeon Creek Church with great fidelity, acceptance, and success. In the midst of his career of useful- ness he preached on a certain night in a close, heated school-room, and afterwards riding home through the chilly air, he contracted a cold, which brought on bronchitis. This disease increased upon him till, after repeated requests on his part, his congregation agreed to the dissolution of the pastoral relation. He trav- eled South in quest of a restoration of health, and died far away from home and from friends at Tampa Bay, Fla. ; but whilst his flesh sleeps in that far-off land, his memory is still fresh and green in many a loving heart.

Rev. Samuel McFarren Henderson was next called as pastor. The place of his nativity was New Ha- gerstown, Carroll Co., Ohio. He was graduated at Washington College in September, 1859; pursued his theological studies at the Western Theological Sem- inary, Allegheny City, Pa .; was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Steubenville at the church of Corinth, April, 1862; was called to this church June 5, 1863, and was ordained and installed November 4th of the same year. This relation was dissolved April 24, 1867. He was afterwards settlel

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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in the 'church at Wilkinsburg, Presbytery of Pitts- burgh, and has since deceased.

The present pastor is Rev. John Stevenson Marquis. The place of his nativity is Cross Creek township, this county. His grandparents, John and Sarah Mar- quis, were of the first settlers of that township, and on his mother's side his great-grandfather and great- grandmother, John and Jean Stevenson, and his grandfather and grandmother, John and Mary (Mc- Combs) Stevenson, were among the early settlers of this congregation, and were members of this church in its early history. He was educated in part first at an "academy in Cross Creek village, under the superintendence of Rev. John Marquis, now of Ana- heim, Cal.," afterwards attended an academy at West Alexander, Pa., Rev. John McCluskey, D.D., prin- cipal, and was graduated at Washington College Sept. 27, 1848 ; studied theology, first under the di- rection of Rev. John Stockton, D.D., and afterwards at the Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny City, Pa .; was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Washington, April, 1853, at Mounds- ville, W. Va .; was ordained by the same Presbytery, April, 1855 ; was first stationed for four years at Sis- tersville, Tyler Co., W. Va., afterwards in the bounds of the Presbytery of Steubenville for seven years, and from failing health was compelled to cease from the active work of the ministry for more than three years. He first preached in this church in November, 1867; was called to the pastorate March 2, 1868; was in- stalled June 5th, same year. At the installation ser- vices Dr. Brownson presided and preached the sermon, Dr. Stockton charged the pastor, and Rev. S. M. Henderson (the former pastor) the people.

The first bench of elders was composed of the fol- lowing persons, viz. : Patrick McCullough, Patrick Scott, Hugh Cotton, Hugh Scott.

Dr. McMillan, in his journal, says that on "the third Sabbath of November preached again at Pigeon Creek from Luke iv. 12, ordained five elders and bap- tized five children." This was in 1776, and most likely the date of the ordination and installation of the first bench of elders. After this and before the close of the pastorate of Mr. Gwin the following- named persons were elected and ordained ruling elders, viz. : James Smith, John Hosack, James Kerr, Joseph Vaughn, John Stevenson, Jr., William Fer- guson, Aaron Kerr, Robert Moore, and John Atkinson. It is not likely that the above-named persons were all elected and ordained at the same time, but from the absence of any records the date of election and ordin- ation cannot be fixed.

During the period of Dr. Anderson's labors here the following-named persons were chosen and or- dained elders, viz .: John Vance, Samuel Gamble, Samuel Ritchey, Dr. Boyd Emery, William Kerr, and David Riddle. This addition was made July 17, 1836. Afterwards during Dr. Sloan's labors here there were additions made at three different times :

1st, Andrew Smith, James Vance, John Leyda, Greer McIlvain, and John Scott were elected Feb. 13, 1849, and ordained April 8, 1849; 2d, William Smith, William Ramsey, and Edward Paden were elected March 3, 1856, and ordained April 14th, same year; 3d, Alexander Hamilton, Zachariah Peese, James Rankin, and John C. Messenger were elected March 5, 1860, and ordained April 8, 1860.

The present session consists of Greer McIlvain, William Smith, Zachariah Peese, Alexander Ham- ilton, Edward Paden, and John C. Messenger.

Deacons .- William Barkley, William Davis, James Jones, and Isaac V. Riddle were elected deacons, and were ordained March 7, 1864.

Revivals .- The first revival in this church com- menced near the close of the year 1781, and continued with but little interruption for near six years. The work was one of great power, and many were added to the church, but in the absence of records the num- ber will not be known until the revelations of the last great day.

The second revival was during the ministry of Mr. Gwin, and is known as the "Falling Work," com- mencing near the close of the year 1799 or the begin- ning of 1800, and continuing on through the year 1802. This was a work of a most remarkable nature. Often strong men would come to the religious services to scoff, but would be among the first to fall down and plead for mercy, their groanings and pleadings baf- fling description. Of the numbers added during this period we have no record.

From the commencement of Dr. Anderson's min- istry until its close there appeared to be one continued revival, many being added to the church at every communion season. At the beginning of the year 1857 God again blessed this church with a season of reviving, and at the communion on the first Sabbath of March seventy-eight were added to the church, and the whole number during that year was one hun- dred and two. This was under the ministrations of Dr. Sloan, and at other times whilst he was pastor there were added eleven, twelve, sixteen.

The next season of the special reviving work of God's spirit commenced about the 1st of November, 1867. This was during the vacancy which occurred after Mr. Henderson's release from his connection with this church. The religious services were con- ducted by Mr. J. P. Irwin, a licentiate of the Presby- tery of Pittsburgh, Rev. R. V. Dodge, of the Second Church of Washington, and Rev. William Hanna, of the church of Fairview. On the first Sabbath of December sixty-eight were received into the commu- nion of the church. Rev. J. K. Andrews adminis- tered the sacrament at that time.

The last season of revival was at the commencement of the year 1877, when large numbers were inquiring " what they should do to be saved," and at the com- munion on the first Sabbath of March eighty-one per- sons stood up in the presence of the congregation and

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SOMERSET TOWNSHIP.

publicly professed their faith in Christ. Six addi- tional members were added at the same time, being received by letter from other churches.

Church Edifices .- The first building was of round logs, with a clapboard roof and door, and was occu- pied the first winter after its erection without being " chunked and daubed," and without fire. The writer heard one who worshiped here at that time repeatedly make this statement.

It is claimed also that there was a building here afterwards of hewed logs, and yet it is also maintained that the present building is the third edifice; but if there was a hewed log building the present building must be the fourth one erected. There was a stone building erected near the site of the first (the year is not known). In consequence of some imperfection in the construction, on a certain Sabbath, whilst the pastor was preaching, the floor gave way, carrying down with it the entire audience. The congregation supposing that the house was falling, the scene ensu- ing can be more readily imagined than described. Providentially, no one was seriously injured. After this the floor was taken out and replaced under the pews with earthen aisles. As each family made or caused their own pews to be made, the variety in style was almost as great as the number of the pews. The site of these buildings was within the limits of the cemetery.

The present church building was erected in 1829; is built of brick, and is in size seventy by fifty-six feet, with four doors, two in the end looking south- west and one on each side. The present building stands on the brow of the hill, lying a little north of east of the cemetery, and outside of its limits.

In the early history of the church, in the summer season, religious services were held in a grove near the church, where a tent was erected for the accom- modation of the minister, and was west of the church building, in what is now the lower part of the ceme- tery. The following is a copy of a letter addressed to the writer, and is the recollection of one who came to this church when a small boy, Hon. Isaac Shane, of Jefferson County, Ohio :

" BACON RIDGE, JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO, March 15, 1875. " REV. J. S. MARQUIS :

" Dear Sir,-For a long while I have neglected answering your letter, and for which I owe you an apology ; yet I hope this will be in time for your Centennial. My first recollection of being at Pigeun Creek Church was about the year 1789 or 1790, at a communion with my father and mutber, in the month of October. I recollect distinctly about the tent where the services were held. It was standing in a grove of tall white- oak trees, and the trees were full of wild pigeons, and I paid more at- tention to the pigeous than to the preacher. I was then about eight years old. I recollect Dr. McMillan when he roso and read the Psalm, gave out one line, and then handed the book to an oldish man to lead called Billy McCombs. The house of worship was of logs, and my im- pression now is that they were round and the roof clapboards. There was no inclosure either about the house or graveyard. What graves were there were on a piece of ground about eight or ten rods east of the church, and each grave inclosed with a fence of poles or logs, or whatever could be got hold of easiest. All was open to the wide world. The tent stood about ten rods west of the church on lower ground. I think two of the elders were Patrick Scott and - Mccullough, al-

though I am not certain which of them was called Patrick. Now, my dear friend, perhaps you had better not place too much reliance on the foregoing statements, although I think they are substantially correct, but they are made from memory, and they occurred nearly eighty-five years ago, when a little barefooted boy, eight years old, gazed carelessly on the surrounding scenes, and that same little boy is now well on in his ninety-third year. And now may God bless you and yours, and your labors in winning souls to Christ, and that your life may long be spared is the prayer of your friend,

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 230

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