USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County : from its first settlement to the present time, first under Virginia as Yohogania, Ohio, or Augusta County until 1781, and subsequently under Pennsylvania > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
Of the First Presbyterian Church was organized June 15, 1816; although a general Sabbath school for all denominations was opened 12
178
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
February 11, 1814, a meeting of the citizens having been called to take the preliminary measures. The meetings of this general Sab- bath school, however, were held in the Presbyterian church.
The persons who have filled the office of superintendent were William C. Blair, James Williamson, Charles Hawkins, Peter De- Haven, George Baird, John W. Scott, Abner Leonard, G. Holmes Agnew, William McCombs, John McClintock, Henry Williams, Dr. Robert R. Reed, who filled the office for twenty-six years, and James C. Acheson, many of whom were students of Washington College, and became ministers in the Presbyterian Church.
The school is under the care of one superintendent, J. C. Ache- son ; one assistant superintendent, Dr. Thomas McKennan ; a secre- tary and treasurer, Thomas Mckean ; a librarian, A. T. Baird, with two assistants, Alex. Brown and A. M. Todd; having ten male teachers, twenty female teachers, and three hundred and five scholars. The average attendance is 210 upon cach Sabbath. The infant school, under the care of Miss Maria Mckean and Miss Martha Wiley, contains eighty-six scholars.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
At what precise date the Methodist Episcopal denomination was established in Washington, the records of the church do not state, but the memory of some of our oldest inhabitants informs us that itin- erant Methodist preachers occasionally preached iu the court-house and school-houses about 1798. It is worthy of remark here with regard to the origin of Methodism in this place, that about this period, Robert Hazlett and his wife (the parents of our esteemed fellow citizen, Samuel Hazlett, now deceased), left Carlisle to settle in Washington. As they were descending Gallows Hill, the old road from Fort Redstone leading to Washington, the husband re- marked to his wife, that as they were about to make new acquaint- ances, he hoped she would avoid those of the Methodist persuasion. She in a truly Christian spirit replied, that with the blessing of God she would seek them out and adhere to them through evil and through good report. Her subsequent Christian life, her devotion to the church of her choice, and the undying influence she has left to Me- thodism and her family, is the best evidence of her change of heart and acceptance with her Redeemer. She died in 1844, and has ever been recognized as the principal agent in introducing and fostering Methodism. The first official meetings took place about the year 1800, as the deed of property is the official evidence on this subject.
As early as February 5, 1801, John Hoge and wife. conveyed to Thomas Lackey, Abraham Carier, Abraham Johnston, Titus Rigby, and John Cooper, trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church, for and in consideration of the sum of ten dollars, lot No. 194. This lot was on the corner of Chestnut and First streets, and now owned by Parker Thompson. Mr. Hoge, in his deed to the trustees, binds them to erect a church for the use of the members of the Methodist
1
179
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Episcopal church, according to the rules and discipline of said church as adopted by the ministers and preachers at their general confer- ence, and in further trust that they shall at all times forever hereafter permit such ministers and preachers of the said M. E. church and none others, to preach and expound God's holy word therein. He also provided in the same deed, that if any of the trustees advanced money for the use of said church, the sum shall be raised by mortgage or by selling the property, after giving notice to the pastor in charge, the surplus to be at the disposal of the next yearly conference.
We have ascertained by our venerable friend, John Harter, Esq., whose whole lifetime has been devoted to Methodism, that Mr. Hoge in making out his deed, conveyed lot No. 124, instead of lot 193, and that after the log church was erected on lot 193, the deed was changed by the following act of the legislature. On the 5th of Jan- uary, 1811, the legislature authorized the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church to convey the right of the said church in lot No. 194, in consideration of lot No. 193, to be conveyed by said Hoge for the use of the church. Accordingly we find that John Hoge and wife, on the 11th of January, 1812, did convey to James Chambers, Thomas Lackey, Abraham Johnston, James Shannon, and Israel Brown, lot No. 193, bounded by Chestnut Street on the north, lot 192 on the east, Pine Alley on the south, and First Street on the west, for and in consideration of one dollar, and under the same re- strictions as lot No. 194 on the opposite corner was held.
The congregation erected upon lot 193, a log church (long since weather boarded), which yet stands upon the corner and is occupied as a dwelling ; the trustees after the crection of the brick church having made the change.
The log church being to small for the growing congregation, they erected in the year 1816, a substantial brick building, fifty-five by forty feet in the centre of the same lot, fronting First Street, with a gallery round the same, at an expense of six thousand dollars, the brickwork having been done by Wm. Richardson, and the carpenter work by James Orr and John Wilson. After this church had been occupied for thirty-one years, the interest of the church and the in- crease of population, demanded that a more appropriate house and one better arranged with Sabbath-school and class-rooms should be erected. Accordingly on November 22d, 1847, the congregation appointed a committee to procure subscriptions and select a suitable location. On the following 6th of December, the Committee report- ed that they had purchased lot 85 from Mrs. Abbot for $400, and exchanged the parsonage property on Beau Street, with John R. Griffith, for lot No. 84, adjoining the former lot, making a front of 120 feet by 240 feet deep. These lots are on Belle Street (formerly Wheeling Street), east of Main.
The Committee estimated the cost of the church at $3864, of which over $2000 were subscribed.
On December 8, 1847, the trustees resolved that when the sub- scriptions should reach $2800, and with the proceeds of the sale of
180
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
the brick church (then occupied) they could erect both the church and a parsonage. A building committee, consisting of Rev. Edward Birkett, Jolın Harter, Samuel Hazlett, Samuel Mounts, Alexander Sweeny, and George Lonkert, were appointed to receive proposals for a church edifice, to be fifty feet wide and seventy feet long, with a basement appropriately divided, and J. W. F. White was appointed treasurer of the building funds. Subsequently, however, Samuel Hazlett, Esq., and John Harter resigned, and J. S. Sheaffer was added to the Committee. After the sale of the old church property to the school directors, on April 1, 1848, at which time possession was given, the Building Committee awarded the contracts as follows : The bricklaying and furnishing all the materials to Absalom Huston, for $1628.25, and the foundation at $1.50 per perch, and the range work at 40 cents per foot; the carpenter work and painting to Messrs. Kuhn and Davis, for $2205; the plastering to William Wiley & Son, for $360; the aggregate amounting to $4825.65, including the purchase of the $400 lot.
The trustees also awarded the following contracts for the erec- tion of the parsonage : The carpenter and brickwork to Messrs. Prigg and Dye, for $1067.50, and the plastering to William Wiley & Son, for $100, amounting to $1167.50, to which must be added $55.75 for additional work, making the aggregate amount $1223.25. The church was finished on December 31, 1848 (being fifty by seventy feet and containing seventy-two pews), and was dedicated to God by Rev. Bishop Hamlin. The entire cost of church and parsonage, including purchase and exchange of lots, furnishing church, making stone wall, fence, and pavement, amounted to $7845.78, of which amount the Ladies' Sewing Society furnished $400.
On the 18th of May, 1848, an act of incorporation was procured from the court, constituting Samuel Hazlett, Alexander Sweeny, John Harter, John Sheaffer, Joseph Reynolds, William Wiley, A. B. Wolf, George Lonkert, and Samuel Mounts, as trustees. Upon the organization of the trustees, Samuel Hazlett was elected Presi- dent and Samuel Mounts Secretary.
It is worthy of remark that during the erection of the church edifice, and through the kindness of the pastor and members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, the Methodists occupied their meeting-house one-half the time each Sabbath, until the church was finished.
We shall now proceed to give the list of ministers who have officiated in the Methodist Episcopal church since the year 1801, with their respective dates :-
1801. Rev. William Munroe. 1806. Rev. Thornton Fleming.
1802. " Archibald McElroy and 1807. Daniel Hite.
Rev. William Lambden. 1808. 66 James Reiley.
1803. Rev. John Monroe. 1809. Wm. Brandeberry.
1810. John White.
1804. " Jacob Dowal and Daniel Hitt. 1811. Jacob Gruber.
1805. Rev. Jacob Young.
1812. Amos Barnes.
181
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
1813. Rev. John West.
1838. Rev. James Mills.
1814. William Barnes.
1839-40. Rev. George S. Holmes.
1815. John Connelly.
1841-2. Rev. S. R. Brockunier.
1816. James Laws.
1842-3. Charles Thorn.
1817. Joshua Monroe.
1846. Rev. Thomas Hudson.
1847-8. Rev. Edward Birkett.
1849-50. Rev. Wesley Kenney.
1851-2. Rev. Franklin Moore.
1853. Rev. James Henderson.
1824. Rev. Charles Cooke.
1825. Jos. G. Sansom.
1826-7. Rev. Asa Shinn.
1857-8. A. G Williams.
1828. Rev. Alfred Brunson.
1829. Daniel Limerick.
1861-2. Rev. Hiram Sinsabaugh.
1830-1. Rev. John Waterman.
1832. Rev. Daniel Limerick.
1833. “ J. G. Sansom.
1834-5. Rev. Wesley Kenney
1836-7. Robert Boyd.
1868-70. Rev. W. A. Davidson, D.D.
In August, 1809, Rev. Dr. Kendree, bishop of the church, and Rev. Francis Asbury, preached in Washington. In 1818 Wash- ington was set apart as a new district, Rev. Asa Shinn being appointed presiding elder, and Rev. Thornton Fleming minister in charge.
SABBATH SCHOOL.
In connection with the M. E. church is a Sabbath school, under the efficient management of V. Harding, Esq., as Superintendent, assisted by W. J. Wilson, as Assistant Superintendent, with Samuel Hazlett, Treasurer, Joseph M. Spriggs as Secretary, and J. Nick Hainer, Wm. Underwood, A. H. Litle, and John Seaman, as Librarians. The school was organized March 1, 1825. Engaged in the benevolent work of imparting Christian instruction to the youth of the church, are nine males and fifteen females, together with two additional females teaching the infant school, numbering twenty-six teachers, with three hundred and thirty scholars.
In 1831, when John Harter, Esq., was Superintendent of the Sabbath school, he organized the Missionary Sabbath school by the scholars pledging to pay one cent monthly for this purpose. At the end of the year it amounted to $7.87; at the present time the sum contributed amounts to near $300.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The history of this church may be dated to the 27th day of No- vember, 1815, when the first meeting was held. An adjourned meet- ing of the Seceder body, friendly to the erection of a house of pub- lic worship, was subsequently held at the house of Major James Dunlap, on December 22, 1815, to make the necessary arrangements.
At this meeting the following persons were elected but not ordained
1844-5. Charles Cook.
1818. Thornton Fleming.
1819. George Brown.
1820. John Baer.
1821. George Brown.
1822-3. Rev. Henry Furlong.
1854. Edward Birkett.
1855-6. Rev. Charles A. Holmes.
1859-60. Rev. William Cox.
1863-4. Hiram Miller.
1865-6. J. S. Bracken.
1866. Rev. Hiram Siusabaugh.
1867. 4 W. B. Watkins.
182
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
elders, viz : Samuel Fergus, William Wylie, and John McClelland. These things transpired when under the control of the Seceders, but no house of worship was erected, nor congregation definitely estab- lished because Samuel Fergus had become a prominent member of an organization styled the Associate Reformed Church.
This body purchased lot No. 64, originally owned by Col. D. Williamson, on Belle Street, and erected thereon a brick church, but not having funds to finish the church it was sold by the sheriff to the Associate Church, who purchased and finished it. Its first minister was Rev. David Carson, who was elected Professor of He- brew and Church History in the Theological Seminary of the Asso- ciate Presbyterian Church, located at Canonsburg, which had received a charter from the legislature, April 8, 1833. He preached occa- sionally in Washington, but was elected pastor of the church on July 1, 1834, and died September 25, 1834. His successor was the Rev, Thomas Beveridge, D D., who officiated from February 2, 1836, to September 16, 1849, when he resigned, he being a professor in the Theological Seminary, and its transfer to Ohio occasioned his resig- nation. The church called Rev. Thomas Hanna, D.D., November 16, 1849, which he filled to his death, October 1, 1862. His succes- sor, the present pastor, is the Rev. J. Rankin Johnston, elected March 18, 1863. During the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Hanna, or in the year 1858, the Seceders (or Associates) and the Union (or Associate Reformed bodies) united as the United Presbyterian Church, and in 1863, five years after the union, its General Assem- bly consisted of seven synods, fifty-four presbyteries, four hundred and sixty-two ministers, six hundred and seventy-one congregations, fifty-seven thousand five hundred and fourteen communicants, and three theological seminaries.
Through the influence of Rev. J. Rankin Johnston and the zeal of the members, the United Presbyterian Church erected a new and beautiful church on Belle Street near Main Street, on lot No. 55, originally owned by Samuel Clark. It is built of brick, sixty by eighty feet, with a gallery, and contains one hundred and eight pews. It has in addition to the audience room (which is twenty feet high, an arched ceiling of a six feet raise) a basement story of twelve feet, containing a lecture and Sabbath school room. The walls of the church are frescoed. The cost of the church was $22,500.
The Eldership of the church consists of William Gabby, Sample Sweeny, John G. Clark, Dr. M. H. Clark, and Joseph McNary.
The Trustees are John E. Bell, Lewis Barker, J. P. Fergus, A. W. Pollock, Ebenezer Rodgers, and James Leiper.
SABBATH SCHOOL.
This church has a Sabbath school, organized in 1850, with six male and twelve female teachers, and one hundred and twenty scholars, with a library of seven hundred and twenty volumes.
183
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.
When this denomination was organized in 1833, its meetings were held in the court-house until 1836, when the church removed into its own edifice erected on Beau Street, on lot No. 123, now owned by R. Boyd, Esq. The edifice was built of brick, thirty-five by forty-five feet, with a basement story for class and Sabbath school; the trustees being James L. Porter, Wm. S. Hutchinson, Wm. Hunter, S. B. Robinson, and Charles E. Jones. The lot was the bequest of William Hunter, deceased, who in his will, dated April 23d, 1839, said : "It is my desire that my executors make a deed to the trustees of the Methodist Reformed Church for a part of the lot on which their church is built, sixty by ninety feet. It is how- ever distinctly understood, that on the completion of the above title I am to be clear from all responsibilities, either in a private capacity or a trustee of said society."
On April 20th, 1841, Robert Officer, executor of William Hunter, dec'd, executed a deed to Charles E. Jones, John R. Griffith, William Bushfield, W. S. Hutchinson, and James L. Porter, trustees of said church. The church was incorporated January 5th, 1850-its trustees being James L. Porter, John R. Griffith, Peter Kennedy, Simon Wolf, and David Schultz. The church was destroyed by fire in 1851, and on November 19th of the same year, the trustees, con- sisting of John R. Griffith, I. D. Seaton, James T. Dagg, Peter Kennedy, and Simon Wolf sold and conveyed the lot to George W. Brice, Esq.
The second church edifice was also erected on Beau Street and nearly opposite the former, on lot No. 148. It was commenced November 1st, 1851, under the supervision of the following trustees, (one of the original trustees having resigned): John R. Griffith, I. D. Seaton, James T. Dagg, Peter Kennedy, and A. B. Houston. James T. Dagg was appointed general superintendent. The build- ing is of brick, forty-eight by sixty-eight feet, having sixty-seven pews with a basement divided into class-rooms and for Sabbath- school purposes. The cost of the lot and building was $7200, and on its completion was dedicated to Almighty God in 1853, by the name of " Avery Chapel." It was named after that distinguished philan- thropist and eminent Christian, Charles Avery, who by deeds and words assisted in its erection, and a marble slab bearing his name is placed in the front wall of the church by direction of a resolution of the board of trustees, adopted June 27th, 1852.
The following persons have officiated as pastors of this church since its organization in 1833 :-
1833. Rev. W. Russell.
1840. Rev. Nelson Burgess.
1835. Enos Woodward.
1842. J. B. Roberts.
1836. John Burns. 1843. John Cowell.
1837. 66 J. Woodruff.
1844. James Robinson.
1838. James Porter.
1845. Samuel Clawson.
1839. W. Hughes.
1847, J. C. Hazlett.
184
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
1848. Rev. G. B. M'Elroy.
1860. Rev. W. M. Smith.
1850. F. A. Davis.
1862. W. Wallace.
1852. Val. Lucas. 1863.
66 Henry Palmer.
1853. 66 Noble Gillespie. 1865.
D. I. K. Rine.
1854. S. J. Dorsey.
1867. J. D. Herr.
1855. John Scott
1868. W. Griffiths.
1857. W. H. Phipps.
1869. A. S. Woods.
1859. 66 J. D. Herr.
1870. No settled pastor.
This church has a Sabbath school under the care of Peter Ken- nedy, with 4 male and 5 female teachers and 55 scholars.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Before entering upon the immediate history of this church it would be proper to remark that the beautiful and impressive ceremonials of the Episcopal Church had been performed in Washington as early as 1810. From my notes I find there was a meeting of the Protestant Episcopal clergymen in that year, and among other resolutions they passed the following resolution :-
Resolved. That the Rev. Dr. Joseph Dodridge open a correspondence with the Right Reverend Bishop White, of Pennsylvania, for the purpose of obtaining through him permission from the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church to form a diocese in the western country, em- bracing the western counties of Pennsylvania, Western Virginia, and the State of Ohio, to elect a Bishop.
In 1812 Rev. Wm. David, of Somerset, Pennsylvania, preached occasionally in a school-house near the site of the Baptist Church, on Belle Street.
Time rolls. by and several families settled in Washington, who brought with them the religious principles of their choice, and in which they had been educated. They were not numerous enough to establish a church, and although they united with other Christian associations, yet the germ was planted in early life, and they looked forward to the period when it would both bud and blossom like Aaron's rod.
In 1843 the Rev. Enos Woodward, of Brownsville, sent word to the Episcopalians that he would occasionally preach to them if a suitable place could be obtained. The college chapel was had through Professor R. H. Lee, and the fourth Sunday of each month the services of this church were performed by Rev. E. Woodward. On November 12th, 1843, he, with the assistance of Rev. Mr. Dyer, of Pittsburg, administered the Lord's Supper to their communi- cants, the first time which this rite had ever been given according to the ceremonies of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this place as far as we can ascertain.
While these few Episcopalians were thus meeting time and again, they were visited by Rev. K. J. Stewart, of Connellsville (who preached both in the court-house and Cumberland Presbyterian church), who advised the erection of a church, and also the pro-
185
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
priety of the members holding a prayer-meeting, asking Goa to direct them in such measures as would secure a house in which their prin- ciples would be taught, and in accordance with God's holy word. They met at the house of Professor Lec, and after earnest and im- portunate prayer, so strong was their faith that before the services were ended, a committee consisting of Mrs. F. A. Barlow, Prof. R. H. Lee, R. P. Lanc, M. D., and James R. Shannon were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions, while the Rev. Stewart pro- mised that he would bring the subject before a special convention which was shortly to assemble at Uniontown, and also the Bishop. The effect of that prayer-meeting was the erection of the church, of which we shall now give a full account.
On April 22d, 1844, a meeting of the congregation was held to effect a permanent organization. Rev. Enos Woodward was called to the chair, and Prof. R. H. Lee was appointed Secretary. After a mutual exchange of sentiments the meeting resolved that it was expedient to organize a Protestant Episcopal Church in Washington, and the following persons associated themselves together under the name, style, and title of the " Parish of Trinity Church," viz : Rich- ard Henry Lee, Joseph Grey, Curtis P. Brown, Abigail M. Brown, Mary C. Brown, Seth T. Hurd, Daniel Brown, William Howe, Hugh H. Reynolds, R. P. Lane, Anna E. Lee, Eliza H. Hill, Francis H. Lee, Eliza M. Crafts, Letitia Poole, James R. Shannon, John Bull- ing, R. Foster, Samuel Potter, Harriet Bulling, F. Anika Barlow, Rebecca Burton, Harriet Burton, Flora Lee, J. Bowman Sweitzer, James M'Corkle, Leslie Carrons.
The church being thus organized, they elected R. H. Lee, R. P. Lane, Leslie Carrons, Joseph Gray, Wm. Howe, James R. Shannon, and Hugh H. Reynolds as the vestry, and the Rev. Enos Wood- ward as the pastor, to which he consented.
On the 13th May, 1844, the church procured an act of incorpo- ration from the court.
Rev. E. Woodward officiated as the rector of the church from its organization until May, 1845, when he resigned, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. E. J. Messenger, who preached until the following August, when he tendered his resignation to become a missionary, went to Africa, and died March 28, 1846. From their organization to August, 1845, the church occupied the college hall ; but after this period they removed to the Lutheran church. The pulpit was filled by supplies and Prof. Lee as a lay reader, from 1845 to 1850. In June, 1850, the congregation resolved to build a church, and for this purpose they purchased lot No. 160 on the east end of Beau Street, and directly opposite the college edifice, from David Shields, for four hundred dollars. William McKennan and James R. Shan- non, Esqs., were appointed the Building Committee, with full power to act. They awarded the carpenter work to Frederick Hayes, the mason work to Messrs. William Cline and A. B. Houston. It was opened for divine worship December 15, 1850, when a sermon was
186
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
preached from Genesis, chapter xxviii. verse 17, by Rev. Samuel Clements, who had become the rector, and took charge of the church on December 1, 1850. The cost of this church edifice was $2725 15, including the price of the lot. The furniture of the church was presented by several donors ; the carpets by Trinity Church, of Pittsburg, the chancel furniture by Christ Church, of Brownsville, the lamps by the Female Episcopal School of Philadelphia, and the chairs by St. Andrew's Church, of Philadelphia.
The entire indebtedness of the church edifice being liquidated, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Alonzo Potter consecrated the church on Septem- ber 10, 1854. March 31, 1855, the Rev. Samuel Clements resigned, and Prof. R. H. Lee was elected a lay reader, to officiate as such according to the forms and canons of the church. In January, 1856, Rev. George Hall accepted the rectorship of the church, having been previously elected, and served until December, 1856, when he re- signed, and Prof. R. H. Lee was again elected lay reader.
In February, 1858, Prof. R. H. Lec was ordained a deacon by Rt. Rev. Bishop Potter, and in the following October was ordained a priest by Rev. Bishop Bowman, Assistant Bishop, and took charge of Trinity Church as its rector. Rev. R. H. Lee served the church as a faithful and consistent ambassador of Christ until January 3, 1865, when he exchanged the church militant for the church triumphant.
The devoted friends of Rev. Dr. Lee have placed in a niche in the west wall of the chancel of the church, a beautiful marble tablet, containing the following appropriate and touching inscription to his memory :-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.