History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2, Part 43

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885, ed; Hungerford, Austin N., joint ed; Everts, Peck & Richards, Philadelphia, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 912


USA > Pennsylvania > Union County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 43
USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 43
USA > Pennsylvania > Snyder County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 43
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 43
USA > Pennsylvania > Juniata County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 43


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 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72


The stone school-house was used until 1839, when Benjamin Law, as trustee, sold the lot to the directors of Fermanagh township for fifty dollars. The brick school-house was built on the lot in 1840, but no school was kept that year.


Before the brick house was built, school was kept in the Methodist house, which stood on the present church-lot. Leonard Woodward was the teacher. A select school was kept at the same time by Mr. MeEwen in a room in the Knox House (now Parker).


Among the first teachers in the brick house were Tobias Kreider, - Morrow and Sam- uel B. Crawford. The brick house was then the only one used until the present two-story brick, containing four large school-rooms, was built, in 1863, when the brick school-house and lot were sold to Benjamin Witmer, whose widow now owns and occupies it.


The free school law was enacted in April, 1831, and the first meeting of delegates under the net was held in the court-honse at Mifflin- town, November -Ith, at which were present John Fink and David Glenn, commissioners, and the following-named delegates from the several townships : Thomas MeCurdy, Fermanagh ; Sammel Himes, Walker ; John Shellenberger, Greenwood ; Thomas Todd, Milford ; George Gilliford, Turbett ; Matthew Loughlin, Tusca- . rora ; and Joseph Berry, from Lack.


712


JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.


This convention decided to raise by taxation thirty-five hundred dollars, arranged times of meeting for directors to divide these townships into districts and such other duties as were in their province. At the next annual meeting all the townships were represented, and also in 1836.


Juniata County, unlike many other counties in the State, accepted the school law from the first, even with its many burdens, and while there was much opposition, it was not so much against education as methods, which in a few years was remedied.


Mifflintown wasin Fermanagh School District and there remained until 1851, when it became independent. At that time Robert C. Gallagher, Jonathan W. Aitken, Robert Barnard, James W. Crawford, E. S. Doty' and Joseph M. Bel- ford were elected a: school directors. The board organized May 19th, and elected as the teachers for the school year John Inzzard and Mary Abraham, who continued irregularly until 1861. Of others who taught in the carly days of the district, were Hiram Albert, and Clarissa Philips.


There are at present in Mifflintown four schools, containing two hundred and thirty pu- pils, under the care of Capt. James J. Patter- SO1.


MIFFLINTOWN ACADEMY .- A preliminary meeting was held in Mifflintown September 5, 1883, which resulted in the formation and in- corporation of the Mifflintown Academy. The building erected by Ezra S. Parker was leased, and Professor Duncan was placed in charge and continued until the close of the Spring term in 1885.


The Rev. L. Y. Hays was chosen as principal, and the academy opened September 9, 1885, with three teachers and two full courses of in- struction-the English course and the prepara- tory classical.


James Butler, who is mentioned in Mifflin- town as a teacher in 1808 and again in 1813, and in various parts of the county until 1831, wrote a history of the navy of the United States. The following concerning it is here given by Professor A. 14. Guss :


" In 1816 James Butler published a book entitled


American Bravery Displayed in the capture of Font- teen Hundred Vessels of War and Commerce since the Declaration of War by the President. Compiled from the best Authorities.' It was printed at Carlisle, by George Phillips, for the author. He dates the preface . Mifflin County, Pa., November, ISI5.' There are three hundred and twenty-two pages and a list of the subscribers. Butler, as a schoolmaster, is found upon the tax-lists of Milford, Lack, Turbett and Fer- managh most of the years from 1801 to 1831. He seems to have floated around from place to place in pursuit of his calling. In 1816 he was in Milford. Ilis subscribers were doubtless made up largely of those he came in contact with as a school-teacher. From this it is evident that he once lived about Mc Veytown, Aaronsburg and also in Indiana County. Most of them are in Lack, Milford, 'Mifflin and vicinity.' A large list of subscribers, headed ' Lewis- town and vicinity,' contains names from all parts of the county as it then was constituted, and they were likely gathered during court week on this one list." !


PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- The first settlers in this locality were Scotch-Irish, who located along Lost Creek and the JJuniata. Of these families were the Pattersons, Nelsons, Purdys, Cunninghams and others. Locations were taken up in 1755, but no permanent settlement made until about 1762. In the next year the erection of a log church was begun on what later was known as the glebe lands. This was not com- pleted before the settlers were again compelled to flee to Carlisle and other places of refuge. It was not until 1766 that they were again set- tled npon their several locations. One of the first things to be attended to was the erection of the house of worship. That this, however, was not done in the summer of that year is shown by the following.


In the summer of 1766 the Rev. Charles Beatty and the Rev. George Duffield, ministers appointed by the Synod of New York and Phil- adelphia to visit the frontier, set ont on their journey. On Monday, August 18th, they left Carlisle, crossed the North Mountain and passed into Sherman's Valley. On the 20th they


' The writer has the copy subscribed for by "Simon Guest, Juniata township, Cumberland County." Ou n fly- leaf is written, " Simon Guess, his Book, July 3, 1816. Price $1.25." On another leaf is, "Abraham Guss is my Name, and Milford is my Dwelling and Single is my Sta- tion. Licking Creek is near may Habitation. May the 19th, 1819." This way amended soon after by another I hand, who wrote " double" over the word " single."


713


JUNIATA COUNTY.


crossed the Tuscarora Mountain, preached to the people, and lodged at the house of William Graham, in Tuscarora Valley. Mr. Beatty states in his journal : " Friday, 220. Preached in the woods, as we have hitherto done, north side of the Juniata. Here, also, the people had begun to build a house of worship, but left it unfinished. Lodged at Captain Patterson's, where we remained on the 23d. Here we agreed to separate for a season, Mr. Duffield to go into Path Valley, and I along the Juniata." These missionaries evidently stopped with the people of the Cedar Spring congregation, as Captain James Patterson is one to whom the glebe lands were warranted in trust in March of the next year (1767).


The people of the region were undoubtedly quickened in their desire to have a house of worship by the visit of the missionaries, and it is stated that the congregation, upon examining the foundation of the church building, that had commenced years before, finding it was not sufficiently large to accommodate the numbers that were settling in the neighborhood, decided to build a larger one. A new site was chosen a few rods from the old foundation and the house erected. At this time the land on which it was located was not yet seenred, and in the winter of 1766-67, Captain James Patterson and James Purdy were authorized to go to the Land-Office and secure a grant of land for the purpose. An order of survey, No. 3268, for two linndred acres of land, was obtained, adjoin- ing lands of Robert Nelson, Rev. Thomas Barton and John Wilkes, and given to James Patterson and James Purdy " in trust for a Presbyterian meeting-house and graveyard." The location was surveyed by James Wilson, an assistant of William Maclay, deputy surveyor. It was re- turned as three hundred and thirty-two aeres. Mr. Maclay decided that this was more land than could be returned under the order, divided the plot and returned to the congregation two hundred and thirty-two acres, eighteen perches. This decision became in after-yours a source of' great trouble and vexations law-suits to the church. The meeting-house was built upon the tract and was used by the congregation until about 1799, when the congregations of Mifflin-


town and Lost Creek each built a house of wor- ship, and the old meeting-house was abandoned. The first official notice of Cedar Spring congre- gation is found in the records of Donegal Pres- bytery, October 1, 1768, at which time Cedar Spring congregation made application for sup- plies. The Rev. Mr. Cooper was appointed and doubtless served.


At the next meeting of Presbytery, in April, 1769, a joint application was received from the Tuscarora and Cedar Spring congregations for a supply, and the Rev. Mr. Cooper was again appointed and served the two congregations. The congregations were supplied in 1769-70, but by whom is not known. At the April meeting of Presbytery, 1771, the congregations of Tuscarora and Cedar Spring presented a call to the Rev. Mr. Rhea. No account is found as to whether he served. In the year 1771 the Rov. J. Kennedy, a Presbyterian minister from the north of Ireland, came to this country and to this people and settled among them. In a suit-at-law, which grew ont of the troubles men- tioned above, and occurred in the year 1813, mention is made "that about the year 1774 or 1775 (the congregation) built a parsonage-liouse upon the tract, which was first occupied by their minister, Mr. Kennedy," who remained there umtil about the year 1779, when he was succeed- ed by the Rev. Ingh Magill. He was a native of Ireland, licensed and ordained before coming to this country. He was received by the Second Presbytery of Philadelphia, in 1776, and dis- missed to the Presbytery of Donegal October 15, 1777. Ile was called to the pastoral charge of the Lower Tuscarora and Cedar Spring con- gregations in 1779, and was installed pastor in November of that year, making his residence in the parsonage on the glebe lands of the Cedar Spring congregation.


II: remained as their pastor many years. He was one of the constituent members of the Huntingdon Presbytery upon its organization, in April, 1795. At the next stated meeting of the Presbytery after its organization the Rev. Hugh Magill asked that the pastoral relation between himself and the Lower Tuscarora con- gregation be dissolved, giving as his reasons his age and infirmities. The request was granted


1


1


714


JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.


and he remained pastor of Cedar Spring con- gregation.


Differences grew up between the members of the congregation and Mr. Magill, arising out of the division of the original survey, and the congregation appointed, as representatives to visit the Presbytery and lay the case before that body, Robert Nelson, James Cunningham and David Martin. Their statement was made October 3, 1798, with the request that Presby- tery appoint a committee to meet at the Cedar Spring Church and assist them in a reconcilia- tion.


In accordance with this request, the Rev. David Wiley, John Bryson and Ingh Morri- son, with Elders Thomas Ferguson, William Bell, Esq., and John Cooper, were appointed a committee to meet at the church on the last Saturday of October, 1798. This committee met, and, on the 20th of November, reported that they had met at the time and place ap- pointed, but could not reconcile the parties. The Presbytery appointed a meeting in January, at which time the Rev. Mr. Magill informed Presbytery that, in consequence of his advanced age and many infirmities, he conceived himself no longer capable of discharging the duties of a pastor, and asked that the pastoral relation be dissolved. The members of the session united with Mr. Magill in this request, and stated that, in consideration of his past labors with the congregation, they would pay to him annually thirty dollars and continue to him the use of the glebe during his natural life. Upon this the Presbytery dissolved the pastoral relation, and declared the congregation vacant. Mr. Magill was appointed supply in May and JJune, and the Rev. David Wiley to administer the Lord's Supper on the 3d of August, with Mr. Samuel Bryson to assist on the occasion.'


The following extract from the minutes of the session held October 2, 1790, will explain the story :


" A paper was handed to the Presbytery, signed by Mr. Magill, in which he declines all connection with the Presbytery and that he will not submit to our an-


I Samuel Bryson bere mentioned way a son of Judge Sammel Bryson, who was studying for the ministry, but who was stricken with disease and never was ordained. .


thority. Also, a letter from Mr. M. to Samuel Bry- son, in which he desires Mr. B. not to assist in ad- ministering the Lord's Supper at Cedar Spring on the Bd Sabbath of August last, although Mr. B. had been appointed to that service by Presbytery. It was, moreover, represented to Presbytery that Mr. M. had procured the doors of the meeting-house at Cedar Spring to be nailed up, so that Mr. Morrison was pre- veuted from preaching there on the Second Sabbath of August; that the people have thus been prevented from the use of the house ever since, and that his conduct has been, in other respects, irregular and dis- orderly, contrary to the peace and welfare of the society and injurious to the interests of religion iu general."


In consequence of these representations, Mr. Magill was cited before the Presbytery, but did not appear, at two meetings ; but finally, in April, 1800, appeared, acknowledged most of his error, and submitted to the Presbytery, who dealt leniently with him. The congregation resumed the payment of the annuity and con- tinned the care of the aged pastor with much charity and Christian patience until his death, September 14, 1805.


At a meeting of Presbytery October 2, 1799, it was ordered that Cedar Spring and Lost Creek congregations be allowed to apply to Carlisle Presbytery for supplies.


The log church stood for many years, and was used regularly until about 1800, and, occa- sionally, a few years after. It was of hewed logs, about twenty-four by thirty feet, with high pul- pit on the south side and door on the east. The glebe lands were sold in parcels, except about one aere, and the proceeds divided between the congregations of Mifflin and Lost Creek. One hundred and thirty acres were sold, April 30, 1814, to Joseph Knox, merchant, of Carlisle ; the balance was sold later to Christian Musser and Christian Alsdorff. The grave-yard was fenced. It contains many stones of early and later dates. The Rev. HIngh Magill, pastor of the church from 1779 to 1796, died in 1805, and lies buried in the yard, but withont a stone to mark the spot.


The following are of the carly members of the church whose tombstones are still standing and the epitaph- legible :


" Here lies Interred the remains of Martha Nelson, the wife of Robert Nelson, who departed this life the


715


JUNIATA COUNTY.


26th day of February, Anno Domini 1794, aged about 63 years."


Mary Allen, daughter of Robert and Martha Nelson, and wife of David Allen, and her husband lie buried by the side of her mother. He was at soldier of the Revolution, and died Angust. 18, 1839, aged seventy-eight years, and shedied Feb- rnary 28, 1810, at an advanced age. The oldest stone in the yard bears date 1766, and is to the memory of a danghter of the Sharon family, who lived near Oakland Mills. Jane Sharon, aged thirty-five, died June 19, 1780, and Mary Sharon died January 13, 1791, aged seventeen years. A representative of a very old family in this section of the country is buried here, the inscription on whose tombstone is as fol- lows :


" Here lies Interd the Remains of Isabella Curren, who departed this life the 7th of December, Anno Domini, 1790.


An aged woman Her age unknown."


There are three flat slabs uniform in size, two of which are erected by Isabella Buchanan. She was the widow of Arthur Buchanan, on whose land the village of Lewistown was laid ont, in 1789. In 1795 she married David Jordan, who lived in the Narrows. She died Angust 9, 1826, and is buried by the side of John Buchanan, her son, who died in Septem- ber, 1790, aged two years, and Adam Courley, who died in 1792, aged sixty-one years, and his wife, Mary, who died in September, 1802, aged seventy-three years. The last two are evidently the father and mother of Mrs. Jordan.


Here also are sons of John Elliot. Edward died February 9, 1796, aged twenty-six years, aud Huston, Angust 29, 1797, aged thirteen years.


Of others are Robert MeMeen, who departed this life February 22, 1827, aged seventy-three years.


"Interd here lieth the earthily parts of Margaret MeMeen, who was removed from this transitory life April 10, 1818, aged 52 years.


Annah Wright, consort of David Wright, September 14, 1820, aged eighty-four years.


The last one given is in memory of Lu- cinda Benthall, wife of Eber Benthall, born


March 10, 1775, died January 27, 1812, aged thirty-seven years.


This lady was not of an old family in this section, but had a sad, but eventful history. She came to the place a few years before, with her husband, from Philadelphia, and settled upon the old Nelson place. Her husband sold the property within a few months after her death and disappeared.


The village of Mifflintown was becoming a centre of influence after it was laid out, in 1791, and John Harris, the founder, denoted a lot on the Main Street for church and grave-yard purposes, and was the first to be buried within its limits. Ile died February 28, 1794.


A desire was felt on the part of many to erect a church building in the village, and in the fall of 1795 a subscription paper was started. The Rev. Joseph Mathers obtained from his father the following subscription paper, which is of interest in various ways :


" Whereas, It is considered consistent that a house of worship for the professors of the Presbyterian re- ligion be erceted in Mifflintown, in the county of Mitllin, therefore we, the subscribers, fully persuaded of the propriety of such a measure, and desirous of encouraging so laudable an undertaking, do promise and engage, to pay into the hands of Hugh McCor- mick and James Rodman the respective sums of money tumexed to our names and we do hereby authorize the aforesaid Hugh MeCormick and James Rodman, or either of them, at any time after the building of the house aforesaid is begun, to demand, sue for and re- cover the several sums of money annexed to our re- spective names for the purpose of carrying on and completing the building of the house aforementioned. Witness our hands done the first day of November, A.D. 1793.'


8. d.


"John Watson


25


0


Trixtram Davis.


15


John MeClure. 5


0 0


Ezra Doty, if the house is built of stone, I will pay unto the trustees 5


0


0


Samuel Jackson, if a stone house .... 5


0)


0


Jos. O. Ramsay 5


0


0


Wm. Crook. 2


0


0


George Turner


0


0


William Long. 1


0


0)


' At This time (1793) John Harris was living, get his widow, Jane Harris, is a subscriber to this paper. This faet leads the editor to think the original date was 1795 and not 1793.


----


716


JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.


s. d.


Robert Stewart, if a stone house is built


5 0 0


Samuel Davidson


6


10


0


James Purdy, fifteen shillings. If a


stone house I will pay 25 pounds if a log house. 7


10


0)


James Harris.


25


0


()


Joseph Davis.


3


0) 0


Jean Patterson,


3


0


0)


Jolm Johnson, if a stone house is built


5


0 0


James Johnson


0)


11


3


Nath. Johnson ..


0


11


3


Michael MeMulien


0


11


0)


Robt. Sturgeon.


1


2


6


James Boyd.


7


C.


John Wright ..


3


0


0


William Harris. 20


0


0


Wm. Cunningham, blacksmith. 0)


1


0


0)


Robert Jordon, if a stone house.


()


0


Andrew Johnston.


1


0


0


Azr Wright. 5


0)


0


Win. Martin .. 6


0


0


Hugh McCormick.


7 10


=


Robert and George Toury.


7 10


0


James Rodman.


5


0


0


Samuel C. Greer


1


10


0


Daniel Murray


2


0


0


John Alexander. 2


5


0


Jolin Trit .. 1


2


6


Andrew Dixson


3


0


0


Michael McCrum


1


2


6


William Adams.


3


0


0


John Carmont


6


0


0


Joseph Sheavor.


1


2


6


Jolin Lytle ..


3


0


0


Dorothea Turbett.


3


10


0


John Hardy 5


0


0


Mary Wilson, widow 3


15


0


Alex. Robison 5


0


0


Geo. Wilson, to be paid in six months. 15 3


David Greer.


3


7


6


James Sanderson.


0


0


Alexander HIardey


0


12


C.


/ Hugh MeAlister. 1


10


0


Thomas Hardey. 0


12 6


12


6


Thos. M. Stewart 3


0


0


James Henderson


0)


12


6


James P. Nelson 2


5


0


Joseph. Vanhorne .. 2


0


0


Andrew Patterson. 0


15


0


Jacob Wright.


0


10


0


James Criswell 0


1


2


6


John Cunningham


1


0


0


los. Culbertson


1


15


0)


James Harris, Sr


5


0


0


John Patterson 1


10


0


James Knox


25


0


0


Jno Bratton ... 0


8


2


Sam'l Jamison.


3


0


0


John Jamison.


5


0


Conrad Tintner


3


()


0


John Elliott. 3


()


()


John Simpson.


3


()


()


Wm. Robison,


£123


1


Win. Brisbin ..


10


0)


Hugh Magill ...


3


()


Matthew McClure.


3


()


James McCalley


7 10


0


d.


Wm. McCoy


7


10


0


Thos. Gallaher. 5


0)


0


William Campbell. 1


0


Charles Clark. 15 0 0)


Jane Harris, widow. 10


0


Jolm Kelly 2


0


0


John McClelland, if a stone house and four days' hauling stone with wagon and team. 7


John Stewart, if built of stone. 15


0


0


John Hamilton, one pound and ten shillings. On condition that the house is built with stone, and on ground the most eentral to the present congregation, and of gen- teel plan, I will pay. 1


Win. Cunningham.


0


William Henderson. 2


0


0


Hugh Hardy


5


0


David Hardey. 1


2


G


William Hardey.


0 12


6


Thos. Turbett


9


0


0


Andrew Nelson


10


0


Jean Anderson 1


2


6


Robert MeAlister 1


10


0


Aquilla Burchfield. 0 15 0


John Knox 6


0


0


Win. Bell. 0)


15


0


James Taylor. 0


10


0


-


1 Mos. Thompson 2


6


John Cummin is to pay. ()


15 0


70


18


£491 2


0


0


James Aitken 3


.


George Campbell. 0


()


William McCormick.


John Beaty ..


0


0


Henry Klugh 10


0


Adam Johnston


15


0


F


1


0


-


0


--


John Culbertson


0


10


717


JUNIATA COUNTY.


Jas, McClelland, four days' hauling, 3 0 0 .£497 7


87


104


£ 109 17


The house was begun soon after this time, but was not completed in the winter of 1798-99, as on February 13th in that year, 1799, an act of Legislature passed, authorizing Samuel Bryson, James Knox, John Watson, William Ilarris and James Rodman, commissioners named, to raise by lottery a sum of money not to exceed two thousand dollars, " to be applied to defraying the expenses of completing the building of the Presbyterian meeting-house in Mifflintown."


This lottery was never held. The tickets were issued and placed in the hands of James Knox, one of the elders of this church. He retained them, and, in after-years, his daughter Maria placed them in a serap-book, which is now in possession of Mrs. Joseph Cummings, of Sydney, Ohio. The house was built of stone and left unfinished for several years, and until the Rev. Jolin Hutcheson became the pastor, in 1805. With the desire to have the house of worship completed, he preached a sermon from the text, Ilaggai i. 4: " Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in ceiled houses and this house lie waste?" This sermon had the desired effect, and the house was soon after plastered on the sides and ceiled overhead with pine and left unpainted.


A basement was made underneath, opening upon the street, which was fitted up for a school-room and used many years by the Rev. Mr. Inteheson. The audience-room was en- tered by large folding-doors from the east end. The pews were high-backed and in four rows. The pulpit was high, surmounted by a sound- iug-board painted green, on the top of which was placed a carved pine-apple, about fifteen inchies in length. The church was probably inclosed in the winter of 1799-1800, as, on the 2d of April, 1800, the Huntingdon Presbytery met at Mifflintown. At about the same time the Lost Creek congregation built a log church near MeAlisterville. The united congregations of Mifflin and Lost Creek are first mentioned November 10, 1801, when a call is made for


the Rev. Matthew Brown, a licentiate, who began his labors with the congregations in the fall of 1801, but was not ordained and installed imtil the meeting of Presbytery in April, 1802. He remained with the people until March 20, 1805, when, at his own request, the pastoral relation was dissolved.


At the same time a call was put into his hands from Washington, Pa., which he ae- cepted, and he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Ohio and soon after became president of Washington College, and later the distin- guished and honored educator and president of Jefferson College, at Cannonsburg, Pa.


Mr. John. Hutcheson, a native of Dauphin County, Pa., graduated at Dickinson Collegey/ under the Rev. Charles Nisbet, D. D .; was licensed to preach in the fall of 1804 and received a call from the congregations of Mifflintown and Lost Creek October 1, 1805, which he accepted and began his labors. He was ordained pastor of the congregations at a meeting of Presbytery at Lost Creek Church April 15, 1806. A charter was obtained March 1, 1807. Mr. Hutcheson served faithfully the congregations until his death, November 11, 1844, and for many years taught the classies to young men who attended his school from a great distance. The Sabbath following the decease of Mr. Hutcheson, the Rev. Matthew Allison was invited to fill the pulpit and was asked to remain as a supply until spring. He had been pastor of a church in Kilbarchan, Scotland, twenty-three years, and in Paterson, N. J., eighteen months. He received a call to become pastor of this church March 26, 1845, and was installed the follow- ing April, and remained as pastor until his death, July 8, 1872. His failing health, in 1871, led him to ask for a release from the congrega- tions, but they desired him to remain, and secured T. J. Sherrard, at that time a licenti- ate of the Presbytery of Steubenville, to act as co-pastor. He preached for the first time November 5, 1861, and began his regular labors January, 1862, and was ordained and installed June 11, 1872. Mr. Allison did not long sur- vive, and the Rev. Mr. Sherrard became the pastor and remained until April 15, 1875, when he resigned. A strong desire on the part of




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