USA > Pennsylvania > Huntingdon County > Huntingdon > History of the Presbytery of Huntingdon > Part 31
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son was an elder in the same congregation for many years, and a grandson is now an acting elder of the same church.
At the second meeting of the Presbytery after the organization, there was but one elder present on the first day, Mr. JOHN COOPER. He was from East Kishacoquillas. Two of his sons afterwards filled the office of elder in different congregations; Mr. ROBERT COOPER in East Kishacoquillas, the father of the late Rev. SAMUEL M. COOPER : and Mr. SAMUEL COOPER, an elder in the congregation of Spruce Creek. Of the family of Mr. JOHN COOPER, there are descendants with us to this day. On the second day of the meeting, other elders made their appearance, among which were Messrs. ALEXANDER Mc- CORMICK of Shavers Creek, WILLIAM KING of Penns Valley, and WILLIAM SHAW of Warriors Run. There were two brothers, both elders in the congregation of Shavers Creek, ALEXANDER and GEORGE MCCORMICK. ALEXANDER, the eldest, was a boy fourteen years old at the time of BRADDOCK's defeat, and was with the army, but in what capacity is not known. But it is quite probable that it was as a volunteer soldier, as in those times all the region in which he was born was infested with Indians, and even boys were experienced Indian hunters. McAllavy's Fort was in the vicinity of his father's residence, into which the family, with other families, were often compelled to take refuge. It was in ALEXANDER MCCORMICK'S house the congregation of Shavers Creek was organized; and in whose family the Rev. JOHN JOHNSTON boarded while he was stated supply of the congregation. The above named elders are mentioned with the main design of perpetuating their names. because they were honored and active officers of the church in their day, though very little is known of their private character and history. But we come now to a name of more modern date, and concerning whom there are those living who are able to give the important facts of his life.
JOHN G. LOWREY, ESQ.
M R. LOWREY, at the time the writer became a member of the Presbytery of Huntingdon, had either retired from the active duties of the eldership, or had removed to St. Louis, so that we never met him in Presbytery, of which he had been frequently a member. No member of the session of Bellefonte church so fre- quently represented it in Presbytery, and no elder was so frequently chosen by the Presbytery to represent it in the General Assembly along with others. To the Hon. Ex-Judge SAMUEL LINN, son of Rev. JAMES LINN, D. D., application was made in the first instance for facts . concerning the life of Mr. LOWREY, when the following reply was re- ceived :
" LEWISBURG, February 20, 1872.
Rev. and Dear Sir :- I knew JOHN G. LOWREY very well from my earliest childhood-knew him as a valuable member of society- as a faithful public officer, and as a prominent and useful member of the session of the church. He was one of my father's warmest friends and wisest counsellors, and I know of no one connected with the ruling eldership who was more worthy of notice amongst the memorials of church history. But as he was a man in middle life when I was but a child, and left Bellefonte for the West just about the time I began to enter upon the active practice of my profession, there are many important parts of the history of his life that I would be unable to relate. I would refer you for more accurate information than I can give, to EDWARD C. HUMES, Esq., whose family relationship with Mr. LOWREY, will enable him to give you many interesting historical facts. I have, however, such admiration of the character of that most excel- lent old man, that I would be willing, after he has given such statis- tical and general information as he can give, to add my knowledge of him as far as it goes, and my impressions of his character, public and private."
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Upon application to Mr. HUMES, the following letter was received :
" BELLEFONTE, May 2, 1872.
REV. W. J. GIBSON, D. D .- Dear Sir :- It would afford me great pleasure to aid you in the work you have in hand, in the way you suggest, had I the information you desire to procure, or had I the means of obtaining it. It is true, that in my younger days, I was well acquainted with JOHN G. LOWREY, the person you refer to, who resided in this town, almost from its organization, to the time he left for a resi- dence in St. Louis. Yet I fear I could not give you such particulars of his private history, in detail, as would be of much service to you in preparing a sketch of his life. Yet there are some things I do know and remember, which I may refer to as they occur to me.
.The name of JOHN G. LOWREY is familiar to some of the older citizens of Bellefonte, as prominent among those earlier settlers of the town, who were influential in the formation of the society and church organization then existing.
He was born ot Presbyterian stock, in Donegal, Lancaster county, Pa., about the year 1780-from whence he came to this town, probably not later than 1793 or 1794; where he resided more than half a century, in the prime of his life. A young man of some culture and education for the day, although without advantages other than such as were afforded by a country school, and that for a brief period, he at once took and ever . after maintained a high social position among the people. He was a good accountant-hence his principal occupation consisted in the settling up of estates, and agencies for owners of unseated lands; vast bodies of which were held by non-residents, in this, the central portion of the State.
He had his peculiarities ; and in some respects was a man of mark. He was notoriously self-willed, and those who knew him best and most inti- mately in his social and political relations, always gave him credit for a firmness and pertinacity in his opinions, which amounted almost to obsti- nacy ; and such as rarely yielded to persuasion or argument. Indeed, it was well known and generally admitted by his friends, that if Mr. LOWREY had formed an opinion on any subject, it was a waste of time to attempt to change it. As an instance of this trait in his character, it was his firm and decided opinion that NAPOLEON BONAPARTE was alive, long after all the civilized world beside believed the fact as reported, that he died in exile on the Island of St. Helena.
He was an ardent admirer of Gen. ANDREW JACKSON, and it is well remembered by his acquaintances of that day, that next to his Bible, the State paper of the hero of New Orleans, was more highly estimated by him than any other production of the times.
As a member of the community in which he resided, he was greatly influential in giving tone to publie sentiment ; and repeatedly held many, if not all the offices of honor and trust in the town and county of his
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adoption ; but being naturally a modest and unassuming man withal, never aspired to higher positions. The records of the Bellefonte Presbyterian congregation, with which he connected himself early in its organization, under the pastorship of the Rev. HENRY R. WILSON, D. D., Sr., show him to have been one of its first ruling elders. He continued to act in this capacity, under the pastorate of the late Rev. JAMES LINN, D. D .; and likewise performed for many years, the duties of collector, treasurer, and secretary of the church ; as well as Superintendent of the Sabbath school from its organization until his removal to the West. Without disparaging the services of others, to whom this church is much indebted for its past and present prosperity, it is but just to the memory of Mr. LOWREY to say, that he was equalled by few and excelled by none of his cotemporaries, in an earnest faithful devotion of his time and means to the welfare of the church.
For many years he was prominent in conducting the services of the social prayer meeting, in which exercise he was highly gifted; and by his regular and uniform attendance, impressed upon others his attachment for this duty. He was a conscientious and liberal contributor to the sup- port and spread of the gospel in his day. He was frequently in attendance on the courts of the church as a member, and was universally regarded as well qualified for the performance of his official duties. As before stated, he more frequently represented the Presbytery in the General Assembly, than perhaps any other layman.
He died some years ago in St. Louis, having survived his third wife."
HON. GEORGE BOAL.
M R. BOAL was born in the County Antrim, Ireland, July 16, 1796. He was but two years old when his father emigrated to the United States and settled in Penns Valley. His father, DAVID BOAL, came to this country in 1798 in the same vessel with the late Rev. Dr. SAMUEL B. WILIE, of Philadelphia, and the Rev. JOHN BLACK, D. D., of Pittsburg, they being then only students of theology ; and the father of the writer, the only minister on board the vessel. They landed at Philadelphia in the year above named, from whence they separated, Mr. BOAL making his way to the centre of the State. He was a member of the Presbyterian church in Ireland, and on coming to Penns Valley connected himself with the church then known as Slab Cabin, now called Spring Creek. Of this church he was afterwards made an elder, in which office he served the congrega- tion with great acceptance till the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1837. He gave name to the town of Boalsburg in Centre county, as his farm lay just upon the outskirts of the town; and it is probable that the land on which the town was built originally belonged to him. Such was the favorable and honorable parentage of the subject of our notice. It implied the strictest and most intel- ligent education in the doctrines of the Presbyterian church, to which GEORGE BOAL adhered in all his after life. When times of distrac- tion and division afterwards came upon the church, Mr. BOAL was found among the foremost, most trusted, and most intelligent of the lay leaders in behalf of the doctrines and discipline of the church. Mr. BOAL's education was only such as could be obtained in the com- mon schools of the county, of which, however, he made the best possible improvement, and was therefore well qualified for all the ordinary business of a citizen, and for the offices of honor and trust to which he was afterwards appointed or chosen. He was a farmer
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THOS HUNTER, LITH. PHIL.
HON. GEORGE BOAL.
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all his life. He was brought up on the farm with his father, and after- wards farmed for himself, having inherited the family homestead. At what time of life he connected himself with the church by a personal profession, is not known, but it was early, while he was yet a young man. Such was the estimate of the church of his intelligence and piety, that he was elected, ordained, and installed an elder in it while his father was yet living. This event took place in May, 1835 ; his father died two years afterwards. For a man to be elected to this responsible office while yet a young man, and in the congregation in which he was raised, not only implied his special qualifications for the office, but the high respect in which his character was held by his neighbors and friends, and brethren from his youth up. If his life had not been without reproach, he could never have been so honored and trusted by those with whom his whole life had been familiar. And he continued to adorn the place an honored and trusted leader in the session and the church till the time of his death. He was equally respected and trusted in civil life. He was elected an associate judge of Centre county ; and in. 1840 a member of the State Legislature for one term. As to politics, he acted with the Democratic party till 1861-62, at which time he became an active supporter of the administration then in power, in prosecuting the war for the Union. And few men in Centre county, and no man in his own immediate neighborhood, exerted a larger influence in pro- curing volunteers for the Union army. But he 'never was a politi- cian in the modern application of that term. The civil offices which he held sought him, not he the offices. His known sound judgment, integrity, and personal popularity, recommended him to nominating conventions, and to the suffrages of the people. Judge BOAL was often called upon to attend Presbyteries, Synods, and Gen- eral Assemblies, in all of which he was recognized as a judicious counsellor.
Such was his reputation among his neighbors for sound judgment and integrity, that he was frequently employed as executor and administrator of the estates of deceased persons, knowing that any amount of property, or of funds, would be safe in his hands and under his management.
The prominent points of Judge BOAL's character were, soundness of judgment and eminent discretion ; kindness to the poor, and liberality in giving to all benevolent objects; a true and practical
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love of his country, willing to make sacrifices for the public good ; social in his habits and the most engaging kindness in all the relations of life, he was universally beloved and respected in his immediate neighborhood. Scarcely any citizen could have died whose loss would have been at the time more generally felt and regretted.
Mr. BOAL was twice married. His first wife was Miss NANCY JACK, who died in 1843. His second wife was Mrs. ELIZABETH JOHNSTON (formerly Miss E. WILLIAMS,) to whom he was married December 31, 1844. She still survives. By his first wife he had four sons and three daughters; by his second wife a daugliter and a son. One son died in the army ; he was killed in battle or died of camp fever during the progress of the civil war.
It is scarcely necessary to add, that Judge BOAL was a man of decided piety. For wherein is true piety manifested but by a con- scientious and exact fulfilment of duty in all the relations of life. He loved the church and was foremost in all things that pertained to its advancement. He was a man of prayer, and very active in times when there was any special interest in the congregation on the subject of religion.
HON. JOHN KERR.
M R. KERR was a native of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, born near to the town of Huntingdon, April 1, 1796. His father was WILLIAM KERR; he came from Ireland, and married a Miss WooDs, who was probably a native of this country. JOHN, their son, lived and died upon the farm on which he was born. His edu- cation was such as farmer's sons usually obtained in those times, only such as was to be obtained in the common schools, not however schools that were sustained by the State, but by the families in each particular district. If any one made more advancement in educa- tion than another, it was not owing to superior advantages in the way of a common education, but to superior diligence and aptitude, to receive instruction. As to his religious instruction it must have been faithfully imparted, if we are to judge from the man- hood of the subject. The time when he made a personal pro- fession of religion must have been early in life, for he was yet a young man when he was elected an elder of the church of Huntingdon. And yet, owing to the loss of records, the precise year in which he was chosen to that responsible office is not certainly known ; but his name appears on the records of the Presbytery as the elder representing the congregation of Hunting- don, early in the year 1823, when he was only twenty-seven years of age; and almost continuously from that time his name appears on the minutes of the Presbytery as the elder representing the congregation. The congregation must have been scarce of elders, or Judge KERR must have been the leading member of session, which was the fact. In all matters pertaining to the church, whether its religious or secular interests, Mr. KERR always took a leading part. He gave his time and his money without stint to the church.
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Such men are always honored with the pre-eminence, and deservedly so ; and without envy on the part of their brethren. It was so with Mr. KERR, he was accorded a voluntary pre-eminence in the church, because he was so devoted to it in all its interest, sparing neither time nor expense. As an elder he was an example to all the mem- bers of the church in his punctual and unfailing attendance on all the means of grace, public, social, and private. When appointed to attend the courts of the church, as he often was, Presbyteries, Synods, and Assemblies, he made no excuse of the urgency of pri- vate business to excuse him from attendance. He always gave the preference to the business of the church over his own private con- cerns.
As a counsellor he was an invaluable aid to his pastor. The Rev. JOHN PEEBLES, during whose pastorate Mr. KERR served in the elder- ship, told the writer that he was in the habit of consulting Judge KERR in all cases great and small, about which he had doubts, and always obtained light and aid from his counsels, whether the matters pertained to his own private business, or to the business of the church. What a pleasant consideration it is that God always provides one John Kerr for almost every congregation, on whom the pastor can rely on all occasions. Mr. KERR was appointed one of the Associate Judges of the county of Huntingdon, as is believed, by a Governor who was not of the same party in politics with himself, but who knew him well, having resided in the same vicinity for many years. If so, as we suppose, it was a deserved compliment to Mr. KERR's integrity and intelligence.
Judge KERR was married twice. His first wife was Miss SARAH WOODS, a sister of the late Rev. Dr. JAS. S. WOODS of Lewistown. She lived but a short time. He afterwards married Miss MARY C. WIL- LIAMS, a daughter of Rev. Dr. JOSHUA WILLIAMS of Cumberland county, Pa., by whom he had eight children, all of whom are now dead except CORNELIA M., wife of the Rev. JAMES A. REED of Spring- field, Ill.
It is remarkable that within the space of three years after the father's death, the whole family of children were removed by death, except the one above mentioned. Judge KERR died of typhoid fever, August 30, 1855; and JOSHUA, his second son, died March 24, 1857- HENRY, the oldest, June 26, 1857-and JOHN PEEBLES KERR, died February 23. 1857. And in 1858 a daughter, named ELLA, died.
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HENRY and JOSHUA had just graduated at Lafayette College, and JOHN was at school at Mt. Joy.
Mrs. KERR died at Wooster, Ohio, at the residence of her son-in- law, Rev. JAMES A. REED, February 17, 1867. The family are all resting in the old grave yard at Huntingdon. The name of Judge JOHN KERR is still savoury in all this region; and together with the name of that man of God, the Rev. JOHN PEEBLES, will be held in lasting remembrance by the congregation and people of Huntingdon. They lie together in the same cemetery and will rise together to meet their Lord in the air at his coming. That love and friendship which was unbroken on earth is renewed and perfected in heaven.
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HON. JONATHAN M'WILLIAMS.
M R. McWILLIAMS was born in Spruce Creek Valley, Hunting- don county, Pa., in 1797. He was of Scotch descent. His parents were members of the Presbyterian church. He spent his youth and part of his mature years in working at a mechanical trade ; but latterly lived on a farm of his own, on which he principally raised his family. Married in 1819 Miss ESTHER BORELAND, who was a native of the same valley, and the same year joined the Presbyterian church. In 1827 he was elected a ruling elder of the church of his childhood ; in which capacity he served them with fidelity till within five years of his death, at which time he removed out of the bounds of the congregation. His eldest daughter was inarried to the late Rev. THOMAS STEVENSON, who after the death of her hus- band resided in McVeytown, Mifflin county, and this was the chief inducement to Mr. McWILLIAMS to remove there to spend the last years of his life. He was twice elected to the State Legislature from Huntingdon county, and served during the years 1842 and 1843. He was also elected an associate judge of the county. He enjoyed in the highest degree the confidence of the community among whom he spent almost the whole of his life. His intelligence, piety, and public spirit, commanded the esteem of all who knew him. He was a great reader; collected a large library of standard works, and became possessed of a very general information. His face was always set against wrong; and he employed his pen frequently in the inculcation of virtue, and in the defence of christianity. He early enlisted in the cause of temperance, and spent both time and money in urging forward the reformation, both by speech and by the press. His piety was marked by simplicity and humble trust. He was an example in all the relations of life. As a Presbyterian, and especially as a Presbyterian elder, he was sincere and intelligent in his adoption
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HON. JONATHAN M º WILLIAMS.
THO! HUNTER, LITH. PHIL!
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of the doctrines of the Confession of Faith, and the catechisms, and tolerated no departure from them, in those who professed to adopt them. It was always known where Judge McWILLIAMS would be found when matters of doctrine were involved. And he was true to the State as he was to the Church. He was eminently patriotic. He lived through the late civil war in behalf of the Union. He at once took the part of the Government, and gave his youngest son to the army, who was killed at Antietam. More young men volunteered from Judge McWILLIAMS' immediate neighborhood, and more of them fell in the service, than from any district of the same amount of population in any part of the State. The following extracts are taken from a copy of the Huntingdon Globe, published two weeks after his death :
" He had lived his threescore and ten, and they were years of industry and usefulness, to himself, to his Maker, and to his fellow-men. Few men took as active a part in the temperance reformation, which originated in this country in his younger days, and with which he at once became con- nected, and fought manfully against great opposition, and when none (few) were found to aid him."
Again, "He was not only a philanthropist, but a patriot. During the rebellion his voice and pen were alike active in diffusing the spirit of patri- otism, and his appeals were earnest and soul-inspiring. He had many friends, for he had befriended many; and they, with us, will revere the memory of his acts of kindness and devotion."
Judge McWILLIAMS raised a family of sons and daughters, all of whom while living were members of the church, save one; and one of whom became an elder of a Presbyterian church, efficient and beloved, but was removed by death shortly after the decease of his father.
Judge McWILLIAMS' death was rather unexpected at the time it occurred. The sickness that took him away was only of five days duration. But the subject of death was not unfamiliar to him. Long before his departure, the prospect of his own leaving was a topic of frequent conversation. He always talked calmly of it. Death had no terrors for him. He knew in whom he had believed. The sick- ness of which he died was the only sickness of his long life. He died at McVeytown, Pa., September 2, 1870, in the seventy-third year of his age.
MR. JOSEPH GILLILAND,
M R. JOSEPH GILLILAND was a native of this country, though of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, JAMES GILLILAND, came from Ireland, and settled in Chester county, Pennsylvania, before the Rev- olutionary war. He served as a soldier under WASHINGTON, and died before the termination of the war from exposure and fatigue in bat- tling for the independence of the country. He was a strictly reli- gious and pious man, and said to have been an elder of the Presby- · terian church.
JOSEPH GILLILAND, the subject of this sketch, was born within the bounds of Fogg's Manor church, Chester county, November 4, 1770. He married May 1, 1794, in Chester county, Miss CATHARINE COWDON ; and removed to Penns Valley, Centre county, in 1805, where he imme- diately united with the Sinking Creek Presbyterian church, then under care of the Rev. WILLIAM STUART. He was elected an elder of this church in 1815, in which capacity he continued to serve till his death with great acceptance.
Mr. GILLILAND was highly esteemed as a citizen, as well as promi- nent in the church. In 1823 he was elected a county commissioner; in which office he served for the term of three years. He was also prominent in the management of township affairs; and was the coun- sellor and friend of the widow and the fatherless. His business, the greater part of his life, was farming. A son, writing of his parents, says :.
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