USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > History of the Presbytery of Washington : including a brief account of the planting of the Presbyterian church in Western Pennsylvania and parts adjacent, with sketches of pioneer ministers and ruling elders ; also sketches of later ministers and ruling elders > Part 36
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REV. SAMUEL RALSTON, D.D., was born in Ireland, County Donegal, in 1756; was educated at University of Glasgow, and after being licensed came to America in 17944, and was received under care of the Presbytery of Newcastle, from which he was transferred to Presbytery of Redstone and then to Presbytery of Ohio. He was ordained by this latter Nov. 29, 1796, becoming first pastor of the churches of Mingo Creek and Horseshoe Bot- tom,-afterwards merged into Williamsport, now Monongahela City. From the Williamsport part of his charge he was released in 1834 and from Mingo in 1836. After this long pastorate of over forty years, he survived another fifteen years, and died at his home near Ginger Hill, Sept. 25, 1851, in the 95th year of his age and about the 58th of his ministry.
He was a man of very large stature, strongly marked features, nose and eye-brows noticeably prominent, facial muscles full and irregular, and fore- head slightly receding. His demeanor was at once bland and dignified and his appearance in every respect extremely venerable. His familiarity with classical literature, his skill in argumentative writing, his established orthodoxy and his undisputed worth of character, moral and religious, gave him a prominent standing and extensive influence among his con- temporaries. He was a trustee of Jefferson College from its incorporation
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in 1802 until his death, and for forty consecutive years was president of its Board. Washington College conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1823. He was Moderator of the Synod of Pitts- burgh in 1809, and was rarely absent from an ecclesiastical meeting. He made several missionary tours into the Western Territory and was an editor and frequent contributor to the Western Missionary Magazine. More than any of his fellow-laborers in the West, Dr. Ralston sought to exert his influence through the press. His first published work was in 1805-a little volume which somehow gained for itself in Presbyterian cir- cles the title of " The Currycomb," the object of the volume being to defend the revival of 1800 from what were shown to be unjust animadver- sions. He also published a volume on Baptism, including an examination of the views of Alex. Campbell, " a work," says Rev. Dr. A. T. McGill, "of remarkable force and erudition." Following this was a volume on Prophecy, and then one on Psalmody, written when he was well-nigh go years old, a remarkable case of active mental power in advanced age.
Dr. Ralston was married, in 1798, to Rachel, daughter of William Fergu- son, a ruling elder in Pigeon Creek Church. One son, James, had just completed his course in the Western Theological Seminary in 1835, when he was removed by death. Other of his descendants still reside in the bounds of Mingo Church. ( Vide "Smith's History of Jefferson College" and "Sprague's Annals.")
REV. WILLIAM WOODS, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Woods, and elder brother of Rev. Samuel Woods, was born March 6, 1771, in Lancas- ter Co., Pa., and graduated at Dickinson College May 3, 1792. His theo- logical studies were partly under Rev. Robt. Smith, D.D., of Pequea, and partly under Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon ; was licensed by Presbytery of Newcastle June 17, 1794; was transferred to Presbytery of Redstone and then to Presbytery of Ohio, by which latter he was ordained June 27, 1797. and became pastor of the churches of Bethel and Lebanon, in Allegheny Co., Pa. From the latter he was released in 1820 and from Bethel in Oct., 1831.
The testimony of his immediate successor, Rev. Dr. Marshall, is that he was " a pious, judicious, orthodox and spiritual minister ; grave in deport- ment, solemn in aspect, courteous and affable in manner."
His churches participated largely in the blessings of the great reviva! ! the beginning of the century. Nearly one thousand persons were received into communion during his pastorate of thirty-three years.
He died October 17, 1834, in the sixty-fourth year of his age, and the forty-first of his ministry.
REV. SAMUEL DONNELL was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio, October 25 1797, being the first candidate licensed by this Presbytery. On the 25th of August, 1799, he was ordained, sine titulo, by same Presbytery, in comp ance with "requests from remote parts of the State of Tennessee," at!
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"liberty granted by the General Assembly ; " was dismissed, October 21, 1800, to Presbytery of Transylvania, and received by same October 6, 1801. In 1802 was one of three ministers who protested against the action of Presbytery in licensing "uneducated men of advanced age." When the Presbytery of Cumberland was erected by Synod of Kentucky in 1802, he was made one of its members. In 1804 he united with two others in a protest and complaint to the Synod against the irregular doings of the majority of that Presbytery in licensing seven candidates. In 1805 was one of the two members from Cumberland Presbytery present in Synod, and took part subsequently on the side of Synod's committee against the irregularities of his Presbytery ; was present in Synod in 1805. The indications are that when the Presbytery of Shiloh was erected in IS15, he was made a member of it, and that his subsequent life was spent in teaching and preaching in Tennessee.
In "Sprague's Annals," vol. 3, p. 231, reference is made to a Rev. Samuel Donnell, who married a daughter of Rev. John Carmichael, and went to Tennessee. In a foot-note it is said that " Mr. D. joined the Cumberland Presbyterians." The error in this foot-note probably originated from the fact that one of the irregular licentiates of the Cumberland Presbytery was of the same name. The names of Samuel Donnell, Ruling Elder, Rev. Robert D. and Rev. George D., and Samuel Donnell, Jr., licentiate, all appear in the early records of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Samuel Donnell's name does not appear, but is found continuously in the Presbyterial and Synodical records of the Presbyterian Church.
REV. JOHN KENNEDY was received, October 26, 1797, from Presbytery of New Castle. Cotera desunt.
REV. JOHN WATSON was a native of Western Pennsylvania. He became an orphan when nine years old. From early boyhood he evinced an extreme avidity for learning, and, almost unaided by a teacher's instruction, made such proficiency that at the age of nineteen he was appointed tutor in Canonsburg Academy. In 1797 he graduated at Princeton College, and immediately after his return to the West was chosen principal of Canonsburg Academy. While filling this position, he studied theology with Dr. McMillan, and was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio, October 17, 1798. The year following he received a call from the church in Washing- ton, Pa., and also one from the church of Miller's Run. This latter he accepted, and was ordained June 26, 1800. Meanwhile, a college charter having been secured, and the institution having taken on this higher form, he was elected its first president. Only three months afterward he was removed by death, November 30, 1802. His early decease was greatly lamented. He seemed to possess every quality needed for his position. His scholarship was exceptional in that day, embracing a knowledge of the French, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew and Arabic, as well as Latin and Creek languages. His natural gifts were of a very high order. His piety
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was deep and sincere ; his whole character peculiarly lovely and attractive. The most explicit testimony on all these points has been put on record by President Carnahan, who was his pupil at the Canonsburg Academy. Also by Dr. Rea and others.
Mr. Watson was married to Margaret. a daughter of Dr. McMillan. A romantic interest attaches to this event. Another daughter, Jane, was married to Rev. William Morehead. They were married by the father of the two brides on the same day. Not very long afterward Mr. Watson and Mr. Morehead died on the same day, and were buried at one time, side by side, in one grave. The double tablet covering their remains perpetuates the memory of this remarkable coincidence.
REV. JOSEPH ANDERSON was a member of the church of Upper Buffalo, and was licensed by the Presbytery of Ohio, October 17, 1798. Engaging at once in missionary labor in the Western Territory, he succeeded in gathering congregations at several points, and on August 20, 1800, he was ordained by the same Presbytery and installed pastor of the three churches of Richland (St. Clairsville), Short Creek (Mount Pleasant), and Cross Roads (Crab Apple). Within two years afterward, Cross Roads ceased to be a part of his charge. In April, 1813, his pastoral relation to Short Creek was dissolved; but in 1820 Short Creek is again coupled with Richland in Presbytery's Report to Synod. In 1827 Richland is first reported as St. Clairsville, and in 1829 is reported as his sole pastoral charge. From this he was released October 3, 1830. The years immediately following he spent as stated supply at various points in the Presbytery. In June, 1835, he was dismissed to the Presbytery of St. Charles. His death occurred at Monticello, Mo., in 1847, in the eightieth year of his age.
Mr. Anderson's wife was a daughter of Rev. Joseph Smith, first pastor of Cross Creek and Upper Buffalo.
He was a man of deep piety and abounding zeal, a faithful and devoted laborer, and in an eminent sense a pioneer. He was the first minister ordained and installed by this Presbytery in what is now the State of Ohio ; but not, as some have claimed, the first absolutely, Rev. James Kemper having been ordained and installed, at Cincinnati, by the Presbytery of Transylvania, as early as October 23, 1792. The indications are that, pre- vious to licensure, Mr. Anderson resided in the western part of Washington County, and that he pursued his studies, in part at least, at Canonsburg Academy.
REV. THOMAS EDGAR HUGHES, son of Rowland and Elizabeth (Smiley) Hughes, and a younger brother of Rev. James Hughes (q.v.), was born in York County, Pa., April 7, 1769. Coming west with the family, after the father's decease, about the year 1780, and residing with them in the bounds of Upper Buffalo Church, until he had reached adult age, he then began his studies at Canonsburg Academy. In 1797 he graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, and, after a course of reading in theology, under Dr.
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McMillan, was licensed by the Presbytery of Ohio, October 17, 1798. By the same Presbytery he was ordained, August 28, 1799, and installed pastor of the churches of New Salem and Mount Pleasant, in what is now Beaver County, Pa., being the first pastor ordained by this Presbytery north of the Ohio River. His name headed the roll of the Presbytery of Erie at its erection, in 1802, and he was its first moderator. In 1808 he relinquished the New Salem part of his charge, and continued pastor of Mount Pleasant until November 19, 1830. After this he resided at Wellsville, Ohio, organ- izing the church there and preaching to it for about four years. He died May 2, 1838, in the seventieth year of his age and fortieth of his ministry. His church partook largely of the influences of the great revival of 1800. He had much of that missionary zeal for which his older brother was con- spicuous, and made several missionary tours into the Western Territory. HIe was Moderator of the Synod of Pittsburgh in 1822. He did great ser- vice to the cause of education and the training of men for the ministry, by the leading part which he took in the establishment and maintenance of the Greersburg Academy, and was considered a learned and judicious instructor.
Mr. Hughes was married, May 6, 1799, to Mary Donahey. Four of their sons-William, John D., Watson, and James R .- became ministers, the last one of whom yet survives. Another son was a ruling elder widely known, and a daughter was the wife of Rev. Samuel A. McLean, formerly of Beaver Presbytery. Four grandsons-sons of William-also became ministers. It is stated, on competent authority, that of the descendants of Rowland Hughes, father of Rev. Messrs. James, Smilie and Thomas E., not less than twenty-four have been ministers, and more than that number have been ruling elders.
SMILIE HUGHES, brother of Rev. James and Thomas E:, was licensed December 20, 1798. He died soon after licensure.
REV. JAMES SNODGRASS was born November 27, 1764. His early life was spent in what is now Allegheny County, Pa. He was one of the first stu- dents of Canonsburg Academy, and read theology under Dr. McMillan ; was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio, April 17, 1799; received a call the next year to churches of Steubenville and Island Creek, and on the 26th of November, 1800, was ordained and installed pastor of the same ; was mar- ried July 1, 1802, to Ann White, of Washington County, Pa. While he held this pastorate attempts were made by some of the country churches of the neighborhood to form certain connections deemed desirable, and the matter was referred to Presbytery. It is amusingly suggestive that the Presbytery, as appears from the record, hypothecated its final action in the case, on the basis that a contrary course " might be at least the occasion of destroying Steubenville."
Mr. Snodgrass' pastoral relation to Steubenville and Island Creek was dissolved October 16, 1816. The year following he received a call from
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Island Creek, which was accepted, and he was installed there May 25, 1818. He was one of the original members of the Presbytery of Steubenville, at its erection in 1819. In 1825 he was released from Island Creek, and dis- missed to Presbytery of Richland. His labors there were given to the churches of Pigeon Run, in Stark County, Ohio, and Sugar Creek, Wayne County, O. He died March 10, 1843, in the 79th year of his age, and the 44th of his ministry.
Mr. Snodgrass was a zealous worker and a faithful expounder of Bible truth. Dr. Obadiah Jennings, in a letter published in Sprague's Annals, attributes his religious awakening to a sermon on Eternity, preached by his pastor, Rev. James Snodgrass.
REV. ELISHA MACURDY. ( Vide sketch by Dr. Brownson.) .
REV. JOSEPH STOCKTON, son of Robert and; Mary (Makemie) Stockton, was born near Chambersburg, Pa., February 25, 1779. The family re- moved to near Washington, Pa., in 1784, and the father was one of the first elders in that place. The studies of the son, both classical and theo- logical, were prosecuted mainly at Canonsburg Academy and under Dr. McMillan ; and he was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio, June 26, 1799, being but a little over twenty years of age-a remarkable exception in this respect to ordinary experience in that day, when so many of those licensed were married men. On the 24th of June, ISO1, he was ordained by same Presbytery, and installed pastor at Meadville and Sugar Creek. He was one of the seven dismissed in 1802 to constitute the Presbytery of Erie. After a pastorate of nine years, during which he had also charge of an Academy at Meadville, he removed to Pittsburgh, and was received into the Presbytery of Redstone. For the next ten years he was principal of the Pittsburgh Academy, and while thus engaged published the once famous school-books, "Western Spelling Book" and " Western Calcu- lator." Much of this time, and subsequently, he preached at Pine Creek and at Allegheny, where he was instrumental in founding the First Presby- terian Church. He also took an active part in securing the location of the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, in 1827, and was one of the first instructors in it. By act of Synod in 1822, he, in common with the other ministers residing at Pittsburgh, was transferred from Presbytery of Redstone to Presbytery of Ohio. He died of cholera, October 29, 1832. in Baltimore, whither he had gone to see a son who was ill of fever. His body was interred in the graveyard of the First Presbyterian Church of that city ; but in 1858 was removed to the cemetery of Allegheny.
Mr. Stockton was married, May 8, 1800, to Esther, daughter of David Clark, Esq., of Washington County. She, with four sons and three daugh- ters, survived him. Two sisters of Mr. Stockton were married to minis- ters-Rev. John Brice and Rev. James Cunningham. Rev. John Stockton, D).D., of Cross Creek, was his nephew.
REV. GEORGE M. Scorr. ( Vide sketch by Dr. Brownson.)
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REV. JOHN MCCLAIN was educated at Canonsburg Academy ; was one of the founders of Philo Literary Society, in 1797; was licensed by Pres- bytery of Ohio, August 28, 1799; received calls the year following from Upper Buffalo, from Bull Creek and Middlesex, and from Montours. The latter he accepted, and was ordained and installed pastor, August 27, 1800, in which relation he continued until December, 1808, when, having been found guilty by the Presbytery of the sin of intemperance, he was deposed from the ministry. His fall caused deep and wide-spread sorrow-all the more because his early ministry had been so full of promise.
REV. WILLIAM WICK, eldest son of Lemuel and Deborah (Lupton) Wick, was born on Long Island, N. Y., June 29th, 1768. The family re- moved to Ten Mile, Washington County, Pa., at an early date. He studied at Canonsburg Academy ; was one of the founders of Franklin Literary Society in 1797: read theology under Dr. McMillan ; was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio August 28, 1799, and by the same Presbytery was, on the 3d of Sept., 18oo, ordained and installed pastor of Hopewell and Neshannock Churches, in what is now Lawrence County, Pa. The year following he was released from Neshannock and became pastor for half his time at Youngstown, O. He was one of the seven who were dismissed to constitute the Presbytery of Erie in 1802. He shared largely in the missionary zeal of the ministers of that day, and was the first permanent laborer on the Western Reserve. His ministry began in the times of the great revival, and through his labors many were added to the church. He was Moderator of the Synod of Pittsburgh in ISII. His death occurred at Hopewell, March 29th, 1815, in the 47th year of his age and 16th of his ministry. Pursuant to his request he was buried at Youngstown, O.
Like many other of the early ministers, Mr. Wick was a man with a family before he began studying for the ministry. He was married, April 2Ist, 1791, to Elizabeth, daughter of Col. Daniel McFarland, of Revolu- lutionary fame, and a sister of Win. McFarland, Esq., one of the early Elders of Ten Mile Church. There were born to them eight sons and three daughters. One of the latter became the wife of Rev. Thomas An- derson, first pastor of the church of Franklin, Pa. Some of the sons were prominent in commercial and political spheres.
REV. ANDREW GWIN was a native of Ireland ; was licensed by Presby- tery of Redstone Oct. 18th, 1798; was ordained by Presbytery of Ohio June 24th, 1800, and installed pastor of the churches of Pigeon Creek and Pike Run. This relation was dissolved April 16th, 1817. In his earlier ministry Mr. Gwin was highly esteemed. He was a man of fine personal appearance, and was a fluent and interesting speaker. Toward the close of his pastorate at Pigeon Creek, facts were disclosed which impaired his standing as a minister. His subsequent life was clouded with adversity, and spent in comparative obscurity.
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REV. ABRAHAM BOYD, son of John and Mary (Fulton) Boyd, was born in Ireland Dec., 1770. The Boyd family came to America in 1772, and settled in Westmoreland County, Pa., in the bounds of Salem Church, of which the father, John Boyd, became a ruling elder. Three other sons --- John, James and Benjamin-also became ministers. These four, with Elisha McCurdy, Wm. Moorhead, John Thompson and Richard McNemar all sat down together for the first time at a Communion in Salem Church, and all subsequently became ministers of the gospel. ( Vide "Life of Ma- curdy," p. 21.)
Abraham Boyd, the second son, was educated at Canonsburg Academy, and was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio June 25th, 1800. Taking his dis- mission first to Redstone Presbytery and then to Erie, he was ordained by the latter June 17th, 1802, and installed pastor of the churches of Bull Creek and Middlesex, in what is now Armstrong County, Pa. He was re- leased from Middlesex in 1817, and from Bull Creek in 1833. From 1817 to 1821 he supplied at Deer Creek. He died on his farm near Tarentum Aug. 14th, 1854, in the S4th year of his age, and the 55th of his ministry. He was a plain, practical, unambitious man, of devout habits and devoted to the work of preaching the gospel.
Mr. Boyd was twice married. His first wife was Eleanor Hollis, of Washington County, Pa., to whom he was united March 29th, 1798. In 1817 he was married to a Mrs. Scott. His descendants are numerous. Rev. A. F. Boyd, of Poland, O., and Rev. Theodore S. Negley, of Wilcox, Pa., are grandsons, as is also Rev. J. F. Boyd, of Steubenville, O., by mar- riage. The Boyd family is remarkable for the large number of ministers, and particularly the large number of Ruling Elders, which have been sup- plied to the Presbyterian Church by its several branches.
REV. SAMUEL TATE (Tait) was born near Shippensburg, Pa., Feb. 17th, 1772. The family afterwards removed to Ligonier, Westmoreland County, Pa. In his early life he followed the business of his father, which was that of packing goods across the mountains on horseback. While yet careless, he was brought under the influence of Elisha McCurdy, then residing at Ligonier, and by God's blessing on that influence he became a Christian ; but it was not until a later period, after he had married and was settled on a farm, that he felt himself called of God to seek preparation to preach the gospel. He was educated at Canonsburg Academy, and was one of the founders of the Philo Literary Society in 1797; studied theology with Dr. McMillan and was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio June 25, 1800, and by the same Presbytery was ordained and installed pastor of Upper Salem and Cool Spring, in Mercer County, Pa., on the 19th of Nov., 1800. In 1806 he relinquished Upper Salem, and gave half his time to an infant church in the town of Mercer. In 1826 he relinquished Cool Spring, and gave all his time to Mercer until his death, which took place June , 1841, in the zoth year of his age and fist of his ministry.
He was a man of very commanding appearance, over six feet in height,
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erect in his bearing, with firm, grave cast of countenance. The testimony of his Presbytery at the time of his death was that " as a preacher of the gospel he had few superiors." Several extensive revivals occurred during his ministry. In 1822-23 he served by appointment of Synod as Superin- tendent pro tem. of Synod's Mission Family among the Ottawa Indians. The Pittsburgh Recorder of that date has columns filled with acknowledg- ments by Mr. Tate of the receipt of farming stock, utensils, etc., contributed by the churches for that object. He had much weight as an ecclesiastic ; was Stated Clerk of Presbytery after Mr. Wick's transfer to Presbytery of Hartford; was Moderator of the Synod of Pittsburgh in 1818.
Mr. Tate's wife was a Miss Amelia Calvin. During his entire pastorate he resided on a farm, and wrought not a little with his own hands.
REV. JAMES SATTERFIELD, son of James and Margaret (Mead) Satter- field, was born in Queen Anne Co., Md., in August, 1767. He gave his heart to God in his fourteenth year, and from that time aspired to become a min- ister. Many difficulties stood in his way. In 1794 he is resident in the Cross Creek settlement, Washington Co., Pa., and is laboring on a farm. He finds a helpful friend in Robt. Lyle, a ruling elder in the church. At last he begins his studies at Canonsburg Academy; was one of the founders of the Phil. L. Society in 1797; studied theology with Dr. McMillan; was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio, Sept. 3, 1800, and was ordained by same Presbytery March 2, 1802, and installed pastor of Moorefield and Upper Neshannock churches in Mercer Co., Pa. In 1812 he relinquished charge of Neshannock, but continued at Moorefield until 1834, preaching also for a time at Hubbard, Trumbull Co., O. In his early ministry he was accustomed to ride horseback to one of his churches ten miles from his home on the coldest days, preach, and return home, without having seen fire. He was a remarkably large man, of strong and robust constitution. He died Nov. 20, 1857, in the goth year of his age and the 58th of his ministry. The historian of the Presbytery of Erie, Rev. Dr. S. J. M. Eaton, writes : "The reputation he has left behind is that of sterling integrity, unvarnished truth and unblemished purity of heart and life." He was an original member of the Presbytery of Erie at its erection in 1802.
Mr. Satterfield was thrice married. Rev. Mead Satterfield who died in 1855, was a son by his third wife, Sarah Mead, of Meadville, Pa. A grandson, Rev. D. J. Satterfield, is president of Scotia Seminary in N. Carolina.
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