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 37
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REV. ROBT. LEE, son of Thomas Lee, was born in Donegal, Ireland, in 1771; was brought with the family to Washington Co., l'a., about the year 1777. His boyhood was spent mostly in manual labor, but after arriving at adult life, he entered the Canonsburg Academy ; was an original member of the Phil. L. Society in 1797. After studying theology under Dr. McMillan, was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio, Oct. 22, 1800 ;
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was ordained by the same, June 26, 1801, and installed pastor of Amity and Big Spring churches in Mercer Co., Pa .; was one of the original members of Presbytery of Erie at its erection in 1802. He resigned his pastorate in 1807, and for several years labored as Stated Supply at various places in the Presbytery. From 1813 to 1819 was pastor of Salem Church, Westmoreland Co., then in Presbytery of Redstone. The remainder of his life was spent in the State of Ohio. He was pastor successively at Ashland, Bucyrus, and Leesville. At this latter place he died Feb. 9, 1842, in the 7 Ist year of his age and the List of his ministry. In person Mr. Lee was tall, slender and of dignified mien. As a preacher he maintained firmly the doctrines enunciated in the creeds of the Presbyterian Church, and was a solemn and impressive speaker. His ministerial life in Ohio was that of a pioneer called to perform much hard labor, and not unfre- quently straitened for means to support himself and family.
The same year in which Mr. Lee was licensed, he was married to Miss Sarah Swearingen, of Washington Co., Pa. They had eight children, some of whom are yet living. A grandson, J. Lloyd Lee, has recently completed his studies for the ministry under care of the Presbytery of Wooster. Another grandson, W. P. Lee, is in course of preparation for the same.
REV. ROBERT PATTERSON, son of Rev. Joseph and Jane (Moak) Patterson, was born at Stillwater, New York, April 1, 1773. He was brought in 1779, with the family to the Cross Creek settlement, in what is now Washington Co., Pa. The father was licensed to preach in 1788, and in 1791, at the opening of Canonsburg Academy, Robert was enrolled there as one of its first students. He graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1795, and for some five years afterwards was tutor in that institution. His study of theology was begun with Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, and com- pleted with Dr. McMillan. He was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio May 1, 1801 ; was ordained by Presbytery of Erie Sept. 1, 1803, and installed first pastor of Upper and Lower Greenfield (Northeast). This relation was dissolved in 1807, when he became principal of Pittsburgh Academy. For more than a quarter of a century he preached as Stated Supply to Hilands Church, near Pittsburgh, and was also engaged in the book and paper business. His death occurred at his home in the suburbs of Pitts- burgh, Sept. 5, 1854, in the Sed year of his age and the 54th ot his ministry. In both personal appearance and traits of character he somewhat resem- bled his honored father ; in stature rather low and heavy, of genial dis- position and an entertaining companion. Like his father, also, he had a remarkable faculty of making personal religion a theme of conversation. His advanced years were marked by growing spirituality and heavenly- mindedness.
Mr. Patterson was married August, 1801, to Miss Jean, daughter of Col. John Canon, founder of Canonsburg. One of their sons is Prof. Robt.
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Patterson, formerly of Jefferson College, and for many years past one of the editors and proprietors of The Presbyterian Banner.
REV. CEPHAS DODD. (V'ide sketch by Dr. Brownson.)
REV. STEPHEN LINDSLEY, was a son of Caleb Lindsley, who came from Mendham, N. J., at a very early date, and settled at Ten Mile in Washing- ton Co., Pa. He studied at Canonsburg Academy, and was an original member of the Franklin Literary Society in 1797; was licensed by Pres- bytery of Ohio Oct. 29, 1801. On the 26th of April, 1803, was ordained by the same, "to go to Marietta, O., agreeably to invitation of the Society there." On the 21st of October, ISO8, was dismissed, with four others, to constitute the Presbytery of Lancaster. When the Synod of Ohio was erected, in IS14, he was reported as pastor at Marietta. Subsequently he was stricken with palsy, and rendered unable to preach. Being scant of means and helpless, he moved back about 1827 or '28 to Ten Mile, and made his home with a relative until his death, which occurred not long afterward. His wife was from one of the Eastern States, and after his death went back to her people in the East. They had no children. He was a cousin of Rev. Jacob Lindley, D.D. (g. v.), and a grand-uncle of Dr. S. L. Blachley, ruling elder in the church of Upper Ten-Mile.
REV. WILLIAM WOODS, JR. (Wood), son of Samuel and Isabella (Sankey) Woods, was born in York Co., Pa., March 27, 1776; was edu- cated at Canonsburg Academy and studied theology with Dr. McMillan ; was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio Oct. 29, 1801 ; ordained by Presbytery of Erie Nov. 3, 1802, and installed at Plain Grove and Centre, Mercer Co., Pa .; preached at Centre six years and at Plain Grove fourteen years ; was installed pastor of Hopewell and Neshannock by Hartford Presbytery Oct. 22, 1817 ; released from Hopewell in 1828 and from Neshannock in I837; dismissed to Presbytery of Richland Jan. 8, 1839; died at Utica, O., July 31, 1839, in the sixty-fourth year of his age, and the thirty-ninth of his ministry.
Mr. Woods' wife was Margaret Donald, of Washington Co., Pa. They were married May 17, 1798. Their numerous descendants greatly revere their memory.
REV. JOHN ANDERSON, D.D. ( Vide sketch by Dr. Brownson.)
REV. WILLIAM WYLIE, D.D., son of Adam and Elizabeth Wylie, was born in Washington Co., Pa., July 10, 1776. He was an older brother of Rev. Dr. Andrew Wylie. The father, Adam W., was patentee of a large tract of land within the bounds of Upper Buffalo congregation. He was a good man, and at his death made a bequest to the American Bible Society. He was a half-brother of Rev. Samuel Wylie, D.D., the eminent Reformed Presbyterian minister of Philadelphia. The mother, Elizabeth W., was a
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godly woman, whose memory was greatly severed by her two distinguished sons.
Wm. Wylie received his education at Washington under Rev. Thaddeus Dodd and at the Canonsburg Academy. Having gone to Kentucky to teach, he there studied theology and was licensed by the Pres- bytery of West Lexington. Returning to his home in Western Penn- sylvania, he was received as a licentiate by Presbytery of Ohio March 2, 1802, and on the 5th inst. following was ordained and installed, by same Presbytery, pastor of the churches of Upper and Lower Sandy and Fair- field. On the same day was dismissed, with six others, to constitute the Presbytery of Erie. His relation to these churches was dissolved in De- cember, 1804. His subsequent pastorates were Rehoboth and Round Hill, in Presbytery of Redstone, 1805-16; Uniontown, in same Presbytery, 1816-23; Wheeling and Short Creek, in Presbytery of Washington, IS23- 32; Newark, in Presbytery of Lancaster (O.), 1832-54. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him, in 1850, by Muskingum College. In 1814 he was Moderator of the Synod of Pittsburgh.'
In the fall of 1854 he went with his wife to Port Gibson, Miss. While there she was removed by death, and on the eve of starting North, the fol- lowing spring, he had the misfortune to have his thigh-bone fractured by a fall, which made him a cripple for the brief remainder of his life. He died at Wheeling, Va., May 9, 1858, in the eighty-second year of his age and the fifty-fourth of his ministry.
Dr. Wylie was an eloquent preacher. He possessed great affluence of thought and language, and his voice was clear and musical. These gifts, together with his tall and dignified person, his expressive features, and his sympathetic tenderness and pathos, gave him singular power in the pulpit. He excelled also in social intercourse, possessing rare conversational ability. His piety was deep and fervent. Some of his letters written toward the close of life indicate an unusual intimacy of communion with God. Rev. Dr. Weed, who was much with him in his last illness, writes : " He spoke little of his ailments, but much of the love of God. He was favored with most exalted views of the infinite perfections of God and the transcendent glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. These were the favorite and absorbing themes of his discourse."
Mr. Wylie was twice married. His first wife was Esther, daughter of Rev. Joseph Smith, first pastor of Cross Creek and Upper Buffalo; the second wife was a widow lady, Mrs. Moody, who had been a member of Dr. Payson's Church at Portland, Me. All his children were by his first marriage. An only son was Rev. Joseph S. Wylie, who died while pastor of church of Cross Roads, in Presbytery of Washington.
REV. ROBERT JOHNSTON, son of Robert and Jane (Graham) Johnston, was born in Cumberland (now Perry) County, Pa., August 7, 1774. He was a lineal descendant of Oliver Cromwell, by Bridget, his eldest daughter. The family came West in 1792, and settled in Washington
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County, most probably that part of it now embraced in Beaver County. Robert was devoted to the ministry by his parents in his infancy, but in- separable obstacles closed the door for a time. He accordingly learned the trade of wagon-maker, and wrought at this. Later, under changed circumstances, the way was opened up and he entered upon prep- aratory studies. His teachers were Rev. John Watson, Rev. John McMillan and his own pastor, Rev. George M. Scott. He was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio April 22, 1802. After riding as a licentiate for one year, chiefly in Ohio and Kentucky, when that remarkable ministration of God's Spirit which has become historic was in progress, he returned to Pennsylvania and settled in the bounds of the Presbytery of Erie, being ordained by that Presbytery October 19, 1803, and installed pastor of the churches of Scrubgrass and Bear Greek. Here a great revival followed his ministry, resulting in the accession to his churches of more than a hun- dred souls. In ISII he took charge of Sugar Creek and Conneaut Lake in same Presbytery. Following this he was pastor of Rehoboth and Round Hill in Redstone Presbytery from 1818 to 1832, and of Bethel Church in Blairsville Presbytery for ten years ensuing, making altogether an active pastorate of nearly forty years. During the last few years of his life he was much disabled by infirmity and obliged to walk with crutches; never- theless, his old age was cheerful and bright with anticipations of heaven. His death occurred at Newcastle, Pa., May 20, 1861, in the eighty-seventh year of his age and sixtieth of his ministry. As a preacher he was able and impressive. His voice was loud and he spoke with positiveness and directness. He was a man whose habitual demeanor not only, but his strongly marked and rugged cast of countenance, betokened not untruly his more salient features of character, which were strength, fortitude, in- tolerance of wrong and unbending fidelity to duty. For forty-six years he was never absent from a meeting of Synod; was its Moderator in 1820. (Vide " Memorial Sermon," by Rev. E. P. Swift, D.D., 1861.)
In his early manhood Mr. Johnston was married to Eleanor, daughter of Alex. Wright, Esq., ruling elder at Raccoon and afterward of a church in Presbytery of Erie (vide " Life of Macurdy," p. 32). Their oldest son was Rev. J. Watson Johnston, of Presbytery of Beaver. A daughter was the wife of Rev. Loyal Young, D.D. Rev. J. Watson Young, of Ohio, and Rev. S. Hall Young, of Alaska, are grandsons. Rev. James Wright, for many years pastor at Poland, O., was Mrs. Johnston's brother. Mr. John- ston had a brother Edward, who died on the day on which he was to be ordained and installed as a pastor by Presbytery of Hartford.
REV. ALEXANDER COOK, son of Thomas and Isabella (Ogilvie) Cook, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, February 4, 1760. He learned the trade of a silversmith, and as early as 1796 was engaged in this employment at Canonsburg, Pa. While residing here he served several years as secretary of the Board of Trustees of Canonsburg Academy, and also of Jefferson College at its organization. During this period his mind was turned toward
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the ministry, and after some years spent in academical and theological training he was licensed by the Presbytery of Ohio, September 30, 1802. Having taken his dismission to the Presbytery of Erie, he was ordained by the same June 22, 1803, and installed first pastor of the churches of Slip- pery Rock and Newcastle. This relation was dissolved in 1810, after which he performed missionary labor in the States of South Carolina and Georgia, and then preached as stated supply at Poland, O .; was pastor of Bethany Church, in Presbytery of Ohio, 1815-20 ; Ebenezer and Bear Creek, in Presbytery of Allegheny, 1821-27. While supplying the churches of Annapolis and Bloomfield, in Presbytery of Steubenville, his earthly labors ceased. He was called away very suddenly, being found dead in his bed, at the house of one whose hospitality he was enjoying for the night. His death occurred November 30, 1828, in the sixty-ninth year of his age and thirty-seventh of his ministry.
In person Mr. Cook was of rather low stature, compactly built, dark com - plexion, dark-brown eyes and grave aspect. He had, at the same time, not a little Scotch humor, and was an agreeable companion. He was twice married ; the first time to Miss Alizannah Adams, of Abington, Md., Jan. 2d, 1787. His second wife was a Miss Clark, of Beaver County, Pa.
REV. JACOB LINDSLEY, D.D. (Lindley), a son of Demas Lindsley, one of the first bench of Elders in Ten Mile Church, was born June 13th, 1774 ; was a pupil in Mr. Dodd's school at Ten Mile when about ten years old. He afterwards attended Canonsburg Academy, and was one of the found- ers of the Franklin Literary Society in 1797. He graduated at Princeton College in 1800; was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio, Oct. 19th, 1802; or- dained by the same Nov. 9th, 1803, and installed pastor, at Waterford, O. This relation was dissolved June 20th, 1808, "that he might take charge of the Academy at Athens." Of this institution he was principal until IS22. It was the germ out of which grew Ohio University, and he was largely in- strumental in securing the charter and the erection of the college build- ings. When the college faculty was constituted, in 1822, with Rev. James Irwin as President, Mr. Lindsley was included in it, serving as Prof. of Moral Science, etc., 1822-24, and as Prof. of Mathematics, 1824-26. Dur- ing most of this period he was a member of the Presbytery of Lancaster, of which he was an original member at its erection, in 1808; was a mem- ber of the Presbytery of Athens from its erection, in 1822, until 1828, when he was received into the Presbytery of Cincinnati, by which he was dis- missed Oct. 5th, 1829, to join the Presbytery of Washington. While in the Presbytery of Cincinnati he served for one year as co-pastor of the First Church of Walnut Hills. Previously, while teaching in the college and academy, he had preached as supply to vacant churches, and was mainly instrumental in founding the Presbyterian Church of Athens. After his reception by Presbytery of Washington, Dec. 8th, 1829, he was for a short time Stated Supply of the Church of Upper Ten Mile until, having been led
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to connect himself with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, his name was dropped from the roll, June Ioth, 1832.
In 1846 Prof. Lindsley published at Uniontown, Pa., a volume styled, "Infant Philosophy," being an analysis of the infant mind, with directions for mental and moral training-a little work containing much valuable and well-expressed truth. In 1853 the degreee of Doctor of Divinity was con- ferred upon him by Ohio University.
Mr. Lindsley was married, in 1800, to Miss Hannah Dickey, of Washing- ton County, Pa. One son -- their eldest child-was Rev. Daniel Lindsley, D.D., who went to South Africa as a missionary, under the American Board, in 1834, and for thirty-five years labored among the Zulus. (See "Library of Universal Knowledge," Vol. IX. p. 53.) Two daughters were married to min- isters in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church --- Rev. Robert Donnell and Rev. Leroy Woods. A granddaughter is the wife of Rev. C. W. Smith, D.D., editor of the Pittsburgh Christian Advocate of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.
Dr. Lindsley died Jan. 29th, 1857, at the residence of his son, Dr. Lutel- lus Lindsley, Connellsville, Pa., in the eighty-third year of his age and the fifty-fifth of his ministry.
REV. NICHOLAS PITTENGER, son of Henry and Maria (Wycoff) Pitten- ger, was born in New Jersey, June 18th, 1766, The family came to the West in 1791, and settled in the Virginia Panhandle, within the bounds of the Flats Church-now Fairview -- in which Henry Pittenger was one of the first bench of elders. Nicholas Pittenger was married and had a family of two or three children before he commenced his studies, which were pur- sued partly at Canonsburg and partly with his pastor, Rev. George M. Scott; was licensed by the Presbytery of Ohio Oct. 20th, 1803, and the year following was dismissed to the Presbytery of Erie. By this Presby- tery he was, on the 24th of Oct., 1804, ordained and installed pastor of the churches of Westfield and Poland, O. When the Presbytery of Hartford (Beaver) was erected, in 1808, he was included in that, In 1810 he took his dismission to Washington Presbytery, Synod of Kentucky, and preached to the churches of Rocky Spring, Nazareth, New Market and Pisgah, in Southern Ohio. In 1821 removed to the State of Indiana and engaged in missionary labors for a few years, and then returned to Rocky Spring. where he died April 16th, 1831, in the sixty-fifth year of his age and the twenty-eighth of his ministry.
Mr. Pittenger was twice married. His second wife was a Mrs. Apple- gate, née Taylor, of Rocky Spring, O.
REV. WILLIAM MCMILLAN, D.D., was a nephew of Rev. John McMillan, D.D. He received his preparatory education at Canonsburg .Academy ; was an original member of the Philo Literary Society in 1797 ; graduated at Jefferson College in its first class-that of 1802 ; was licensed by Presby- tery of Ohio, June 27th, 1804, and by the same Presbytery was, on the
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26th of June, 1806, ordained and installed pastor of the churches of Two Ridges and Yellow Creek (Richmond), O. He was released from the lat" ter in 1810, and from Two Ridges in IS12. In 1817 he succeeded Dr. An- drew Wylie as President of Jefferson College, which position he resigned in IS22. During this incumbency was Stated Supply of Miller's Run Church. He was dismissed April 21, 1824, to Presbytery of Steubenville, and received by same Oct. 6th, same year. From this time until his death, in April, 1832, he was Stated Supply of the church of Morristown, O. He was also, during this period, President of Franklin College, New Athens, O ; was Moderator of Synod of Pittsburgh in 1830. He preached a discourse in 1820 on " The Necessity of Contending for the Faith once Delivered to the Saints," which was published by J. Grayson, Washington, Pa. It indi- cates vigor of intellect as well as soundness in Christian doctrine, and its style, though not ambitious, is perspicuous and forcible.
REV. JOHN REA, D.D. (Rhea), was born in Tully, Ireland, in 1772. He was the son of Joseph and Isabel Rea. He came to the United States at the age of 18, and was first known in the West as struggling under adverse circumstances to gain an education. He made his home for a time in the house of James Dinsmore, a ruling elder at Upper Buffalo, by whom he was encouraged and assisted. He was one of five who composed the first class graduated from Jefferson College -- the class of 1802; studied theology with Dr. McMillan, and was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio, June 27, 1S04. On the 22d of August, 1805, was ordained by the same, and installed pastor of the churches of Crab Apple and Beech Springs, in what is now Belmont and Harrison Counties, Ohio, In April, 1810, was released from Crab Apple, and thenceforth gave all his time to Beech Springs, of which he was the efficient and successful pastor for forty-five years. He died February 12, 1855, in the 83d year of his age, and the 52d of his ministry.
Dr. Rea was, in an eminent sense, a pioneer minister. His early labors were largely evangelistic. Several churches now exist on the territory once wholly occupied by him. It may safely be said that no man exerted a greater influence than did he in forming the religious character of the early inhabitants of a large section of Eastern Ohio.
REV. MATTHEW BROWN, D.D., LL. D. ( Vide sketches by Drs. Brown. son and Cunningham.)
REV. JOHNSTON EATON, son of John Eaton, was born in Franklin County, Pa., February 7, 1776. He pursued his literary studies chiefly in the East, but entered Jefferson College as a Senior, and graduated in its first class .- that of 1802; studied theology under Dr. McMillan, and was licensed by Presbytery of Ohio, August 22, 1805; was dismissed August 20, 1Sco, to Presbytery of Frie, by which he was ordained June 30, ISOS, and installed pastor of Fairview and Springfield churches on the south shore of Like Erie. He was released from Springfield in 1814; after which, part of h.
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time was given for several years to Erie and North-East -- his relation to Fairview continuing uninterrupted up to his death, which was on the 17th of June, 1847, in the 72d year of his age, and the 43d of his ministry. In person he was below the ordinary stature, and also slender in form, with mild blue eyes, slightly aquiline nose, and thin brown hair. The recorded testimony of his Presbytery is, that "as a preacher he was clear, logical, instructive and evangelical, and eminently sound in the faith."
Mr. Eaton was married, September 30, 1807, to Eliza Canon, of Fayette County, Pa., a niece of Col. Canon, of Canonsburg. One of their sons is Rev. S. J. M. Eaton, D.D., pastor from 1838 to 1881 of the Church of Franklin, Pa., and author of "The History of the Presbytery of Erie," with several other works, chiefly historical.
REV. JOHN WRIGHT was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., February 17, 1777. He was a son of John Wright, Esq., who was one of the first bench of elders in Rehoboth Church, and was a leading man of his day in civil affairs. The son was prepared for college at Canonsburg Academy, of which his father was a trustee; graduated at Dickinson in 1798. Studied theology with his relatives, Rev. James Power, D.D. and Rev. David Smith, at that time pastor of Rehoboth Church. In 1800, owing to the death of a brother who had undertaken to build a vessel at Louisville, Ky., for the foreign carrying trade, he was put under the necessity of assuming charge of this undertaking, and conducting the vessel with its cargo across the Atlantic. It is said that on this occasion he accepted an invitation to speak in the pulpit of Rev. John Newton, in Liverpool, and that the inhabitants of that city, hearing that a preacher had come from the wilds of America, flocked to the place to hear one whose appearance and speech were ex- pected to minister to the gratification of their curiosity. After the success- ful completion of his undertaking, and his return home, he was licensed by the Presbytery of Redstone, October 21, 1802. In 1804 he obtained leave of Presbytery to itinerate four months, during which he made an extensive tour through several of the Southern States, and returning through Ohio, became acquainted with a little band of Presbyterians who had settled on the Hock-Hocking, in what was then an almost unbroken wilderness. The year following he accepted a call from these to become their pastor, and taking his dismission to the Presbytery of Ohio, was ordained by the same, June 19, 1806, and installed over the churches of Hock-Hocking (Lancas- ter) and Rush Creek. In October, 1808, was dismissed, with four others, to constitute the Presbytery of Lancaster. His pastorate at Lancaster con- tinued thirty years, when, on account of broken health, he was compelled to ask for a release. The relation was accordingly dissolved, April 7, 1836, and he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Logansport. On the occasion of his quitting Lancaster in 1837, a large company of his former parish- ioners and others, to the number of several hundred, accompanied him a considerable distance on his way, and then bade him an affectionate farewell.
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In personal appearance, Mr. Wright was of tall and commanding stature and benign countenance. In his advanced years a defect in his left eye first became noticeable, though its sight had long before been lost as the result of an accident, which happened to him when a student at Canons- burg Academy. In his carly manhood he was of vigorous constitution, fitting him to endure hardships. These, numerous and severe as they were at that day, were cheerfully borne in every pathway of duty. In an emi- nent sense, he was a pioneer minister, building on no other man's founda- tion. Conjointly with Dr. Hoge and others, who followed a few years later, he laid the foundations of the Presbyterian Church in Central Ohio. He was instrumental in organizing over twenty churches in Ohio and several in Northern Indiana, most of them at commanding points and now among the strongest in those parts.
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