Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 49

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 930

USA > Pennsylvania > Indiana County > Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I > Part 49

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).

Hugh D. Tomb is the clerk of the session. Mr. J. C. Tomb is the superintendent of the Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of 45.

WASHINGTON CHURCH

In 1872 a few of the citizens of Washington township agreed to erect a building for the public worship of God. Inasmuch as the association contained adherents to various branches of the Christian Church, the house was to be open to the use of all Christian denominations. To complete the project some

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

contributed money, some gave building ma- Christopher McEwen, John Shields and Sam- terial, and others labored at the building. The uel Lewis were elected, ordained and installed house was soon completed. It was 30 by 30 elders. feet, of hewn logs, "shingle roof"-then a

distinguishing feature, furnished with "plain ed on ground a short distance east of the seats, " and named Washington Church.

The lot of ground, containing about fifteen acres, upon which this church was erected, two miles west from the village of Kellysburg (Home P. O.), had been donated by Mr. - William Patterson for church and school pur- poses, and so deeded without any restrictions. The nearest Presbyterian Churches were In- diana and Gilgal, then under the care of Rev. John Reed.

The first stated supply of Washington was Rev. Nicholas G. Sharretts, then pastor of the Lutheran Church, Indiana. He was engaged to preach during the year 1829, one sermon each fourth Sabbath afternoon. The next year Rev. David Barclay, Presbyterian, was engaged for each fourth Sabbath for one year. In the autumn of this year the congregation appointed Mr. Joseph Diven to present before the Presbytery of Blairsville a petition for the organization of a Presbyterian Church. The Presbytery granted the request, and appointed Rev. John H. Kirkpatrick to effect the organi- zation, who accordingly convened the Wash- ington society in the springtime of 1831, and organized Washington Presbyterian Church. At the organization Messrs. Joseph Diven, John McGara and Abraham Moore, Jr., were elected elders. Mr. Diven having served in the office at Glade Run was installed, Messrs. McGara and Moore were ordained and in- stalled. The roll of members at the organiza- . tion cannot be produced.

Soon after the organization Rev. David Barclay moderated a congregational meeting, at which a call for one half of the ministerial labors of Rev. John H. Kirkpatrick was made out. Elder Joseph Diven was chosen to lay the same before the Presbytery. The call having been placed in the hands of Mr. Kirk- patrick, was by him accepted on the condition that the time be changed from one half to one third for the first year, and arrangements were made for his installation. At the in- stallation Rev. D. Lewis preached the sermon, Rev. John Reed delivered the charge to the pastor, and Rev. Elisha D. Barrett that to the congregation.

In 1834 a second church building was erect-

present site, donated by Mr. Godfrey Light- cap. This was a frame building 40 by 40 feet, and cost about one thousand dollars.

In 1848 Rev. John H. Kirkpatrick was re- leased from the pastoral care of this church. In 1850 the pulpit was supplied by Presby- terial appointments. This same year Messrs. Jesse Marlin and Robert Allison were elected, ordained and installed elders.

On April 20, 1852, Rev. S. P. Bollman was installed pastor for one half time, Rev. C. Forbes preaching the sermon, Rev. A. Donald- son charging the pastor, and Rev. D. Lewis, the people. After serving the congregation for fifteen months, Rev. S. P. Bollman was released from the pastorate on account of failing health, yet continued occasionally to supply the pulpit.

On September 1, 1857, Rev. William G. Shand was installed pastor for one half time, the other half being given to Center, which pastorate continued for but little more than one year, or to October 6, 1858. Then the congregation had to depend on the occasional supplies until 1860, when Rev. D. D. Christy supplied the church for a time, and having accepted calls from this church and Center, he was installed July 3 of that year. His pastorate continued to May 4, 1863, when he was released from the charge. During the three years following the church was without a pastor, Rev. S. P. Bollman, however, serving as stated supply for six months in 1864, and for three more months in 1865.

On August 21, 1865, Rev. S. P. Bollman, being then pastor at Center, was installed pastor of this church for one half time by a committee consisting of Revs. Caruthers, W. F. Morgan and Andrew McElwain. This pastoral relation was dissolved April 12, 1870. Mr. T. B. Anderson, a student of theology in the Western Theological Seminary, preached one sermon each Sabbath during the summer of 1871. The following summer the Presby- tery sent Mr. E. G. Mckinley, another student of the Western Theological Seminary, to sup- ply the pulpit for five months.

Having decided to build a new house of worship the congregation in the fall of 1871 appointed Messrs. John Prothero, Solomon

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was first administered here in April, 1832. Up to this time forty-four members had been re- Lightcap, Joseph M. Bell, J. M. Mclaughlin ceived, twenty-three by letter and twenty-one by profession of faith. Soon after this Messrs.

and William Wallace, a building committee. The ground was purchased from J. M. and

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Oberlin Mclaughlin, a few feet southwest 1886, as a candidate for the gospel ministry. from the old building, and the house was built Rev. Frank J. Woodard, a missionary in the thereon in the summer of 1872. This building Gilbert Islands, was reared in this congrega- was also a frame one, having a main audi- tion.

torium 40 by 57 by 18 feet, a vestibule 6 by 40 feet and a lecture room in the half basement, 40 by about 30 feet. Its cost when completed and furnished was $4,000. The church was formally dedicated to the worship of God June 1, 1873. In this service the scripture was read by Rev. George W. Mechlin, who also preached the sermon, and the dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev. Carl Moore.

Commencing in the fall of 1873 Rev. Carl Moore preached one sermon every two weeks till the following spring. At the spring meet- Patrick Lydick, John K. MeElhoes, Peter Mc- ing of the Kittanning Presbytery, April 7, Gara, John Gordon, Henry K. Shields, Samuel 1874, a call was presented for one half the McQuilkin, W. J. Buchanan, J. W. Shields, ministerial services of Rev. Carl Moore. It David Anderson, Alexander Blue, Jerry Peter- was placed in his hands, by him accepted, and man, Wilson R. Wallace, Andrew Harmon, S. arrangements made for his installation June 6, C. Lewis. The present deacons are Edward 1874, at which time the installation was ef- Thompson, John Sharp, C. J. McElhoes, fected. The sermon was preached by Rev. D. Charles MeLaughlin, Charles Bell. Hall, D. D., the charge to the pastor was de- livered by Rev. A. T. Bell, and the charge to the congregation by Rev. Andrew Virtue. This pastorate continued till June 27, 1877.

From July 1, 1877, Rev. C. C. B. Duncan supplied the pulpit statedly for one half time one year. In the meantime a call was placed in his hands to become pastor of this church in connection with Plumville, and was by him declined at a meeting of the Presbytery, July 10, 1878.

On January 2, 1879, Rev. A. T. Bell, then pastor at Rayne, was installed for one half time, Revs. C. Moore, D. H. Sloan and H. Magill taking part in the services. On June 6, 1883, the call was so modified as to secure the entire time of the pastor.

The church edifice was repainted, frescoed and carpeted during the summer of 1884 at a cost of $700. Of the sons of Washington Church up to 1888 but one, J. Marshall Shields, had entered the ministry. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Blairsville, April 11, 1854. and ordained Angust 29, 1855, by the Presbytery of Erie. He was pastor suc- cessively at Georgetown, Fairfield, Bridge-

The church has been served in the eldership by Joseph Diven, Robert Allison, Abraham Moore, Jr., Peter S. Lewis, John McGara, John Shields, Alexander Blue, Samuel Lewis, Jesse Marlin, Christopher MeEwen, Patrick Lydick. On June 24, 1900, the following elders were ordained and installed: William Schurr, L. G. Shields, Lewis Wallace, and J. Lincoln Groft.

The following have served in the office of trustee: John Bell, Madison MeLaughlin,

The Sabbath school has been superintended by Samuel Lewis, Wilson R. Wallace, John Prothero, Matthew Baird, Wallace Diven, William H. Lydick and John Calvin Shannon. Since 1884 there has been an afternoon session of the Sabbath school held in the village of Kellysburg, superintended by John K. Mc- Elhoes and Samuel McQuilkin. The present superintendent is J. Lincoln Groft. The school has an enrollment of 111.

The years in which there were the largest accessions to the church are 1868, when 29 were received ; 1877, when 45 were added, and 1885, when 34 were added. In 1888 a very general work of grace was in progress, by which the membership of the church was re- vived and 37 persons publicly professed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

For the last twelve years Rev. W. J. Wilson has faithfully served this congregation and the membership is 138.

FIRST CHURCH, INDIANA

Organization .- The date of organization is not known. Indiana county was organized water. Millvale (Pa.) and Orville (Ohio). He in 1806, but there was no stated preaching in died in November, 1887. Mr. George B. the county seat at that time. From 1800 to Diven, a candidate for the ministry, had 1806 there were occasional supplies furnished reached the junior year at Washington and by the Presbytery of Redstone. The people assembled in the woods and the hardy mis-

Jefferson College when he was stricken down with typhoid fever, and died November 4, sionary spoke to them from a rough platform 1884. Robert Joseph Diven, recommended erected under the open sky. Rev. Joseph W. Henderson was the first stated pastor in the by the session April 11, 1886, was taken under care of the Presbytery of Kittanning, April 14, county, and the Presbyterian Church of In-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

diana was organized by him, it is thought, in able theologian, an earnest, effective preacher 1807. After the organization Mr. Henderson preached as stated supply one third of his time for one year. The names of the original members are not on record. At the time of the organization services were generally held in the county jail, but from the erection of the courthouse, in 1809, it was used as a place of public worship by all denominations having preaching in Indiana till 1826-27, when houses of worship were erected.

Pastors and Stated Supplies .- Rev. Joseph W. Henderson was stated supply for one third of his time during the year 1807. The Revs. George Hill. Samuel Porter. Thomas Davis and William Speer preached occasionally dur- ing 1808. The first settled pastor was Rev. James Galbreath. He was installed pastor over the united congregation of Gilgal and Harmony in 1808 and was called to Indiana and installed for one third of his time in 1809. In 1810 he resigned at Harmony and came to Indiana, where he remained until 1816, when

Dr. McElwain was succeeded by Rev. D. Hall, D. D., who was installed June 30, 1874. In the installation, Rev. Drs. W. W. Woodend and D. J. Irwin, with Rev. J. Francis, of- ficiated. Early in his pastorate the Congrega- tional Church was disbanded, and the mem- bers united with the Presbyterian, where most of them had held membership before. In 1876 there was an ingathering, mainly from he resigned and went to Huntingdon county. the youth of the congregation, of 60 on exam- He died at Ligonier, Westmoreland county, in ination at one communion, and 82 during the year. In 1887 a quiet interest resulted in an addition of 27 on examination in nine months. The membership at this time was about 480. Four young men entered the ministry during his pastorate. Within a year a debt of $1,400 was paid, repairs costing $1,800 completed, with a new pipe organ in place costing $2.000. 1857. The next pastor was Rev. John Reed. He came as a licentiate from Washington county and was engaged in October, 1817, to preach to the congregations of Gilgal and In- diana as stated supply. He was ordained and installed pastor of these churches in October. 1818, by the Presbytery of Redstone. In 1839, he resigned the charge of Gilgal and gave the Ruling Elders .- At the organization of the church, in 1807, James McClain, John Ross, John Wilson and Joseph Moorhead were or- dained and installed ruling elders, and in 1810 James McKnight. During the pastorate of Mr. Reed, from 1818 to 1840, John Doug- lass, William Lucas, James Todd, Jacob Peelor, Robert A. Hamilton, James Hamilton, Clements MeGara and Robert Walker were or- P. Lloyd and Woodrow Douglass, in 1840; Joseph Thompson, James McClain, James Moorhead and John Sutton, in 1851; A. W. Wilson, W. B. Marshall, and Alexander Fair, December 27, 1868 ; James M. Sutton, Thomas Sutton and Coulter Wiggins, January 5, 1879. whole of his time to Indiana until his death, which occurred September 27, 1840. Mr. Reed was a man of fine presence, genial manners and great energy, and was held in loving re- membrance by the survivors of his ministry. He was followed by Lewis W. Williams, who came as a licentiate in 1840, soon after Mr. Reed's death, and in May, 1841, was ordained and installed pastor by the Presbytery of dained and installed; Thomas Laughlin, John Blairsville. He resigned in the spring of 1844, and died at Landisburg, Pa., in 1858. During Mr. Williams' pastorate, the number of mem- bers reported was 153, the same as reported by his predecessor, Mr. Reed. During Mr. Gal- breath's ministry, the number did not exceed 80 or 90.

The next pastor was Anderson B. Quay, who was ordained and installed in May, 1844. He resigned in 1850, and died at Rochester, Pa., in 1857. During his pastorate, the mem- bership had increased to 190. Rev. Mr. Quay was succeeded by Rev. Andrew McElwain, September 7, 1852, who resigned in 1872 after a long and eminently successful pastorate of twenty years. Rev. Mr. McElwain was an

and a most faithful pastor. His work in In- diana was twice sealed with a special blessing of the Holy Spirit resulting in large ingather- ings. When he was installed there were re- ported 169 members. When he resigned there were 362, with a Sabbath school of 360 mem- bers. During this favored pastorate the church was an example of beneficence, its gifts in 1872 to Home Missions, $596, Foreign Missions, $430, Education, $100, etc. Few pastorates have been more fruitful in good than this one running through the fifth of a century.

The present session consists of Dr. William Hosack, clerk; Messrs. J. N. Elder, Frank Learn, Elmer W. Allison, William A. Evans, J. Gamble Fleming, David C. Brown, William A. St. Clair. Mr. Elmer W. Allison is deacon.

Houses of Worship .- The entire square on which the Presbyterian, United Presbyterian and Lutheran Churches now stand was donat- ed to the town for church purposes by the Clymer family of eastern Pennsylvania, who

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

owned much land in the county. Much of A number from this congregation have taken up the direct work of advancing the this ground so generously and wisely donated was afterwards sold to private parties, and is Master's kingdom. Among the most noted now occupied by handsome residences. On the land thus acquired, the old brick church was erected in 1827. A second church was built in 1858. Its length was 85 feet and its breadth 56 feet. The original cost of the building was about $12,000. It was dedicated October 24, 1858. who have entered the ministry are Dr. Robert Dick Wilson, now of Princeton Seminary and a world authority on Semitic languages; Rev. McLain Davis, Jr., Rev. Mr. McCoy; those who have taken up the work in the foreign field are Dr. Samuel G. Wilson, Missionary at Tabriz, Persia; Rev. William Kinter, some- time missionary in South America ; Rev. Frank J. Woodward, missionary in the Gilbert Islands, and Miss Marie Woodward, mission- ary in the Shantung Province, China.

The present building is the third church to be erected upon this choice site. It is built of Hummelstown brownstone, and was dedicated in May, 1906. The location is ideal, being as it is within a square of the business district and having the quietude of the residence dis- tricts as well. The building sits well back from the surrounding streets, displaying to fine advantage the splendid architectural lines of the Gothic structure. The interior con- tains all the appointments of a modern church, such as an auditorium with a gallery, having a seating capacity of one thousand persons ; a chapel with a seating capacity of five hundred persons; a parlor, trustec room, pastor's study, choir room, primary department, kitchen and large social hall. The building is fitted throughout with beautiful art glass win- dows, the largest and finest of which is that erected to the memory of the late A. W. Wil- son and John Sutton, men noted for their religious activity as well as for their business interests.

The life and energy of the congregation, now consisting of nearly one thousand members, has placed it well up among the first five hundred largest Presbyterian Churches in the United States. The organizations are the same as may be found in all churches and are most efficient. The Sabbath school shows an enrollment of 600 persons with an average attendance of 435; and with Mr. S. W. Guthrie as superintendent and Mr. Harry W. Earhart as assistant superintendent, the school is advancing in good work daily. A strong feature of the Sabbath school is the teachers' training department under the direction of the pastor's daughter, Miss Elizabeth Craw- ford. This with the home study department places the school among what is known as the "Front Line Schools."

The other church organizations, such as the Christian Endeavor Society, Ladies' Aid Society, and the missionary societies, are fully awake to their great responsibility and bring great honor to the church, and since the work as a whole is most efficient the congregation is justly proud of its achievements.

STRONGSTOWN CHURCH

This was a small congregation with a short and not specially brilliant record. It was in the eastern part of Indiana county, at the hamlet whose name it bore, on the highway leading from Indiana to Ebensburg. It was organized by the Presbytery of Blairsville November 19, 1849. How many were its original members has not been ascertained Its name first appears in the statistical re- ports of this Presbytery in 1860, when it is credited with twenty-two members, and as having paid $34 for congregational purposes. The next year, and each succeeding year to 1865, it is credited in the reports with 13 mem- bers. In 1860 and 1861 it was recommended to the Board of Domestic Missions for aid to the amount of $30. For a time during the earlier part of its existence it enjoyed the services of Rev. J. H. Kirkpatrick as a stated supply. Aside from this arrangement it had only occasional supplies. Dr. Donaldson, in 1873, thus summed up its history in the re- spect under consideration : "No pastor, one stated supply, and a long, long vacancy." At that time, however, the church had no separate existence, as Presbytery had formally dis- solved it October 4, 1865. The record is as follows : "On motion of Rev. A. McElwain the members of Strongstown Church were transferred to the church of Harmony, and the name of Strongstown was stricken from the roll of Presbytery."

CENTER CHURCH

Center Church is located on Crooked creek (Creekside P. O.), about six miles northwest of the county seat. It was organized by the Presbytery of Blairsville September 3, 1851. The number and names of original members have not been ascertained. Dr. Donaldson in

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his historical sketch of this church says that it P. Bollman, a former pastor, began supplying "was organized from Currie's Run and Wash- the church. On April 12, 1865, he accepted a call and was installed July 5, following. Rev. J. M. Jones preached, Dr. Donaldson gave the charge to the pastor, and Rev. J. Caruth- ers that to the people. A year later he again became pastor at Washington. He was re- leased from the charge April 12, 1870. About this time he removed from the bounds of Pres- bytery. Presbytery, having learned that he had joined the M. E. Church, dropped his name from the roll December 17, 1872. ington to complete, with the latter, a pastoral charge for Rev. S. P. Bollman." He was licensed by the Presbytery of Blairsville, in April, 1851, and ordained and installed in the charge in October of the same year. The two churches were reported to Presbytery the fol- lowing April as having 192 members. This charge he resigned previous to April, 1856, the churches being then reported vacant with an aggregate membership of 295. About this time Mr. Bollman was elected superintendent of common schools for Indiana county, in which capacity he served for nine years.

At the organization of the Presbytery of Saltsburg, January 6, 1857, Mr. William G. Shand, then a licentiate of the Presbytery of Cedar, obtained leave to labor in the bounds of the Presbytery, and so began his labor in these churches. Calls for his services being made out he accepted them, August 25, 1857, and was ordained and installed in the charge at Center, September 1, following, Rev. W. F. Morgan preaching the sermon, Rev. John Stark offering the ordaining prayer, Rev. John Caruthers giving the charge to the pastor, and Rev. G. W. Mechlin, the charge to the people. The relationship thus formed was of short duration, Mr. Shand having been released from the charge October 6, 1858. The following April he was dismissed to the Pres- bytery of Cedar, whence he came. He seems to have had no regular pastoral charge after this. In 1867 his name last appears in the Assembly's minutes. He was then reported as without charge, with his residence at Davenport, Iowa, where he died at a date not definitely ascertained.

The next pastor of the church was Rev. D. D. Christy. He was received as a licentiate from the Presbytery of Columbus June 26, 1860, at which time he accepted calls from this church and Washington, and was or- dained and installed July 3, following. The Mechlin preaching the sermon, Rev. A. McEl- wain giving the charge to the pastor, and Rev. J. Caruthers that to the people. The relation thus constituted existed to May 4, 1863, when the pastor was released and dismissed to the Presbytery of Allegheny. He was reported as stated supply at Zelienople in that Presby- tery (now Butler) in 1867-68. His name last appeared in the Assembly's minutes of 1870, his address being Coultersville, Pennsylvania.

Rev. A. Virtue, of the Presbytery of Clarion, having begun to supply at Center, the congre- gation decided to avail itself of the provisions of the sustentation scheme then in force and to call him for his whole time. This was done, the call was accepted, and Mr. Virtue was in- stalled October 15, 1872. But the burden of support seemed too great, Mr. Virtue was re- leased for one fourth of his time December 9, 1873, and afterwards became pastor at Cherry Run, and also preached at Atwood, which was organized during the time of his ministry, in 1874. His pastorate continued until April 4, 1882, when he was released and dismissed to the Presbytery of West Virginia. Mr. Virtue was "in labors abundant" and his preaching was earnest and practical, and to a marked degree expository of the Scriptures. During the first winter of Mr. Virtue's pastorate at Center the church experienced a revival of much power. The additions on profession as reported for that year were 38, and the whole number of communicants, 128.

From April, 1883, Mr. W. T. Garroway was supply for a period of three months; from May, 1886, Rev. A. T. Bell was supply for a year or somewhat more. At other times the church had occasional services, chiefly from Rev. F. Orr, B. S. Sloan and A. T. Bell. The membership as reported for 1887 was 73. Rev. William J. Wilson has served the congregation since 1891 and has increased the membership to 133. (See biography of services were at Washington, Rev. G. W. Mr. Wilson in biographical section.)

The ruling elders in this church, so far as ascertained, have been the following: Wil- liam Stuchell, from September, 1848; Philip Uncapher, Robert Spence, James Carroll, from May, 1866; Alex. McCune, from Janu- ary, 1874; John Stuchell, Byron MeGara, Michael Kaufman, from September, 1876; James Hamilton, Joseph Johnston, from June 4, 1880. F. E. Fairman and Samuel Mc- Gara were installed in 1883; T. Blair MeGary

With the beginning of the year 1864 Rev. S. and John C. Kunkle were ordained and in-

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 49

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Stewart, Joshua Thompson, 1862- comp
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 930