Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 57

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 57

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Another portion of the members of Black- Inasmuch as a number of the churches of lick Church organized a church at Armagh, Indiana Association were formerly united Indiana county. From the minutes of the

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Pennsylvania Baptist Educational Society we change was made many of them from neces- learn that Armagh Church was a member of sity and for other reasons failed to cooperate with the church in its new location. Buggies and haeks were not as numerous as they are now, and the facilities for taking whole fam- ilies to meetings were not nearly so good as they are at the present time. Pittsburg Association in 1852, but in 1853 it became a member of the Clarion Associa- tion. At that time it reported only six mem- bers. It continued to report and contribute unto Clarion Association until 1866, when its name was dropped from the list of churches connected with that body. The Armagh Church does not appear to have increased in numbers very rapidly. The only accessions reported during its sixteen years' connection with Clarion Association were in 1856, when it reported having received two by baptism and one by letter.

But we have not as yet given a satisfactory answer to the query what became of the seventy members of the Blaeklick Church. At the anniversary in 1852 Brother Samuel Con- rad presented a report from Blackliek Church stating that they had changed their place of worship to Mechanicsburg, and changed their name to Brushvalley Church. A committee having been appointed Brushvalley, together with the new churches of East Mahoning and New Bethlehem, was received, and the right hand of fellowship extended. In that year Brushvalley Church reported twenty-nine members, five of whom had been received by baptism during the year, thus leaving only twenty-four members that probably came to Brushvalley from the old Blackliek Chureh. There appear to have been only six members of the Blacklick Church that united in the organization of the Armagh Church. Now twenty-four plus six equals only thirty mem- bers that we can trace from the records in our possession. This church had a few years previous reported a membership of seventy, and since we can only account for thirty of its members the question arises what became of the remaining forty. Our answer may possibly be to some extent conjeetural, but from oral information we have learned the following facts: A large portion of the mem- bers of the original Blackliek Church resided in the near vicinity of their place of wor- ship, while others lived at points still farther south and east, and inasmuch as the distance from the site of the original Blacklick Church to the site of the Brushvalley Church is fully six miles, it would make it necessary for many of them to travel from six to nine miles over rough roads through a very hilly section of country in order to reach the new place of worship. Consequently they were opposed to changing the place of worship from the original site to Brushvalley, and when the

This change was made sixty years ago, and looking back at this distant day we can read- ily see that instead of resolving as a church to change their place of worship they had granted letters to such of their members as desired them to form a new organization at Mechanicsburg, and to have let those who were opposed to changing their place of wor- ship maintain the old organization on the original site. The result might probably have been a much larger congregation at Dilltown today. Such an arrangement would have re- sulted in general good. For many years Brushvalley Church appeared to have two ends to it. one at Dilltown, and the other at Mechanicsburg. They were separated from each other by the Laurel Hill, the central ridge or antielinal of the western range of the great Appalachian system. If there had been two independent church organizations. one at Dilltown and the other at Mechanicsburg, they would each soon have learned to rely upon their own resources and not have one section wait for the other to take the initia- tive in matters of general importance.

At the anniversary of Clarion Association in 1845 Yellow Creek Church applied for a letter of dismissal which was granted. This church was located at Philips Mills, a place that is now included within the boundary line of Homer City. At that anniversary this church reported a membership of twenty-six. with John Scott and John Long, both of whom were licentiates, as copastors. Nothing is said as to where this church intended to de- posit its letter of dismissal, but we presume it united with the Conemaugh Association, and like the majority of churches that united with that body it subsequently became ex- tinet.

In 1858 Diamondville Church. with twenty- three members, F. Hollen, pastor, was re- ceived into the fellowship of Clarion Asso- ciation. This was a little church that had been built mainly through the labors of "Fa- ther" Thomas Wilson, one of the pioneer preachers of this section whose home was in Punxsutawney. By a careful examination of the names of the delegates sent by this church from time to time to the Associational anni- versaries, we discover that it included in its

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

membership many of the most wealthy and influential citizens of that neighborhood. It

portant factor in bringing about these dis- astrous results. I have no printed informa- seemed to have had a steady growth under tion in regard to this organization, for al- the pastoral ministrations of Rev. Samuel though they printed minutes of their pro- Furman, A. Shadrach and John W. Evans, ceedings, and had their own confession of faith, yet I have been unable to procure a copy of any of them. But from what I have and at one time it reported a membership of thirty-six. It continued to report to Clarion Association until 1869, when its name dis- learned by conversing with those who appear appears from the list of churches connected with that body, although at the anniversary of the previous year it had reported a mem- bership of twenty-five.

A brief historical sketch of Blacklick No. held about the same relation to the regular

2, West Lebanon and Plumville Churches, which are also now extinct, is given elsewhere. Several other churches that met a similar fate will be noticed as we proceed to endeavor to ascertain the cause of these sad failures.

1st .- These failures were largely due to the apathy and indifference of the membership of those churches because a large portion of them neglected the assembling of themselves together on the Lord's Day, except when there was preaching services, which in many cases were few and far between. Prayer meetings were seldom held, and Sunday schools were almost unknown in the majority of the churches I have named. The young people were neglected and were not trained in Bible literature nor indoctrinated in the teachings contained in God's word.

2d .- The parsimoniousness, or to be more explicit, the stinginess, of many of the more wealthy members, who refused to contribute of their funds as the Lord had prospered them for the maintenance of the word and ordinances.

3d .- The speculative theories in regard to religion advocated by Alexander Campbell were introduced by a number of his admirers and followers, some of whom were fluent talk- ers and eloquent preachers. These views were embraced by many of the members in some of those churches, thereby creating dissension and causing many to withdraw from the fel- lowship of their respective churches.

4th .- In at least one instance an arbitrary effort to administer church discipline was the means of creating a rupture among the mem- bers that resulted in the formation of two parties antagonistic to each other and eventu- forgetful of the New Testament teachings, "Charity suffereth long and is kind."

to know something about that organization, it seems to have been a sort of semi-religious organization. It was strongly antislavery or abolition in character and appears to have

Baptist Church that the so-called Free Pres- byterians bore to the great Presbyterian body.

That the evil which they claimed did exist was a fact conceded by all. That a political reformation with regard to the evil was nec- essary was acknowledged by everybody, but as to the proper means of effecting this po- litical reformation, and getting rid of this evil, there was a great diversity of opinion. A small minority of the great Baptist body scattered throughout the length and breadth of our land who were radicals were in favor of organizing a third party whose special objects should be the destruction of this evil, but a vast majority of our brethen in this State as well as in other States were in favor of more conservative measures. So far as I can learn, the churches composing the Cone- maugh Association were in favor of the third party movement and refused to follow with or admit to membership any one who refused to become a member of and cooperate with this third party.

By pursuing the course they did the churches of Conemaugh Association were not building upon the solid rock, even Christ Je- sus, but rather upon the sinking sand of a disputed theory as to the manner of getting rid of an existing evil. The result was that God did not own and bless its work, and so far as I know every church organized by that body, with one exception, became extinct ; whilst a majority of the already established churches that embraced their views and be- came members of that organization were either seriously crippled or else entirely wiped out of existence.

Take Blairsville for illustration. Our ally ended in an annihilation of the church brethren in that town owned a comfortable

meeting-house, eligibly located on the main street of that town. Through the liberality of a Baptist brother who had a large contract in that town, our brethren were enabled to dedicate their house of worship free from

5th .- For many years, somewhere between 1840 and 1860, there existed within our pres- ent Associational limits an anomaly known as the Conemangh Association, which was an im- debt. For years they continued to work earn-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

estly for the Master. Peace and harmony pre- D. D., November 1, 1896, to November 1, vailed, and prosperity attended their efforts. 1905; Rev. H. F. King, D. D., November 1, But in an evil day the advocates of this new 1905, to the present date, 1913. theory in religion visited them. Some of the The following members of this church have served it as deacons: Lewis E. Freet, David Henderson, IIenry Salsgiver, Thomas Ray, James S. McAnulty, J. Miles Walker, Daniel Ansley, Joseph F. Barnes, Robert M. Mor- ris, Samuel Nelson, Charles W. Brandt, J. O. DeLancey, Isaac W. Warner, J. M. T. Lewis, John Houk, George T. Buchanan. The last four form the present board. who together with the pastor hold monthly meetings on the third Sunday of each month. brethren embraced these views, whilst others strenuously opposed them. The result was dissension in the church and its disruption. A majority embraced the new doctrine and held possession of the meeting-house, but they were unable to meet current expenses. They contracted debts which they were unable to pay. Their house of worship was sold by the sheriff and occupied by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as a telegraph office and for other purposes.

FIRST CHURCH OF INDIANA

Rev. Samuel Furman, a pioneer Baptist minister in Indiana county, residing in Green township, held a few monthly religious services in the old courthouse in the town of Indiana, and under his auspices the First Baptist Church of Indiana was organized in June, 1858. The constituent members were Lewis E. Freet, Mrs. Rosanna Freet, William Shields, Mrs. Mary J. Shields, Mrs. Cathar- ine Craig and Mrs. Eliza Canning. This lit- tle band was regularly recognized July 13, 1858, by a council called for that purpose, and the new church was admitted into the Clarion Baptist Association August 20, 1858. On August 25, 1877, the Indiana and other churches were dismissed from the Clarion As- sociation and on the same day the delegates representing the churches formed the Indiana Baptist Association, of which this body has continuously been an active part. The first house of worship, a frame building, situated on the corner of Oakland avenue and Church street, was erected in 1859, during the pas- torate of Rev. Samuel Furman, and was ded- icated December 4th of that year. The sec- ond house, the present brick building, on Houk, E. M. Lydick, J. S. Johnston, E. C. the same lot of ground, was begun in 1898 Osmun. J. Arthur Warner, D. L. Houk. A. W. and was dedicated May 14, 1899, Rev. A. J. Scott. The last seven persons named form Furman, D. D., being the pastor. the present board.

When the church was organized L. E. Freet and William Rowe were elected trustees and they served as such until 1876, when on pe- tition a charter of incorporation was secured from the Indiana County court. The incor- porating trustees were John Sutor, Daniel Ansley, J. F. Barnes, J. S. Campbell, Isaac W. Warner, William Philips, and J. S. Mc- Anulty. The charter requires the election of seven trustees annually. Aside from those al- ready named the following have served in this capacity : C. K. Johnston, James J. Da- vis, William S. Pattison, William Shields, R. M. Morris, John Redhead, J. W. Swartz, H. E. A. McNeel. W. H. Warner. Frank Doug- las. D. A. MeCardle, H. D. Hildebrand, C. W. Brandt. G. W. Lovelace, Kellar M. Har- ris, Samuel Nelson, John A. Bennett, C. G. Rowe, Barto Beringer, S. S. Gressley, P. N. Baker, S. E. Buterbaugh, H. M. Johnston, J. M. T. Lewis. I. C. Rowland, Mont Stephens, William A. Glass, J. O. DeLancey, H. B. Bu- terbaugh, A. O. Cravener, R. R. Cunningham, E. W. Griffith, L. Pattison, Theo. Kimmel, R. M. Johnston, P. F. Lewis, H. I. Gross, R. S. Long. E. A. Fleming. S. F. Warner, G. M. Marshall, D. H. Wiggins, Lawrence Lockard, Ward Lockard, Harvey J. Ross, A. G. Graf- fam. M. J. Hedden. J. Paul Warner, John

The following have served the church as pastors : Rev. Samuel Furman, June, 1858, church are : to December 18, 1862; Rev. A. H. Taylor, March 23, 1864, to April 28, 1866; Rev. A. B. Runyan, February 17, 1867, to January Those who have served as clerks of the William Shields, 1858 to 1862; William Rowe, clerk pro tem., for several vears; J. Miles Walker, 1869 to 1876: J. F. Barnes. 1876 to 1893; P. N. Baker, 1893 to 1, 1868; Rev. Azariah Shadrach, April 1, 1906; A. L. Graffam, 1906 to 1907; W. S. Garee, 1907 and serving yet in 1913.

1872, to April 1, 1873; Rev. William Shad- rach, D. D., April 1, 1873, to October 1, 1884; The Sunday school of this church was or- Rev. D. W. Swigart, April 1, 1885, to Janu- ganized in June, 1872. The following named ary 1, 1891; Rev. B. B. Henshey, April 1. persons have served as superintendents : 1891, to April 1, 1896; Rev. A. J. Furman, Lewis E. Freet. 1872 to 1875; J. Miles Walker,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1876: J. F. Barnes, 1877 to 1881 and 1884 In 1875 the old pastor of the East Mahoning to 1892; Daniel Ansley, 1882 to 1883; Rev. Church, Rev. S. Furman, was recalled, and B. B. Henshey, 1893; E. W. Griffith, 1894 in 1876-77 preached alternately at the church to 1895 : S. S. Gressley, 1896; R. R. Cunning- and at the branch. ham, 1897; A. O. Cravener, 1898 to 1900;

In April, 1878, by adviee of Council, called George T. Buchanan, 1901 to the present time. for consultation, the branch was organized

The Ladies' Aid Society was organized in 1877. Mrs. W. S. Garee is at this time presi-

as an independent body, under the name of the First Baptist Church of Cookport, Rev. dent, Mrs. J. D. Hill, secretary, Mrs. Margaret Mr. Furman serving both churches jointly. MeCardle, treasurer. It meets once a month.

The Baptist Young People's Union was formed in 1891. Its officers are: President, J. Clyde Titterington, secretary, Florence Barr, treasurer, E. C. Osmun. It meets weekly.

The pastors following him were Revs. M. L. Rowland, A. B. Runyan, J. T. Gallagher, R. B. Dunmire, II. W. D. Kirkendall, W. P. Hile, A. J. Alexander, Mr. Plush and Thomas Lambert, the present minister.

The church has a membership of eighty-one. The deacons are: J. H. Stump and J. H. Rodkey; the trustees are Solomon Buter- baugh, Charles Henry, J. H. Rodkey; treas- urer, Lawrence Shank; church elerk, W. G.

The Women's Missionary Society was or- ganized October 19, 1893. It meets monthly and works in the interest of the Women's Baptist Home and Foreign Missionary So- cieties of the North. Mrs. George T. Bu- Stump. Mrs. W. G. Stump is superintendent chanan is president, Mrs. J. A. Titterington of the Sabbath school, which has an enroll- secretary, Mrs. Ella Smith treasurer. The ment of one hundred.

Young Women's Missionary Society was or- ganized March 29, 1911. It meets montlily. The following officers are serving during 1913: President, Veva P. Longwill; secre- tary, Florence Barr; treasurer, Zaida Long.

Eight hundred and twenty-nine persons have been received into the fellowship of this church; 6 constituent members, 477 by bap- tism, 276 by letter, 63 by experience, 7 by restoration. The decrcase has been 232 by letter, 72 by exclusion, 147 by erasure, and 91 by death, total loss 542. The present mem- bership numbers 287.

COOKPORT CHURCH

In 1867-68 a number of Baptists residing in Cookport and vicinity, some of them mem- bers of the Pine Flats Church, and others of the East Mahoning Church, deemed it very desirable to have a place of worship in the village. They accordingly set about the mat-

Some time about the year 1840 Baptist ter in good earnest, and succeeded. Rev. W. preaching was begun in the vicinity of Pine P. England, pastor of the Pine Flats Church, rendered them good service by preaching for them a part of his time. Several persons pro- fessed conversion and were baptized.

In 1870, by advice of Council, they were organized as a branch of the East Mahoning Church with thirty-two members. For about three months in this year Rev. J. E. Dean served the church and the branch as pastor.

PINE FLATS CHURCH

The Pine Flats Baptist Church was or- ganized in the month of October, 1845, by Revs. G. T. Dinsmore and S. D. Morris. Its constituents were nineteen in number, thir- teen of whom were dismissed from the Two- lick Baptist Church, both for the convenience of its members and the hope of further en- largement-the distance from Twolick to the Flat being seven miles or more. Since its organization the church has registered the names of many members. Its present member- ship is seventy-two.

The following is the list of ministers who have served the church either as pastors or temporary supplies : Revs. S. D. Morris, W. B. Bingham, W. Shadrach, John Thomas, Samuel Furman, A. B. Runyan, J. W. Evans, W. P. England, Enos Woodruff, A. Shadrach.

Flats and was continued for several years by Revs. S. D. Morris, Thomas Wilson and Sam- uel Conrad. When the church was organ- ized the following ministers were present : S. D. Morris, G. T. Dinsmore, Samuel Miles. The council was organized by appointing Rev. S. D. Morris moderator and Rev. G. T. Dins- more clerk. The articles of faith of the Con- emaugh Association were read and unani- mously adopted by the church. The church covenant was also read and accepted, after

In 1871 Rev. T. C. Gessford was called to the pastorate of the mother church, and min- istered to it and the branch till July, 1874, which the prayer of recognition was offered when his ministry came to a sudden elose. by Brother Dinsmore, right hand of fellow-

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ship extended by Brother Morris, and charge to the church given by Brother Miles.

formation of the Indiana Baptist Association at East Mahoning Church on the 25th day of August, 1877, when it became a constituent member of that body.

The first house of worship was built in 1844. The sawed lumber was furnished by Edward and Samuel Turner, the shingles by In 1886 the matter of building the present Evan Griffith, now deceased, and the nails house of worship was considered and some and glass by Evan Lewis, of Pittsburg. This house was occupied without permanent seat- ing until 1853, after which it was repaired both internally and externally and continued to be occupied by the church until the third Sabbath of December, 1887, when it was fi- nally abandoned as a house of worship. It had been prophesied by a thrust out enemy of the church that the time would come when no prayer would be offered in the old house. This prophecy has been literally fulfilled. The material was gathered together. In the early part of the summer of 1887 the work was commenced. The building committee was or- ganized as follows : William Thorn, presi- dent; Rev. A. B. Runyan, advisory member ; Williams Davis, solicitor of funds ; Evan Grif- fith, B. C. Smith, Hugh E. Williams. The lumber was all worked gratuitously by Wil- liam and John Thorn in their planing mill at Pine Flats. The oversight of the building was left exclusively to William Thorn, whose old house has ceased to be a house of prayer, carefulness, accuracy and good judgment se- not for the want of worshippers, but because cured to the church a beautiful and substan- tial house of worship. The ladies of the church and others, headed by Mrs. Catherine Thorn, secured the necessary funds and pur- chased the beautiful chair seatings at an ex- pense of nearly $500. The expense of pa, pering the house was also defrayed by the ladies. The rostrum was furnished with a Bible, a pulpit, a lamp and chairs, by Rev. A. B. Runyan and Deacon Hugh Roberts. The chairs for seating were put in place by W. and J. Thorn, whose skill alone was equal to the difficult task. John Miller, of Cook- port, was the contractor and carpenter (how- ever, the work was done mostly by men in his employ ) ; stone work by G. W. Anthony ; painting and papering by Mr. Conrath, and a more elegant, commodious and comfortable place of worship has been secured. The old house was beautiful in its day, and although it was plain and small it required a great effort on the part of the few members of the church in that early day to construct it. It served our people well in their early history, but the church had outlived it and the day came when a more commodious and more modern structure must be erected. But, oh! how we love the old home where so many of us first found the Saviour and where we enjoyed with God's people so many precious seasons of refreshing from the manifest pres- ence of our Lord. There our fathers and mothers worshipped, and there many hard battles were fonght and glorious victories plastering by Levi Amond. won. God grant that the glory of this lat-

ter house may be greater than that of the of the year 1887 and was dedicated January former is our earnest prayer.

Inasmuch as the church kept no record for about six years after its organization, there on account of his great age and the inclem- is uncertainty as to the first pastorate, but from what information can be gathered at this late date it appears that Rev. S. D. Mor- ris was the first pastor and that he served in that capacity for several years.

The church soon after its organization united with the Conemaugh Association and continued with that body until the Association became extinct, an event that occurred about the year 1856. For a few years after this the entire amount was raised, and the dedication church appears not to have been united with prayer was offered by the pastor.

any association, but on the 23d day of Au- gust, 1862, it united with the Clarion Asso- PLUMVILLE CHURCH ciation, which body was at that time holding its anniversary with the Mount Pleasant Bap- This church was organized in October, tist Church at Corsica, Jefferson Co., Pa. The 1849, as a Free Mission Baptist Church, with church continued in that relation until the eleven constituents who had withdrawn from

The building was completed about the close 1, 1888. Rev. W. Shadrach, of Indiana, was expected to preach the dedicatory sermon, but

ent weather he failed to be present. Rev. D. W. Swigart, pastor of the Indiana Bap- tist Church, preached the dedicatory sermon. After the sermon the pastor, Rev. A. B. Run- van, stated that the cost of the house includ- ing the furniture was $2,800, and with the exception of about $200 this amount was all provided for. An appeal was then made to the audience and in a very short time the

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the Mahoning Church. Persons of extreme concurrence and advice of a council of minis- views on the question of slavery became dis- ters appointed for the purpose of the Red- satisfied with the close connection of the stone Baptist Association, namely : Rev. James Northern with the Southern Baptists in car- Frey, of Big Redstone, Rev. James Estep, of rying on the work of foreign missions, and in Forks of Yough, and Rev. John Thomas, of many quarters strifes and divisions arose. the Twolick Church, Indiana county.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 57

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