Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 58

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 58

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Rev. W. B. Bingham, an active and zealous Its constituents were the following named abolitionist, organized the church and min- persons: Mrs. Mary Johnston, Andrew John- istered to it until February, 1855. He was ston and his wife Martha, John Johnston and succeeded by Revs. W. Shepherd and J. John- ston.

his wife Anna, George Hunt and his wife Mary, Mrs. Betsie Nicholson and Stephen

In 1857 a council of neighboring churches Drury.

was convened and recognized the church as a regular. Baptist Church. Rev. J. J. Short- hill was called to the pastorate, and contin- ued to serve the church till September, 1868, and was succeeded by Rev. H. Jeffries. In 1871 the great majority of the members, be- lieving this location to be unfavorable to their growth, obtained letters of dismission, with a view to organizing a church at Chambersville. The first business meeting was held June 20, 1829, at which time Andrew Johnston was ordained deacon, and Rev. William Shad- rach, recently ordained to the ministry, was chosen as pastor. He accepted the call and entered upon the service immediately, divid- ing his labor equally between this church and the church at Mount Pleasant, Westmore- land county, where on the 10th of December Forty members were thus removed from preceding he had been ordained and settled. Plumville, leaving but ten or twelve at the last named place. After 1872 this church was

During the greater part of the first year of its history the little church, through the without a pastor, and its members decreased kindness of their Presbyterian brethren, had until in 1879 it reported only seven, and its the privilege of holding their services in their name was dropped from the list of churches connected with Indiana Association in 1880.

BLACKLICK CHURCH

The Blacklick Baptist Church was organ- ized under the supervision of Revs. W. H. Johnston and F. Hollen, May 29, 1861, with sixteen members, all of whom had been dis- missed from the Livermore Baptist Church in Westmoreland county. In 1862 Blacklick Church, located about four miles north of Blairsville, applied for and was received into the fellowship of Clarion Association. At this time it reported a membership of thirty- two with Franklin Hollen as pastor. Dur- ing the next ten years it appears to have been without a pastor. Then Rev. Jesse Morgan served as pastor for two years-1873-74. Then it was without a pastor for a term of six years, when Rev. R. L. Williams at great personal sacrifice gave this church one fourth of his time during the year 1879-80. From that time forward it had no pastor and made no effort to procure one, and in 1892 its name was dropped from the list of churches con- nected with Indiana Association.

LOYALHANNA, SALTSBURG AND KELLY STATION CHURCHES

meeting-house; but this arrangement not proving quite agreeable to some members of the session of the Presbyterian Church, the little band withdrew and held worship at such places as were found to be most convenient. Sometimes they met in private houses ; some- times they accepted a tender made to them to use a meeting-house at New Alexandria, at which place some of the members resided, and here they occasionally held the commun- ion service.

In the opening of the spring of 1830 the church erected a tent in a beautiful grove, some three miles from Saltsburg, near the road leading to New Alexandria. This spot was selected as the most eligible on which to build their sanctuary, whenever they should deem themselves able for the undertaking. Around this preaching stand, in the open air and under the canopy of heaven, large as- semblies gathered to pray and praise and hear the word.

In 1832, having been greatly strengthened in the meantime by accessions to their num- ber, they erected a neat and commodious brick building, and dedicated it to the wor- ship of God, free of debt, and having now a "local habitation" they took to themselves the name of the Loyalhanna Baptist Church. This location was well suited to the conven- ience of the congregation, as the greater part

The Loyalhanna Baptist Church was or- ganized at Saltsburg November 29, 1828, by of the membership, both of the original con-

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

stituents and of those who subsequently built a house of worship in the borough of united with the church, resided on the West- moreland side of the Conemaugh.

In March, 1835, their first pastor, after hav- ing served the church for five years and ten months, resigned the pastorate to take charge of a newly organized church in the city of parting of a young church with its youthful minister was the severance of tender ties, mu- tually painful to both; but the call of duty seemed to demand the sacrifice, and to this demand they mutually yielded. At this time the church numbered 130 communicants.

On the 6th of April, 1836, the church elected to the pastorate Rev. Benoni Allen, who served in the office until August, 1839. This proved to be before its close a very un- happy pastorate. Under it a spirit of dis- cord was engendered among the members, parties were formed, proper discipline was neglected, and in the midst of this disorder the pastor withdrew without being regularly dismissed. For a long period the strife contin- ned, and terminated finally by the exclusion of as many as twenty-one members from the communion of the church. This occurred Feb- ruary 15, 1842. Through the years of 1840 and 1841 frequent efforts at reconciliation had heen attempted, but without effect. In the meantime the disaffected party had with- drawn from the church and organized a sep- arate hody, under the name of the Livermore Baptist Church. This proceeding, being re- garded as fractious and disorderly, did not prevent the church, in the exercise of its dis- cipline, from expelling them from its fellow- ship. After the lapse of some years a better spirit prevailed, and a good degree of broth- erly concord was bestowed, a cahn succeeding pastorate, in April, 1875, Rev. G. W. Baker the storm. The Livermore Church by re- moval, death and otherwise has become ex- tinet.

From 1840 to 1849 the church was served burg and Loyalhanna Churches. He contin-

for brief periods by the following named ministers, either as pastors or supplies : Isaac

Saltsburg, and assumed the name of the Salts- burg Baptist Church, not, however, without providing for holding occasional services at Loyalhanna.

Mr. Penny was followed by Rev. D. W. Hunter, who ministered to the church from Allegheny, then called Allegheny town. This August, 1855, to April, 1857. The next year the church was without a pastor.

From March, 1858, Rev. J. R. Morris de- voted to the interests of the church one halt of his time for one year. In April. 1859, Mr. W. T. Johnston, a licentiate, was called by the church to ordination, and served it as pas- tor from April of that year until April, 1862. From 1862 to 1864 the church received pas- toral services from Rev. Samuel Furman, then pastor of the church at Indiana. In March, 1864, Rev. A. H. Taylor was called to the pastorate and remained in office until fail- ing health compelled him to retire, in March, 1866.

From the last named date until May, 1867, the church was without a pastor, at which time a call was extended to Rev. A. Shadrach, who accepted, and served the church for a period of eight years, when he resigned to take the financial agency of Mount Pleasant Institute, in Westmoreland county. During his pastorate the church deemed it advisable to occupy more fully the ground on the West- moreland side of the river; accordingly, in 1872, thirty-six members were dismissed for the purpose of organizing a new church, un- der the old name of the Loyalhanna Baptist Church. They built that year a new and com- modious church edifice and united under the same pastoral charge with the Saltsburg Church. At the close of Rev. A. Shadrach's

was called to the pastorate of the Saltsburg Church, serving it for one year ; and in April, 1876, Rev. John Burke became pastor of Salts- ued in the pastorate until April, 1879.

Near the close of Mr. Burke's ministry a posts, and eleven members were dismissed from the Saltsburg Church, who together with eleven others, dismissed from the Loyal-

Winn, John Parker, Milton Sutton, John P. new church was constituted at one of his out-

Rockefeller, Edward M. Miles. Not anything of special note took place during this period. In June, 1849, the church called to ordination Mr. P. M. Weddle, a licensed preacher, who hanna Church, became the constituents of by the advice of a council called for that the new body, under the name of the Kelly Station Baptist Church. This was added to Mr. Burke's charge, and in 1879 Rev. A. C. Baird became pastor. purpose was ordained to the full work of the Christian ministry and served the church till June, 1852. He was soon succeeded by Rev. T. J. Penny, who held the office until The membership of these churches in 1880 was as follows: Saltsburg, 75, Loyalhanna, April, 1855. During his pastorate the church resolved to change the location, and in 1853 63, Kelly Station, 52; total, 190.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

In 1912 there were eleven members at distant, was the nearest church of their faith, Kelly's Station. Rev. A. J. Bowser of Salts- burg supplied the church part of the year; from June, 1912, Rev. J. T. Davis preached monthly. In June a Sabbath school was or- ganized with a teachers' training class, an adult class and a cradle roll department. This her devoted zeal that the first effort was made church has taken on new life, having a large attendance at all the services.

TWOLICK CHURCH

The Twolick Baptist Church located on Dixon's run, in Green township, was organ- ized in the autumn of 1824. Its constituents, about twelve in number, were chiefly immi- grants from Wales. Owing to the loss of the early records of the church a partial list only can be given here of these constituents. Among them were the following persons: Simon Davis and wife, George Turner and wife, Elizabeth Price, Mary Shadrach and John Thomas. The other constituent mem- bers were persons baptized at the time of the organization.

This was the first Baptist Church in In- to ordination while yet a member of the Beu- diana county. It was organized at the house of Mr. Francis Chapman, who, together with his wife and several of his daughters, was among the carliest accessions to the church. meantime, to pay him and the church broth- Rev. Thomas Williams and Rev. Benjamin erly visits.

Davis, ministers of the Beulah Baptist Church in Cambria county, officiated at the organiza- tion.

The first settlement in that part of the county was made as early as 1801-02 by a few families from Wales, those of John Rees, Hugh Rees, Simon Davis, David Price and David Moses. This region at that time was an unbroken wilderness, the outer border of civilization. Between Dixon's run and the Susquehanna river no man lived. Wild beasts roamed the forests undisturbed.

Among the settlers above named were three Baptists, Simon Davis and wife, and Eliza- beth Price, wife of David Price. Their mem- bership was held in the Beulah Baptist Church near Ehensburg, and ministers of that church paid them, at long intervals, paternal visits. It was not, however, until the year 1819 that

they deposited their certificates of member- ship in that church, and frequently for a time attended its communion. It is due to the memory of this Christian woman to state in this connection that it was mainly owing to to establish in the neighborhood stated reli- gious services. In connection with these ex- ercises prayer meetings held from house to house continued to increase in numbers and interest. No other organized meetings for religious worship within a circle of from eight to ten miles could be found. From 1820 onward more frequent visits were made by various ministers from Ebensburg, among whom were George Roberts (Independent), William Williams, Thomas Williams, Festus Tibbot, Thomas E. Thomas and Benjamin Da- vis. Converts were made, at first among the youth mainly, and those of riper years fol- lowed; so that by the autumn of 1824 it was deemed advisable to organize a church.

Soon after the church was formed, Rev. John Thomas, who had been previously called lah Church, was called to the pastorate, and continued to serve it for a period of six years ; some of the Beulah ministers continuing,

In 1826 the church licensed William Shad- rach, the pastor's brother, to preach the gos- pel wherever he might find 'an open door. The two brothers during this and the year following made frequent preaching excursions through various districts, from Pine Flats on the east to Glade Run on the west, on the borders of Armstrong county, and southward to the waters of Blacklick. The church at this period had a large territory claiming ser- vice from it, and drew members into its com- munion from distances varying from seven to eighteen miles east and west.

In 1830 the church dismissed thirteen mem- bers for the purpose of forming a new church, now known as the Mahoning Baptist Church. It was organized under the supervision of Rev. G. I. Mihs and Rev. William Shadrach, April 18, 1830, at the house of Enoch Hast- any attempt was made to institute a religious ings, on Glade run, and was the third Bap- tist church in the county, Saltsburg Church, constituted in the autumn of 1829, being the

society of any name or kind. In that year Mrs. Shadrach, a widow, sister of John and Hugh Rees, with her two sons, John Thomas second. and William Shadrach, arrived from Wales. In the year 1830-31 the Twolick Church was greatly disturbed and very seriously dam- Mrs. Mary Shadrach and her eldest son, John Thomas, were members of the Baptist Church aged and divided by the introduction among in Wales, and as Beulah, twenty-six miles its members of the doctrinal teachings of

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Alexander Campbell. Hitherto nothing had county of Armstrong, and receiving ordina- occurred to mar their peace or hinder their tion at the call of the Pine Creek Baptist Church, in Armstrong county, he was called to the pastorate of the Twolick Church in 1863, and continued to devote to its interest a part of his time until the spring of 1869. During his pastorate the church substituted tor the old log meeting-house a new and com- modious frame building in which they now worship. progress. Now angry controversy took the place of their former brotherly greetings, and hot discussions on "baptismal regeneration" and kindred matters were substituted for prayerful endeavors to promote the glory of God in the salvation of men. The pastor did all in his power to prevent the breach, and to heal it after it had taken place; but among the advocates of the new doctrine were some . Since 1869 the church has been ministered unto by Rev. Samuel Furman, Rev. C. A. Prescott, Rev. Enos Woodruff, Rev. M. L. Rowland. influential men who had hitherto been his special friends. He became weary of the strife, and removed with his family to Fay- ette county, taking with him his aged mother It numbers at this time eighty-seven mem- from scenes which deeply grieved and sad- bers. dened her heart.

In 1832, the long struggle having measura- bly subsided, the church called to the pastor- ate Rev. Thomas E. Thomas, who during his ministry of two years did much to encourage the enfeebled church and to rebuild its broken walls. The next year the church was without a settled pastor, but received occasional vis- its from several ministers from a distance, among whom were David Williams, John P. Rockefeller and William Shadrach.

In 1836 Rev. Thomas Wilson took charge of the church under the auspices of the "Bap- tist General Association for Missionary Pur- poses," and continued serving the church for three years. During his pastorate, and near its close, a new church was organized at what is now known as Decker's Point, and was called the Shiloh Baptist Church. Its constituents numbered fourteen members, all of whom had been dismissed from the Two- lick Church for that purpose.

The new house of worship is a brick From 1840 to 1850 the church .seems to veneered structure of modern design, costing have passed through a low and depressed state. No pastoral settlement is recorded, though occasional services were rendered by visiting ministers.

In 1850 Rev. Samuel Furman supplied the pulpit regularly a part of his time, and in the autumn of 1852, A. B. Runyan, a recently licensed young man, was invited to preach for the church, and he pleased them so well that in February, 1853, he was called by them to ordination, and continued to serve the church until March, 1854. The minis- ters in attendance at his ordination were Rev. Aaron Neff and Rev. Samuel Furman.

Rev. Franklin Hollen rendered pastoral service to the church in the years 1857-58, at which time A. Shadrach was licensed by the church to preach the gospel; and after doing missionary work in this and in the adjoining

The last sermon in the old church was preached in May, 1911, after which the church was torn down and a new one erected at Dixonville in its stead. The services in connection with the dedication of the new Twolick Baptist Church at Dixonville, Febru- ary 11, 1912, were impressive and enjoyed by a large audience. Rev. J. A. Maxwell of Phil- adelphia delivered the dedicatory sermon, fol- lowed in the afternoon by Revs. M. L. Row- land, of Plumville, H. F. King, of Indiana, J. E. Osgood and C. E. Parker, of Dixonville, and J. T. Davis, of Blairsville. George T. Buchanan, of Indiana, a former member of this church, made an address on the growth and influence of the congregation, which is the oldest of that denomination in the county. Rev. James McPhail, pastor of the congrega- tion, had charge of the services. At the fore- noon exercises $1,000 was pledged to free the church from debt.

$3,371. The interior is made attractive with a steel arched ceiling, and all the furniture is in keeping with the modern church edifice. The pulpit furniture was donated by Mr. Wid- dowson, the communion table by J. T. Davis, the communion chairs by H. H. Steving, the chandeliers by the pastor, and a memorial window by the family of W. L. Buchanan, of Indiana. The membership of the church is 116.

TWOLICK MISSION

On December 10, 1912, the Twolick Mission hall, built by Edmund Widdowson, was ded- icated. Then J. T. Davis organized a Sunday school and held a two weeks' meeting, during which eighteen professed their faith in Christ. Rev. James McPhail preaches here twice a month.

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

WEST LEBANON CHURCH

The West Lebanon Baptist Church was or- ganized by Revs. T. Dinsmore and J. Johnson August 7, 1847. This little church, like al- most all the Baptist Churches in this coun- try, has struggled hard, in the fact of many difficulties, to maintain its visibility. Too weak in financial resources to sustain a reg- ular ministry, it has had but scant minis- terial culture. Quite a list of devoted men is given in its history as having served it at different periods, but mostly for brief terms. Some served for a few months only, others for periods extending from one to three years. Its longest pastorate, including, however, but a fraction of the minister's time, extended to less than five years. The follow- ing named ministers have tendered more or less service to the church: T. Dinsmore, Aaron Neff, John Thomas, T. Penny, W. B. Bingham, S. Furman, M. S. Bowser, M. L. Rowland.

In 1879 Rev. M. L. Rowland served as pas- tor and the church reported a membership of only twenty-four, seven of whom had been received during that year. From that time forward this church was without regular ser- vices and the membership decreased until in 1889 only six members were reported. They disbanded during the following year and sub- sequently disposed of their property, the pro- ceeds of which are invested in such a man- ner that they shall be held sacred for the use of any Baptist organization that may make an effort to build a house of worship in that vicinity.

AMBROSE CHURCH

The Ambrose Baptist Church was organized in 1880. In 1879 a frame church building was erected at a cost of $1,200. Rev. A. B. Runyan was the first pastor and was followed by Revs. D. W. Griffith, J. T. Gallagher, J. W. Shoemaker, C. W. Teasdale, R. R. Reidel, R. B. Dunmire, John W. Cottrell and C. F. Carll, who is the present minister and gives one fourth of his time to this congregation, which has an enrollment of eighty-two mem- bers.

The deacons are: W. H. Hopkins, William T. Long, D. W. Brady, clerk, H. S. Chambers, treasurer, M. A. Wynkoop, Byron Mulberger, Samuel McMillan. Mr. Byron Mulberger is the superintendent of the Sabbath school, which has an enrollment of fifty-four and is kept open the entire year.

CHERRYTREE CHURCH

This church was built in 1873 at a cost of $1,000, and dedicated September 27, 1874, when Rev. E. Woodruff was pastor. Since this time the following pastors have served the congregation: A. Shadrach, R. L. Wil- liams, A. B. Runyan, J. T. Gallagher, R. B. Dunmire, C. E. Parker, H. W. D. Kirken- dall, W. P. Hile, C. F. Cornman, J. E. Kan- arr, F. I. Sigmund, C. F. Carll. The church was destroyed by fire in 1908, and has not been rebuilt.

BRUSHVALLEY CHURCH

.Mr. Hugh Evans, it is believed, was the first Baptist plant which took root and flour- ished in Brushvalley. After him came a fam- ily by the name of Stephens. Branches of both of these families still remain in the val- ley, and maintain the principles which they received from the fathers.

As far back as 1824 (possibly earlier) pi- oneer preachers from Beulah and Ebens- burg, in Cambria county, made occasional visits to the valley, and preached in the house or barn of Hugh Evans, or under the shade of trees as circumstances permitted. Among these pioneers the following named ministers are still remembered with grateful affection : Revs. Thomas Williams, Benjamin Davis, John Thomas, Thomas E. Thomas, Festus Tibbott. All these, except Benjamin Davis, are gone to their rest.

The Brushvalley Church was not organized until the year 1839. Occasional preaching, however, continued from the first to be en- joyed by the people. In September of the year last named Revs. Samuel Conrad and John P. Rockefeller were called for consulta- tion, and after seeking divine counsel and guidance concluded to organize the little com- pany into a regular church. Its constituents numbered sixteen members. Since its or- ganization it has baptized into its fellowship many converts. Its present membership is twenty-nine. The church has suffered much of late by the removal by death of its most substantial supporters.

The ministers named below have served the church : Revs. Samuel Conrad, Aaron Neff, Thomas Wilson, Samuel C. Morris, John W. Evans, Joseph R. Morris, Franklin Hollen, A. Shadrach, W. P. England, C. H. Prescott, G. W. Baker, A. B. Runyan, M. L. Rowland, T. M. Evans, R. B. Dunmire, C. W. Rockwell,

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HISTORY OF INDIANA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Elias Rowland and J. T. Davis, who gives ent of the Sabbath school is Alex. Shields. one fourth of his time as stated supply.

The trustees are: Andrew Dick, Charles Swearingen, Harry T. Ross; the deacons are : Elias Rowland, William Swearingen, Harry T. Ross, Andrew Dick; treasurer, Harvey C. Rowland; clerk, Mrs. Chester Rhyme. Mrs. Alice Rowland is the superintendent of the Sabbath school, which is kept open the entire year, with an enrollment of twenty-three mem- bers.

HOMER CITY CHURCH

This church was built in 1894, when Rev. A. B. Runyan was pastor. The approximate cost of the building was $1,800, and it is a good substantial frame church. The following have served as pastors of the church: Revs. A. B. Runyan, R. B. Dunmire, H. H. Leamy, C. W. Sheriff, C. W. Rockwell, A. B. Runyan, R. L. Williams, A. J. Furman, A. B. Whitby and Rev. R. B. Dunmire, who is the present pastor and gives all his time to this congre- gation and that of Blairsville.

The deacons are William Phillips and Peter Stahl; treasurer, Charles E. Shugarts; clerk, Miss Lela Furman. The membership of the church at present is thirty-two. Mrs. Lydia A. Neal is the superintendent of the Sabbath school, which is kept open the entire year and has an enrollment of sixty-two.

GLEN CAMPBELL CHURCH

The church occupied by this congregation- was built by the Disciples and was purchased by the Baptist congregation in 1903, for $1,000.

Rev. A. J. Furman, then pastor of the Bap- tist Church of Indiana, Pa., being granted a vacation held a series of meetings in the Christian Church in August, 1902, and was assisted in these meetings by Rev. E. E. Hall, then pastor of the East Mahoning Baptist church. This led up to the purchase of the building and an organization of the Baptist Church in Glen Campbell, Pa. The pastors since that time have been : Revs. E. E. Hall, Houck, C. F. Carll, J. A. Klucker. The church has no pastor at present, but has an occasional supply sent in by Rev. J. T. Davis, home missionary of Blairsville, Pennsylva- nia.

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Indiana County, Pennsylvania, her people, past and present, Volume I, Part 58

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