USA > Pennsylvania > The Historical journal : a quarterly record of local history and genealogy devoted principally to Northwestern Pennsylvania > Part 4
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On the 7th day of January, 1862, he married Mrs. Diana L. Prindle, widow, with three children, one dying one year after mar- riage ; the others. Martha, wife of Edward W. Maybee, and Page, both looked to him as a father. To Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore were born seven children, five of them being boys and two girls. Four of the boys died in infancy, John G., aged 21 years, a student at law in the office of Hall & McCauley, in Ridgway, being the sur- vivor. The girls are both living, the oldest, Kittie A., is the wife of the Deputy Prothonotary of Elk County, H. C. Kime, and Essie, a girl of fourteen summers, resides at home.
In 1872 he built a fine residence on Centre Street in Ridgway, which he still owned at the time of his death. In 1878 he moved to Eagle Valley Mills, owned by J. S. Hyde, where he still resided when the solemn summons came to " give an account of his steward- ship, that he could no longer be steward."
In 1866 Mr. Whitmore was chosen Justice of the Peace of Ridg- way, for the term of five years, which position he filled with his usual candor and sense of right between man and man.
In 1871 he was appointed Associate Judge by Governor Geary, to fill the vacancy caused by the removal from the county of Judge Schultz.
In 1876 he was again appointed to the Judgeship, and that time by Governor Hartranft, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of J. V. Houk.
In addition to these important official positions, he served at times as director of schools, township treasurer, municipal clerk, township auditor, and in other capacities. His services were always sought for. As an official he leaves an unsullied record.
Few men, if any, in Elk County were more robust or hardy than Judge Whitmore. He knew little of sickness, and it was not until the spring of 1886 that he thought it worth while to pay at- tention to his own ailments. At that time he came to the con- clusion that he was troubled with piles, and for this disease he was treated at home. Getting little relief, he sought the skill of specialists in Bradford, York, and other places, but only temporary relief was obtained ; in fact, in spite of all efforts, the disease was gaining on him. About this time his home physicians decided that his malady was a cancerous affection of the bowels, and advised
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that he be taken to Dr. Samuel Gross for examination. This was done in December last, and Dr. Gross at once confirmed the opinion of the local physicians, and that to cure him was impos- sible. What he had already suffered no pen can describe. He had borne it all, however, with a patient mind, but all the time had been buoyed up by the hope that he would finally regain his health. When told that there was no help for him, he was greatly surprised, but with a wonderful firmness, he watched the star of hope as it sank below the horizon to rise no more. He returned to die, and to him the death angel came as a welcome messenger at 45 minutes past 12 o'clock, on Wednesday, March 23, 1887. A little after the noon of his life his sun set, for he was only in his 55th year. For sixteen days he had taken no nourishment what- ever, except two glasses of milk punch. He was cheerful. very cheerful, to the last, frequently calling his friends around him to say a friendly parting word.
He made a full preparation for his departure, making disposition of his property, advising his family in regard to their future, and left several requests with reference to his burial. He died in the faith that Christ was his Saviour, and that " when this house of his earthly tabernacle were dissolved, he had a building of God. a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens." He and his wife were members of the Congregational Church, having united with that organization on confession of faith. in 1882.
The funeral services were held on Friday afternoon, March 25th, and were attended by throngs of people. It was the largest week day funeral probably ever witnessed in Ridgway. At about 1 P. M. about seventy Free Masons gathered in their Lodge room at the head of Main Street, and with impressive ceremony paid trib- utes .of respect to the deceased brother, who had been called home by the Grand Master of the Universe.
After these ceremonies the Masons in white gloves, blue ribbons and bearing evergreen twigs, marched to the residence of the de- ceased, where a short service was held by the Rev. Mr. Bostwick. of the Congregational Church. From the residence all went to church, where a very earnest sermon was preached from the favorite chapter of the deceased, viz., the 14th chapter of St. John. The pulpit was laden with emblematic plants, and on the
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beautiful casket were two floral offerings, the one from the family -a pillow resting on an casel, and on the pillow was the word "Father;" the other was from the Elk Lodge, No. 379, F. & A. M., and consisted of a large cross with compass and square at the base. These designs were elegantly wrought in appropriate flowers. In Pine Grove Cemetery the Masonic fraternity closed the exercises, by most impressive rites committing the body to the dust, and soul to God, the great Master Builder of the Universe.
"To die is landing on some silent shore, Where billows never break nor tempests roar ; Ere well we feel the friendly stroke, 'tis o'er."
REV. JOHN BRYSON.
BY REV. JOHN PARIS HUDSON.
M R. BRYSON possessed a mind formed for profound and ac- curate investigation. He studied the Greek and Latin classics with great care, and always insisted upon a knowledge of classical literature as the basis of a liberal education. He was very fond of teaching, and soon after his settlement at Warrior Run received young men into his family under private instruction. One of these, Rev. John Hutchison, the honored pastor of Mifflin- town Presbyterian Church, he prepared to enter Dickinson College. In 1802, as nearly as can be ascertained, he opened a classical school, which he continued for some years. The young men who entered his family and were taught by him went forth to usefulness. and some indeed to distinction. Among his earlier pupils were Rev. A. K. Russel, of Newark, Delaware, whom he prepared to enter Washington College, Pa .. and Rev. William S. Reid. D. D .. of Lynchburg, Va., whom he prepared to enter Hampden Sidney College, Va. In 1817 he again resumed his school, which he taught successfully for several years. He numbered among his pupils, Rev. John Graham, D. D., Ohio; James McCormick. Esq .. Harrisburg, ( whom he prepared for Yale College) ; Robert Bry- son, Harrisburg: Hon. John G. Montgomery, Danville: William Gallaher, M. D., Philadelphia; Fleming Montgomery, M. D .. and Hugh Montgomery, M. D., Muncy ; David Hunter, M. D .: his eldest
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son, John M. Bryson, and in later years his youngest son, Rev. Robert Bryson. His pupils were strongly attached to him, and felt themselves throughout life indebted to him for the direction of their studies, and the moulding of their character.
Soon after his settlement at Warrior Run, on application of the Presbyterians of Danville, he preached every third or fourth Sal- bath in that town. But his congregations becoming dissatisfied after a time, he withdrew, and preached occasionally at Danville until they secured a pastor. This kindness of Mr. Bryson was fol- lowed with happy results. The Presbyterians of Danville were prepared and strengthened for settling a minister, and through the influence and exertions of Mr. Bryson, Rev. John B. Patterson was called by them, and long and successfully served as pastor of Mahoning Church, Danville.
As the boundaries of the congregations of Warrior Run and Chillisquaque met and overlapped each other at Milton, Mr. Bry- son, after he ceased preaching regularly at Danville, made Milton one of his outposts, where he statedly preached on every alternate Sabbath. After preaching twice at Chillisquaque. his custom was to go to Milton and hold a third service, thus accommodating his members who were not able to attend their respective places of worship in the morning. He continued to preach statedly at Milton until December, 1811, a period of eighteen years, when from the increase of population it became necessary to organize a congregation. He was succeeded at Milton by Rev. Thomas Hood in October, 1812. Mr. Bryson was a man of untiring energy. through the grace of God, a laborious and zealous minister of the glorious Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In the earlier years of his pastorate, when he was the only minister of the Presbyterian Church in the forks of the Susquehanna, in addition to his regular services, he often preached on week days at different points in Columbia County, and different places on the West Branch. Under his long and faithful ministry of the Word. his regular annual family visitations, catechising the children and . youth, attending prayer meetings, &c., his charge was favored re- peatedly with times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.
His ministry covered a period the most remarkable in the history of the American Church, a period of wonderful develop-
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ment in Christian thought and energy, and prolific in societies and agencies for the good of men and the advancement of Christ's King- dom ; societies for the promotion of missions at home and abroad, of temperance, of education, of Sabbath school instruction, of tract and Bible societies and the Colonization Society. Mr. Bry- son, in advance of many of the ministers of his day, threw himself with ardor and enthusiasm into these movements. Weekly prayer meetings were established at different points in his congregations, which were well attended. At different periods they were sus- tained by the young men of the congregations preparing for the Gospel ministry. A ladies' prayer meeting was also established in Warrior Run congregation. He was deeply interested in the organization of Bible societies, and was appointed by the Presby- tery of Northumberland chairman of a committee for the forma- tion of the Susquehanna Bible Society at Milton, on the first Wednesday of October, 1816. He attended and frequently addressed the annual meetings of this society. At Milton, October 21, 1818, he delivered an address before the society on Psalm 138-2d verse. Sabbath schools were organized in these churches at a time when this new departure in Bible instruc- tions was looked upon by some with distrust and suspicion, but they ever found an ardent advocate in the pastor. The cause of missions from the first had a deep hold upon his affections. When the Presbytery of Northumberland resolved, on October 9, 1818, to organize as a missionary society, auxiliary to the United Foreign Missionary Society of New York, he was appointed chair- man of a committee to prepare and publish an address to the churches of the Presbytery. At the first meeting of this Presbyter- ial Society, held in Milton, October 21, 1818, he was elected presi- dent. His efforts were blessed of God in arousing an interest in the cause of missions among the people of his charge, and Ladies' Mis- sionary Societies were organized at an early date. At Warrior Run the Female Foreign Missionary Society, in connection with the Ameri- can Board, was organized in 1818, and the Female Missionary So- ciety of Chillisquaque June 13, 1820, auxiliary to the Northumber- land Presbyterial Society. These societies are still in active exist- ence, and during all these long years have been laboring with zeal in the cause so dear to the heart of Christian love, and have been
Coda
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a power for good in the churches. The Chillisquaque Bible Society was organized May, 1827, and the Warrior Run Bible Society, it is supposed, at an earlier date. Mr. Bryson was constituted a life member of the "United Foreign Missionary Society," at New York, in 1825, by the ladies of Warrior Run and Chillisquaque, and of the " Board of Foreign Missions" of the Presbyterian Church soon after its organization, by Mrs. William Sanderson, of Milton. John Bryson and Hannah Painter, two native converts of the early ministry of Rev. Richard Armstrong, D. D., in the Sandwich Islands, were educated by the Warrior Run Missionary Society. The former was named for the missionary's pastor and the latter for the wife of Rev. Joseph Painter, D. D. They both became useful Christians in after years. The churches of Warrior Run and Chillisquaque were the largest in the Presbytery of Nor- thumberland until the close of Mr. Bryson's pastorate. number- ing 500 members. It is to be regretted that he left no complete records of his marriages and baptisms, as he doubtless performed more marriage ceremonies than any other minister of his day on the West Branch.
In the last seventeen years of his pastorate, commencing with 1825, he baptized 903 infants and adults. The largest number in any one of these years was in 1825, when he baptized 155 infants and adults. Within the territorial boundaries of his original charge are now the churches of Warrior Run, Chillisquaque, Milton, Washington, Muncy, Moorsburg, MeEwensville and Watsontown.
The congregation of McEwensville was organized May 3, 1842, by members of Warrior Run Church, and three decades later the congregation of Watsontown was organized by members of Mc- Ewensville and Warrior Run churches .* The following ministers were raised up in the churches of Warrior Run and Chillisquaque during Mr. Bryson's pastorate, and went forth to preach the glorious
* The original elders of the congregation of Chillisquaque were: James Sheddan, James MeNight, and David Irland. Of Warrior Run, James McAfee, Robert Smith and John Woods. April 5, 1808, the session of Chillisquaque was composed of the following members: Mr. David Irland, James McNight, John Chestnut, William Murray, William Shaw, James Sheddan and Paul Geddes. Warrior Run, the same date: Mr. James McAfec, Robert Smith, John Woods, Henry Graham, John Mckinney and William Pollock. Additions were made to
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Gospel of their Lord and Master: Rev. A. K. Russel, Newark, Del. ; Rev. John Graham, D. D., Ohio; Rev. Richard Armstrong, D. D., so largely instrumental in the conversion of the Sandwich Islands ; Rev. Daniel Gaston, D. D., First Church, Cohocksink, Philadelphia; Rev. Robert Bryson, Bloomsburg; Rev. S. S. Shed- dan, D. D., First Church, Rahway, N. J., and Rev. Andrew Barr. From 1831 (April) until March, 1834, Rev. Joseph Painter, D. D., late of Kittanning, assisted the pastor in the Warrior Run Church. Rev. David Hull succeeded him as an assistant for a short time, who was followed by the Rev. S. S. Sheddan, D. D., in 1839, as co-pastor. Two services, with an intermission of an hour, were held in these churches on the Sabbath until the close of Mr. Bryson's pastorate. During the interval the congregation, in pleasant weather, repaired to the spring. Men, women and children gathered in groups, at their lunch, under the wide spreading trees, and chatted pleasantly until summoned to the second service. The communion service was observed with deep solemnity. Special blessings were invoked in connection with it, around the family altar, and in public meetings for prayer. It consisted of a four days' meeting. commencing on Friday and closing on Monday noon. As late as 1832 tokens were distributed by the elders on Saturday to intending communicants. At War- rior Run, with the dawning of "Communion Sabbath." the whole community was astir for miles around, and before the hours of service arrived the church would be filled to its utmost capacity, while on some occasions a congregation as large would be as- sembled in the grove, to whom a sermon would be preached by one of the assisting ministers. The pastor invariably preached the "Action Sermon" himself. " The members at a distance made it a point to be always present at these services, and were sure of a kind welcome and hospitable entertainment at the pastor's home. The long tables extending across the width of the church, and
these sessions at different times during Mr. Bryson's pastorate. Succeeding these venerable fathers in later years, were the following elders: Chillisquaque, James Moodie, John Murray, John Irland, William Sheddan, James McMahan. Robert Simington, James Durham, Richard Wilson and James F. Murray. Warrior Run, June 21, 1810: Samuel Barr, Daniel Vincent, Esq., David Watson, Samuel Rus- sel. Later, Jacob Kher, P. Kerr Russel, Esq., Isaac Vincent, John McKinney, Jr., Joseph Hayes.
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down the centre aisle, were covered with linen, pure and white. On the table below the singers' desk were the vessels containing the elements of the divinely appointed feast. The air seemed filled with a peculiar sacredness, as those in covenant with God arose and came forward to the tables, singing the songs of Zion as they came. At the services on the Monday following the observ- ance of the Lord's Supper, the rite of baptism was administered to the children. Rev. S. S. Sheddan, D. D., whose father was one of Mr. Bryson's elders in the Chillisquaque Church, in his reminis- cences, " The Church of my Boyhood," writes :
"Even now I seem to see again Father Bryson as he came from the study. house on a Sabbath morning. Mark a gentleman of the old school, as he stops and speaks to that band of Scotch elders, who rise from that bench to welcome his coming. He neither uncovers his gray locks, nor touches his hat ; but there is something in that peculiar bend, and the movement of his head, that no modern manners can surpass. Now I see his deferential bow, and I hear the very intonation with which he said, 'I thank you, madam,' as he answered to the elder's wife's inquiries for his health. As a preacher he was sound and repeated Scripture so impressively that even now I seem to hear the very tones, and stress of voice saying, 'Yea and I count all things but loss, for the excellence of the knowledge, de.' Once more I hear, and see the things that were in days gone by. The punctual fathers are in their seats, their children are with them. How familiar that invocation and that morning Psalm, and the 'clarks' cry ' Williamstown,' that pitch, and then the whole house vocal with the strains. That long praver I remember well; but let me stand and hear it through. Romans viii. 1. Precious text ! rich gospel sermon ! How those old-fashioned Christians love it, and how their memories retain the refreshing truth. On com- munion Sabbath, the pravers, the reading, the tunes, the singing all seemed to know that it was the holy sacrament. No matter who was there the pastor always fenced the tables."
"I recall and relive those scenes, and hear him say again, 'Go thou from these tables and give place to others;' and again I hear those coming, and those going, with such zest mingling their sacred song to the tune of 'Mear or Coleshill.' There are many records belonging to the old church, which are only in heaven's keeping. With these good fathers, with many of their children, we hope again to worship, and join in the new song. It is a sad thought, that some who were baptized by the same hand, and heard of the same dying love, whose names are on Father Bryson's long record of baptisms, may not be found in the records of life, or with those whom on 'that day' our pastor will bring with him."
The influence of these two churches has extended far and wide. From them praver laden offerings have been wafted to the islands of the sea. Their sons and daughters have been scattered all over the land. They and their descendants may be found to-day in
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perhaps all the states of this Union, going to form other centres of usefulness and found other churches.
Mr. Bryson was very systematic and methodical in all his habits. He was eminently gifted in prayer, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, with a heart overflowing with love to the Master, and His sheep of every fold. He left a large number of sermons written in a neat fine hand, and carefully dated, some as far back as 1789 and 1790. His prayer meeting. communion, and funeral addresses were very carefully written out, and in some instances his baptismal and marriage services. His sermons are replete with apposite quotations from the sacred Scriptures. He was a mighty textuary, and habitually ready to quote largely and accurately from the Divine Word. One might suppose that he had the whole Bible committed to memory.
He resigned the charge of the Chillisquaque Church at the meet- ing of Presbytery, at Danville, October 1, 1839, after a ministry of fifty years. and at Williamsport, October 5, 1841, he resigned the pastoral charge of Warrior Run, after a ministry of fifty-two years. Mrs. Bryson, who was greatly beloved for her many social virtues, and who shared her husband's interests in all that concerned Christ's Kingdom, died on July 5, 1845. He preached but oc- casionally after the resignation of his pastoral charges; having been permitted to fulfil a long and useful ministry, he died embalmed in the memory of three generations. With a spirit chastened by mani- fold afflictions. he was peculiarly fitted to pour the oil of con- solation into the wounded and contrite heart. In private life the graces of the Christian character shone with delightful lustre. An affectionate husband, a tender parent, a kind and benevolent neighbor, his car was ever open to the cry of distress, and his hand ready to relieve the wants of the necessitous with exemplary liberality. At length. as the gracious Master was leading his aged disciple, his beloved and honored saint. to the last trying ex- perience on carth. the venerable minister essayed to gird up the loins of his mind, and gave among others the following testimony, when the time drew near that he must die :
" In closing my earthly pilgrimage, I leave the world under the firm cor- viction, that the doctrines of grace, as set forth in the standards of our church, and which, as God has given me grace, I have endeavored to preach, are the pure doctrines of the Gospel ; and in full and steadfast belief of their truth, especially
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of that great and cheering truth they prominently set forth, of the imputation of a Saviour's righteousness received by faith alone, I enter the world of spirits, and confidently commit my spirit to my merciful Redeemer and Judge, trusting that his righteousness is mine through faith, which is by the operation of the Spirit."
During some days previous to his decease, his sufferings were severe ; but as dissolution drew near, these sufferings ceased.
"Sure the last end of the good man is peace, Night dews fall not more gently to the ground, Nor weary worn-out winds expire so soft."
Early on the morning of the third day of August, 1855, when the "glory of the Lord came to him from the East," at his residence at Warrior Run, Northumberland County, Pa., the spirit of Father Bryson returned unto God who gave it, and the voice of Him, who sat upon the throne, gave him the . Welcome Home. Beloved.", In the month of the previous January he had entered on the 98th year of his age, and at the time of his death he was the oldest minister of the Presbyterian Church in the United States! It was on the morning of the holy Sabbath that the families of Warrior Run, Chillisquaque, Milton, Muncy. Mc- Ewensville, Washington and other congregations, filled the house, and gathered around the earthly home in which the beloved old minister had so long sojourned, where the funeral services were participated in by Rev. M. B. Patterson, Rev. D. M. Barber, and Rev. E. D. Yeomans, D. D. Then in long and quiet proces- sion, they went to the church in McEwensville, there to hear a funeral discourse delivered by Rev. James Clark, D. D., of Phila- delphia, from Psalm xvi. 15. " Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." The body was laid in the congregational cemetery near the village, and the spirit of Pastor Bryson is, .we trust with the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. "They that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for- ever and ever."
Of the seven children of Mr. Bryson four survived him; two danghters, Esther and Sarah, died in early life. The eldest daughter, Christiana, was educated at the Moravian Seminary at Lititz, Pa. She married Samuel T. Burrows (son of General John Burrows), and died at Muncy, November, 1865. Jane M. Bryson, who was graduated at Mrs. Bazeley's Seminary in Phila- delphia ( then a celebrated school for young ladies ), was a lady of
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cultivated tastes, and lovely Christian character. She died July 30, 1875, at the residence of her brother-in-law, Rev. J. P. Hudson, at Williamsport, of whose family she had been a member for fifteen years previous to her death. John M. Bryson, the eldest son and only surviving member of the family, pursued a course of classical instruction under his father, which he afterward continued in the " Old Milton Academy," under the celebrated Rev. David Kirk- patrick, D. D. After being engaged in the mercantile business. he remained for many years at the old homestead. Rev. Robert Bry- son, the youngest son, began his classical studies under his father's instruction, commencing the Latin Grammar at the age of seven years. He entered the Milton Academy and remained three years under Dr. Kirkpatrick's instruction, until he was prepared to enter Dickinson College, Carlisle, October, 1825, of which institution he was a graduate, October, 1828, and also of Princeton Theological Seminary. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Northumber- land, April 20, 1831, and labored for one year, by appointment of Presbytery, six months in Williamsport and Muney, and six months in Western New York. He was then invited to take charge of the congregation of Bloomsburg, with a view to accept a call as pastor. He was ordained at Warrior Run, October 3, 1832, and died with fever at the residence of his father, on the 20th of the same month, thus closing a life of brilliant promise at the early age of 23 years. In the words of his biographer. " he was a burning and shining light, whose labors were greatly blessed during his short ministry, and his death was a most triumphant one." Hettie, the youngest daughter, completed her education at the Milton Academy under Dr. Kirkpatrick, and at Mrs. Plum's Young Ladies' Seminary in Northumberland. She was united in marriage with the Rev. John Paris Hudson, then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Williamsport, and removed with her husband to another field of labor three years after her marriage. returning to Williamsport in 1870, where she died February 25, 1876. With praise on her lips and praise in her heart, she went to join the spirits of the just made perfect and the great assembly of the redeemed. who praise the Lord forever more.
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