USA > Pennsylvania > Huntingdon County > Huntingdon > The Historical memorial of the centennial anniversary of the Presbytery of Huntingdon : held in Huntingdon, Pa., April 9, 1895 : 1795-1895 > Part 15
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The Session consisted at this time, as far as we can ascertain, of John Cooper, Elijah Criswell, Matthew Taylor, and William Henry. The
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
Records of Session prior to 1830 were destroyed in the burning of a house.
The second pastor was Rev. Samuel Hill, a native of Ireland, a grad- uate of the University of Glasgow, and a licentiate of the Presbytery of Route. He was ordained and installed pastor of East Kishacoquillas and Little Valley October 3, 1821, having supplied them over a year previously, until his probation as a foreign minister, required by the General Assembly, had expired. He resigned on February 8, 1825, to accept a call to an Associate Reformed Church in Pittsburg, the con- gregations reluctantly consenting. Large additions are said to have been made to the membership of the church during his ministry.
The third pastor was Rev. James H. Stuart, of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, who was installed pastor of this church and West Kisha- coquillas October 26, 1827. " His coming among them was the means of uniting them in feeling, and healing some unhappy divisions which had existed among them." He died April 27, 1829, in the midst of his labors, and was buried in the church cemetery.
The fourth pastor was Rev. James Nourse, of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, who was installed pastor of this church alone June 8, 1831, having supplied it during the winter previous. The Session at this time consisted of the following members : Robert Cooper, John Beatty, Henry Taylor, Joseph Kyle, Hugh Alexander, Thomas Reed, William Barr, and Robert Milliken. Mr. Nouse resigned in April, 1834.
The fifth pastor was Rev. Joshua Moore, who was installed June 17, 1835, and continued pastor until his death, April 15, 1854. He was a faithful pastor, distinguished for his eminent piety. His religion was a living principle, a constant habit of soul, impressing all who came in contact with him. He was for a number of years the stated clerk of the Presbytery. He died sincerely lamented by his brethren of the Presbytery and the people of his charge. He was the father of Rev. S. M. Moore, D.D.
The sixth pastor was Rev. Nathan Shotwell, from the Presbytery of Washington, Pennsylvania, who was installed June 12, 1855, and resigned in October, 1857.
From December, 1857, to April, 1858, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. George W. Robertson.
The seventh pastor was Rev. George Elliott, who was installed No- vember 9, 1858, and continued pastor until October, 1868, when he re- signed. He enjoyed in a high degree the confidence and affection of
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
the congregation, and amid their deep regrets ceased to labor among them.
The eighth and present pastor, Rev. Andrew H. Parker, a licentiate of the Presbytery, was ordained and installed pastor at an adjourned meeting of the Presbytery in the East Kishacoquillas Church, December 7, 1869, having supplied the pulpit from June previous. The Session at this time consisted of Henry L. Close, Charles Naginey, and Crawford Kyle. The present Session consists of John D. Barr, James R. Beatty, Francis A. Means, Robert A. Naginey, William B. Kyle, and Henry T. Reed.
The twenty-fifth anniversary of this pastorate was kindly celebrated by the congregation, June 14, 1894, with appropriate services in the church, in which Revs. Wilson, Elliott, R. M. Campbell, Kelly, Mathers, Wallace, Mateer, and Bergen, and Elders Barr, Naginey, and Woods participated, followed by a banquet in the town-hall. The pastor was presented by the congregation with a handsome silver water set, of beau- tiful design with suitable inscription.
The first church erected by this congregation, called "The Meeting- House," was a rough log building, one story high, without any plaster- ing, without any floor, and without any fireplace or provision made for heating. It had windows on each side of the door, on the opposite side, and, perhaps, at each end, but the lights were small and few in number. The seats were slab benches, made of split logs, without backs. The coldest season of the year the minister had to preach, and the people came to hear him with their overcoats buttoned up to their chins; and seldom were the sermons less than an hour and a half, and often much longer. At what precise time this building was erected it is impossible to tell. Those who worshipped within its walls have long ago disap- peared, and with them the memory of it; and the interesting incidents, which were doubtless associated with its history, have well-nigh perished. It was situated a little west of where the old stone church stood. To it, in its earlier history, at least a part of the congregation found it neces- sary to carry their firearms for the sake of protection and to guard against surprise from the Indians.
The second church building, the " Old Stone Church," large, commo- dious, and comparing so favorably with any erected in the surrounding country, was erected in the year 1808. It is well remembered by many with its large congregations, its two long services with intermission, and its boundaries stretching many miles in every direction.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
" Its pews of obdurate pine, straight-backed and tall ; Its gallery, mounted high, three sides around ; Its pulpit, goblet-formed, half up the wall, The sounding-board above, with acorn crowned, And Rouse's Psalms, that erst therein did sound To old fugue tunes, to some the thoughts might raise
Of folks antique that certes there were found. Ah, no! I wote in those enchanting days,
There beauty beamed, there swelled the richest notes of praise."
The congregation worshipped in this building for fifty years. Near to it stood a small frame building called "The Study House." It was furnished within with a stove, stand, and a few benches and chairs. To it the minister might resort to prepare for the afternoon services. The Session also met here to discuss and arrange the business of the church, and to examine candidates for admission to membership.
The third building was the " Brick Church," dedicated June 15, 1858. The Rev. G. W. Thompson, D.D., of Lower Tuscarora, preached the dedicatory sermon, and the Rev. George Elliott led the congregation in the dedicatory prayer; Revs. Dr. Woods, John Elliott, and J. W. White being present and taking part in the services. In this church the con- gregation regularly assembled for divine services during a period of thirty-five years. "Church Hill," on which these three churches were erected, is a spot consecrated by many precious memories, where the congregations worshipped during one hundred and ten years.
The fourth building is the present Stone Church in Reedsville, the corner-stone of which was laid with appropriate services July 23, 1892. It was dedicated September 28, 1893, Rev. J. C. Kelly preaching the dedicatory sermon from Genesis xxviii. 17; the pastor giving a brief sketch of the history of the church, and offering the dedicatory prayer ; and Revs. R. F. Wilson, R. M. Wallace, D.D., E. H. Mateer, W. H. Decker, D. W. Woods, and Ex-Governor James A. Beaver being present and participating in the services. The church is situated upon a slight eminence, commanding a delightful view of the surrounding country east and west, where its fine exterior is visible to every passer-by. It is of handsome brown-stone, from the Walton Quarries at Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, trimmed with white limestone from the State of Indiana. It is built in a very attractive style of Gothic architecture, and has a frontage of ninety-three by sixty-one feet. The interior of the church is worthy of the beautiful exterior. The cost of the building and. fur-
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
nishing was twenty-three thousand dollars, all of which was subscribed and paid some time before the day of dedication.
The Sabbath-school of the church was organized about the year 1832. It is well attended, and has at present two hundred members. The Ladies' Foreign Missionary Society was organized April 15, 1882, with twenty-four members. Since 1884 it has contributed to home mis- sions also. Its present membership is forty-two. The meetings are interesting and well attended. The Children's Mission Band was or- ganized February 27, 1892, with twenty-seven members. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized June 20, 1893, with twenty-six charter members. Its present membership is sixty-seven, fifty-two of which are active and fifteen associate members. Twenty of the associate members united with the church during the past year. Their meetings every Sabbath evening are well attended, and increased zeal and a deeper spiritual warmth are manifest.
Among the children of the church who have gone out from it into the ministry are Rev. John Fleming, missionary to the Creek Indians, and an earnest, faithful laborer in the home mission field for over fifty years; Rev. William Reed, missionary to India in 1833; Rev. Matthew B. Hope, M.D., D.D., missionary at Singapore, Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Education, and Professor of Belles Lettres and Political Economy in the College of New Jersey ; and Rev. Samuel M. Cooper, pastor of Lick Run Church, and for some years stated supply at Clear- field, Little Valley, etc.
The sketch of the East Kishacoquillas Church would be incomplete without a brief notice of the old graveyard adjoining the site of the churches on the hill. Here sleep those who first settled among the hills which surround us on every side, the stroke of whose axe first broke the stillness of the forest, the ancestors of many in the community. Here lie three of the pastors of the congregation, and all around them rest the remains of persons who listened for many long years to their earnest, instructive teachings. Tradition says that the first funeral was that of a child; that the burial was interrupted by an alarm of Indians ; that the settlers hastened to defend their homes, leaving one of their number to fill up the grave. Sacred spot, crowned with growing cedars as if to represent the unfading remembrance of the departed in the hearts of those who survive.
ANDREW H. PARKER.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
EVERETT.
A FEW Presbyterian families seem to have been among the first settlers in and about Everett, or Bloody Run, as the village was then called. Rev. John McElheny and others preached to them occasionally, first in Mr. Samuel Tate's barn, then in the old Union Church (long since gone), and afterwards in the school-house.
About the year 1842 Mr. Samuel Tate deeded to the Presbyterian and Lutheran congregations a lot of ground, on which they at once built a house of worship. Lutheran and Reformed ministers preached in this, but the meagre records of the church say nothing of a Presbyterian minister filling the pulpit till about the year 1866, when Rev. A. V. C. Schenck, of the Bedford Church, began to preach at intervals of perhaps three weeks.
In the year 1868 Rev. R. F. Wilson, another pastor of the Bedford Church, began to preach in Everett on alternate Sabbaths. On the 5th of May, 1874, an organization was effected by a committee of the Pres- bytery of Huntingdon, the number of members in the new organization being twenty. The church continued to form a pastoral charge in con- nection with the Bedford Church till the year 1884. Rev. R. F. Wilson continued to serve the church as stated supply until 1878. He was followed by Rev. John R. Henderson, 1878-1881, and he by Herbert D. Cone, 1882-1883.
In 1884 the church's connection with Bedford was severed, and Rev. D. W. Hutchison was installed pastor. He remained in this relation for about one year. The pulpit was supplied with more or less regularity by Presbytery till December 6, 1887, when Rev. W. H. Schuyler, Ph.D., was installed pastor for one-half his time, and continues in that relation to the present time (1895).
The church's growth has been slow, due chiefly to the fact that it is in a region well occupied by other denominations, to which the people, by birth and education, are more inclined; yet the little company of Presbyterians were early on the ground, and, feeling that they can better serve the Master in the church of their choice, they are zealous to main- tain their own organization. Present membership forty-seven.
W. H. SCHUYLER.
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
FRUIT HILL.
THE few people who lived in these parts of Clearfield County while as yet a dense forest of fine timber no doubt enjoyed occasionally the preaching of the gospel previous to 1835. But in the summer of that year Revs. David McKinney and Samuel Wilson, of honored and pre- cious memory, at their own suggestion and by appointment of Presbytery, labored most successfully among them for four weeks or more, preaching in barns and private dwellings as opportunity and convenience afforded.
From that time on the people in the vicinity of Fruit Hill held their meetings and Sabbath-school in a log barn belonging to Mr. James McNeel, Sr., he being superintendent of the latter.
In the spring of 1839 application was made to Presbytery for a church organization, which was granted. Thus Fruit Hill Church was organized in the above log barn, with thirty members, on August 23, 1839, by Rev. Hill and Elder John Owen as a committee from Huntingdon Presbytery.
Here this little band of Christian pioneers still worshipped and enjoyed the preaching of the word as Presbytery could supply them. But steps were taken meanwhile towards building a church, located where the cemetery now is, and it was completed by the fall of 1841, having cost the members only fifteen dollars in money.
During the period of seventeen years up to 1856 the church had been served with preaching in connection with Mount Pleasant Church and other appointments for one-fourth or one-third or one-half time, as it happened; but on October 6, 1856, at a congregational meeting, they decided to go alone, subject to Presbytery, and support a man for his full time. This step was one of the most memorable events in the history of the church. That man of God, Rev. George W. Thompson, D.D., was present, had been preaching and holding communion for them, and by his eloquence and power and persuasiveness he fired the heart of the people with such enthusiasm that they, then and there, raised by subscriptions eight hundred dollars for that purpose. At a subsequent meeting they fixed the minister's salary at that amount. Four years later, on March 26, 1860, they decided to build or to buy a parsonage for the minister, and raised four hundred and fifty dollars by subscriptions for it, which they applied on the purchase of property, in the village of Ansonville, nearly one and one-half miles from the church.
The next great movement was to build a new church, the old being now altogether too small for the congregation. The new church stands
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
directly opposite where the old church stood, built during the pastorate of Rev. David H. Campbell, and dedicated on May 29, 1878. Its entire cost was seven thousand four hundred dollars, sixteen hundred of which was provided for on the day of dedication. It is a large brick and stone building, with seating capacity for six hundred people, and a basement for a lecture and Sabbath-school room. It is so large owing to the fact that it was then the only church in this section of country, except a Baptist church at Ansonville and a Lutheran church at New Millport. People of all denominations would come long distances on every Sabbath day and worship in its courts.
Since 1878 other churches and chapels have been built at Madera, Glen Hope, Irvona, Berwindale, Ansonville, Gazzam, Kerrmoor, and New Millport, drawing largely on Fruit Hill, so that the attendance on Sabbath is not now, or as yet, as large as it used to be; still the church reported one hundred and ninety-four members to Presbytery, April, 1895.
Glen Hope Church was organized from Fruit Hill on February 17, 1878. Berwindale Church was built during the ministry of Rev. E. P. Foresman, and dedicated on November 19, 1893. Its entire cost was thirteen hundred and forty-eight dollars and fifty-three cents. It has elders and trustees and regular services of its own, but all connected with and a part of Fruit Hill Church.
The church has enjoyed several very precious revivals since its organization; but the two most remarkable took place, one during the ministry of Rev. William Birchfield, the other while Rev. D. H. Camp- bell was pastor. As many as five hundred and sixty-three have been received into the church, an average of more than ten for each year of its existence.
MINISTERS WHO HAVE SERVED THE CHURCH.
Name.
Year.
Rev. Frederick G. Betts Supply. 1840-1843.
Rev. William J. Murphy .
Supply and pastor. 1844-1847.
Rev. Alexander Boyd .
Supply and pastor. 1848-1852.
Rev. James J. Hamilton Supply. 1853-1855.
Rev. N. S. Conklin . Supply. 1857-1858.
Rev. Thomas Stevenson
Supply. 1859-1861.
Rev. William M. Burchfield
Pastor. 1863-1869.
Rev. N. G. Newell
Supply.
1870-1872.
Rev. John McKean (for about six months) . 1873-1874.
Rev. David H. Campbell
Pastor.
1875-1884.
Rev. William W. Woodend, D.D. (for six months' supply). 1885.
Rev. William Anderson . Supply.
1886.
Rev. Edmund P. Foresman
Pastor.
1886-1893.
Rev. Robert George Williams
Pastor.
1894.
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
ELDERS.
Name.
Installed.
John Thomson .
August 23, 1839.
Deceased.
James McNeel, Sr.
August 23, 1839.
Deceased.
Robert McCracken
August 23, 1839.
Deceased.
Robert Patterson
August 23, 1839.
Deceased.
Joseph Patterson
August 23, 1839.
Deceased.
John Thomson, Jr.
February 12, 1853.
Deceased.
Benjamin S. Roberts
February 12, 1853.
Deceased.
John Hunter, Sr.
February 12, 1853.
Deceased.
Robert Liddell .
October 9, 1855.
Deceased.
William A. Bloom
February 20, 1870.
John G. Wilson
March 6, 1870.
John Witherow .
November 15, 1874.
Robert M. Johnston .
November 15, 1874.
Reuben Caldwell
November 15, 1874.
John G. Glascow
December 10, 1882.
John M. Hunter
December 10, 1882.
Reuben J. Rex
January 20, 1883.
William Witherow
April 1, 1888.
Conrad Bloom
April 1, 1888.
Samuel H. Witherow
October 21, 1894.
John Newton McCord .
October 21, 1894.
Abraham Bloom
October 21, 1894.
Hezekiah Patterson
October 21, 1894.
R. G. WILLIAMS.
GIBSON MEMORIAL (MARTINSBURG).
THIS church was organized as "Martinsburg" Church, April 8, 1835 ; but after the death of Dr. Wm. J. Gibson, a pastor, and the erection of a new church, the name was changed to "Gibson Memorial" in 1887. The pastors and supplies in later years were those named as serving Duncansville for the most part, as the two churches were connected in the same charge. The present elders are David F. Heffly, Martin Graf- fins, and Wm. Roberts, and the membership is fifty-five.
R. F. WILSON.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
GLEN HOPE.
THIS church was enrolled by the Presbytery April 13, 1887. John G. Glasgow and Reuben J. Rex are its present elders, and its member- ship is twenty. It has only occasional services, from neighboring pastors or supplies.
R. F. WILSON.
HOLLIDAYSBURG.
As Presbyterians were among the earliest settlers of the Juniata Valley, so the Presbyterian churches were the first which were then organized. As early as 1768 the Hollidays, Adam and William, left the Conococheague, came to the Aughwick Valley, where Shirleysburg now is, and thence to the site of Hollidaysburg. There was an old path which led from Kittanning, on the Allegheny River, across the Allegheny Mountains, through the gorge now known as Kittanning Point, past Hollidaysburg, Frankstown, and Alexandria, and continued in an easterly direction till it reached Philadelphia. In those early days it was travelled by the Indian and the trader with his pack-horse, and it is said that, thus used for many years by thousands, traces of its existence are discernible at this day. It had existed prior to 1756, when Colonel John Armstrong, from Cumberland County, with his regiment of three hundred and fifty men, made his celebrated expedition to the town of Kittanning, in the county now named in his honor, to punish the Indians who had been engaged in the Juniata Valley massacres. He followed this path, and for a short period encamped in the flats forming the pres- ent site of Gaysport. Thus Hollidaysburg lay upon this path, and Adam Holliday, who was a lieutenant of one of the companies, was perhaps the first Presbyterian who set foot upon the territory forming the bounds of this church. In 1768, with his brother William, he returned and located warrants for a large body of land at this place and commenced a settlement. He was followed by others, principally Scotch-Irish immi- grants, and thus at that early day the Presbyterian element became the dominant one. The frequent invasion of their settlements by the Indians, who contested, step by step, the approach of civilization into their wilds, resulted in a destruction of property and loss of life that would have
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
disheartened any others than those hardy pioneers, who with their courage, their faith, and their Bibles withstood this harassing and bloody warfare until peace brought rest and a cessation from ceaseless vigilance.
During these troublous times the public worship of God was not wanting. The first preaching of the gospel, it is said, was by Colonel Armstrong's chaplain, Rev. Charles Beatty, at or near McCahan's mill, west of Gaysport. Subsequently, Rev. Dr. King, from Mercersburg, preached at the home of William Holliday, and he was followed by Rev. Mr. McDougal, of Path Valley. These gentlemen were sent here by the Presbytery of Carlisle, which then embraced all this portion of the State. In 1784 a building of a temporary character for use in summer was erected at the spring north of Frankstown, near the home of the late Joseph Hileman, and for a number of years the colonists wor- shipped without molestation ; and thus, under the ministrations of Mc- Dougal, John Johnston, of Huntingdon, Matthew Stevens, and others, they fed their faith and received the emblems of their Saviour's sacrifice and love.
In 1788 the church was organized and a building erected for per- manent worship within the bounds of the present cemetery. Rev. David Bard, who came from Leesburg, Virginia, was the first pastor, and the church was known as the Presbyterian Church of "Frankstown," though it was changed to "Hollidaysburg" in 1845. That place (Frankstown) was settled in 1750, and was named after a German trader, Stephen Franks, and was the oldest settlement on the Juniata River. After- wards, as Hollidaysburg became the head of canal navigation and grew rapidly in population, a large brick church was built there on the site of the present church, and was used by a constantly growing congregation until 1869, when the present large and magnificent edifice was com- pleted, though it was not dedicated until December 25, 1887.
Mr. Bard continued as pastor until 1799, when he resigned. Mr. Bard for many years represented this district in Congress, and was a member at the first meeting of that body. While he was probably one of the few fitted by education for this office, it interfered with his pas- toral duties and possibly induced him to relinquish them. He was popular both as a pastor and a politician, and always manifested a true Christian zeal in his ministry.
He was one of the eleven original members of the Presbytery which was organized in April, 1795, and this church was therefore one of the eleven original churches of the Presbytery. Thomas McCune and James
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON. 161
Smith, grandfather of the late Elder Thomas Smith, were the elders of the church in 1788.
Mr. Bard's resignation in 1799 was accepted by Presbytery. On the 12th of March, 1815, while on his way home from Congress, he died at Alexandria, and his remains now lie in the cemetery of Sinking Valley, where he resided.
After his death the church was without a pastor for almost seventeen years. What were the causes which produced this result we have not found recorded, but it fell into a state of disorganization, and no pastor was, during all that time, called to fill the pulpit. In February, 1816, Rev. James Galbraith, of the Presbytery of Redstone, visited the congre- gation by invitation, and a call being presented to him, he was received as a member of the Huntingdon Presbytery and pastor of this church. One-third of his time was also given to the church at Williamsburg. He continued the pastor until the fall of 1834, when the relation was dissolved.
Mr. Galbraith, born in 1783, was the son of Robert Galbraith, Esq., a lawyer in Pittsburg, and it is said was a graduate of Jefferson College. He was ordained in 1810, and was pastor of the Mahoning Church in Indiana County until he came here.
He is remembered as a well-educated man, a great reader, a "good historian," and as possessing a remarkable memory. He was very com- panionable, and exhibited traits that made him widely known. His preaching was instructive, and he was a faithful and zealous workman. His contemporaries were men who were conspicuous in this early period of the church, such as James and John Johnston, Morrison, Bryson, Linn, Grier, Hutcheson, and others. Of these, Rev. John Hutcheson was known as the theologian of the Presbytery and Rev. Isaac Grier as having no superior in the State as a teacher of the Latin and Greek languages. He was also the father of the late Robert C. Grier, eminent as a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States.
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