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 21
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On January 1, 1800, he preached his first sermon. He was ordained and installed August 14, 1801. Middle Tuscarora Church had sixteen members and four ruling elders,-Joseph Stewart, Alexander Work, Robert Crone, and David Hackendorn. Three hundred and fifty-seven members were added to the church during the thirty-three years of Mr. Coulter's ministry, and three additional elders were elected,-viz., James Anderson, George Stewart, and Samuel Wallace. Mr. Coulter died June 22, 1834, aged sixty years. He started the first Sunday-school and was the first temperance advocate in the valley.
Middle Tuscarora now became a separate charge. Rev. James M. Olmstead became pastor on the fourth Wednesday of November, 1834, and continued until January 27, 1837. During his ministry Joseph S. Laird and James Coyle were elected elders.
Rev. John Flemming was installed pastor in May, 1841, but resigned in 1842. On the 13th of May, 1841, John Barton, Thomas Laughlin, and John Coulter, Jr., were elected elders.
October 5, 1843, Rev. Andrew Jardine was installed pastor of this church. His ministry lasted fifteen years. Three hundred and eleven persons were added to the church. In 1844 the old church building at McCulloch's Mills was rebuilt. Mr. Jardine withdrew in 1858.
During the winter of 1859-1860 Dr. George W. Thompson and Dr. J. J. Hamilton held special services at McCulloch's Mills for six weeks, and sixty-two persons united with the church, and some thirty others elsewhere. Rev. J. J. Hamilton became and continued pastor from May 16, 1860, until June, 1862. During his ministry W. L. Beale, Thomas Martin, James Smith, and John Laird were elected elders.
Rev. David J. Beale, D.D., was installed pastor August 11, 1864, exactly sixty-three years, wanting three days, after Rev. John Coulter, the first pastor. He was the sixth in succession. During his ministry more than one hundred were added to the church. The brick church at East Waterford was built. He also organized the church at Peru. At
.
PRESENT CHURCH AT
EAST WATERFORD (
PRESENT HURCH AT MCCULLOCH'S MILLS
MIDDLE TUSCARORA.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
this time E. L. Anderson, W. C. Laird, S. McC. Beale, Absalom Rice, and David R. Barton were elected elders. He resigned in December, I868.
The seventh pastor was Rev. S. S. Wallen, installed August 4, 1870, resigned in 1878. On January 14, 1871, Uriah Wise, James Milliken, James Louden, and Lemuel Ramsey were installed elders.
Rev. S. A. Davenport, the eighth pastor, was installed in April, 1880, and continued until October 1, 1883, when he was called to Aisquith Street Church, Baltimore, Maryland. During this ministry W. C. Laird, having returned from Mifflintown, was re-elected, and Abram Noss and John Work were elected, and all were installed elders.
An interval of six and a half years followed without any settled pastor, when, in March, 1890, Mr. Davenport was re-elected pastor, in union with the Lower Tuscarora Church at Academia. He was in- stalled ninth pastor June 5, 1890. During this period the church buildings have been beautifully renovated in their interiors at McCul- loch's Mills and East Waterford. During a revival season in 1894-95 forty-five were added to this Middle Tuscarora charge.
The following persons have gone out from this church into the gospel ministry : Rev. James Coulter, Rev. David J. Beale, D.D., Rev. John Laird, Rev. John P. Coyle, and Rev. David T. Neely.
The present membership of the church is two hundred and twenty.
S. A. DAVENPORT.
MILESBURG.
THE church of Milesburg was organized March 5, 1868, in accord- ance with the action of Presbytery, Rev. A. Yeomans, moderator. The persons constituting the organization were all members of the Bellefonte Presbyterian Church; there were eighteen in all, six males and twelve females.
James Alexander and W. M. Holmes were, at the time of the organi- zation, elected and ordained the first elders. Rev. Prideaux preached the first sermon after the organization, April 12, 1868. W. O. Wright was appointed stated supply by Presbytery at Milroy April 15, 1868, preached his first sermon May 15, 1868, and was installed pastor of Milesburg Church May 10, 1870. Since the organization one hundred and seventy-two members have been added, fifty-nine by letter and one
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hundred and thirteen on profession. Baptisms, one hundred and twenty-nine,-infants ninety-seven, and adults thirty-two ; marriages, one hundred and forty-eight ; funerals, one hundred and ninety-three.
The pastoral relation between Rev. W. O. Wright and the church of Milesburg was dissolved, that he might be free to supply the churches of Morrisdale and Kylertown, at Unionville, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1883. After an absence of nine and a half months he returned on invita- tion to Milesburg Church, April 30, 1884, and has since been stated supply thereof for one-half the time.
About three o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday, June 21, 1888, the Milesburg Church edifice was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. There was no insurance on the building at the time.
October 8, 1888, the trustees bought a property with a parsonage on it for two thousand dollars, and made the last payment of nine hundred dollars November 8, 1888.
January 10, 1892, our new Milesburg Church was opened for public worship, and has been in use ever since, but it is not dedicated, because not quite finished. The church is insured for three thousand dollars, and the parsonage for two thousand dollars. All this work has been done since October 8, 1888.
W. O. WRIGHT.
MILROY.
THIS church had its inception in the troubles in the church of East Kishacoquillas caused by a conflict between the pastor, the Rev. James Nourse, and a majority of the elders and members of the congregation, on the subject of temperance, Mr. Nourse taking a decided stand against the manufacture and use of intoxicating liquors. An earnest effort was made by Presbytery to harmonize these conflicting parties. Finally, in the interest of peace, Mr. Nourse offered his resignation, and at a meet- ing of the Presbytery in Huntingdon in April, 1834, the pastoral relation was dissolved. Presbytery at the same time recommended that all the elders should resign and a new board be elected. A committee, com- posed of the Revs. James Linn, Samuel Wilson, John Peebles, and Elders John Kerr and William Hazlett, was appointed to visit the church to carry into effect the recommendation of Presbytery, and with authority, if all efforts for harmony failed, to organize a new church.
MILESBURG. CHURCH AND MANSE.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
This committee, with the exception of Rev. John Peebles, met at East Kishacoquillas on August 12, 1834. The majority of the elders, those opposed to Mr. Nourse, refused to resign.
The committee then proceeded to take the names of those who desired a new organization. One hundred and two names were given. The next day, August 13, 1834, the committee organized a new church, to be known as the congregation of Perryville, composed of seventy-seven members from East Kishacoquillas and six from other contiguous churches. John Beatty and Hugh Alexander, formerly elders of East Kishacoquillas, were elected and installed as elders. It was also decided that the new church should not build a house of worship within three miles of the old church.
The church of Perryville proceeded at once to make out a call for the Rev. James Nourse, their former pastor, who had been licensed by the Presbytery of the District of Columbia, ordained by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and received by the Presbytery of Huntingdon June 8, 1831. This call was presented to Presbytery October 9, and was ac- cepted by Mr. Nourse October 30, 1834. Rev. James Woods and Rev. David Sterrett were appointed a committee to install Mr. Nourse on the first Wednesday of December, 1834, which duty they accordingly dis- charged, and so reported to Presbytery April 7, 1835.
The congregation built a plain church edifice in Perryville, now Milroy, in 1835, at a cost of about fifteen hundred dollars.
Mr. Nourse remained as pastor of the Perryville Church until Octo- ber 2, 1849, when he resigned, on account of bronchial affection, and the pastoral relation was dissolved. During the autumn and winter of 1842-43 an extensive revival of religion prevailed in this congregation, as the result of which about one hundred and thirty persons united with the church, doubling its membership and greatly increasing their piety and spirituality. During the fifteen years of Mr. Nourse's pastorate about three hundred and thirty members were added to the church.
Rev. Samuel Lawrence, who had been licensed by the Presbytery of Philadelphia in April, 1823, ordained by the same in November, 1824, and received by the Presbytery of Huntingdon on June II, 1850, re- ceived and accepted a call from this church June 11, 1850. The com- mittee appointed to install him were Revs. Richard Curran to preach, D. L. Hughes to preside and to charge the pastor, and Robert Hamill to charge the people. This committee reported at the October meeting of Presbytery that they had attended to the duty assigned them. Mr.
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Lawrence was a faithful and laborious pastor. As the result of his labors one hundred and forty-five persons were added to the member- ship of the church, one hundred and six on examination and thirty-nine on certificate.
On April 11, 1854, at the request of the church, the name was changed from Perryville to Milroy.
On April 16, 1857, the pastoral relation between Mr. Lawrence and the church of Milroy was dissolved, to take effect on April 19, 1857, the church acquiescing and promising to continue his salary for one year. The reason assigned was that the Milroy Church might unite with the church of East Kishacoquillas in one pastoral charge. Any efforts, however, which were made for this purpose proved failures.
Rev. John W. White, who had been licensed by the Presbytery of Blairsville in April, 1854, and ordained by the Presbytery of Carlisle on Christmas evening, 1855, received a call from the church of Milroy, which was forwarded to him from the Presbytery of Huntingdon to the Presbytery of Carlisle in April, 1858. After some weeks of prayerful consideration he accepted this call, commenced work, and was received by the Presbytery of Huntingdon at its June meeting in Tyrone. The committee of installation were Revs. O. O. McClean to preach and preside, James Williamson to charge the pastor, and David Sterrett to charge the people. The committee performed the duty assigned on August 20, 1858. Mr. White remained as pastor of the church for over twenty-five years. During the first year of his pastorate the roll of church members was revised by him and Dr. Samuel Maclay, and over one hundred persons who could not be accounted for were marked absent and thus practically dropped.
In 1860 the congregation built a neat brick chapel at Siglerville, three miles east of Milroy, at a cost of about seventeen hundred dollars, and from that time public worship was regularly held there every Sabbath, instead of at different school-houses and the Salem and Lock's Mills churches as theretofore.
The same year the congregation bought a parsonage at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars, which they enlarged and improved in 1864 at an additional cost of about eighteen hundred dollars. In 1870 they also enlarged and improved the church at Milroy at a cost of about four thousand dollars. The church during this pastorate made it a rule to make contributions to all the boards of the church and to have no blanks in the Assembly Minutes.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
During the same period there were many times of gracious revival ; some of them were seasons of great power, in which the aged as well as the young were hopefully converted and brought into the church. At one time especially many persons over sixty years of age united with the church, and quite a number of them were baptized, among whom were five men who had formerly been tavern-keepers.
During Mr. White's pastorate four hundred and thirty-five persons united with the church, most of them on confession of their faith in Christ. Also eight members of this congregation entered the ministry of the gospel, and now, in 1895, they are all actively engaged in the work of their calling. These are S. T. Thompson, who united with this church on certificate from East Kishacoquillas, William Gemmill, James M. Nourse, George A. Landis, J. Vernon Bell, A. F. Alexander, James Sample, and Hugh McClintic. Of these George A. Landis entered the foreign missionary work in Brazil, where he is still laboring. The first six are Presbyterians ; the two latter are Evangelical Lutheran ministers.
In 1875, Miss Frances E. Harshbarger, a member of the church, went as a missionary to China, where she married the Rev. John Butler, of the Presbytery of Hingpo, who died some years after of cholera, while they were on their way to a meeting of Presbytery. About two years ago Mrs. Butler, on account of declining health, returned to this country, and she now resides at Tacoma, Washington.
This church was greatly weakened by the failure of many of its most liberal supporters in the financial crisis of 1873, and afterwards by the large emigration of its members to the Western States. Many of these persons are still actively engaged in Christian work as elders, deacons, Sunday-school superintendents, and teachers in the churches where they now reside.
On September 6, 1883, the Presbytery of Huntingdon decided that some of Mr. White's doctrinal beliefs should not be preached in the Presbyterian Church, whereupon, with the pursuasion of the Presbytery, he cheerfully withdrew from the Presbyterian ministry, and thus ceased to be pastor of the church. This had a serious influence on the Milroy congregation. While Mr. White intended to move away, yet so earnest and persistent was the call for him to remain and preach that he finally consented to do so. Thus this church was greatly weakened by the withdrawal of a considerable portion of the congregation.
Rev. R. M. Wallace, D.D., became the stated supply of this church in the spring of 1884, and so remained until October, 1894. During his
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
ministry forty-six persons were received into the communion of the church, twenty-seven on examination and nineteen on certificate, thus about making up, in a somewhat difficult field, for the losses sustained during the same time. The number of members reported in 1885 was fifty-three, and the number reported in 1895 is fifty.
The future of this church now depends on unforeseen contingencies.
The elders of this church have been as follows: Hugh Alexander, John Beaty, Brown Maclay, Robert Thompson, Dr. Samuel Maclay, Davis Bates, George W. Crissman, John M. Bell, S. T. Thompson, J. C. McNitt, W. C. McCleahan, Ira Thompson, James Aitkens, J. J. Aitkens, Albert Thompson, and J. C. Wilson. The two latter are the present elders. One-half of the whole number have departed this life.
J. W. WHITE.
MOSHANNON AND SNOW SHOE.
MOSHANNON CHURCH was organized September 25, 1852, with seven- teen persons, by letter,-eleven from Bellefonte Church, two from Holli- daysburg Church, three from Lick Run Church, and one from Washington Church. Rev. James Linn, D.D., of Bellefonte, conducted the service after preaching. On the same day James Marshall and James Gilliland were elected and ordained the first elders.
About 1869 the church building at Snow Shoe City came to be used as part of the Moshannon Church, and since then both constitute the Moshannon and Snow Shoe Church.
Rev. W. O. Wright was installed pastor of the Moshannon and Snow Shoe Church May 10, 1870, in connection with the Milesburg Church, giving each one-half of his time, until June 12, 1883. He served the churches of Morrisdale and Kylertown as stated supply nine months and sixteen days, returned to Milesburg April 30, 1884, and served Lick Run and Hublersburg Churches in connection with Milesburg (one-half time to each) up to September 30, 1890, when he returned and gave one-half of his time to Moshannon and Snow Shoe Church up to date as stated supply.
Moshannon and Snow Shoe Church has enrolled since 1852 about three hundred and fifty members; baptized one hundred and seventy persons, thirty-four adults and one hundred and forty-six infants. Mar- riages, twenty-seven only on roll, and deaths, forty-six. Whole number
REV. W. HARRISON DECKER LEWISTOWN
REV. D. H.CAMPBELL MT. UNION
REV. ANDREW H. PARKER EAST KISHACOQUILLAS
REV. E. H. MATEER MCVEYTOWN .
PASTORS.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
of members at date, fifty-two, of whom twenty-one have been added since April 1, 1894,-eighteen on profession and three by letter.
Both church buildings have been renovated within the last two years. W. O. WRIGHT.
MOUNT UNION.
THIS church had its beginning as an outpost of the Shirleysburg Church. Rev. Britton E. Collins became stated supply of that church in the autumn of 1839. From that as a centre he went forth, as oppor- tunity presented itself, to preach the gospel and plant the Presbyterian Church. He was one of the most faithful, hard-working, and poorly- paid ministers in the Presbytery of Huntingdon in his day. He wrought a work of inestimable value, and one that will ever redound to his honor. Mr. Collins began preaching in this community some time in the year of 1845. There were but few people here at that time, and yet there were those who desired the gospel, and he was willing to serve them. The services were held in a stone school-house that stood near where the Methodist church now stands. They were much appreciated and greatly enjoyed by those who attended upon them, and continued to grow in interest. This is seen in the fact that in the year 1849 a frame building was erected at a cost of five hundred dollars, on a lot now adjoining property of James M. Shaver, which is still standing, being now used as a dwelling-house, and was formally dedicated the same year. That was a glad day to the few Presbyterians of this community. Here the gospel was faithfully proclaimed at stated times, and the sacraments were administered by this pioneer preacher, who laid well the foundations of what the present congregation enjoy, and who continued to minister unto this people until April, 1855.
Rev. George W. Shaiffer succeeded Mr. Collins, and became pastor of the Shirleysburg Church in the spring of 1855. He at once took up the work that had been well begun in this place, and statedly preached with much acceptance and profit. The field developed slowly, and yet surely. In the latter part of his ministry here it became evident that an independent organization was both wise and desirable. Therefore, upon an application to the Presbytery of Huntingdon in April, 1865, for an independent organization to be known as the Presbyterian Church of Mount Union, a committee, consisting of Revs. George W. Shaiffer,
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
James C. Mahon, and David D. Clarke, was appointed to visit this field on the 2d of May, 1865, and, if the way be clear, organize a church. The committee came and, finding the way clear, organized this church on the above date with fourteen members, namely, Peter R. Shaver, Mrs. Margaret Shaver, J. A. J. Postlethwaite, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Postlethwaite, Mrs. Eva Bare, Mrs. Rhoda E. Flasher, Mrs. Eliza Huling, Mrs. Jane Shaver, Mrs. Malinda Sechler, Mrs. Lucy Simons, Mrs. Keziah Snyder, Mrs. Catharine Mckinstry, John Pollock and wife, who were received by certificate from the Shirleysburg and other churches. Mr. J. A. J. Postlethwaite was chosen and ordained a ruling elder, which position he filled with ability and acceptance for nearly twelve years. He rendered efficient help to this congregation for years prior to its organization. He removed to Altoona, Pennsylvania, where he was in communion with the Second Presbyterian Church, in whose fellowship he spent the remaining years of his life, and where he passed peacefully to his reward in the year 1879, October 19. Mr. Shaiffer continued to minister unto this congregation until April, 1866, almost a year after the organization was effected, when his connection with this church and that of Shirleysburg was severed by action of Presbytery. His ministry continued for eleven years. He faithfully sowed the seed and cared for the flock over whom he had been made overseer. He is still kindly remembered by those who sat under his ministry. He is yet living, and his post-office address is Alhambra, California.
Rev. Cochrane Forbes, a returned missionary, commenced his labors with this church in connection with the Shirleysburg Church in October, 1866. It was in his ministry that it was decided to build a more com- modious and stately building on the southeast corner of Shirley and Division Streets. This building was erected in the years of 1866-67, at a cost of four thousand five hundred dollars, and was formally dedicated in November, 1867.
Peter R. Shaver and James Mackey, M.D., were ordained to the office of ruling elder in 1866. Dr. Mackey remained only a few years with the church and then removed to the West. Mr. Shaver was a faithful, efficient, and acceptable ruling elder for almost twenty-eight years. He has left an impression for good on this community. At the advanced age of eighty years, ten months, and twenty-three days he suddenly passed into the Master's presence on Saturday morning, May 5, 1894.
It was in the spring of 1866 that the Sabbath-school was organized in the old frame church. Mr. Forbes continued faithfully to serve this
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
people until April, 1870, when he felt compelled to relinquish the work here that he might return to the foreign field and take up again the work there which he had been compelled to lay down on account of ill health. But while on his way to return he was suddenly stricken down in Phila- delphia, where he died. His heart was in the foreign work, but he was not permitted to return to it. His labors ended suddenly.
Rev. S. W. Pomeroy was called to this church in connection with that of Newton Hamilton in the spring of 1871. He entered upon his duties on the Ist of May, and was duly installed as pastor on the 24th of the following August, for a part of his time. He entered upon his work here under auspicious circumstances, and had the cordial support of the people. The Session was strengthened on the 17th of March, 1873, by the ordination of Thomas A. Appleby and Dr. William A. Hunter to the office of ruling elder. Mr. Pomeroy resided in Newton Hamilton until the spring of 1878, when his relation to that church ceased by action of Presbytery. Then he removed to Mount Union and occupied the parsonage, which was a most generous gift of Mrs. Mary Brewster, by will, at her death on March 19, 1876, to the Mount Union Presbyterian Church and congregation, to be a home for their pastor. This church should ever hold dear the memory of this sainted mother, who had them in such kind remembrance.
In the year 1878 a connection with the Shirleysburg Church was again effected. The church building was repaired and remodelled in the years 1882-83 at a cost of about three thousand dollars, and rededicated July 9, 1883. Mr. Pomeroy continued pastor until April, 1884, a period of thirteen years. In that time one hundred and seventy new members were added to the church, which increased the membership from twenty- five to one hundred and eleven; the Sabbath-school roll was increased from seventy-five to one hundred and sixty-six; and the contributions amounted to ten thousand two hundred and thirty-six dollars.
The years of 1872, 1875, 1878, and 1883 were especially marked as revival years, and witnessed large additions to the membership. He was a faithful and earnest minister of the gospel to this people and ren- dered the church good service, and still has many warm friends in this congregation and community. He was compelled to resign on account of ill health. He is at present pastor of the church of Bald Eagle and Nitany Valley, in the Presbytery of Northumberland, and resides at Mill Hall, Pennsylvania.
Rev. D. H. Campbell, the present pastor, succeeded him in the pas-
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
torate of this church, and entered upon the work in November, 1884. He was duly installed pastor on the 25th of the same month, for one- half time, in connection with the churches of Shirleysburg and Mapleton. He was cordially received into the congregation and community and has had the hearty support and co-operation of the people. The work has steadily gone forward. Two hundred and twenty-two new members have been added to the church, and the membership has grown from one hundred and eleven to two hundred and twelve. The Sabbath- school has gradually increased in numbers and in interest and has an enrolled membership of two hundred and thirty-four, with an average attendance of one hundred and fifty-six. It has a faithful body of offi- cers and teachers, of whom T. A. Appleby is superintendent and R. J. Faust assistant superintendent, which positions they have well filled for years. The church has grown in liberality, and has contributed over fifteen thousand dollars since the fall of 1884. The years of 1885, 1887, 1891, 1893, and 1894 were especially marked as revival years, and were seasons of large ingatherings into the church.
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