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 22
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The Session has been enlarged and its efficiency increased by the in- stallation and ordination of William G. Ewing, I. Newton Taylor, and Benjamin C. Wharton to the office of ruling elder on February 1, 1891. The clerk of Session is Elder T. A. Appleby.
An active Christian Endeavor Society was organized in the fall of 1891 and is doing good work, and at present is under the leadership of William G. Ewing. The church has a prosperous Woman's Missionary Society with Mrs. M. R. Adams as president, and two live Mission Bands in charge of Mrs A. H. Campbell. There is also a Young Ladies' Mission Band. Since May 1, 1892, this church has been associated in pastoral relation with Newton Hamilton and Mapleton Churches, that a better grouping of the churches in this part of Presbytery might be made. This is a natural relation.
The church is chartered, and its board of trustees is composed of Messrs. R. J. Faust, W. T. Bell, and A. S. Welch, with J. Bruce Davis as treasurer. The property consists of an excellent two-story wooden church building, having a well arranged Sabbath-school room, with an advanced and primary department, and a fine audience room capable of seating about three hundred, and also a well-arranged and convenient two-story brick parsonage, which during the past year has been enlarged and improved by a two-story brick addition.
This church has done and is doing a good work, and is exerting a
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wholesome and beneficent influence in this entire community. It is a bulwark against evil and a champion for the right. It is located in a pleasant and attractive borough, having a population of about eleven hundred, and which has not permitted a license bar to sell intoxicating liquors within its bounds for more than ten years. This church has had much to do in helping to bring about this most desirable state of affairs. She has been loyal to the truth and firm for the right.
DAVID H. CAMPBELL.
NEWTON HAMILTON.
THE first Presbyterian preaching service at Newton Hamilton was probably about the year 1830. It was in that year that Rev. John Peebles gave up his charge at Alexandria. After this or during that portion of his time he "labored successively at the villages of Newton Hamilton and Williamsburg." He labored here successfully in the year 1831. The first preaching here statedly was most probably by Revs. John Peebles and James S. Woods. Mr. Woods, who was pastor at Waynes- burg (now McVeytown) Church, preached here statedly for some years prior to the year 1837, when Lewistown took his full time.
Services were at first held in private houses. The home of John McNaer, an elder of the Waynesburg Church, who removed to the place where Henry Sayers now lives, about three-fourths of a mile north of the town, was so used. Afterwards a building in the process of con- struction, a little farther north and near the home of William Vanzandt, was used for some time. The old church was built about the year 1836 or 1837. Those two godly men, Messrs. Woods and Peebles, were largely instrumental in preparing the way for the organization of this church. There was such a strong desire for a separate organization that Presby- tery was petitioned in the spring of 1838 for an organization at this place. In response to this request a committee, consisting of Revs. John Peebles and James S. Woods, was appointed to organize the said church if the way be clear. They visited this field on the Ist day of May, 1838, and, finding the way clear, organized the Newton Hamilton Presbyterian Church with thirty-eight members.
Samuel Wharton, John McNaer, and Hugh Wilson were chosen ordained ruling elders. The church soon after called Benjamin Carrell, a licentiate, and he was ordained and installed pastor of this church by
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Presbytery on December 21, 1838, for a part of his time in connection with the Waynesburg (McVeytown) Church. This pastorate continued with great satisfaction and much profit to the church until October 22, 1844, when, on account of ill health, he was released. His ministry was richly blessed to this church and community. He received to the mem- bership of the church one hundred and twenty-seven new members, and all were received on examination except twenty-seven. The year 1843 was especially marked by a most gracious revival, when about forty members were added to the church.
Mr. Carrell was in the spring of 1845 succeeded by Rev. Peter Has- singer, whose pastorate continued until the spring of 1849. His min- istry was not attended with any large additions to the church. He faithfully sowed the seed. The Session was enlarged and strengthened in the early part of his ministry by the election, ordination, and installa- tion of David Coeland, Winchester McCarthy, and Benjamin Norton to the office of ruling elders. The latter took place on December 21, 1845.
Rev. David Sterrett was called to the pastorate of this church in the latter part of the year 1849, and was installed on January 18, 1850, and it continued a successful pastorate until October 2, 1855, when Presby- tery dissolved the relation. During his ministry one hundred and twenty new members were added to the church. He was an unusually spiritual-minded and devout minister of the gospel. The years of 1851 and 1854 witnessed most gracious revivals that greatly strengthened the church. David Jenkins and Carson McDowell were ordained ruling elders on January 17, 1851. Mr. Jenkins lived to the advanced age of ninety-three years, five months, and two days, having been born in the year 1800.
Rev. David D. Clarke was installed pastor by Presbytery on June 3, 1856. After a most successful pastorate of nearly ten years he was suddenly stricken down, and died December 31, 1865. His death was a great loss to this people. He was greatly beloved by them and deeply mourned in his death. He was an earnest, devoted, and godly man, an excellent pastor, and a faithful preacher of the gospel. During his min- istry fifty-six new members were added to the church. The Session was enlarged by the ordination of C. Bower in May, 1860, and of D. A. Postlethwaite and Robert L. Gamble in October, 1862. Rev. S. C. McCune became pastor on the 19th of June, 1866, and the relation was dissolved May 1, 1869. It was during his ministry that the present fine
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brick church was built at a cost of seven thousand five hundred dollars. It has a seating capacity of three hundred.
This was Mr. McCune's work in this church, and it still speaks to his credit. Samuel Coulter was installed and ordained a ruling elder in May, 1864.
Rev. Thaddeus McRea entered upon the work here on the 19th of July, 1869, and continued pastor until McVeytown became a separate charge in 1870, when his whole time was given to that church. The Session was again enlarged and strengthened by the installation and ordination of Abram Aurand, Dr. James R. Taylor, Felix Norton, and North A. Postlethwaite to the office of ruling elder in 1870.
Rev. S. W. Pomeroy accepted a call to this church, and entered upon the work May 1, 1871, in connection with the Mount Union Church, and was installed for two-thirds of his time as pastor on August 19, 1871. His pastorate continued until the spring of 1878, when the relation was dissolved by action of Presbytery. During his ministry ninety-nine new members, all but twenty-three on examination, were added to the church. The year 1874 was especially marked as a revival year. During the early part of that year a large addition was made to the membership. The church was supplied by Rev. N. Foster Brown for six months from October, 1878, and he was installed pastor on April Io, 1879, which relation continued until April, 1882. The church was then united in pastoral relation with the Petersburg Church. Rev. Preston Barr was installed for one-half time in October, 1882, with the above connection. He remained pastor until April, 1884, when he was released that he might accept a call elsewhere. For a little more than two years the church was without a pastor, and had to depend upon supplies from Presbytery. Rev. George Elliott was installed pastor on November II, 1884, for one-half time in connection with Orbisonia, and served them with much acceptance until January 1, 1887, when, with regret on the part of the people, the relation was dissolved. Then the Rev. D. H. Campbell, of Mount Union, was called, but was compelled to decline. Rev. J. C. Oliver supplied the pulpit with very great acceptance from April, 1887, for six months. Samuel Ewing and James D. Postleth waite were ordained and installed ruling elders on June 30, 1878, and James A. Dysart on December 19 of the same year. Rev. J. J. Wolf became pastor in June, 1888, and remained such until October, 1889. Mr. W. G. Finney, a student of Union Theological Seminary, was an ac- ceptable supply during the summer of 1891. Rev. D. H. Campbell,
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having again been called to this pastorate, accepted the call, and was in- stalled pastor on May 12, 1892, for one-fourth of his time in connection with the churches of Mount Union and Mapleton. During the present pastorate forty new members have been added on examination and seven- teen on certificate to the church; the lecture and Sabbath-school room has been handsomely remodelled, repapered, and refurnished, at a cost of seven hundred dollars, and about two thousand two hundred dollars have been contributed by the congregation. The relation between pastor and people is pleasant and cordial, and the church is in an encouraging condition. It has an active membership of one hundred and thirty .* The Sabbath-school has one hundred and twenty-eight members enrolled, and is doing well under the superintendency of Elder Samuel Ewing.
It has a live Christian Endeavor Society, with Harris Postleth waite as president, and efficient Ladies' Aid Society, in charge of Mrs. D. C. Nipple. The church is chartered, and the board of trustees are Colonel D. B. Jenkins, C. I. Fuller, and S. S. Bratton, with Lambert V. Postle- thwaite as treasurer.
DAVID H. CAMPBELL.
ORBISONIA.
THIS church was organized in 1873, with twenty-three members ; there are now, 1895, eighty-nine members. For many years prior to their organization the Presbyterians of this congregation had their own place of worship in Orbisonia, but held their membership in the parent church at Shirleysburg.
The following pastors of the Shirleysburg charge preached at Orbi- sonia as an outpost : Rev. Britton E. Collins, Rev. G. W. Shaeffer, Rev. Cochrane Forbes, Rev. Samuel C. Alexander, Rev. William Prideaux.
The ministers that have served this church since its organization are Rev. William Prideaux, S.S., 1873-1877; Rev. R. A. Watson, S.S., 1877- 1878; Rev. John D. Owens, P., 1879-1882 ; Rev. Geo. Elliott, P., 1884- 1886; Rev. J. J. Wolff, P., 1888-1889 ; Rev. W. G. Finney, P., 1892.
The following is a list of the elders : John C. Bolinger and Calvin Noble, 1873 ; James M. Rankin, 1877 ; James Hileman, Johnston Archey,
* The year 1893 was especially marked as a revival year. During the month of March of that year thirty-four united with the church on examination, the most of whom were heads of families.
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and Solomon Coons, 1884; James Yeater and Benjamin F. Wilson, 1892. The present elders are James Hileman, Solomon Coons, and James Yeater.
In 1876 the present house of worship was constructed; it is a brick building forty by seventy-five, and is valued at about four thousand dollars.
This church since its organization has suffered a good deal of shift- ing in the system of grouping. It was grouped with Shirleysburg from 1873 to 1878, with Shade Gap from 1879 to 1882, with Newton Hamil- ton from 1884 to 1889, and again with Shirleysburg since 1892.
Rev. William Prideaux was largely instrumental in organizing this church and in erecting the building.
WILLIAM G. FINNEY.
OSCEOLA.
THE first religious organization in Osceola was a union Sunday- school in 1861 ; the Presbyterian and all the other Protestant churches are the outgrowth of that school. The school was first held in a shuck- shop (a large shed used for shaving barrel-staves for the Cuban markets), next in a carpenter-shop, and when the first public school-house was erected, in 1867, it was also used for the union Sunday-school and for preaching services.
About this date (1867) the Presbyterian families located here decided to organize and build a church. A site was secured where the present edifice stands, and the erection of a church was begun.
The Presbytery of Huntingdon, at a meeting in Bellefonte, October, 1867, appointed a committee, consisting of Revs. John H. Clark and W. O. Wright and Elder George W. McCully, to organize a church at Osceola. The committee met in the basement of the new church Feb- ruary 6, 1868, and perfected an organization, but the church edifice was not completed until 1869. The first ruling elders elected were John Lawshe and Peter A. Reed. On February 6, 1868, the Rev. William Prideaux preached the first sermon, from Psalm cxxii. 6-9 (" Peace be within thy walls," etc.). The membership at organization was twenty- three, which number was increased to thirty-eight within a week.
By permission of Presbytery, Rev. W. B. Sutherland, of New York, supplied the pulpit of the church until March, 1869. The church was
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dedicated January 17, 1869, the Rev. Dr. Malin, of Philadelphia, preach- ing the sermon. The church had no regular pastor until September 12, 1869, when the Rev. J. H. Sargent accepted a call from the congrega- tion and served as its pastor for one year.
Rev. W. W. Condit then supplied the church for one year. From October, 1872, until May, 1873, the church was without a pastor, when a call was given to N. H. Miller, D.D., who began his labors May II, 1873, and continued until October 18, 1891.
The church was destroyed with the rest of the town by the great fire of May 20, 1875. Dr. Miller, although he had lost all his worldly effects, aroused and cheered the drooping spirits of his stricken congre- gation, and by untiring efforts had the present church ready for dedica- tion December 5, 1875.
Dr. Miller having resigned from his long and successful pastorate, Rev. Samuel T. Lewis, of the Presbytery of Erie, was called by the con- gregation February 10, 1892, and is the present pastor. Under his effi- cient labors the church membership has been greatly increased, the present membership being one hundred and seventy.
Besides the ruling elders already mentioned, the following were at different times since elected,-viz., Lewis Stonerod, W. J. Long, A. H. Greenawalt, J. A. Cameron, W. W. Speddy, C. G. Welsh, W. A. Brown, Hugh Campbell, George M. Brisbin, and G. W. Boone, the four last named being the present ruling elders.
The following have been the Sunday-school superintendents in the order named : J. R. Cameron, A. H. Greenawalt, Hugh Campbell, H. W. Brown, and G. W. Boone.
The church has now in active operation the following organizations : Sabbath-school, Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, Junior Christian Endeavor, Ladies' Foreign Missionary Society, and Ladies' Aid Societies.
G. W. BOONE.
PERU MILLS.
As early as 1850 preaching services were held in the school-house at Peru Mills, occasionally by Rev. Andrew Jardine, pastor of Middle Tuscarora Church, and by his successor, Rev. J. J. Hamilton.
About 1864 Rev. David J. Beale, then pastor of the Middle Tuscarora Church, began to preach in the old Lutheran church, one and one-half
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miles south of Peru Mills; and at a meeting of Presbytery in 1867 a petition was sent up asking for a church organization, which was granted under the name of the Presbyterian Church of Peru.
Presbytery appointed Revs. W. Y. Brown, D. J. Beale, and S. J. Milliken, and Elders G. M. Graham, M.D., and John P. Kelly a com- mittee to organize a church. The committee discharged their duty and effected the organization, on the 29th day of April, 1867, with seventeen members by certificate from the Middle Tuscarora Church. On the same day Messrs. John Kepner and John C. Burns were elected, ordained, and installed as ruling elders. The Rev. D. J. Beale continued to preach as a supply for nearly a year.
On the 25th of February, 1868, at a special meeting of Presbytery convened in Tyrone, a call was placed in his hands and accepted by J. E. Kerns, who was installed April 2, 1868. On March 31, 1878, he resigned, and was released at a meeting of Presbytery at Milroy, April 10, 1878.
After the church became vacant it was supplied successively by Revs. John McKean, J. C. Wilhelm, Marquis, Burbank, W. C. Kuhn, Folsom, S. A. Davenport, Scott, R. Arthur, and others.
Rev. L. L. Haughawont began to preach in September, 1884. A call was placed in his hands and accepted at a meeting in October, 1889, but he continued to preach until December, after which the church was sup- plied by Revs. Lewy, Mathers, Kearns, and Diener.
A call was placed in the hands of Rev. J. F. Diener at the October meeting of Presbytery, 1890, and accepted by him, when he immediately began to serve as pastor over this church, and so continues up to this time.
March 25, 1871, Thomas Murphy and Frank Stake were elected ruling elders, and ordained and installed May 7, 1871. Matthias Stump, Robert H. Patterson, James Woodside, and Jacob Shearer, having been elected elders, were ordained and installed October 17, 1874.
The present membership of the church is fifty-five.
The present church was built and dedicated in 1870 at an expense of two thousand eight hundred dollars. .
R. H. PATTERSON.
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PETERSBURG.
ORGANIZED October 30, 1876. Enrolled April 10, 1877. Among its pastors and stated supplies were R. Lewis McCune, J. B. Strain, William Prideaux, J. C. Wilhelm, Samuel T. Wilson, D.D., John C. Barr, McKnight Williamson, Daniel L. Hughes, D.D., and George B. Troub. Present membership, one hundred and twenty-three. Present elders, William W. McFadden, S. K. Wharton, David Sheasley.
R. F. WILSON.
PHILIPSBURG.
THE Presbyterian Church of Philipsburg was first organized by an act of Presbytery passed January 9, 1844. Supplies had been appointed occa- sionally for years before that time at the request of the few Presbyterians residing there. The services were held in what is known as the Union Church, a log meeting-house erected by Mr. Hardman Philips in 1835 or 1836, on a lot of ground which some time about or a little before 1822 he had conveyed for the use of the people of Philipsburg and neighbor- hood as a burying-ground.
January 15, 1845, Rev. W. J. Murphy was installed pastor for one- third of his time, the other two-thirds being given to Fruit Hill and Mount Pleasant Churches. This relation continued until October 5, 1847, when at Mr. Murphy's own request it was dissolved.
From this time until 1862 the church was very feeble, and depended upon occasional supplies for preaching. At the request of some of the people, the church was reorganized by the direction of Presbytery, Sep- tember 27, 1862, with eleven members, of whom George H Steiner and William H. Roberts, having been previously ordained, were chosen and installed as ruling elders.
In April, 1864, the church called W. O. Wright for one-half of his time. He was ordained and installed as pastor during an adjourned meeting of Presbytery held by courtesy in the Methodist church, Phil- ipsburg, June 15, 1864. Mr. Wright continued as pastor until April 15, 1868, when at his own request the relation was dissolved.
After this the church was again vacant, except as supplied occa- . sionally by Presbyterial appointments, until Mr. Sargent, as stated
REV H :" MEANS
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REV. GEO. ELLIOT.
JOHN PORTER
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
supply, occupied the field. He was followed by Rev. Thomas Thompson, and he by Rev. N. H. Miller, D.D., the pastor of Osceola Church.
Up to 1878 worship was held in the Union Church, when the present building was erected at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. In February, 1881, Rev. W. W. Woodend, D.D., became pastor, remaining until the latter part of 1883. He was followed by Rev. Milton L. Cook in 1884, whose pastorate continued but little more than a year.
In July of 1885 S. A. Cornelius, a licentiate, was made stated supply. In April, 1886, after completing his course at the seminary, he was ordained and installed as pastor, remaining with the church until the fall of 1889.
On February 25, 1890, Rev. Oliver Hemstreet, of Albany, New York, was elected pastor, but declined to accept. At the same congregational meeting David Robertson, James H. Dysart, and Charles E. Murray were elected, and soon after were installed as ruling elders.
On October 28, 1890, Rev. E. F. Johnston became pastor, and con- tinued as such until August, 1892. During the summer of this year two wings were added to the church for Sunday-school purposes.
The present pastor, Rev. H. F. Means, was installed November 17, 1892.
The parsonage, a handsome property on Ninth Street, was purchased in 1890.
The church is fully equipped for work, with Sunday-school, Christian Endeavor, Ladies' Aid, Brotherhood of Andrew and Philip, and three missionary societies.
From time to time the church has been visited with showers of blessing resulting in large additions. The present membership is two hundred and thirty ; Sunday-school, two hundred and fifty ; Christian Endeavor Society, organized July 24, 1892, eighty active and twenty associate members.
Following is a list of ruling elders : George H. Steiner, William H. Roberts, William E. Warde, D. S. DuBree, Emanuel Bollinger, Leonard D. Dom, Orlando S. Flemming, Samuel J. Scott, George W. Ganoe, David Robertson, James H. Dysart, Charles E. Murray, John E. Shaffer, Richard Scollon.
The present board of elders consists of Messrs. Dom, Robertson, Murray, and Shaffer.
H. F. MEANS.
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PINE GROVE.
THE Presbyterian families connected with Spring Creek Church resid- ing in and about the village of Pine Grove Mills, Centre County, Pennsyl- vania, feeling the inconvenience of travelling so far to church, and desiring to have the means of grace brought nearer to them, petitioned the Presby- tery of Huntingdon, at its meeting held October 8, 1834, to organize them into a separate church to be called the Pine Grove Presbyterian Church. Their prayer was favorably entertained by the Presbytery, and the Rev. James Linn was appointed to effect the organization if the way should be found to be clear. Accordingly, on the 14th day of November, 1834, the Pine Grove Presbyterian Church was organized with nineteen members received from Spring Creek Church. William McWilliams and Eli Hastings were chosen and duly set apart as ruling elders.
This church has never been numerically strong, owing to the fact of its limited territory having been hemmed in by two larger, older, and thrifty churches, one on either side of it; but it has shown life and activity under its different pastors, and has done a good work in its sphere, and now reports a roll of fifty members, with a Session of five ruling elders, a flourishing Sabbath-school, and an active Ladies' Mis- sionary Society.
From the time of its organization until the year 1857 the congregation worshipped in a frame building erected by the Presbyterian, the German Reformed, and the Lutheran congregations as a union church, the different congregations alternating in their services. In 1857 the Pres- byterians built a neat and substantial brick building of their own, at a cost of three thousand six hundred dollars, which was properly dedi- cated, and in which they still worship.
PASTORS.
From 1835 to 1848 the church was served successively by Rev. Samnel Wilson, Rev. David Mckinney, and Rev. John McKinney, each for a portion of his time.
In 1848 the congregation called Rev. D. L. Hughes, who served them in connection with the Spruce Creek Church for one-third of his time until 1852. From 1854 to 1858 he served them as pastor for one- half of his time.
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In 1859 they called Rev. S. M. Moore, who served them half his time until 1863.
From 1864 to 1869 Rev. William J. Gibson served them as stated supply. In 1869 they called Rev. R. C. Boyson, who served them as pastor until March, 1873, when he was removed by death.
From 1881 to 1885 Rev. W. C. Kuhn served them as stated supply. In 1887, Rev. George Elliott was called to be their pastor, and served them in connection with Bald Eagle and Buffalo Run until March 15, 1895, when he was, in the midst of his faithful labors, removed by death.
Each of these brethren in his turn did faithful work in the pulpit and out of it, and was permitted to rejoice over precious fruits of his ministry among his people.
The Rev. R. C. Bryson and the Rev. George Elliott died while amid the active duties of the pastorate, honored and beloved by all, and sadly mourned by an affectionate and appreciative people. "They rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."
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