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 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
1875. Then, having been called for his whole time by Spring Creek Church, he resigned the charge of Sinking Creek, and served Spring Creek for sixteen years longer, thus completing a pastorate of forty-five years, when, on application to Presbytery for permission to resign his charge, on account of impaired health, he was, at the request of the congregation, retired from active duty as pastor emeritus.
During this pastorate Dr. Hamill delivered six thousand sermons and addresses, received into the church over one thousand members, administered six hundred and ninety-eight baptisms, ordained twenty elders, attended over five hundred funerals, solemnized two hundred and five marriages, made over nine thousand pastoral visits, and travelled over fifty thousand miles in the execution of his work. He baptized, received into the church, and married the parents and the children, and in some instances the children's children. Fourteen young men were introduced into the gospel ministry from the bounds of his charge. Many precious seasons of revival, with large ingatherings, were ex- perienced .* Four churches were organized from colonies going out chiefly from Spring Creek Church. The means used in the prosecution of his work were the direct presentation of the cardinal teachings, doc- trinal and practical, of gospel truth, pressed home upon the heart and
conscience, and coupled with faithful following up by pastoral visitation and personal counsel from house to house. In his labors the pastor was sustained, strengthened, and encouraged by the cordial and faithful co-operation and the earnest prayers of an efficient eldership and a loyal people. For any precious results that have accrued from this pastorate of forty-five years, the pastor, with his beloved and honored flock, have ever desired and aimed to give to God all the glory, and to humble them- selves in view of their unworthiness before him.
After Dr. Hamill's retirement from the Sinking Creek Church, that congregation called Mr. Thomas A. Robinson, a licentiate of Presbytery, who, accepting the call, was ordained, and installed by the Presbytery of Huntingdon October 27, 1875. He remained with the people four years, and left in 1879. He was followed by Mr. W. K. Foster, a licentiate of the Presbytery, who was ordained and installed November 14, 1882, remaining two years, when he was released in order to accept a call from the Buffalo and Mifflinburg Churches, of Northumberland Presbytery.
* A history of these revivals the writer intended as a part of this sketch, but, as he has gone already beyond the prescribed limit, this must be dispensed with.
17
258
THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
He was succeeded by the Rev. J. Horner Kerr, who was installed May 25, 1886, and remained three years,-until August 27, 1889. Mr. Kerr was succeeded by Rev. H. C. Baskerville, called to the united churches of Sinking Creek and Spring Mills, and was installed by a committee of Presbytery October 28, 1890. Mr. Baskerville remained two and a-half years, -- until July 11, 1893. Since that time this charge has been served by temporary supplies.
The Spring Creek Church, some months after the retirement of Dr. Hamill, in connection with the State College Church, which had since been organized, called Mr. James Heaney, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. Mr. Heaney, being received by the Presbytery of Huntingdon, and accepting these calls, was ordained and installed as pastor at State College May 5, 1892, and installed pastor at Spring Creek by a committee of Presbytery May. 31, 1892. He remained until April 9, 1895, when he was released to accept a call from the Shamokin Church, Northumberland Presbytery. October 1, 1895, a call from Spring Creek Church was presented to Rev. David E. Hepler and accepted by him, when a committee was appointed to install him October 7, 1895.
So far as the writer's observation and knowledge go, he feels justified in saying that these different pastors served these churches faithfully, and as the result some precious fruits were gathered; but, owing to the brevity of the pastorates and the frequent changes, the churches have not shared that degree of prosperity that might have been enjoyed under other circumstances. We trust there is in reserve for them a brighter and a more successful future, and that they may soon under more favor- able auspices stand, where in other days they have stood, in the front rank among the churches of our grand old Presbytery. Death, emi- gration, and frequent changes have weakened them, but there are yet the elements of strength among them sufficient to make them vigorous pas- toral charges. May the Head of the Church, who alone can do it, in his own way and time, bring about such a result.
THE ELDERSHIP.
Of the earlier elders of the Sinking Creek and Spring Creek Churches we know but little, and of them find no special record.
In Sinking Creek, during the pastorate of the Rev. David Wiley, we find William King and James Rankin named as elders. In Rev. William Stuart's time, George Woods, William Rankin, David McKim, David
4
259
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
Van Dyke, Joseph Gilliland, Samuel Davis, and Henry Boozer are named. During Dr. Mckinney's pastorate, Joshua Potter, William Mc- Closkey, George Livingston, James Barber, and John W. Irvin were ordained and installed on March 7, 1841. During Dr. Hamill's time, William Milligan, June 20, 1849; William Burnside, William Wilson, M.D., William Kerr, November 25, 1855; Samuel Van Tries, John Shannon, and Joseph Carson, January 19, 1866; Philip Kemp and William Goodhart, February 6, 1874. Subsequently, George L. Good- hart and George P. Rearick, June 23, 1883, and Joseph M. Gilliland and Joshua T. Potter, September 20, 1886.
All of these except the last five named have been removed by death. Of those who remain, William Goodhart has been transferred to Spring Mills Church and Joseph M. Gilliland to New Bloomfield Church, leav- ing George L. Goodhart, George P. Rearick, and Joshua T. Potter as the present Session.
In Spring Creek Church, prior to 1807, the names of George Mc- Cormick, David Barr, Thomas Ferguson, William Wiley, and James Ardery appear. January 24, 1807, during the pastorate of the Rev. William Stuart, John Rankin, John Patton, and George McCormick, Jr., were ordained and installed. During Dr. Mckinney's time, Decem- ber 20, 1834, George Boal, Hyland Biddle, John Wason, F. G. Betts, and Evan Thomas. During the pastorate of Dr. Hamill, Thomas Thomas, James Glenn, Benjamin J. Berry, M.D., were ordained, November 26, 1849; Moses Thompson, William Thompson, Griffith Lytle, and Robert Goheen, December 2, 1855 ; John Moore and John Hamilton, February 5, 1876; and James Y. McKee and George Butts, March 8, 1890. On June 5, 1892, John F. Woods, M.D., John I. Thompson, and James C. Gilliland were ordained and installed, and on November 17, 1895, James T. Stuart, William M. Goheen, William Thompson, Jr., George C. Williams, and Samuel Glenn. Of the above all have passed away by death except nine, and two of these have been transferred to the State College Church, leaving as the present Session of Spring Creek Church John I. Thompson, James C. Gilliland, James T. Stuart, William M. Goheen, William Thompson, Jr., George C. Williams, and Samuel Glenn.
Of the foregoing roll of elders in these two churches, so far as the writer has known them, all have seemed to be men worthy of the office, while some of their number, with whom he was more intimately con- nected, were more demonstrative in their activities and more fully
260
THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
marked by the characteristics that belong to the scriptural type. Potter, Wilson, Carson, Van Tries, and Kerr, of Sinking Creek, with Boal, Glenn, Berry, the Thompson brothers, Goheen, Moore, and Woods, of Spring Creek, among the sainted ones, were no ordinary men as office-bearers. Their influence at all times and everywhere was for good, and it told upon the church as well as upon their families. Some of them seemed to live for the interest of the church and ever to delight in aiming to promote her prosperity. Her welfare was ever near their hearts. Their memory will ever be fragrant in the churches and the community of which they formed a part.
It is a comfort to know and feel that in each of these churches the mantle of the departed ones has fallen upon their successors, who are acting well their part, and upon whose fidelity the future prosperity, not to say the existence, of these churches will largely depend.
ROBERT HAMILL.
SINKING VALLEY.
SINKING VALLEY Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest organiza- tions of the kind in Huntingdon Presbytery. The early records of the Presbyteries of Carlisle and Huntingdon do not show that the church was ever regularly formed by order of Presbytery. "The custom of the Presbyteries of Carlisle and Huntingdon, in the beginning of their work in this part of the State of Pennsylvania, was, in response to supplications for preaching, to appoint supplies for different localities, and, if good attendance and hopeful outlook developed, to continue these supplies, coupled with administration of the ordinances occasionally, until these gatherings developed into what they called congregations, and resolved themselves into churches informally." On the records of Huntingdon Presbytery, at its first meeting in April, 1795, Sinking Valley appears as a congregation, and it is safe to say that it was recognized by the Presby- tery of Carlisle as a congregation or church before Huntingdon Presby- tery was organized.
In the year 1790 the Rev. David Bard, then pastor of the Presby- terian Church of Bedford, was engaged as stated supply, and, while we have no record of preaching at this station before that time, it seems very probable that there had been. How long Rev. Bard supplied the Sink- ing Valley congregation with preaching during this period is not known.
REV. V.V. COALE
JOHNH.MORROW
RESOLVESTE WYLEYOUNG
JOHN A CRAWFORD)
V. G. LOWDER
SINKING VALLEY (ARCH SPRING). PASTORS AND ELDERS.
261
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
There was a break in his ministration to this people, for in 1795 he was not stated supply, but at the time of his death, 1815, he again was.
Rev. James Martin was the next to preach to the Sinking Valley congregation. The exact dates when he began and closed his services here are not known. He preached here at some time during his pastor- ate over the churches of Penn's Valley, Warrior's Mark, and Half Moon, between the years 1789 and 1795, in which year he died.
Between the years 1795 and 1798 the church was coupled with Warrior's Mark Presbyterian Church, and with it depended upon preaching by supplies appointed by Presbytery. Rev. John Johnston ministered in word and doctrine to the church frequently during this period. In April, 1798, however, the united congregations of Spruce Creek and Sinking Valley called Mr. Samuel Bryson, a licentiate of the Huntingdon Presbytery. Mr. Bryson was ordained and installed pastor of the two congregations November 20, 1798. Rev. Bryson continued in this charge between six and seven years, from 1798 to 1805. From the year 1805, when the Rev. S. Bryson was released from the pastoral charge of the churches of Spruce Creek and Sinking Valley, to the year 1816 there is no record of a call from Sinking Valley for the services of a minister. For a period of thirteen years it seems to have depended on supplies.
In November, 1816, a call was made out by the united congregations of Sinking Valley and Spruce Creek for the services of Rev. W. A. Boyd, and April 2 of the following year Mr. Boyd was installed pastor of the first-named church. During his pastorate in the year 1818 a new stone church was built and dedicated. Prior to this date religious services were held in what was known as the "old log meeting-house," which had probably stood since the year 1790 or earlier ; for when, May 9, 1817, a subscription paper was drawn up for the purpose of securing
subscriptions for the new church, it was headed with the following reasons in this brief statement: "That, whereas, it is evident to all observers that the English Presbyterian meeting-house in Sinking Valley is much decayed, and too small for the congregation, we, the subscribers, promise to pay," etc. Mr. Boyd ministered to this people until the fall of 1821, when, on account of ill health, he resigned and was released by Presbytery from the pastoral charge.
Mr. John McIlhenny was the next to fill the pulpit of the church for a regularly appointed time, being in the spring of 1822 engaged for one year for one-half his time, Spruce Creek receiving the other half. Mr.
262
THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
McIlhenny was a licentiate of the Presbytery of Litterkenny, Ireland, and during the year he labored here was a probationer in Huntingdon Pres- bytery. The following year he was called by the two churches above named, but when the calls were laid before Presbytery unfavorable reports concerning him were brought to the notice of Presbytery. Sev- eral meetings of Presbytery were held for the trial of this case, and Mr. McIlhenny was proven guilty of grossly immoral conduct, even during the time of his labors within the bounds of Presbytery. His license to preach was revoked.
Spruce Creek did not unite with Sinking Valley in April, 1823, in the call of the next preacher, Mr. Samuel Swan, a licentiate of the Pres- bytery of Philadelphia, and so Mr. Swan, having continued with Sinking Valley as its pastor-elect for one year, declined the call before Presbytery, on the ground of insufficient support.
Rev. Samuel Hill was stated supply of the congregations of Spruce Creek and Sinking Valley 1825, and onwards until April, 1826, when he was called to these two churches, each to receive one-half of his time. He was not installed pastor until October of the following year. He ministered to this people for nearly ten years, until June 16, 1835, with lengthy sermons, with strong doctrine, and, at the same time, with a practical enforcement of the truth which was of the strictest. During this period Rous's version of the Psalms was rigidly adhered to; the communion was served at tables ; and the Saturday preceding the cele- bration of the Lord's Supper each communicant was provided with a token, which it was necessary for him to present the following day, in order to insure him the privilege to commune. While Mr. Hill was pastor of the church her total membership reached one hundred and forty. For three years after his release the congregation was without a regular pastor, and seems in that time to have retrograded considerably. Her eldership dwindled down to one, and the records state that only thirty-eight persons communed at the March communion, 1838.
In May, 1838, Rev. John McKinney was installed pastor of Sinking Valley Church for one-fourth of his time, Alexandria engaging his services for the other three-fourths. Mr. Mckinney was released from the pastoral charge of Sinking Valley in the year 1845, though he continued his pastoral relations with Alexandria until 1848.
In 1845, we find Sinking Valley uniting with Williamsburg in the call of Rev. W. J. Gibson, D.D., who was to give to each one-half of his time. From the beginning of this pastorate to the present time God's
SINKING VALLEY (ARCH SPRING).
263
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
grace in adding to the church such as shall be saved has been wonder- fully manifest. Dr. Gibson continued pastor of the church until 1852, when he was released by Presbytery, and accepted a call to Lick Run.
From June, 1853, to April, 1857, Rev. D. L. Hughes as pastor gave Sinking Valley one-half of his time and to Spruce Creek the other half. Fifty-four persons were added to the church as a result of Mr. Hughes's brief labors here. During his ministry in 1854 Tyrone became one of the preaching points in connection with Sinking Valley, and its Session held some of its meetings in the union church of Tyrone, and admitted members to the church.
December 15, 1857, the Rev. John Elliott was installed pastor for one-half of his time, Sinking Valley having united again with Spruce Creek in this call. This pastorate ended in 1861, and the Rev. Orr Lawson was called and installed pastor for one-half of his time, Bell's Mills taking the other half.
Sinking Valley soon called Mr. Lawson for all his time, and for several years thereafter remained an independent charge. Before the close of his pastorate in 1869 an excellent parsonage was built and paid for, at a cost of six thousand dollars.
In 1870 the Rev. J. J. Coale was installed pastor of the church, which continued to contribute singly to his support until, in 1871, a church was organized in the village of Spruce Creek, and named the Lower Spruce Creek Presbyterian Church. This church, an offshoot from Sinking Valley, took from the mother church fifty or more of its members and a number of its supporters, and ever since its organization until the present time has contributed one-half of the pastor's salary.
In the year 1885 the stone church of Sinking Valley was torn down, and a new one, of stone and brick, was erected upon the same site, cost- ing when furnished about nine thousand dollars. A memorial sermon was prepared and preached by the pastor, Rev. Coale, shortly before the old stone church was removed, of which sermon this history is prac- tically a condensation. Mr. Coale was released from the pastoral charge of Sinking Valley and Lower Spruce Creek in the spring of 1892, and May 20 of the following year Rev. S. W. Young was installed pastor of Sinking Valley for one-half of his time, Lower Spruce Creek taking the other half. During the two years of this pastorate, which still continues, there have been forty-two persons added to the church, thirty-three of this number having been admitted on profession of their faith. The present membership of the church numbers one hundred and sixty.
264
THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
The following is a list of ruling elders of the church as far as imper- fect and lost records make it possible to prepare it: Messrs. Thomas Wilson, Colonel Moore, Angus Sinclair, Squire Kile, James Wilson, John Clark, John Owens, James Mitchell, John M. Tussey, Armstrong Crawford, Alexander Dysartt, Perry Moore, Jesse Fisher, Alexander Templeton, John A. Crawford, J. A. Louder, and Joseph H. Morrow. The four last named are at present in active service.
The history of the churches shows that Sinking Valley Presbyterian Church has been the mother, as it were, of four churches of this denomi- nation,-Logan's Valley, Birmingham, Tyrone, and Lower Spruce Creek. S. W. YOUNG.
SPRING MILLS.
THIS was organized in 1841 as a New School Church, and was served in connection with Hublersburg, also New School, until the reunion in 1870. Since 1870 it has been served in connection with Sinking Creek Church.
Its pastors and supplies since the reunion were Thomas A. Robinson, William K. Fostor, H. C. Baskerville, J. W. Boal, etc. The names of the earlier pastors or supplies I have not at hand.
It was for a long time a fairly strong church. Peter Wilson was a leading elder for many years. His son, James D. Wilson, D.D., deceased, lately of the Central Church, New York, was from this church.
Its elders now are William Goodheart, William Rearick, C. P. Long, and Thomas Yearick. Its membership is twenty-four.
R. F. WILSON.
SPRUCE CREEK.
WHEN the Spruce Creek Church was organized is not known. Pres- byterian families settled in this valley as early as 1788. This church is mentioned on the Minutes of Huntingdon Presbytery at its first meeting in 1795, and occasional supplies were appointed for it, till the year 1798, when, at the meeting of Presbytery held in the house of Robert McCart- ney, Rev. Samuel Bryson was ordained and installed as pastor of this and Sinking Valley Churches. Previous to his settlement the people
265
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
of this congregation probably attended services at the Warrior Mark's Church in Dry Hollow, where the Rev. James Martin preached statedly. Mr. Bryson was promised one hundred and forty-four pounds by the two congregations, so that there must have been quite a number of families by that time in the two churches. He served this church till 1803.
With the exception of some supplies, the church was vacant from 1803 to 1817, when the Rev. W. A. Boyd was called. He resigned in 1823, owing to ill health. He was an able preacher, and won the affec- tions of his people; but his earthly service was short; he died the 13th of June, 1823. Mr. J. McElhenny was stated supply for six months.
From 1825 to 1843 Rev. Samuel Hill was pastor. He was an ex- ceedingly able preacher and a strong Calvinist, and through him the church attained that high regard for sound doctrine and steadfast ortho- doxy which has distinguished them ever since. It was his custom to preach two sermons on the Sabbath, the people bringing their lunch to church with them ; after the morning sermon recess was given for lunch, and then the afternoon sermon was begun, which often lasted till dark. The people walked five or six miles, the aged rode on horseback. From old " church duplicates" we learn that in 1833 there were about fifty-five families in the congregation, that they paid Mr. Hill three hundred dollars for half of his time, and that the pews were rented. In 1830 the log church, which had been used up to that time, was superseded by a frame building .* Mr. Hill's ministry was a long and faithful one, and the church prospered under his care. He laid great stress upon sound doctrine and upon the inculcation of the Westminster system of truth into the minds of young and old.
From 1845 to 1865 was the stormiest period of this church's history. The psalmody was the bone of contention, and the question, once raised, would not down. Previous to this time the metrical version of the Psalms made by Francis Rous, a member of the House of Commons, which was published in 1646, was used exclusively by this church. The General Assembly having published about that time their book of Psalms and Hymns, many in the congregation began to favor its intro- duction. While Rev. J. White was pastor (1845-1847) the controversy on this subject broke out with great bitterness, and he, wearied with strife, resigned before it was settled. All but two of the Session of eight
* I am greatly indebted to the Rev. J. C. Kelley for many of the facts of the early history of this church.
266
THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
elders were in favor of the use of Rous's version ; but a petition signed by fifty-eight members of the church being sent up to the Session Feb- ruary 22, 1847, they called a congregational meeting to decide whether Rous's version or the General Assembly's late collection of Psalms and Hymns should be the established psalmody of this church in future. At this congregational meeting, held March I, 1847, the vote was forty- seven to thirty-seven in favor of the General Assembly's book. The Session at a meeting held April II instructed their commissioner to Presbytery to request that body to send a commission to inquire into and try to adjust the difficulties that had arisen in this congregation. May 29 the Session passed the following resolutions :
" Resolved, first, That the friends of Rous's version have the organization of the Spruce Creek Church ; second, That the friends of Rous's version of David's Psalms have a right to have that version sung in the Spruce Creek Church by at least half the supplies granted them by the Presbytery at their last meeting."
Against the above action of the majority of the Session Adam Rankin, the minority member, and one of the ablest elders then in the Presbyterian Church, complained to Presbytery, and the complaint was sustained, and Presbytery deemed it expedient to divide the congrega- tion, and did so divide it at the October meeting, and declared the majority in the late vote on the psalmody to be the original or First Church of Spruce Creek, and the minority (or old psalmody party) to be called the Second Church of Spruce Creek. Six of the original elders withdrew to the Second Church, and of this Second Church Rev. Israel Ward was pastor from 1848 to 1853, and the Rev. Thomas Stevenson from 1854 to 1859. We are sorry the records of this church have not come down to us.
The Session of the First Church being almost broken up by the withdrawal of the six who favored Rous's version, Presbytery ordered the election of additional elders, which was done at a congregational meeting held October, 1847.
Of this First Church Rev. D. L. Hughes was the energetic pastor from 1848 to 1857. Although the church had been much weakened by the dissension, yet by his faithful labors it was greatly prospered in tem- poral and spiritual things. During his pastorate the present massive stone structure and the manse were built .*
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.