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 27
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This building was enlarged in the year 1891. The committee that had it in charge was S. S. Blair, chairman ; A. G. Morris, Colonel S. Mc-
* Dr. Furbay was married, June 5, 1890, to Miss Blanche Campbell, daughter of Rev. R. G. Campbell, D.D., Professor of Greek in Franklin College. Mrs. Furbay died April 4, 1896. Dr. Furbay received a call to the Oxford Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, April 15, 1896, which he accepted.
SAMUEL W. BARR CLERK OF SESSION
PL SAY DELM
-
ROWAN CLARKE MON
F SAMUELS. BLAIR
JOHN
TYRONE. ELDERS.
277
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
Camant, General R. A. McCoy, R. G. McLanahan, John A. Nivling, J. L. Porter, C. O. Templeton, and R. S. Seeds. The addition extended the church in length to one hundred and twenty feet, enlarging the Sunday- school room, and making an infant-room above, class-rooms, etc. This cost thirteen thousand dollars.
The reopening and rededication occurred October 25, 1891. Rev. R. F. Sample, D.D., pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in New York City, preached the sermon. His text was Acts v. 8.
The real estate on which this building stands, together with the manse, is worth about eleven thousand dollars. Isaac Pursell was the architect of the original church and of the addition.
In 1894 a new manse was erected, the old one being one of the oldest houses in town, The committee having this in charge was Theodore Shirk, chairman ; Dr. W. L. Lowrie, Joseph K. Cass, A. G. Morris, John F. Wilson, J. W. Moore, and A. M. LaPorte. The manse is a brick building with all modern improvements and conveniences, and cost about five thousand two hundred dollars. The total cost of the property as it now stands is about forty-eight thousand dollars.
Since 1871 this congregation has contributed for church support over one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars.
The following is a list of the elders, deacons, and trustrees who have served this church :
ELDERS.
The elders, together with the date of ordination, installation, dis- missal, or death, are as follows :
Adam Leffard was ordained April 7, 1857, and served until Novem- ber 4, 1865. Joseph Hagerty, ordained and installed at the same time, was active in this capacity until his death, which was in a railroad acci- dent, April or May, 1868.
William Campbell, M.D., was inducted into this office, by ordination, August 29, 1858, but was soon after dismissed to Moshannon.
The next was Hugh A. Campbell, who served from February 28, 1859, until he was dismissed to Spring Creek.
There is no record of John H. Patterson's ordination, but it evidently occurred at a later date than the above. He served until his death in March, 1864.
William H. Robertson had been an elder previous to his coming to this place, and was installed September, 1865, holding the office until June 23, 1867.
*
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
Samuel W. Barr, the present clerk, was ordained and installed Sep- tember 29, 1867 ; and at the same time, John M. Harper, who died July 19, 1887, and William H. H. Nivling, who was dismissed to Bellefonte October 13, 1887.
As the present Session is constituted, Colonel Samuel McCamant is next in order as to length of service, having been ordained February, 1871. At the same time John Gemmill was inducted into this office, and served until his death in July, 1876.
C. J. Kegel was ordained December 9, 1877, and dismissed to a Philadelphia church, April 25, 1890. James A. Crawford at the same time was ordained, and served until his dismissal to the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Coalport, January 20, 1885.
Rowan Clarke, M.D., was installed, having served in this capacity in the Logan's Valley Church. Dr. Clarke died in April, 1896.
Samuel S. Blair and John F. Wilson were ordained November II, 1883, and continue to serve this church at the present time.
Chambers O. Templeton, Esq., and J. Calvin Goheen, a brother of J. Milligan Goheen, a missionary in India at Kolapur, being at the present time members of the Session, were ordained and installed March 22, 1891. At the same time William C. Laird was installed, and served until he was dismissed to Port Royal, July 5, 1895.
On December 8, 1895, J. Walter Moore, son of the former pastor, the late Rev. Samuel M. Moore, D.D., was ordained and installed as an elder.
This constitutes the list of elders who have served in this congrega- tion from its organization.
DEACONS.
The first deacons ordained were Hugh A. Campbell, Colonel Samuel McCamant, John H. Patterson, August 29, 1858. Mr. Campbell was dismissed to Spring Creek Church, and Mr. McCamant ceased to act as a deacon when he was elected sheriff of Blair County, and dismissed to Hollidaysburg, December, 1861. Mr. Patterson continued in office until his death in March, 1864.
The next ordination was in February, 1871, when Jacob J. Russell, Joseph Battin, C. J. Kegel, and Samuel H. Cree were inducted into office. Mr. Russell was dismissed to Derry, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1880. Joseph Battin died April 26, 1887. Mr. Kegel, as above noted, was ordained an elder December 9, 1877. Samuel H. Cree, while holding his member- ship in this church, has ceased to act in this capacity, having removed to Roaring Springs, Pennsylvania, where he now resides.
TYRONE. THE MANSE.
279
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
Michael Hamer, who is at present a deacon, and James A. Crawford, who was ordained an elder December 9, 1887, were ordained to this office October 3, 1875.
Robert M. Bailey, at the present time president of the Central Penn- sylvania Telephone Company, and John F. Wilson, now an elder, together with Robert G. McLanahan, who is at present serving the church in this capacity, were ordained and installed December 9, 1877. Mr. Bailey removed from this place, and was dismissed to Milton, Penn- sylvania, June 5, 1883.
William O. Myers, who at present holds the office, and Dr. J. C. M. Hamilton, who was dismissed to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1895, were ordained and installed December 5, 1880.
Herndon M. Myers, dismissed to Duluth, Minnesota, August 3, 1887, C. B. Bowles, at present residing in Philadelphia, Charles A. Study, who died August 17, 1891, and William T. Cannan, who is at the present time one of the members of this board and superintendent of the Sunday- school, were ordained and installed November 11, 1883.
J. Walter Moore, recently ordained an elder, and Adolphus M. LaPorte, serving in this capacity at this date, were ordained and installed March 22, 1891.
Harry L. Hesser and J. H. Grazier were inducted into this office, by ordination, December 8, 1895.
TRUSTEES.
Samuel Jones, Esq., the date of whose election is not known, he evidently having been elected at the organization of the church, served until the time of his death, July 31, 1894.
Colonel Samuel McCamant was elected April 11, 1869, and served until April 3, 1895.
General Robert A. McCoy, who died in September, 1893, Alexander G. Morris, John C. Ewing, and William T. Cannan, were elected May 26, I 890.
This church had not been incorporated. Through the activity of Dr. Furbay a charter was taken out in 1895, under which a system of by- laws was adopted which required the election of five trustees annually, together with a board of auditors and independent officers of the con- gregation, consisting of the president, secretary, and treasurer. The first election under this charter was held April 3, 1895, and resulted in the choice of John C. Ewing, Charles A. Morris, Daniel D. Stine, J. W.
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
Fisher, and Joseph K. Cass as trustees. This board was organized with Charles A. Morris as president and D. D. Stine as secretary. The officers of the congregation were S. S. Blair, chairman, William C. Barr, secretary, and Mark G. Crawford, treasurer.
This church is well organized, the organization, as it exists at present, being largely due to the work of Dr. Moore and Dr. Davies. There are a number of Mission Bands, a Ladies' Aid Society, a Young Ladies' Aid Society, a Women's Home and a Women's Foreign Missionary Society. These are valuable to the local organization and to the church at large.
It is not necessary here to refer to the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor and the Sunday-school, because of the full report that is given in another place in this volume. The Sunday-school edu- cated and now supports a missionary in the mission in which Rev. J. Milligan Goheen is located. The name of this native is Vitto. The church takes considerable pride in this missionary work. The spirit of the church is intensely missionary. It is connected by bonds of blood or affection with almost every foreign field of our church.
Another interesting fact in connection with this church is that the Christian Endeavor Society issues weekly (since January, 1895), ten months in the year, a local church paper of twelve columns. This is valuable in enabling the pastor to reach the congregation every Saturday morning with regular announcements, and also the needs of the various benevolent agencies of the church. The name of the paper is "The Tyrone Endeavorer."
In October, 1894, this church entertained the Synod of Pennsylvania, and points back to that event with pride, inasmuch as the stated clerk, who had served the Synod for many years, publicly stated that never in his remembrance had the Synod received such accommodations and courtesies as at this meeting at Tyrone, the arrangements for their com- fort, in his judgment, being almost perfect.
S. W. BARR.
UPPER TUSCARORA.
THIS church was organized by the Carlisle Presbytery, but there is no record of the date.
The first pastor was Rev. McIlwain, who served the church for about eight years. After his removal the church was vacant for about twenty years.
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OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
The second pastor was Rev. George Gray. His pastorate continued for twenty years.
Rev. J. Y. McGines then supplied the church for eighteen months, and after him came Rev. J. B. Adams as a supply, from October, 1851, until April, 1853.
The third regular pastor was the Rev. William S. Morrison, who was installed August 26, 1853; resigned June, 1857, on account of bad health.
The fourth pastor, Rev. G. Van Artsdiln, supplied the church for one year, and was installed pastor in 1860. No date of his resignation.
Rev. M. Lewis McCune was a supply from 1865 till April, 1867.
The fifth regular pastor was Rev. J. E. Kerns, installed March 2, 1868, resigned November, 1879. After this the church was supplied by Rev. Arthur for a short time.
The sixth pastorate, that of Rev. L. L. Houghanout, extended from September, 1884, to December, 1889.
The seventh and present pastorate, that of Rev. John F. Diener, began October 1, 1890. He was installed pastor over this church in November of the same year, also over the churches of Shade Gap and Peru.
The present membership of the Upper Tuscarora Church is one hundred and twenty ; of the Shade Gap Church, one hundred and forty- five; of the Peru Church, fifty.
During the present pastorate one hundred and two persons have thus far been received into full membership in these churches.
Names of elders, in the order of service, in the Upper Tuscarora Church : Thomas Morrow, Nicholas Goshorn, James Neely, James Wal- lace, Richard Morrow, Adam Seibert, John Woodside, James Louthers, John McConnell, Robert Wallace, Samuel Campbell, Rowland A. Brown, Alexander Carron Blair, John Montgomery, John Blair Morrow, John Moody Morrison, M.D., E. Montgomery, James Coulter, James G. Mc- Clure, David L. McDonald, M.D., Henry L. Book, John McConnell Blair, James Lauthers.
Under the present pastorate the Upper Tuscarora Church has under- gone extensive repairs, costing over six hundred dollars, and the parson- age has also been very greatly improved.
JOHN F. DIENER.
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
WATERSIDE.
A COMMITTEE of the Presbytery of Huntingdon, consisting of Rev. Messrs. D. H. Barron, of Hollidaysburg, Henderson, of Bedford, and Rev. McNinch, of Schellsburg, having been appointed to organize a church at Waterside, met, with the exception of Rev. Henderson, at the church, November 9, 1880, and, after a sermon by the chairman, received certificates of admission from eighteen members of the Yellow Creek Church, which being found in order, they were received as mem- bers of the church to be organized. Mr. James B. Butts and Mr. J. H. Hartman were elected ruling elders, and Messrs. James E. Noble, Thomas Border, and D. B. Kochenderfer were elected deacons. Mr. Hartman was ordained a ruling elder, and Messrs. Border and Koch- enderfer were ordained as deacons, by prayer and the laying-on of hands, and all the above officers-elect were then installed. Services were held in the evening, and a sermon was preached by Rev. McNinch.
John C. Wilhelm, stated supply, of Saxton and Yellow Creek Churches, included with Waterside in one charge.
Stated supplies since its organization have been Rev. Harvey Shaw, Rev. Harvey Sanson, Rev. William Prideaux, Rev. J. R. Sanson, and Rev. William Prideaux.
J. H. HARTMAN.
WEST KISHACOQUILLAS.
IT is impossible to give the date of organization of West Kishaco- quillas Church, if it had a formal one. Land in the Kishacoquillas Valley was surveyed in 1755, but, owing to the French War and the raids of the Indians, permanent settlements were few until 1775. In that year Rev. Philip V. Fithian visited the valley and preached twice in West Kishacoquillas, in a barn of Robert Brotherton, on August 20, for which service John McDowell gave him twenty shillings.
For a period of eight years there is no other mention of preaching in the valley, but a call-bearing date March 15, 1783, and still preserved, with the names of sixty-nine members of the two congregations of East and West Kishacoquillas-for the pastoral services of the Rev. James Johnston makes it clear that at that time two strong congregations were already organized and were provided with places of worship. The Rev. Johnston accepted this call, his services being equally divided between
283
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
the two congregations. He was installed as pastor August 19, 1784, in which relation he served until June 22, 1796, at which time at the meet- ing of Presbytery he requested leave to resign his charge. That body, however, withheld its decision until the fall meeting of Presbytery, October 5, 1796. Meanwhile the membership of both congregations opposed his resignation by presenting to Presbytery a petition signed by a majority of the members asking that body to acquiesce in their desires. But, on account of his much-impaired health, Presbytery deemed it wise and proper to grant his request.
From this date the two congregations seem to have been furnished with supplies for fourteen years,-i.e., until 1810, in which year we find a call presented for the pastoral services of the Rev. William Kennedy. He accepted a call from Lewistown and the West Kishacoquillas Churches, Lewistown calling him for two-thirds and West Kishaco- quillas for one-third of his time. He was ordained and installed at Lewistown October 3, 1810, over both churches, at a salary of four hun- dred and eighty dollars, to be paid in proportion to the services rendered each, the Rev. John B. Patterson preaching the sermon and Rev. William Stuart presiding and delivering the charge. He remained pastor of these congregations until the Ist of October, 1822, when he was, at his own request, released to the Presbytery of Erie.
From 1822 to 1827 the West Kishacoquillas congregation depended upon supplies, but we find from Sessional records that, at a meeting of the Session, consisting of John Wilson, Esq., John Gettys, William Hazlett, James Wilson, and Jesse Adams, Rev. John Hutchison, moderating, on April 10, 1827, West Kishacoquillas congregation com- missioned Mr. James Wilson, a ruling elder, to prosecute a call sent by it for the ministerial services of Rev. James Williamson; but, for some reason not given, the call was not accepted. However, at the fall meet- ing of Presbytery held at Sinking Valley Church on Wednesday, October 10, 1827, Mr. James Wilson was sent to present Presbytery with a call for the Rev. James H. Stuart. This call was accepted, and Mr. Stuart became the pastor, October 26, of both the East and West Kishaco- quillas Churches. In these congregations he labored until disqualified by the ravages of disease, from which he died, February 27, 1829; he was interred in the cemetery of East Kishacoquillas.
After the death of Mr. Stuart the church depended upon supplies until October, 1830, at which time, at the fall meeting of Presbytery, a united call was presented for the ministerial services of Rev. William
1
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
Annan ; this call being accepted, he was installed as pastor in connection with Little Valley Church November 24, 1830. The church flourished under his ministry until the fall meeting of Presbytery, 1835, when so many of the pastors were released from their charges in this Presbytery. Among those was the acceptance of Rev. William Annan's resignation in addition to three other ministers ; thus six churches and one missionary district were left vacant.
One matter particularly discouraging at this time to pastor and Ses- sion was the frequent reprimanding by the Session of some members of the church for attending public dances and other worldly amusements, contrary to the rules and discipline of the church. So aggravated had this practice grown that the Session were obliged to apply to Presbytery for its approval or disapproval of its actions in the matter. While Pres- bytery fully endorsed the course of the Session in its efforts to suppress this evil in its midst, yet not a few suffered suspension rather than submit to the rule and discipline of the church, and in one or two instances members presented themselves to Presbytery in the hope that that body would justify them in their course of conduct, and allow them to remain as communicant members and permit them to indulge in the practice for which the Session had cited them to appear. The non- attendance of members was also viewed by the Session as a sufficient reason for dismissal unless good and sufficient cause were given for the same; a few suffered suspension rather than submit to the demands of the church, although the members violating were in every instance dealt with in the most affectionate and Christian-like manner.
We find that at a meeting of Session on May 23, 1836, Rev. James S. Woods moderated. This is the only record from the year 1835, at which time the charge was declared vacant, until we find a call presented at the stated spring meeting of Presbytery, April 4, 1837, from the churches of West Kishacoquillas and Little Valley, for the pastoral services of Rev. Moses Floyd, who was then a licentiate of the Presby- tery of Philadelphia. This call was accepted by him, and he was ordained and installed at an adjourned meeting of Presbytery held at Little Valley Church June 14, 1837. Rev. Mr. Floyd served as pastor of West Kishacoquillas until February 24, 1844, when he resigned.
After Mr. Floyd's resignation the pulpit was supplied by the follow- ing ministers : several appointments during 1844 by Rev. Samuel N. Howell; November 4, 1844, by Rev. J. Peebles; January 5 and June I, 1845, Rev. Joshua Moore ; November 13, 1845, Rev. D. L. Hughes. At
285
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
a congregational meeting held January 1, 1846, a unanimous call was presented to Rev. Samuel H. McDonald for the whole of his services, two-thirds of his time to be devoted to the lower or brick church con- gregation and one-third to the upper or Allensville congregation. This call was accepted, and he entered upon his duties as pastor January 30, 1846. According to Sessional record, Rev. McDonald served as pastor of the two congregations, but on December 29, 1855, resigned.
Again on June 8, 1856, we find the Rev. Moses Floyd acting as moderator of Session, and at various dates filling appointments at both places of worship, up to and including April 12, 1857. At a meeting of the Session August 29, 1857, we find the Rev. Ross Stephenson presid- ing. No further information can be obtained until June 19, 1858, at which time we find a call presented for the pastoral services of Rev. James Williamson. The call was accepted October 2, 1858, and he was installed December 14, 1858, and was released at the fall meeting of Presbytery, October 2, 1860.
On December 29, 1860, at an adjourned meeting of Presbytery, a call was presented for the pastoral services of Rev. Robert B. Moore, formerly of Red Stone Presbytery. The call was accepted, and he was ordained and installed December 27, 1860. After serving these two churches as pastor he resigned, and the relation was dissolved May 26, 1867.
At an adjourned meeting of Presbytery we find a call presented for the ministerial services of Rev. R. M. Campbell. This call being accepted, he assumed the duties of pastor, was installed and ordained June II, 1867, and, after a long and faithful pastorate, resigned June II, 1886.
From this date the pulpit at both places of worship was filled by several ministers called as candidates, embracing the period from April 16, 1887, to June 23, 1888, at which time the name of the Rev. Sylvester S. Bergen appears upon the Sessional record. However, the call for his services as pastor dates from May 15, 1888. Rev. Mr. Bergen is at this date, November 29, 1895, pastor, having in his ministry in this field of labor been faithful to all, as well as instrumental in building up the mem- bership, both in the Allensville and the Belleville congregations.
The following list comprises the names of all who have served as elders from the year 1820: John Wilson, Sr., John Gettys, William Hazlett, James Wilson, Jesse Adams, Samuel Taylor, Samuel Barr, Isaac Armstrong, John Fleming, William P. Maclay, John R. McCarthey, John Wilson, Jr., Joseph Campbell, Jr. (who, in the twenty-eighth year of
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THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
his age, was elected and installed as an elder of the West Kishacoquillas Church November 27, 1845, and served until his death, October 6, 1894, almost forty-nine years), James. B. Cook, J. Oliver Campbell, James M. Lashell, Robert P. Maclay, John Huey, Robert K. Allison, John W. Wilson, William Huey, William H. Glass, John M. Fleming, William M. Gibboney, A. Clay Henderson, Robert T. Fleming, Joseph N. Ham- ilton, and John Knepp. The following are now acting as ruling elders : John W. Wilson, John M. Fleming, A. Clay Henderson, Robert T. Flem- ing, and William M. Gibboney, of the Belleville Church; and William Huey, William H. Glass, Joseph N. Hamilton, and John Knepp, of Allensville Church.
The following persons who were members of this church have entered the ministry : Samuel Wilson, D.D., son of John Wilson, Sr., and one of the first elders ; John W. Hazlett and Silas Hazlett, grandsons of William Hazlett, one of the first elders; Robert Fleming Wilson and Miles Cooper Wilson, sons of George Wilson and grandsons of the same elder ; Joseph Henderson Fleming, son of James Fleming, and James Martin Wilson, son of Henry S. Wilson, and great-grandson of Elder Wilson, a brother of Robert Fleming Wilson, who had the ministry in view, but died when acquiring his education ; Robert L. Campbell, son of Joseph Campbell, Jr., an elder.
After worshipping for a time at the house of the Brothertons, who resided just opposite the present cemetery, nearly midway between Belleville and Allensville, the congregation held services in a tent until 1800, in which year a log church was built and used until 1826, when, possibly upon the same site, a one-story brick church was erected. This was used until the year 1860, when it was decided to erect a substantial two-story brick church at Belleville. This edifice still stands, and is at the present time used regularly for worship. About the same time the congregation built a substantial parsonage, containing eight rooms, where the present pastor (Rev. S. S. Bergen) now resides.
In 1833-34 a frame church building was erected in Allensville. Services were held here with more or less regularity until a new one- story brick church was built in the year 1862, upon its present site.
WILLIAM M. GIBBONEY.
885-1889
REV. LOYAL Y. HAYS.
REV MATTHEW BROWN .
1801-18.05.
1844-1873. REV. MATTHEW ALLISON D.D
1805-1844
REV. JOHN HUTCHINTJA,
MIFFLIN. PASTORS.
287
OF THE PRESBYTERY OF HUNTINGDON.
WESTMINSTER-MIFFLINTOWN.
As early as 1758, immediately after the surrender of Fort Duquesne, many persons in the eastern part of Pennsylvania began to emigrate westward. They were generally Presbyterians from the North of Ireland originally, and many of those who came out from Cumberland County settled in what is now known as Juniata County, in the Lost Creek and Tuscarora Valley. These Presbyterians would not be long in their new home until they would assemble together for the public worship of God.
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