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 30
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by him for twenty years. "Father" Gulick's work in this line keeps his memory fresh, while many of his contemporaries are forgotten. The Presbyterian school in Clearfield was organized about 1850 by William B. Smith, who was succeeded as superintendent by William Robison. Dr. A. M. Hills took charge about 1855, and successfully and faithfully filled this position until 1870.
The superintendents following him were Rev. H. S. Butler, D.D., who was deeply interested in the Sabbath-school work, Hon. Cyrus Gordon, Professor B. C. Youngman, and B. F. Reed, all efficient officers, filling up the time until 1892. At this time the school was established on modern lines and a good system of Christian giving taken up and followed.
At the beginning of 1892 Alexander Patterson was elected superin- tendent by the Session, and H. B. Hartswick and Dr. J. L. R. Heichold first and second assistants, under the arrangement that a person would be asked to serve only one year in the first position, when the assistants would be advanced, and some one be elected to the office of second as- sistant superintendent. Following this plan Alexander Patterson, H. B. Hartswick, Dr. Heichold, and George Weaver have each served one year as superintendent, and James B. Graham and J. F. Powell are in line for 1896 and 1897.
The school is well maintained. A new chapel built in 1893 and 1894 has largely added to the number in attendance and to the comfort and efficiency of the school.
Miss Jennie Bridges, Miss Alice Betts, Mrs. Clarke, and Miss Lizzie Hartswick are among those who have had charge of the primary de- partment. During the past year it contributed seventy-five dollars to the mission boards and one hundred and fifty dollars for self-support. The school numbers thirty officers and teachers and two hundred and ninety-three scholars, and has an average attendance of one hundred and sixty-four. Three missions have been in connection with this church for some years,-viz., Pine Grove, Porter, and Glen Richey, and re- spectively have eighty-six, fifty-six, and one hundred and sixty-five members.
The history of the Sabbath-school of Newton Hamilton Church dates back to about 1834 or 1835. Captain William Ewing came with his parents from Ireland and landed there in the fall of 1836, when he was nine years of age. He says he attended Sabbath-school in the old Presbyterian church in the fall of that year. John McNear was prob-
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ably the first superintendent. Active workers in the early years of this school were Hugh Wilson, William McNear, John Drake, William and Robert Corbett, Sheriff Postlethwaite, Mrs. Sarah Postlethwaite, and David Copeland. For some reason there seems to have been no school from about 1845 until the spring of 1852, when it was revived and re- organized. Benjamin Norton, an elder, was superintendent. The his- tory of the Sabbath-school of the Newton Hamilton Church dates from its organization in 1838. Before that it was in connection with the Waynesburg (McVeytown) Church. The superintendent was an elder in that church until 1838. The school prospered in the pastorate of Rev. Benjamin Carrell. Other superintendents have been Samuel Laird, Dr. Charles Bower, Dr. J. R. Taylor, Robert L. Gamble, Samuel Ewing, Hugh Laird, Abram Aurand, Noah Otto, John D. Miller, and James H. Dysart. The present one is Samuel Ewing, who has served nearly twenty years.
Those who have been active workers were Mrs. Susan Purcell, Miss Sarah J. Norton (wife of Rev. McKee), Miss Lizzie Caldwell, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Norton, Joseph Wharton, S. T. Postlethwaite, J. N. Postlethwaite, and D. A. Postlethwaite. The teachers are Captain William Ewing, James A. Dysart, Mrs. Ann Postlethwaite, Mrs. Bell Harvey, Mr. and Mrs. John Baker, L. V. Postlethwaite, Mrs. James Graham, Mrs. Mary Black, Mrs. Eichelberger, Miss Clara Postlethwaite, and Joseph B. Gray, and C. I. Fuller is secretary. The Sabbath-school room was recently newly fitted up, and this has added to the comfort, attendance, and efficiency of the school. It is in a flourishing condition, and has an enrolled membership of one hundred and twenty-eight and an average attendance of sixty- seven. Its contributions amount to about fifty dollars annually.
It observes Children's Day and Christmas Anniversary, and is help- ful to the church. Miss Mary Baker is organist and John Baker is chorister.
The history of the Sabbath-school of the Shade Gap Church dates back at least to the year 1844, when W. Y. McGinnis began his labors in that church. Between the year 1844 and that of 1863 considerable attention must have been given to the Sabbath-school work. For in the minutes of the General Assembly for 1863 the churches of Shade Gap and Upper Tuscarora reported two hundred and seventy children in Sabbath-school. This seems to have been their first report in this matter. Joseph Hudson and Alexander Blair were active promoters of the Sab- bath-school work in this church during its earlier years.
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The work has ever since been carried on in this congregation. It has two schools. One is at Shade Gap, and W. C. Swan is superintend- ent. It continues all the year. The other is at Pine Grove, and J. H. Harper is superintendent, and does not continue all the year. These schools have a membership of eighteen officers and teachers, one hun- dred scholars, and an average attendance of seventy-five. They con- tributed last year twenty-four dollars to missions and twenty-two for their own use.
The Milroy Presbyterian Sabbath-school was organized about 1846 with a membership of forty. Dr. Samuel Maclay was chosen superin- tendent, and faithfully filled the office for twenty years. He was suc- ceeded in turn by John Aitkins, Ezra Hoopes, and J. C. McNite. Mr. McNite served from 1876 until the withdrawal of Rev. J. W. White and the larger part of his congregation in the year 1883. At that time the Sabbath-school membership in the congregation was about two hundred. The school has since that time continued with a largely-reduced roll, and it has been attended with encouragement. Its membership is sixty. The superintendents have been J. C. Wilson, D. S. McNite, and Albert Thompson, who is now acting. Miss Dosia Brooks has charge of the primary class. It contributed last year twenty-two dollars and thirty- four dollars for self-support.
The Sabbath-school of the Lower Tuscarora Church was organized about 1849 with Samuel Okeson as superintendent. This was during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. G. W. Thompson. Mr. Okeson served until his death in 1866. Other superintendents have been Robert Patterson, Rev. S. J. Milliken, Joseph S. Brown, D. D. Stone, J. Nevin Pomeroy, who served thirteen years, and J. H. Deen, who was chosen in 1889 and is still in office.
This school is under direct control of the Session. It continues its sessions throughout the year. The Sabbath-school work in the bounds of this church was in a flourishing condition in 1855. In the minutes of the General Assembly for 1856 this church reported six hundred children in the Sabbath-school. This was in the pastorate of Rev. Dr. G. W. Thompson, who had several flourishing schools in his con- gregation. He was an active Sabbath-school worker. At present it numbers sixteen officers and teachers and one hundred and sixty-two scholars.
The Sabbath-school of the First Presbyterian Church of Altoona was organized April 8, 1855, with ten officers and teachers and seventy
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scholars. William C. McCormick was chosen superintendent, and served eight years, and was succeeded by William M. Lloyd, who continued in office until 1869, when B. F. Custer was elected. In 1877 Thomas H. Wiggins followed Mr. Custer, and served until 1884, when G. L. Myers was elected, who continued in office until 1886. He was followed by John A. Canan, who served two years; then by Thomas H. Wiggins, who served four years; and then by W. J. Pollock, who served two years. The present superintendent is S. A. Gailey.
Among those who have been assistant superintendents have been John A. Keesberry, James W. Trimmer, Professor D. S. Keith, and A. C. Shand. The superintendents of the primary department since 1859 have been Miss Eliza J. McCormick, for seventeen years; Mrs. N. C. Barclay, for five years ; Jacob Hirst, for four years ; Mrs. Elizabeth Piper, Mrs. A. M. Black, and Mrs. Emma Ritchey, each for one year ; and Miss Millie Mayo, for three years, or until 1884, when Mrs. Catharine Swoope assumed charge of it. This school is the mother of the Presbyterian schools in the city of Altoona. It has given of its membership one hundred in all to the organization of the other schools.
The contributions last year amounted to three hundred and eighty- two dollars. It has contributed to works of beneficence two thousand dollars, and eight thousand dollars to the general fund of the church. It has always had a most efficient corps of officers and teachers, and has' been well conducted. Its present membership consists of fifty-one offi- cers and teachers and three hundred and thirteen scholars. It has an average attendance of two hundred and thirty-four.
The Sabbath-school of the Second Presbyterian Church of Altoona was organized July 18, 1869, with a membership of thirty-nine. James H. Dysart was the first superintendent and Maxwell Kinkead first secre- tary.
The primary department was organized the same day with Daniel Laughman superintendent, and had eight scholars. At the end of the first year there were forty-five officers and teachers and three hundred and one scholars in the main school, and a total of one hundred and twenty-six in the primary department. Mr. Dysart served as super- intendent for ten years, and was succeeded by J. Chester Wilson, who served five years, or until 1884. Then William S. Ross, M.D., was chosen and served five years, and was succeeded by J. Chester Wilson in 1889, who served one year. The present superintendent, H. K. Mc- Cauley, was chosen in 1890. These men have all been faithful, zealous,
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and efficient officers. Besides those named above the associate superin- tendents have been C. J. Mann, Harry Slep, Mrs. J. M. Campbell, J. D. Irwin, W. A. McGee, Theodore S. Wigton, A. T. Findley, Miss M. M. Ross, Mrs. J. L. Russell, and Mrs. M. W. Thompson. This school has furnished the following-named persons to the gospel ministry,-viz., N. Perry Crouse, G. Stuart Hackett, George Plack, Albert C. McCauley, Edward D. McDowell, in Syria, Samuel Martin, and Harry Allen. An- other member, Ira Laughman, died while in the theological seminary. This school has an enrolled membership of thirteen officers, fifty-eight teachers, and five hundred and twenty-three scholars. Miss M. M. Ross is superintendent of the primary department, and is assisted by Mrs. G. M. Esterline. The teacher's class is in charge of Alexander T. Findley. The contributions during the past year amounted to four hundred and eighty-six dollars, of which amount five dollars were given to the Blair County Sabbath-School Association, one hundred and twenty dollars to an educational fund, and one hundred and eleven dollars to the boards of the church. Its average attendance during the past year was three hundred and forty-eight.
The Sabbath-school of the Third Church of Altoona is one of the younger schools of the Presbytery. It was organized on Sabbath after- noon, May 6, 1888, in the chapel of the German Baptist Church on Fifth Avenue near Fifth Street, as a mission school by the pastors, Revs. J. W. Bain and J. L. Russell, of the First and Second Churches.
It numbered four officers, nine teachers, and fifty-four scholars, and J. D. Irvin was chosen superintendent. The sessions were held in the place of organization until December 9 following, when they entered their own building at its present location. Its growth was so encour- aging that a church was organized the following January 14, 1889. At the end of the first year there were one hundred and twenty-three en- rolled ; at the end of the second year two hundred and eleven; at the end of the third year two hundred and sixty-three; and at the end of the fourth year two hundred and seventy. On account of the formation of other schools about it, it has not been able to maintain this high number. But it has held its own, and now has a membership of thirty- five officers and teachers and two hundred and twenty-three scholars, with an average attendance of one hundred and fifty-nine.
Mr. Irvin was succeeded by Silas Moyer in 1891, then followed John H. Keefer and John S. McCune, who each served two years. Mr. Mc- Cune is still in charge. The primary department has been in charge of
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Mrs. Emma Scott and Miss Ella Walker, who have been efficient in this position.
The Sabbath-school of the Broad Avenue Church of Altoona was organized on the second Sabbath of June, 1892, being Children's Day, with a membership of fifty-four. John A. Canan was chosen superin- tendent, and continued to serve until June 1, 1895, when he was suc- ceeded by James W. Smiley. They have made such rapid growth that it now has a membership of twenty-one officers and teachers and two hundred scholars.
The Sabbath-school of the Juniata Presbyterian Church, Altoona, Pennsylvania, was organized July 22, 1892, with a membership of about fifty, under the superintendency of T. R. Brown. It has a membership of about one hundred and fifty, and its officers are B. T. Wolf, superin- tendent; E. C. Kinch, assistant superintendent ; Miss Mary English, secretary ; and W. B. McNeal, treasurer.
This is the youngest school of the Presbytery and is full of hope.
The Sabbath-school of the Logan's Valley Church at Bellwood (for- merly Bell's Mills) is an outgrowth of a union school that was carried on for a number of years in the Mary Ann Forge school-house. It dates back well on to 1850. It was held in the summer months. Among the Presbyterian families in this school were the McFarlanes, Irwins, Campbells, Glasgows, Craines, Bells, and Hunters. The Baptists were the first to organize a denominational school. They were followed by the Methodists in 1869. It was in that year that the Presbyterian school was organized with about seventy-five members. The pastor, Rev. J. H. Mathers, D.D., was chosen superintendent, and John Camp- bell assistant. Dr. Mathers filled this position for twenty years. Dr. Rowan Clark was subsequently chosen assistant superintendent and John Campbell treasurer, which position the latter filled until his death in 1883. Dr. Clark has done much to promote this school. Others in the school have been T. A. Gettys, F. M. Glasgow, Mrs. Rebecca Ester- line, Miss Martha Campbell, Miss Alice Lindsey, Miss Lizzie Bell, Mrs. Samuel Bell, J. B. Campbell, Mrs. Igou, Albert McFarlane, Mr. Geesey, and Miss Edith Bell. It is now in a prosperous condition under the superintendency of O. S. Fleming, who has filled this position for about five years.
It has an enrolled membership of twenty-two officers and teachers and one hundred and seventy-four scholars. Mrs. E. C. Mathers is in charge of the primary class. Rev. D. H. Campbell, pastor at Mount
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Union, was a member of this school. A Sabbath-school has been car- ried on for years in the old church near Tipton during the summer. It is in charge of Thomas Fleck, and has a membership of forty-five.
The school now known as the Port Royal Presbyterian Sabbath- school was organized in the year 1852. It was an outgrowth of a union school of an earlier date. The first superintendent was Colonel John M. Thompson, who held this office until 1861. He was succeeded by Samuel Buck, with Dr. G. M. Graham assistant superintendent. After the removal of Mr. Buck from Port Royal, and the death of Dr. Graham in 1893, Hon. W. C. Pomeroy was elected superintendent and Dr. A. W. Shelley assistant. The school is now in a good condition and is doing a good work. It numbers five officers, eleven teachers, and one hundred and fifty scholars. The primary class was first taught by Miss Annie Thompson, a daughter of Rev. Dr. G. W. Thompson, and now wife of Rev. J. H. Stewart, and afterwards by Mrs. E. Buck, Mrs. U. Stewart, Mrs. J. R. Sartain, and now by Miss Kate Keister. The roll of the school shows a large attendance of the young people who are members of the church.
This school contributed in 1894 seventeen dollars and seventy-three cents to Sabbath-school missions and forty-eight dollars for its own support.
The first Sabbath-school held in Mapleton, according to the recol- lection of the older people, was in the year 1858. It was a union school, and Colonel William Donaldson was superintendent. Colonel Donald- son was a Presbyterian. He was succeeded by William H. Rex, who came to Mapleton in 1859, and who has been actively identified with the work there ever since. According to the diary of A. W. Swope, Esq., for the year 1863, the Presbyterian Sabbath-school of Mapleton was organized in the church on the 24th of May of that year. This was about eighteen months after the church had been completed. Rev. Britton E. Collins, of Shirleysburg, was the stated supply of this con- gregation, and preached at intervals of about four weeks. William H. Rex was chosen superintendent, which office he faithfully filled until about 1886, when on account of ill health he was compelled to retire from such active service. He still continued to teach a large adult class. The history of the school is about four years older than that of the church.
Other superintendents have been Benjamin F. Baker, T. Morris Wood, and J. E. Dysart, who is at present acting, with A. B. Gillam as
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assistant. The school began with a membership of about twenty-five. It now has an enrolled membership of one hundred and eighty- three, and an average attendance of one hundred. It contributed last year about eighty-eight dollars. It contributes to all the boards of the church.
Those active in the beginning of the school were Benjamin, Daniel, Henry, and William Kauffman, M. F. Campbell, A. W. Swope, John Gayton, Mrs. Ann Gayton, Dr. Alman, Mrs. David Johnston, Simon P. Stubbs, Miss Amanda Taylor, and John J. White. Other active workers have been Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Wright, Mr. and Mrs V. B. McCarthy, Elliott Bitner, and G. A. Miller.
J. G. Hicks has the primary class. Mrs. Hatfield has taught a large class of young men since 1883, and has been very successful. Mr. Hatfield is organist as well as teacher, and has been very helpful to the school since 1883. This school is well provided with officers and teachers, and is in an encouraging condition. The pastor, D. H. Camp- bell, and elders do much to promote the interests of the school. It has from the first continued throughout the year. This school has grown rapidly since 1883.
The first Presbyterian Sabbath-school organized in Mount Union dates back to about the spring of 1862, when a school was organized in the old church under the ministry of Rev. G. W. Shaiffer, pastor of the Shirleysburg Church, with which this point was connected at that time. J. A. J. Postlethwaite was the first superintendent, and Alfred Simons was assistant. The attendance was about twenty-five.
Some of the early teachers were Mrs. Lucy Simons, Mrs. Jane Shaver, Mrs. Malinda Sechler, Miss Mary Ann Shaver, Elder P. R. Shaver, and Miss Eva Shaver. After the first year its sessions were held throughout the year. Other teachers have been Miss Emma Sech- ler, J. C. Postlethwaite, J. S. Coulter, P. Shaver, Jr., Kate Stewart, Dr. J. W. Mackey, Mrs. Rhoda Flasher, Mrs. A. Covert, and Kate Foust. Mr. Postlethwaite served as superintendent until 1873, excepting the year 1870, when B. J. Devor, and in 1871, when T. A. Appleby, served as superintendents. T. A. Appleby was chosen in 1873, and has filled the office to the present time. Other assistants have been Dr. A. R. Mc- Carthy, W. W. Fuller, J. J. White, John S. Coulter, J. C. Ross, and W. G. Ewing. The history of the school is older than that of the church of Mount Union, which was organized in 1865. About the year 1867 the school was removed to the building it now occupies. R. J. Faust
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was elected assistant superintendent in 1882, and since that time has had charge of the primary department, which has five teachers. Mrs. Nettie Hunter, Mrs. R. Ross, Mrs. Simons, Mrs. A. M. Appleby, and B. C. Wharton have been teachers. It contributed ninety-two dollars last year to the boards of the church and two hundred and two dollars for home use. It has an enrolled membership of two hundred and thirty- four and an average attendance of one hundred and fifty-three. It con- tributes to all the boards of the church. The pastor, Rev. D. H. Camp- bell, conducts a Bible-class in the parsonage on Monday evening on the study of the next Sabbath's lesson.
The history of the Sabbath-school of the Tyrone Church begins with a union school held in the basement of that church in the early part of 1865, with Dr. H. H. Roedel superintendent. The Lutherans having withdrawn during the same year, the Presbyterian Sabbath-school was organized on Wednesday evening, August 28, 1865, and the pastor, Rev. J. H. Clarke, was chosen superintendent, with W. H. H. Nevling assistant, and C. S. W. Jones librarian. It started with four classes taught by W. H. H. Nevling, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, Mrs. M. Jolly, and Mrs. Ellen Russell. In about six weeks S. C. Laird, Esq., was chosen superintendent, because the preaching engagements of the pastor pre- vented him from regularly filling the position. Other teachers in the school were Mrs. Laird, Mrs. Read, Emma Jones, Mollie Study, Nannie Aults, Miss Elder, Mrs. Kerlin, William Robertson, H. J. Cornman, Thomas Caldwell, and S. W. Barr. Joseph H. Patterson served a brief term as superintendent. Other superintendents have been Hon. Samuel McCamant, serving from June, 1868, to March 31, 1878, and from April 1, 1882, to March 31, 1887 ; S. S. Blair, from April 1, 1878, to March 31, 1882; C. J. Kegel, one year from April 1, 1887; J. L. Porter, for two years from April 1, 1888 ; A. A. Witter, for one year from April 1, 1890; and W. T. Canan, from April 1, 1890, to the present time. C. O. Tem- pleton, Esq., has charge of the primary department, which position he has filled for several years. This school has at present fifteen officers and forty-seven teachers. One of the interesting features of the school is the large class taught by the pastor, Rev. Harvey Graeme Furbay, Ph.D. It has an enrolled membership of six hundred and eighty-seven and an average attendance of four hundred and twenty-five. The class collection for the last year amounted to four hundred and thirty-three dollars. This school has supplied the means for the education of a native Hindoo for the ministry, and it now supports him. He labors
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under the direction of Rev. J. M. Goheen in the Kohlapoor Mission, India, and his name is " Vitto." This is the largest and one of the most prosperous schools in the Presbytery.
The Sabbath-school of the Milesburg Presbyterian Church dates its organization from May, 1868. John H. Hahn was the first superintend- ent, and the school began with a membership of seventy-five. W. B. Thomas became superintendent in 1886 and served until 1895, when D. E. Woodring was chosen to that office. J. B. Thomas, Miss Sarah C. Thomas, Miss Julia A. J. Morris, and Miss Lizzie Hahn have been active workers in this school. It still has a number of active and efficient workers, and the pastor, Rev. W. O. Wright, writes of it, saying, " The school has always been good, and ha's never stopped for one Sabbath, not even after the fire in June, 1888." It has sixteen officers and teachers and one hundred and eleven scholars. Miss Annie Church is in charge of the primary class.
Of the Moshannon Sabbath-school Rev. W. O. Wright writes, say- ing, " In 1861 I taught in the Sabbath-school of the old Moshannon Church before I was in the ministry. It was then in a good condition, but I do not know who was superintendent. I think it was a Mr. Herxtall. When I entered on the work there the school had gone down. Then there was no Sabbath-school until reorganized about 1892. But the Methodist Episcopal Church then appointed preaching service there at the same hour that the school met and it went down again. It was again reorganized about May, 1895, and has now an enrolled mem- bership of fifty-nine. T. D. Weaver is superintendent, and W. T. Lomi- son assistant." It has about six active workers, and its prospect of continued life and of doing good is encouraging.
In respect to the Sabbath-school of Snow Shoe City, it has had a continued existence since its organization about July 17, 1869. John S. Gomerville was an active promoter of this school, and was probably the first superintendent. Other superintendents have been Adam Barr, Joseph Thompson, John D. Brown, and the present one, Peter Park, who was elected in September, 1895.
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