USA > Virginia > Sketches of Virginia : historical and biographical > Part 12
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ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER.
fear God, keep a good conscience, with industry and economy to be independent, and at last to die christianly. Mr. Alexander taught his children for a time himself; and to accommodate his neighbors and encourage his own children, he opened a night school in the winter - and thus supplied the deficiency of proper teachers. His brother Robert Alexander, was a fine classical scholar. He also removed to Virginia, and made his residence near the present village of Greenville, in Augusta. He taught the first classical school in the Valley.
William, the eldest son of this Archibald Alexander, born in Pennsylvania, near Nottingham, March 22d 1738, came to Virginia with his parents when about nine years of age, and grew up in the retirement and hardships of a frontier life. He was familiar with the Larger Catechism from his childhood, and could repeat the greater part of the Psalms and Hymns in Watts' version, and was well acquainted with Christian doctrine. He was married to Agnes Ann Reid, a young lady reared like himself in the simplicity of - frontier life, and in the Presbyterian faith, retiring in her manners, and affectionate in her disposition. Her grandfather Andrew Reid, came from Ireland with two brothers, and settled in Octorara, Penn- sylvania, having the Shawanese as their neighbors. Her father, An- drew, was born in Ireland and emigrated at the age of 14. He married his cousin Sarah, daughter of John Reid, and removed to Virginia. The children of William Alexander were Andrew, Mar- garet, Archibald, and Sarah, born on Irish Creek ; Phoebe, Eliza- beth, John, Nancy, Ann, and Martha, born on North River, near the present town of Lexington. His mercantile arrangements being broken up by the Revolutionary war, Mr. Alexander became deputy Sheriff of the county, his father being the High Sheriff. As an elder of the Church he was highly respected, though his children say he was not as impressive in religion as their grandfather. When the Academy, now Washington College, was removed to the vicinity of Lexington, the buildings were erected on his lands; and in the charter obtained in 1782, he was named one of the Trustees. In fostering that institution, he secured to his sons the best education the Valley of Virginia could afford.
ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER, dear to the Presbyterian Church as the first Professor of Theology in the Assembly's Seminary, at Prince- ton, New Jersey, was the third child and second son of William Alexander and Agnes Ann Reid, born April 17th, 1772, on South River, Rockbridge County, Virginia. He grew to early manhood on the banks of North River, near Washington College, as it now stands. The early instruction of Mr. Alexander was at an "old field" school, and under very indifferent teachers. With these he saw or heard nothing to awaken desires for literary excellence. In his youth, he came under the instruction of his pastor, William Graham, whose teachings were not calculated to foster self-conceit; and in the estimation he formed of himself fell vastly below the grade of excellence assigned him by his venerable teacher. At
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ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER.
Liberty Hall, he also had the instruction of that surpassing teacher James Priestley. This man loved the classics passionately. Grow- ing up on Timber Ridge, he attracted the attention of his minister, and by his aid and devotion acquired an education at Liberty Hall. His Greek and Latin approached the vernacular. The finest pas- sages of the classics were lodged in his memory. He would declaim before the boys, in Greek, with the greatest vehemence. In various ways he inspired them with the most enthusiastic ardor in their pursuit of knowledge and literary eminence. He became to his pupils the standard of excellence in classic attainments ; and mea- suring themselves and others by him, they cultivated a refined taste and a correctness altogether beyond the common standard. His influence on young Alexander remained through life, exciting to greater and greater acquirements in the languages. The memory of this man stimulated him in Spottsylvania and in Prince Edward. The standard of classical acquirements raised by that man has been as influential in Virginia and the Western States, as Graham's Philosophy. And how he became such a linguist no one can tell any more than how Graham became master of such a philosophy. The power of such men is never lost.
At the age of seventeen, young Alexander was employed as tutor in the family of General Posey, of Spottsylvania, about twelve miles from Fredericksburg. Here he became acquainted with the manners of the more refined of low Virginia, whose beauty was in part in that simplicity that ever characterized him in all his stations of life. Here, to preserve his character as tutor, he made great ad- vance in his acquaintance with classic authors. Here, he began to feel his personal responsibility to God, and to act for himself. Here, by the instrumentality of a pious member of the family, he felt his own need of conversion ; and here, as he fully believed in after life, he was born again. The examples and instructions of former years became, under the Spirit's influence, a quickening power. The human hand that applied the match to the train was a Baptist lady, of whom there remains on earth no other memorial; and Flavel was the instrument she used. Did that woman live in vain ? The place in which the Spirit opened his eyes, might be found on the banks of the little creek near General Posey's dwelling. Soamme Jenyns came to his aid-" When I ceased to read, the room had the appearance of being illuminated," and the same blessedness, perhaps in a higher degree, came to his heart as he prayed in the arbor on the little creek. Having fulfilled his engagements with General Posey, he returned to Rockbridge, and was sensible, for the first time in his life, of the beautiful scenery around the place of his childhood. How should he know the excellence to which his childish mind had been accustomed, and assimilated, till he had looked on other things, and lost, in a manner, the vision of his earliest days ? The place of his childhood, the purity of his father's house, the excellence of his academical instructors, the refinement of his first field of effort, the gentle influence of a pious lady -- all prepared him, under the guid-
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J. B. SMITH - WILLIAM GRAHAM.
ance of the Holy Spirit, for that visit to Prince Edward and Char- lotte, memorable in the history of many.
Rev. J. B. Smith, of Hampden Sidney, invited Rev. William Graham, of Liberty Hall, to visit him, and be a co-laborer at a communion, while the extensive revival was in progress. Mr. Gra- ham had been the means of putting Liberty Hall far ahead of all the literary institutions in Virginia, except Hampden Sidney ; and Mr. Smith had put Hampden Sidney above all except Liberty Hall. Some small collisions had taken place. Each with the other stood upon his dignity. When this invitation came, Mr. Graham resolved to go. God had revived his brother Smith, and in that blessing had exalted him above his head; and he meant to bow to the favored one of the Lord. Archibald Alexander, and some other young men, accompanied him. The journey was on horseback, and full of interest. It afforded the pupil a full and free conversation with his teacher, on the subject of justification by faith, and the work of the Spirit. The exercises of the communion season had commenced when they reached Briery. The excitement on religion was high, and its influence over the young people generally controlling. Le- grand rejoicing in the success of his mission to North Carolina, was there with a company of professed converts from Granville County. The woods rang with the songs of praise as the companies of young people rode to and from public worship. The meeting of the two Presidents was touching. Smith rejoicing in the work of God, ยท heartily welcomed, with Christian dignity, his brother Graham. Graham returned the salutation with urbanity, but evidently as depressed in mind as he was wearied in body from the ride through a long hot day. They lodged at the house of widow Morton, a con- vert of Davies. Mr. Smith called on William Calhoon to pray, and William Hill to exhort; both young converts. Young Alexander was greatly moved by Hill's address. Mr. Smith gave a warm address. Mr. Graham with great oppression of heart led in prayer. The young people thought Mr. Graham cold, and urged Mr. Smith to preach the action sermon on Sabbath morning, because Mr. Gra- ham was not prepared, as they thought, for the occasion. Smith suffered himself to be persuaded, through fear that ill might come to the cause. Graham gladly listened to his brother as he preached from the words-" The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise !" The crowd was great. Preparation had been made to hold all the ser- vices in the open air. The coming of rain changed the purpose after sermon, and the sacrament was administered in the house. While the change of arraugement was going on, Mr. Legrand preached from the horse-block, and Mr. Samuel Houston did the same while the services were progressing in the house. After the sacrament, Mr. Graham preached in the house, from the words- "Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God." Smith had set forth the acceptable sacrifice; Graham held forth the comfort God gives when iniquity is pardoned and the warfare over, the
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WILLIAM GRAHAM-ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER.
wonderful mercies God bestows on his church in revivals and gifts of grace. The cloud had gone from his mind, and the weight from his heart. The crystal fountain poured forth its living waters. Smith was amazed; the crowd enwrapt; and Graham scarce knew himself as he was borne along by the tide of feeling, and the vast truths of grace. The rain came on, and the house was crowded to its utmost capacity. Graham turned his address to the impenitent. Silent, motionless, almost breathless, all heard the sermon to the close. Was that the man, "too cold to preach the action sermon ? Was that Mr. Graham,'or an angel from heaven ? Smith wept with thanksgiving. The sweet harmony of that hour was unbroken through life. After a half century, the survivors of that crowded assembly would talk of that sermon. The Womacs, the Allens, the Mortons, the Venables, the Spencers, the Watkinses, sinking with age would rouse upon mention of that text-Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people-" that was Mr. Graham's text." Mr. Smith repaid Mr. Graham's visit. His sermons in the Valley were remembered as Mr. Graham's were east of the Ridge, particularly the one on- "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish."
Mr. Alexander was not prepared to commune. To see his cool, reasoning pastor all on fire amazed him. "Ye comfortless ones" met his ear as he entered the house. "Ye comfortless ones" pre- ' faced many sentences, and rung for days and nights in the ears of sinners without hope, and of saints without joy. More distressed than ever, Mr. Alexander wondered he could not feel like his pastor. Mr. Smith told him his exercises as yet had been vain. He tried to give up all hope, but could not be exercised as those around him were. On his return home, he laid his case before Mr. Mitchel, of Bedford, who gave him counsel that led him to hope in Christ as his Saviour. The company tarried a few days in Bedford in the congregation of Mesrss. Mitchel and Turner. A revival was in progress there, and many young people from the valley were assem- bled to partake, if possible, of its blessings. They all returned together, about thirty in number, and as they slowly crossed the mountains, the woods and valleys echoed with the songs of praise. The little village of Lexington was moved at their coming, and at night heard for the first time the voice of a youth in prayer, and that youth, Archy Alexander. There was no house for public wor- ship in Lexington. The congregation had hitherto assembled at New Monmouth. The young converts were full of hope that a revival would be felt in Rockbridge. Legrand, with his sweet, earnest voice and pathetic exhortations, and Graham, with his entreaties, and tears, and clear sermons, were, with the news from abroad. and the sight of the converts at home, the means of awakening multi- tudes. In the experience of a religious nature as related by the converts, were found distinct views of truth, deep conviction of sin and ill-desert, much distress in view of sinfulness and wrath, and a clear view of mercy by the cross of Christ in laying sin on Christ and reckoning righteousness to the sinner. Mr. Alexander had
105
HANOVER PRESBYTERY.
many days of deep distress; and the coming of hope was like the shining light. Every one but himself believed that he was- chosen of God for a minister of the gospel; and nobody but himself doubted of his conversion.
CHAPTER VIII.
HANOVER PRESBYTERY FROM 1770 TO ITS DIVISION, TO FORM THE VIRGINIA SYNOD, IN 1786.
MR. JAMES CAMPBELL was presented to Presbytery, April 26th, 1770, by Mr. Thomas Jackson, as an-"acquaintance of all the members and of worthy character; and was licensed at the D. S. Oct. 10th, 1771, and sent to visit the vacancies, particularly the pastures, Timber Ridge, Forks of James, Sinking Spring, Hat Creek, and Cub Creek. Oct. 15th, 1772, at the same place, the Presbytery was informed of his death; and recommended that any dues for his services as a minister be sent to his parents.
Mr. Samuel Edmundson was received on trials for licensure Oct. 15th, 1772; and was licensed Oct. 14th, 1773, at Rockfish meet- ing-house ; and sent to supply Cook's Creek, Linvel's Creek, Peeked Mountain, and Mossy Creek, made vacant by the death of Mr. Jackson. He soon removed to South Carolina, where he spent a useful life.
25th. CALEB WALLACE, the twenty-fifth member, born in Char- lotte County, and graduated at Princeton, 1770, was received at Tinkling Spring, April 13th, 1774, as licentiate of New Castle Presbytery. On the 3d of October ensuing, he was ordained at Cub Creek, pastor of Cub Creek and Little Falling river, Mr. David Rice presiding, and Mr. Leake giving the charge. In 7779, he removed to Botetourt; and in 1783 emigrated to Kentucky. Abandoning the ministry, he entered upon the profession of Law, was successful, and became Judge of the Supreme Court.
26th. WILLIAM GRAHAM, the twenty-sixth member, has a place - In the first series of Sketches of Virginia. His name is inseparable from Washington College, Lexington, Virginia.
James Templeton was received as candidate at Timber Ridge, April 13th, 1775, a graduate of Nassau Hall-" bringing recom- mendation from Dr. Witherspoon." He was licensed at the house of John Morrison, on Rockfish, Oct. 26th, 1775; and soon removed to South Carolina.
Samuel M'Corkle was, Oct. 26th, 1775, received as probationer from the Presbytery of New York. He was very acceptable to the
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SAMUEL STANHOPE SMITH-JOHN B. SMITH, ETC.
churches, and received calls from Oxford, High Bridge, and Falling Spring, but declined settling in Virginia. A sketch of his life may be found in "Sketches of North Carolina.
27th. SAMUEL STANHOPE SMITH, the twenty-seventh member of Presbytery, was received as probationer from New Castle Presby- tery, Oct. 27th, 1775, at Rockfish, without the usual testimonials. The Presbytery recommended him-" to procure a dismission, and produce it to Presbytery as soon as he conveniently can." . The Presbytery proceeded to ordain him-" and Mr. Smith now takes his seat as a member of Presbytery together with his elder, Mr. James Venable." The reasons given for this unusual course is- "seeing a call from the united congregations of Cumberland and Prince Edward has been presented to him, and he being encouraged to receive it by said Presbytery," (New Castle)-" which amounts> to a dismission and recommendation, we judge it safe to receive him." He was installed Nov. 9th, 1775; and in May, 1776, he tells Presbytery he has his dismission, and will produce it at next meeting. Oct. 28th, 1779, he was released from his pastoral charge, and his duties as President of Hampden Sidney College, and im- mediately removed to Princeton to take the chair of Professor of Moral Philosophy, at Nassau Hall. He was the father of Hampden Sidney, in Virginia ; and in his old age referred to it with deep emotion. He was the means of introducing his brother John Blair Smith, and also William Graham to the Presbytery and the institu- tions in Prince Edward and Rockbridge. He was President of Nassau Hall for many years. A sketch of his life belongs to the history of that College.
28th. JOHN B. SMITH, the twenty-eighth member, was received a candidate June 18th, 1777, and was licensed at the house of Dr. Waddell in Tinkling Spring Congregation, June 9th, 1778. An extended account of his services is given in the first series of these Sketches.
29th. EDWARD CRAWFORD a graduate of Princeton, 1775, was received a candidate in the fall of 1776. On the 31st of October, 1777, at Buffalo it was ordered -" that Messrs. Crawford, Scott and Doak be introduced to complete their literary trials, and after long and particular examination of each of them, in Science, Moral Philosophy, and Theology, and Mr. Crawford in the languages, - Resolved, that they (the examinations) be accepted as the conclusion of their trials previous to their being licensed. And the license of the Presbytery to them to preach the gospel in the churches was intimated to them accordingly, accompanied with a solemn charge from the Moderator." . A call from Sinking Spring, and Spreading Spring was presented Mr. Crawford at Mountain Plains, October 27th, 1778, and by him accepted. At the division of the Presby- tery 1786, he was one of the constituents of Lexington Presbytery.
ARCHIBALD SCOTT-SAMUEL DOAK-J. MONTGOMERY, ETC. 107
He afterwards removed to Tennessee and became a member of Ab- ingdon Presbytery.
30th. MR. ARCHIBALD SCOTT, the thirtieth member, was licensed with Messrs. Crawford and Doak. A notice of him appears with the history of Bethel, in this volume.
31st. SAMUEL DOAK was licensed with Messrs. Scott and Craw- ford. His history belongs to Tennessee, the scene of his labor, and object of his love. Some notices of him may be found in the Sketches of North Carolina,' under the head of Emigrations to Tennessee.
32d. JOHN MONTGOMERY, the thirty-second minister, was received as candidate October 31st, 1777, Mr. Graham representing him - "a young gentleman of the County of Augusta, who had finished his education in the College of New Jersey, 1775." He was licensed at Mountain Plains, with Mr Erwin, October 28th, 1778; and on April 26th, 1780, at Tinkling Spring - " Presbytery agree to or- dain Mr. John Montgomery to the sacred work of the gospel min- istry, that he may be more extensively useful." Next day he was ordained. Three calls were put in for him, October 23d, 1781, at Concord; - one from Bethel, Washington County, - one from Con- cord and Providence, and one from Winchester, Cedar Creek and Opecquon. He accepted the last. After spending a few years with these congregations, he, to their great regret, removed in 1789, and made his residence in the Pastures, Augusta, where he inherited property. Here he passed the remainder of his life. Previous to his ordination he was associated with Mr. Graham in the instruc- tion of Liberty Hall. He was a very popular preacher, a good scholar, an esteemed relative, and an amiable man. In the division of the Presbytery he was assigned to Lexington. In the latter part of his life, his ministry was interrupted by bodily infirmities.
33d. JAMES M'CONNEL, a graduate of Princeton, 1773, was re- ceived at Tinkling Spring April 29th, 1778, as probationer from Donegal. Having accepted a call from Oxford, High Bridge and Falling Spring, he was ordained at High Bridge June 18th, 1778. By indiscretion and want of family economy, he became involved in difficulties and ceased to serve the congregation. In the year 1787 he removed beyond the Alleghenies.
34th. BENJAMIN ERWIN, the thirty-fourth member, was a gradu- ate at Princeton 1776, was received as candidate April 30th, 1778, and exhibited pieces of trial given him by Mr. Graham on account of his inability, by sickness, to attend a previous meeting of Pres- bytery; was ordained at Mossy Creek June 20th, 1780, pastor of Mossy Creek and Cook's Creek. On the formation of the Virginia Synod, he became a member of Lexington Presbytery. He died
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REV. WILLIAM WILSON.
pastor of his first charge. George A. Baxter, D. D. grew up under his ministry.
35th. WILLIAM WILSON, the thirty-fifth member of the Presby- tery, grew up in New Providence, under the ministy of John Brown ; but was born August 1st, 1751, in Pennsylvania. His father, an emigrant from Ireland, in his youth was a hearer of Mr. Whitefield in Philadelphia, and became, in consequence, a hopeful convert to Christ. When about forty years of age, he removed to Virginia, and settled about twelve miles east of Lexington, and became a member of New Providence Church. His connexion was continued about fifty years. His devoted piety in his family, and his inter- course with his fellow-men, were remarked by people among whom professors of religion were common. " How I did delight," said the Rev. Samuel Houston, " when a young man, to hear the old man pray and read Flavel's Sermons. He numbered ninety-four years ; his wife, religious like himself, survived him two years, and died at the same age. His eldest son William they brought with them from Pennsylvania ; and away on these frontiers sought for him a classi- cal education, that he might be, what he became, a minister of the gospel of Christ, and numbered him among the students at Mount Pleasant, that germ of Washington College. At that school he be- came a proficient in geography, mathematics and the classics. In his advanced years he exhibited a curious phenomenon of mental and physical organization. Under a severe attack of erysipelas he in a great measure, for a time, lost the memory of his mother tongue. He could not give the name of anything he wanted in English ; but could readily give it in Greek or Latin. At times, almost uncon- sciously, he was running over his school exercises in Greek with great fluency and correctness. In his old age he often employed himself in solving algebraic questions to preserve the tone of his mind from the effects of age. An examination by him in' Presby- tery was considered by candidates an ordeal. For a time after he completed his course at the academy, he taught the Washington Henry Academy in Hanover. County with great approbation. But finding the climate not favorable to his health, he returned to his native valley. When ordained to the ministry, he made the thirty- fifth member of Hanover Presbytery. He was received as candidate April, 1779, and in the fall of the same year, October 28th, was licensed in Prince Edward in company with James Campbell. On the last Wednesday of November, 1780, was ordained at the Stone Church, upon the hill, and installed pastor of the flock of Christ worshipping there, succeeding Mr. Craig after a vacancy of about six years. He prepared his sermons with care, writing short notes in. his early ministry, not writing out in full any sermon. In later life he trusted his memory entirely. He was orthodox, instructive, in- teresting and evangelical. And with reluctance the people of Augusta listened to his proposition for a dissolution of the pastoral relation on account of infirmities, principally the effects of erysipelas
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REV. WILLIAM WILSON-JAMES CRAWFORD.
in the head. While he lived, and his life was protracted nearly a quarter of a century after he resigned his charge, the congregation listened with pleasure 'to his preaching. Dr. Speece said the last sermon the venerable man preached a little before his death, "was not inferior in vigor of thought, methodical arrangement, or anima- tion of manner to any that he had ever heard him deliver." He believed in revivals of religion, and was blessed with them in his charge in common with his brethren in the Valley. In the awaken- ing of 1801 and onwards, he was an actor. He visited the Little Levels where the revival was first felt in Virginia ; and some of his young people that accompanied him, became, with himself, not only deeply interested in the religious, mental and heart excitements, but also felt something of the bodily exercise. Not knowing how to account for the exercises, and having felt them in his most devout approaches to God in worship, he was inclined to defend them as innocent, and for some unexplained reason a necessary appendage of the work of grace ; after a time he joined with his brethren in dis- couraging their appearance, not by direct opposition, but by refusing to encourage them, while he cherished carefully every appearance of a gracious work. On principle he was an attendant upon the judicatories of the church, and a promoter of education. He en- couraged and assisted two of his brothers in obtaining a liberal education ; and in his old age adverted to this fact with great satis- faction. Thomas became a lawyer, and served in the Legislature and in Congress ; Robert became a minister of the gospel, and removed to Kentucky ; his piety was above the usual order-" he was great in the sight of the Lord." Each of these brothers gave a daughter to the cause of foreign missions. Mrs. Louisa Lowrie, daughter of Thomas, went to India ; and Mrs. Andrews, daughter of Robert, to the Sandwich Islands. He excelled in pastoral visi- tations, having a great facility in accommodating himself to the mind and condition of people. "I have had a dream," said one of his flock-" an old man appeared to me, and gave me a rusty guinea, and told me to sprinkle water on it. I did so, and it remained rusty. He told me to pour water on it. I did so, and it remained rusty. Drop it in the stream, said he ; I did so, and immediately it became bright. Now, what do you think of it ?" "Why," said he very gravely, "if it had been a young man that appeared it might have been something-but it was an old man-and the Scrip- tures says 'put off the old man and his deeds.'" The perplexity of the poor man was gone in a moment : a causeless anxiety was removed by a play upon words. His successor, Dr. Speece, found him a warm and steady friend, and cherished for him the kindest feeling and most respectful regard.
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