V V : . EARLY HISTORY OF THE RENOWNED BEECHWOODS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH An Interesting Sketch of Persons and Events now Almost Forgotten. Written by Our Townsman, Ninian Cooper. The following early history of tho Boech woods Preabytorlan church waa written by Nlnlan Cooper, of KeynoluV TlUe, and published In a mount ihbuo of the Brockwayvllle liu-ord i On the 29th day of July. 1841, Hev. John Wray and MIm GeorRlana Dennis were married in Thllailolphia, I'a. 8hortly after they were married they decided to ro to India and dovoto their effort to the cause of missions. Thoy left Fhiladolphia in a sailing vessel, going by the way of London and tho Cape of Good Hope. It took them six months to (jet to the end of their desti nation, and they landed in a plneo called Allahlbad, where they settled down and took un the duties of an appointment. Mr. and Mrs. Wray Started In with determined and devoted hearts to the work of their calling, flrst learning the native tongue of tho people and very diligently and success fully preaching to and teaching the natives. They soon gained the confi dence and tespect of the people In their charge, and spent eight interesting years In the work. During that time three children were born to them, two sons and a daughter. The eldest son died in Infancy. The second ton, William, who now lives with his sister, Mrs. Koch, in DuUoU, was then In poor health, and on his account thinking tho change in clitiur.e would be beneOclal to him they ilecid 'd to return to the homo of their nntlvlty. In the summer of 1840 thny returned :o America and located at I'hilmlelpl'ii where they remained during the f'.l and winter of that year. About t'te first of May, 1 ST0, they came, to Clnr'-a county whuru Mr. Wruy had a broil r living. At to at time there was no i'iy v terlan preacher In the Beechwood aud Mr. Wray learning of this fact, decided that he would take a trip up through this section, see the Beechwoods and Its people and as be was desirous of securing charge, look up the prospects In that direction. So out he came arriving at the home of Elder Joseph McCurdy May 25, 1850. Coming highly recora' mended by Rev. Montgomery, of Clarion, and Dr. Cummlngs, of Brook' vllle, Mr. McCurdy went around with him for several days. They called on number of the people and several members of the church, and the officers of the church. Ilov. Wray seemed to be well pleased with the people and they with htm, nnd he 'expressed his desire to prelum to them on tho coming Sabbath. Thcro was no available place to bold services at that time as the new church was then in course of erection, that Is the church which was built and used up to tho timo of tho erection of the present church at Beechwoods. Tho Baptist church on tho hill above James Cooper's was engaged, and the old tog school house, near tho AValte farm, which had been used for a union meeting house by all denominations, professions, sects and colors for fifteen years previous io mat lime, was en gaged and there whs no plneo for Mr. wray lopreaen. in iM.ijimt five years previous to tho time that Mr. Wray came to Beechwoods, James llojs had built himself a new frame burn which was counted a very fine burn in Uioi-e days, nnd it wouldn't hi a bud barn If It were now to-day. So a few of the mcmoers oi me church got together and decided they would have Mr. Wray preach in the barn. The plneo was swept out and thoy put in block honnls, benches, chairs and anything that would make a seat. They rigged up a stand about 18 inches failure for e pulpit. Mr. Wruy and tho ongrega Hon ahBeniblcd at the barn on Sunday morning and proceeded with the ser vices. Hev. Wruy first explained tho 2Iird l'nalni, then lie preached from tho text, 'Tor God speaketh oneo y twice, yet man preeiveth It not, Job 3:1, 14. At this time there were only ah. ut (iO or (13 living members in the Bed h .1.. T,.. , . ... wtwun t u biij lernin cnuren anu 1.1 ey felt very poor. They had just built 1 ie church which cost wus very heavy on the small congregation. Finally the members and supporters of tho church and friends got together and they de cided to make Mr. Wray an unanimous call to the paittorato of their church and offer him 920 a year for preaching one half of his time in their church, and the balance of his time he would ba free to do missionary work or whatever ho should choose to do. Ho accepted tho call and at once moved his family to Beechwoods. The church wasnotqulto finished at that time and he preached around the congregation. In tho Baptist church and In the schoolhousos until the church was complete. From the first organization of the Beechwoods Presbyterian church, Dec ember 2, 1832, by the Hev. Biggs, there were ten members : Robert and Mary Mcintosh, William nnd Martha Cooper, William and Margaret McConnnl, David and Martha Donnlson, Robert Morrison and Susan Keys. The elders elected that day wore Rolwrt Mcintosh, who died May 4, 18,'U 1 William MoConnol, who died Feb. 8, 1840 ) Robert Morri son, who died Fob. (I, 1848. The next election for eldership was April 24, 1837, vhen John Huntor and Joseph McCurdy wore elected. I have no Clarion, 1 In Brookvllle and 1 1 know not where. The first communion held by Mr. Wray In the church at Beechwoods was on Sept. 22, 18T)0. On that day 17 now members were received Into the church, 13 of whom have died, and 4 stirvlvo. The deceased are ! John Patterson, Isa bella Patterson, Margaret Patterson, Gnorglana Wray, Jane Dougherty, James Patton, Eliza Jane Patton, Mary Ann Morrison, Ellen McConnul, Eliza Jane Wnnn, Jane Crawford, Eliza Stevenson and Nancy Jane Cooper. The siirvlvers are ! Martha Stevenson Kylor, of Brandy Camp ( Mary Walte Hutchison, of Falls Creek Jamos 8. i 8 S 8 NINIAN COOPER. recollection when John Miller was eloeled elder, From tho flrst organi zation of the church to tho time Mr. Wray took charge In May, 10, was 17 years and six months. During that time 83 had enrolled their names on the church books. Of that number there are only five living namoly, James Cooper, Ann McCurdy, Sara Jane Pat ton, Margaret Jane Tobln, and Eliza beth Smith. Of tho 83 who were members of tho church at that time 04 are lold In the Beechwoods oometory, 2 In the state of Iowa, 4 In Prospect Hill cemeterv near Reynoldsvillo, 2 near Smith, of Pancoast, and myself. Clarion Presbytery met tho following Tuesday and appointed a committee to install Mr. Wray to the pastorate of his new charge. The members of the 00m1 mittee were Mr. Core, Mr. Montgom ery, of Clarion, nnd Dr. Cummlngs, of Brookvllle. Mr. Core failed to attend but according to tho order of Presby' tery Mr. Montgomery and Dr. Cum nilngs met Nov. 5, 1850, and installed Mr. Wray, tho first Presbyterian preacher Installed In the Beechwoods Mr. Wray took up the work of his new charge with earnestness and zeal and LutherBburg, 2 In Brockwayvllle, 2 In j was very successful. He preached half of his time In tho Beechwoods church and did a great deal of missionary work all over the country, in Clarion, Klk and Jefferson counties. He organized the Presbyterian church In Itevnoldsvllle and preached there frequently. At this time more were only two acting elders in the church, and no deacons and no trustees. There had been three elders, but for some reason or other John Hunter had reslgnt d and was not an acting member of tho ses sion any longer, so thero were none remaining hut Joseph McCurdy and John Millen. The time came when they thought they should nave additional elders nnd some deacons, and notlno was glvon that on the llllh day of Decem ber, iflii.i, there would be a congrega tional meeting and election for three elders and two deacons. The elders elected that day were James Smith, John Mcintosh nnd John Hutchison. They are all dead now including the three former elders. Joseph McCurdy died Feb. 20, 18(12 ; John Hunter died Apr. 30, 181111 ; John Mlllon died Dee. 7, 1801) j James Smith died July 13, 18li,r ; John Mcintosh dlod Dec. 28, 1872 ; John Hutchison died Aorll lllth. 1883. The deacons elected that day wero James Shaw and William Smith. James Sha died Aug. I), 181)3. William Smith was elected elder July 3, 18112, and is still acting In that capacity. James McCurdy nnd Robert Morrison were elected elders at the same lime Itolvrt Morrison ceased Hcllng as elder in 1871. Ho died Feb. 10. 18112. James McCurdy remained an elder up lo the time of his death Oct. 27. 1IKI2. William Patton and myself were elected deacons r ob. ii, 18(1.1. Mr ration served up to tlmo of his death Deo. 20, 18IH). I re mained a deacon until Don. Ill, 1870 when I moved to Roynotdsvllle. Wil liam Cooper, with his wife, united with the church Nov. 20. I8;ii. and he wss elected elder Sept. 24, 18(14. nnd he srved In that capacity until his death Aug. fi, 1875. A serious obstacle to Rev. Wntv in his work was the failure of his eyesight In 18(18. His condition becatnM such that he could not se to reHd ot writo with glasses or without, nnd he was ad vised to go to Philadelphia for treat. ment. November 4, 18(IS, lie went to Philadelphia and an operation was per formed on his eves, which proved sue eessful. and he was able to see and rend. Unfortunately, before he was able to leave the dark room in which he was confined, ho wus neglected by the nurse In charge which resulted In the setting In of InllumHtlon and ho became totally blind. Ho returned home and with great difficulty preached for two years and a half. Mrs. Wray did all the read ing for him and assisted In getting up the sermons. Hev. Wray preached until April 23, 1871 when he handed in his resignation, and recommended a young I ll... U . I - .. 1 L 1 ! li 1 11 1 ii, mi 1.11T1 di:iiuiimiy uniuru i'iiduUi to take his place. Mr. Filson was ao oordlngly called to succeed Rev. Wray and he came to Boech woods and preach ed his first sermon to tho congregation May 7, 1871. Ho used for his text "For ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in you snirlt. which are God's." 1st. Cor. 0-20 Rev. Wray was the regular pastor of tho Beechwoods Presbyterian church for 21 years. During that time he held 50 communions in the church. During his pastorate thero were 238 added to tho membership of the church. During the 21 years there wern three commun ions in which there were no additions made to tho church roll. March 8. 1801. Oct, 5, 18(111, Juno 12, 1870. During that tlmn there were nine communions at which there was but one added lo the roll each time ! July 1. 1800. James 'atterson I Oct. 8. 1801. Barbara Walte 1 Aug. 23, 1801, It. R. VanLow Inly 10, 1801. Samuel Maxwell I Feb. 20, 1805, Isabella Barker I June 21. 807, Martha Hutchison ! Mar. 22. 18(18. liticlnda Daugbertr 1 Feb. 12. 1870. Elizabeth Waterhnuso l Oct. 4. 187(1. Jano Wilson. a During that tlmn thnro wore twelve communions at, which there ware but two each time taken Into the church: Nov. 21, 1854. William Thorp and Mary Ai.n Ross I Feb. 23. 1850. Marv Ann Campbell and John Ross 5 Oct. 6, 1857, margaret hubw and Mary Groves i Oct. 12, 1802, Elizabeth Daugherty and Mar tha Jano Ross j Jan. 3. 18(14. John and Catherine Trimble t Oct. 8, 18(15, Chas. i. uinnnn and Margaret j. Morrison : Nov. 11, iKiiii, willlam Buchanan and Roht. M. Mlllon : Feb. 10, 1(17, Josep Ino McCurdy and Martha Patterson 1 Sept. 24, John Atwell and Eliza beth MoClure : Feb. 12. 180. Wm. Marshall and Catharine Marker J July 10, 18011, Crtherlno Mlllon and Sarah Stevenson ; Feb. 20. 1871. Mat-caret mun anu HHiteiiu fatten. In Hie fall of 1873 Rev. Wrav moved from Beechwoods to Bi-nckwavvtlle. llu uieu August HI, lHs.-j, aged 8 years. Ninian Cooper. Foils of a Deadly Attack. "Mr wlfu was so 111 that good physi cians were unable to help her," writes M. M. Austin, or Winchester, ind., "but was completely cured by Dr. King's New Life Pills." They work wonders In stomach and liver troubles. Cure. constipation, sick headache. 25o at H. Alex tttoKe irug store. Deposits Over 10,000,000 Pittsburg Trust Dompanv has cardial. surplus und profits exceeding (MI.OOO.OOO. rays (1 ier cent. Interest on Kavlnis Deposits, HUhji ct to withdrawal of JlOO without notice, and 2 ner cunt, on inecaing Accounts. Interest coln- iHHinded semi-annually. Di all your banking by mail. Send for two-hundred year calendar f.i :u. 323 Fourth Ave Pitt-burg, Pa. Guaranteed. I agree to replace, free of charge), anv Sunbeam or Black Hawk Gas mantle proving dofeclive or shall burn out llhln two months from purchase. Double wire capped 20 and 25 cents. C. H. Hall. Want Column. . Ratsi Onn cent mt word for imrh nnd forory Insertion. Lost Between lteynoldsvllle and Hathtnel, a black wagon cover. Finder please notify W. W. Fetter, Rcynolds- vllle. For Salo A driving horse and huaai at a bargain. Inquire at star office. Wanted Girls to learn cloth Dlcklns. winding and weaving. Apply at En terprise Silk Company office. For Sale or Rent A good property, Including a store room, on Worth street. Inquire at THE STAR oiHco. For Sale A power and hand com bined fodder cutler. Inquire King & Co. Farm for saleThe George Henry farm In Wlnslow township. It contains. 100 acres; 60 acres cleared, balance in second growth timber. House, barn and wagon shed almost new: fine orch ard; good water. For particulars In quire of A. O. Mllllren, Reynoldsville. For Sale A seven room house, lot B0 by 150 feet, in West Reynoldsville. M. E. Weed. Saved t Grave's Brink. "I know I would long ago have been in my grave." writes Mrs. S. II. New mini, of D' OBtur, Aln., "if it. had not been for Etectrio Bitters. For three years I tuflered untold agony from the worst forms of iudigestion, wuterhrash stomach and bowel dys)epsia. But this excellent medicine did me a world of good. Since using it I can eat heartily and have gained 35 pounds." For Indi gestion, loss ol appetite, stomach, liver and kidney troubles Electric Bitters are a positive, guaranteed cure. Only 50 eta at H. Alex Stoke's drug store. Annual Meeting. Rf.vnoldsvh.lr, Pa., Dec. 20, 102. Notice is hereby given . that the regular annual meeting ot the stock holders of the Reynoldsville and Falls Creek Railroad Company will be held at the Company's oillce in Reynolds vllle. Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, Janu ary 20th, 1003, at ten o'clock a. ra,, for the purpose of electing a President and Board of Directors for the ensuing year, and the transaction of such other business as may propurly come before the meeting,- . LUCIUS W. RoiilNSON. Attest ; President. Joiltf H. Whitmore, Sec. QHARTER NOTICE. Notice la hereby Riven that, an nppllrntlnn will m rnmle to the Uovernor of the ('nmmon weHllh of I'f nnyl.Htiln en Thurwinr. the Wed day of Jiinutrr, A. II. 1WW, t W. H. Htiimey, J. C. Klim, II. h. Kliur. W. H. Alexan der, K. I). Cmlth. Solomon Hlmfter. t. RKjrn Hldt' A. H.Rnnrtx, I.. P. Heley nnil Thorns MitCri'lulit, tinili.r the provision of the Act of AsHi-nitily of 'he ('omnioiinfulth of Penrmyl lii'iia, entitled "An fn-t to provllu for the Incorporation sml reiriiliitloii of certain corporal Ions," approved April '.Mli. I74. anil the supplements tlmreto for the charier of a proiKiHffj eoKiratlon lo he calle'l HeHsemrc I. oul and Ci.Uh Company. th( character and obiift wheiuof are lo be the mltilriff, quarrying, e.tcavathiK, liorlniifor, and otherwise producing coal, ftrn clav and other minerals anil suhsiance, the manu facture ot nil said proilucm and of all sutMinnres found In or upon any lands ac quired by said proposed corporation, tho shipping of the same to market and the sale thereof in crude or manufactured form, and to such an extent as may from time to time he neepssaiy and convenient for said pur poses to acquire, hold and dispone of real es tate by sale, lease, or otherwise, and of con structing and dlspoalnir of dwellings and all kinds of buildings, erections, machinery, and appliances, Including lateral railroads, and the acquiring, possessing and enjoying of all rights, powers, privileges and immunities conferred upon such corporations by section Ml of the said Act of Assembly of April 2M, 174. and the supplements thereto, and for these purposes to have, possess and enjoy all the rights, benefits and privileges conferred by said Act of Assembly and Its supplements. smith M. HfcCnr.MiHT, solicitor. December illst. Wtl. WANTED FAITHFUL PERSON TOTRAV el for well-eslubllsbi'd bouse In a few coun ties calling on retail merchants and agents. Local territory. Halary IW4 a year and ex penses, payable 119.70 a week In rash and ex jienses advanced. Position permanent. Bus iness successful and rushing. Standard House, SI4 Dearborn Bt., Chicago. n i a air iiTTi ttti j n i t anuary saie oi insn uierwear, wnne ims, i roroieries SHEETS AND PILLOW OASES. In keeping with the progressive spirit of THE BIG STORE we will, as has been our custom a custom which we established in Reynoldsville about three years ago conduct our Annual White Goods Sale Beginning Next Monday, January 5th, and lasting Four Days, To those who have attended these sales in past years we need not emphasize the many advantages offered you, but we do want to add that this year we have made preparations to far eclipse anything yet attempted. Experience has taught us many lessons. We have secured a much better assortment of the DEFENEDR MUSUN UNDERWEAR. We have secured the best values in WHITE GGODS to be had this year. And we have added to the White Goods Sale the best line of FINE EMBROIDERIES. Our line of SHEETS and PILLOW CASES is also exceptionally strong for this White Goods Sale. To those who have not had the opportunity offered by these WHITE GOODS SALES or have not availed themselves of the opportunity, we will say that at no other time during the year can such values be had. Muslin Underwear WHY THE SALE ? WHAT THE INDUCEMENT ? Not the accumulation of odd sizes and unsalable Btyles of the past season. Not a bit of it. Fresh from the best manufacturers of the land. No sweatshop rubbish from the dingv lofts in the tenement house. JUST THE REVERSE. It is the cleanest of underwear, fresh from clean, well-ventilated factories. It is the perfection of underwear cut by the best skilled artists of the cutting table. These garments are mude at the time of year when factories would lie idle otherwise and the skilled laborers out of employment. There fore we 6ay the garments are the best that American labor can produce, being made at a time w hen factories are not over-rushed with work being cheaper because they-are made when cost of manufacture is at a minimum. White Goods The advanced showing of White Goods gives you an opportun" ity to secure the goods that you may do your sewing before the busy rush of spring with its house cleaning and many other atten tions. Our experience has been that best things are "shown early. Remember the time MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, January 5th to January 8th, 1903. Embroideries There was a time when this valuable accessory to alady's wearing apparel could not be had until stimmrr was on when everything was crowding itself or immediate atten tion. We shall not attempt to tell you about the Iinibroid eries as it is necessary to see in order to appreciate. The' are principally Swiss, Cambric and N.tinsouk ; Edgirgs and Inserlings ; Baby Widths, Medium Widths, and Flouncing Widths. Sheets and Pillow Cases ; -T- The amount of business done on these proves that we have all come to realize hov much more advantageously we can buy Sheets and Pillow Cases ready made than we can buy the material and make them. We guarantee the muslin to be of the best material and each one torn so that in washing it does not become three-cornered. SHICK WAGNER - - THE BIG STORE Next Door to Postoffice. Reynoldsville, Pa. V -1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers