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of the early General Assemblies. What he did for Washington College may be estimated from the remark of Dr. Robert Baird, "It cannot be questioned that he was one of the best educated men in the part of the country in which he lived." James Hervey was feeding and leading the flock of God at the Forks of Wheeling, and fixing that which he maintained through life, viz.: the theological balance of the Presbytery. Thomas Hoge, at Buffalo, was supplementing his work at Claysville. Jacob Cozad had just been installed pastor of the church at Lower Buffalo.

Now let us call the roll of the pioneers of Claysville Presbyterianism; let us make mention of these spiritual argonauts; let us note the actors of an event which, alone of all events in the birth of the village, will survive this wreck of matter and crush of worlds. Fond recollections in more than one instance will bring the dead to life as I repeat the first names on the roll of the membership of this church. The original fifteen are as follows: Barnet Bonar and his wife, Jane Bonar, Joseph Henderson and his wife, Mary Henderson, from the church of Three Ridges, now West Alexander; Widow McGuffin, from the church of Upper Buffalo; Thomas Stewart and his wife, Mary Stewart, from the Associate Church of South Buffalo (Rev. David French, pastor); also Catharine Gemmill and Martha Morrow; Martha Gamble, from the Associate Reformed Church (Rev. Mr. Kerr, pastor); Margaret Miller, from the church of Miller's Run; Andrew Bell and his wife, Mary Ann Bell, from the church of which Rev. Thomas L. Birch was pastor; Samuel Gilmore and his wife, Anne Gilmore, from the Forks of Brandy

wine church of Chester County, Pennsylvania (Rev. Mr. Grier, pastor).

The first persons admitted to the organized church were William McGuffin and his wife, Mary Jane McGuffin, by examination "as to their Christian experience and doctrinal knowledge," and Nancy Hutchinson by "certificate" from the Forks of Wheeling Church. Mrs. Hutchinson was the mother of Mrs. George Milligan, of Claysville.* This roll suggests a long story, at which I can only glance. No man could live long in this region and not hear of Barnet Bonar. I have a distinct recollection of stories of an accurate marksmanship which made the squirrels he aimed at say, like David Crockett's coon, which were represented as answering the aim of David's rifle with the word, "You need not shoot, Mr. Crockett; I will come down." During the decade from 1840 to 1850, the name of the deceased Squire Henderson was a household word in this community. His wife lived long as Grannie Henderson to make us feel that God's benediction was upon us as our home circles gave her their hearty welcome. The sons and daughters of this noble couple are called to mind; and I think of kind-hearted Bill, the friend of all the children, and the voluntary nurse of every sick person he could find; of the manly Joe, of whose grave no man knoweth unto this day; the respected John, the sterling Thomas, the stirring Sam, the devoted Mary Jane, the beautiful Elizabeth, the

*Two children of Simon Shur were the first infants to receive the rite of baptism. Mr. John Laird, who received the same rite at the hands of the Rev. Mr. Hoge, was present during the delivery of the address.

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motherly Becky. I do not know that I ever saw Thomas Stewart, but I do know that all Claysville seemed to make a favorite of his son Jim. And I know also that the pastor who sent Mr. Stewart and his wife to the new church at Claysville was enshrined in every heart throughout this region as Davie French, without the least thought of disrespect. The name of Andrew Bell suggests his daughter, Margaret Karr Bell, who was the teacher of the little boys and girls of our time in Claysville, and who passed to her reward when she finished her great work as the Mrs. President Miller, of Waynesburgh College. Mr. Bell and wife helped to organize the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Washington, Penn.* He was also a workman on the building erected by that organization. It is as it were but yesterday that I saw the William McGuffin, who, along with his wife, were the first converts in the Claysville Church, and I am once more on our front porch as I witness the long procession that followed his remains to the grave.

As was the wont in Western Pennsylvania, the groves were God's first temples in this community. According to well-established tradition, the first religious meetings in this section of the country were

*The Thomas L. Birch who was pastor of the church from which Mr. Bell came to the new organization, has been the subject of considerable animadversion by those who have dealt with the matters in which Mr. Birch was a leading figure. I do not propose to criticise the unfavorable light in which the historians place Mr. Birch. However, I think it just to say that my personal relation to him has caused me to hear of documents which would seem to prove that there are two sides to that story.

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