Foxburg Presbyterian Church Session Minutes, 1878 - 1887
Transcribed by Linda Pazics Kleback and published in the Western PA Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 17, No. 3 (Fall 1990), pg. 10. No copyright infringement intended.
The Presbyterian Church at Foxburg in Clarion County was organized 20 November 1877. Reverend J. Wallace Fraser relates in his book, A History of the Presbytery of Clarion of the Presbyterian Church of the U. S. A.:
"At first the congregation had no church building of their own but worshipped in the hall that was built by Mrs. Fox for school and preaching purposes. Rev. W. N. Sloan commenced preaching in the summer of 1878 and was installed as pastor an 31 October of that year. He left 28 September 1880.
"Foxburg was an oil town that was depleted by a large number of removals, and the congregation soon suffered seriously from this cause. After a period of time, the church was dissolved."
The original Session Minutes book was filmed by the LDS Church in Philadelphia at the Presbyterian Historical Society. The following records, which were taken from LDS Film #1310905, item 1, also include a letter, part of which concerns the Minute Book:
Knox, Pa. April, 22, 1938
Dear Dr. Fraser:-
I am sending you a Sessional Record book of the defunct Foxburg Pres Church. This book was given to me by Squire Kerr, an elder of the church, when I was stated clerk of Presbytery. It was so long ago that I forgot all about it until hunting around in my library the other day I came across it.
The church had but a brief career. They had one pastor, Rev. J. N. [sic] Sloan. He was both moderator and clerk of the session and rather poor at both ends, or so I should judge from the record kept. There were, in the entire history of the church, less than 100 members, but they must have had considerable wealth, though their offerings to benevolence were not large.
There is no record that the book was ever in Presbytery or its minutes approved. One man is named as an elder of the church with no record of his ever being received as a member.
I know of another Elder whose name is not among the members either of the church or of the session. He was a Mr. Young, son of Dr. Loyal Young, for 40 years pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Butler, and a very noted man in his day. One son was in the oil business and resided at Foxsburg for a time and was elder of the church. Another son was Dr. Hall Young, noted missionary to Alaska and author of some books, one Alaska Days, with John Muir, and another a work of fiction based on the mad rush to Alaska gold mines some thirty years ago.
I think that after Rev. Mr. Sloan left Foxburg no record was ever made in the Session Book. It does not even relate his dismissal, so you may have to go to the Presbyterial record for any information about him.
H. F. (T?) Eirseman (?)
The church's organizing committee, appointed by the Presbytery of Clarion, included Rev. J. M. McPherson, Edward Bryan Cassatt, Col. O. E. Reddic,, and Jas. Pollock. The first members were:
From the First Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg, PA: J. C. Patterson and Sarah M., his wife
P. S. McIntosh and Lizzie, his wife
Joseph Atkinson and Hannah, his wife
Dilla Shaner, daughter of J. T. A.
William Lawerence (sic) and Clara, his wife G. W. Thompson and Mrs. S. E., his wife
James Morgan and Annie, his wife, from the Presbyterian Church of Parker City, PA.
J.H. Gibson and Rebecca, his wife, from the Presbyterian Church of Emlenton, PA.
John Spear and Rebecca E., his wife, and Lattie, their daughter, from the 1st Presbyterian Church of Oil City.
W. B. Ross, M. D. from the 2nd Presbyterian Church of Altoona.
Alice Hubler from the Presbyterian Church of Atlantic, PA.
William B. Poster and Emily, his wife, from the Presbyterian Church of Meadville, PA.
In 1877 and 1878, the church preaching was done by students from the Western Theological Seminary. During the tenure of Rev. Sloan, the following records were created. These records include a history of the congregation, members coming into the church on certificate or examination, members leaving to join other congregations, elders, communicants, baptisms, marriages, and one case of suspended membership.
3 October 1878
Received on certificate:
- Mrs. Mary S. Sloan from Westminster Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg, PA.
- Mr. J.R. Neal and Martha Neal, his wife, from the Presbyterian Church of Franklin, PA.
- Mary E. Swift from the Presbyterian Church of Gravel Run.
- R.J. Thompson and Elizabeth, his wife.
- Mr. J.H. Turner and Mary, his wife.
- Mr. James H. Story
- Anne E. Harvey
Received on examination:
- Mrs. Martha Kerr
- Mrs. Lydia A. Benzino
28 Dec 1878
Received on examination:
- Miss Mina Ellen Burger
7 Jan 1879
Received on certificate:
- Mrs. Ida Cochran from the Presbyterian Church of Leechburg, PA.
Received on examination:
- Mr. William Turner
8 Jan 1879
Received on examination:
- Mrs. Sarah Jane Baker
- Mrs. Mary Turner
- Mrs. Martha Foster
- Simon P. Shermerhorn
- Geo. Philip Grey
- Miss Libbie Olive Heighton
- Mrs. Maggie S. Connor
Received on certificate:
- Lewis Hublets and Elizabeth, his wife, and Miss Elizabeth Hublets from the 4th (?) Ave. Presbyterian Church of New York City.
- P. P. Kiser and Alice, his wife, from the Presbyterian Church of Allegheny, PA.
- Joseph Lodge and Mary, his wife, and Edward A. and William H., their sons, from the Presbyterian Church of Parker City, PA.
- Mrs. Helen McCrea from the M. E. Church of Union City, PA.
9 Jan 1879
Received on examination:
- Mr. James C. Ewing
- Miss Alma Phillippe
- Miss Rosanna Hazlebaker and her sister Matilda
- Mary Ann Grey
- Mr. Henry Mapole
- Mr. John Harvey Sloan and Phebe J., his wife.
- Mr. Lewis E. Foster
- Mrs. Susan E. Sheets
4 Apr 1879
Received on examination:
- Mr. Irving Rodney McPherson
- Mrs. White
26 Jun 1879
Dismissed at their request to join the Presbyterian Church at Crawford Corners, Presbytery of Butler, PA: J. E. Crawford and his wife Alice
J. C. Ewing was charged with drunkenness and intemporate (sic) habits.
2 Jul 1879
Received on examination at his home because he could not come to church:
- John Davis
5 Jul 1879
Dismissed at their request to join the Presbyterian Church of Titusville, Presbytery of Erie: Mrs. G. H. Beatty and Miss Mina Burgie
Also, Mrs. Milo White to the Presbyterian Church of Bradford, PA.
18 Oct 1879
Received on certificate:
- James M. Bell and Mary A., him wife, from the U. P. Church at Parker, PA.
A committee report was given on the charge of drunkenness against J. C. Ewing. Since he pleaded guilty and showed no signs of repentance, he was suspended from church membership.
10 Jan 1880
Dismissed at his own request to the Presbyterian Church of Crawford Corners: Albert Crawford
Received on certificate:
- Col. O. C. Redic and Mrs. Martha J., his wife, from the Presbyterian Church at Emlenton.
1 Apr 1880
Dismissals:
- Joseph T. Atkinson and Hannah, his wife, to the Presbyterian Church of Pine Grove.
- Mary E. Swift to the Presbyterian Church of Gravel Run, Presbytery of Erie.
Col. O. C. Redic was ordained an elder of the church.
This is the last entry in the minutes themselves.
Register of Elders:
- J.C. Patterson
- P.S. McIntosh
- John Spear
- Geo. T. Atkinson
Register of Communicants:
- Joseph T. Atkinson, admitted 1877 on certificate, dismissed to Pine Grove on 6 Feb 1880.
- Hannah Atkinson, wife of J. T. A., admitted 1877 on certificate, dismissed to Pine Grove 6 Feb 1880.
- Lida Benzino, admitted Oct 1878 on examination.
- Sarah J. Baker, admitted Feb 1879 on examination.
- Mina Ellen Berger, admitted Feb 1879 on examination, dismissed 28 Jun 1879 to Titusville.
- G. H. Beatty, admitted on examination, dismissed 1 Jul 1879 to Titusville.
- ______ Beatty, wife of G. H. admitted on examination, dismissed 1 Jul 1879 to Titusville.
- Amanda Carringer, admitted Oct 1878 on certificate, dismissed 11 Jun 1883 to Marienville, PA.
- Albert J. Crawford, admitted an examination, dismissed 24 Nov 1879 to Crawfords Corners.
- E.G. Crawford, admitted Oct 1878 on certificate, dismissed 8 Jun 1879 to Crawfords Corners.
- Alice Crawford, wife of E. G. C., admitted Oct 1878 on certificate, dismissed 8 Jun 1879 to Crawford Corners.
- Ada Cochran, admitted Oct 1878 on examination.
- _________ Clabbits, received on certificate, dismissed 5 Aug 1881 to Edenburg.
- _________ Clabbits, wife of received on certificate, dismissed 5 Aug 1881 to Edenburg.
- Maggie Conner, admitted Feb 1879 an examination, dismissed 9 Jan 1882 to Braddock.
- William R. Depp, admitted Oct 1878 on certificate.
- Margeret Depp, admitted Oct 1878 on certificate.
- John Davis, admitted 2 Jul 1879 on profession, died 30 Jul 1879.
- James C. Ewing, admitted Feb 1879 on examination.
- Martha Fostor, widow, admitted Feb 1879 on examination, dismissed 14 Apr 1882, where undecided.
- Samuel J. Fostor, son of M. F., admitted 1877 on certificate.
- Lewis E. Fostor, son of M. F. admitted Feb 1879 on examination.
- William B. Foster, admitted on certificate, dismissed 12 Feb 1883 to the 2nd Church of Meadville.
- Emily Foster, wife of W. B. F., admitted on certificate, dismissed 12 Feb 1883 to the 2nd Church of Meadville.
- J.A. Gibson, admitted 1877 an certificate, dismissed to Franklin, PA, died Oct 1888.
- Rebecca Gibson, wife of J. A. G., admitted 1877 on certificate, dismissed to Franklin, PA, died 16 Sep 1886.
- James H. Green, admitted Feb 1878 on examination, regularly dismissed, died 11 Feb 1893. (sic)
- Martha Green, wife of J. H. G., admitted Feb 1878 on examination.
- Mary Ann Grey, admitted Feb 1879 on examination.
- Geo. Philip Grey, admitted Feb 1879 on examination.
- Alice Hubler, admitted on certificate, dismissed 8 Jul 1880 to Atlantic.
- Lewis H. Hublets, admitted Feb 1879 on certificate, dismissed 3 Jan 1881 to Bradford.
- Elizabeth Hublets, wife of L. H. H., admitted Feb 1879 an certificate, dismissed 3 Jan 1881 to Bradford.
- Elizabeth Hublets, sister of L. H. H., admitted Feb 1879 on certificate, dismissed 20 Aug 1886 to Hilton, PA.
- Rosanna Hazlebaker, admitted Feb 1879 on examination, dismissed 20 Aug 1886 to Hilton, PA.
- Mary Matilda Hazlebaker, admitted Feb 1879 on examination, dismissed 20 Aug 1886 to Hilton, PA.
- Anne E. Harvey, admitted Oct 1879 on certificate, dismissed 1 Jun 1887 to Allegheny Church, Butler Co., PA.
- Julius Hecquembourg, admitted Jul 1878 on examination.
- Libbie Olive Heighton, admitted Feb 1879 on examination, dismissed 24 Nov 1879.
- M. H. Jack, admitted Oct 1878 on certificate, dismissed by letter 20 Sep 1882.
- Lizzie Jack, wife of M. H. J., admitted Oct 1878 on certificate, dismissed to Franklin, Venango Co., PA.
- P. P. Kiser, admitted Feb 1879 on certificate, dismissed 2 Jun 1880.
- Alice A. Kiser, wife of P. P. K., admitted Feb 1879 on certificate, dismissed 2 Jun 1880.
- Martha Kerr, admitted Feb 1879 on certificate, dismissed 5 Oct 1888.
- Howard Kerr
- William Lawerence, admitted 1877 on certificate.
- Clara Lawerence, wife of W. L., admitted 1877 on certificate.
- Joseph Lodge, admitted Oct 1878 on certificate.
- Mary Lodge, wife of J. L., admitted Oct 1878 on certificate.
- Edward Lodge, son of J. L., admitted Oct 1878 on certificate
- William H. Lodge, son of J. L., admitted Oct 1878 on certificate.
- James Morgan, admitted on certificate, dismissed 23 Dec 1884 to Parker, PA.
- Annie Morgan, wife of J. M., admitted on certificate, dismissed 23 Dec 1884 to Parker, PA.
- Henry Mapole, admitted Feb 1879 on certificate, dismissed 18 Oct 1887 to Annandale or as he may choose.
- Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Mann, dismissed 27 Aug 1884.
- P. S. McIntosh, admitted 1877 on certificate.
- Lizzie McIntosh, wife of P. S. Mc.
- Helen S. McCrea, admitted Feb 1879 on certificate.
- Irving Rodney McPherson, admitted Apr 1879 on examination.
- J. R. Neal, admitted Oct 1878 on certificate.
- Martha Neal, wife of J. R. N., admitted Oct 1878 on certificate.
- J. C. Patterson, admitted 1877 on certificate, dismissed by letter 2 Dec 1881.
- Sarah M. Patterson, admitted 1877 an certificate, dismissed 2 Dec 1881.
- Alma Philippe, admitted Feb 1879 on examination, dismissed 2 Dec 1881.
- O. C. Redic, admitted on certificate, dismissed 13 Apr 1885 to Allegheny Church.
- Martha J. Redic, admitted on certificate, died 22 Feb 1885.
- W.S. Ross, M. D., admitted on certificate. Dismissed to Altoona.
- Dilla Shaner, admitted 1877 on certificate.
- John Spear, admitted 1877 on certificate, dismissed 17 Jan 1884 to Rimersburg.
- Rebecca E. Spear, wife of J. S., admitted 1877 on certificate, dismissed 17 Jan 1884 to Rimersburg.
- Lottie S. Spear, daughter of J. S., admitted 1877 on certificate, dismissed 17 Jan 1884 to Rimersburg.
- Harris S. Spear, son of J.S., admitted 3 Oct 1878 on certificate, dismissed by letter.
- Annie R. Smith, admitted 3 Oct 1878 on certificate, dismissed 16 Nov 1887.
- Mary S. Sloan, wife of W. N. S., admitted 3 Oct 1878 on certificate, dismissed to ?.
- James A. Story, admitted 3 Oct 1878 on certificate.
- Jennie Story, wife of J. A. S., admitted 3 Oct 1878 on examination, dismissed by letter 13 May 1881(?)
- Simon P. Shermerhorn, admitted Feb 1879 an examination, dismissed 23 Nov 1882.
- Jane Shermerhorn, wife of S. P. S., admitted Feb 1879 on certificate, dismissed 23 Nov 1882.
- Susan E. Sheets, admitted Feb 1879 on certificate, dismissed 12 Feb 1883 to M. E. Church of Hazlewood.
- Mary E. Swift, admitted Feb 1879 on certificate, dismissed 4 Apr 1880.
- Geo. P. Sloan, admitted Feb 1879 on examination, died Feb 1881.
- John H. Sloan, admitted Feb 1879 on examination, dismissed 5 Oct 1889.
- Phebe J. Sloan, wife of J. H. S., admitted Feb 1879 on examination.
- Peter Schermerhouson, S. P. S., admitted Feb 1879 on examination, dismissed by letter 29 Nov 1882 to Warren, PA.
- G.W. Thomson, admitted 1877 on certificate, dismissed to Bradford.
- _______ Thomson, wife of G. W. T., admitted 1877 on certificate, dismissed 9 Jun 1885.
- J.H. Turner, admitted Oct 1878 an certificate, dismissed 30 Oct 1886 to M.E. Church.
- Mary C. Turner, wife of J. H. T., admitted Oct 1878 on certificate, dismissed 30 Oct 1886 to M. E. Church.
- William Turner, admitted Feb 1879 on examination, dismissed 9 Dec 1886.
- Mary Turner, wife of W. T., admitted Feb 1879 on examination, dismissed 9 Dec 1886.
- R.J. Thompson, admitted Oct 1878 on certificate, dismissed by letter to Parker, PA.
- Elizebeth Thompson, wife of R. J. T., admitted Oct 1878 on certificate, dismissed by letter 5 Jan 1882 to Parker, PA.
- Laura True, admitted Feb 1879 on certificate, dismissed 5 Oct 1889.
- Mrs. Milo White, admitted Apr 1879 on examination, dismissed 3 Jul 1879 to Bradford.
Register of Baptisms
- William Aubry Thompson Oct 1878
- Jessie Heighton Story Feb 1879
- Bertha Fay Benzino Feb 1879
- John Franklin Kiser Apr 1879
- Hannah Emma Lawerence Apr 1879
- James Harvey Sloan Apr 1879
- Geo. Burt Sloan Apr 1879
- Mina Josephine Baker Jul 1879
- Irene Bertha Baker Jul 1879
- John Franklin Baker Jul 1879
- Mildred Johnston Jul 1879
- Ina Florence Mackintosh Jul 1879
Register of Marriages
- David E. Ashbaugh of Foxburg, PA, and Sophia
M. Long of Foxburg, PA, were married 3 Jul 1879. The witnesses
were Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Aber, and others.
- Frank D. Williams of Bradford, PA, and Clara
Rebecca Allen of Foxburg, PA, were married 14 Sep 1879. The
witnesses were Mr. and Mrs. Allen and Mr. Irons.
- William P. Neely of Foxburg, PA, and Mattie Jane
Carnes of Foxburg, PA, were married 27 Sep 1879. The witness
was Mrs. Samuel Curry.
- John Mininger of Westfield, NY, and Fannie H. Jamison
of Foxburg, PA, were married 8 Jan 1880. The witnesses were Mr.
Jamison and Mr. and Mrs. Hartman.
- Rufus Martin of Pittsburg, PA, and Emma Margaret Miller of Pittsburg, PA, were married 6 May 1880. The witnesses were Mrs. John Miller and Captain Aull (Hull?).
