REV. J. M. GALLAGHER,
Jackson Centre, was born April 28, 1821, in Uniontown, Fayette Co.,
Penn., to John Gallagher, a native of the same place. Our subject was
one of seven children: Eveline W., Rev. J. M., Jane K., Elizabeth D.,
Mary, Jacob B., John A. The last named practiced law, and was a
surveyor. The father was a farmer, and at one time owned part of the
land now the present site of Uniontown. Rev. Gallagher was educated at
Madison College, Uniontown, and Beverly, Ohio, studying at the last
named theology under Rev. J. P. Wethee. He taught school six months. He
was licensed to preach at State Lick, Armstrong County, by the Union
Presbytery in 1845, and was sent out by that body to preach. He made
his journey on horseback, and was supply at Harlensburg, Franklin,
Cranbury, Rockland and Scrubgrass. He preached in school-houses at the
last three named places, and his pastorate church buildings were
erected at Cranbury and Rockland. At these two he continued for eleven
years. He was then supply for the Scrubgrass and Sandy Creek
congregations until 1861, when he moved to Jackson Centre, and preached
for that congregation until recently. He is yet pastor of the Bethany
congregation, a branch of the Jackson Centre organization. He was
pastor for thirty-two years for the “Irvin congregation,” which is
composed of citizens of Mercer and Venango Counties; this he resigned
in 1887. During his pastorate at Jackson Centre some of his
congregation moved to Sandy Lake, and he following them organized a
church and preached in a hall until under his administration a church
edifice was erected and he had helped in the dedicatory services. The
Hickory Grove congregation, now attached to Jackson Centre, was
organized under his pastorate. He was married, September 19, 1848, to
Miss Ellen Whann, a native of Venango County. This union resulted in
two children: John F., died at the age of eighteen years, and Mary J.,
married H. T. Hess, deceased, by whom she has three children: Nellie
M., Stella J. and James Raymond. Our subject owns two farms, has
property in Jackson Centre, and is an earnest Prohibitionist.
Source: (History of
Mercer County, 1888, pages 1009 - 1010) |
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