United
Presbyterian Church. —The origin of this congregation, the
oldest in the town, dates back to the first of the present century. In
the year 1800 the Chartiers Presbytery, under whose charge were placed
all congregations and vacancies west of the Alleghenies, was formed by a
division of the Associate Synod of North America. In the year following
it began its work of caring for the scattered flocks of its faith by
sending Rev. Daniel McLean into the
Shenango Valley to minister unto them. In this work he visited Mercer
and Crawford Counties, and succeeded in effecting an organization of the
Presbyterian and Associate families that were settled to some numbers in
a region of country lying near the Shenango River, on Sandy Creek, known
as the “Big Vacancy.” The union of the two beliefs was brought about
by the followers of the former, who were in the majority, agreeing that
the first suitable candidate for pastor, be he of either denomination,
should be chosen. This choice fell upon Rev. McLean, who began his
labors on the 1st of January, 1802, and who was paid therefore the
annual sum of £135 of Pennsylvania currency. Of the members of this
congregation, the following were afterward added to the Greenville
Church: David Beatty, Hugh Brown, Francis Mossman
and Robert Bean. These members organized
themselves into a separate congregation sometime in 1802, and, three
years later, by petition to the Presbytery, received one-half of Rev.
McLean’s time, the remainder being devoted to the Shenango flock. His
first preaching in what is now Greenville was held in a private house,
known familiarly as Shank’s Tavern, located on the west bank of the
Shenango, on Main Street. It is said a tent was afterward put up, and
occupied until the first regular building, a log hut, situated on the
present site of the old United Presbyterian Cemetery, was erected. The
latter was followed by a more commodious frame, which stood on the site
of the present church, on ground donated by William
Scott. It was, however, so poorly constructed and devoid of
beauty that it was torn down in 1844. Rev. McLean severed his connection
with the Greenville congregation in May, 1840, after having ministered
to their spiritual wants for thirty-eight years. His labors had been
richly successful, for at his departure he left a flourishing flock of
179 members. He was succeeded by his son, Rev. D.
H. A. McLean, who, in May, 1841, received and accepted a call
from the congregations of Greenville and Mercer. Four years later the
presbytery relieved him of the Mercer charge, and he there after devoted
his time entirely to Greenville, holding occasional services in some of
the outlying villages. His relations terminated in 1852, having built up
the church membership to 235.
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During his pastorate,
also, the old frame church gave place to a new brick, erected in 1844, at
a cost of $3,000. Rev. W. C. Jackson, the
third pastor of the congregation, was installed in February, 1854, and
remained in charge until June, 1861. Nothing of special incident occurred
during the time of his stay beyond the union of the Associate and
Associate Reformed Churches of the United States, which was effected at
Pittsburgh May 26, 1858, and the excitement and consequent fervor of
religious endeavor growing out of the anti-slavery agitation, in which
Rev. Jackson was not silent. The fourth regular minister was Rev.
James H. Tedford, who remained a little over three years. He was
released in the fall of 1865, the membership having decreased during his
stay to 140 by the formation of new congregations in neighboring villages.
On the 1st of July, 1866, the congregation was placed in charge of Rev.
J. R. Brittain, who was installed by Rev.
Joseph H. Pressly, D. D., in the following September. His ministry,
which lasted until February 26, 1888, was the culmination of the
church’s growth and development. During it the present building, a
convenient brick, was erected, at a cost of $18,000, and dedicated in
April, 1868. During it the membership has been increased to 300, the
Sunday-school has grown to enroll a membership equal to that of the
church, and prosperity has marked the progress of the congregation. Rev.
J. C. Scouller succeeded to the pastorate in September, 1888.
Following is the roll of session as far as it could be obtained: David
McKnight, David White, Alexander Hunter, James McConnell,
James Calvin, Samuel Latta, J. W. Brown, David Brackin, William Melvin,
Hugh Nelson,
Thompson Wier, Adam Thompson, William Dickey, Robert Dickey, McClure
Cowan, James W. Linn, Alexander P. Waugh, Robert Calvin, John Donaldson,
John S. White, James Say, Benjamin Wiley, John Davidson, J. M. Bean, James
C. Brown, J. G. McFate, M. J. McElhaney, Andrew Davis, John M. Linn
and Abner Bean. The present elders are Robert
Dickey, Sr., Benjamin Wiley, James Say, J. M. Bean, James C. Brown, J. G.
McFate, John Davidson, M. J. McElhaney, Andrew Davis, John M. Linn
and Abner Bean. The board of trustees are A.
R. Davis, S. R. Cochran. John Phillips, J.
M. Linn and Abner Bean.
Connected with the church is a prosperous Sunday-school of about 300
pupils, under the superintendency of Hon. James C.
Brown, whose grandfather, Hugh Brown,
was one of the organizers of the Seceder Church.
History
of Mercer County,
1888, pages 420-423.
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