REV. IRA CONDIT
was born in Morris County, N. J., in 1772, and married Mary Miller, of
Washington County, Pa., in 1800. She was born in New Jersey, Feb. 18,
1781, and died Nov. 6, 1836. Of the early years of Ira Condit but
little is preserved. They were spent on a farm and he experienced the
hardships incident to all new settlements. In 1798 he emigrated to
Sandy Creek, Mercer County, Pa., and settled
within one mile of where the Fairfield Church now stands. He made a
profession of religion May 10, 1802, and became a member of the
Fairfield Church, of which he was afterward pastor. In 1803 he left his
farm and moved to Canonsburg, Pa., and commenced his studies for the
ministry, where he graduated in 1808. Then he removed to a farm about
seven miles from the town of Washington, Pa., and commenced the study
of theology under the direction of Dr. McMullen and Rev. George Scott,
supporting his family by teaching a school in the neighborhood. He was
licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Ohio on Oct. 17, 1811. The
first year of his ministry was spent as a missionary among the vacant
churches and destitute settlements of Washington County. In 1812 Mr.
Condit moved back to Sandy Creek, and after preaching some time in the
vacant churches accepted a call from the congregations of Fairfield and
Big Sugar Creek, and was ordained Nov. 8, 1814. In this "call" he was
to give the church one-third of his time, and was to receive one
hundred dollars annually, one-third to be in cash, two-thirds in
provisions. In April, 1827, he accepted a call to the church of
Georgetown, and was afterwards installed over the church at Amity. This
latter charge was relinquished April 22, 1829. In June of the same year
he accepted a call to the church at Cool Spring, and was installed June
24, 1829. In this united charge of Fairfield, Georgetown and Cool
Spring he labored until his death, Oct. 24, 1836.
Children:
Phere, b. Feb. 11, 1801;John, b. Feb. 4, 1803; Martha, b. Jan. 16,
1805; unm. [unmarried] resided at Girard, Pa.; Sarah and Mary, twins,
b. April 5, 1807 Sarah d. in Oct. 1820; Hannah and Rachel, twins; b.
Aug. 17, 1809; David S. b. Nov. 5, 1811; d., single, March 27, 1859.
Jonas, b. Feb 2, 1814; Meribah, b. Feb. 9, 1816; m.,
Dec.,1835, Baldwin Kirkpatrick, who d. ;in ;1877; Samuel, b.
March 18, 1818, d. Oct. 24, 1836; Isaac and Rebecca, twins b. Feb. 2,
1820; Isaac d. in infancy; William, b. June 13, 1831; m. Beulah Terry;
resided in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Source:
(Genealogy of the Condit Family 1678-1885, Descendants of John Cunditt,
A Native of Great Britain who settled in Newark, NJ by Jotham H. Condit
and Ebin Condit, 1916.)
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