The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-17
Centennial Reminiscenes OF Ohio
Comfy ChnrchcS.

Editors lntelDseneeE
The first settlers OF Ohio county mostly
euigraIed from adjacent portions Of
Pennsylvania, Maryland aud Virginia, Of
which Martinsburg, Hagerstown and
Gettysburg were perhaps leading points.
They were mainly Of the ScotCh-Irish
race, and Presbyterian in religion SO far
US they were anything.
The firsl churches organized in Ohio
county were the Elm Grove and West
Liberty Presbyterian Churches. These
congregations appear to have beenestab'
lished so near the same time that neither
OF them can have any claim to priority
over the other worth speaking OF.
Rev. James Hughes was installed Grss
pastor at the West Liberty congregation
April 81, 1890, and the Rev. John Birch
was installed at Elm Grove the following
day, April %, 1880, each to preach half
the time at these places. These were
both young men who had beenstudents
together in Washington county, Pa, hav.
ing obtained their education literary and
theological mostly under the private in
struclion Of DR.. John Mcmillan, the
noted border preacher, They were both
useful men and each remained at these
places a considerable length OF time.
These installations occurred about four
years before the close OF the Indian
troubles. On this account these preach.
ing stations were located near forts. They
preached for years in the woods, the
preacher only occupying wooden
structure called tent. The men often
carried their guns with them to church
for defense against possible attacks from
the Indians. The location Of the Elm
Grove Church upon point was probably
made for military reasons.
Preaching at these two places half the
time was thoughtto be all that was need.
ed then in the county. But about this
time there was discord and division in
the Presbyterian Church on occount OF its
adoption Of Watts psalms and hymns,
instead OF "the psalms Of Davis in me.
ire" previously in use in all the Scottish
Churches. 1t is extended To. this then ex-
IRENE border and led to the organization
Of the Tent Congregation in connexion
with the Associate Reformed Church.
About 1895, Rev. Alexander. NfcCay be-
came its pastor, and continued to preach
there part Of the time for ABOUT twenty.
five years. He preached to larger congre-
cations than ever gathered stately to
hear any other country minister in this
region. They come from all parts OF the
county, and from beyondits limits to hear
him Notwithstanding his sermons were
very lengthy.
Wheeling for long time was thought
TO be too much at one corner Of the popu-
lation to support church. The first
church edifice erected in Wheeling was in
1915 by the Episcopalians. The second
church was erected by the MethOdists, not
long afterwards. The third church was
erected blythe Presbyterians.
These institutions were very humble al.
fairs, but no one can doubt that their in.
fluence has been highly beneficial. not
only here but westward to the shores Of
the Pacific, and wherever their repre-
sentatives may be found. We have no
reasons to feel ashamed OF the founders Of
the republic in this quarter.
1t Is about time TO begin to gather up
fragments OF our carly history if we are
TO do anything OF that sort during the
Centennial year. W. c. S.
Ohio Co, W. Va, January Is, 1876.