The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-03-29
Ghe9ntelIi9ettrf
LOCAL CENTENNIAL HISTORY
The "ForEs OF wheeling"
ELM GROVE, ONO COUNTY, W:vA9
March g, 1876.

Editors IntelllEenecr
The "Forks Of Wheeling" and "Three
Ridges" are probably the two oldest
church organizations in this section OF
tho country. The former has for great
msny years been popularity known Us
III, iStone Church" while "Three Ridges"
hm long ago been officially changed to
"lYest Alexander"
The records OF the "Forks Of Wheel
ing" run back almost ninety years. The
church was organized in the year l7S7--
n year somewhat memorable in the an
mails Of our history as the year in which
the convention that framed our National
Constitution sat in Philadelphia. Il was
in this year also that the great NORTH G;s
western Territory was organized: 1ns
Territory comprised all the Eatlon9! DO
main lying northwest OF the ONO liver IS'
being at that time an nnDroKeh "i'uer-
ness. pou,I,,;o,
49, Sss md Lc(ore tho Government was
Sn!msJ IN irs present basis, the country
40 in n confused, unsettled condition.
GSbay,, isnrrection' was in full blast in
Nfas.acbusctt., and few years later the
1whi.ky in.urrection" broke out in Penn.
sylyania. The unsettled state OF things
was especially felt by those living "west
Of the mountains" To other sources Of
irritation there were added frequent at
tacks by tho Indians. The bloodthirsty
savuges delighted in taking the frontier
settlements bysurprise, killing men, wo.
men and children, and destroying their
property. The pioneers were obliged to
lake their guns with them when at work
in the fields, and with rifle in hand TO
stand guard over their wives and daugh.
tiers while they MIXED the COWS and per-
formed other outdoor duties.
We are therefore prepared for the
record in the old congregational book
before us. 1t refers to the period prior
to the organization Of the church, and is
as follows:
"Ohlo county no sooner began to 10 settled than
the settlers provided for themselves place Of pub
lie worship, and Obtanctl the prtached gospel even
In PeriloIs times, receiving the Spiritual bread
With the weapons Of defence In their hands 10 pro-
tcCt Themselves from ruthless savage"
Among the first things they did was
the putting up Of the Meeting House,"
In this work they had no aid from archi.
tcct or contractor; had no use for either.
The whole neighborhood took hand
in it, and a neighborhood in those days
embraced a much greater extent Of coun-
try than neighborhood does now. They
all came together, each felt an interest in
the work, each was identified with it, and
each helped to do it.
Soon after the organization Of the
church in 1887, the Rev. John Brice was
settled us the regular pastor over the
"Forks of Wheeling" and "Three
Ridges" spending one.half Of his time
alternately between the two congrega-
tions.
He continued to labor in this field I'M
iii his heath. His children remained in
the region, and intcrmarrying with other
families, quite numerous family con-
nection is found Il roughout the country.
Alter the death OF Ir. Brice according
10 the record, the Rev. Joseph Stevenson
accepted call from these two cOngrega-
tons, and for some years gave each con-
gregation one.half Of his ministerial Ia
bors. Three Ridges desiring the whole
Of u minister's time, the union between
the two congregations was dissolved, and
the Forks OF Wheeling left vacant.
Just at this time the Rev. James Her
vey was licensed, and on invitation Of the
congregation, commenced in 1872,
preaching to them rs licGntiatc, His
ordination and installation took place
on the 10Th Of April 1914, Us appears
from the following extract Of the Min
u,es Of Ohio Presbytery.
1.-THE presbytery Of Ohio being met al the Forks
Of Wheeling on the 18th OF April, 1914, did, with
lastint and prayer and the laying 90 Of the hands
o. the Prcs6ytcry, ordain Mr. James HCrrty 10 the
hgi, Office q tho Gospel Ministry, aud installed
him pastor Of the united Congregations Of Wheeling
Town anI the Forks Of Wheeling.
Extract Of the minutes Of PrrsbytcrY.,
"JoIIS ANDERSON, Clerk"
nlSl2, soon after he had commenced
preaching at the Forks, Mr.. Hervey dis.
covered that some Of his purishioners
lived in the village Of Wheeling, six miles
from the church. For their accommodate
ton, and from the desire also to give the
benefits Of preached gospel to this hith-
erto spiritually destitute village, lie COM
menced in the fall of 1872 to hold regular
services in this place, occupying for this
purpose the old courthouse TINT stood in
the street between the Grant House and
McClellan's corner, and the brick school
house at that time standing near the edge
of an orchard not far from where the
Second Ward Market is now. Hc was
the first minister OF any Christian denom-
ination that instituted regular religious
services in the place.
As bearing upon the facts here referred
10, we Introduce an extract from "a Brief
Sketch Of the First Presbyterian Church
OF Wheeling, Va" found in the old ses-
sional records Of that church in the hand
writing OF the late Henry Il. Wood, D. D.,
whose ministry in that church commenced
in 1882:
1.-THE ar't regular preaching by any Christian
Denomination 10 Wheeling then small village,
VA. commenced b! the Rev, James llerVey, Pres
byterau minister about the clJse u the year 1872.
He hAd Just been located t the Forks Of Wheel
Ing Greek, and 6ndiny some u bis members rCsll-
Ing In Wheeling, SIX miles distant aud rs public
means Of guce were Onj yed 70 the place, he Ut
Ouce Instituted preaching there alternately with the
services 10 his church at the Forks Having no
hou Of worship Ia the Village 4 small hou Q on
tho cJrnOr Of Market alley aud sometimes the
Co Irt Hous0-was coupled rs the place VI IN ctug
Tho Rev. Mr.. Htrycy continued thus the only
preacher In Wheeling Tor aVe or six Year,. But 10
the meanwhile tho population OF tho town was
growing and then first the MethodiotS, aud next
h EpitcOpallans began TO arrive, and each % pro
vide for services acc ruling 10 their order. In this