The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-04-03

decide who besides Presbyterians may b,
permitted to preach in it,
The matter of right was finally SO adj
justed by the terms of the deed that tn,
lot is to be used for the purposes of Pres
kbyterian house of worship, and if eve
alienated from this use it Is forfeited t,
the heirs of Mr.. Cochran. Mr.. Cochran
was not a protesting christian, but enter
tanned a preference for the Presbyterian
church.
Mr.. David Hogshead, the first-named Of
the original elders, died not long after {
sudden death Francis Gilkeson was Ions
a useful officer, q man of few words, anC
Of quiet. unobtrusive spirit and manner
the flame Of his piety was study, and never
seemed to burn low, as he was always
cheerfuly ready for every good work
Thomas Hogshead, ST., was of more
ardent temperament though, from bodily
infrmity, was not long fitted for active
service. He was, however, full of interest
in all the concerns of the church. His
countenance was a notable one as he sat in
church with animated, upturned face.
drinking in the words of truth. He lived
to above eighty years, and attended public
worship with tottering steps until COM
PEELED by feebleness to desist; after this
he was often comforted by preaching or
prayer-meeting at his own dwelling these
occasions he heartily enjoyed. In the
course of perhaps six or eight years John
Garven moved with his family to Ohio,
and we have reason to believe that bless
ing has followed his descendants.
Mr.. Hendren having accepted the calls
from these churches, began his ministra-
lions to them the following year. His, in
stallation as pastor of both took place at
Messy Greek C1rael- the I'd Of January, 1878, and
Rev. DR.. Specie preached tie tile sermon, and
Rev. John McCue presided and gave the
charge to the pastor and to the people.
The congregation of UniOnprOceeded to
erect their church building. The founda-
ton was made of stone and the walls of
| brick. For want of funds it was only car
ried SO far as to be covered with roof,
and furnished with doors and pews. While
the work was in progress the people availed
themselves of their right in the German
Reformed Lutheran church at Church
Vile, and assembled there for worship, but
their own location being so much more
central, they began the use of their house
as soonas practicable. Mr.. Hendren preach
ed here on alternate Sabbaths with Messy
| Greek. In the longest days twice, with an
| interval between sermons of fifteen or
| twenty minutes. W t
The salary promised by the two was $500,
but the payment being uncertain or fuctu-
| ating, it was therefore an insufficient, as
well as precarious support for his family.
People did not then regard ministerial sup
port as SO important duty as it is gener-
ally esteemed in these later days. He did
not rely on this means of living, but con-
tinued to teach. His financial abilities en-
abled him in the course of years to pur-
chase a farm, which served as home for
his family and some support ; to it he gave
only a general oversight. And through
life he substantially supported his family
by other means than that derived from
preaching. He was a man of fine talents,
and OF rare energy. industry and faithful
ness, so that however various and Onerous
his labors were, there was nothing which
he undertook that was slightly performed.
His home was in the bounds of Messy
Greek, and seven miles from Union, yet
his punctuality never failed.
Saturdays were his days of pastoral visi-
ting and of preaching at outside points.
These places of district preaching in the
territory belonging to Union were Ander-
sons schoolhouse, Churchville, Jennings
Gap, and in the fourth quarter it was some
private dwelling or a schoolhouse. The
church grew and the general tone of NOR
ais in the community improved. The
youth and children of the congregation
were regularly catechised by the pastor
4
The church had never been completed,
and was also in some respects defective in
structure, yet it had stood against the vi
cissitudes of time and storm until the
winter of 1888 or '34, when under the
pressure of an unusually heavy fall of
snow the timbers of the roof parted and
the whole fell to pieces. About the time
of this disaster, a desire for the whole of a
pastors time began to move the minds of |
some in Messy Greek. After some DELHI
GRAFTON, DR.. Hendren concluded to resign |
the care of that church and confine his |
labOrS to Union, both because of its being
the weaker church and also under the |
pressure of heavy loss This resignation
took place in 1885, and to the vicinity of |
Union he soon after moved his home. He
was one Of the largest contributors to the
erection of the new church. It was placed
on the foundation of the first one !; it is
not large, but is neat and well built of
brick. No increase of salary was asked
by DR.. Hendren, but after some years it |
was raised, by promise, to three hun
bred dollars. His school was widely
extended in its usefulness, though few in
in the neighbOrhood availed themselves of
its advantages, the pupils, for the most
part, being from distance. 1t was one
OF his habits to give gratuitOus instruction
to young men having the ministry in view.
Itmay be considered somewhat remark
able fact that no one trained in this school
has become a preacher of the Gospel. Yet
we believe its usefulness has been quite as
important in permeating with the purify
ing influence of its sound Gospel instruc-
tion those called to move in a less con-
spieuous sphere. Its Sabbath school has
been blessing to many, obviously to some
Who, but for its instruction, would prob |
ably never have received saving knoWl-
edge of this truth. sis eefF
Of the elders ordained during DIR. Hen
dren's passionate of thirty-eight years, all
survived him except the three whose
names we give first. viz Messrs. Thomas
Hogshead, Jr. who after some years of ac-
tive service, was disabled by serious
lameness which confined him to his home
as long as he lived; he was man Of good
influence also John Armstrong, who was
asteadfast character and VIM. a. Hanger
who died in the prime of life ); he was
useful officer. The following are the names
of those who have since passed away
MeSsrS. John j. ID. Brown, a delicate man,
whose life was struggle with ill-health,
but the aroma of whose piety still abides
among the people Daniel Whitmore, a
man of modest firmness and intelligent
piety; VIM. Thompson, who was one who
valued sanctuary privileges lived to the
ts5O VI CASHpJ-uOO JC01O 14d1 fCy l1OcA
who was mortally wounded in the battle
of Piedmont on the Confederate side he
was a person of most exemplary christian
character; Enos Silling, who died at his
home during the war his christian char
acter was whole-souled, and was remark.
able in that his spiritual sky was never
clouded with doubts and fears !; DR.. Joseph
Wilson, a man of great prudence of char
acter which gave him considerable infu-
ence his death occurred about year ago;
Capt. John Hogshead is still living, but
removed his home some years since to
another part of the county.
DR.. Hendren's health had been much
impaired for years through his excessive
and continuous labors, yet he could not be
induced to abate them any farther than to
cease teaching. His chronic disease finally
resulted in violent illness in May, 1856.
He insisted upon resigning his care of the
church, but the congregation continuing
to refuse to accept his resignation, he
thereupon engaged the Re VIM. G.. Camp
bell to minister to them uring his con-
fnement, which proved to be period of
six months. y
On the 18th of October, the same year,
he passed into the glorious rest prepared
for the people Of God. His constitution
was worn out with the continuous, vigi-
liant service it had SO long sustained. The