Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-08-29

ford, about ls40 or 1850 The Metho
dists already had such an organization,
but We young Preabytefians wanted ono
Of our own. We first met in the school
house because they would not let Us uss
the church for Sabbath School services
At that time only psalms were sung in
the church. We wanted to sing hymns
and were therefore barred out. But In .
couple of years our gatherings became to
large to be accommodated in the school
house, and we obtained the privileges
Of the church on . c0mpromtse, agree
ing to sing both psalms and hymns.
was the first Superintendent Of this
Sabbath School, and for many years
after left it was conducted by Lemuel
Ramsey, David Doyle, EnOch l.. Ander-
son (my father) and Andrew J. Fergu-
son. well remember my first class,
ten boys, though may not be able to
correctly recall all OF their names off
hand. My most distict recollection,
however, is Of David B. McWilliams,
who you tell me is now with the Tus.
carora Phosphate Company at Port
Royal, and his brother. Then there
was young David Barton and son o
Robert Barton three Drolesbaugh boys;
James Deem James Louden, brother
J of ex-Sheriff Samuel b. Lcuden, and
John Smith-that's ten, think. Rev.
Andrew Jordan was the venerated
pastor of the East Waterford Pres
byterian church when first became a
member of it,"
Mr. Anderson left Juniata county in
1860, going to Greenville, Mercer county,
where he engaged in farming. 1t was
at this place that he was first elected an
Elder In 1856 the oil excitement at
tracted him to Petroleum Centre. where
he went to work in the field for his
brother, George X. Anderson, then a
large operator, soon becoming his Su-
perintendent. In 1876 Mr.. Anderson
removed to Parker's Landing.
During his experience as SuPerinten-
dent and operator he drilled through
the Oil Creek, Parker's Landing, Rich
burg IN. ", Bradford, Cherry Grove
and Thorn Creek fields, and was re-
garded as one Of the most expert pros
pectors and developers in the oil regions.
He did not operate on such an extern
sive scale as his brother, George X,
who drilled between 200 and 300 wells,
but he was as indefatigable worker in
! the field as he was in the Lords Vine
yard throughout his entire oil-country
career.
James g. Anderson was one Of ten
children born to EnOcb L. Anderson,
| whose wife was Rebecca Morthland, of
York county. OF his three brothers,
William died early Thomas became q
banker in Franklin, Pa, and George
X, was the great oil operator who, 1t
will be remembered, gave 81 900 toward
building the East Waterford Presby.
terian church. OF his six sisters all are
dead but twO-Mrs. William Kidd,
who lives about a mile and a half from
McCOysville; and Mrs. J. N. Pew, wife
Of the pioneer natural gas magnate,
living on North Highland Avenue,
Pittsburgh. Two other sisters were
married to Rev. J. A. Wailen and DIR.
. Morrison, Of East Waterford,
There is still tinge Of romance in
! Mr.. Anderson, despite his 6s years. In
i his heart he is yet q gallant admirer of
that famous bell, Miss Jennie Hamlin,
now Mrs. William Banks. As illus
trative Of what small world this really
is, the following combination of circum-
stances may be interesting. 1 was
standing at the door of Mr.. Anderson's Is
shoe store in Williamsburg the other
evening. preparing to say good night.
He was just telling of how he had once
driven beautiful Jennie Hamlin" out
to the country, and narrowly escaped a
reprimand from the Court for being
tardy as a juryman-when Edgar n.
Doty stopped in passing to shake hands
| with me. Edgar is Cashier Of the
Williamsburg bank, which is only half
block distant from Mr.. Anderson g
place Of business, yet the two had never
met.
"Mr. Doty knows beautiful Jennie
Hamlin' whom you were just speaking
Of" said 1.
~ ought to-" said Edgar. .'for she
was my cousin before marriage, and
became doubly 20 by marriage, both
the Hamlins and Bankses being my
cousins"
sis that 50 ?" exclaimed Mr.. Ander-
son, delightedly. "Why, / knew your
father. and admired him greatly. Well,
as was saying, I drove out to the
Spieses one day with beautiful -"
Hold on :" interrupted Edgar. "If
your going to talk about the spieses
my friend waiting yonder knows them
and will be glad to listen to what you
have to say"
In calling his friend who stood few
feet away, Edgar introduced him as
Mr.. Rohrer, and added: Ellis mother
was Spiese-Sarah, wasn't it ~ And
then the happy old gentleman told tho
romantic story all over again, winding
up with: ''The best people ever met
rcame from Juniata county"
Mr.. Anderson married a young wo-
man of the same surname as himself
Miss Eliza E. Anderson, of Baltimore.