The old and new Monongahela, 1893, Pittsburgh, By John Stogdell Van pg. 69 to 74 The Church on the Hill At 11:00 AM, Sabbath day, over 60 years ago, let us enter the old brick Presbyterian Church on the hill, standing in about the centre of the graveyard lot, and take in the surroundings. The edifice was nearly square; the carpenter work was done by Benjamin Ferguson, and the interior was finished with pine, unpainted; the inside was divided by aisles, one running up and down the river from door to door and one leading from the door, fronting the river, back to the pulpit; on the right and left in going in from the inner door the seats were at right angles until reaching the main aisle running from the doors, where the seats were at angles to this aisle. The pews, as they are now called, had doors on the end next to the aisle; the owner of, at least one, kept his pew locked, and on one occasion, having forgotten his key, had, to his own discomfiture, jump into his seat. The pulpit was high toward the ceiling, and a stairway on each side leading to the interior, where a smoothly planed pine boat-seat furnished accommodations to the preacher or preachers; cushioned chairs and sofas were unknown quanitities. The acoustic facilities of an audience room were then believed to be in the height of the pulpit or platform, having no ideas of the angles of incidence and reflection. In front of the pulpit was located the clark's desk. Benjamin Furguson was "clark" for a long time. At the proper time he would rise up, place his elbow on the front of the desk, holding in his hand Watt's hymn book, line out the hymn and start the singing in which all joined in spirit if not with understanding, believing singing to be an essential part of worship. Mr. Ferguson removed west before the old church disappeared, leaving behind a name cherished by all who knew him. In a seat on the right and in front of the pulpit was Aaron Kerr and his family. The old gentleman, leaning on his ivory-headed cane, occupied the outer end of the pew, so as to give his stiff limb more comfort by extending it into the aisle. His family consisted of his wife and several sons and daughters. He was for years a member of the legislature from Washington Co. During his legislative career he acquired something of a reputation in a little speech in which he declared boldly that "a man should not be disfranchised because he had a black streak down his back". This expression at that time was condemned, but its outcropping has been the adoption of universal suffrage, without respect to race or color. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1838, and was highly esteemed. He was installed as an elder in this church Feb. 12, 1836, when James Gordon and Isaac Van Voorhis were ordained and installed. Many years ago he removed to Cross Creek, where he d. June 1, 1866. His oldest daughter, Susan, was first m. to Dr. Todd, of W. Newton, PA, and her last husband was Jesse Applegate, of Allegheny Co. She d. in Claysville, PA, Feb. 23, 1884. His daughter Phoebe m. James G. Hair, who d. at Claysville, PA, Aug. 10, 1885. She still lives. Amanda m. a Rev. Reed, who d. many years ago, leaving a daughter Lizzie, who m. John McCullough, who was a son of Hon. James McCullough, of Canonsburg, PA. Amanda m. Mr. Hanna her 2nd husband. They are both dead. Aaron H. Kerr, son of A. Kerr, studied Latin and Greek with Prof. J. D. Mason in this old church, and subsequently with Prof. J. P. Thompson, in the old carriage factory, in an upstairs room. Among the students in this academy were Rev. John McFarland, who d. years ago in Greenfield, Dade Co. MO; Abram Underwood, lately deceased; Dr. A. J. Davis, of East End, Pittsburgh; Francis Gardner, of Forward township, Allegheny Co.; Dr. J. H. Storer, of Treadelphia, WV; Dr. J. H. Manown, of Kingwood WV; Dr. J. S. Van Voorhis, of Bellevernon, Fayette Co.; J. S. Morrison, now deceased, a distinguished member of the Pittsburgh bar; Dr. James C. Fleming, of Franklin, OH; Robert Officer, of Baltimore, and S. B. Bently, of Monongahela City. A. H. Kerr graduated in old Jefferson College, in the class of 1843, and also was a graduate of the W. Theological Seminary, d. Feb. 27, 1890, in Minnesota. He was a distinguished educator, and minister of St. Peter's, Minnesota. Hampton was another son of Aaron Kerr. He was long a successful merchant of Cross Creek, Washington Co, and d. a few years since in that place. Joseph was another son of Aaron Kerr. He d. Apr. 11, 1891, at Chicago, IL. Isaac Van Voorhis and John Hair, with their families, occupied the back seat to the left of the pulpit. Of these we will have more to say in another part of this work. Just in front of their seat the venerable form of Grand-daddy McCain, with his family, could be seen. The family have all passed to the better land. Margaret m. James Hull, who lived for many years in the old log house which stood near the present dwelling of Wm. Booth, on Taylor's Run, in Carroll. For a few years prior to his death, which took place in 1848, he lived on the farm recently owned by his son Abram in Fallowfield, now in possession of one of the Shannon boys. Hugh McCain was a blacksmith, had his shop, in 1834, on 2nd street, above the People's Bank; but, in after years, had it in Catzburg, where he died many years since. Henry McCain was a stiller by trade, and as such worked many winter seasons for the late Isaac Van Voorhis in the old log still house that stood on the present farm of John Van Voorhis, in Carroll. The later history of the old Horseshoe Bottom Congregation and the early history of the Williamsport Meeting House congregation, were so intimately interwoven that their interests were for a time identical. This was especially true in a financial way. William Irwin, of Parkison's Ferry, took an important part, with Michael Power and Samuel Moody, in managing the money matters. Among the archives of that old church is the following subscription paper. Some of the names are written in the subscriber's own writing and others not: Nov. 28, 1805 James Prine - $2.50 Robert Williams - 2.50 Daniel Vorehas - 3.00 Henry Blythe - 1.50 Moses Carr - 2.00 William Witherow - 2.00 William Fenton - 2.17 Jacob Crabs - 2.00 Subscribed Dec. 19, 1806 James Hair - $3.00 William Prian - 1.00 John Foraker - 1.00 Then is added below a subscription in pounds, shillings and pence: Henry Shepler - 17s. 6d. James McKnight - 7s. 6d. Hannah Power - 18s. 9 d. John Power - 18s. 9d. Jen McCutcheon - 7s. 6d. On the back of this paper is written, in Dr. Ralston's own writing, the following: "Apr. 5, 1806. Received from Samuel Moody 7 pound, one shilling and 10 pence one half penny in stipends for the year 1805." Elder James Hair had, during the summer of 1806, removed from Berkeley Co. VA, and among his first duties was to subscribe to the support of the gospel and deposit the certificate of himself and wife from the church of Middletown, under the signature of Father Joseph Glass, pastor. From this period to 1811, we have no record of either the spiritual or financial conditon of the congregation, only that in some way, or by some means, the place of preaching was changed to Parkison's Ferry. In the old Horse Shoe Church there was no pew rent, but the subscriptions were called stipends and pronounced "stee-pins". Seats were free to all, but each family was naturally inclined to occupy the same seat, and hence gradually was originated the idea of families each renting by the year a seat called "pews" first in the old church on the hill, where the pew-rent system was adopted. As Esq. Hair was one of the giants in the Williamsport congregation, so Michael Power was the giant in the old Horse Shoe Church, where, during his life, he delighted to worship. He lived on the high hill above the residence of one of the Shannons, on a part of the farm now owned by the heirs of Moses Colvin, deceased. His barn standing on the highest part of the hill, shortly before his death, was burned with all its contents. On hearing of the fire, Dr. Ralston remarked to a friend that "the individual who fired that sainted man's barn would die on the gallows." Subsequent events in the eyes of the neighborhood verified the prediction. His remains, togehter with a countless host of other earlier settlers, lie in the graveyard adjoining the old church. Wm. Irwin, although living in Parkison's Ferry, took an active part in the old Horse Shoe congregation, and was permitted to see the church on the hill grow in number and spiritual strength, and for years in it he occupied a pew. He built and resided for some years in the brick house now occupied as a boarding house by Mrs. Kerr on Main street in Monongahela City. This house was built on Lot. No. 1 in the original plan of the town, and it was the first brick house in the town. In what year it was built we cannot say, but we think in 1802. William Witherow was a cooper by trade and followed his occupation in a shop not far from the present residence of his grandson, John Witherow, in Fallowfield. Whiskey barrels, churns, buckets, tubs, wash tubs and phlakestands for still houses were the kind of vessels generally made. Flour and apple barrels were in little demand. We have as early as Sep. 17, 1814, a record that shows he was a cooper, in our possession, being an old account book. He was the father of Samuel, David, Benjamin and James. Samuel was the father of John Witherow, the well known blacksmith on the Brownsville road. He was a blacksmith, as well as his son John, who still holds the old shop and is one of the substantial fixtures in Fallowfield. Henry Shepler was another old Horseshoe subscriber. He lived and died on the farm now owned by Wm. Rogers on Maple Creek. His wife was the daughter of the older Samuel Frye. Shepler, with his brother in law, Samuel Frye, owned the old mill on Maple, Creek, where now stands the mill of Henry Cooper. Shepler had two sons. Bowman, celebrated for his love of mischief, moved west long ago, where he died. Peter lived on the farm now owned by the heirs of Wm. Swab, on Maple Creek. He removed west about 1860, and has been dead many years.