On resigning from Derry and Paxton in 1847, he went to Millersburg, Ohio, where he remained from 1848-1856. In that year he became Stated Supply of the Presbyterian Church at Independ- ence, Iowa, and the following year was elected pastor, remaining there from 1857-1869. From 1871-1872 he was Financial Agent of Lenox In- stitution, Hopkinton, Iowa, but died on Septem- ber 1, 1872, at Independence, Iowa. His short ministry with the sister churches was uneventful. The Sunday School and prayer meeting at Paxton were revived under the lead- ership of Robert Elder, but again discontinued w^hen Mr. Boggs resigned and Mr. Elder became connected with the Harrisburg church. There is 111 an interesting old subscription paper dated Au- gust 6, 1844, in which subscriptions for the Sab- bath School library, amounting to $44.25 were paid to Mr. S. S. Kutherford. Though his sojourn at Paxton was brief, Mr. Boggs was very popular. He was an able preacher, a good pastor and a hard worker. His kindly nature was so marked it made a deep impression on a child's heart, and he is vividly remembered after all these years by one of Pax- ton's present members. Rev. Andrew Dinsmore Mitchell 1850—1874 After another three years of a pastorless con- dition, in which time the interior of the church was entirely torn out and remodelled, the con- gregation was rewarded with another long pas- torate, that of Rev. Andrew Dinsmore Mitchell, who for nearly twenty-four years was in charge of the sister congregations. Derry by this time was nearly defunct and Mr. Mitchell was the last Paxton parson to preach in the old log church. At his death the union that had lasted, at least, a hundred and fifty-eight years was dissolved. Mr. Mitchell was born in York County, Penn- sylvania, in 1829, was graduated from Jefferson College in 1841, and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1844. By this time Paxton seems to be getting more of the pastor's care, as we see the congregation paying $300 a year, while Derry paid $200. 112 About five years after Mr. Mitchell came the first manse was built, in 1855 — 1856. Again the Sun- day School and prayer meeting were revived, under the leadership of Joshua Elder. In later years he was succeeded in the superintendency by David and James Elder. During Mr. Mitchell's time, at least, three changes were made on the interior of the church, one of them forced by the falling of part of the ceiling, not discovered until the congregation assembled for worship one Sunday morning. Benches were taken outdoors and the service was held under the giant oaks south of the church, to the great delight of the younger members of the congregation. Toward the latter part of Mr. MitchelFs min- istry the congregation began to dwindle rapidly, owing to families dying out, moving into Harris- burg, or going West. Many hardships, too, were wrought by the Civil War. Again we see Old Paxton nobly bearing her part for her country's good. Her men "went to the front," and her women, left sorrowing at home, spent the anxious years in sewing for the soldiers or carrying many of the dainties of which we read in this book to the sick soldiers at Camp Curtin. Sometimes whole com- panies from the neighboring camps would attend church in a body and Mr. Mitchell frequently held services at camp on Sunday evening.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

On resigning from Derry and Paxton in 1847, he went to Millersburg, Ohio, where he remained from 1848-1856. In that year he became Stated Supply of the Presbyterian Church at Independence, Iowa, and the following year was elected pastor, remaining there from 1857-1869. From 1871-1872 he was Financial Agent of Lenox Institution, Hopkinton, Iowa, but died on September 1, 1872, at Independence, Iowa. His short ministry with the sister churches was uneventful. The Sunday School and prayer meeting at Paxton were revived under the leadership of Robert Elder, but again discontinued w^hen Mr. Boggs resigned and Mr. Elder became connected with the Harrisburg church. There is an interesting old subscription paper dated August 6, 1844, in which subscriptions for the Sabbath School library, amounting to $44.25 were paid to Mr. S. S. Kutherford. Though his sojourn at Paxton was brief, Mr. Boggs was very popular. He was an able preacher, a good pastor and a hard worker. His kindly nature was so marked it made a deep impression on a child's heart, and he is vividly remembered after all these years by one of Paxton's present members. Rev. Andrew Dinsmore Mitchell 1850—1874 After another three years of a pastorless condition, in which time the interior of the church was entirely torn out and remodelled, the congregation was rewarded with another long pastorate, that of Rev. Andrew Dinsmore Mitchell, who for nearly twenty-four years was in charge of the sister congregations. Derry by this time was nearly defunct and Mr. Mitchell was the last Paxton parson to preach in the old log church. At his death the union that had lasted, at least, a hundred and fifty-eight years was dissolved. Mr. Mitchell was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in 1829, was graduated from Jefferson College in 1851, and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1854. By this time Paxton seems to be getting more of the pastor's care, as we see the congregation paying $300 a year, while Derry paid $200. About five years after Mr. Mitchell came the first manse was built, in 1855 — 1856. Again the Sunday School and prayer meeting were revived, under the leadership of Joshua Elder. In later years he was succeeded in the superintendency by David and James Elder. During Mr. Mitchell's time, at least, three changes were made on the interior of the church, one of them forced by the falling of part of the ceiling, not discovered until the congregation assembled for worship one Sunday morning. Benches were taken outdoors and the service was held under the giant oaks south of the church, to the great delight of the younger members of the congregation. Toward the latter part of Mr. MitchelFs ministry the congregation began to dwindle rapidly, owing to families dying out, moving into Harrisburg, or going West. Many hardships, too, were wrought by the Civil War. Again we see Old Paxton nobly bearing her part for her country's good. Her men "went to the front," and her women, left sorrowing at home, spent the anxious years in sewing for the soldiers or carrying many of the dainties of which we read in this book to the sick soldiers at Camp Curtin. Sometimes whole companies from the neighboring camps would attend church in a body and Mr. Mitchell frequently held services at camp on Sunday evening.

Historic Paxton, her days and her ways, 1722-1913