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

Mr. Mitchell was a man of bright mind and genial nature; an excellent pastor and much liked by his people. He was a good Scriptural preacher, and though he may have lacked initiative somewhat, was an earnest, faithful man, who can scarcely be held responsible for the weakened condition of the church during his later years. Upon his resignation in 1874, Mr. Mitchell became a chaplain of the United States Army, dying on duty at Fort Grant, Arizona, March, Rev. William Walton Downey 1875—1878 The next pastor, the first to rule over Paxton alone, was Rev. William Downey, who was installed April 29, 1875, a few months after the resignation of Mr. Mitchell. He was born in Charlestown, West Virginia, in 1819, was educated at Hampden-Sidney College, Virginia, and graduated from Union Theological Seminary, Virginia, 1872. He was licensed by Winchester Presbytery, May 29, 1872, ordained 1873 and came to us from Falling Rivers, where he was pastor from 1873-1875, and at the end of his short ministry here he went to Duncannon, where he remained until 1881. He did not preach for the next seven years, living near Martinsburg, West Virginia, but from 1888- 1889 was pastor at Havre de Grace, Maryland. At the first appearance of old Paxton in her modern dress, in June, 1888, Mr. Downey, then the only living ex-pastor, preached the sermon. He died very suddenly, being found dead on a couch while visiting in Port Deposit, Maryland, May 21, 1889, so was not here for the Sesqui- Centennial celebration in 1890. During his years with us the congregation kept growing smaller and smaller and it was only the Christian faith and hard work of a few faithful families that kept it together. This was no fault of the minister, an earnest, able, eloquent man, much liked by the younger members of his flock, though some of the older people thought him "not quite sound" in his Calvinism. Mr. Downey published a history of Paxton Church, the first, as far as can be discovered, that was written, though both Parson Elder and Mr. Sharon kept voluminous and methodical records of marriages, baptisms and deaths. This has proved of much interest owing to the loss of the church records which occurred some years later. Rev. William A. West, D.D. (Supply) 1878—1887 That word "supply" may recognize the official connection of Rev. William A. West with Paxton Church, but it poorly expresses the debt we owe this good man and faithful pastor, who for nine years, besides building up a mission church in Harrisburg, filled the part of preacher, pastor and friend in need to this congregation. He came at a time of great stress, when the fate of this ancient church hung in the balance. Through his untiring devotion, great spiritual- ity, practical Christianity, and gentle, tactful nature, the congregation was held together, nay grew. Under his influence, on October 12, 1878, was formed the Woman's Missionary Society, which has for thirty-five years been a power for good, not alone to the church in far distant lands, but to the people right here in "old Paxton Meeting House." In 1882 the Young People's Missionary Society was also started.