Mr. West was born at Landisburg, Perry
County, Feb. 25, 1825. As a boy he was educated
in the New Bloomfield Academy, teaching there
when but 17 years old. He later taught in Mid-
dletown, Maryland, for a year during his college
life, and was graduated from Marshall College,
Mercersburg, Pa., in 1849, and in 1852 from the
Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny, Pa.
Uniting with the Presbyterian church of New
Bloomfield, in 1843, Mr. West was licensed by
the Presbytery of Carlisle at Hagerstown, Md.,
April 14, 1852, and was ordained and installed
at the Upper Path Valley church, June 3, 1853.
Fifty years later a celebration in honor of that
half-century of preaching was held at the Mc-
Connellsburg Presbyterian Church, where Mr.
West was then pastor.
In 1873, Mr. West came to Harrisburg to
found the Westminster Church, then a mission
of Pine Street and Market Square Presbyterian
churches, remaining until 1890. For nine of
those hard-working years Mr. West came to Pax-
ton for a two o'clock service each Sunday after-
noon.
116
Later Mr. West supplied the Second Presby-
terian Church of Carlisle for a year, 1891; the
church at York Springs as supply, and the
Biddle Mission, Carlisle, 1892 ; the Kennedy Me-
morial Church of Welsh Kun, 1893-1898; Presi-
dent of Metzger College, Carlisle, 1898-1900 ; and
his last charge, the McConnellsburg and Green
Hill churches, 1900-1907.
Mr. West died at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. William Jennings, in Duncannon, Septem-
ber 26, 1909, at the rich age of 85. He was mar-
ried in 1853 to Miss Jennie M. Waddell, of Mer-
cersburg. Of his family of eight children
two have been foreign missionaries since 1883,
Miss Annie Blythe West being at present in
Japan, and his son, Eobert, at Beirut, Syria,
until his death, a few years ago.
Rev. Albert Barnes Williamson
1887—1894
With the coming of Mr. Williamson, a young
man fresh from the Theological Seminary, old
Paxton seems to have renewed her youth, the
congregation, though still small, was inspired to
fresh effort and we see the beginnings of more of
the institutions for good that are carried on to-
day.
During his pastorate was begun the Christian
Endeavor Society in 1890. A Bible Class for
men and women was started in the Sunday
School, and for the first time evening church
was held.
117
The church was modernized completely in
1887 and 1888, and was also first lighted in 1892.
On August 24, 1894, the manse was partially de-
stroyed by fire.
On September 18, 1890, the Sesqui-Centennial
celebration of the laying of the corner stone of
Paxton Church in 1740 was held. It was an all
day session, and gathered to do honor to the
old church were her children from near and far ;
also representatives of the churches that are
daughters of old Paxton, six of Harrisburg, and
one from Dauphin, from Steelton, and Middle-
town. The church was decorated with autumn
colorings and a large platform was erected out-
side as the services were held in the open air.
No one who was in the grove that beautiful Sep-
tember day will ever forget those impressive
ceremonies of which an entire book has been
written. Here were assembled descendants of
many of the hardy pioneers, and among them a
grandchild of Parson Elder, Mrs. Sara Elder
Doll, of Harrisburg. Grandchildren of Mr.
Snowden and Mr. Williams were among the
speakers.
Page 44
Presented as published in 1913. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Mr. West was born at Landisburg, Perry County, Feb. 25, 1825. As a boy he was educated in the New Bloomfield Academy, teaching there when but 17 years old. He later taught in Middletown, Maryland, for a year during his college life, and was graduated from Marshall College, Mercersburg, Pa., in 1849, and in 1852 from the Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny, Pa.
Uniting with the Presbyterian church of New Bloomfield, in 1843, Mr. West was licensed by the Presbytery of Carlisle at Hagerstown, Md., April 14, 1852, and was ordained and installed at the Upper Path Valley church, June 3, 1853. Fifty years later a celebration in honor of that half-century of preaching was held at the Mc- Connellsburg Presbyterian Church, where Mr. West was then pastor.
In 1873, Mr. West came to Harrisburg to found the Westminster Church, then a mission of Pine Street and Market Square Presbyterian churches, remaining until 1890. For nine of those hard-working years Mr. West came to Paxton for a two o'clock service each Sunday afternoon.
Later Mr. West supplied the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle for a year, 1891; the church at York Springs as supply, and the Biddle Mission, Carlisle, 1892 ; the Kennedy Memorial Church of Welsh Run, 1893-1898; President of Metzger College, Carlisle, 1898-1900 ; and his last charge, the McConnellsburg and Green Hill churches, 1900-1907.
Mr. West died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Jennings, in Duncannon, September 26, 1909, at the rich age of 85. He was married in 1853 to Miss Jennie M. Waddell, of Mercersburg. Of his family of eight children two have been foreign missionaries since 1883, Miss Annie Blythe West being at present in Japan, and his son, Robert, at Beirut, Syria, until his death, a few years ago.
Rev. Albert Barnes Williamson 1887—1894
With the coming of Mr. Williamson, a young man fresh from the Theological Seminary, old Paxton seems to have renewed her youth, the congregation, though still small, was inspired to fresh effort and we see the beginnings of more of the institutions for good that are carried on today.
During his pastorate was begun the Christian Endeavor Society in 1890. A Bible Class for men and women was started in the Sunday School, and for the first time evening church was held.
The church was modernized completely in 1887 and 1888, and was also first lighted in 1892. On August 24, 1894, the manse was partially destroyed by fire.
On September 18, 1890, the Sesqui-Centennial celebration of the laying of the corner stone of Paxton Church in 1740 was held. It was an all day session, and gathered to do honor to the old church were her children from near and far ; also representatives of the churches that are daughters of old Paxton, six of Harrisburg, and one from Dauphin, from Steelton, and Middletown. The church was decorated with autumn colorings and a large platform was erected outside as the services were held in the open air. No one who was in the grove that beautiful September day will ever forget those impressive ceremonies of which an entire book has been written. Here were assembled descendants of many of the hardy pioneers, and among them a grandchild of Parson Elder, Mrs. Sara Elder Doll, of Harrisburg. Grandchildren of Mr. Snowden and Mr. Williams were among the speakers.