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

Albert Barnes Williamson was born at Sidney, New Jersey, in 1858, and was prepared for college by his father. He was graduated from Lafayette in 1884, attended the Union Theological Seminary, 1885, graduated in 1887 from Princeton Theological Seminary and was ordained and installed at Paxton Church, June 16 of the same year, remaining until October, 1894. He became pastor of Mountain Presbyterian Church, Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania, remaining until 1908, when he assumed his present charge, the First Presbyterian Church of Bloomsbury, New Jersey. In 1887, Mr. Williamson married Miss Frances Eva Conover and brought her to the manse. On the night of the reception given them by the congregation the young couple nearly lost their lives from coal gas, caused by bricks falling in the chimney. Mr. Williamson was the first minister since Mr. Mitchell's time to preach at Derry. He held evening services in the new building that has replaced the historic log structure. Like some of his early predecessors, Mr. Williamson was a born farmer : he greatly improved the manse garden, planted the grape arbors which bear luxuriantly even yet, and raised successfully both vegetables and chickens. He also had a natural knack at carpentry and fixed a shop for himself in the loft of the old stable that formerly stood on the manse grounds. As he was equally fond of hunting, he combined his two pleasures by cutting slits in the walls of his work shop and when a stray rabbit or partridge loomed in sight shot at it with his old gun, which he kept in readiness. An active, hardworking, faithful pastor and good Gospel preacher, the church continued to grow during the seven years of his pastorate. Rev. Luther Davis 1896—1901 Again came two years of supplies, with the last three months of the time filled by a brilliant and very popular young Irishman, Alexander Essler, then a student in Princeton Theological Seminary. To him we are indebted for recommending Rev. Luther Davis, one of his classmates in the seminary, who came to us fresh from his graduation and was ordained in the church, July 7, 1896. Young as he was, Mr. Davis made a deep impression on the congregation, as much by his lovable nature as by his fine mind and scholarly preaching. The tie between him and his people was close and strong, and he was much lamented when, in June, 1901, he was ordered west for his health. He became pastor of the Graham Memorial Church, Coronado, California, 1902-6; Presbyterian Church of Petaluma, California, 1906-07. Mr. Davis was a native of Phillipsburg, N. J., being born in 1871. He was graduated from Lafayette College in 1891 and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1896. After returning from Petaluma in 1907, he became pastor of the Blairstown Presbyterian Church the same year, dying there in 1909. Though always fragile, Mr. Davis did not permit ill-health to interfere with his work as pastor and preacher. During his pastorate the Women's Bible Class was started in the Sunday School, with Mrs. Ada Barbour as teacher; Mr. Davis also held a Bible study class for young people, which met at the manse one afternoon each week.