CHAPTER VI

CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES 

To Christopher Gist, George Washington’s frontier guide, and a faithful member of the Church of England, should go credit for the first Protestant service in this part of the country. 

While resting with Washington at a trading post near the mouth of the Allegheny, Gist is reported to have gone a few miles down the Ohio to the Wyandot Village, where he read the Christmas service from the book of common prayer on Christmas Day in 1750. 

During the occupation of Fort Duquesne by the French and Indians, Catholic services were regularly held for the French soldiers and Indians by the Catholic Priests who were ordained and authorized to adminster the sacraments, which they faithfully did. Father Denis Baron was the first Priest to offer mass in the Golden Triangle on April 17, 1754. 

About 1768, the Reverend Henry Crosby and the Reverend Sutton arrived in the Redstone Country from New Jersey. With others, they organized the Great Bethel Church at Beeson Town, the present Uniontown, in 1770. 

Possibly the earliest church in our locality, was the Peters Creek Baptist Church. This church is more fully mentioned in the history of Peters Township and it was first erected in 1773.  In 1778, a lot was purchased from John Cox and worship was held several years in the present Union Township. The present church is now located in Library, Snowden Township. Many of our earliest settlers came here, and are interred in its cemetery. 

Mingo Presbyterian Church was organized in 1786, at which time, Mingo Creek and Horse Shoe Bottoms applied. Its history is well known by local residents. It is located between the Monongahela River and Finleyville on Route #88. 

Sermons were first held in barns and groves and under a tent near a spot just back of the present church. The first edifice was of logs and must have been put up before 1794, as it was a place of meeting for the Whiskey Insurrectionists. 

Both the church and cemetery were located on the land known as Barrsville, and owned by John Barr, a member of the church. 

The Mingo Church organization accepted a parcel of ground on Fromans Run, including the meeting house, tent spring and grave yard dated April 11, 1807. Rev­erend Samuel Ralston was the fjrst ordained minister of Mingo. He was called to Mingo and Patterson’s Ferry on November 30, 1796, the present Monongahela. 

Buried in Mingo Cemetery are John Holcroft (Tom the Tinker), Major James McFarlane, both active in the Whiskey Insurrection, and most early settlers who lived in the Mingo Creek area. Also buried here, are two men who lived to be one hundred and fifteen years of age. Two large flat stones mark their graves, with full inscription on each stone. (If this is so, what was their diet, and what did they drink?) 

James Chapel Methodist Church, known as Old Stone Church, has been previous­ly mentioned in this history. It’s history is very well known. 

The Sons of Richard James inherited this land and in turn, donated one acre of land for the purpose of building the present church. The church and cemetery are at this writing, still being well kept. 

One of the most beautiful views of Union Township can be observed from this point on Ridge Road. A great portion of Peters Creek Valley, Snowden and Gill, Hall can be seen. 

Gabriel Cox who took up land here in 1773, selected a vantage point for observation of Indian activities if necessitated. Here, he built Fort Cox, where the settlers could gather for protection if a raid was anticipated. There is no record of such trouble. 

There is evidence that Indians did inhabit the land along Peters Creek. Mr. William Castor of Ridge Road has a large and beautiful collection of arrow beads picked up on the Creek’s bottoms. 

It might be well at this time, to review and name some of the Indians who in­habited the region surrounding the area of which I am writing. 

According to tradition, the only white man scalped in this area was Joel Ferree. He lived about where #1 mine was located at Large. He had been hunting and shot a deer. He called to his brother to bring a sled to haul the deer in, and when his brother came, he found Joel dead. (“I believe this did not happen here.”) 

Peter Chartiers came to this valley about 1731-1732. He was the first well known and recorded Indian to live here. He was a half-breed Indian trader, employed as a French spy, and was obliged to leave when his mission became known. His name was applied at an early date to both Chartiers Creek and Peters Creek. It is believed both Creeks were named for him. 

Many stories have been written about William Peters, alias Indian Peter. Recorded history states that history is silent as to the origin and death of Indian Peter. 

The surveyed record gives this account: In pursuance of an order dated 5th of April, 1769, the above is a draft of a tract of land called Indian Hill, containing 339 acres, situated on the west side of Monongahela River, surveyed 7th of October, 1769. 

The Indian settled on ground opposite Ford Burd, now Brownsville. (“This account should serve the purpose that Indian Peter did not live in Finleyville, and found dead on the river shore at present Coal Bluff, as reported in a local news­paper. Neither did he live at the mouth of Peters Creek, and that the Creek was named for him”), unless there was another unknown Indian Peter. He was the only Indian that took up a tract of land and had it patented. 

Nemacolin was an Indian Chief who was a rover, without much of a following. He was a friend of Washingtons and it was he who cut the trail over the mountains called Nemacolin path from Wills Creek to Fort Necessity. He kept his camp at Brownsville or Fort Burd. 

Queen Aliquippa was also sort of a roamer. Washington met her on one of his travels to upper Allegheny River, when he passed her camp at Junction of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers. Chief Cat Fish lived at present Washington. 

Most of the Indians, as you will notice, were not permanent inhabitants of this area. It must be note4 that the whole area was under control of the Iroquois Con­federacy of Indians, located in New York State. Actually, no large tribe of Indians lived here. 

Rehoboth Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest organizations west of the Allegheny Mountains. It dates back to coming to this area of Reverend James Finley in the year of 1778. 

Tradition says Reverend James Finley organized Rehoboth and Round Hill Church of Elizabeth on the same day. He was the first pastor of each church. Re­hoboth Church is located on Route #71 in sight of Belle Vernon and the village of Gillespie. 

Reverend Finley owned about 400 acres of land in Rostraver Township. He owned several slaves, which was common practice in those days, and willed his slaves to his several children. Reverend Finley is buried in the Rehoboth Cemetery. Colonel Edward Cook was a neighbor of Mr. Finley and attended his church. There is a difference of opinion as to the number of acres he owned. One of the books state be owned 3000 acres, another states 1000 acres. He also was a large slave owner. It must be remembered, Colonel Cook took a very active part in the Whiskey Insurrection and was opposed to the excise tax. He is also buried in the Rehoboth Cemetery. 

The Round Hill Presbyterian Church of today is one of the most progressive in this area. Its history is well covered by Mr. Wiley. Many of the old settlers in Forward and Rostraver Townships are buried here. It is located about a half mile from Route #51 on Route #48, about three miles from Elizabeth. 

Fells Methodist Church, located at the crossroads of Routes 171 and Webster road, is one of the oldest Methodist churches in the district. It mothered several Methodist Churches in the surrounding communities. 

Benjamin Fell, for whom the hamlet and church is named, was a friend of Washington. Religious services were held in the Beazell home prior to building their first log church in 1792. Both of these men are buried in Fells Cemetery, and the inscription on the monuments are most interesting to read. 

Lobbs Cemetery, located on Walton Road, one quarter mile from Route #837 in Floreffe, is one of the oldest cemeteries in this locality. No one knows when it first became a cemetery or who the first person was who was buried there. 

We do know that Richard McMahon. was the first man to take up this tract of land in 1769. Benjamin Lobb acquired this land in 1829, and the cemetery is named for him. We definitely know that It was in existence in 1794, for during the Whiskey Insurrection of that year, smallpox broke out among the Colonial soldiers that were encamped nearby. 

Several soldiers’ were sick and died. Two of the soldiers who died from it’s result are as follows, and their graves are marked with head stones:

Captain Thomas Walker of Albermarl County,

Died January 16, 1795. Aged 20 years.

Lieutenant Alexander Bell of Berkley County, Died January 11, 1795. Aged 20 years. 

Both of these soldiers were from the state of Virginia. 

When there is not a church or religious organization connected in some way to look after and preserve these old burial places, they fall into disuse and become dilapidated. In the case of Lobbs, Jefferson Borough and the Veterans of Foreign Wars located at Floreffe are attempting to keep this old burial place in good condition. 

Buried here are some of our settlers including Gabriel Peterson and his family, Benjamin Lobb and his family, Andrew McFarlane and his wife, who were first buried on their original property now occupied by the Duquesne Light Plant. The stones were moved at a later date to Lobbs Cemetery for safe keeping. 

Peters Creek, Cemetery is located on Route #837, at mouth of Peters Creek. Among other early settlers buried here, is Benjamin Kuykendahl, known as Jersey Ben. 

The family burial’ ground of Samuel Heth, later Heath, is located on his original ground. The property now is owned by Edward Kovack, located at the Forks of Walton and Sheinback roads. Father, son and grandson, along with members of the Heath families, are buried there. 

Long gone is the Old Trumbo burial ground near Peters Creek. Only two head stones remain erect. 

The Bedell burial ground is located just back of the present homestead in Large. It has a beautiful setting, but is unkept. Others who were early residents of the surrounding territory are buried there. 

The cemetery of the Lytles and Sheplers is no longer, in existence. This old burial plot is located on property owned by Leroy Bedell near Ridge Road. 

The old Pollock burial ground has long passed out of existence. It is located in rear of Elrama Elementary School.