Mon Valley Biographies

 Surnames: Carson, GIllespie, Walker, Smart, Patterson, McClelland.
 

 David Walker Carson  (picture)
Among those who during the past generation stood as distinguished types of the world's workers
was the Rev. David Walker Carson, for many years an honored minister of the United Presbyterian
church, thirty-three years of his ministry being spent in Washington county. He was one of the
ablest and most scholarly divines in the history of the churches of this county and stood for
many years in the front rank of the leaders of thought and action in his denomination, having
been repeatedly honored by high official position.  A man of unusual mental ability, of the
highest sense of honor, of keen appreciation of the service which was his to render, he brought
to the discharge of his duties a de-termination to give his very best efforts.  Therefore,
because of his earnest and consecrated life, his high attainments, well rounded character and
large influence, he held an exalted place in the community and in the affectionate esteem of
all with whom he came in contact. David W. Carson was born in Maryville, Blount county,
Tennessee, on the 21st of October, 1830, and his death occurred on the 3d of September, 1911,
in the eighty-first year of his age. He was the son of Rev. David and Jane (Gillispie) Carson,
the former of whom was born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1799, and died at
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1834. He was graduated from Jefferson College in 1819
and from theological seminaries in New York and Philadelphia. He became professor of Biblical
criticism and church history at Canonsburg Seminary, which is the oldest seminary on the
continent and is now known as Xenia Seminary, at St. Louis, Missouri. He became an Associate
Presbyterian minister and served the church at Maryville, Tennessee, from November, 1824, until
1834.  He was the son of David and (Oliver) Carson, both of whom were natives of Ireland,
settled in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and there spent the remaining years of their lives.
Jane Gillispie was born at Maryville, Tennessee, November 3, 1800, and died at Burgettstown,
Pennsylvania, June 21, 1882. She was the daughter of James and Eleanor (Walker) Gillispie, of
Blount county, Tennessee. Her father followed the vocation of farming and was a man of high
standing in the community.  He was a democrat in his political affiliation and served as a
member of the legislature, being also a friend of President James K. Polk.  He had gone to
Tennessee from Virginia, where he was born, and his death occurred in Beaver county,
Pennsylvania.  His wife was a native of Tennessee and died in Maryville, that state.
 
David W. Carson received his elementary education in a private school at Canonsburg, and then
entered Jefferson College, where he was graduated, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in
1847.  He then entered the Canonsburg Theological Seminary, graduating in 1850. In 1880
Westminster College conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. His first
pastorate was over the United Presbyterian church at Service, Beaver county, Pennsylvania,
where he remained from October 5, 1852, to September 5, 1877.  He went from there to the First
United Presbyterian church of Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, which he served from October 10,
1878, to January 25, 1898, and was then pastor of the Second United Presbyterian church of
Burgettstown from 1898 until his death in 1911.  His active ministry thus covered a period of
fifty-nine years.  He was quickly recognized as a man of more than ordinary ability and was
called by his church to fill positions of great responsibility, having been elected moderator
of the general assembly of the United Presbyterian church in 1881.  Prior to that he had served
as moderator of the Pittsburgh synod in 1872.  He was a member of the general church board of
freedmen's missions for twenty-nine years, from 1879 to 1908, and was for many years a member
of the board of directors of the Allegheny Seminary, now the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
During the Civil war Dr. Carson held the rank of chaplain and was a member of the historic
Christian Commission, one of the most important and efficient agencies of that period. As a
preacher, Dr. Carson was eloquent, forceful and convincing.  He was a man of strong and
definite convictions and had the courage of his opinions.  He was always clear and out-spoken
in his opposition to all that was detrimental to the physical, moral or spiritual welfare of
the people and was a tremendous factor in the prosecution of the reforms of his day, being
fearless and courageous in upholding the highest standards of living.  His long and active
career was one of close and fruitful identification with the religious life of each community
with which he was related, his nature, strong and vigorous, finding denotement in kindly
tolerance and human sympathy, generous deeds and worthy service.  His life was one of absolute
consecration to his work and in the most significant sense he was humanity's friend. Well does
he merit a place of honor in every history touching upon the lives and deeds of those who have
given the best of their powers and talents for the aiding and betterment of their kind.
 
On October 6, 1870, at Xenia, Ohio, Dr. Carson was married to Miss Mary Anna Smart, who was
born in that city, May 15, 1840, and died at Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, December 1, 1914.  She
was the daughter of Rev. James Patterson and Eliza (McClelland) Smart, the former of whom was
born at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1814, and died at Xenia, Ohio, February 28, 1861.
He was ordained and licensed to preach by the Associate Presbyterian church and became a
minister of the United Presbyterian church, being pastor of the Massie's Creek congregation at
the time of his death. He was graduated from Jefferson College in 1833 and from the Canonsburg
Theological Seminary in 1837. He was a republican in his political views. His wife was a native
of Washington, Pennsylvania, and died in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1891. Mrs. Carson was graduated
from Mrs. Sarah Foster Hanna's Seminary in Xenia, and afterward taught school in Ohio, prior to
her marriage. She was an earnest member of the United Presbyterian church.  To Dr. and Mrs.
Carson was born a daughter, Eleanor Jane, who was born at Service, Pennsylvania, November 6,
1871. She attended the Burgettstown public schools, the McDonald Academy and the Pennsylvania
College for Women in Pittsburgh. She is a member of the Second United Presbyterian church in
Burgettstown and is very active in the Erie Mission. During the World war, Miss Carson took an
active and effective part in the various war movements in this locality, serving as director of
the Women's Red Cross work in Burgettstown. She is a lady of splendid personal qualities of
character, has long taken a deep interest in the civic life of the community, and occupies an
enviable place in the confidence and esteem of her host of friends.

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