Husband Rev. Jonathan Redick Coulter, D.D. 1
Born: 23 Apr 1829 - near Butler, Butler Co, PA
Christened:
Died: 12 Jan 1901
Buried: - Scrubgrass Stone Church Cemetery, Scrubgrass Twp, Venango Co, PA
Father: Rev. John [2] Coulter (1784-1867) 1 2
Mother:
Marriage: 12 Aug 1856
Wife Margaret Jane Cunningham
Born: 1837
Christened:
Died: 7 Jan 1927
Buried: - Scrubgrass Stone Church Cemetery, Scrubgrass Twp, Venango Co, PA
Children
1 M Theodore Coulter 3
Born: 25 Jul 1857 - Lisbon, Scrubgrass Twp, Venango Co, PA
Christened:
Died: 29 May 1929
Buried: - Scrubgrass Stone Church Cemetery, Scrubgrass Twp, Venango Co, PA 4
Spouse: Hannah Jessie Henderson (1869-1946) 3
Marr: 1898 - Venango Co, PA
2 M John W. Coulter
Born: Abt 1863
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Imelda Black (Abt 1868- )
Marr: 1 Jul 1896 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 5
General Notes: Husband - Rev. Jonathan Redick Coulter, D.D.
In less than one year after Rev. Henry's resignation, Scrubgrass called as its pastor the Rev. Mr. Jonathan R. Coulter. Mr. Coulter was a son of the Rev. Mr. John Coulter and a grandson of Abigail Coulter, one of the first settlers, in whose home the first sermon of this community was preached. Mr. Jonathan Redic Coulter was born near Butler, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1829.
His early boyhood from five to eighteen was spent on a farm near Concord Church of Butler County, PA. He then spent two years and three months in the Beaver Academy, and two years in Jefferson College, graduating in 1851. After spending one year in the Western Theological Seminary, he taught three years in the Witherspoon Institute, Butler, PA, the first year as an assistant of Dr. Young, the other two as Principal of the school. In 1855 he again entered the Western Theological Seminary and was licensed by the Presbytery of Allegheny, now Butler, the following summer. Soon after this he entered upon his long pastorage at Scrubgrass. He was ordained and installed August 25, 1857, as pastor of Scrubgrass, and September 18, at New Salem, having commenced his labors at Scrubgrass the last Sabbath of the previous year. Thirteen years later he resigned New Salem but remained pastor of Scrubgrass until his death. He was elected Stated Clerk of Allegheny Presbytery soon after his ordination, which office he held for nine years, until the organization of Butler Presbytery. He then became Stated Clerk, which office he held until his death.
He was destined soon after entering upon his ministry, through a stiffening of his joints, to become the son of affliction. During the last 32 years of his life he was unable to stand in the pulpit and during the last eight years of his life he was unable to walk even with crutches; but was wheeled and carried to and from his pulpit. He was a man of strong character and cheerful disposition. He was noted especially for his brevity, wisdom and wit. As an illustration of the latter we mention his remark at Presbytery once, "Rev. Mr. B--- somewhat notorious for leaving before the adjournment of Presbytery, arose and asked for leave of absence. Just as the motion to grant the request was about to be put, the good brother B--- again sprang to his feet and added that he wished to embrace his elder in the motion. Dr. Coulter thereupon called out—"Mr. Moderator, I move that brother B--- be allowed to embrace his elder." He was a faithful and punctual member of the Butler Presbytery and the only Stated Clerk it ever had during his life.
It was during his pastorate that the oil excitement came to the area. Towns sprang up at Crawford's Corners, Byrom Center and Sandy Point. The large stone church which had a seating capacity of six hundred was well filled. Quite extensive improvements were made upon the building in 1895. Soon after an addition was made to the cemetery and a charter secured for the Scrubgrass Presbyterian Church. A Christian Endeavor Society was organized in 1891 with twenty-four members. It was a great power in the church for many years. It had a membership of about eighty members in 1903.
In October, 1858, the custom of preaching two sermons on Sabbath with an intermission for dinner was abandoned for our present custom. We do not have the exact date of the last use of the tokens, but it was at the first of his ministry. These tokens were small oblong pieces of lead or pewter about one-half by five-eighths inches. They usually had some kind of figure on one side and the initial letter of the church on the other. These were kept in a small sack by the senior elder and given out at preparatory service to all whom the Session at a previous meeting had decided were worthy to partake of the Lord's Supper. Those not receiving tokens were not allowed to commune. These tokens were again collected by the elders from the communicants while they were at the communion tables.
About the same time or soon after, the custom of observing Fast Days previous to communion was abandoned. These were days, previous to the celebration of the Lord's Supper, set aside by the church as Fast Days, in which they were to abstain in part or whole from partaking of food, and in which no secular work might be done, but the whole time spent in meditation on, and reading of God's word; and in prayer. It was also during his pastorate, in the year 1868, that the custom of the communicants coming forward and taking communion from tables across the front part of the church was abandoned. This change was bitterly opposed by several of the older ones of the congregation, and especially by one of the elders. He refused ever afterward to take communion.
To the 106 members he found when taking charge of the work, he added almost 500. Although an invalid he was a model pastor. He loved his people, both young and old, and in spite of his affliction had always a jolly word or joke for everyone. Once when driving along the road he came across some men sitting by the road side near Sedwicks' Mill, (Sedwick's Filling Station) with a bridge across the stream partly finished. Upon asking the men why they were idle, they replied that they needed more sleepers. He told them if they would come up to the church next Sabbath he could furnish them all the sleepers they needed. When some one suggested they would not be the right kind, he replied: "Oh! I will guarantee everyone of them to be sound." He was known far and near. It is said he married more couples, baptized more children, and buried more people, for the size of his congregation, than any other man in the presbytery.
He was the power behind the throne in the establishing in 1875 of the Scrubgrass Academy. Dr. I. C. Ketler, who was for many years president
of Grove City College, had conducted an academic school in the Stone Church the two previous years, but he never taught in the academy building. Its first term opened with forty-six students, its second term with seventy-three. Many men, both in professional life and business life, owe much of what they are to the influence of Dr. Coulter upon them in youth. After serving this church, not this church alone, but the entire community, for forty-four years, this hero responded to a call of promotion from the Master. Thus ended one of the longest and most successful pastorates in western Pennsylvania. Long may his influence and memory last to bear fruit for many generations. This soldier and hero of Scrubgrass was called from the battle fields below to the plains of eternal peace above, January 12, 1901.