N.B. Critchfield

Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, Today.

My great-great-great Grandfather (should all of those g's be capitalized?) on my Mom's side is N.B. Critchfield, a G.O.P. elephant of many colors. He was born July 20, 1838. Here is a list of his titles:

-Baptist Reverend at Turkeyfoot Baptist Church (and others)
-Trustee of the Western Pennsylvania Classical & Scientific Institute at Mt. Pleasant*
-Unofficial yet devoted Historian of Mount Pleasant, PA
-Public School Principal
-Public School Superintendent
-Secretary of Agriculture, Pennsylvania
-Senator, 36th district, Pennsylvania
-Superintendent and Chaplain with the US Christian Commission during the Civil War

The Institute / 'Westmoreland College'
From a School pamphlet dated 1895
Matthew Critchfield points to the Critchfield name.
Photograph by K. R. Overholt Critchfield, c. 6-20-1999

The "Critchfield Bell" (and I'm assuming this - and I'll tell you why) was the school bell at the Western Pennsylvania Classical and Scientific Institute. The inscription on the bell reads:

Cast by A. Fulton and son, Co.
Pittsburgh, PA A.D. 1877
Western Penna. Classical and Scientific Institute
Mount Pleasant, PA
Cast in 1842 - recast in 1877
Ordered by N.B. Critchfield, Treas
August, 1877

The school is no longer in operation after merging with Bucknell University at Lewisburg, however, says Rodney Sturtz, previous director of West Overton Museum, the bell's adopted home "The Western PA Classical and Scientific Institute was the school H. C. Frick went to -- to study business, writing and 'arts.' It was a major 'college' in its day; very exclusive."

N.B. Critchfield is mentioned in an annual report of the United States Christian Commission. I'm sure it's worth mentioning, although I'm not quite sure what these stations were quite designed for ... I'll have to update this one soon...

Probably none of these gentlemen are my ancestor, but we can pretend. This photo was taken at a Field station of the Christian Commission during the Civil War.

Field stations and work in the army of the Cumberland for 1864 Bridgeport Alabama: This station, mentioned in the last resort as a set up and superintended by Rev. R.D. Douglass, was last in the charge of Rev. N.B. Critchfield, - when Mr. Douglass, following the 11th Corps, went to Lookout Valley. Our usual station work of hospital distribution, chapel services, reading and writing room, was very satisfactorily continued here. On the assignment of Mr. Critchfield to active work at the front, where he was afterwards appointed chaplain of 28th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Sergeant Clough, a disable Ohio soldier, was detailed to our service, and was placed in charge of the station.

Also of note was his involvement with the case of the Umberger tragedy, the murder of a friend of his. It's far too much to copy & paste.

Notably, N.B. was a speaker at The Delegations of Farmers and Old Soldiers, a tribute to veterans of the Civil War on September 15, 1896. The guest of honor was Major William McKinley, who spoke about economics, our nation's debt of gratitude toward veterans, and patriotism. After the event, Major McKinley was a shoo-in for Republican voters. He became the 25th President of the United States the next year.

McKinley Election Poster

Reverend N.B. Critchfield served his community through the ministry of Turkeyfoot Baptist Church, also known as Jersey Baptist. It's an adorable wee little chapel. This humble place was the first church in Somerset county and the oldest baptist church west of the Allegheny Mountains. It was dedicated in 1775, just one year prior to America's Independence.

Turkeyfoot/ Jersey Baptist Church

Oddly enough, the burial place of this prominent face in Pennsylvania history is unknown.

Sources:
Patrick Wallner's Facebook Genealogical Accounts via "Bird" Critchfield
United States Christian Commission: Fourth Annual Report, January 1, 1866 Supplementary Report, page 207-207
McKinley Speaks Twice! New York Times Article
History of Mount Pleasant PA
The Umberger Tragedy
The Critchfield Bell

*The institute is located in Westmorland County USA, named for a British county in which several of my ancestors were Dukes & Duchesses. It's a little coincidence but I love those 'Aha!' moments when things seem to come full circle.