Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/164

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\'IR(iXlA r.lOCRAPHY

larger one has recently been installed in the I)ulpit end of the building. The first organ- ist was Professor N. Bowditch Clapp, who continued as such until his death in 1893. During Dr. Moore's ministry six hundred and nineteen new members were added to the church, the membership at the close of his pastorate numbering three hundred and eighty-nine. The fifth pastor, Rev. Thomas Lewis Preston, D. D., was installed May 15. 1869, his ministry continuing over four- teen years. In this time three hundred and sixty-five communicants were added to the church roll, but by death, removal, and the organization of other congregations the total membership at the time of his resig- nation from the pastorate was three hun- dred and fifty-nine. The sixth pastor, Rev. Robert Pollock Kerr, was installed Febru- ary 3, 1884. Early in his pastorate the work of moving the church from Capitol street to its present location was begun. The last Sunday service was held in the old church April 17, and a farewell prayer meeting Tuesday, April 19. 1884. During the re- building period (irace Street and the Second Presbyterian churches, Broad Street Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and Monumental Protestant Episcopal Church were gener- ously ofl:ered for the use of the churchless congregation. Dr. Kerr's pastorate was the second longest in the history of the church, lasting a little over nineteen years, ending May 25, 1903. Few pastors ever gained the love and admiration of their people or the high esteem of others to a greater extent than did Dr. Kerr while in Richmond. His departure was greatly regretted by all v, ho knew him, and their numbers were legion, for his labors were not confined to his own church. He \vas always active in every general movement for the spiritual or moral uplift of the city, and was probably the best known minister in Richmond. Throughout his nineteen years service four hundred and twenty-five names were added to the church roll. The seventh pastor. Rev. Frank Tal- bot McFaden, was installed December 20, 1903, and is yet the pastor in charge, hold- ing the love and afTection of his people to a degree unsurpassed by any of his prede- cessors.

Rev. hVank Talbot McFaden was born in Salisl)ury. Maryland, February 5, 1864, so;i of Rev. Joseph Alexander .Mcl'aden and grandson of Daniel Miller Mcl-'aden, tiie

latter born in Londonderry, Ireland. Daniel AL McFaden came to the United States, set- tled in Philadelphia, and there was in the employ of the United States government a? inspector. He married Elizabeth Hill. f)f Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and later moved w the state of Georgia, locating at the city that was then the state capital, Milledge- \ ille. The mother of Daniel AL McFaden was Alary ( Alontgomery) AIcFaden, also of Londonderry. Ireland.

Rev. Joseph Alexander Ale I'adtn w-as born in Alilledgeville, Georgia, in 1824, and died in 1884 at Harper's Ferry, \'irginia, a min- ister of the Alethodist Protestant church. He married Alary Duke, of Harper's Ferry, daughter of John Duke, born in Jefiferson county, Virginia, a large landowner and planter, holding large estates in both Jefifer- son and Loudoun counties. John Duke served as sergeant in the Fifth Regiment of Virginia Alilitia in the defence of Baltimore during the second war with Great Britain, and after his marriage to Lucy Talbot King, of Alaryland, settled at Harper's Ferry, where he was officially connected with the United States Arsenal. Children of Rev. Joseph A. and Alary (Duke) AIcFaden : John Duke, born in 1851, died in 1914; Alary, now residing in Cumberland, Alaryland, unmar- ried ; George Henry, born in 1857, now liv- ing in Richmond ; Lucy Shirley, born in 1859, died in 1902. married Daniel H. Nich- ols ; Frank Talbot, of further mention ; Irene Dashiel, married \\'ilmer Benjamin and resides in Cumberland, AIar}land ; Lily, died aged two years.

Rev. Frank Talbot AIcFaden, youngest son of Rev. Joseph Alexander and Alary (Duke) AIcFaden, although born in Salisbury, Alary- land, was brought by his parents to Har- per's Ferry, A^irginia, when eighteen months old, that historic town his mother's birth- place and the scene of his father's minis- terial labors. Frank Talbot attended pub- lic school until eighteen years of age, then entered I lampden-Sidney College, whence he was graduated, class of 1866. He chose the holy calling of his honored father, enter- ed Union Theological Seminary, whence, after a course in divinity, he was graduated in 1889. Lie was ordained a minister of the Presbyterian church by Abingdon Presby- tery, and in 1889 accepted his first pastorate in Alarion, Smith county, Virginia, where he remained seven vears. On December 5,