The Rev. Jesse Adams was born March 22, 1816, in Venango county, Pa. His parents, James and Rachel, lived on a farm situated on French Creek. The village of Utica, now occupies the same spot. His father was one of the first settlers of Butler county, Pa., which has since then been divided into a number of counties. They belonged to the pioneer days and were characterized by the early pioneer sterling integrity and indomitable perseverance. These are good legacies for any son to inherit from father or mother. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and the other came from Ireland at the age of thirteen. They both had the training characteristic of Presbyterians of that time. The father was early elected to the eldership in that church. He served in that capacity till about 1832, when the first missionaries of the Cumberland Presbyterian church came into Pennsylvania, viz.: Revs. A. M. Bryan, Asten and others. He was one of several who joined in forming the Cumberland Presbyterian church in the town of Franklin, at which place he had located as a merchant in 1830. He formally withdrew from the Presbyterian church before going into this organization. He was elected a ruling elder in this new church, and so served up to his death.

Bro. Adams was the subject of religious impressions from the time he was eight years old. Yet those were times when spiritual fruit from the preaching of the word was not looked for or expected among the children. Unfortunately there are many yet who do not expect little children to be savingly brought to a knowledge of Christ. It is to the shame of many parents in our day that they oppose the work of the Holy Spirit with their young children--little children. Bro. Adams made an open profession of faith and united with the church as a result of a meeting held by Revs. Bryan and Asten. He at once took up the cross of service, and as circumstances demanded he served as sexton, Sabbath-school teacher, leader of the social meetings of the congregation, and whatever was required of him. He lived at home and embraced all the educational advantages of the town, till the fall of 1839. At the suggestion of Rev. D. J. Law, he went to Uniontown, Pa., to enter Madison College; while a student there he became a candidate for the ministry, and united with the Union Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He was licensed at the spring session of said presbytery in 1842, at Center church, Armstrong county, Pa. At once he agreed to preach to the scattered members of East Liberty and Perryoplois, Fayette county, Pa. This was done while he prosecuted his studies in college. God greatly blessed his labors, and so during the summer with the assistance of other brethren he organized the East Liberty church, after which a number of persons made profession of faith and also united with this church the same summer. Not being able to secure sufficient compensation from this work to pay his school expenses, after six months he sought other work. In the meantime he assisted Rev. S. E. Hudson in a most successful meeting at Salem, and also visited Carmichael and Jefferson congregations. In the early winter he received and accepted a call to serve the Pine Creek congregation, north of Pittsburgh. His work here was especially successful in the number of conversions. During the winter he assisted Rev. Jacob Murphy in a meeting at his old home church, Franklin, at which there was a large ingathering. Following this he assisted Rev. John Cary in a meeting at Millsboro, Washington county, Pa. The result of this was, that in as much as the pastor was called to another work, he received a call from Millsboro and Jefferson churches, for all his time--two Sabbaths per month each, which he accepted for an indefinite number of years. So in the spring of 1843 he left the Union Presbytery and joined the Pennsylvania. Here his work was more successful than ever, for souls were converted at almost every service held in work was more successful than ever, for souls were converted at almost every service held in the bounds of his charges. He was married May 9, 1843, to Miss Jane K. Gallagher, of Uniontown, Pa.

At the fall session of the presbytery in 1843, he was ordained. He continued in this charge till the spring of 1845. He gave up his work on account of failure of his health in the fall of 1845, and moved to Franklin, Pa., where he lived till 1848. During this time he labored on a farm to improve his health, and at same time preached almost every Sabbath to the Franklin and Big Shrubgrass congregations, which were scattered and discouraged. Here there was much opposition from the outside. In October, 1848, he accepted a call to the Jefferson and Pleasant Valley congregations. Here he remained till April 1, 1857, having a most pleasant and successful work, leaving them twice as strong in actual numbers as when he came.

At this period the increased expenses of a family of children made it necessary to seek a field willing to give him a more liberal support, which he did by resigning the work; his resignation was received reluctantly and yet they did so because yet they were afraid they could not raise a salary to support him. Things were then just as now, often the minister does his whole duty by his work, yet they do not do theirs by him in their financial support for lack of an effort. After a few days and a little a committee waited upon him, urging him to remain and saying that an ample salary could be provided, a partial canvass of the field having been made. But he had accepted work as pastor of Salem and Hopewell congregations, and so entered that field April 1, 1857. He met with a warm and cordial reception from all classes, though the churches were in a dead, formal, and discouraged condition. The same state of things exist now when a church is dead and formal and fashionable. But there was a pious portion of this people and through them the Lord restored the much coveted former verdure and beauty and spiritual life. Many special seasons of revivals were enjoyed up to the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861, and especially in Salem charge. The war brought trials, disaffection, and declension. As a result of hard work and anxiety, his health failed him again, and through his recommendation the two congregations called Rev. Leroy Woods to serve them during the winter of 1863, and thus gave him a partial rest. The licentiate, D. J. Bridge, assisted him during the summer of 1863. But finding himself still not able to do the work, he resigned both charges, which was accepted by Hopewell, but unanimously declined by Salem congregation, so he consented to continue his services with Salem. At spring session of presbytery of 1864, Masontown congregation was joined to the Salem work and he took up regular work again. He continued in this work until 1867, when he moved to Waynesburg, in order to educate his family, seven boys and one daughter. This brief outline gives a good illustration of many points in the early work of our churches, and the experiences of a generation of men who are fast passing away, and whose testimony to the early struggles of our church will be lost unless embodied in some kind of permanent form for future reference when the historian shall again write.

These men lived and labored and succeeded in very spite of almost insurmountable difficulties and discouragement. It manifestly was their sense and conviction of duty joined with spiritual power, which gave them their great power and success. They were men with one work and mission, and pre-eminently men of the Holy Spirit. They relied more upon him than upon themselves or human learning--they were taught and endued by the Holy Spirit.

On moving to Waynesburg, he bought a farm about a mile north of the town and this he paid for in the course of time, and enjoyed as their own. He still kept up his preaching to the congregations through the country, and now and then during vacancies he also preached for the Waynesburg congregation--at one time for six months. Some eight years ago he had a stroke of paralysis from which he never fully recovered; and for six years has been unable to do any active work; and for the last three years he has been a helpless invalid. But it is worthy of special mention that during all his infirmity of recent years his mind has been perfectly clear on religious questions and in such conversations has always taken the most intense interest and enjoyed the most intense delight when his brethren would call to see him and engage in such conversation. A fit illustration of how religion transcends all else of life. It would not be justice to him or to his helpful wife who still survives him, to fail to mention that much of his eminent success has been the result of her helpful and wise and hearty co-operation. It has been she who cared most for the material interests of the family, and so gave him opportunity to devote himself to the spiritual side of his work. That was and is a grand generation of ministers' wives who joined hand and heart with our early ministers to preach the everlasting gospel. Such as these should have a place in history, for the world will never see their like again. Grand, royal and priceless woman!

Bro. Adams died Oct. 26, 1891, at his home where he has lived more than twenty-four years. The funeral services were conducted by myself in the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Waynesburg, Dr. Miller participating. All the children are living. They are worthy heirs of an illustrious and good father and royal and true mother. None other than a true Christian home could give such an honorable family of children to the world. The mother lives and remains at the old home with an unmarried son. How blessed the righteous when he dies; he blesses, and is blessed.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, December 10, 1891, page 441]

Rev. Jesse Adams was born at Utica, Venango County, March 22, 1816, and died at his home at Waynesburg, October 26, 1891. The grandson of a captain of the war of the Revolution, and a son of James Adams, a prominent mill man and farmer of Venango County. His father sent him to Madison college to complete his education. He soon came under the magical influence of Rev. Morgan and joined his church December 7, 1837. He studied for the ministry under the same instructors as Rev. Osborn, viz: Weethee, Bryan, Morgan, and Bird. While at school he met James M. Gallagher and his sister, Jane Kerr Gallagher, whom he married, May 9th, 1843.

After completing his education, Jesse Adams was ordained to the ministry, and was immediately given charge of a church. In his long service he preached at New Salem and Hopewell in Fayette County, and at Clarksville and Muddy Creek in Greene County, and at Nineveh in Washington County.

He lived for years near Merrittstown and helped to organize other churches. One of the most important churches he helped to organize, was Pleasant View, a country church so well and favorably known. The organization took place October 1, 1853. Emanuel Campbell, John McCormick, and Samuel Brown were elected the first elders and ordained. Emanuel Campbell was the father of John M. Campbell, who was for a long time one of Uniontown's most highly respected and successful merchants. He served for twenty years as elder of our Uniontown church.

John M. Campbell was the father of Rollo M. Campbell who succeeded his father as elder.

During the ministry of these men there were many rather bitter doctrinal controversies with other denominations, and especially with that branch of the Baptists whom they insisted on calling Campbellites, after its founder, Alexander Campbell, but now popularly called the Christian Church or Disciple Church.

Rev. Solomon Devoir and Rev. Samuel Teagarden of the Disciple Church took exceptions to the doctrine of the Cumberland Presbyterians and vigorously denounced them from the pulpit.

Feeling ran so high that Rev. Jesse Adams, then located at Clarksville, was induced to debate the controversial questions for four evenings with Rev. Devoir at Clarksville, beginning January 10, 1854. People thronged to hear the debate. A reporter was present and took down all the discourses as delivered.

There was great demand to have the debate printed which was done, and many copies of the book are still in existence.

People took their religion more earnestly in those days than they do now.

In 1867, Rev. Jesse Adams moved to Waynesburg where he could educate his eight (8) children at Waynesburg College, a Christian school under the Cumberland Presbyterian Synod. Waynesburg College had its real origin in Madison College at Uniontown, under John Morgan.

One of Jesse Adams' sons has been an elder for thirty-two years in the church with which his father united in 1837, and one of his granddaughters is Librarian of Waynesburg College.
[Source: Third Presbyterian Church, Formerly the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Uniontown, Pennsylvania: Jacob Black Adams, 1934, pages 54-58]

Henderson, Thomas J., comp. Debate Between Rev. Solomon Devoir of the Christian or Disciples' Church and Rev. Jesse Adams of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Upon Four Propositions, Embracing Various Subjects, in the Village of Clarksville, Greene Co., Pa. Pittsburgh: Printed by W. S Haven, 1854.
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