BIO: John ELDER, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 169-171.
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  ELDER, JOHN, son of Robert Elder, who came from Lough Neagh, county 
Antrim, Ireland, to Pennsylvania in 1730, was born January 26, 1706, in 
the city of Edinburg, Scotland; died July 17, 1792, in Paxtang 
township, Dauphin county, Pa.  He received a classical education, and 
graduated from the University at Edinburgh.  He subsequently studied 
divinity, and in 1732 was licensed to preach the gospel.  Four or five 
years later, the son followed the footsteps of his parents and friends, 
and came to America.  Coming as a regularly licensed minister, he was 
received by New Castle Presbytery, having brought credentials to that 
body, afterwards to Donegal Presbytery, on the 5th of October, 1737.  
Paxtang congregation having separated from that of Derry in 1735, and 
Rev. Mr. Bertram adhering to the latter, left that of Paxtang vacant, 
and they were unanimous in giving Rev. John Elder a call.  This he 
accepted on the 12th day of April, 1738, and on the 22d of November 
following he was ordained and installed, the Rev. Samuel Black 
presiding.  The early years of Mr. Elder's ministry were not those of 
ease; for in the second year the Whitfield excitement took a wide 
spread over the Presbyterian Church.  He preached against this 
religious furore, or the "great revival," as it was termed, and for 
this he was accused to the Presbytery of propagating "false doctrine."  
That body cleared him, however, in December, 1740; "but a separation 
was made," says Webster, "and the conjunct Presbyters answered the 
supplications sent to them the next summer by sending Campbell and 
Rowland to those who forsook him. He signed the protest.  His support 
being reduced, he took charge of the "Old Side" portion of the Derry 
congregation." Following closely upon these ecclesiastical troubles 
came the French and Indian war.  Associations were formed throughout 
the Province of Pennsylvania for the defense of the frontiers, and the 
congregations of Mr. Elder were prompt to embody themselves.  Their 
minister became their lender - their captain - and they were trained as 
scouts.  He superintended the discipline of his men, and his mounted 
rangers became widely known as the "Paxtang Boys."  During two summers, 
at least, every man who attended Paxtang church carried his rifle with 
him, and their minister took his.  Subsequently, he was advanced to the 
dignity of colonel by the Provincial authorities, the date of his 
commission being July 11, 1763.  He had command of the block-houses and 
stockades from Easton to the Susquehanna.  The governor, in tendering 
this appointment, expressly stated that nothing more would be expected 
of him than the general oversight.  "His justification," says Webster, 
"lies in the crisis of affairs . . . Bay at York, Steele at 
Conococheague, and Griffith at New Castle, with Burton and Thompson, 
the church missionaries at Carlisle headed companies and were actively 
engaged."  During the latter part of the summer of 1763, many murders 
were committed in Paxtang, culminating in the destruction of the 
Indians on Conestoga Manor and at Lancaster.  Although the men 
composing the company of Paxtang men who exterminated the murderous 
savages referred to belonged to his obedient and faithful rangers, it 
has never been proven that the Rev. Mr. Elder had previous knowledge of 
the plot formed, although the Quaker pamphleteers of the day charged 
him with aiding and abetting the destruction of the Indians.  When the 
deed was done, and the Quaker authorities were determined to proceed to 
extreme lengths with the participants, and denounced the frontiersmen 
as "riotous and murderous Irish Presbyterians," he took sides with the 
border inhabitants, and sought to condone the deed.  His letters 
published in connection with the history of that transaction prove him 
to have been a man judicious, firm and decided.  During the controversy 
which ensued, he was the author of one of the pamphlets:   "Letter from 
a Gentleman in one of the Back Counties to a Friend in Philadelphia." 
He was relieved from his command by the governor of the Province, who 
directed that Major Asher Clayton take charge of the military 
establishment. Peace, however, was restored - not only in civil 
affairs, but in the church.  The union of the Synods brought the Rev. 
John Elder into the same Presbytery with Messrs. John Roan, Robert 
Smith and George Duffield, they being at first in a minority, but 
rapidly settling the vacancies with New Side men.  By the leave of 
Synod, the Rev. Mr. Elder joined the Second Philadelphia Presbytery 
May19, 1768, and on the formation of the General Assembly, became a 
member of Carlisle Presbytery. At the time the British army overran New 
Jersey, driving before them the fragrants of our discouraged, naked, 
and half-starved troops, and without any previous arrangement, the Rev. 
Mr. Elder went on Sunday as usual to Paxtang church.  The hour arrived 
for church-service, when, instead of a sermon, he began a short and 
hasty prayer to the Throne of Grace; then called upon the patriotism of 
all effective men present, and exhorted them to aid in support of 
liberty's cause and the defense of the country.  In less than thirty 
minutes accompany of volunteers was formed.  Col. Robert Elder, the 
parson's eldest son, was chosen captain.  They marched next day, though 
in winter. His son John, at sixteen years, was among the first.  His 
son Joshua, sub-lieutenant of Lancaster county, could not quit the 
service he was employed in, but sent a substitute.  Until his death, 
for a period of fifty-six years, he continued the faithful minister of 
the congregations over which he had been placed in the prime of his 
youthful vigor, passing the age not generally allotted to man - that of 
fourscore and six years.  His death was deeply lamented far and wide.  
Not one of all those who had welcomed him to his early field of labor 
survived him.  Charles Miner, the historian of Wyoming, gives this 
opinion of Rev. John Elder:  "I am greatly struck with the evidences of 
learning, talent and spirit displayed by him.  He was, beyond doubt, 
the most extraordinary man of Eastern Pennsylvania.  I hope some one 
may draw up a full memoir of his life, and a narrative, well digested, 
of his times . . . He was a very extraordinary man, of most extensive 
influence, full of activity and enterprise, learned, pious, and a ready 
writer. I take him to have been of the old Cameronian blood.  Had his 
lot been cast in New England he would have been a leader of the 
Puritans."  He had, with one who well remembered the old minister, "a 
good and very handsome face. His features were regular - no one 
prominent - good complexion, with blue eyes . . . He was a portly, 
long, straight man, over six feet in height, large frame and body, with 
rather heavy legs. . .  He did not talk broad Scotch, but spoke much as 
we do now, yet grammatically."  His remains quietly repose amid the 
scenes of his earthly labors, in the burying-ground of old Paxtang 
church, by the side of those who loved and revered him. Over his dust a 
marble slab bears the inscription dictated by his friend and neighbor, 
William Maclay, first United States senator from Pennsylvania.  The 
Rev. Mr. Elder was twice married; married, first, in 1740, Mary Baker, 
born 1715, in county Antrim, Ireland; died June 12, 1749, in Paxtang; 
daughter of Joshua Baker, of Lancaster, Pa. He married, secondly, Mary 
Simpson, born 1732, in Paxtang; died October 3, 1786; daughter of 
Thomas and Sarah Simpson.