USA > Maryland > Washington County > Hagerstown > A history of Washington County, Maryland from the earliest settlements to the present time, including a history of Hagerstown > Part 92
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
three months' course in a small institution of learning, which would enable him to teach in the publie schools, and to prosecute his studies. He settled down to hard work; but the great, unset- tled question continued to disturb his peace, until after hearing a sermon preaehed by the pastor of the Presbyterian Church which he attended, on the text, "How long halt ye between two opinions?" he was led carefully to review the question of privilege and duty. After prayerful consideration, he felt himself ealled to the work of the Gospel ministry, and decided to accept the eall. He at once made known his decision to his pastor, and asked to be taken under the care of Iowa Classis of the Reformed Church in the United States, which request was granted.
On Deecmber 30, 1867, Mr. Carnahan left home for Mercersburg College, Mercersburg, Pa., of which the late Rev. Thomas G. Apple, D. D., was President. At the opening of the winter term, he was received and enrolled as a member of the Preparatory Department. The prescribed course was finished in the spring of 1870; in the Fall, he entered the Freshman Class, and four years later (1874), received his degree of A. B., in a elass of nine graduates. In the Fall of the same year, Mr. Carnahan took up the study of Theology under the instruction of the late Rev. E. E. Higbee, D. D., and the Rev. Prof. J. B. Kerschner; the course was completed in the Spring of 1877, and he at once entered upon the aetive work of the ministry, having received a eall frem Mill Creek charge, composed of four congre- gations, three in Shenandoah and one in Rocking- ham County, Va. He was examined at the annual meeting of Virginia Classis, at Lovettsville, Va., in May, by a committee of which the late Rev. S. . N. Callender, D. D., was chairman, and lieensed to preach the Gospel. A few weeks later, he was regularly ordained and installed pastor of the charge. He served Mill Creek charge five years and six months, during which time much pastoral work was done, all on horseback; a new church was erected at Timberville, and a parsonage prop- erty purchased, near Mt. Jackson. The field was free of debt, and the memberbship greatly inereas- ed and cneouraged when Mr. C'arnahan left it, in the face of unanimous protests. Having re- eeived a call from the Rockingham charge, com- posed of two congregations in Rockingham and one in Augusta County, Va., he entered upon the duties of pastor, November 1, 1882. This field
he served for five years, during which time the membership was greatly increased ; a new church was erected at McGaheysville, and eonseerated free of debt; the parsonage, at Cross Keys, was en- larged and improved, and much hard work done. Mr. Carnahan left this field of labor with mueh re- gret. On October 1, 1887, he became pastor of the Mt. Moriah charge, composed of the Reformed churches at Keedysville, Sharpsburg and Mt. Moriah, near Downsville, Md. During the period of about nineteen years, spent in serving this charge, the pastor has seen many changes, some pleasant, others sad to remember. The church at Sharpsburg, built in 1832, and used by the Federal troops for hospital purposes after the battle of An- tietam, was in need of repairs. The congregation was weak numerieally and finaneially, and it seemed impossible to undertake the work demand- ed; but after three or four years of patient wailing and persistent urging, it was begun, and was crowned with sueeess. Then the church at Kee- dysville, also used for hospital purposes, and badly abused, was torn down ; a modern, up-to-date build- ing taking its place. This was erected at a eost of $7,000, and conseerated free of debt. Three years ago, the parsonage at Keedysville, through untiring perseverance of the pastor, was enlarged and improved, at a cost of nearly $500.
On May 28, 1878, at Mercersburg, Pa., the Rev. Barton R. Carnahan was united in marriage to Aliee P., third daughter of the late Harman Hause. The marriage ceremony was performed by the late Rev. I. G. Brown, assisted by the late Rev. Dr. E. E. Higbee. Of this marriage there are three children : Grace Hause and Hous- ton Earl, born in Virginia, and Margaret Irwin, born in Keedysville, Md. On August 16, 1902, death claimed this companion of nearly a quarter of a century. She was loving and faithful, pecu- liarly adapted to her position as a pastor's wife; a devoted mother, a true friend, a devout Chris- tian, ever ready to minister to the needs of others; wherever she went she won friends. Her body was laid to rest, amid many sorrowing friends, in the beautiful cemetery at Sharpsburg, to await the resurrection of the just. In July, 1876, the Rev. Mr. Carnahan was summoned to the bedside of his dying sister, the companion of childhood and youth- ful days, the source of comfort and inspiration when the brother was struggling to secure an edu- cation such as would fit him for the profession of her choice. On the 4th of August, she passed
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
through death into life. Her mortal remains were laid to rest in the graveyard adjoining the Reform- ed Church at Zwingle, Iowa, of which she had been a faithful and devoted member. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."
The Rev. Mr. Carnahan was Stated Clerk of Virginia Classis for six or seven years ; a delegate to General Synod from that Classis in June, 1887; president of the Maryland Classis at its annual session in the Reformed Church at Silver Run, Md. ; and for one term a member of the Board of Regents of Mercersburg College. This College conferred upon him the degree of A. M., in 1878.
On Mareh 4, 1904, the Rev. Barton R. Carna- han was married by the Rev. John M. Schick, D. D., a schoolmate at Mercersburg, in Washing- ton. D. C., to Mrs. Barbara A. Baker, the widow of Otho Baker, who was eut down in the prime of manhood over twenty years ago. She is the daughter of Elder Alfred Cost, of Keedysville, a brother of Elder Jacob A. Cost, well known in Hagerstown. Having been born and reared in this community, she is well and favorably known. She was the mother of two children, Carrie L. and H. Claude, both of whom lived to reach ma- ture years, loved and respected by all. But both have been taken from their earthly home to a home "not made with hands."
ELDER ELI YOURTEE, minister of the German Baptist Brethren Church at Brownsville, Md., was born July 3, 1834, at Brownsville, son of George W. and Mary ( Marr) Yourtee.
Elder Yourtee's great-grandfather, Peter Yourtee, was a native of Alsace who came to America at an early date, and settled at Sample's Manor, where he beeame the father of two sons, Abraham and Jacob, and three daughter, Eliza- both, who married John Brown; Mary, who mar- ried Daniel Brown, the first minister elected to the Brownsville German Brethren Church, and Barbara, who married Jacob Houser, and lived and died on Sample's Manor.
Abraham, grandfather of Elder Yourtce, lived where Dr. J. T. Yourtee now resides. He married Mary Magdalene Brown; they had eight children: George W .; Mary, who married Jacob Grimm; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Himes ; Sallie, who married David Himes ; Sophia, second wife of David ITimes; Samuel, who married Elsie
Alpaugh; Aaron B., who married Catharine Me- Dade; and John, who died unmarried.
Jacob Yourtee, brother of Abraham Yourtee, married Polly Johnson, and had ehildren : Daniel, who died young; Nancy, who married Richard Johnson, and had children, Jacob, Daniel, Joseph, Lizzie and Abigail. Jacob Yourtee died at Sam- ple's Manor. Jacob Yourtee did not belong to the church. Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Yourtee, were members of the German Baptist Church. Abra- ham Yourtee donated the land on which the Brownsville Church stands, also the cemetery ground. He was a prime mover in the building of the said church.
George W. Yourtee, son of Abraham and Mary (Brown) Yourtee, was born on Sample's Manor, November 28, 1803. Mrs. Abraham Your- ter was a sister of Elder Daniel Brown. George W. Yourtee received a common school education, and learned the trade of shoemaker, which oecu- pation he followed successfully for eighteen years in Brownsville. In October, 1839, he purchased eighty acres of land, where Elder Eli Yourtee now lives, from Priscilla Morrison. Here he lived until his death, which occurred December 28, 188 ?. His wife died September 17, 1864. Their remains were interred in the cemetery at Brownsville; they were members of the German Baptist Church of that town, in which congregation Mr. Yourtee was a deacon. He was the owner of two houses in Brownsville, and of seventy aeres of mountain land, all worth about $5,000, which he divided among his children. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Marr. Their ehildren were: Aman- da, who married Archibald Knode; Eli; Mary Ann, who married William P. Bartholow, and had children, Mary E., Rose and John.
Elder Eli Yourtee was educated in the com- mon sehools, and worked on a farm. It was in 1821 that he was elected a minister in the Ger- man Baptist Church in Kansas City, and he has served congregations ever since. Ile was mar- ried. March 7, 1865, to Susan A., daughter of David and Mary ( Reichard) Long: Mrs. Long was an aunt of Elder W. S. Reichard, of Hagers- town. The children of this marriage are: 1. Ella M .. who married John Wolfe, and has ehildren, Nellie, Edith. Ralph, Robert and Mary ; 2. Edith; 3. Catherine, who is attending school at Hunting- don, Pa. : 4. Bessie, who married Dr. Harry Fahr- ney, and has children, Catherine and Lawrenee; 5. John, who married Catherine R. Karn, and is
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
farming the homestead ; 6. George, unmarried, is a practising physician at Burkittsville, Md .; 7. Howard, also unmarried, is a machinist. Mrs. Eli Yourtee died, June 5, 1904, and was buried at the Manor Church in Tilghmanton District.
The house in which Elder Yourtee now lives was used by Gen. McClellan for two weeks after the battle of Antietam, while he was recruiting his army. George Yourtee boarded the noted generai and his staff, including Gen. Burnside and wife, and Gen. and Mrs. Marcy, the parents of Mrs. MeClellan. A battery was mounted near the house, and thousands of soldiers were encamped at a little distance. Mr. Yourtee lost the most of his fences, the timber being used for firewood. This was a period of excitement unequalled in the long and useful life of Elder Yourtee, and one which he will not forget until time for him is no more.
It was in 1872 that Elder Yourtee became minister of the church at Brownsville, and he has officiated ever since, a period of thirty-four years. The good that he has done in this long lapse of time will only be known in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed.
THE REV. WALTER S. HOYE, pastor of the Disciples' Church, at Beaver Creek, was born at Beaver Dam (now State Farm) Goochland Co., Va., December 7, 1853. He is a son of James and Martha B. (Davenport) Hoye.
The pioneers of the Hoye family in this coun- try came with an early colony to Georgetown, Md. Their names are found on the earliest records in the Clerk's office at Rockville, Montgomery Co., Md. The Davenport ancestors emigrated from England, and settled in York County, Va.
About 1865, the Rev. Mr. Hoye's father pur- chased a place in Goochland County, Va., known as Watkinsville, to which the family removed, and which has ever since been their home. Mr. Hoye was then twelve years of age, and he grew up on this estate, attending the schools of the community. In the Fall of 1874, he entered Bethany College, in West Virginia, and graduated from that insti- tution in June, 1879, in a class numbering twenty- three members. In the summer of that year, he became a resident of Gordansville, Va .; here he preached for neighboring churches with encourag- ing success. A call being extended to him from
the congregations at Beaver Creek and Downsville, Md., in December, 1882, he accepted it, and began his paslorate of those churches, March 1, 1883. Since that time, he has been constantly and actively engaged in pastoral duties, and in preaching tlie Word of God, not only to the congregations under his charge, but in evangelistic tours through Mary- land, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware, and to some extent, in Pennsylvania. These labors have led to the establishment of a goodly number of churches, and have helped, encouraged and largely increased the membership of congrega- tions already existing. Strongly impressed with the absolute need of having educated young men for the ministry, the Rev. Mr. Hoye secured the co-operation of his brethren in raising an Edu- cational Fund, by which nineteen young men have been educated, either in part or wholly, and are preaching acceptably in this land, and in foreign countries. Many more have partially completed their studies, so that the enterprise gives good promise of future usefulness. For more than twelve years, the Rev. Mr. Hoye has been the Cor- responding Secretary of the Christian Missionary Society of Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. He says of this work that although laborious, it has been to him a source of pleasure. The Rev. Mr. Hoye is well known as a man of high character and excellent abilities, a faithful, de- voted Christian pastor, full of misisonary spirit and zeal.
The Rev. Walter S. Hoye was married, Oc- tober 9, 1895. to Miss M. Esther Mitchell, of Hadensville, Va. She died October 10, 1899. They had two sons, J. Mitchell Hoye, and one who died an infant. On January 25, 1905, the Rev. Mr. Hoye was again married, to Miss R. Anna Owens, daughter of Mrs. Clara ( McCorinick) Owens, of Rockville, Md.
THE REV. FREDERICK WILLIAM BALD, B. D., pastor of the Clearspring Reformed charge, was born in Baltimore, Md., August 8, 1867, son of Frederick William, deceased, and Christiana (Rittase) Bald.
Frederick William Bald, Sr., was born in Berleberg, Germany, in 1823; when he was but eleven years old, his parents, John Martin and Elizabeth Bald, emigrated to America, and settled in Baltimore. There he engaged in the manufac-
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
inre and sale of guns, and continued in the same business throughont his life.
His son, the Rev. Frederick W. Bald, was the youngest of six children, was educated in Balti- more, and graduated from the Baltimore City Col- lege in 1886. He was afterwards clerk in a gen- tlemen's furnishing store until 1891, when he he- .came a partner in a laundry firm, under the name of Nixdorff & Bald. This connection was of brief duration, for in 1892, Mr. Bald entered the Re- formed Theological Seminary at Lancaster, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1895. In May, 1896, he was ordained, and installed as pastor of Grace Reformed Church, Baltimore. This was a mission church whose congregation numbered only twenty-nine members, worshipping in a small public hall on Hamburg St., South Baltimore. But the young pastor's efforts were zealous and untiring ; and when his ministry to that charge ended, in February, 1891, he left a congregation of one hundred and fifty-five members, worship- ping in a fine, commodious church, erected at a cost of ten thousand dollars, and a Sunday-school whose attendance had swelled from almost none to three hundred and eighty-five. In the spring of 1901, Rev. Mr. Bald accepted a call from the Clearspring charge ; this charge, besides St. John's church, in Clearspring, includes St. Paul's, a flourishing congregation two and a half miles east of the town, on the old National turnpike. Since Mr. Bald became pastor of this charge, a handsome two-story brick parsonage has been built in Clear- spring. He still ministers to this, his second charge, and his intellectual ability and faithful- ness as a pastor are warmly appreciated.
While in Baltimore, the Rev. Mr. Bald was seertary of the Reformed Ministerial Association of that city, besides being actively indentified with various organizations for benevolent work. He has also been chairman of several committees and is now serving as president of the Reformed Classis of Maryland. He has frequently been chosen to represent that body at Synod. He is treasurer of the Franklin and Marshall Alumni Association. With all these activities, he has found time for much literary work, having been for some years a regular contributor to various periodicals. In June, 1904, the degree of Bachelor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Franklin and Mar- shall College. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M., Arcana Lodge No. 110, Baltimore, Md.
On October 22, 1896, the Rev. Frederick W.
Bald was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William and Rebecca Krise. This union has been blessed with three sons, F. Clever, Milton Stover, and Frederick William.
REV. J. P. ANTHONY, pastor of Salem United Brethren Church, at Kcedysville, was born January 31, 1813, at Dillsburg, York County, Pa., the son of Michael and Rebecca (Smith) An- thony. Michael Anthony was born near York, Pa., November 29, 1818, the son of John and Catharine (Baker) Anthony, who were the parents of two children : Michael and John, both deceased. John was a farmer and left children. Michael died in York county, Pa., May 28, 1901; his wife died January 3. 1880; they were the parents of three children : Rev. J. P .; Rachel, who married John Altland, of York county; Calvin C., a merchant for twenty-five years, now a large land owner in the state of Washington. Rebecca Anthony was buried in Mt. Zion graveyard in York county. She was a number of the United Brethren Church. Michael Anthony was again married to Miss Lydia Elicker, whose maiden name was Filler. She is also dead. Michael Anthony was a farmer and merchant at Mt. Top, York county, Pa.
J. P. Anthony secured his literary education at Dillsburg Academy and Normal School. He taught school for some years. He studied theology in the Conference course and began to preach in 1869, having as his first charge, for two years, Path Valley, in Franklin county, Pa. From there he went to Orrstown, thence to Mt. Alto, Shiremanstown, Baltimore and to Manchester, Md. He spent five years as presiding elder in the Chambersburg district. Following this he was pastor for three years at York, Pa., and four years at Keedysville.
Rev. J. P. Anthony was married to Salana Diehl, a native of Dillsburg. She died in Decem- ber, 1904, leaving these children: Eleanor, who was educated for a trained nurse at Johns Hop- kins Hospital, Baltimore, served in the Presbyte- rian Hospital, New York, and in Boston, Mass. She is now keeping house for her father in Kee- dvsville ; John (., who is engaged in the insur- ance and loan business, in Baltimore; Otterbein, who is a clerk in York. Pa. ; Edward, who is en- gaged in the automobile and bicycle business in Des Moines, Iowa; Grace, married B. F. Durr,
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
who is in the employ of the United States Gov- ernment printing office in Manila, Philippine Islands.
Rev. J. P. Anthony is now serving Salem United Brethren Church in Keedysville, and is held in high esteem by his congregation as well as by the citizens of the community.
THE REV. M. D. GAVER, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, of Williamsport, Md., was born in Burkittsville, Frederick Co., Md., November 14, 1849, son of Daniel and Margaret (Shafer) Gaver, deceased.
David Gaver, the grandfather of the Rev. Mr. Gaver, belonged to one of the old German famil- ies of Frederick County. His son, Daniel Gaver, was a tailor and followed that calling for many years. His political convictions were Republican He married Margaret Shafer ; their children were : Mary, who married D. M. Whipp; Emma, who married M. P. Horine, of Frederick County; the Rev. M. D .; Thomas M., of Minnesota; William, of Frederick County; other children, deceased. Mr. Daniel Gaver was born in Frederick County in 1810, and died near Burkittsville in 1874. He was a member of the Lutheran Church.
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The Rev. M. D. Gaver, after attending the schools of Burkittsville during his boyhood, began teaching in the public schools at the age of eigh- teen. After spending five years in this work, he became a student of Pennsylvania College, Gettys- burg, P'a., where he took the degree of A. B. in 1829. From the College he passed to the The- ological Seminary at Gettysburg, from which he was graduated in 1881, and was ordained by the Synod of Western Pennsylvania in the Fall of that . year. His first charge was the Lutheran Church at Mount Holly Springs, Cumberland County, Pa., of which he was the pastor for eight years. He then received a call from the church at Williams- port, which he accepted, and has, since 1890, been actively engaged in his ministerial duties there.
The Rev. M. D. Gaver was married in 1881, to Miss Emma Fairbank, of Baltimore; their children are: Ella F .; Emma; Carroll D .; and Mary, who died in infancy. In politics, the Rev. Mr. Gaver is independent, but usually votes the Prohibition ticket. He is highly esteemed as a citizen, and as a faithful pastor.
THE REV. S. H. SNELL, a United Breth- ren minister, now living in Keedysville, Washing- ton County, Md., was born March 20, 1851, in Rockingham Co., Va., son of Benjamin and Susan (Frank) Snell. Benjamin Snell was born near Dayton, Va., in Rockingham Co., August 3, 1822, son of Joseph and (Sherfey) Snell. Joseph Snell was the father of the following children : Jacob, who was a farmer, died leaving children in West Va .; Margaret, who married Peter Driver, settled near Lima, O .; Mary, who married David Fab- born, removed to Ohio; Lydia, who is living, un- married, near Lima, O .; Benjamin. Joseph Snell and wife were Dunkards in religion.
Benjamin Snell was a carpenter and barn builder. Hle built many of the barns in Rocking- ham Co., Va., continuing in that occupation until his death, which occurred Sept. 17, 1858. He left four children; 1. Rebecca R., who married George Swartz, of Rockingham Co., a machinist and lum- ber manufacturer, who is the father of seven child- ren; 2. Joseph F., who married Miss Boone, of Salem, Va., has no children and is engaged in business in Washington, D. C .; 3. Jacob M., who married Miss Funkhouser, is a wholesale grocer in Harrisonburg, Va., and has three boys, Arthur B., Elmer R., and Walstein M. Snell; 4. The Rev. S. H. Snell. Mrs. Benjamin Snell died Feb- ruary 28, 1897, aged 71 years, 4 months and 13 days. She is buried in her father's old church- yard with her relatives. For several years after her husband's death, Mrs. Snell lived with her father, Joseph Frank, and later she was married to John Swartz. She was a liberal Mennonite in religion, while Benjamin Snell was a Dunkard.
The Rev. S. H. Snell was educated in the common schools and also spent two years at Day- ton, Va., at the Shenandoah Institute, now known as Shenandoah College Institute and School of Music. IIe obtained the money to defray his ex- penses at school by working on the farm and by teaching. The Rev. Mr. Snell began preaching the doctrines of the United Brethren Church in 1880, joining the Virginia Conference on March 10th of that year. His first charge was the Bloom- ery Circuit, west of Winchester, Va., the congre- gations being partly in Virginia and partly in West Virginia. He received for the first year a salary of $173. He had his home with Jacob and Susan Peacemaker, who only charged him $25 for the year's board. During this year he had eight appointments, covering a space of thirty by twenty
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
miles, over which he travelled on horseback. ITis second charge was the New Creek Circuit in West Virginia, where he remained for one year at a salary of $232. Ilere he had six appointments in a radius of about the same extent as his first. His third year was spent at Edinburg, Va., having associated with him the Rev. J. W. Hlicks, the two having six appointments. The Rev. Mr. Snell's fourth charge was at St. Paul's United Brethren Church in Hagerstown, where he remained one year. It was during this pastorate, on October 18, 1883, that he married C. Arbelin Spessard, daugh- ter of Daniel D. Spessard, and a sister of Melvin T. Spessard, whose family history is given in this book.
The Rev. and Mrs. Snell removed to Walkers- ville, Frederick Co., where he spent two years in the Frederick Circuit. Then, in 1886, they removed to the Spessard farm in Chewsville district, to care for Mrs. Snell's mother. While there the Rev. Mr. Snell preached on the Hagerstown Cir- cuit, having charge of congregations at White Hall, Chewsville, Shiloh and Middleburg. About 1887 they established their home in Keedysville, where they have since remained. In May of that year the Rev. Mr. Snell's health having failed, he relinquished active ministerial duties, except as a supply. Since then he has preached at various times at Greencastle, Chewsville, Rohrersville, Williamsport, Laurel and Martinsburg, W. Va.
The Rev. and Mrs. Snell have no children of their own, but adopted Anna B. Swartz when she was five years old, and have given her a liberal education. She was graduated in the English course at Dayton, Va., in 1904, and completed a musical course, in voice, violin and piano, at the same institution in 1906. She was taught music and English in her alma mater. Rev. S. H. Snell and wife own a fine home in Kccdysville and a farm in Funkstown district, containing 150 acres. Mrs. Snell and Anna are members of the United Brethren Church. In politics, the Rev. Snell !> independent.
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