USA > North Carolina > Historic sketch of the Reformed Church in North Carolina > Part 15
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10. Bethany Reformed Church, Crescent.
In 1890 a petition was sent to Classis from a number of persons in Gold Hill Township, Rowan County, to
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be organized into a congregation. This request was granted, and Revs. C. B. Heller and J. M. L. Lyerly were instructed to attend to the matter. Accordingly a congregation was organized August 23d, 1891, with twenty-four charter members, under the name of Beth- any Reformed Church. The Elders were William McCombs, Sr., and Maxwell Holshouser, and the Deacons William McCombs, Jr., and B. A. Fesperman. Three acres of land were donated by Maxwell Hols- houser, and one acre by Alexander Lyerly. The deeds are dated September 26, 1891. The church was dedi- cated October 4, 1896. Rev. J. C. Clapp, D.D., preached the sermon. Rev. J. M. L. Lyerly performed the act of dedication.
When this church was organized it was incorporated with the Central Rowan Charge. In 1906 Bethany and Mt. Hope were constituted the Crescent Charge. Rev. J. M. L. Lyerly was the first pastor, and he has been the only one.
Since Bethany Reformed Church was built the vil- lage of Crescent has grown up around it. In order to supplement his salary and make it adequate for his support, Rev. Mr. Lyerly began to teach a private school, which has since developed into Crescent Academy and Business College. This school under the careful management of its principal, Dr. Lyerly, has become an important educational centre. Bethany Church contributes no small share to the spiritual and moral atmosphere of the school and the village. It is the only church in the place.
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11. St. James Reformed Church, Mt. Pleasant.
St. James Reformed Church, of Mt. Pleasant, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, was organized in the year 1894. On December 3d of that year, the following persons entered into an organization: Mrs. C. L. Foil, L. J. Foil, Dr. M. A. Foil, W. D. Foil, Mrs. M. R. Miller, Dr. A. W. Moose, Mrs. A. F. Sides and W. J. Heilig. This organization was effected in the parlor of Mrs. C. L. Foil, and the constitution of the Reformed Church governing such bodies was adopted for their guidance. This congregation was organized under the direction of the Rev. Paul Barringer, D.D., . during his pastorate in the East Rowan Charge. Preaching for the few scattered members at this place had been held occasionally for a number of years, but no effort at organization had been attempted up to. this time. For a short period this newly organized congregation was served by Rev. Barringer in con- nection with his regular work in the East Rowan Charge. Subsequently the New Gilead congregation, by an act of Classis, and under a request from the Concord Charge to which church they belonged, was cut off and New Gilead and St. James made a charge under the name of the New Gilead Charge. The New Gilead Charge was enrolled as a mission by the Board of Missions and Rev. Paul Barringer was commis- sioned to take charge of the work.
Accordingly on the 7th day of October, 1896, Rev. Barringer moved with his family to Mt. Pleasant and assumed the oversight of the New Gilead Charge. Under his pastorate the work grew and prospered and
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in a comparatively short time the Board of Missions was released from further support, and the charge became self-supporting. Dr. M. A. Foil was chosen as the first secretary of the congregation. Dr. A. W. Moose was elected the first Elder, and Dr. M. A. Foil the first Deacon. The congregation at first had but these two earnest and consecrated officers in connec- tion with their pastor, the Rev. Paul Barringer, to mould and crystallize the sentiment which was to be distinctively Reformed. One of the charter members, Mr. W. J. Heilig, donated a lot on which to erect a church. The building committee was composed of the following persons: W. J. Heilig, Dr. A. W. Moose and L. J. Foil. Under their vigorous efforts a beauti- ful little church was erected at a cost of about twelve or fourteen hundred dollars. There was no begging in this matter, for all had a mind to work. The Rev. Paul Barringer gave largely of his time and means to its erection and a vigorous effort was made to push the work to a completion as early as possible. The con- gregation being small, funds and material were solic- ited from other sources. It is worthy of note that to the success of this enterprise the "Bear Creekers" contributed no small part. They gave quite a nice contribution of lumber and in other ways encouraged the work. Accordingly in September, 1895, the erec- tion of this first edifice was begun, and it was completed the following May. On the third Lord's Day, in May, 1896, the first services were held in the new church, and a feeling of devout praise to Almighty God for His great Providence was responsive in every breast. On
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the fifth Lord's Day of July, 1896, the Rev. J. C. Leonard preached a most excellent sermon, and the church was formally dedicated to the Triune God. All outstanding indebtedness had either been paid or provided for, and the church was given over to the service of the Master without any incumbrance rest- ing upon it. The congregation was now well estab- lished and its growth has been quite encouraging. This congregation numbers among its membership some of the most influential people of the town. The Sunday School is flourishing, one of the best in the town. The Rev. Barringer's labors terminated with the year 1900. Licentiate J. H. Keller, a young man who had just finished his theological course at Lan- caster, Pennsylvania, assumed charge on July 1, 1901. His pastorate terminated with the re-districting of the churches in this section, July 1, 1906. Dr. Bar- ringer supplied the newly-constituted charge which consists of St. James, Bethel (Bear Creek) and Boger Churches, from July 1, 1906, until December, 1906, when the Rev. E. Gaver Williams, D.D., accepted a call to this work.
12. Faith Reformed Church, Salisbury.
As far back as 1768 there were members of the Reformed Church living in Salisbury, at that date of course only a scattered village. In a deed of convey- ance to the Lutheran Church the donor, John L. Beard, extends the use of the property to "the Re- formed Calvin Ministers at such times as the Lutheran Minister doth not want to perform divine service
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therein." That was five years before the first Luth- eran minister, the Rev. Mr. Nussman, located in North Carolina. It was the year that Rev. Samuel Suther, the first resident Reformed minister, came into that section of the State. But while there have always been strong Reformed Churches in Rowan County, the shire-town was neglected until a recent date. A petition from a few members living in Salis- bury was presented to Classis at the annual meeting of 1896, asking that a Reformed Church be organized there. Rev. A. C. Whitmer, Superintendent of Mis- sions, after corresponding with some of the ministers of Classis, had visited Salisbury and purchased a lot at the corner of Church and Horah Streets at a cost of $500.00. In response to the Salisbury overture the Classis appointed Revs. J. M. L. Lyerly, A. Shulen- berger, J. C. Leonard and Paul Barringer to organize the congregation and take charge of the interest. Classis also pledged $500 towards a house of worship. The committee organized the congregation under the name of "Faith Reformed Church," June 28, 1906, with eight members. The following are the names of the first roll of membership: F. M. Holshouser, Mrs. F. M. Holshouser, H. C. Corriher, Mrs. H. C. Corriher, M. D. Lefler, Mrs. John Odell, Mrs. Cora Earnhart and Dorsett Holshouser.
M. D. Lefler was elected Elder and H. C. Corriher Deacon. Rev. W. H. Stubblebine was commissioned by the Board of Missions, and he entered upon the work November 1st. The services were at first held in the Y. M. C. A. rooms. A temporary chapel was
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built on the lot during the winter. The erection of the church was commenced in 1897, and the corner- stone was laid September 2, 1897. In the fall of 1898 the auditorium was sufficiently far advanced to be used for services. The Rev. Mr. Stubblebine resigned March 1, 1899. The pulpit was vacant until October, when Rev. Gerney Weber became the pastor. In July, 1900, he was stricken with typhoid fever from which he died November 19th. The sickness and death of the Rev. Mr. Weber brought great discour- agement to the little flock, upon whose church also rested a considerable debt. The church remained vacant until June 1, 1901, when Licentiate William B. Duttera, Ph.D., became pastor. During his ministry the church was finished and paid for, and all former obligations were also met. A most interesting event in the brief existence of this congregation was the meeting of the Synod of the Potomac in this church, October 23, 1903. The opening sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. J. M. Schick, President Roosevelt's pas- tor. It was also in this church August 13, 1903, that action was taken establishing Nazareth Orphans' Home. In the fall of 1906 a handsome pipe organ was built in Faith Church. In the winter of 1906-1907 a parsonage was built on a part of the church lot. The congregation is well equipped for aggressive Christian work with a present membership of 75.
13. Ursinus Reformed Church, Rockwell.
Rockwell is a prosperous and growing town on the railroad from Salisbury to Norwood. Reformed
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people living here felt the need of a church, but their strength did not seem to warrant the undertaking until the spring of 1899. A lot was donated by Mr. J. W. Peeler, and work was commenced in August. Rev. W. H. McNairy, pastor of the East Rowan Charge, had charge of the new interest. The church was enclosed during the following winter, and though it was not finished, services were held twice a month. At a special meeting of Classis, January 9, 1900, the Rev. Mr. McNairy was authorized to organize a con- gregation. This he did April 5, 1900, with ten mem- bers. J. W. Peeler was elected Elder and B. A. Fes- perman Deacon. The organization took the name of Ursinus Reformed Church. By order of Classis it was incorporated with the East Rowan Charge. Rev. C. H. Riedesel was pastor from April, 1900, until October, 1903. Rev. W. W. Rowe became pastor January 1, 1904. During the first months of his pas- torate the church was completed. The corner-stone was laid after the church was finished, May 24, 1904. On the following day it was dedicated. Rev. Paul Barringer preached the sermon.
14. Boger Reformed Church, Rowan County.
At the meeting of North Carolina Classis held in Lexington in May, 1905, Rev. W. W. Rowe was given permission to organize a congregation at "Cross Roads" within the bounds of the East Rowan Charge. A church building was soon erected upon land given by Mrs. Caroline Boger and which at one time was owned by Rev. George Boger. For this reason the
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church was called "Boger Reformed Church." The congregation was organized October 29, 1905, with 17 members.
The corner-stone was laid November 17, 1905. The church was dedicated April 29, 1906. There is a promising outlook here for a growing congregation. At the meeting of Classis in 1906 this church was made a part of the Bear Creek Charge.
15. Keller Reformed Church, Cabarrus County.
This congregation was organized August 18, 1904, by Rev. John H. Keller, with thirty charter members, who formerly held their membership in Gilead and Mt. Hope Reformed congregations. John W. Cline and John W. O. Rymer were that day installed as Elders and Harris Cook and John Brantly as Deacons.
The ground for the church and cemetery was do- nated by John Cline; the grove for hitching by Wade Brantly. The church building is thirty-six by thirty-eight feet, frame, well constructed and neatly furnished, the cost being about twelve hundred dol- lars. The carpenters began work about June 1, 1904, and the church was dedicated free of debt, August 20, 1904.
John Cline, Harris Cook and Wade Brantly were the building committee. The beautiful cemetery which was consecrated August 19, 1904, is laid off in family lots. Free right to these can be secured at a nominal cost.
Rev. Paul Barringer preached the dedicatory ser- mon August 20, 1904, to a large audience, after which
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the pastor formally consecrated the church to the service of the Triune God. Services are held twice a month. The Sunday School is increasing in numbers and power and the prospects are encouraging. This church forms a part of the Gilead Charge.
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CHAPTER VI.
THE WESTERN GROUP OF CHURCHES.
1. St. Paul's, Catawba County.
NT. PAUL'S CHURCH is located in Catawba County one and a half miles west of Newton, and is the oldest church by a number of years on the western border of that numerous German settlement in North Carolina in the counties of Alamance, Guilford, Ran- dolph, Davidson, Rowan, Cabarrus, Stanley, Iredell, Lincoln, Catawba and some others. These Germans, Lutherans and Reformed, began to migrate from Penn- sylvania about 1745, because land in that State east of the Alleghanies was mostly taken up, but was plentiful, cheap and fertile in Western North Carolina. The exact date of the founding of St. Paul's is not known, but it is nearly co-eval with the beginning of the settlement. It is known that a Swiss minister by the name of Martin preached here in 1759, and doubt- less the venerable and godly Theus preached here still earlier.
St. Paul's was a union church from the beginning. The Reformed and Lutheran settlers for the most part built union churches, and worshiped and lived on terms of delightful harmony. Eleven acres were donated by Paul Anthony. The deed specifies that it was for a church and a school-house. Religion and education
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went together in those days. The school-master, in the absence of the minister, often conducted services in the church, buried the dead and sometimes bap- tized the children. The pioneer of this settlement was Henry Weidner (now Whitener). He came alone several years in advance of the rest. He crossed the Catawba at Sherrill's Ford and lodged there with Adam Sherrill, who had a fort on the west bank as a protection against the Indians. He first saw the South Fork directly west of Adam Sherrill's, near Rocky Ford, on the South Fork. Here he located and lived at peace with the Indians about five years, hunt- ing and trading with them for furs during the winter, and returning to Pennsylvania in the spring, carrying his pelts on several horses. There he raised a crop which he sold in the fall and then returned to North Carolina. After repeating this round about five years he married Miss Mary Mull, a heroic girl of sixteen summers, and brought her from Pennsylvania, along with Conrad Yoder, the progenitor of a numerous and respectable posterity, to make his permanent home on the South Fork, the scene of his residence among the savages. The patent for his land is dated 1750. He acquired a large estate in land and per- sonal property, lived to a ripe old age and was buried by Rev. Andrew Loretz. His descendants are numer- ous, and many of them have been substantial members of the Reformed Church during all these years. Shortly after his moving and settlement came the Conrads, the Reinhardts, Bosts, Wilfongs, Forneys, Sumneys, Bollingers, Rauchs (Rowes), Ramsauers,
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, CATAWBA CO., N. C.
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Coulters, Fingers, Zimmermans (Carpenters), Ikerds, Clines (Kleins, Littles), Hoyles, Hermans and many others. These and their children in time swelled the membership of St. Paul's until it became a large and influential congregation. The first house of worship was built of logs. It became dilapidated about 1800 and was torn down. The sound logs went into a new building a few yards west of the old site. It was weather-boarded and ceiled with material so excellent that most of the weather-boards are sound at this time (1906). The workmanship was the best in the country at that time. The nails were hand-made by smiths. The gallery is spacious and on three sides of the house. The pulpit was so high that it commanded a view of the entire gallery, but too small to allow a seat. The cemetery is very large and compact with graves. No records are to be found of the early min- isters. But in 1764 Dupert was recognized as pastor of St. Paul's. He lived near Paysower's Mill in what now is Gaston County. Near his home was a Reformed and Lutheran Church which was burned during the Revolutionary War. Schwum, Schneider and Bithahn also preached here before 1786, when Rev. Andrew Loretz, a young but scholarly, active and eloquent Swiss, came to this section from Hagerstown, Mary- land. After the death of Loretz, St. Paul's was with- out a pastor for sixteen years. During these years Synod sent to the churches west of the Catawba, as to the others in North Carolina, occasional mission- aries, as Reily, Rudy and others, to look after this part of the scattered fold. In 1828 Rev. John G.
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Fritchey, just from the Seminary at Carlisle, Penn- sylvania, took charge of all the Reformed Churches west of the Catawba River. He came just in time to strengthen the things that remained, for grievous wolves had crept in and some of the folds were scat- tered. But during the twelve years of his pastorate he restored the old congregations to renewed life and activity and organized several new ones. These were palmy days for old St. Paul's; members often came from Burke County (30 miles) and regularly ten and fifteen miles. In 1840 Rev. John H. Crawford became pastor of St. Paul's. In 1845 Catawba County was formed from Lincoln County, and Newton, the county- seat, was located within one and one-half miles east of St. Paul's. The first church built in Newton was mainly by members of the Reformed congregation at St. Paul's. The new organization so depleted the old, that eventually it disintegrated. Rev. John Lantz preached to a remnant of the members who still clung to the sacred spot till he was called to Middle- brook, Virginia. Soon after this Rev. J. C. Clapp, D.D., confirmed a class of thirty-two catechumens at St. Paul's camp-ground. In this class were many capable and active young persons. They petitioned for the re-organization of the congregation. This was done, and soon about eighty members were enrolled with prospects bright and cheering. Could proper pastoral care have been bestowed a strong congrega- tion should have perpetuated the name and fame of this venerable house of God. Dr. John A. Foil, then a young minister just from Ursinus College and Semi-
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nary (1872) and associated with Rev. J. C. Clapp as Professor in Catawba College, ministered to the new congregation for a few years. But they together on account of the dearth of ministers served all of the ten congregations west of the Catawba River, and served several in Rowan for a number of years, while putting in full time in the school-room five days in the week. Of course St. Paul's suffered for want of attention. However the organization survived. It became a part of the Catawba Charge, and under the pastorate of Dr. Clapp for a number of years, and then under that of Revs. H. A. M. Holshouser, Riedesel, Henry Sechler and S. W. Beck, it has become the strongest in the Catawba Charge. Recently, during the pastorate of Rev. Beck, a new and elegant house of worship was built in Startown and the congrega- tion while retaining its property in the old church now worships in it, as it is located in the centre of its territory, while the old location is on the outer edge. New St. Paul's has a promising future.
In the struggle for independence her people bore a conspicuous part. Daniel, a son of the pioneer Henry Weidner, carried his father's long and famous hunting rifle to the battle of "King's Mountain," took deadly aim at Ferguson, who fell when he pulled the trigger. John Wilfong, a youth who afterwards acquired wealth and a good name, was wounded in that struggle. His powder horn and accoutrements are heirlooms in the family. The beautiful lake on the Guilford Battle Ground is named Wilfong in honor of him. Judge Schenck, who brought the grounds into their deserved
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prominence, and spent so much in beautifying them, married one of John Wilfong's descendants. Henry Weidner's famous rifle is in the museum on the Guil- ford Battle Ground. In 1906 St. Paul's was trans- ferred from the Catawba Charge to the South Fork Charge, to which Rev. Samuel W. Beck has been called.
2. Daniel's Reformed Church.
Next to St. Paul's in Catawba County, this is the oldest Reformed congregation west of the Catawba River. Up to 1889, it was united with Daniel's Evangelical Lutheran Church, both congregations occupying the same house of worship, using it on alter- nate Sabbaths. No definite data can be given for the building of the first house of worship, but it was no doubt early in Rev. Loretz's pastorate, which began in 1786.
The name Daniel's was given in honor of Daniel Warlick, the first of that family to settle in this section, and one of the most noted of the members and leaders of the church and community. Some years ago a document was discovered in Charlotte, among the court records of Mecklenburg County, which sets forth that this name was given by an order of the court.
The oldest extant records of Daniel's Reformed Church date back to 1809, but the congregation is much older, for members of the Reformed Church were living in this section as early, at least, as 1750. Its history began in the days of George the Second when this section was a part of Anson County; in 1762
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it was changed to Mecklenburg; in 1768 to Tryon and in 1779 to Lincoln.
The most noted pioneers and patriarchs of this section were Daniel Warlick, Derrick Ramsaur and John Ramsaur. The first named took up in all nearly three thousand acres of land along Howard's and Clark's Creeks and the South Fork River. The oldest enterprise in Lincoln County to-day is the mill he established. It was once burned by the Indians. This property has passed down from father to son and is to-day owned and operated by Jacob Warlick, a great-great-grandson of the pioneer.
Derrick Ramsaur entered many acres of land along Clark's Creek and South Fork River and near the junction of these streams established a mill which has been rendered historic as the battle-ground between the Whigs and the Tories, June 20, 1780, and the camping ground of Lord Cornwallis and the English army a few months later.
Here in the ancient and populous cemetery at Dan- iel's, in an unknown grave, lies the body of Adam Reep, a member of the Reformed Church, one of the heroes of the battle of Ramsaur's Mill, and a noted Whig scout and Indian fighter whose name became a terror to the Tories in the Carolinas.
John Ramsaur, the third named, came to this section from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1752, as on the fly-leaf of his memorandum book it is stated that John Ramsaur "to his gorny went August 27, 1752. Cot to my gorny's ent to aury lambert's tis 6 day of October 1752," a forty days' journey. He made trips
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back to Pennsylvania, as did many of the pioneers, following the old Cherokee Indian trading path. There are items showing "black fox, auter and beever foor skins solt and paught." He kept an itemized account of expenses showing that he "pait for a bushel of corn, sheve of ots, bastring ferrish at the Raue- nock and other rivers, the cost of preckfast, tiner, supper, and loghing, and loves of brad; also various articles such as pare of flames, pare of prittles bits, pare of carters, lucking Clase, canttals, wein, siter, pere, a tram &."
These men were followed by the Lantzes, Summer- rows, Hochs (now Hokes), Reinhardts, Kistlers, Coulters, Heedicks, Housers, Carpenters, Anthonys, Bierds, Clays and others.
Previous to the time of Loretz's pastorate, the con- gregations worshiped in a school house standing on land which has since become the property of the churches. This tract of land containing fifty acres was granted by George the Third to Matthew Floyd, October 26, 1767, and included a school house. How long prior to 1767 this school house was erected we do not know, but no doubt soon after the first settlers arrived, for it was characteristic of the German set- tlers, as soon as their own log cabin dwellings were erected and a few acres cleared, to build a school- house in some convenient place, which also served as a church house for worship. This was known as the "School House Church" until 1830, when the name was changed to Daniel's. The old log school-house and its successor, a frame church erected during the
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