USA > Pennsylvania > A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania > Part 11
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A house was to be erected thereon for worship in common, of the three religious societies and for the use of a school and a dwelling for the school master, also a part of this plot for a place to bury the dead of the above named three societies.
Soon after the purchase of the land, a long log building was erected. The building faced the south. The west end was used for worship and a school room. The east end was used for the dwelling of the school master. The building was one and one-half story, and had two doors, one in the school room, the other door was in the dwelling. There were double doors between the school room and the dwelling. When occasion demanded, for worship, the doors were opened and part of the dwelling was used. The school room had a table in the center and slab seats around it, also a large stove in one corner. Frederick L. Asper was the teacher of this school for many years.
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN -- SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
In 1852, another plot of ground was purchased and the present brick building erected the next year, 1853. The old school was then discontinued and later converted into a dwell- ing for the care taker of the cemetery and meeting house. In the year 1880, June 13th, shortly after Sunday school was dis- missed in the afternoon, during a thunder storm the north gable was blown in and the south gable blown out. The building was immediately repaired. In the year 1877, Daniel Jacobs and wife sold to Henry Moul, Elias Berry and Jonas Trimmer, trustees of Altland's meeting house, forty perches of land for an additional hitching ground.
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ALTLAND MEETING HOUSE
The trustees, Daniel Jacobs, Thomas Julius and Pierce Stambaugh, in the year 1900 bought from William Altland and wife, one hundred fifty-nine perches to enlarge the burying ground.
The first Sunday school at the Altland meeting house was organized in the year 1877, with Jacob B. Baughman as super- intendent, with an enrollment of one hundred thirty-three. Others serving as superintendents were Daniel Jacobs, George Henise, Jacob Trostle and Eli Oberdier.
Services were held in the old meeting house, and the new building by the three above named churches. About 1896, the Lutheran and Reformed discontinued preaching but a union Sunday school was continued until about 1906. Preach- ing was held every two weeks by the Church of the Brethren
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
until 1920. From that date to 1939 the only services at the Altland Church were on funeral occasions. In 1939, the Young Peoples Department of Lower Conewago began reviving the place. Their first meeting was a home-coming, the three churches above named were represented. At the present, there are services every third Sunday of each month by the Young Peoples Department of Lower Conewago, and by invitation, the young people of the adjoining congregations.
Preaching services were held at the following union churches and school houses: Quaker meeting house near Wellsville, Harmony Grove union church, Meisenhelters school house east of Dover, Augenbaugh's school house, Strinestown union church, Manchester union church, Cassel's union church near York Haven, Wolgamuth church one and one-half miles southeast of Dillsburg, Altlands meeting house near Bigmount and the Bermudian meeting house where the Love Feasts were held.
When Lower Conewago Congregation was formed from Big Conewago in 1849, Love Feasts were not held yearly, largely due to the expense involved for holding a Love Feast.
The Following is an Itemized Statement of the Love Feast of 1872:
8 one-gal. crocks apple butter @
$ .30 $ 2.40
93
loaves of bread
@
.12
11.16
55 pounds of butter
a
.20
11.00
25
pounds of lard
a
.08
2.00
30
pies
a
.12
3.60
3 bushels of apples
a
.25
.75
15
bushels oats
a
.35
5.25
213
pounds of beef
a
.09 19.17
2
lambs
@
3.00
6.00
2
hostlers
5.00
10.00
1
bushel of wheat
@
1.70
1.70
ton of hay
10.00
10.00
Flour
1.75
Store bill
10.26
Total
$95.04
The Love Feasts were usually two day feasts, Saturday and Sunday.
In the early church the preaching was in Pennsylvania German. Later on the sermons were both English and German and since about 1900, the sermons have been in English.
On Love Feast occasions the services began about ten o'clock the first day, the afternoon at two o'clock and an examination sermon at four o'clock.
The seating to the tables for the Love Feast proper about six o'clock in the evening. The second day of the feast, serv-
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I
1
1
I
1
1
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134 HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
ices began at ten o'clock and lasted usually two hours, closing at noon.
All the meals and horse feed were free. The Ber- mudian meeting house was built on the same design as most meeting houses, base- ment, first floor and second floor. The second floor was equipped with beds and some bedding plus cradles for the babies. It was di- vided in two parts and would accommodate about thirty-five or forty people. Usually two deacons and their wives would remain at the church to prepare break- fast for the visitors.
Some of the Lower ELDER HEZEKIAH COOK Conewago members were trail blazers; the Himes, the Wires, the Stouells and others. This group located in Russel County, Kansas, in the early seventies. Russel County lies west of the center of the state and was sparsely settled in those days. Following is a letter received from William B. Himes addressed to William Harbold, a deacon in Lower Conewago Church.
The letter follows in its original composition :
Bunkerhill, Russell Co., Kansas, April 1, 1875.
William Harbolt
Dear Brother :
Your letter came to hand to day with draft for $26.35 twenty-six dollars and thirty-five cts. now in the behalf of the doners. They have my heart felt thanks praying that the good Lord may bless them and double for the same.
WILLIAM B. HIMES
Now I will try to give you a faint idea of how things are here before we got this money. I don't think there was as much money as would buy one bushel of potatoes in our school district. At present it is reported that there are one hundred cases of people that have the bone skirvy in the county. The dockters say it is on account of not having any vegetables to eat. They recommend the people to get potatoes, but few can
135
CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
get them as they are two dollars per bu. here. There are three of us to devide the donations. I think the best we can do is to take a good part of this money and get potatoes to eat and plant. We will try and help all now. The most that is suffer- ing for the want of something to eat is our horses. There issent more then two in our district that have eny hay and no grain to feed of eny kind. The government is now furnishing the people with some rations. Dont know how long it will last. Now I will tell you that Sister Stouell died on the 22 second of this month of the bone skirvy and Bro. Alfred has it to. That is her husband and their oldest son and also old Sister Stouell the mother of the one that died. She leaves four children behind one only one year old. There is truly a good bit of trouble out here now but I hope the Lord will again smile upon us so that we may have a good harvest. Those that have fall wheat out I think will have good prospects of wheat as it looks very nise now. I have got my spring wheat sewed. The wether was nise till the last few days it snowed but to day the snow went fast. Now I will tell you that the Brethren have done a heap in helping the poor. A meny a one is made glad by their donations. If it would not have been for the dona- tions we would have starved here or the best part of the people. Well I must close by saying I often wish I could be in with our dear Brethren at their meetings. Our relations are all well but Mrs. Wire, she is sick and not able to be out of bed.
Our love to all, WM. B. HIMES
Ministers of Lower Conewago
William Trimmer-Born 1784. Presiding elder of Big Conewago and became first P. E. of Lower Conewago in 1849. Died 1870.
ELDER O. W. COOK AND WIFE
MINISTERS AND WIVES, LOWER CONEWAGO
First row, left to right: Elder G. W. Harlacher and wife, Presiding Elder; Elder C. H. Altland; Elder K. D. Henry and wife; J. Albert Cook and wife. Second row: Melvin Jacobs and wife; Charles Eichelberger and wife.
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
John Raffensperger-Born 1821. Died 1890. Joseph Myers-Elected a "Brother at the Word" in 1849. Peter Dierdorff-Died in 1886 at Goshen, Indiana. Peter Trimmer-Born 1808. Lived near Bermudian meeting house. Died 1900.
Samuel Burkhart-Elected to the ministry in 1863.
Emanuel Gochenour-Born 1832. Elected 1866. Pre- siding elder many years. Died 1910.
Joseph Bucher-Born 1842. Elected 1869. Died 1919. John Harlacher-Born 1822. Died 1920. Hezekiah Cook-Born 1838. Elected 1882. Ordained
1908. Presiding elder 1909 to 1913. Died 1918.
Daniel Trimmer-Born
1809. Died 1873.
William Wiley - Born 1841. Died 1924.
Abraham Hull - Born 1844. Elected to the minis- try 1885. Ordained 1908. Died 1911. William Miller - Re- ceived by letter. Lives in Lost Creek. Daughter, Ada Brandt, Millerstown.
Oliver Cook - Born 1865. Elected 1900. Or- dained 1911. Presiding elder 1913. Served 18 years. Died 1936.
Charles Altland-Born 1869. Elected 1900. Or- dained 1918.
Jacob Brenneman- Born 1861. Elected 1909. Died 1920.
ELDER S. S. SHEFFER AND WIFE
A. M. Brodbeck-Born 1851. Elected 1911. Died 1932. G. W. Harlacher-Born 1875. Elected 1913. Ordained 1925. Presiding elder 1927 to 1930; from 1934 to present.
H. H. Hollinger-Born 1878. Elected 1917. Died 1923. S. S. Sheffer-Born 1873. Elected 1918. Ordained 1925. Died 1939.
K. D. Henry-Born 1879. Elected 1921. Ordained 1937. R. D. Cook-Born 1886. Elected 1921. Died 1934. Albert Cook-Born 1898. Elected 1935.
Charles Eichelberger-Born 1893. Licensed 1940. Melvin Jacobs-Born 1908. Licensed 1940.
The deacons serving at the present time are : D. B. King, J. E. Renall, Cleon Ziegler, George Sower, George King, P. E. Rentzel, W. E. Cook, Merle Cook, Harvey King.
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DEACONS AND WIVES, LOWER CONEWAGO
First row, left to right: J. E. Renall and wife, Cleon Zeigler and wife, George King and wife. Second row: P. E. Rentzel and wife, Harvey King and wife, Merle Cook and wife.
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
First Sunday School in Lower Conewago at the Wolgamugh Church 1905
Superintendents to date : Oscar Firestone, John Cook, S. S. Sheffer, Wayne Cook, Walter Cook, William Walls, Charles Eichelberger.
First Sunday School at Bermudian 1906
Superintendents to date: William Zeigler, William Hollinger, G. W. Harlacher, I. F. Hull, J. E. Renall, George Myers, John Hull, H. H. Hollinger, Cleon Zeigler, George King, Melvin Jacobs.
Evangelists at Lower Conewago
D. P. Saylor-His last evangelistic meeting was in Lower Conewago Church; David Bonsack, Amos Kaylor, Levi Mohler, John M. Mohler, Joseph Lone, Silas Utz, Oville Long, James Sell, Samuel Stouffer, Samuel Hertzel, Spencer Beaver, B. F. Lightner, Adam Hollinger, Daniel Bowser, R. W. Schlosser, Robert Cocklin, Albert Hollinger, David Kilheffner, Trostle Dick, J. Edwin Jarboe, C. H. Steerman, Harrison Gipe, M. A. Jacobs, William Miller, William Murphy, George Lehmer, William Zobler, David Weaver, Jacob Myers, John Rowland, H. M. Snavely, Otho Hassinger.
There are 138 members of Lower Conewago
Congregation.
HISTORY OF CHURCH IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY AND LOWER CUMBERLAND CONGREGATION
This denomination, which occupies such a conspicuous place in the county had for a time, no other place of worship but private houses, barns and school houses. Its congrega- tions were served by free ministry who traveled many miles on horseback and later by horse and carriage. The church was first known as the German Baptist Church in Cumberland County. The congregation has been divided several times, the present Lower Cumberland Church being but a small part of what was in the beginning the German Baptist Church in Cumberland County.
The following is taken from notes prepared by Elder Moses Miller in 1878. These notes give the names of some of the early families in whose homes the brethren gathered to worship :
"The homes of Adam and Martin Brandt who lived in Monroe township, Daniel Basehoar of East Pennshoro town-
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
ship, and John Cocklin of Allen township, were the first meet- ing places of the brethren in Cumberland County. The first communion services were held in the home of Adam Brandt about 1798. He was the first minister chosen by the church in this county, but for some reason did not serve in this capacity.
"In 1820 John Zigler, who later moved to Ohio, and Michael Mishler were chosen as ministers. In 1823 Daniel Bollinger from Juniata County became the first ordained elder of the church in this section. He served the church at Cumberland County for 25 years and died in 1855 at Lebanon, Ohio, whither he had moved in 1848. In 1828 a minister named Christopher Johnson moved from Maryland into Dickinson township and took an active part in the work of the church.
"In 1829 Adam Steinberger was chosen minister. Rudolph Mohler in 1832. Daniel Hollinger and Samuel Etter in 1836. Some time later Samuel Etter served as presiding elder of the church. His descendants have been active members of the church, some of them still living and serving. In 1841 David Horst was chosen minister. He lived on a farm close to where the Mohler church is located. Many meetings and communion services were held in his barn.
"In 1836 the church divided into two sections, known as Upper Cumberland and Lower Cumberland. Baltimore turn- pike and Long's Gap road were the dividing line."
In the Lower Cumberland Church Moses Miller was chosen minister in 1849 and served the church faithfully for many years. Brother Miller lived on a farm south of Mechanicsburg, just out of the borough limits. Many of his descendants still live and are active in the work of the church.
Adam Beelman was chosen minister in 1851. David Niesley and Adam Bowman chosen in 1863, and Jacob Harnish in 1865, Three of Brother Harnish's sons reside in Mechanicsburg, Pa. They are Abner, John and Charley. Brother Abner has been active in many of the social reform movements of the community and an active Sunday school worker.
Cyrus Brindle was chosen minister in 1868 and Benjamin Nickey in 1871. His family and descendants have been very prominent in the work of the church. He has several brothers who moved to the west and were ministers in the Church of the Brethren. The younger generation has taken an active part in the missionary work of the church.
J. B. Garber moved from Huntingdon County into Lower Cumberland Congregation in 1874 and served as a minister for many years.
Until 1855 the Lower Cumberland Congregation had no place of worship of its own. Services were held in the Union House in Mechanicsburg, the Cocklin House, about five miles
141
CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
south of Mechanicsburg, and in a meeting house in Shepherdstown.
The first house of worship built by the Brethren was erected in 1855. This was known as the Baker House and was located on the Lisburn Road near Churchtown. (It was razed in the summer of 1935.) Same year the Miller House was built at Sterret's Gap.
Miller church was so named because the land for the church and grave-yard was donated by Joseph Miller, a deacon and brother of Moses (son of Henry).
MOHLER'S CHURCH, LOWER CUMBERLAND
The Mohler House was erected in 1861. The land where- on this church stands was donated by Solomon Mohler, the brother of Moses Miller's wife. The church is constructed of brick and stone. The bricks were made just near the church and the stone was quarried nearby. Much of the lumber used in the building was cut from the site where the church now stands. Most of the lumber was hewn. Some of the sills reach from one side of the church to the other. Boiling Springs Church was built in 1875.
In 1887 Henry Beelman was called to the ministry, and he served the Lower Cumberland Church faithfully until his death in 1914.
Some time between 1882 and 1885 Daniel Landis was chosen a minister. Levi Mohler-1890. He lived and served in this congregation the remainder of his life with the excep- tion of a few years when he lived in the eastern district of Pennsylvania. While there he was ordained to the eldership.
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HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Brother Mohler held many evangelistic meetings in the southern and eastern districts of Pennsylvania.
Brother J. M. Mohler moved from Lewistown, Pennsyl- vania, to Mechanicsburg about 1910 and was a very out- standing minister in the work of the church here. George H. Lehmer was called to the ministry in 1898. He served the church here faithfully for some years, after which he moved to California, where he continued faithful to his calling until his death in 1925.
Adam Hollinger and William Miller were called to the ministry about 1900. Isaac Barto moved into the Lower Cumberland Congregation about 1898. He served as presiding elder for a number of years.
ELDER WM. MURPHY AND WIFE
William Murphy was called to the ministry in 1903. He served as presiding elder for several years. Jacob Miller and Jacob Trimmer were called to the ministry in 1908. About 1910 the Carlisle church was organized into a separate congregation. Brother Trimmer served Lower Cumberland until this time. Jacob Miller served until 1926, when the Dunkard Brethren formed a separate organization. He became their elder.
Ira Hart was called to the ministry in 1910. Walter Cocklin was called to the ministry in 1914. He is the son-in- law of Levi Mohler.
Isaiah Johnson moved from Somerset County into this con- gregation in 1912 and was active in the ministry until moving to Florida in 1926. His son-in-law, Lewis Lininger, was elected to the ministry in 1918. He also moved to Florida, where he continues in active work.
John Herschman was called to the ministry in 1916. Brother Herschman was an active minister and served the church faithfully until he moved to Elizabethtown, Pennsyl-
Ericad & classmate of Dad
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CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
vania, where he continues in the work. Brother Herschman has been back many times and has held some very interesting and successful evangelistic meetings. Some of the younger members of the church have been led to Christ through his efforts.
William Kulp moved from Ephrata into Lower Cumberland and then to Western Pennsylvania. Ephriam Hertzler was called to the ministry in 1921. He is now pastor at Marion, Ohio. Robert Cocklin was called to ministry in 1925. He is the son of Walter Cocklin and grandson of Levi Mohler. He is now pastor of the Perry and Ridge Congregations.
In 1926 the Mechanicsburg church was organized, the line being one mile each direction form the square. All mem- bers living in Mechanicsburg who wished to hold their mem- bership in Lower Cumberland Congregation were granted the privilege. The same year the Dunkard Brethren organized and almost all of the officials joined with them. For a short time the Lower Cumberland Church was disorganized and cared for by the District Ministerial Board, who reorganized it September 26th, 1926.
On above date Otho J. Hassinger and Henry L. Miller were chosen ministers. Brother Hassinger served for a period of eight years, until the Boiling Springs Congregation was organized, after which he served the church there. He is now pastor of the Huntsdale Congregation. Henry Miller is still serving the Lower Cumberland Congregation.
Robert Ditmer was called to the ministry in 1929. He now has charge of the mission church at Van Dyke.
On September 27, 1934, the Lower Cumberland Congre- gation was again divided and the Boiling Springs Congrega- tion was organized from the southern part.
Harold Kettering was called to the ministry in 1936. He is now in college. The deacons are: Wm. Stetler, Frank Saphora, Frank Britton, Charles Ditmer, Charles Armstrong, and Ervin Holtry.
The present membership is 51.
LOST CREEK CONGREGATION
The first Bunkertown church was built in 1838 on a lot of ground donated by Brother John Shellenberger, whose father, John Shellenberger, came from Geneva, Switzerland, in the ship "Friendship" in 1754, with his wife and children, and made their way up the Susquehanna River to Liverpool. They came up the Mahantongo Creek to where Richfield now stands about 1772, but in 1780, went to what is now Bunkertown and purchased a tract of land from James Martin
144
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
GOOD WILL CHURCH, LOST CREEK CONGREGATION, BUNKERTOWN
on which tract Bunkertown and the Bunkertown Church, built in 1838, now stand. The congregation was organized in 1790.
When he was asked what he wanted for the lot for the church, he said, "Nothing but their good will," hence the name, the Goodwill Meeting House.
John Shellenberger, the immigrant, had three sons, John, Peter, and David, all members of the "Dunker" church. Peter and David Shellenberger were among the early ministers of the Lost Creek Congregation, and Peter Shellenberger
ELDER GEORGE STRAWSER AND WIFE
145
CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
preached for the Kishocoquillis brethren occasionally, as his sister was married to Samuel Myers of that congregation.
David Shellenberger visited the Buffalo Valley brethren and preached for them on various occasions.
The Old Bunkertown Church served the members as a meeting house until 1891, when the present house was built. The following elders and ministers served the Lost Creek Congregation : Elders : Solomon Seiber, Andrew Bashore, Christian G. Winey, George Strawser, John E. Rowland, C. E.
SMITH HOMESTEAD
Now the home of Edwin Strawser, son of Elder Geo. Strawser, where first Love Feast was held.
Grapes, and J. A. Buffenmyer ; ministers : Peter Shellenberger, David Shellenberger, William Kauffman, Christian Myers, George Meyers, Isaac Barto, William Cherry, Daniel Long, Ezra Smith, Elias Landis, Solomon Kauffman, Joseph Auker, Spencer Beaver, Peter Shelley, Cochran Frymoyer, William Zimmerman, Jacob O. Smith.
These ministers served our congregation without financial support. In 1916 it was thought best to secure a pastor who could spend his entire time serving the congregation, and that he should be supported by the congregation.
Our first pastor was Brother John E. Rowland, who served our congregation for about eight years. He was succeeded by Brother C. E. Grapes, who served from 1924 to 1932.
146
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
ELDER JOHN E. ROWLAND AND WIFE
In 1933 Brother J. A. Buffenmyer was elected as our pastor and elder. His work here terminated April, 1941.
The first Sunday school in our locality was organized by Brother J. L. Beers, and on account of some opposition, was conducted in the old Mount Pleasant school house, until finally the opposition waned and he was asked to conduct the Sunday school in the Good Will meeting house.
The Free Spring meeting house was built 1863. The lot for the Free Spring house was donated by Brother David Bashore.
The brethren held services in the old school house at Richfield for years, until in 1906 the church was built on land formerly owned by Christian Shellenberger.
Over half the money needed to build the church was donated by Sister Annie Zieders. The balance was raised by subscription. Brother Abram Benner was one of the early
ELDER C. E. GRAPES AND WIFE
147
CONGREGATIONS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
ELDER J. A. BUFFENMYER AND WIFE
deacons at Richfield, and Brother Elias Landis was the resident minister.
The Oriental meeting house was built in 1888 on a lot of ground secured from Frederic Meiser. Elder Elias Landis had charge of the building of the church, and Brother Joseph Auker placed the seats and pulpit. The Sunday school was organized at this church in 1890. Elder George Strawser was the resident minister and did much to build up the church at
ORIENTAL CHURCH
148
HISTORY-CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA
Oriental. At present the 35 members are under the pastoral care of the Bunkertown pastor.
Two Annual Meetings were held in the bounds of the Lost Creek Congregation. The first was held at Evendale on the Gearhart farm in 1833. Most of the members attending this meeting came on horse-back, and while at the meeting turned their horses into pasture. It was said there were more than a hundred horses used to bring the members to this meeting.
In 1885, an Annual Meeting was held near Mexico, Juniata County, on the farm of Brother Michael Bashore. Many of our members remember of this meeting.
FREE SPRING CHURCH
The Lost Creek Congregation licensed in 1935, and ordained in 1936, Luke Buffenmeyer, son of the pastor, to the ministry.
In December, 1939, Mrs. J. A. Buffenmeyer, wife of the pastor, was licensed, and ordained to the ministry in 1940. Elder C. E. Grapes was in charge of the ordination.
During Brother Buffenmyer's pastorate the congregation and friends installed memorial windows, new seats, a floor covering, painted the inside of the church and the wood work outside at Bunkertown.
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