USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Church of the Brethren in the middle district of Pennsylvania > Part 14
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Three centres now had recognition in the congrega- tion. While theirs was a common interest, the advance- ment of Christ's kingdom on earth, their local energies were somewhat divided. The situation took such a form that Albert G. Crosswhite, Brice Sell, David A. Stayer, Mahlon J. Weaver and John B. Miller, a com- mittee from the elders meeting of the district met with the church, May 6, 1916, and advised that three organizations be formed just as soon as this could be done amicably. Also at this meeting James A. Sell was again called to the oversight. On July 1 following, separate organizations to be known as Claar, Lower Claar and Queen were formed. The Claar congregation elected James A. Sell, bishop; E. Franklin Claar, secre- tary ; and George G. Dively, treasurer.
At the time of this organization the following were ministers: Taylor L. Dively, Samuel C. Weyant and Frederic C. Dively ; deacons, Harry Claar, Ralph Claar, George G. Dively, Franklin Claar, Chauncy Lingenfelter, Albert Claar ; the membership, 120.
Bishops presiding before the division of territory in 1916: Jacob Miller John S. Holsinger Michael Claar
Abram Claar Frederic C. Dively James A. Sell
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After the division of territory in 1916: James A. Sell .. . 1916-17 Taylor Dively, 1917 to present time
Pastors before the division of territory in 1916:
Joseph W. Wilt .. .. 1877 to 1879 David M. Adams .. 1907 to 1909 Oliver S. Corle .... 1905 to 1906 Andrew M. Dixon.1912 to 1916
After the division of territory in 1916:
Edgar G. Diehm ... 1916 to 1917 Taylor L. Dively .. . 1918 to Charles J. Rose. ... 1917 to 1918 Samuel C. Weyant. 1918 to
Ministers elected :
Michael Claar ... Oct. 21 1877 Abram I. Claar .... Jan. 24, 1890 Frederic C. Dively, July 17, 1880 Taylor L. Dively .. Aug. 20, 1916 James Brubaker -, 1885 Samuel C. Weyant. Aug. 20, 1916
Deacons : 1872, Frederic C. Dively, Henry Brumbaugh; 1878, Thomas Claar, Chauncey F. Lingenfelter ; 1886, James Brumbaugh, Jacob C. Claar, Abram I. Claar ; 1889, Albert Claar, Moses Walter ; 1898, Essington Claar, Emery Walter; 1904, David Burket, Franklin C. Claar; 1905, William Lingenfelter; 1911, Austin Burket, Essing- ton F. Claar, Frederic M. Dively, Albert F. Claar, George G. Dively, Henry Claar. Isaac Bowser, Moses Claar, Austin Claar, William J. B. Claar, dates unknown.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
Sunday-school was first organized in the old Claar house on May 13, 1877. Organization: Joseph W. Wilt, superintendent ; Michael Claar, assistant superintendent; Abram I. Claar, secretary ; Frederick Dively, assistant secretary; Thomas Claar, treasurer. The attendance the first day was 48. The lessons studied, first chapter of the Gospel of John. In 1904 the average attendance was 85; seven teachers; $35.97 was raised, of which $24.96 was given to missions and charities; sixteen conversions. The school has been " evergreen " since 1906; has maintained a front-line standard dur- ing the years 1914-'20, 1922-'24; has had teacher training 1914 to present time and twenty-two have received first year certificates.
Superintendents : 1877, Joseph W. Wilt; 1892, Chauncey F. Lin- genfelter; 1904, Joseph A. Claar; 1905, Miriam Claar; 1906-'08, Joseph A. Claar ; 1909, Chauncey F. Lingenfelter; 1910, Essington H. Claar ; 1911-'12, A. Frederick Claar; 1913, Jesse H. Claar ; 1914, Andrew M. Dixon: 1915-'20, Taylor L. Dively ; 1921-'22, Samuel C. Weyant; 1923, Blair Musselman; 1924, Lucretia Black.
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LOWER CLAAR* Present Membership, 60.
The centre of spiritual activity for the Claar congrega- tion was the Lower Claar house for a time after this house was built in 1890 .; Here lovefeasts and council meetings for the whole congregation were held. Here the district meeting of 1906, the only one entertained
LOWER CLAAR CHURCH.
by the congregation, was held. The church moved for- ward with fair progress up to the time of the division of territory, May 5, 1916.
The new organization, Lower Claar, had but 50 mem- bers ; yet it was free from debt and had a splendid equip- ment. A non-resident minister was a serious handicap. They organized as follows: David M. Adams (Albright congregation), bishop and pastor; Joseph Claar, secre- tary ; Frederic A. Claar, treasurer. David M. Adams did not take residence in the congregation, after five years discontinued his labors and the congregation was sup- plied with preaching by Dorsey I. Pepple and others.
* To Linnie Claar the reader is indebted for some of the information con- tained in this sketch.
t See full account under Claar.
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This has been greatly against the growth of the con- gregation.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL
The Sunday-school was first organized in the Lower Claar house on May 14, 1916. Officers : Joseph A. Claar, superintendent; Kath- eren Claar, secretary; Moses Walter, treasurer. The school was " evergreen " from the beginning; the first year had an average at- tendance of 45.
Superintendents : 1916-'18, Joseph Claar ; 1919-'20, Andrew Snow- berger ; 1921-'23, McClellan Walter; 1924, Andrew Snowberger.
QUEEN Present Membership, 52.
Abram I. Claar and family lived in the village of Queen, about four miles from the Claar Church and were very anxious that there be a place of worship in their home town. Hence on September 24, 1913, a number of members and others met in the William F. Hainsey resi- dence to consider the advisability of building a church in the village. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. was elected president of the meeting and Harry B. Coder secretary. The re- sults of that meeting were these : $600.00 was subscribed by the eight individuals present ; second, a building com- mittee consisting of David A. Claar, David Burket, Jere- miah Wright, Jr., Jesse H. Claar and Harry B. Coder was appointed ; third, the project was to be brought be- fore the Claar congregation in council, October 4, 1913.
David A. Burket, David A. Claar and Jeremiah Wright, Jr., were elected trustees at a meeting held De- cember 2, 1913. Also David A. Burket was appointed treasurer and the Claar Brothers of East Freedom were given the contract to erect the house, a 40 x 50 frame, plain square windows, slate roof, for $1,847.74. When the house was well under construction a storm blew it down. This delayed the completion and added greatly to the cost.
By October 4, 1914 the house was completed and the people gathered to dedicate it. Walter S. Long of Al- toona led the people in the services, assisted by Andrew M. Dixon, reading Psalms 96, Levi Rogers leading in the
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opening prayer. The message was based on Exodus 4. Closing prayer by Abram I. Claar.
Total cost of the house before dedication was. . $2,097.75 Offering that day 382.63
Unpaid
$1,715.12
The same year the house was dedicated. Abram Claar, the leading spirit in having the church erected, died.
THE QUEEN CHURCH.
This left the group without a minister but not discour- aged, for they were ready for the proposed division of territory and a separate congregation, which was ac- complished on July 15, 1916. James A. Sell was given the oversight. July 15, 1917, a " get together " meeting was held, $300.00 was raised towards the church debt and a new inspiration came to the membership.
A Sunday-school was organized with David A. Claar superintendent. John B. Miller succeeded James A. Sell in the oversight in 1918. Under his supervision the debt has been entirely removed, appointments are regularly filled and the little church is proving a blessing to the community.
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CHAPTER V
The Duncansville Congregation and Its Growth in Blair County
17.80
1800
1820
1840
1860
1880
1900
1920
Frankstown til
1866:
Duncansville til 1904;then Carson Valley
1909.
Hollidaysburg
.
1904.
Leamersville
1882
Altoona, First
1919
Altoona, 28th St.
DUNCANSVILLE*
Originally called Frankstown
"When, in August, 1756, Col. John Armstrong marched against the Indian town of Kittanging, he was accompanied by Rev. Charles Beatty, who served as chaplain of the expeditionary forces. A halt was made at Beaver Dams,-a locality now known as McCahan's Mill (about one mile west of Hollidaysburg .- Ed.)-and there on a quiet Sabbath-day in the month of September religious ceremonies were observed. This undoubtedly was the first worship and preaching of the gospel in this vicinity, and probably within the limits of the present county of Blair." t
Charles B. Clark in his Semi-Centennial History of Blair County refers to the foregoing and says, "The first permanent white settlers in Blair County, coming into the southern end of Morrison's Cove about 1760 or earlier, were Tunkers and that was probably the first re- ligious denomination to obtain a foothold in Blair
* To James A. Sell the reader is indebted for paragraphs in quotation, not otherwise credited.
+ Africa's History of Blair County, p. 89, 1883.
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County territory. A Presbyterian minister by the name of Beatty preached a sermon one Sunday at Beaver Dam, now called McCann's Mills, (McCachan's Mill is meant. Ed.) in 1756; but it is likely the Tunkers, who resided here, as above stated, held religious services at a still earlier date, and that the congregation consisted of r'esi- dents of the Cove."
James A. Sell, who was reared in this section and took a special interest in its history, gives this account of the beginning in Blair County :
" This is the name of that body of members of the Church of the Brethren who in the beginning occupied the territory east of the Alleghany Mountain and in the upper end of the Juniata Valley. Her history goes back almost to the very beginning of activities in these parts, and of course to a time when records were not kept by those who 'kept the faith ' and even those who received the traditions from first handed have gone to their re- ward. Yet it is assuring that what traditions have been handed down are in the main correct and dependable."
" Agents who traded with the Indians came into this valley as early as 1750. On their heels came a few set- tlers and soon after 1760, when good title to the land could be given, the Brethren came in such numbers that they secured the right to all the land adjacent to the place now known as Frankstown, a few miles down the river from Hollidaysburg. So completely did the Breth- ren occupy the good lands along the Juniata River, that it took the name of 'Dunker Bottom,' a name appearing in legal papers to designate the location of properties."
" The church started as a colony or settlement entirely separate from other settlements of Brethren and was from the beginning known as the Frankstown Church. There is a large probability that there never was any formal organization. Among the earliest members are to be found such names as Philips, Kinsel, Christian, Koontz, Almaugh, and a quarter of a century later, such as Sell, Stiffler, Snyder, Albright, Wilt, Ressler, Donner, Slingluff and Burkhart.
" With the preaching of the Word in these times tra- dition associates the names, Ullery, Holsinger, Cripe and Etter. The first two of these evidently lived in Yel-
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low Creek congregation and so one may conclude that these brethren simply journeyed hither occasionally and preached, for the members and friends. On the other hand it is reasonable to conclude that Cripe and Etter were resident ministers .*
" Some time later David Albaugh, born in Maryland in 1760, married March 26, 1782 to Maria Herndern, located close to Duncansville. He took up a large tract of land, built for himself a home, partitions of which were re- movable so as to use the house for meetings, and took a deep interest in the religious needs of the country. Min- isters of the Gospel were few and heavenly messages were rare. So splendidly did David Albaugh fit into the spiritual needs of the times that he began preaching without the usual formal call to the ministry, soon was advanced to the bishopric and in all probability was the first resident bishop of the Frankstown group of members.
" David Zachariah Albaugh, born to David Albaugh in 1794, married Elizabeth Snyder, was elected to the min- istry and served the church faithfully for many years. After the death of his wife, he, broken down by hard labor and bearing the burden of years, retired to the home of his son in the Conemaugh Church, Cambria County, where he died March 2. 1866.
" While in the beginning the brethren settled thickly around Frankstown in the course of time there was mani- fest a disposition to scatter ; some located in the Loop; others up the river south of Hollidaysburg; and still others among the foothills of the Alleghany Mountain.
" In addition to this tendency to scatter because of land advantages, the members at Frankstown were sur- rounded by the Scotch-Irish who made it very unpleasant for them. One by one the Brethren sold out and in the course of a generation their fertile farms were all in the hands of others. Through this exodus a colony went
* In describing a visit to this congregation, in 1877, in Primitive Christian and Pilgrim, June 12, 1877, James Quinter says: "This church dates back a good many years, perhaps nearly a hundred. The first minister, from what we could learn of the ministry of the congregation, was Brother John Cripe; the next was Brother Etter ; following him was Brother David Albaugh, Senior ; after him was David Allbaugh, Junior ; next was Brother Burkhart; and now the ministers of this church are J. A. Brice, and David Sell. These are all brothers, and active laborers in the church, the first named having the oversight of it. In Middle Indiana there are members known as Frankstown members. These went from this congregation."
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UPPER : The John Wilt home. MIDDLE: The Smith home. LOWER: The Donner home, the residence of the late Brice Sell. In these homes the Albaughs and others preached before the days of a church house.
A History of the Church of the Brethren
west and settled in the neighborhood of what is now known as Deer Creek Church, between Delphi and Logansport, Indiana. For many years they were known as the "Frankstowners." They had some peculiarities which clung to them that made them famous. One was that the sisters wore broad-brimmed fur hats.
"Thus the centre of the brethren settlement shifted from Frankstown to Duncansville. Here the preachers all lived ; here also the first church house had been built some years before; here the most of their services were held ; hence in 1866 the name was changed from Franks- town to Duncansville Church.
" This first house of worship,-date not known,-was built jointly by the Brethren, Mennonites and Lutherans. It probably was the first church building in this part of the valley, was erected on a hill above the Gesseytown cemetery, constructed of logs, and served its purpose well for about three quarters of a century. Gradually the Brethren and Mennonites sold their houses and moved away and the Lutherans came into sole possession of the church property. After years passed they built a brick church just a few rods from the site of the old house and maintain worship at this historic spot unto this day.
" About the time that David Albaugh, Senior, built his home adapted for worship, the community built a house on the present site of Carson Valley Church. It was erected for church and school purposes, was known as the " Old School House," constructed in the most primi- tive manner and served the church for about half a cen- tury. It was finally removed to make place for the Carson Valley Church cemetery.
" This left the church without a house of worship. Meetings were held in private homes and school houses. A few of these homes are standing in which meetings were held a century ago. Among the more prominent may be named the Donner house, now owned by Sister Brice Sell; John Wilt's home,-he the grandfather of Joseph W. Wilt of Juniata; Abraham's Sell's home,-he the grandfather of Brice, James, and David Sell; the Smith home on the Johnstown road at the foot of the Alleghany Mountain. In all these homes David Albaugh preached.
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
" October 20, 1852, David Albaugh conveyed one acre of ground on the end of his farm near Duncansville to Daniel Sell, Thomas Snyder and Levi Hoover as trus- tees of the Frankstown Church. The consideration was $30.00. The trustees proceeded at once to build, and the house was completed the following year. This was the first house owned exclusively by the Brethren. Though the location was inconvenient, it served the church for meetings and lovefeasts until 1875.
"During David Z. Albaugh's administration which covered approximately forty years, Jacob Burkhart was elected to the ministry, date unknown. He was never ordained, yet for twenty-five years, the management of the church rested on his shoulders.
" After the removal of David Z. Albaugh the church was without a resident elder until 1860, at which time Graybill Myers located at Eldorado. He however, spent most of his time in the evangelistic field and never had oversight of the home congregation.
"In 1866 Daniel M. Holsinger located in the bounds of the congregation and was perhaps the same year or- dained. He had oversight of the church until he moved away in 1870.
" Michael Claar resided in the congregation, but as he spent much time in the evangelistic field he was of but little service to the Frankstown Church."
The earliest official record is July 26, 1871, when a special council was called and Joseph R. Hanawalt, George Brumbaugh, John W. Brumbaugh, Jacob Miller and Leonard Furry assisted the church in settling a difficulty. James A. Sell was clerk. A few extracts from these records show the aggressive and yet prudent spirit of this congregation.
November 11, 1871, it was "agreed unanimously to build a new meeting house at Leamersville, 24 x 40 feet. James A. Sell, Joseph Soyster and Brice Sell were ap- pointed trustees, to receive labor, get the material, and in short build the house. . . . Robert McFarlin was ap- pointed collector and treasurer." At the next meeting March 7, 1872, for lack of funds the erecting of the house was deferred and "James A. Sell resigned his place on the building committee on account of interfering with
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his ministerial duties." A special meeting (November 9, 1872) decided to locate the new church "on Andrew Snowberger's place near the town of Freedom." James A. Sell was appointed solicitor.
Then in 1872, Daniel D. Sell, a deacon, gave a big impetus to a realization of their hopes by donating a lot at Leamersville for church purposes. The members had become quite eager to have their own house because, since 1865, they had been worshiping in a rented Metho- dist Episcopal Church. Plans were entirely changed. Such confidence was reposed in James A. Sell, a carpen- ter and a member of their own group, that they made him solicitor, treasurer, architect and head carpenter. He undertook the task with a cheerful, courageous heart and on Thursday, Christmas, 1873, a house, 30 x 40 feet and costing, besides donated labor, $640.00 was dedicated. Henry R. Holsinger preached the dedicatory sermon, using for his text I Kings 6:11. The occasion was a spiritual uplift, for the meetings were continued until Sunday evening, as follows: Christmas evening, Daniel M. Holsinger of Clover Creek, text, Matthew 11; Friday, Leonard Furry of Yellow Creek, text, Romans 12 ; in the evening John W. Brumbaugh of Clover Creek, text, I Peter 2:2; Saturday evening, Henry R. Holsinger again, text, Micah 6:8; Sunday, Graybill Myers of Eldora and in the evening Amos Wright of Lower Cumberland, text, John 14:15 .*
Also at the same meeting, November 11, 1871, "it was agreed to appoint a treasurer and each member pay quar- terly at least five cents for paying traveling expenses of strange preachers who may visit" the congregation. "About this time a move was made to dispose of the Albaugh house and build one at Carson Valley. John H. Stiffler, Joseph Stiffler and Samuel Brubaker were ap- pointed building committee in the winter of 1874. They sold the old house for $334.00 and gave a contract for a new one, 34 x 48 feet, good basement story, for $1,350.00. On Friday, October 23, 1874, Henry R. Holsinger dedi- cated the new house, using for his text, Titus 2:14. His subject was " Peculiar People." In the evening William H. Quinn from Warriors Mark spoke, text, Matthew 5.
* Gleaned from Christian Family Companion and Gospel Visitor, 1874, p. 61.
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in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Saturday following, a communion was held, Leonard Furry officiating. On Sunday Stephen Hildebrand spoke in the morning, and in the evening, Leonard Furry on " The Lord's Supper." *
The problem of properly taking care of visiting preach- ers engaged the congregation still further, for it was de- cided (April 27, 2877) "to hold open collection when strange brethren come to pay their way. The church decided to pay the preacher's way to Altoona to church." At the same meeting the church "granted the house (Carson Valley) for the purpose of holding a Sunday- school under the control of the brethren." Further (No- vember 10, 1877), the church decided to have "a system of quarterly council meetings to take effect in 1878." Also lengthy minutes are found about the finances of the church, the most important part of which is first, volun- tary subscriptions to meet all expenses; if this did not cover all expenses of church then to levy a tax. James A. Sell " asked permission to have a prayermeeting at the church " and same was granted.
At a meeting May 3, 1878, it was decided to "let the Altoona members hold a lovefeast of their own." At the next meeting (August 23), the Altoona " Arm " was granted the privilege of electing a deacon. Persons stay- ing all night in the church had been causing considerable trouble and it was decided " not to feed the people the next morning " and all go home after the communion. At the fall council (November 2), by a vote 26 to 3, the congregation decided to pay their preachers "not less than $1.00 per day for each day lost to visit the sick, preach funerals, etc."
In 1879, the members (May 3) were very much in favor of home missions but cannot pledge ourselves to a special amount." They favor the division of the State District and decided to pay $5.00 of the expenses incurred by Graybill Myers to represent the church at District Meet- ing. The Altoona group was granted privilege to or- ganize and Mr. Mahaffey " to have a singing school " in the Altoona house.
In 1880, the congregation (September 11) adopted a
* Gleaned from James A. Sell's Report in Christian Family Companion and Gospel Visitor, 1874, p. 783
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A History of the Church of the Brethren
rather elaborate home missionary plan for reaching the outposts of the congregation. The home ministers are to do the preaching,-one at a time go, $1.00 per day for each week day lost to be paid, collections to be taken up at places of meeting and if these do not meet the
David Albough. r.
Joseph B. Jacob. S Sell Burkhart
Graybill Myers
Daniel G. Frank Jacob Brubaker Brubaker Hoover
Jeanette Hoover
UPPER LINE: Members in earlier days of the Carson Valley locality. LOWER LINE: Members in recent years in the congregation.
allowance, special offerings by the church shall be taken to meet the deficit.
The next year (February 9), it was "resolved that the members stand by the ministers to get all persons not to use any tobacco while in the house of God." The con- gregation also asked that some one of the ministers preaches a sermon on temperance. At the next council (April 30), it was decided "to change from double to single mode of feetwashing."
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May 6, 1882, the congregation resolves that "the Al- toona arm of the church be organized separately from the Duncansville Church." At the next meeting (August 26) this was passed: " In view of the conflicting elements of the Church Progression, etc. the church decides this 26th day of August to go on in the even tenor of its way or stand where she always stood."
The " Record of the Faithful " * states that this congre- gation was organized in 1800 with twenty members; that in 1881-1882 it had three houses and a membership of 175. The first house was erected in 1856. James A. Sell was bishop, Brice Sell, Daniel D. Sell, Daniel Bral- lier were in the second and Jacob Musselman in the first degree of the ministry .*
" For several years James A. Sell was the only active minister. In 1872 his brother Brice Sell was elected and in the same year a little later David, another brother. From 1870 to 1880 the church passed through the great- est prosperity of its history. Its membership was doubled in one year. The building debts were all paid and the membership were in love and peace. The unfortunate division of the church in 1882 caused some members to withdraw and for a few years affected the growth of the church.
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