USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume I > Part 35
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Thomas T. Cromwell, the Martins, the Hockenburys and a few other Methodist families organized a class at Orbisonia soon after the beginning of the nineteenth century, but no regular church was built there until 1846. It was replaced by a larger and more modern structure a few years ago.
In 1847 the Methodist church at Port Royal was built and it is the oldest church edifice in the borough. The same year a church was organized at Shade Gap and a class was formed in Penn township, Huntingdon county, by Rev. Robert Beers, though no church was built there until 1852. The church at East Waterford was built in the year 1848.
On November 24, 1851, James Bailey donated a piece of ground at the junction of the Greenwood Furnace and Back roads, in Brown township, Mifflin county, for a Methodist church. The next year a neat framme house was put up and the first services were held in the "Mountain Chapel," as the new church was called, by Rev. William R. Mills, of the Milroy circuit. The Methodist church of Marklesburg was also organized in 1851 and the church there was dedicated some time in
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the summer of 1852 by Rev. (afterward Bishop) Thomas Bowman. Mount Pleasant church, near Eagle foundry, was also built and dedicated in 1852. Other churches organized or dedicated in this year were those at Allenville and Lilleyville, the latter on the farm of Rev. S. P. Lilley, a local preacher.
Bauman's chapel, in Smith's valley, about two miles from Cassville, was built in 1854, and the church at Mooresville the same year. Class meetings had been held by the Smith's valley congregation for some time prior to 1854 and services were held in the school house until the church was erected. The Mooresville congregation first met in the log school house not far from Neff's Mills until the brick church was built at Mooresville in 1854, as above stated.
A Methodist church was built and dedicated in Horse valley, Perry county, in 1857. It stands on land donated by Benjamin Scyoc and is known as "Scyoc Chapel." About the same time a society was organized at Burnham. The present church edifice there was erected in 1907.
A class' was organized at Mapleton school house in 1859 and a regular pastor was supplied the next year. A church was built and dedicated in 1871. Coalmont was first supplied with a regular pastor in 1860, a church was organized in 1874 and reorganized in 1881.
Kemmerling chapel was built at Wagner in 1861 and was named for John Kemmerling, who was the prime mover in the organization of the congregation and the erection of the church. Rev. Samuel C. Smith was the first pastor.
At Alexandria a Methodist society was organized early in the year 1864 and was attached to the Petersburg circuit, which had been estab- lished a short time before the Civil war. A church edifice was soon afterward built, which was replaced by a larger one some years later, and this in turn was supplanted by the present building, which was erected in 1876.
In 1865 Methodist churches were built at Loysville, Ennisville and Greenwood Furnace. The church at Loysville was under the charge of Rev. F. B. Riddle, of the New Bloomfield circuit, who was an active factor in promoting the organization of the society. The Greenwood Furnace church, a substantial stone structure, was not dedicated until in 1867.
The Methodist church of Marysville was organized in 1872, with
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fifteen members, and the following year a comfortable house of worship was erected at a cost of $2,400.
Meetings were held by a few Methodists living in the vicinity of Reedsville as early as 1827, but no church was built there until 1875, when a frame house was erected at a cost of about $1,000 and the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Luther F. Smith, of the Milroy circuit. The present church edifice was built in 1907.
In 1877 an imposing brick church, of Gothic design, was erected by the Methodist church of Liverpool, which congregation had been organized many years before. The cost of the building was about $5,000.
Wesley chapel, in Miller township, Huntingdon county, was dedi- cated on December 17, 1880, by Rev. E. J. Gray. An old house of worship had been built here about 1846 by Joseph Miller, but the con- gregation ran down for a time and had to be revived before the new church was built.
In 1903 a Methodist church was dedicated at Yeagertown and two years later the Highland Park church was organized. The latter held services in the hose house for some time, but later a building was erected through the generosity of Mrs. Elizabeth L. Rhodes, and the church is known as the "Rhodes Memorial Church."
The Bethel African Methodist church of Lewistown was organized in 1816 by Rev. Richard Allen and Bishop White, of the Protestant Episcopal church, and the former acted as pastor until 1831. In 1872 a lot was purchased on West Juniata street and a church erected at a cost of $1,800. Additions costing about $700 were made a few years later. The Wesley African Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1872 and meets on West Third Street. Huntingdon also has two colored Methodist churches-the African Methodist Episcopal Zion church at the corner of Sixth and Moore streets and Payne chapel.
A Methodist Protestant church was organized at Shermansdale in 1838 and a building was erected upon a lot donated by George Smiley. In 1844 a congregation of the same faith was organized in Cole's valley and held meetings in the school house for some time, but no church was ever built. Another congregation of this faith met in the Harmony Grove school house, Huntingdon county, in 1853 and the church at Saltillo was organized in 1873.
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THE LUTHERANS
The first minister of this denomination to hold meetings west of the Susquehanna river was Rev. Mathias Guntzel, who came to Pfoutz Valley in 1789 and preached to the settlers in that locality for about seven years, though there is no record of any church organization having been made during that time. In 1796 a minister named Fisher held services in the old log jail at Lewistown, though several years passed before a regular organization was effected. On January 3, 1814, the Lutheran and Reformed congregations bought a lot on West Third street and on July 29, 1824, the corner-stone of Zion's church was laid with appropriate ceremonies. On July 9, 1827, the two congregations were incorporated under the name of the Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed United Church of Zion. The Lutheran membership steadily increased and the minutes of the church show that on October 20, 1849, a resolution to build a new church was adopted. A lot at the corner of Third and Main streets was purchased on May 27, 1850, and the congregation was incorporated under the name of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lewistown, the act vesting in the Lutheran church the right to the old property purchased by the two congregations twenty-five years before. The old church was sold for $400 and a new one built for $1,750. It was burned to the ground on the night of January 28, 1852, and another building was soon after erected in its place at a cost of $3.300, such portions of the old walls as were safe being used. This building was used until 1900, when the present church was erected. Prior to the building of the present house, a Sunday school chapel was built, the corner-stone of which was laid on October 7, 1892, and an extension was built to this chapel in 1911-12. The corner-stone of the extension is the same one that was in the old church that was built in 1824. The value of the property is estimated at $50,000.
St. Michael's Lutheran church, at the old village of Liberty Hall, Perry county, was built in 1798 and is thus described by Focht in his "History of the Churches between the Mountains": "This was a log structure about 35 by 45 feet in size. The logs and other timbers are said to have been of the best quality. Inside there are three galleries on three sides. The pulpit was high and supported by a post, and the seats had high and erect backs. For many years an organ occupied the
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gallery fronting the pulpit. This instrument was not played after 1820; it was all out of tune and went to ruin." This was really the first Lutheran church in the Juniata valley. It is said that meetings were held here as early as 1776. The old church above described stood until 1847, when it was replaced by a new one, which was remodeled in 1885.
St. Andrew's church, at Eshcol, was organized about 1801, and in 1806 Rev. Frederick Oberhauser began holding regular services at St. Andrew's, Ickesburg, and other places in that section. In 1831 a union was formed with the Shuman Reformed church and a church was erected for the use of both congregations.
On January 10, 1801, James Adams deeded two acres of ground at Blain for a Lutheran church and graveyard, and upon this tract the Zion church was erected in 1816. The building was of stone, 45 by 50 feet in size, with a gallery on three sides, and Rev. John W. Heim was the first pastor. The cost was about $5,000. A parsonage was built in 1860.
There was a house of worship of some kind at Church Hill, in Tur- bett township, Juniata county, as early as 1802. On January 1, 1803, Jacob Rice conveyed one and a half acres to the trustees of the "German Lutheran Church of the Tuscarora valley," and the church was known as "Rice's Church." It is said to be the oldest German church west of the river. In 1855 the congregation removed to Port Royal and erected a new home at a cost of about $5,000.
The year 1804 witnessed the organization of several Lutheran churches in the Juniata valley. Three or four years before that time Rev. John G. Butler visited the town of Huntingdon and held services for the few Lutheran families there and the church was organized in 1804 by Rev. Frederick Haas, who remained with the congregation for about twelve years, near the end of which time a small brick church was built. After Mr. Haas left in 1816 the people became listless and the church went down. In 1838 it was reorganized by a minister named Osterloh, who endeavored to exclude everybody but Germans, but the plan failed to work and again the congregation lapsed into inactivity. In 1853 Rev. P. M. Rightmyer began to hold services in Huntingdon, and through his efforts a new church was built in 1854. The congre- gation, known as St. James' Evangelical Lutheran church, is now lo- cated at the corner of Sixth and Mifflin streets in a comfortable house of worship, built in 1876.
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A church was organized in Penn township, Huntingdon county, in 1804, by Mr. Haas and the present building there was dedicated on July 30, 1871 ; a congregation in Cassville was organized the same year with ten members and at first worshipped in the school house until 1826, when a log church was built, which was replaced by one of brick in 1857; and a church was built in Watts township, Perry county, near the Half Falls mountain gap.
Services were held at Mifflintown by Mathias Guntzel, Conrad Wal- ter, and others about the beginning of the nineteenth century, and in 1800 John Harris' heirs donated a lot for a church. A society was or- ganized by Rev. George Heim in 1809. and two years later a log house was built. This church, now the Messiah, was first known as St. Mary's. A brick church was erected in 1838, and the present church at the south- east corner of the public square was completed about 1890. It is one of the largest and best appointed churches in the borough.
Another Lutheran church organized in 1809 was St. Peter's, at Landisburg. In December, 1815, the Lutheran and Reformed congre- gations joined together for the purpose of building a church and the corner-stone was laid on April 15, 1816. It was torn down in 1857 and the brick building erected in its stead.
St. John's or Niemond's church was built near John Niemond's residence, in Monroe township, Juniata county, in 1811. Rev. William J. Heim was pastor until about 1835. after which the pulpit was sup- plied by ministers from Richfield or Liverpool.
In 1819 a stone house was built at Shaffersville, which was used jointly by the Lutheran and Reformed churches. After that there were no new congregations formed nor no new houses erected until 1828. when a Lutheran church was built at Liverpool. In 1831 it was weather- boarded and painted, and a steeple and bell were added. In 1882 a new brick church was erected at a cost of about $5,400, including the lot upon which the building stands. A church was also built at Allens- ville in this year (some say in 1827) and the first pastor was a minister named Stroh. This was the first Lutheran church in the Kishacoquillas valley.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church of Mechanicsville was or- ganized in 1834 as All Souls' church, with Rev. Charles Heyl as pastor. The corner-stone of the first edifice was laid on August 2, 1834, and
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the house was of brick, 35 by 45 feet in size. On June 12, 1880, the corner-stone of the present building was laid and the church was dedi- cated on December 12. 1880. It is considerably larger than its prede- cessor and cost about $8,000. The same year ( 1834) a lot was pur- chased in McAlisterville and in 1835 a church was built. A German minister named Elsenmoyer had come to McAlisterville in 1830, preach- ing in the German language, the meetings being held in the old school- house. In 1876 a new brick church was built on the site of the old one.
The Mount Pisgah church, at Shermansdale, was built in 1842 on a lot donated by Abraham Jacobs. It was a frame structure and was dedicated on September 24, 1842. Meetings had been held in this locality as early as 1780, and for several years the little congregation met in Reiber's schoolhouse or attended St. Peter's church in Spring township. Rev. Jacob Kempfer was the first pastor after the church was built. The congregation at Mount Pisgah was regularly organized in 1839 and the next year the Buffalo Union church, two miles west of Ickesburg, was established. The building erected in that year was used by both the Lutheran and Reformed congregations until 1880, when the latter built a new brick church.
St. John's church, near Markelsville, was also built in 1840, but was not dedicated until April, 1841. Rev. John W. Heim had been holding meetings in the school house for some time before the erection of the church. A new brick building was erected in 1859-60.
The first Lutheran families in the vicinity of Duncannon had to go about eight miles to New Buffalo to attend services. A congregation was organized at Duncannon in November, 1842, and Rev. Andrew Berg began his pastoral labors, holding services in the Methodist church once a month. On May 19. 1844, the corner-stone of the stone church was laid and the building was dedicated on the 10th of November fol- lowing. In June, 1885, the old building was torn down and the present building was erected on the site at a cost of about $2,600.
What is known as the Ludolph church, at Elliottsburg, Perry county, was dedicated in November, 1842, and received its name from the fact that it was built upon land belonging to Ludolph Sparks. Services had been held in the school house for about three years before the church was built. This edifice was used by both the Lutherans and Reformed church until 1869, when the former denomination built a new church.
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Emmanuel's Lutheran church at Thompsontown was built in 1843 and the society here was in the charge with McAlisterville. The next year Lutheran churches were established at Liverpool and Newport. Christ's church, at Liverpool, was erected before the congregation was organized. Meetings had been held here for a number of years before the church was erected and in the early part of the year 1847 Rev. Wil- liam Weaver completed the organization and then served as pastor for about four years. At Newport Rev. John W. Heim began holding meetings about 1830 and the congregation was organized on January 14, 1844. Soon afterward an arrangement was made with the Re- formed and Presbyterian congregations for the erection of a "union" church, which was dedicated on May 23, 1847. The Reformed congre- gation sold their interest after a short time, and in 1873 the Lutherans sold their interest to the Presbyterians. A new church edifice was then erected by the Lutherans at a cost of $10,000 and fitted with a pipe organ, the first in the Synod of Central Pennsylvania.
St. David's church, about five miles southwest of Duncannon, was organized at the Fio Forge school house early in 1845 by Rev. L. T. Williams. Before the close of the year a frame house, known as the union meeting-house, was completed. Other denominations assisted in its erection, hence the name, but to the Lutherans it was known as St. David's.
In 1848 Samuel Barr donated a lot at Lilleyville to the trustees of the Lutheran and German Reformed congregation and the corner-stone of a building was laid on November 3, 1849. The building was dedi- cated on June 16, 1851, and Rev. J. P. Shindel was installed as pastor of the Lutherans. This is known as "Samuel's church," so called for the man who donated the site. It was the second Lutheran church to be erected in Decatur township, the first having been commenced on Jack's creek, near Soradoville, in 1820, by the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations, but strife arose before the building was com- pleted, and not until 1837 was a house of worship finished. It is known as the Stroup church, and after a few years passed entirely to the Lutherans.
Another church that was organized in 1848 is St. James, of New- burg, Huntingdon county, which was organized by Rev. J. N. Burket, who came to that neighborhood as a missionary. On November 20,
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1859, the church was reorganized and a frame building was erected in 1867.
An Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized in the Stand- ing Stone valley and a church was dedicated on November 7, 1849, a short distance northeast of McAlevy's Fort, where a church of the same faith had been established some five or six years before.
St. Samuel's church, at Markelsville, was first organized in the Rac- coon valley, but was removed to Markelsville and reorganized in March, 1850, by Rev. William Weaver. The corner-stone of a frame church was laid on September 26, 1851, and the building was finished before the close of the year. Willow Grove church, near Lack, Juniata county, was also organized in 1850. Some years later it was turned over to the Methodists.
A Lutheran church with a seating capacity of about 400 was built at Yeagertown in 1851, with Rev. Charles M. Klink as pastor, but the organization was not fully perfected until 1854. In the latter year a brick edifice was erected for the Lutheran congregation at Vandyke.
In 1855 St. Paul's Lutheran church was organized at Andersonburg by Rev. Reuben Weiser, the members having formerly belonged to the churches at Blain and Loysville. The corner-stone of a brick edifice was laid on May 27, 1855, and the building was dedicated on December 22nd, of the same year. This church is on the road leading from New Bloom- field to Blain, about five miles west of Loysville.
In 1857 the Lutherans living at Milroy and in the immediate vicinity bought the old Methodist church and fitted it up as a place of wor- ship. It was used until August 25, 1872, when the present church was dedicated. Mount Zion church, at Landisburg, was built in 1857. or was commenced in that year. It was not dedicated until May 30, 1858, when Rev. Philip Willard was installed as pastor. The building cost about $2,400.
In 1858 Mount Zion church, in Henderson township, Huntingdon county, was organized. For years prior to that time the Lutherans liv- ing in the vicinity of Mill Creek had been attending church at Belleville or McAlevy's fort. In 1858 they leased the old Baptist church at Mill Creek and organized a congregation. In 1874 the churches at Mill Creek, McAlevy's Fort and Mount Zion, in Henderson township, were united as one congregation.
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The Licking Creek Lutheran church was organized by persons who had formerly belonged at Mifflintown and a building was erected for the new congregation in 1861, with Rev. R. H. Fletcher as pastor. Its official name is St. Stephen's, but it is generally called the Licking Creek church.
Water Street church was organized early in the nineteenth century. In 1868 a number of members of this congregation who lived near Petersburg withdrew and organized the Evangelical Lutheran church in that borough. The same year a neat frame house was erected at a cost of $2,000.
The Lutheran church at Marysville was organized in 1870, with twenty-five members, and the church at Reedsville was organized in 1890. There is also a Lutheran church at Burnham.
REFORMED CHURCH.
As early as 1798 a few settlers of this faith had located in the Canoe and Sinking valleys, in Huntingdon county, and Rev. John D. Aurandt came to them as a minister. A small congregation was organized and Keller chapel was built. About 1819 it was succeeded by a stone church. Members of this denomination settled in Perry county also at an early date, and in 1798 they united with the Lutherans in the erection of the old log structure known as the Union Church, its site now being within the borough limits of New Bloomfield. The old house was torn down in 1857 and the lot divided, the Reformed church taking the eastern half. The corner-stone of Trinity Reformed church was laid on Sep- tember 30, 1856, and the building was dedicated on September 20, 1857, when Rev. Samuel C. Kuhn was pastor.
Zion Reformed church, at Blain, was organized in 1798 by a min- ister named Koutz and a church was built in connection with the Lutherans in 1816. The history of this church is given in connection with the Lutherans.
The first house of worship in Lewistown was erected by the Asso- ciate Reformed church, but the history of the congregation seems to have been lost. The building stood on the south side of Third street, between Brown and Dorcas streets. About 1847 it was sold to the Baptists, who returned it to the original owners after a few years, when it was sold to James Burns, who converted it into dwellings.
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About 1806 the first Reformed sermon was preached in Huntingdon and the first church of this faith was organized there in 1815. It was reorganized in July, 1845, and a church was erected on the corner of Sixth and Church streets about 1858, where the congregation still wor- ships.
Christ's church, in Alexandria, was established in 1817 and a house of worship was built, which was used by both the Lutheran and Re- formed congregations for a number of years. Rev. J. D. Aurandt was the first pastor of the Reformed church at this place. A new church was built in 1847.
At Loysville Rev. Jacob Scholl organized a congregation about 1819 and served as pastor until 1841, when he was succeeded by Rev. Charles Leinbach. This congregation met in the same house as the Lutherans. About a year after this congregation was organized a Reformed church was built at Soradoville, an account of which is given in connection with the Lutherans.
Christ's Reformed church, at Newport, was organized by Rev. Jacob Scholl, the first regular pastor, in 1820. The congregation owned a one-third interest in the old Union church, the other interests being owned by the Lutherans and Presbyterians. In 1869 the Reformed people sold their interest to the other denominations and built a new house of worship at a cost of about $7,000. A parsonage was built in 1874, at a cost of about $3,000. The Sunday school was organized soon after the new church was completed.
Rev. Jonathan Zeiler organized a congregation at McConnellstown in 1834 and a handsome brick church was erected in 1847. A church was established at Marklesburg in 1842 and the succeeding year Zion church was organized by Rev. Theobald Fouse, the exact date of the organization being October 28, 1843. This church was about three- fourths of a mile from Marklesburg and it was not long until the two congregations were consolidated.
Trinity Reformed church, in Landisburg, was organized in 1850, most of the members coming from the old Lebanon church at Loysville. Rev. Jacob Scholl was the first pastor. Soon after the church was organ- ized a house of worship was erected on Carlisle street, where the con- gregation still holds its services. Two years after the organization of this church the St. James Reformed and Lutheran church was estab-
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lished in Susquehanna township, Juniata county, and a small church was built on Jobson's run, near the southwest corner of the township.
Reformed churches were established at Duncannon and Marysville in 1868. Most of the members of the Duncannon came from the old St. David congregation. The house that had been erected by the United Presbyterians was purchased and with some changes still constitutes the place of worship. At Marysville the name of Trinity Reformed church was adopted and in 1870 a church was erected at a cost of $4.500. It has been described as "a fine frame structure of the Gothic style of architecture, with a cupola and a spire."
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