USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > Churches between the mountains : a history of the Lutheran congregations in Perry County, Pennsylvania > Part 18
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Rev. John Ulrich
of Carlisle, the first pastor of the congregation. Rev. Ulrich says : " All the information I can give you will be from memory.
* Reiber's (German, Rauber's) church or school-house, about two miles west of Sutch's and in Spring Township, was built about the beginning of the present century. Here Rev. Messrs. Herbst, Sanno, Osterloh and Heim preached occasionally, and by some denominations it is still used as a preach- ing-place. See note on p. 44.
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CHAPTER IV.
The early history of Mount Pisgah Church is about this : There lived in Pisgah Valley several families of the Lutheran Church. They were entirely ignorant of the German language, and could therefore not profit by the preaching of Father Ileim. These fa- milies attended preaching at Carlisle, and were there regular members of the Lutheran Church. They had from ten to twelve miles to Carlisle ; they were, however, very punctual in their Sab- bath attendance. To these families, and for the benefit of their neighbors, Rev. Messrs. Keller and Heyer preached whilst they had the pastoral charge of the church at Carlisle. It may be that Rev. C. F. Schaeffer, D.D. (now Professor at Gettysburg), prcached also occasionally for them ; but very seldom, if any. The others named, I know, did frequently preach for them, as I
was told by different persons. After I had taken charge of the congregation at Carlisle, I visited these families as my predeces- sors had done, and preached for them on week-days during the first three years of my ministry here. When the children of these families had grown up, they found it very inconvenient to attend preaching at Carlisle, and hence they requested my Church-Coun- cil to allow me to organize them into a congregation and to preach regularly for them. This request was granted. The most pro- minent and active members of our Church, in Pisgah Valley, were Richard Adams, Joseph Egolf, and John Henderson. Mr. Adams was a true Israelite-one of the excellent of the earth. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. No man in that sec- tion of country had more influence as a Christian than he. In those days all looked up to him for counsel in spiritual matters. Others were indeed active; but they had not the influence he had, as he was the oldest of the English-speaking members of our Church in the whole Valley.
" In the year 1838, I commenced to preach for this people regu- larly every four weeks. My appointments were always on Friday evening and Saturday morning, except twice each year, when I preached on Sabbath and administered the Lord's Supper. Thus, I preached twice every time I visited them-once in the school- house near where the church now stands, and the other time in
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
the Protestant Methodist Church further down the Valley. These Christian brethren very generously offered me the use of their church® It was here, also, we usually celebrated the Lord's Sup- per, before we had a church of our own.
"In December, 1839, I organized the congregation. A Church- Council was elected and installed, consisting of the following four members :
Richard Adams, 1 Elders. Joseph Egolf, John Losh,
Deacons.
John IIenderson,
"For three years I continued my four-week appointments at the above-named places. During that time this little congrega- tion enjoyed several special seasons of grace, which resulted in the hopeful conversion of a goodly number of persons, both old and young. When I organized the congregation there were only about ten or twelve members, who united with us. There were, annu- ally, considerable accessions by confirmation and certificate from other denominations.
"In the year 1842, the present Mount Pisgah Church was built. I am not certain when the corner-stone was laid; but if any was laid, it must have been in the spring of 1842. On Sun- day, the 26th of September, 1842, the church was consecrated. Rev. B. Kurtz, D.D., and Rev. B. Keller assisted on the occa- sion-it was at the time the West Pennsylvania Synod was in session at New Bloomfield. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Keller, and the consecration services were performed by Rev. Dr. Kurtz. Mr. Adams was on the building-committee ; but who the other members of the committee were, I do not re- collect. Perhaps there was but one. I know Mr. Adams had the entire care of the erecting of the church, the raising of money, &c., in his hands. He spared neither time nor money to have the church erected and completed. It is a Lutheran church, though other denominations have the privilege to preach in it occasionally when not occupied by the Lutheran congregation.
" At the time when the church was consecrated the member- ship of the congregation numbered about eighty persons. A few
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CHAPTER IV.
weeks after the dedication of the church, I resigned, and preached my last sermon on the 12th of November, 1842. During my ministry among this people there was union and harmony. My labors have perhaps nowhere been more signally blessed than among the people of this congregation." So far Rev. Ulrich's statement respecting the early history of the church.
During the summer of 1839, Rev. Ulrich instructed a class of catechumens, and on the 8th of December, 1839, the following eight persons were confirmed :
George Souder,
Daniel Losh,
John Souder,
David Adams,
Henry Souder,
Catharine Souder,
Jacob Brown,
Elizabeth Adams.
On the same day, being the first time Rev. Ulrich had com- munion here, the following members communed with the above eight persons :
Richard Adams,
John Losh,
Jane Adams,
John Henderson,
Elizabeth Adams,
David Fair,
Joseph Adams,
Elizabeth Fair,
Elizabeth Adams,
William Melister,
Frances Adams,
Bradley Henry,
John Adams,
Mary Stouffer,
Mary E. Adams,
Elizabeth Stouffer, Mary Shearer,
Joseph Egolf,
Susan Egolf,
Rebecca Lenhart,
Christian Ziegler, Mary Ziegler,
Barbara Mickey,
Sarah Heckendorn.
Thus at the first communion there were thirty-two members. On the 5th of December, 1840, John Finicle and Sarah Finicle, and perhaps some others, were received as members by applica- tion.
During the early part of '41, the congregation was blessed with
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
a precious season of refreshing from on high. A number were hopefully converted to God. These were for some time carefully instructed, and on the 27th of March, 1841, the following six persons were confirmed :
Peter Slusher, John Jones,
John McClintock, Martha Jones,
Joseph Murphy,
Sarah McClintock,
and on the 20th of November, the same year, Margaret Shearer was confirmed. The congregation increased in number.
The want of a suitable house of worship was deeply felt by all, and measures were taken to erect one. Among other places offered, it was thought best to locate the church near "Sutch's School-house," where there was an old and large graveyard, and where Rev. Ulrich had hitherto been preaching. The land belonged to Abraham Jacobs. From the deed of conveyance we transcribe the following extracts :
" This Indenture was made on the 12th day of February, 1842, between Abraham Jacobs of the Township of Carroll, County of Perry, and State of Pennsylvania, and Catharine his wife, on the one part, and Richard Adams, John Henderson, and Joseph Egolf, of the Township, &c., ... aforesaid, Trustees of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and their successors in office, of the other part, Witnesseth that the aforesaid Abraham Jacobs and Catharine his wife, ... for the purpose of erecting a church at the place called Sutch's School-house, ... for the consideration of one dollar, . .. have granted, bargained, and sold . . . unto the said Trustees . a certain lot or piece of land, ... containing one acre and thirty- two perches. . . . The graveyard is reserved to be used as hereto- fore as a graveyard free to all those who may choose to inter the dead in said graveyard. And further, said church may be used as a place of public worship by any denomination of Christians at any and all times when not occupied by said Evangelical Lutheran congregation, so that those who meet in said church do conduct themselves in a decent and Christian-like manner," &c. See Deed-Book, Letter I., p. 591.
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During the winter and spring of '42 the Lord poured out his spirit copiously on the congregation, and many souls were awakened and professed conversion. The Rev. Ulrich diligently instructed for some time these subjects of this gracious work, and on the 1st of May, 1842, the following fifteen persons were confirmed :
Jacob Adams,
Philip Shearer, Benjamin Jones,
Samuel Adams,
William Adams,
Robert Jones,
Levi Adams,
Elizabeth Shearer,
David Adams,
Rebecca Jones,
Michael G. Earhart,
Frances Hackendorn,
George W. Briner,
Margaret Moore,
John Shearer,
and the following four persons were received as members by ap- plication, viz., John Souder, James McCrosky, Isabella McCrosky, and Leah Heckendorn.
The new church-edifice was erected this summer. No corner- stone was laid. The building is frame, about thirty-five by forty feet in size. In the Lutheran Observer of October 21, 1842, Rev. Dr. Kurtz gives the following notice of the dedication : "A new church was dedicated to the service of God, in Perry County, Pa., on the 24th of September (1842), and received the name of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mount Pisgah. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. B. Keller of Gettysburg (and Rev. Dr. B. Kurtz performed the services of consecration). The church is frame, and though not grand is nevertheless quite a neat house of worship. If we recollect right, this congregation was only organized at the close of the year '39. It is in charge of Rev. Ulrich of Carlisle."
The congregation had now a house of worship, and under the efficient pastoral labors of Rev. Ulrich was in a prosperous con- dition; but to the sincere and great regret of all, he resigned at Carlisle, and here preached his farewell sermon on the 12th of November, 1842. Soon after the resignation of Rev. Ulrich, the
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
Rev. Jacob Kempfer
of Carlisle took charge of the congregation, and served it about one year in connection with some congregations in Cumberland County. On the 7th of May, 1843, Jacob Cornman and Elizabeth Cornman were confirmed, and the names of the following persons appear for the first time in the list of members, viz., Abram Trostle, Priscilla Trostle, Lewis Mickey, Elizabeth Souder, Mary Heckendorn, John Foulk and Mary Foulk. On the 8th of Oc- tober, 1843, Joseph Heckendorn and Mary Swarner were received as members by application.
Rev. Kempfer resigned some time in the fall of '43, and near the close of '43 or the beginning of '44, the
Rev. Leri T. Williams
took charge of the congregation and served it in connection with Petersburg, where he resided. The first communion he held here was on the 26th of May, 1844, when the following- persons were confirmed :
William Heckendorn, Sarah Earhart, Susan Earhart.
On the 22d of December, 1844, having been carefully in- structed, the following persons were confirmed :
Hamilton Mahaffey, Martha Mahaffey,
Joseph Jones, Mary Rice,
and the names of George Shearer and Hetta Shearer appear now for the first time in the list of members.
During the early part of '45, a class of catechumens were in- structed by the pastor in the doctrines of our holy religion, and on the 17th of May, 1845, the following were confirmed :
Philip Cornman, Jacob Shatto, Mary Shatto, Catharine Adams,
Susan Adams,
Mary A. McCord,
Martha J. McClintock,
Mary A. Heckendorn.
Having served the congregation nearly two years as pastor,
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CHAPTER IV.
Rev. Williams resigned in September, 1845, and was succceded, on the 1st of October following, by the
Rev. Lloyd Knight,
who served the congregation in connection with New Bloomfield where he resided. At the first communion he held here, in the fall of '45, Rev. Knight found the congregation to consist of 55 communicants.
In March, 1857, it pleased the Lord to visit this congregation in an unusual effusion of the Holy Spirit. Of this revival we have the following account from the pen of Rev. Knight in the Lutheran Observer of April 30, 1857 :
" A protracted meeting was held the first week in March last, in one of our churches, built on Mount Pisgah, in Perry County, about twelve miles from Carlisle. And the Lord be praised, there was more than one Moses, who took a view of Canaan from that consecrated Mount. There was something peculiar about this work of grace. It is sometimes said by the enemies of vital religion, that young persons and women are easily frightened by the presentation of the terrors of the law, and may be brought into any measures ; but it was not so at this place. True, there were some young females and one young man, who professed to have experienced a change of heart; but it was among the aged that the Holy Spirit seemed especially to be at work. Almost every aged person in that vicinity now believes and feels himself to be a child of God. You may now see some eight or ten persons assembled with others, for singing and prayer, whose united ages would amount to more than six hundred years, who never before called on the name of the Lord with those views and feelings that are peculiar to the Christian. Is not the very thought as well as the sight of such converts a great source of joy to the angels in heaven, and delightful and encouraging to all good men on earth ! There are some things connected with this meeting that will never be erased from my mind. Whilst preaching on Thursday from the words, 'Quench not the Spirit,' a respectable aged gentleman arose about the middle of the church and came forward
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
to the front pew without the least solicitation, literally bathed in tears. This, together with the many other indications of God's awful presence, almost disqualified us for the agency which we bore. We had no disorder, confusion, or shouting. The meet- ing was characterized with deep feeling and great solemnity. We do not confine ourselves to one way of working, but make use of any way, by which more good than evil will be accomplished. As one result of this meeting, twelve persons were added to our congregation ; another is, that there is now a better state of things in the church-there is more interest taken in preaching, prayer- meetings, &c. But the final result will be known only in eternity. For this let us all prepare. And in view of what the Lord has done for us all, may we say, 'Not unto us, but unto thy name, O Lord, be all the praise forever.' "
After the subjects of this revival had received instruction for some time, on the 11th of April, 1847, John A. Heckendorn and Charity Richter were received as members by application, and the following were confirmed and baptized :
William Stambaugh, , Mary Cornman,
Christian Docterman,
Elizabeth Jacobs,
Martha J. Adams,
Elizabeth J. Cornman (baptized),
Agnes Cornman, Mary Wolf (baptized).
Eve Cornman,
Having preached for the congregation three years and a half, Rev. Knight resigned in June, 1849, and was succeeded on the 1st of July, the same year, by the
Rev. Jacob Martin,
who served the congregation in connection with New Bloomfield, the place of his residence. When the Petersburg charge was regularly constituted in February, 1850, this congregation became an integral part of that charge. See pp. 52-54. Rev. Martin continued however to preach here to the end of the pastoral year, which was on the 1st of July, 1850, when he resigned. We cannot find that any were added to this congregation during the
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CHAPTER IV.
year Rev. Martin was pastor of it. The Petersburg charge, as now constituted, was then vacant about four months. In Noveul- ber, 1850, it was supplied by the
Rev. John P. Hiester,
who resided at Petersburg, and preached at Mount Pisgah once every three weeks. Some time after he had commenced preaching here, he met and instructed a class of catechumens, and on the 23d of May, 1852, the following were confirmed :
Alexander Murphy, Susan Mickey,
Mary Adams,
Elizabeth Lenhart.
Nancy Mickey,
Rev. Hiester served the congregation as pastor about three years, and resigned in November, 1853. The charge was then vacant about six months. A call was then extended to the
Rev. George A. Nixdorff,
who commenced his pastoral labors here in June, 1854. On the 23d of May, 1857, the following were confirmed :
Daniel Jacobs, Julia Wolf,
Elizabeth Jacobs,
Margaret Adams,
Susan Wolf,
Catharine Losh.
Rev. Nixdorff served the charge about four years, and resigned it in May, 1858. On the 22d of August, the same year, the pre- sent pastor, the
Rev. William H. Diven,
entered on his labors as pastor of the charge. On the 30th of Oc- tober, 1859, John A. Adams was confirmed, and on the 11th of November, 1860, James McCord and Sarah McCord were received by application, and Susan A. Bender was confirmed.
On the 17th of March, 1861, after having received instruction for some time, the following were confirmed :
David Sweger, Mary Hartman, ·
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
William Souder, Henry Souder, Jr.,
Sarah A. Adams,
Eleanor Adams (baptized).
Frances McCord,
On the 13th of October, 1861, Miss Nancy Yoh was admitted to membership by the rite of confirmation.
May the Lord revive this congregation! The following is a list of the membership of the congregation at this time (June 1st, 1862).
Abram Jacobs,
Susan A. Bender,
Catharine Jacobs,
Jacob Shatto,
Elizabeth Jacobs,
John A. Adams,
Joseph Heckendorn,
Jane Adams,
Adam Heckendorn,
Mary Adams,
Anna M. Heckendorn,
Sarah A. Adams,
Susan Heckendorn,
Eleanor Adams,
Henry Souder,
Mary Foulk, David Fair,
Regina Souder,
Frances Fair,
Elizabeth Souder,
David Sweger,
John Finicle,
Margaret Sweger,
Susan Finicle,
Jacob Ensminger,
George Smeigh,
Susan Ensminger,
Catharine Smeigh,
Susan Wolf,
William Souder,
Julian A. Wolf,
Henry Souder,
Susan Wolf,
James McCord,
Sarah Sluthower,
Sarah McCord,
Elizabeth Shearer,
Frances McCord,
Mary Hartman,
Joseph Bender,
Rebecca Lenhart,
Elizabeth Bender,
Nancy Yoh.
" Revive, O God, desponding saints, Who languish, droop, and sigh ; Refresh the soul that tires and faints, Fill mourning hearts with joy.
John Souder,
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CHAPTER IV.
" Make known thy power, victorious King, Subdue each stubborn will ;
Then sov'reign grace we'll join to sing On Zion's sacred hill."
SECTION IV.
ST. DAVID'S (BILLOW'S) CHURCH IN WHEATFIELD TOWNSHIP.
This church is located in Wheatfield Township, about five miles southwest of Petersburg, and near the site of the old Fio Forge. Some of the members of this congregation had belonged to Mount Zion in Fishing Creek Valley, some to Mount Pisgah, a few to Petersburg, and a number seldom attended preaching anywhere. To all the places named, the members here had a considerable distance to go. During the summer of 1845, Rev. L. T. Wil- liams preached occasionally at Fio Forge school-house. The mem- bers, in union with another denomination, felt encouraged and able to build a church in their midst. We are informed that no corner-stone was laid. The edifice was erected in the summer of 1845, and was consecrated to the service of God in November, 1845, by the name of St. David's Church. Rev. Messrs. John W. Heim, Jacob Shull and Lloyd Knight, were present and con- ducted the various religious exercises on this solemn occasion. The church-edifice is a frame, about thirty feet by forty in size, is weather-boarded and painted white, is entered by two front doors, and has inside two aisles, a low pulpit, and no galleries. It is well located, presents a pleasing external appearance, and the internal arrangement is judicious.
Rev. Lloyd Knight
of Bloomfield commenced to preach here regularly once every four weeks after the church was consecrated. He was the first pastor of the congregation, which was regularly organized on the 20th of June, 1846, with twenty-seven communicant members. The
22*
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
names of the first officers we have not been able to learn. No en- tries were made in the church-book at first, and very imperfectly and irregularly afterwards.
On the 14th of November, 1847, after having been instructed in the Catechism, the following were confirmed :
Rachel Billow, Rebecca Findley,
Mary A. Findley,
Priscilla White.
During the summer of 1848, another class of catechumens was instructed by the pastor, and on the 4th of November, 1848, the following twelve persons were confirmed :
Henry Souder,
Mrs. Rebecca Strough,
George Wetsel,
Miss Louisa Matlock,
Joseph Leppert,
Hannah Billow,
Joseph Matlock,
" Caroline Mickey,
Samuel Matlock,
" Alesonna Wetsel,
Mrs. Catharine Leppert,
" Mary A. Frey.
As this is the first time the names of communicants were re- corded, we will give the names of the members who communed - with the above twelve persons on Sunday, the 5th, viz. :
George Billow,
John Leppert,
Susan Billow,
Henry Leppert, Sen.,
David Billow,
Henry Leppert, Jr.,
Daniel Frey,
John Souder,
Anna Frey,
Rachel Souder,
David Ensminger, Sen.,
Sarah Souder,
Barbara Ensminger,
Abram Mickey,
David Ensminger, Jr.,
Mary Mickey,
Sarah Ensminger,
Aaron Keim,
Jacob Ensminger,
Mary Keim,
Regina Ensminger,
Eve Cornman,
Solomon Ensminger,
Mary Cornman,
Susan Ensminger,
Mary Findley,
Henry Ensminger,
Rebecca Findley.
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At this time (1848) the congregation numbered about forty members. Having preached here three years and a half, Rev. Knight resigned in June, 1849, and was succeeded, on the 1st of July of the same year, by
Rev. Jacob Martin,
who preached here once every three weeks. In February, 1850, this congregation was united with others to form the Petersburg charge. (See pp. 52-54.) Rev. Martin preached here only one year, resigning on the 1st of July, 1850. If any persons were confirmed by him here, their names were not recorded, and can therefore not be given by us. For about four months the Peters- burg charge, as now formed, was vacant.
Rev. John P. Hiester,
having accepted a call, commenced his labors as pastor of the charge in November, 1850. Whilst he was pastor a number of persons were confirmed here ; but for want of a record we are un- able to give their names. Having served the congregation about three years, he resigned in November, 1853. The charge was then vacant about six months. Having received and accepted a call, the
Rev. George A. Nixdorff
entered on the discharge of his pastoral duties in the charge in June, 1854. We can find no record of admissions to membership whilst he was pastor of this congregation, though there were some accessions. After he had served the congregation in the Gospel about four years, he resigned in May, 1858.
It is to be greatly regretted, that whilst Rev. Messrs. Martin, Hiester and Nixdorff were pastors of this congregation, no record was kept of their official ministerial acts. It is to be hoped that a matter of such vital importance will not be neglected hereafter by this or any other Lutheran congregation in Perry County. A word to the wise will suffice. After a vacancy of a few months, the
Rev. William H. Diven
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS.
accepted a call, and commenced his labors as pastor on the 22d of August, 1858. After having been instructed for some time in the doctrines of the Christian religion, on the 18th of December, 1859, the following eight persons were confirmed :
Joseph H. Marshall,
Sarah Cooper,
Martha J. Billow,
Susan Heiner,
Ruth Ann Fisher,
Mary A. Green,
Matilda Cooper,
Eliza S. McConnal.
'On the 7th of October, 1860, Eli Young by baptism and John Ziegler by confirmation were admitted as members of this congre- gation.
We regret that for want of church-records and other authentic documents our historical sketch of this congregation could not be made fuller. We availed ourselves of every source of information, and herewith submit the result of our investigation. In compli- ance with the wish of many, we will yet add a list of all the mem- bers of this congregation at the present time, June, 1862.
David Ensminger,
Mary Cornman,
Wm. Henry Ensminger,
Anna Frey,
Barbara Ensminger,
Eli Young,
Rebecca Ensminger,
Mary Young,
Susan Ensminger,
Mercy A. Green,
Benjamin Jones,
John Ziegler, Susan Ziegler,
Elizabeth Jones,
Ruth A. Fisher,
Margaret Ziegler,
William Smeigh,
Samuel Weaver,
Susan Smeigh, Susan Heiner,
Leah Weaver,
Henry Leppert, Sen.,
Augustus Mckenzie,
Henry Leppert, Jr.,
Catharine McKenzie, Samuel Mckenzie,
Hannah Leppert, Aaron Keim,
R. K. Adams,
Mary Keim,
Susan Adams,
Mrs. - Spiece.
Ludwig Cornman,
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CHAPTER IV.
" Jesus shall reign where'er the sun, Does his successive journeys run ; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
" People and realms of ev'ry tongue Dwell on his love with grateful song ; And with united hearts proclaim That grace and truth by Jesus came."
SECTION V.
CHURCH NEAR NEW BUFFALO ON THE SUSQUEHANNA IN WATTS TOWNSHIP.
The history of this church is involved in considerable obscurity, as we have no data to guide us with certainty. It is located in Watts Township, about one mile west of the borough of New Buffalo on the west bank of the Susquehanna. The town of New Buffalo was laid out in 1800 by Jacob Baughman. In a survey of land, adjoining the church-land, made May 29th, 1800, it is said, " Vacant land for church and school purposes." As here stated, about three acres of land lay vacant for the purposes spe- cified, though it would seem no church was as yet built on it. No legal right was secured for this land till 1840, when we find the following : "Warrant to Samuel Albright in trust for the Presbyterian and Lutheran congregations, dated September 28th, 1840." On the basis of this warrant, some years ago, Mr. Al- bright made a deed to the congregations therein named.
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