History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 98

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 98
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 98
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 98

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Caspar Hoover was one of the earliest set- tlers of this township, and resided on the farm lately owned by Benjamin Hauger. His chil- dren were George, Catharine, Michael, Freder- ick, Daniel, Susannah, Eva and David. David Hoover married Polly Ernest, and was the father of William D., Samuel D., Jacob, David and Chauncy. Samuel and Jacob are dead. Their father died in 1856.

John Knepper, father of Rev. B. Knepper, of Wellersburg, was born in America in 1765. Early in life he came to Somerset county and settled in Brother's Valley, where he died in 1817. He was a shoemaker by trade. His wife was Anna Maria Glessner, who bore thirteen children: William, Jacob, John, Lewis, Peter, Jonathan, George, Simon, Henry, Benjamin, Elizabeth (Hauger), Catharine (Hay) and Polly (Haas). Still living: Lewis, Jonathan and Benjamin. The oldest son, William, was a soldier of 1812. He died at the age of eighty-eight years.

John Knepper was born in this county in 1795. He was the first abolitionist in Brother's Valley township, and the only voter who cast his ballot for the free soil candidate. He died

in 1857. His wife was Susan Stahl. Their children were John, Lewis, David, Solomon (deceased), Sally (Coleman), Elizabeth (Gra- ham), Rebecca (Cover), deceased, and Polly (Smith). Solomon, born in 1820, was a German Baptist minister. He died in 1854. His son, John H. Knepper, railroad agent at Berlin, entered upon the ministry of the German Bap- tist church in 1880.

Josiah Miller emigrated from Germany in 1763, and afterward came to Brother's Valley, where he followed weaving and the mercantile business until his death in 1828. His children were George, Jacob, Daniel, Josiah, Catharine (Weyand), Rosanna (Lichteberger), Mary Ann (Alter) and Mesilda (Metzger). Jacob, who was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, came to this county when young, and followed the business of weaving until his death in 1860. He married Susanna Zimmerman, and was the father of Josiah, Hiram, Aaron, Rosanna (Conrad), Caro- line (Ferner), Louisa (Crissinger) and Rebecca (Donor). Hiram, Aaron and Rosanna are dead.

The Cover family, of German origin, came early to this township and settled on the farm now owned by Samuel Cover. Here Peter Cover was born in 1775. He was one of the first Ger- man Baptist preachers in this part of the coun- ty. He married Elizabeth Landis, and was the father of Jacob, Peter, Jonathan and Polly (Forney), dead; John and Samuel, living. Jacob, born in 1801, on the old homestead, died in 1876. He married Susanna Berkley, and reared six children. Israel J., his son, lives on a farm of one hundred and forty-four acres, which he purchased in 1860.

Michael Meyers, a native of Lebanon county, settled in this township quite early. He died about 1838. His wife was Mary Beachly. Children : Jacob, Henry, Samuel, Michael, Martin, living ; John, Barbara (Lichty), Susan (Kimmel), Elizabeth (Lichty), Polly and Nancy (Livengood). Samuel, born in 1808, died in 1879. His son, David L., lives on the place formerly owned by his father. He has an ex- cellent farm which contains coal and limestone, both of which are worked.

Samuel F. Rieman, a native of Stony Creek township, came to Brother's Valley in 1865, and purchased a farm of Samuel Stutzman. Mr. Reiman's farm is an excellent one, well culti- vated and productive. He has a good orchard and excellent buildings.

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HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

The following is a copy of the tax-list of Brother's Valley for the year 1796 :

Henry Alder,

Valentine Frits,

Jacob Albright, John Fletcher,

Frederick Ambrosey,

Peter Foreman,

Conrad Brand,

Henry Foust,

Frederick Blocker,

Arnde Greensinger,

Christian Miller,

Henry Beakerly,

Henry Geeding,

Frederick Matthews,

Henry Bouser, Henry Boyer,

John Groner,

George Matthews,

Nicholas Shultz, Jr.,

Henry Beaker,

John. Glass,

Joseph Miller,

John Brand,

Jacob Good,

John Bouser,

John Gibler,

Jacob Bowman,

John Geeding,

John Miller,

John Brewbaker,

Martin Gudenger,

Jacob Matthews,

Isaac Bennet,

Peter Glesner,

Michael Miller,

Philip Smith,

Jacob Blough,

Peter Greffe,

Philip Smith, Jr.,

Jacob Biegle,

Peter of H. Glesner,

Nicholas Miller,

Valentine Shalles,

John Boldon,

John Glesner,

Philip Mowrer,

Peter Martin,

Jacob Beaker,

Casper Hoover,

Peter Miller,

John Shot,

John Beeghley, John Berley,

Frederick Hoover,

Rudy Moyer,

Adam Miller, Esq.,

Jacob Simmerman, William Short, Simon Shunk,

Jacob Beeghley, Joseph Beegley, Ludwick Beaker,

George Hoover,

Frederick Oldfather,

Thomas Summers,

Ludwick Bear,

John Hidor,

John Olinger,

Godhardt Tresler,

Michael Boyer,

Jacob Hile,

John Hess,

Jacob Hell,

Michael Hoover,

Philip Herman, Simon Hay,

Walter Hile,

Jacob Hoover,

John Hoover,

John Hager,

Adam Hoover,

Adam Hile,

Joseph Johnston,

Matthias Judy,

George Johnston,

Ludwick Kistler, Jonathan Kurtz,

Dr. John Himmell, Conrad Knabsnider, Emanuel Kuntz, Frederick Kraft, Jacob Kibler,

Jacob Keefer, Jr.,

Jacob Keefer,

John Knepper, John Knop,

Michael Keefer, Michael Kurtz, Nicholas Kover, Peter Kimmell, Philip Kimes, Peter Kover, William Knepper, Casper Keefer, Jacob Katz,

Thomas Kennady, Esq., John Kuntz, Michael Kuntz, Benadick Laiman, Nancy Lindensmithen,

Henry Long, John Landis, Mary Laiman, Peter Labe, Valentine Loud, Frederick Long, John Lowry, Jacob Lowry,

Michael Lowry, Jr., Jacob Seabalt,

Michael Lowry, John Schrack,

Henry Lore, Jacob Stutzman,

Henry Lindaman, Jacob Stom,

Peter Leabe, Jr., Jacob Swartz,

Abraham Miller,

John Shir,

Christian Moyer,

Ludwick Smith, Ludwick Shietz, Martin Suter, Margaret Simmerman,

John Miller, Sr., John Mosholder,

Peter Smith,

Isaac Stoner, Peter Sipe,

John Blough,

Henry Geasey,

Michael Moyer, Nicholas Miller, Jr.,

Philip Shultz,

Jacob Barnd,

Abraham Horner,

Frederick Hurabart,

Francis Hay,

Henry Marker,

Henry Oldfather,

William Stall,

Michael Beeghley, Peter Beaker, Philip Beaker, Adam Bower,

Christian Bersler, George Burckher, William Berkebill, Peter Barnd,

George Bender,.

Jacob Bingler,

Michael Ream,

Valentine Rinehart,

Martin Winebreck,

Peter Wengert, Philip Wagerline, Philip Walker, Peter Walker,

Conrad Shallas,

Daniel Shilling,

John Washabaugh, Frederick Weller, William Wagaman,

Godfred Stall,

George Sheanafelt,

Henry Stom,

John Stutzman,

Jacob Yoder, Jacob Zrick, Charles Zorn.

JOHN GRONER, Collector.

Total valuation, real and personal, $111,492. Amount of tax, $557.46.

BERLIN.

The town of Berlin was originally settled by Germans, who named it after the chief city of their fatherland .. At what date the settlement commenced we have no means of ascertaining, but probably it was before the American revo- lution. The eastern portion of the town was laid out in 1784, by Jacob Keffer, on forty and one-half acres of land owned by the Lutheran congregations .* Between the years 1784 and 1787, Jacob Keffer, Jacob Fisher and Francis Hay laid out an addition to the town, com- prising the western portion, which was given to

* See history of the Lutheran church in Berlin.

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Frederick Baker, Abraham of Benj. Cable.

Benjamin Cable, Christian Cable, George Coalman, Jacob Coalman,

John Coalman, Jacob Caufman, Jacob Countryman,

Jacob Creemer, Jacob Cable, Nicholas Coalman, Michael Cable, Jonathan Curtz, George Countryman, Abraham Cable, Esq., Jacob Cable, Jr., Ernst Deets, George Donley, Jacob Deetz, George Dively, John Drever, Martin Dively, John Etenire, John Etenire, Jr., John Earich, Christian Evel, Peter Earick, Adam Foust, Christian Frits, Frederick Fisher, Henry Fox, Jacob Fiock, Jacob Fisher, Martin Fickner, Nicholas Foust, Peter Fox,

George Raugh, George Ringer,

Christian Wagaman,

Jacob Ringler,

Christian Rice,

John Russel,

Henry Wikel, Jacob Winger, John Wagaman, Jacob Walker, Jacob Wiant,

Bastian Shallas, Casper Schrack,

Christian Stoner,

Henry Troyer, Jacob Troyer, Michael Troyer, Jr.,

George Pitner, Philip Pitner,

Adam Polm,

Lawrence Queere,

Michael Troyer, Michael Ubrick,

John Hoofman,

Frederick Oldfather, Jr.,

Adam Stall, George Swartz,

Henry Glesner,

George Mantel,

Nicholas Shultz, Peter Switzer,

Dilman Sheetz,

RESIDENCE OF J. J. WALKER, STONEY CREEK TP., SOMERSET CO., PA.

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BROTHER'S VALLEY.

the Lutheran congregation by the proprietors of the addition. A third addition, known as Vie- tersburg, was laid out about 1888, by Jacob Kim- mel, who purchased the land of James Platt, who settled in Berlin in 1828. This portion of the town was surveyed by Alexander H. Philson.

The first two-story house erected in Berlin was a log building, erected about 1785 on the northeastern corner of the original plat. This building was occupied as a tavern and after. ward as a store by Jacob Alter. It is still standing, and is now owned by G. W. Grollier.

As is usual in all German settlements, a great variety of occupations was carried on in the town during its earlier years. So much time, however, has elapsed, that in only a few in- stances is it possible to trace the originators of certain branches of industry.

Martin Diveley came from the kingdom of Wurtemberg to Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1763. In 1770 he came to Bedford county and settled where Berlin now is. Shortly afterward he built a tannery, the first in the place. He died in Berlin, in 1830, at the age of eighty-two. Jacob Gull was also a tanner, and established his trade soon after Dively.

The first blacksmithshop remembered by the old residents was conducted by one Schmidt- barndt. The old shop stood on Main street, about the center of the second square east of the lower diamond. It became noted as the headquarters of ghosts and spooks. The grave- yard of the Reformed church was near the shop on the opposite side of the street, and fantastic and spectral figures were seen to issue from the shop and flit about in the graveyard. The peo- ple at that day were superstitious, and the old shop soon became a spot to be avoided. Finally Mr. Robert Philson, who did not believe in ghosts, investigated the terrible phenomenon, and found that the " specters " were the result of light reflected through the windows of the shop upon the tombstones.

Early in the history of the town the manufac- ture of hats was quite an important industry. It was carried on by George Johnson, Michael Ream, Henry Lower and others. They carried their hats to Pittsburgh, thence shipped them by flatboats down the Ohio river and sold them to southern planters.

The town early received notoriety from the murder of Jacob Glessner by the Rev. Cyriacus Spongenberg in 1795.

The growth of the town was gradual but steady, and in a few years Berlin became the principal trading-place for a large portion of the citizens of the county.

In 1845 a fire occurred in the town, in which thirteen stables and twenty-six houses were on fire at one time. Owing to favorable conditions and active work on the part of the citizens only three buildings were destroyed.

About 1842 Charles Stoner established a foundry at Berlin, the first in the county, and for several years carried on an extensive busi- ness. At present the only foundry in the town is operated by Charles Krissinger.

The first brick house in Berlin was erected in 1828 by Jacob Lowry. It is now owned by J. O. Stoner. The first gristmill in Berlin was erected about 1872 by E. J. Meyers and Ephraim Cover. It was run by steam. It was destroyed by fire. The present steam gristmill was erected by Solomon Spangler in 1882. A planing-mill was built by Atchison & Pile in 1882.

The Berlin mines were opened by Thomas Price in 1875. They are now operated by B. D. Morgan & Co. The principal shipments are to Baltimore. These mines are not extensively worked at present.

The Standard Coal Works were started by Samuel Adams about 1876. The mines are sit- uated near the Philson mine, on the Berlin branch railroad. They are not extensively worked at present.

The Philson Iron and Coal Company com- menced operations in 1880 at a mine situated two miles southwest of Berlin. This mine is not now in operation.

The first cigars were made in Berlin about 1845, by Henry Floto. His manufactory was in the barn of Daniel Heffley. In 1882 C. D. Floto bought out the cigar manufactory of his father, A. D. Floto. He manufactures from five thousand to six thousand per week of the Berlin stogies, or "tobies," which have become widely known. Theodore Floto also carries on the same busi- ness, manufacturing two thousand to three thousand stogies per week.

The first schoolhouses in Berlin were also used as churches. Schools were conducted by the Reformed and Lutheran congregations many years before any public schools took their places. The present graded school building was erected in 1876, at a cost of $5,700. Milton J. Baer was the first principal.

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HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

Berlin was incorporated as a borough in 1837. The following is a list of the taxable inhabi- tants of Berlin borough in the year 1837 : John Autchbaugh ; John Atcheson, Jr., weaver ; Thos. Baldwin, wagonmaker ; Ludwick Baker ; John Brubaker, innkeeper ; Elizabeth Burkhart ; Solomon Baer, justice ; Fred. Bedker, shoe- maker ; Henry Baker ; John and Geo. Beigh- ley ; Elias Ball, cooper ; John S. Crawford, shoemaker ; Sarah Conrad ; Arch. Compton, tailor ; Sam. Conrad, gunsmith ; Geo. Conrad, carpenter ; Polly Crawford ; Martin Dively, tanner ; Ph. Dorn, tailor ; Mich. Dively, ma- son ; Geo. Dively's estate ; Wm. F. Dively, Esq., tanner ; Solomon Denius, clergyman ; Ph. Dorn ; Jas. Duncan ; Clement Engle ; John Flick's estate ; Jac. Flickinger, innkeeper ; Jas. Ferrell, mason ; Adam Flamm ; Peter Foust's estate ; Geo. Fogle, mason ; Andrew P. Fin- frock, physician ; John J. Finfrock, laborer ; Wm. Fields ; Herman Gross ; Caspar Gerhart, basketmaker ; Sol. Glessner, tinner ; Henry Giesy ; Fred. Gary, weaver ; Thos. Greenwood, teacher ; John Gombert, laborer; Ludwig Glessner ; Nich. Hull's estate ; John Heffley, tanner ; Dav. Hartzel, saddler ; Sam. Heffley, tailor ; Jac. Ham, shoemaker ; John L. Hook, wheelwright ; Peter Heffley ; Sam. Hofford, clockmaker ; George Heffley, blacksmith ; Jos. Heffley, tailor ; Henry J. Haneky, silver- smith ; Henry Hoelwig; George Johnson, Esq .; John Johnson, joiner ; Henry John- ston, joiner ; Edward Kimmel; Aaron Kries- singer's estate; Peter Knepper, merchant; Jac. Kimmel, merchant ; Sam. Kidner, wagon- maker ; Simon Knepper, carpenter; widow Lehmer ; Peter Lane, saddler ; Daniel Landis, shoemaker ; John Lane, weaver ; Dav. Landis, shoemaker ; John P. Lane, mason ; Sarah Mc- Bee ; widow Millhouse ; Messersmith's estate ; Jos. Metzger ; Jac. G. Miller, merchant ; Isaac Miller, hatter ; James Platt's estate, merchant ; Alex. H. Philson, justice; John Probst, saddler ; Sam. Philson, merchant ; Henry Rink ; John Reel, cooper ; George Ru- bright ; Mich. Ream, hatter ; Charles Rheese, clergyman ; Charles Stoner, blacksmith ; Henry Shoemaker, tailor; Jac. Sheetz; Frederick Swope, shoemaker ; John H. Smith, cabinet- maker ; Caspar Stiernagle, cooper ; Jonathan E. Stauffer, teacher ; Henry Statler, joiner ; Will- iam Stahl, laborer ; George Weigle, mason ; John P. Walker ; Jas. Weigle ; Daniel Weyant ;

Sam. Waters, tanner ; Henry Young ; Charles Zorn's estate ; Jac. Zorn, mason ; Mich. Zorn, mason. Single freemen : John Autchbaugh, chairmaker ; John Baldwin, wagonmaker ; Nel- son Clay, clerk ; Samuel Dively, mason ; John Duncan ; Adam Hoelwig; Dan. Heffley, watchmaker ; Annanias Hiffle ; George Johns- ton, tinner ; John O. Kimmel, merchant ; George W. Kennedy, saddler; Charles Kriesinger, clerk ; Joseph Kriesinger ; George Rink, tinner ; Noah Stoner, blacksmith ; Fred. Suter, shoemaker ; Levi Schoomaker, tailor.

Hon. Robert Philson was one of the most prominent and influential citizens of the county in early years. He was born in Ireland about 1759, and in 1785 emigrated to America and set- tled in Berlin. His uncle, John Fletcher, who had come to America two years earlier, accom- panied the young man to his destination, the two traveling as peddlers. Arrived here, they set up a store and carried on the mercantile busi- ness in partnership for seventeen years. In 1793, during the whisky insurrection, Mr. Phil- son was arrested, tried and acquitted. In 1795 he was elected to the state legislature. John Fletcher, his uncle, was elected the succeeding term. Mr. Philson was one of the early asso- ciate judges of Somerset county. In 1821-2 he represented this district in congress. He was brigadier-general of militia a number of years. He died in 1831. His wife was Judith Lowry. They had eleven children: William, John, Robert, Alexander H., Michael, James, Thomas, Samuel, Isabella (Parker), Judith and Agnes (Conrad). Only Samuel is living. He was born in 1812, and for forty-six years followed the mercantile business, retiring in 1875. In 1866 he commenced the banking business with his son-in-law, C. A. M. Krissinger, establishing the banking-house of S. Philson & Co. Since 1881 Mr. Philson's sons,. Robert and Horace B., have been sole owners of the bank, but by de- sire have retained the old firm name. In 1869 Mr. Philson and his son-in-law, James S. Black, started a bank in Meyersdale under the name of Philson, Black & Co. In 1882 the name of the house was changed to The Citizens' Bank, and the business is now conducted by S. B. Philson, son of Samuel. Mr. Philson was captain of the Lafayette cavalry in 1835-9. He has always had a taste for farming and stock-breeding, and has managed a farm of three hundred acres for twenty-seven years.

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BROTHER'S VALLEY.

Alexander H. Philson, son of Robert Philson, was born in Berlin in 1801. He was engaged in clerking several years, and afterward in the mercantile business for himself. He was also a noted land surveyor. He served as justice of the peace for about thirty years. Mr. Philson died in 1873. He married Nellie, daughter of Rev. Jacob Crigler. Their children were Sam- uel A., Jacob C., Emeline (Mrs. Dr. Brubaker), Judith A. (Heffley) and Ellen (Davis). Samuel A. and Jacob C. constitute the firm of S. A. & J. C. Philson, and have been engaged in the mercantile business in this town for twenty-two years.

William Philson, a native of Berlin, served as sheriff of this county and as representative to the legislature. He moved to Johnstown, and thenoe, in 1846, to South Carolina, where he died, aged about eighty-five years. His eldest son, John P. Philson, was born in Somerset. In 1836 he came to Berlin, where he carried on the mercantile business about five years. He is still a resident of the town. From 1876 to 1878 Mr. Philson served as county commissioner.

Samuel S. Shaffer was born near Friedens, in Somerset township, where his ancestors were early settlers. Mr. Shaffer came to Berlin in 18-, and kept the National Hotel until 1882, when he retired from the business and was suc- ceeded by the present proprietor.

John Musser, a native of Stony Creek town- ship, came to Berlin in 1848. Under Alexander Brubaker he learned the blacksmith's trade, which he still follows. In 1854 he bought out Brubaker's shop.

E. H. Fiscus, a native of Westmoreland coun- ty, came to Berlin in 1882, and has since been keeping the National House.

Frederick Garey, a native of Cumberland, Maryland, born in 1787, was one of the early settlers of Berlin and followed the weaver's trade. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Garey married Catharine A. Stull, and was the father of John, Nelson, Cornelius, Henry, Samuel, Albert (deceased), Joseph (deceased), Mary A. (Woodsworth), deceased, Eleanora and Belle (Benford).

John Heffley, a native of Berks county, set- tled in Berlin in 1815. He followed the tanner's trade ; died in 1878. He married, first, Barbara Swartz ; second, Elizabeth Keffer, and reared fourteen children. Capt. Albert . Heffley, who carries on his father's trade, was captain of Co.

F, 142d regt. Penn. Vols., mustered into service in August, 1862 ; mustered out at the close of the war. Capt. Heffley was taken prisoner at Gettysburg and held a prisoner for twenty months, being confined in prisons at Libby Prison, Danville, Macon and Charleston.

George Dively, a native of Germany, was among the first settlers of Berlin. Among his children were Michael, Samuel, Nancy (Mill- house), Polly (Fire), Sarah (Bender), Lydia (Sease) and Margaret (Boon).

Abraham'Bender, a native of Adams county, settled early in life at Berlin, where he died in 1860, aged sixty-six. His son, George W., a carpenter by trade, has worked at his trade about forty years. He is still a resident of the town. W. H. Bender, son of George W., has followed carpentry principally since 1855. He served in the late war in Co. E, 21st Penn. Cav., from March, 1863, to July, 1865.

Michael Zorn, who was born in 1800, settled at Berlin early in life and followed the potter's trade. He died in 1850. He married Louisa Domm, and reared five children : Charles, Jack- son, Jacob J., Mary L. (Johnson) and Michael ; all living but Charles. Jacob J. Zorn served in the late war in Co. F, 142d regt. Penn. Vols., from August, 1862, to June, 1865. He was taken prisoner at Gettysburg and held one month at Belle Island. Mr. Zorn followed the plasterer's trade twenty-five years. Since 1880 he has kept a grocery store in Berlin.

CHURCHES.

Reformed .- Berlin congregation of the Re- formed church is doubtless the oldest church of that denomination in Somerset county. This place was visited by ministers from the eastern part of the state as early as 1770. The congre- gation was organized in 1777. The records, which begin with that year, do not mention the name of the minister who organized it. At this early date the congregation had no house of worship ; but, according to the records, it was resolved during the year 1777 to build a school- house, which was to be the common property of the Reformed and Lutheran congregations. For a time this building served both as church and schoolhouse. The first ministers of the Reformed church who labored in Somerset county were no doubt pastors of congregations in the East, who left their charges and journeyed on horseback to this distant region to preach

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HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

to the settlers. The first record of a baptism bears the date, October 9, 1777, when Sophia, daughter of Heinrich Glessner, was baptized. Among the original members and first officers of the congregation the following names are mentioned : John Gibler, Jacob Keffer, Iona- than Nicholas Foust, Peter Cover, Valentine Landt, Peter Loebley, Jacob Fisher, Francis Hoff, Walter H. Reil, Jacob Glessner, Henry Glessner, Peter Glessner, Frederick Altfather, Peter Sweitzer, Michael Berger,. Godfried Knepper.

The first regular pastor of the Berlin congre- gation was Rev. John William Weber, who, on May 1, 1782, was appointed by the coetus of the Reformed church, then in session at Read- ing, to visit the congregations west of the Alle- ghenies, "in the back part of Pennsylvania." He resided in Westmoreland county while serving the Berlin congregation. His suc- cessor, Rev. Cyriacus Spangenberg, was pastor from 1788 to 1794. Rev. Henry Giesey came next, and for twenty-three years was the only Re- formed minister in Somerset county. He prob- ably continued as pastor of Berlin church for over thirty-five years. Succeeding ministers have been as follows : Rev. Jacob Siegmund Ringier, 1833-4; Rev. Solomon R. Denius, 1835-41 ; Rev. William Conrad, 1841-59 ; Rev. F. A. Edmunds, 1860-3 ; Rev. William Rupp, 1866-77 ; Rev. S. R. Bridenbaugh, 1877, now in charge.

The old church erected in 1777 was a log building. Two edifices have since been erected. The third building was built in 1843, at a cost of $3,000. Its corner-stone was laid July 4, 1843. In the spring of 1883, during the pastor- ate of Rev. S. R. Bridenbaugh, the Reformed congregation at Berlin was induced to under- take the erection of the present beautiful edifice. Although the houses of worship previously built by this congregation were located on one of the back streets of the town, and while some of the older members persistently sought to have the new building erected on the same ground, an overwhelming majority of the congregation possessed sufficient foresight and wisdom to change the place of building. The present eligible location was chosen, being a corner lot near the center of the town, and fronting both on Main street and Vine street.

Ground was broken for the new building in the early part of June, 1883, and the corner-

stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies on July 27th following.

The plan or design, which is the work of the well-known architect, D. Knox Miller, of Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, is truly unique and beauti- ful. The style of architecture is Gothic, that form of Gothic known as Early English. In the building are clearly visible many of the beautiful and peculiar characteristics of this type of architecture. Its strength and solidity, as exhibited in the walls and buttresses; its gracefulness of form, as seen, indeed, in the whole exterior and interior of the building ; its beautifully formed windows, its arches and pinnacles, all are embodied in the structure, and are so combined as to produce an effect at once striking and pleasing. The entire length of the edifice, including pulpit recess, is eighty- seven feet. The width of the nave is forty-five feet, while in the transept the width is sixty-four feet. The pulpit recess is 32×14 feet, spanned by a massive arch. Adjoining the recess is the sacristy, a neat room, 16×14 feet. Midway along the front, at the corner of the north transept, stands the graceful tower, culminating in a beautiful spire surmounted by a large cross, reaching a hight of one hundred and twenty- five feet. In the erection of the building regard was had not alone to beauty, but to durability as well. The foundation is massive and is built of gray sandstone. The walls are of pressed bricks. They contain a large amount of orna- mental brickwork. The other ornaments in the walls are of white marble and gray sand- stone. Without any redundancy of ornaments, they are in sufficient numbers and so combined as to add greatly to the beauty of the edifice and leave a pleasing effect upon the beholder. In both the north and south transepts are a group of windows, consisting of two small ones near the ground, then a row of five neat arched windows, above which is a large circular or rose window with an accompaniment of two smaller ones, all of which are surmounted by a graceful arch, which springs on each side from the extreme portion of the space occupied by these windows. The windows in the nave are long and narrow, all having the pointed arch. Five. large heavy trusses support the slate roof. On the first floor is a commodious lecture and Sun- dayschool-room, connecting with which is a neat primary Sundayschool-room. Although at this writing the audience-room is not yet com-

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 98

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 967

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967