USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 23
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In November, 1762, a call was made for the Rev. Robert Mc- Mordie, which he accepted. During the year 1765 or 1766 the church at Hanover became vacant. No record of Mr. McMordie's resignation exists, but it was doubtless caused by the dissensions in his church. After his withdrawal the church continued in a dis- tracted and enfeebled state. In April, 1772, Mr. William Thom was appointed one of the supplies at Hanover. On the 2 1st of May
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a call for Mr. Thom was presented in Presbytery, with a copy of a subscription paper of over one hundred pounds. The call was put into his hands. In the meantime Mr. Thom received other calls from Big Spring, Sherman's Valley, and Alexandria, Va., and on October 15, 1772, accepted the latter. For the next seven years, covering part of the period of the Revolutionary war, the Hanover church depended on occasional supplies. The times tried men's souls. Men were called away to war; the people were poor.
On the 20th of June, 1781, a call from Hanover to Rev. Mat- thew Woods was made out, in which they promised to pay him six hundred bushels of wheat, or a sum of hard money equivalent there- to, and also a gratuity of six hundred bushels. The cause of these peculiar calls in grain was the greatly depreciated value of the conti- nental currency. Mr. Woods accepted the call, and was ordained and installed over the Hanover congregation June 19, 1782. The pasto- rate of Mr. Woods was brief. The record shows that Rev. Matthew Woods died September 13, 1784. His remains were buried in the Hanover burying-ground, near the church. A tomb- stone was erected to his memory by subscription in 1789.
In 1787 Hanover was allowed to prosecute a call to a proba- tioner for the ministry under the care of the Presbytery of Philadel- phia. On the 16th of October, Mr. James Snodgrass was received under the care of the Presbytery from the Philadelphia Presbytery, and having accepted a call from the Hanover congregation, he was appointed to prepare a lecture on Rom. viii. 1-7, and a Presbyterial exercise on I Cor. xv. 22, as parts of his trial for ordination.
On the 13th of May, 1788, the Presbytery of Carlisle met at Hanover,-John Craighead, Robert Cooper, and Samuel Waugh, with James Johnston, elder. Upon the next day, May 14th, James Snodgrass was ordained and installed as pastor of the Hanover con- gregation. Rev. John Craighead presided and gave the charge, and the Rev. John Linn preached the sermon.
During the first eight or ten years of his pastorate Mr. Snod- grass kept in a blank-book of the trustees of the church a record of the marriages, baptisms, and admissions to the church, but he seems to have become weary of it, and to have utterly abandoned it before the year 1800. There is no record of removals from the church by letter or by death. A list remains of the heads of families about the year 1788, and the lists of those who paid stipends are continued down to the date of his death. Mr. Snodgrass' receipts for his salary and the records of the board of trustees are also in existence.
The church was very weak at the time of his death, and never had another pastor. The building fell into decay, and was at length
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in 1875 or 1876 taken down. The care of the glebe funds and the: cemetery grounds was placed in the hands of trustees.
MIDDLETOWN CHURCHES.
St. Peter's Lutheran Church is the oldest in the borough. The lot numbered 135 upon which the old (the first) church edifice stands, including the graveyard in the rear, was purchased from George Fisher, and Hannah, his wife, as appears from a deed bear- ing date September 18, 1764, to Peter Woltz, George Frey, and Deterick Schob, all of Lower Paxtang (now Swatara) township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) county, Province of Pennsyl- vania. The purchase money was seven shillings and sixpence, with additional rent of one grain of wheat every year, to be delivered annually on the Ist day of May. The deed was acknowledged be- fore Justice John Allison, and attested by Joseph Greenwood and Henry Renick. It is written on parchment, and is yet in a good state of preservation. It is recorded in Lancaster county, in Deed- Book M., page 395, by Edward Shippen, recorder. It bears the old Provincial seal of Lancaster county. In the same year a petition was. sent to John Penn, then lieutenant-governor of the Province, praying for the privilege of erecting a church, and also for the privilege of collecting funds for the same purpose. Whereupon privilege was granted by license dated September 28, 1764, to Christian Roth and David Ettley to raise by subscription twelve hundred pounds in the space of three years. Mr. Ettley walked to Philadelphia on his col- lecting tour. The document bears the autograph of John Penn, and is countersigned by Joseph Shippen, his secretary. There are no pa- pers showing how much money was raised. It appears from the terms of the license, dated September 28, 1764, granting the above privi- lege, that the members were then very poor, and that many were. driven from their homes by the hostile Indians. Middletown then contained but a few houses, and a great part of Dauphin and Lan- caster counties was then a wilderness. The forests were peopled by Indians, and the settlers could not go outside their homes unarmed with any degree of safety. Whenever the people went to the store, mill, or even the church, they armed themselves. They would stack their arms inside the church, and station one person at the door as sentinel to warn the others of approaching danger.
The church edifice was built in 1767. The cornerstone was laid by Justice Colonel James Burd, in presence of Revs. Theophilus- Engeland, N. Harnell, Conrad Bucher, and the church wardens and elders, John Christ. Roth, John Metzgar, George Philip Shaage,,
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Gottlieb David Ettley, and Jacob King, together with the building committee, which consisted of George Frey, Frederick Zeppernick, and Conrad Wolfley. There was placed in the corner-stone a Ger- man Bible, printed at Halle in 1763 ; the shorter Catechism of Mar- tin Luther, printed in Philadelphia in 1764; three wafers; a half- pint bottle of wine, and some money in Pennsylvania currency. The lot upon which the lecture room stood was transferred by the execu- tors of George Frey and Jacob King, by a deed bearing date October 7, 1807, to the trustees of the church, viz .: John Metzgar, Philip Ettele, John Blattenberger, Jacob Wolfley, Christian Esenhauer, and Marks Snyder. On March 10, 1807, application was made by the congregation for a charter of incorporation. On the 2 1st of the same month, Governor Thomas McKean authorized Timothy Mat- lack, master of the rolls, to issue the charter prayed for by the pe- titioners, who were Ludwick Wolfley, Valentine Weyrick, Martin Hemperley, Nicholas Shuler, George Shalkey, Frederick -, George Schneegaus, Christian Spayd, George Lauman, James Metzgar, Jacob Snyder, John Smuller, John Croll, John Heppich, John Blat- tenberger, Jr., Christian Laurentz, David Ettele, George Schuler, Matthias Wolf. In 1813 the steeple was built. For this purpose twelvehundred and eleven dollars and thirty-five cents was subscribed by one hundred and ninety-three different persons, whose names are all on record, and among whom are the ancestors of many of the prominent families of the town. The first floor of the church was of brick, and in 1830 the present floor was laid. In 1835 the lecture room was built, and in 1861 an addition was made to accommodate the increasing number of Sunday-school scholars. In 1844 the second roof was put on the church, and in 1850 its interior was remodeled. At this time the pulpit was erected on the north side, between the two large windows, and about midway between the floor and the ceiling, and was reached by a narrow flight of steps. There were two en- trances, one on the south side, which on the remodeling of the edifice was closed. The building was remodeled while Rev. Dr. Baum had charge of the congregation, and the work was done by Major Rehrer. In 1855 and 1856 the parsonage was built. This old stone church is now used only at stated times, mostly at funerals of aged persons who wish the funeral services to be held in its sacred walls, an elegant new church edifice having been completed on another lot, and dedi- cated in 1879.
On September 4, 1867, the church celebrated its centennial an- niversary, at which were present many distinguished clergymen of the Lutheran and other denominations and persons prominent in the State. At this centennial anniversary, George Smuller sent one hun-
16
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dred grains of choice selected wheat to Hon. Robert J. Fisher, of New York, the oldest of the legal heirs and representatives of George Fisher, who laid out the town, and of whom the church lot was pur- chased, as full satisfaction of one clause in the original deed requir- ing a rental of one grain of wheat to be paid annually. The wheat was contained in a silk bag worked by Miss Carrie Smuller.
The old church lot is two hundred by fifty feet. When "St. Peter's Kirche" (as it was denominated by a lettered stone still in its front over the door) was dedicated in 1767 the members con- sisted of sixty-six old and sixty-three young persons. It was built of red sandstone, was two stories in height, and had a gallery on the east, south, and west sides, the pulpit occupying the north side. There was a second entrance fronting on High street, which was reached through the yard in front and staircase leading from each door to the gallery, meeting at the southeast corner. The windows were small, with quite small panes of glass. The bricks in the floor were nine inches square. The pews were narrow, with high, straight backs. When the house was finally warmed, it was done by two large stoves capable of taking in a vast amount of fuel, consisting of ordinary cordwood four feet in length. The pulpit was small and supported by a post eight or ten feet high, and reached hv a narrow stairway. Over it was a sounding board. A pipe-organ at one time occupied a portion of one side of the gallery. In August, 1793, the congre- gation secured the adjoining lot, No. 134, of Jacob Gross and wife, who made a conveyance thereof to George Frey and Jacob King for the consideration of three pounds in hand and a yearly rent of one grain of wheat to be paid annually on May Ist. By mistake the deed was made to Frey and King individually, but when they died their trustees and executors-John Landis, Charles Fisher, William Crabb and John Cassel for Frey's estate, and Jacob Snyder and Daniel Eris- man for King's-conveyed it to the trustees of the church. In 1826, Jane Hannegan ( Flannagan) sold lot No. 133 to the congregation, so that the old church and cemetery now comprises three lots-Nos. 133, 134, and 135. When the brick floor was replaced by a wooden one, in 1830, the straight-back pews gave way to others of a more comfortable character, and a new pulpit was erected, beneath which was an alcove or recess, into which the pastor could retire and leave his wrappings before entering the sanctuary. It had steps on either side, and a semicircular railing hung with velvet inclosed it. The reading-desk was also covered with velvet. The alterations were superintended by Jacob Heppich. In the remodeling of 1850, the whole inside wood-work-pews, gallery, and all-was removed. The windows, which were formerly in two tiers, were made into one,
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and the doorway facing High street was converted into a window. The pulpit was erected at the west end, and the galleries extended around the other three sides. A vestibule was made, from which inclosed stairways led to the gallery and shut off the cold from the auditorium. A parsonage was erected on High street, near the old church, in 1855. In 1872 the congregation purchased the lots on Union street, on which its second and beautiful edifice was built, and dedicated in 1879.
The following have served as pastors of this church: Rev. Theophilus Engeland, from 1767-73; Rev. T. F. Illing, 1773-88; Rev. J. Kurtz, 1788-93; Rev. P. Pentz, 1793-95 ; Rev. H. Miller, 1795-1803; Rev. T. F. Shcaff, 1803-12; Rev. George Lochman, D. D., 1812-15 ; Rev. A. H. Lochman, D. D., 1815; Rev. J. Van Hoff, 1830-34; Rev. P. Saline, 1834-37; Rev. S. D. Finckle, 1837- 44; Rev. J. Voghbaugh, 1844-47; Rev. L. Gerhart, 1847-48; Rev. W. M. Baum, D. D., 1848-53; Rev. Benjamin Saddler, 1853-56; Rev. C. J. Ehrehart, 1856-1865 ; Rev. Peter Ruby, 1865-72 ; Rev. John W. Finkbinder, 1873-1883; Rev. H. C. Holloway, 1884-88 ; Rev. F. W. Staley, 1888-1904; Rev. S. T. Micholas, 1904 and is the present pastor.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church is a very old organization at Middletown, itinerants visiting the place one hundred and twenty-five years ago. The first Methodist preaching in this county, and prior to that at Halifax, by twenty-one years, was at this point.
The early ministers encountered great difficulties both physical and moral. Malaria brought sickness, and bad roads obstructed travel, even on horseback. Roads were indicated by "blazing" trees and burning brush. There were no bridges, and high waters frequent.
C. H. Hutchinson, an old settler, and the local historian at Middletown, says: "In spring the circuit-rider was often knee-deep in mud; and in winter, if without a compass, hopelessly adrift in the snow. The cabins where they could lodge were few; some of them with the latchstring pulled in, some of them the resorts of horse- thieves and desperadoes. In some sections the Indian prowled with wolf-like ferocity. The rude hospitality of the settler was given with a warm heart, but often with dirty hands. The rough blanket which was laid over the itinerant sleeper, was often biting with ver- min, or the worst forms of cutaneous disease. Often he was hungry, sometimes asking a blessing upon a crust of bread, sometimes for
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days without as much as that. Asbury's meage pittance of sixty-four dollars a year, was a fair sample of a preacher's pay. But the moral difficulties which confronted them were greater than the physical. Their position from 1770 to 1784 was one of peculiar peril. Wesley pronounced disloyalty a sin, and the Methodist preachers here were held responsible for his opinions; they were all supposed to be tories, and were known to be opposed to slavery."
As early as 1780 there was a preaching place of "York Circuit" then extending over a large scope of country, including parts of several counties, the preachers crossing the river a few miles below Middletown. Services were held at the dwelling house of Dr. Romer then occupied by Eli Rigg, an early Methodist of the town. These itinerants sometimes did not come oftener than three months, but when roads and "no preventing Providence" occurred the circuit was supplied once in four weeks. Early in the Nineteenth century Mid- dletown became a part of Dauphin Circuit.
March 12, 1814, Arnold S. Johns, Eli Rigg, Andrew Alex- ander, John Funk, and William Foulk, trustees of the Methodist Episcopal congregation of Middletown, purchased of Philip Ettla. a lot of ground at the northern extremity of Union street, contain- ing seven hundred and thirty square yards, for sixty dollars. (This lot had been sold to Ettla, June 22nd, 1793, by Frederick Zepper- nick for £3, and was part of a tract of sixty acres deeded to Zepper- nick March 5th, 1767, by George Fisher and wife.) A small frame church was erected on this lot shortly afterwards, and was dedicated in the year 1816, by Rev. John Goforth, preacher in charge of Dauphin Circuit. Here the Methodists worshipped for about forty years. This was the second church edifice erected in Middletown. In 1839 the building was remodeled and improved. Rev. Curry preached the sermon at the re-opening.
At that time this location was not far from the centre of the town, but after the canal and railroad were constructed, that part of Middletown, which was then called Portsmouth, began to grow, and the larger part of the members residing in that vicinity, in 1851 the corner-stone of a new church edifice was laid on Ann street, above Catherine.
Dauphin Circuit was sub-divided in 1856 and Middletown was taken from it; also Hummelstown and other points, which formed a new circuit. Rev. George R. Rakestraw was made pastor. He found an unfinished church, heavily encumbered and with about twenty members; but by dint of earnest effort, in which he was sup- ported by a small congregation, a satisfactory arrangement was made with the contractor, Mr. George Rodfong. The building was fin -.
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ished and dedicated May 10th, 1854, Rev. D. W. Bartine officiat- ing.
In 1857 Middletown was taken from the Circuit and made a station with Rev. George G. Rakestraw as its first pastor. During this year an act of incorporation was procured from the Dauphin county court, the name being the Middletown Methodist Epis- copal Church.
In 1883, the church building becoming too small, a larger, bet- ter one was planned, under trustees-Thomas Fairman, Seymour Raymond, Benj. S. Peters, George W. Ettele, John Fratts, John Atkinson and A. S. Matherson, who purchased lot No. 298, at the southeast corner of Ann and Catherine streets, of Adam Baumbach, for $2,500.
August 3rd, 1883, the corner-stone was laid in the presence of a very large concourse of people, with Masonic ceremonies. In it were placed a Bible; a Methodist Episcopal hymn book, Year book, and discipline; a copy of the Christian Advocate, Our Church Monthly, Middletown Press, Middletown Journal, names of the members of the church and Sunday school's, history of the three church buildings, and a programme of the exercises.
The church was dedicated by Bishop Bowman, D. D., LL. D., on Sunday, April 27, 1884. It is a fine structure, built of brick, trimmed with Gettysburg gray granite; is two stories high and roofed with a superior grade of slate. It is 50x85 feet. Its inter- ior finish is exquisite. A handsome mellow-toned pipe organ is among the costly furnishings. Automatic ventilators in the base- ment give an even temperature at all times. The architect was Wil- liam Miller, of Harrisburg, and the builder, William Starry.
The pastors of the church have been: 1856-58, George E. Rakestraw ; 1858-60, S. W. Kurtz; 1860, William B. Gregg; 1861- 63, J. S. Lame; 1863-65, J. M. Wheeler; 1865-67, S. T. Kem- ble; 1867-69, Allen Johns; 1869, L. B. Hughes; 1870-72, J. Montgomery; 1872-74, T. B. Miller; 1874-77, S. G. Grove; 1877-79, J. T. Swindells; 1879-82, W. H. Fries; IS82-85, L. B. Brown; 1885-86, M. L. Graves; 1886, David Mckee; 1890, Wm. Rink; 1891, S. H. Evans; 1895, Wm. Ridgway: 1898, J. T. Gray; 1900, W. H. Pickop; 1902-05, R. H. Crawford: 1906, W. E. Yeager; 1907, A. J. Amthor. The society owns a good parsonage at No. 105 North Union street.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
While the first settlers were among the people at Middletown, there was no attempt to establish a church there for many years. The
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Lebanon Valley, Hanover, Derry and Paxton churches seemed to supply their needs. Later, the Conewago Presbyterian Church was built at Gainsburg, four miles distant. The builder was killed by falling from the roof, and was buried in 1745, in the graveyard at- tached. Revs. N. R. Snowden and James R. Sharon frequently preached in the Lutheran Church at Middletown. There was an early organization that went down, for the records show that June 7, 1802, James Russell and wife conveyed lot No. 94 in Middle- town to William Crabb, John McCammon and Edward Crouch, as "trustees of the English Presbyterian Congregation of Middle- town," to be used as a burying ground. There seems to have been no move toward a re-organization until 1850. April 10 of that year the Presbytery at Carlisle arranged for establishing a church here. October 29, 1850, the Presbytery met at Middletown when a peti- tion signed by Daniel Kendig, Sarah Kendig, Robert F. Snoddy, Edward Burgett, Dr. B. J. Wiestling, Matilda E. Wiestling, Mary E. Wilt and Davis Thompson was presented asking for the organ- ization of a church. The elders then elected were Dr. Wiestling, Daniel Kendig and Edward Burgett. Thus was formed the first regular Church since the pioneer society had expired nearly fifty years before. Rev. John Cross solicted funds for the building of a church. He was called, installed pastor, and died suddenly, August 1851, while raising funds. The building was erected on Union street in 1852, Rev. O. O. McClean being pastor from that year to 1854. The Church above named was a neat brick building, with a basement. The congregation was incorporated August 28, 1858. As time passed by and the church grew in strength, a new edifice was demanded and in 1889 a beautiful brown-stone edifice was erected and still serves the congregation.
OTHER CHURCHES.
United Brethren Church: In 1852 this denomination erected a frame building in which to worship. It was on Duck (below Water) street. The church has steadily increased, and is now among the strongest of the city. About 1880 they purchased Christ Church, which had been built in 1838. For many years it was only a circuit, but long since became a prosperous station. The first pas- tor was H. C. Phillips. In 1892 a fine brick edifice was built which still accommodates the large congregation.
Church of God (Bethel) : In 1824 or 1825 Rev. John Wine- brenner, a minister of the German Reformed church, but who had withdrawn therefrom, entertained and preached views on experimen-
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tal religion which differed somewhat from those held by the church, resided at Harrisburg. At the request of the friends of a Mrs. Black, who had been at one time a member of his congregation, and who had died on the farm of the late George Fisher, Mr. Winebren- ner came to Middletown to preach the funeral sermon. The feel- ing against him was so strong that some of the older citizens re- fused to have anything to do with him, on the ground that he was not a minister in good standing in any church. John McCammon, however, on being asked whether he would walk with' Mr. Wine- brenner on the occasion, cheerfully consented, and they were after- wards warm friends. The funeral services were held in the Luth- eran church, and some of the young men of the town were so fav- orably impressed with Mr. Winebrenner that they invited him to preach. The doors of the Lutheran church were, however, closed against him, but Mrs. Flannagan, who had charge of the Ebenezer Methodist meeting-house, opened that building to him, and under his ministrations a great revival commenced. He continued preach- ing alternately with the Methodist circuit preachers for several years until about 1832, when his friends deemed it advisable to have an edifice of their own. In the meantime, however, some friends of Mr. Winebrenner residing in Harrisburg, Middletown, and vicinity met at Linglestown and organized a new church or sect, adopting the doctrines taught by Mr. Winebrenner, and styled themselves the "Church of God," but for many years they were generally known as "Winebrennarians." Mr. Winebrenner always disapproved of this term, and all his followers are now known as members of the "Church of God." The first members of this con- gregation, in 1827, were Susanna Smuller, - - Bare, Elizabeth King, Jacob Rife, Joshua Heppich, Jacob Benner, John Benner, Henry Siple, Joseph Ross, George Smuller, George Etter, Conrad Seabauch, George Baker, John McFarland, Eliza Longhead, and Eve Crist. The first elders ( 1827) were Joshua Heppich and John McFarland. The first church edifice of this new denomination ever built was erected in Middletown in 1832, on lot No. 23, on the east side of Main cross street (now Union), about midway between Water Street and Centre Square. It was a frame structure, lathed and plastered on the outside. There were two entrances at the front, reached by high stairs or steps. The pulpit was placed be- tween the doors at the end of the building toward the street. and those entering faced the audience. At one time a day school was taught by Samuel Dennis in the basement. In 1852 this building was enlarged and the whole cased with brick and a vestibule and gallery provided. But the remodeling did not prove to be success-
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ful and was hardly looked upon as safe. In June, 1873, a commit- tee examined its condition and reported favorable to building a new church. The lot selected is the northeast corner of Spring and Water streets and cost $1,200. In November, 1873, $8,000 had been subscribed; ground was broken June 9, 1874, and the corner- stone laid July 8. In the winter of 1875-76 the main audience room was thrown open for a great union meeting then in progress. It is a brick structure, with a steeple being one hundred and sixty feet high, as originally made. The roof is of slate. The walls are frescoed, and stained glass make beautiful the windows.
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