USA > Pennsylvania > Huntingdon County > History of Huntingdon County, in the state of Pennsylvania : from the earliest times to the centennial anniversary of American independence, July 4, 1876 > Part 20
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The Baptists are erecting a new church edifice at the southwest corner of Sixth and Mifflin streets.
The Lutherans, having also determined to build a new church upon the site of the old one, held a " farewell meet- ing " in the latter on the evening of May Ist, 1876, at which Prof. A. L. Guss delivered a lecture, entitled “ Remember the Days of Old." It was historical in its character, and from it we make such extracts as give the history of that denomination at Huntingdon :
"From the best information we can obtain a Lutheran congregation was organized in this place in the year 1804 by Rev. Frederick Haas, a licentiate of the Pennsylvania Synod. He preached in the old Court House, and in 1807 married Miss Elizabeth Miller of this place. In connection with this congregation he preached at Water Street, Williamsburg and Clover Creek, as a supply, and Marklesburg (then known as Garner's School House), Trough Creek (now known as Cass-
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ville), and in Big Valley (now Kishacoquillas). He labored here some twelve years. During the latter part of his labors a little brick church was built by the congregation, which was located where the New Academy now stands. A small debt was left upon this church, which Haas could have easily liquidated had he remained ; but he removed to Me- chanicsburg about 1810, and afterwards to Ohio. The church seems then to have been vacant for some time, and of course declined.
"In the year 1819, Rev. Rebenack reports at Huntingdon, with 4 congregations, 14 confirmations, and 144 communi- cants He must have remained but a short time, as he re- ports the next year at Somerset. Hence he accomplished little while here.
"In the year 1820 Rev. Henry Heinan took charge of the congregation, but paid more attention to the practice of med- icine than to preaching. Moreover he is said to have been tinctured with rationalism. Hence the church was worse than vacant; and, the members being neglected, were dis- heartened and scattered. After 18 months or two years Heinan moved to Union county.
"For the next 15 years, we know not who, if any one, preached for the little flock at Huntingdon. In 1831 it is named as still vacant. In 1838 or 1839 Rev. Mr. Osterloh moved to this place, and preached in the Court House, as the old brick church was then claimed by other parties, and was occupied as a school house, and was not in a proper con- dition for holding services. He endeavored to re-organize the congregation, confining himself, of course, to the Ger- man element of society. He failed in this effort and re- moved from the town. The older stock of Lutherans, who had become anglicised, gradually were absorbed by other churches, while others stood aloof from all church connec- tion. After this period the whole organization ceased.
" Pastor Haas seems to have been the only minister worthy of the name that Huntingdon ever had in the olden days. At that time the prospects of the church here were better perhaps than in any of the towns of the surrounding coun-
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ties, where now large and wealthy congregations exist. We have no doubt that many of the best members of other churches in this town would have followed the footsteps of their ancestors, and be to-day pillars in the Lutheran church if there had been the proper shepherds to lead them by the still waters and into the rich pastures of the love of Christ.
"But from the days of Haas, in 1816, to 1853, the place was practically waste, and even worse than desolate. While the church prospered elsewhere, here it retrograded. The owl and the bat took possession of the sanctuary, and our shrine fell into other hands, and was converted into other uses, while the children of the church gradually assimilated into organizations to which their fathers were strangers. But it pleased God again to visit his plantation.
" Rev. P. M. Rightmyer began to preach occasionally at Huntingdon as a mission station in the fall of 1853. He had succeeded Rev. J. Martin, at Williamsburg, and had resign- ed, and removed to Water Street, where he assisted Rev. J. T. Williams, and subsequently took charge at Water Street, Sinking Valley, on Spruce Creek and at this place. At that time Water Street, Spruce Creek, Marklesburg and Cassville seem to have been the only Lutheran organizations in the county. Rightmyer says he 'found only two or three fam- ilies here holding to the church, among whom were Snyders and a Mrs. Couts, a hotel keeper's wife, and had he not offered me a place to stay, free of charge, there would have been no Lutheran church in Huntingdon. I visited a num- ber of influential men who had gone into the Presbyterian church, asking them if we could not revive and resurrect the old church-they said: 'Too late ! too late !'
" Rightmyer first preached in the Court House, then in the Baptist church. At length he proposed to build a small church "as a monument to Luther." Some parties who were more envious than Sanballat and Tobiah hereupon de- clared "the Lutherans are not able to build a pig- pen." This stirred up Rightmyer's German blood. He was young, vigorous, ready for anything. Full of faith, he went to work, interested the Hawns and others in the vicinity,
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published proposals. $1,900 was the lowest bid, made a close calculation, found that it could be built for $1,409, got David Hawn to buy a lot, and ordered the work to go on.
"Before the brick were on the ground, there was an in- junction on the house. He then gave personal obligations, and the work went on. Some $300 were raised in the Marklesburg charge, and some at Hawns, but little in Hun- tingdon. Wherever he went he begged, held meetings and lectured, and gave the proceeds. Finally it was up and dedicated, and then the town was canvassed ; some gave freely ; more, moderately ; some got angry, while one man, he said, 'looked pitifully on me and gave me $5, adding, 'I think you are too easy to put this enterprise through." Nevertheless, he did put it through, for which many since then have been thankful. Rev. Rightmyer now preaches at Cohensy, New Jersey.
" The church was built in the summer of 1854. The cor- ner-stone was laid on the first of July. Services prepara- tory were held in the Baptist church.
" At the dedication, the Water Street choir and congrega- tion attended, and there was a pleasant season. Rev. P. M. Rightmyer, in connection with his brother Cyrus, who had just completed his studies, and taken charge at Cassville, supplied Huntingdon with preaching until the fall of 1855. At this time Rev. R. H. Fletcher, who had just entered the ministry, took charge at Huntingdon and Lick Ridges, and continued until March, 1858, when he removed to Pine Grove. During this period Rev. W. B. Bechtel lived at Marklesburg, and served that church and Cassville. At the Synodical meeting, held in Bedford in October, 1858, Hun- tingdon, Lick Ridges and Marklesburg were made one charge, and in 1859 Rev. J. K. Bricker took charge and re- sided at Marklesburg. He served these churches until January, 1864, when he removed to York county.
"In 1864 Rev. J. H. Bratten succeeded Rev. Bricker. He served Marklesburg, Huntingdon and the Ridge, and in 1865 reported 50 communicants at Huntingdon. He preached until 1856, when his health failed and he resigned, and after- wards died at Chambersburg.
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" In June 1867, Rev. J. J Kerr took up his residence at Huntingdon, the charge being divided, and preached in this place, Lick Ridges, and subsequently also at Mill Creek, Hawn's School House and at Petersburg, He continued in charge until January, 1872, when he resigned and removed to Maryland. Ile is now living in Duncannon. He says he found here only 18 members and increased to 100.
"In April, 1872, Rev. S. S. McHenry moved to Hunting- don and served the charge until April, 1875, when he re- signed and subsequently removed to Newry, Blair county. During July, August and September, the church at Hun- tingdon was served by J. Zimmerman, a theological student from the seminary at Gettysburg. The congregations at Lick Ridges and Mill Creek, after McHenry's resignation, formed a new charge in connection with a church at Mc- Alevy's Fort. The congregation was then vacant until Feb- ruary, 1876, when a call was extended to our present pastor, Rev. J. R. Focht, under whose ministry quite a revival took place, and the membership increased from about 100 to 160.
" I have been unable to find any church records. Usually lists of communicants are kept, but it seems no one knows of their whereabouts. This is to be regretted, as we should have liked to enter into a minute sketch of the membership. As it is, I have had to content myself with meagre data and sift the uncertainties of human recollections. And it is mar- velous how many interesting things sleep in the grave of forgetfulness in the course of 22 years when not reduced to writing. So many people live and die, who are intent only on the passing hour and its necessary wants! Like the ox, they think neither of those who have gone before them, nor of those who may come after them. They remember not the days of old, they consider not the years of many genera- tions, they ask not their fathers to tell them, nor do they explain to their children the lessons of the past ! The 'gen- eration following' is the least of their troubles. History is science teaching by examples, but on many persons the in- struction is lost.
" At this time, this congregation has about 160 members,
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not counting 7 families at the Branch, and embraces about 44 male heads of families. It is in a much more flourishing condition than it was ever before. A good part of its mem- bership has been composed of a floating population. Not being raised together, and many of us coming here from other places, the social spirit of Christian society has never been cultivated as it should have been. Perhaps the membership have become better acquainted with each other during our recent revival; and we hope and pray that we may all be led to exclaim : Behold how sweet and pleasant it is to dwell together in Christian love!
" The mission of this church is by no means ended. It not only has its membership and the children of its member- ship to look after, but there are several hundreds in this town yet, who are children of the church, some of whom at- tend our sanctuary, while others have so far forgotten duty, as seldom or never to be found in the house of God. It is the duty of this church to reclaim the fallen, confirm the wavering, feed the sheep, and take care of the lambs. May she be equal to the task !
" Without a suitable house of worship no church can in this day perform her duty and flourish. Our old house has outlived its usefulness. We propose now to remove it and erect a new one suitable to our wants and commensurate to the taste of the times.
" The erection of a new church has been in contemplation for several years. By a fair, held in 1872, the sum of $500 was realized. A lot, belonging to the congregation, is deemed worth about that same sum. About $3,000 have already been subscribed among our own membership. We are weak in numbers and poor in purse; but we believe that if we erect a house that will fitly accommodate our congre- gation, and in a style that will make it an ornament to our town, that our neighbors and brethren of other churches in town will aid us a little.
" We have no suitable Sabbath-school room, nor place for prayer meetings; the roof leaks, and it is not deemed proper to waste money in repairs; we propose to take it
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down and use the material again in a neat two-story house, with gothic ceiling, with a central tower for a bell, and a spire pointing up to heaven."
The day after the delivery of Prof. Guss' lecture, work- men commenced the removal of the old church. The new one is now in course of erection.
In the spring of the present year, Rev. J. S. McMurray prepared and published a sketch of the history of the Metho- dist church at Huntingdon. We give it here in full :
" The Methodist Episcopal Church in America being or- ganized in 1784, in four years thereafter-1788-Samuel Breeze and Daniel Combs were appointed to Huntingdon circuit, with Nelson Reed as Elder, the other two being un- ordained ; the then circuit embracing the territory now in- cluded in both the Juniata and Altoona Districts, with a society of fifty-nine members.
"Up to 1793, the nearest preaching appointment to Hun- tingdon was at Michael Crider's mill, about 1} miles west of the town. In that year (according to the reminis- cences of Aunt Kitty Kurtz, the oldest member of the church now living, who was born in 1786, and whose father settled in Huntingdon in 1789), the first Methodist preach- ing in the town was by one Lesley Matthews, reputed to have been a converted Roman Catholic priest-who was as- sociated with John Watson and Nelson Reed as Elder. Num- bers then in Society on the circuit, one hundred and sixty- five whites and two colored.
"The first preaching-place was in one Beckie Tanner's house, on what is now Penn street, and where the brick residence of John Read, esq , now stands.
"The first Quarterly Meeting was held in an 'upper room', twelve feet square, of a small log building, still standing, which then belonged to James Saxton, deceased, and where Wm. Africa's shoe shop now is, on Penn street, south side of the Diamond.
"The first Society formed in the town was in 1797, con- sisting of eight persons, viz : Michael Crider and wife, their son Daniel, Thomas Carr and wife, Isaiah Harr and wife, and
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James Saxton. This small class met in a warehouse on the bank of the Juniata river, near the end of what is now Fifth street. The numbers in Society on the circuit were two hundred and forty-two, with Seely Bunn and John Philips as preachers, and J. Everett, Presiding Elder. In this year occurs the first designation of Presiding Elders-there being twenty-two of them in the whole connection, with one hun- dred and fifty seven ordained preachers called elders; the limit of a presiding elder's term on a district being four years, as it is now.
"The first chapel, twenty-five by thirty, consisting of hewed logs, was built in 1802, where the brick M. E. church now stands, on the northwest corner of Fifth and Church streets. The preachers of the circuit were Isaac Robbins and Jos. Stone, with W. Lee as Presiding Elder, and numbers in so- ciety four hundred and seventeen. In this year, Annual Conferences were organized, previous to which all the preach- ers in America met in one body, Huntingdon being included in the Baltimore District of the Baltimore Conference.
"Coincidents .- In the year the first class or society was formed in Huntingdon, the first designation and appointment of Presiding Elders was made, viz : in 1797 ; and in. the year the first Methodist house of worship was built in Huntingdon, Annual Conferences were organized (1802).
"A curious incident occurred in 1810, as appears from the book of the Recording Steward, or Quarterly Conference Journal. Among other items of expense incurred at a camp meeting is this: " Whittaker S. Vantries, for 200 segars, for the use of the preachers, 50 cents."
"The plan of Huntingdon circuit in 1814 was from Hun- tingdon to Williamsburg; thence up the Juniata to Franks- town ; thence through Sinking Valley, over the Allegheny to Philipsburg; thence, to what is now called the Union Church, six miles above Clearfield, on the Susquehanna ; thence back again through Philipsburg, by a powder mill which then stood beyond the town, to Warrior's Mark ; thence to Half Moon ; thence to Benton's, now Pennsylvania Fur- nace ; thence to Spruce Creek, taking in Huntingdon Fur-
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
nace and several other appointments ; thence to Kishaco- quillas ; thence to Stone Valley, taking in some five appoint- ments, back to Huntingdon; the preachers of the circuit being James Riley and Samuel Davis, with Robert Burch as Presiding Elder.
"Huntingdon became a station in 1866, during the pastor- ate of Job A. Price, now of the Baltimore Conference, with 158 members and 10 probationers. In a decade from that time (1875) the members in society have reached 715, con- sisting of 429 members and 286 probationers. There are now two churches, the one already referred to, valued at $15,000, and a new chapel of gothic structure in West Hun- tingdon, capable of seating five hundred persons, costing, exclusive of the lot, $2,600, dedicated February 13th, 1876. There is also a good, comfortable parsonage, well furnished, valued at $3,000. The official body : M. K. Foster, P. E .; J. S. McMurray, P. C .; J. R. Akers, Jun. P .; J. W. Ely, Supernumerary. Local Preachers, J. Irvin White and J. F. Mckinley. Exhorters, John Hagey and J. Harry Geissinger, with a full board of Stewards, two boards of Trustees, six- teen Class Leaders, and two Sunday-school Superintendents."
In compliance with the request of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, addressed to the pastors of all of its congregations, an historical ser- mon was delivered at Huntingdon, on Sunday, July 2, 1876, by Rev. A. Nelson Hollifield, pastor of the Presbyterian church, giving an account of the church at that place from its organization until the present time. We have been per- mitted to take from it such facts and extracts as give a suc- cinct history of the church buildings and pastors :
" On July 6, 1789, the Presbyterians residing in and near the town were organized into a church, and on the same day gave a call to the Rev. John Johnston for one-half of his ministerial services. Three days hence it will have num- bered the eighty-seventh year of its existence. It was or- ganized in the same year that gave the world the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of America. It is only thirteen years the junior of our great republic, and, R
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like it, seems to be renewing its youth and gathering its strength for another century of usefulness and honor."
* % *
"In the early part of his (Rev. Johnston's) ministry, there was no church edifice, but he preached in private houses un- til the old court house was built on Third street. Among other places, he preached in an unfinished apartment of a log building on the northeast corner of Second and Penn streets, part of which was occupied as a jail. He also preached in the second story of the house on the northeast corner of Fourth and Washington streets, which building is still standing. On the completion of the court house he preached in it.
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" Subsequently the Episcopalians, Lutherans and Presby- terians united, and erected what was long known as the Brick Church, in which they severally worshiped. The building was situated on the lot now occupied by the Academy, on the northeast corner of Fourth and Church streets." % * *
" June 13, 1823, after having served thiscongregation faithfully for three and thirty years, the pastoral relations existing between Mr. Johnston and this charge dissolved, and on the 16th day of December, following, he departed this life, in the seventy-fourth year of his age."
" The church remained vacant until June 21, 1825, a pe- riod of two years, when the Rev. John Peebles was installed as pastor by the Presbytery of Huntingdon. Mr. Peebles was born near Shippensburg, Pa., July 17, 1800, and was the son of Capt. Robert Peebles, an officer in the Revolu- tionary war. Mr. Peebles was a graduate of Jefferson Col- lege, studied theology at Princeton Seminary, and was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Carlisle in the spring of 1824. In November, 1824, on the recom- mendation of the Rev. Henry R. Wilson, D. D., he visited this church, and his pulpit .ministrations giving general satisfaction, he was invited and consented to remain as stated supply during the winter of 1824-25. On the 22d of April, this congregation extended him a call for his pastoral
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services for two-thirds of his time. The succeeding day- April 23-he received a call from the Hartslog (now Alex- andria) congregation for the remaining one-third of his time. These calls he accepted, and was installed over the church June 21, 1825." * * *
" When Mr. Peebles entered upon his work in this field, the congregation was exceedingly small and possessed no house of worship other than the brick church used in com- mon by the Episcopalians, Lutherans and Presbyterians. In June, 1830, through the efforts of Mr. Peebles, the first house of worship owned exclusively by this congregation, was com- pleted and dedicated. It was located on the west side of Fourth street, above Mifflin. The congregation increased so rapidly under Mr. Peebles' administration, that they were soon compelled to arise and build another and more commo- dious sanctuary, which they did in 1844 and '45. In the latter year the dedication of the second church edifice, located at the southwest corner of Sixth and Penn streets, took place."
" In April, 1850, Mr. Peebles, owing to the impaired state of his health, tendered his resignation, which was not accepted until earnest expostulations and frequent entreaties had es- sayed in vain to alter his fixed determination." * *
" On the 3d of August, 1854, he was seized with a fever of a typhoid type, and on the 11th of August he passed away from a sorrowing people exclaiming, 'O ! that will be joyful.' "
" The congregation having sxtended a call to the Rev. Lowman P. Hawes, he was regularly installed as pastor June 4th, 1850. Mr. Hawes was a preacher of more than ordinary ability, his sermons possessing all the polish which a gifted intellect and high scholarship could give them.
" His health failing, he resigned his charge in January, 1854, for the purpose of traveling in Europe. Mr. Hawes was the first pastor whose full time was engaged by this congregation.
"June 14th, 1854, the Rev. O. O. McClean, D.D., was in- stalled as pastor. Dr. McClean was universally popular as
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a preacher and pastor. In each of these capacities he pos- sessed gifts and graces peculiar to himself, which greatly en- deared him to his people during his brief but brilliant pas- torate. His faithful labors were blessed at different periods by numerous accessions to the church, and under his efficient administration the organization grew in usefulness and power." * * * *
" June 14th, 1859, the Rev. G. W. Zahnizer having re- ceived and accepted a call from this church, he was duly inducted into the office of pastor by the Presbytery, and a more fitting successor to Dr. McClean it would have been difficult to designate. Mr. Zahnizer's ministry was a success. Additions were annually made to the church, but it was re- served for the winter of '73 to place the crown of half-a-hun- dred conversions on his labors, and the same year witnessed the dedication of this magnificent temple of worship.
"In June, 1875, notwithstanding the written and earnest protest of a majority of the congregation, Mr. Zahnizer, from a sense of duty, requested this congregation to unite with him in his prayer to the Presbytery, asking for a dissolu- tion of the pastoral relation. The congregation refused to acquiesce. Nevertheless the Presbytery granted the prayer of Mr. Zahnizer, owing to his deep conviction of duty."
After hearing a large number of candidates, the congre- gation, on the 5th day of January, 1876, gave a unanimous call to the present incumbent, the Rev. A. Nelson Hollifield, then pastor of the Fairview church, in the Presbytery of Chester. He preached his first sermon after accepting the call on the evening of January 31st, and by a strange coin- cidence founded his discourse on the same text-2 Kings : 5-12-from which his immediate predecessor preached his initial sermon. A protracted meeting had been in progress during the preceding week, conducted by Rev. Samuel T. Wilson, D. D., and Rev. R. M. Wallace, a committee ap- pointed by the Presbytery for the purpose. This commit- tee Mr. Hollifield reluctantly relieved. The meetings were continued for six weeks. During the first two weeks ser- vices were held day and night, and the rest of the time at
a
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nights only. With few exceptions, Mr. H. preached at every service. As the result of these labors, one hundred and seventy persons were received into the church on profession of their faith in Christ, and fifteen by letter from other churches. The present number of communicants is about four hun- dred and fifty, the congregations are large, and the church is in a thriving condition. Such is the brief history of this old and influential church. In point of numbers, intelli- gence, piety, wealth and liberality, it ranks among the fore- most of its denomination in Central Pennsylvania.
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