History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 100

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 100

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REV. DAVID MERTZ.

Prayer) or Mertz's church. The church build- ing is still standing and a cut of it appears on page 526 of this volume.

David Mertz was licensed to preach in 1839 and travelled seven years. He was a powerful exhorter, and possessed deep conviction. He died at Allentown Feb. 4, 1892. His wife, Carolina Scholl, was born Aug. 7, 1808, died Nov. 21, 1897.

ENTRANCE TO WALDHEIM PARK.

545

CHURCHES.

THE UNITED EVANGELICAL WALDHEIM AS- SOCIATION.

The ministry and laymen of the United Ev- angelical Church in Allentown and its vicinity desiring to provide a permanent camp-ground, requested Rev. C. S. Harman, the Presiding El- der of the Allentown district to appoint a com- mittee to look for a grove. A committee was appointed but it met with no success. Three years later Presiding Elder F. E. Erdman ap- pointed another committee to secure a suitable grove and this committee upon the earnest so- licitation of T. M. Wilhelm, finally secured an

operated with them and the latter furnished by far the larger amount of money and service which was given generously without the expec- tation of returns on the investment. No other ground within easy access of Allentown offers larger possibilities as a center for summer gath- erings free from the objections which usually are found at places devoted to other than moral or religious purposes. [See History of Wald- heim Park.]

THE HOLINESS MOVEMENT IN ALLEN- TOWN. During the early nineties this move- ment received an impetus in the division of the

EBENEZER HOLINESS CHURCH.

option on what is now Waldheim, and recom- mended its purchase at a meeting held in Beth- any Church, Allentown, Sept. 12, 1904. The purchase was ordered and "The United Evan- gelical Waldheim Association" was incorpor- ated. Membership in the association is secured by the purchase of stock. The stock-holders hold an annual meeting, open to all who desire to attend. The management of the business is entrusted to a board of seventeen directors who are elected at these meetings.

The initiative for the securing of a perman- ent grove was taken by the ministers, but their efforts have been fruitless until some laymen co-

Evangelical Association. During this period a number of Holiness preachers from New Eng- land joined the East Pennsylvania Conference of the Evangelical Association. Among them were Joshua Gill and John N. Short formally of the M. E. Church. These ministers later on became the nucleus of the New England Con- ference of the Evangelical Association. At the annual camp-meetings of the East Pennsylvania Conference, Holiness Evangelists were engaged who fearlessly expounded the doctrine of Holiness as a second definite work of grace. The efforts of the movement were successful we are told. The Holiness adherents started regular Sunday

546

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

afternoon meetings in the Ebenezer Evangelical church, on, on Turner street, Allentown. The leader of these Holiness meetings was T. L. Wieand and he likewise was the head of the whole movement. Strong opposition however developed against the sect holding the meetings in this church. The opposition against the doc- trine which the church generally espoused was lead by the pastor of the congregation and the Holiness meetings were much hampered. Fin-

building upon it. Rev. C. W. Pettit who be- came the next pastor, came from a charge at Glen Falls, N. Y.

At a congregational meeting, held July 30, 1899, at Beulah Park, the name of the church was changed to Ebenezer Penticostal Church of Allentown, Pa. They subscribed to the form and doctrine of the Association of the Pentecost- al Churches of America. Ebenezer Pentecostal Church has a membership of 65 persons, and an

GRACE U. B. CHURCH.

ally the Holiness forces after much considera- tion asked the church for their letters which were granted to all who were in good standing. They withdrew to the corner of Seventh and Linden streets, and continued their worship in Klep- pinger's hall, and there the services continued to be conducted by T. L. Wieand.

On March 23, 1898, Ebenezer Holiness church was organized with Rev. L. N. Custer as its first pastor, and after him Rev. W. E. Frederick served the flock. They had worshipped for a while at Ninth and Chestnut streets, in a log house owned by David Schoudt. Afterward they leased the corner of Linden and Church streets and the congregation erected a frame

enrollment in the Sabbath school of 100. [See history of Beulah Park.]

UNITED BRETHREN.

GRACE U. B. CHURCH .- A Sabbath school was organized April 15, 1902, in the school building at Sixth and Tilghman streets by Rev. J. M. Walters, pastor of Zion's U. B. church, and sessions were conducted regularly on Sun- days for two years until a chapel was erected on Washington, above Sixth street. The dedica- tion took place Sept. 4, 1904. A congregation was organized and services, including Sunday school, have since been conducted there.

The Board of Trustees comprises F. M. Hass-

547

CHURCHES.

ler, B. F. Wehr, R. A. Parks, C. A. Bergen- stock, and D. F. Brown.

Pastors .- The pastors have been :

S. L. Rhoads, 1903-04 C. H. Holzinger, 1909-10

A. G. Nye, 1904-06 E. E. Bender, 1910-13

Z. A. Weidler, 1906-08 C. G. White, 1913 -- W. W. Freidinger, 1908-09

The first quarterly conference was held at the residence of Rev. Rhoads.

ZION U. B. CHURCH .- At the annual confer- ence of the United Brethren in Christ in Schuyl- kill county, Feb. 26, 1864, Allentown and Beth- lehem were constituted a mission and Rev. David Hoffman was appointed as the missionary. Upon his location at Allentown he secured a meeting- place on Hamilton street, first east of Seventh, and afterward at Ninth, and the first year the congregation numbered 54 members. Trustees

ZION U. B. CHURCH.

were appointed to secure subscriptions for a place of worship, and a Sunday school was organized with 23 members under the superintendence of Jonas Kunkle.

In 1866, "Free Hall," at the corner of Ninth and Linden streets, was purchased, and the first floor was remodelled for religious services, which was dedicated on June 10th. By the end of this year the membership increased to 118, which was arranged in five classes under T. J. Schmey- er, Benjamin Stettler, A. H. Unger, J. L. Breinig and Edward Stever as class leaders. In 1870 the membership was 169.

The meetings were continued at Ninth and Linden until 1906, when the brick edifice of the congregation was erected at an expense of

$25,000, at No. 839 Linden street. The dedi- cation took place June 3d.

The East Pennsylvania U. B. Conference was held here, October 1-6, 1913.

Pastors .- The pastors have been :

David Hoffman, 1864-70 W. H. Uhler, 1890-92

Sandt, 1870-72

H. W. Zimmerman,

Schropp, 1872-76 1892-93

J. B. Dougherty, 1876-78

J. H. Johnson, 1893-97

J. H. Unger, 1878-80 G. D. Batdorf, 1892-1901

J. H. Mark, 1880-82 J. M. Walters, 1901-03

J. Shoop, 1882-83

D. S. Eshelman, 1903-04

J. P. Smith,

1883-86

H. B. Spayd, 1904-08

J. Runk,

1 886-88

C. A. Snavely, 1908-13

M. J. Heberle,

1888-90

MENNONITE BRETHREN IN CHRIST. BY H. H. ROMIG.

The founder of this Church is Rev. Wm. Geh- man, born in Hereford, Berks Co., Pa., January 22, 1827. He was a miller by trade, but early in life began farming on a farm near Vera Cruz, Lehigh Co., Pa., where he has resided since. His wife was a daughter of Jacob Musselman.

For eight years Rev. Wm. Gehman preached in the Old Mennonite Church, known as the Oberholtzer Mennonites, also called Mennonites No. 2. (The Oberholtzer Mennonites had separated from the main body of Mennonites in this country). Then with his followers, he left the Oberholtzer Mennonites because of disagree- ment in regard to holding prayer meetings and in the matter of experimental Christianity. The new denomination, officially and originally called "The Evangelical Mennonite Association," also known as "New Mennonites," originated in 1853 through the union of about 20 zealous Mennon- ite preachers and lay members, among whom Rev. Wm. Gehman was the leader. The preachers first associated with him were: Wm. N. Shelly, David Henning, and Henry Diehl; and the fol- lowing lay officials had united with them: David Gehman, Joseph Schneider and Jacob Gottshall. These all attended the first preachers' confer- ence held Sept. 24, 1858, in the home of David Musselman, Upper Milford township, Lehigh Co., Pa. At this conference they adopted rules and articles of faith. Their second conference was held Nov. 1, 1859, in the Evangelical Men- nonite meeting house in Haycock township, Bucks Co., Pa. Other ministers belonging to their number soon after the founding of the church were Eusebius Hershey, Abel Strawn, Jonas Musselman, Abraham Kauffman, and Jo- seph L. Romig.

After the first two annual conferences they held two conferences yearly for some time. In

548

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

1879 they and the United Mennonites joined forces, and in 1883 the name of the denomination was changed to Mennonite Brethren in Christ. They have had an Annual Conference in Can- ada for many years; also conferences and mis- sionary operations in various states of the Union and in other countries. Rev. Eusebius Hershey, one of the first preachers, died in Africa while working as a missionary. A granddaughter of Rev. Wm. Gehman, Miss Rose Lambert (now Mrs. David G. Musselman of Victoria, Texas) for years served as missionary in Hadjin, Asia Minor, where, during the Armenian massacres, some of her co-workers were murdered, she also being in great danger of losing her life. Rev. Henry Weiss and wife have been missionaries in Chili, South Amerca, for years.

Their church polity at first was patterned after that of the chruch from which they came, but becoming more Methodistic in their doctrine and mode of worship they also gradually adopted the Methodistic form of church government as then used in the Evangelical Association and similar Methodistic branches. They have had Presid- ing Elders for many years, but no bishops, al- though a few have favored the plan of having bishops. They have a General Conference con- vening every four years. They have introduced some new methods of work by sustaining, in addition to the regular work, two separate de- partments, known as "The Gospel Heralds" and "The Gospel Workers," the former consisting of men, the latter of women. These wear uni- forms and preach and perform deeds of love in a way somewhat similar to that of the Salvation Army.

The first church of this denomination was built soon after its organization, and is located in Up- per Milford township, this county, along the Perkiomen Railroad, between Dillinger and Zionsville stations. Other churches were built soon afterwards in Lehigh and surrounding coun- ties, at Coopersburg, Quakertown, Hatfield, Fleetwood and Terre Hill. The services at first were in German. After the English language was introduced the denomination made rapid strides forward. Churches were established at Emaus, Allentown, Bethlehem, Reading and other places.

Rev. Wm. Gehman was the first Presiding Elder, and held that office fourteen years. Other Presiding Elders were: Rev. Wm. B. Mussel- man, Rev. Wm. Gehman (son of the founder), Rev. Chas. Brunner, and Rev. Harvey B. Mus- selman.

The man who for many years gave most largely towards the maintenance of the work of the

church was a prominent layman, the late John B. Gehman, owner of the farm on which was a great iron-ore mine, adjoining the famous Bit- tenbender mine, at Siesholtzville, Berks Co., Pa.

The denomination now has a well-equipped camp meeting ground at East Allentown, where hundreds of the members yearly attend and hold great meetings. For years they had a camp ground, now abandoned, on Chestnut Hill, sev- eral miles west of Coopersburg.

These Mennonites are a very strict, honest, and zealous people; observe feet-washing, and are opposed to war, infant baptism, and secret societies.

Rev. Wm. Gehman, the founder, and for many years called "Father" Gehman, is now (1913) eighty-six years of age, well preserved, and still frequently preaches in German with unusual vigor and great unction.

In 1886, certain members of the Men- nonite Brethren in Christ at Allentown first began to assemble at the residence of Miss Louisa Horlacher, on Linden street above Eleventh, with the view of establishing a congregation and erecting a church for religious worship accord- ing to the doctrines of the Mennonites. They were identified with the Third Mennonite church in Lower Milford township, a mile east of Zionsville station. These meetings were con- tinued for three years, then, in 1889, they suc- ceeded in erecting a small frame chapel on Gor- don street, above Eighth. The active members were :

Louisa Horlacher John D. Baus and wife Ammon Dreisbach and wife

Oscar Baer and wife

Henry M. Gehman and wife

James A. Gaumer James Quier

Ellen Reichenbach Mrs. Weigert

The first pastor was Rev. W. B. Musselman; and since 1910, Rev. W. S. Hottel.

A one-story brick edifice was erected in 1902; which was remodelled and improved in the spring of 1914.

The membership in April, 1914, was 195; of the Sunday school, 314, with Albert Gaumer as the efficient and successful superintendent since 1912.

Another congregation of this branch of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ was organized in South Allentown in 1900, and after conducting religious meetings under Rev. W. Steinmetz in a small building on Greenleaf street for two years, they succeeded in erecting a one-story brick church at No. 529 Greenleaf street, and have since carried on their organization. They started with the following active members:

549

CHURCHES.

Wilson Steinmetz and William Brunner and

wife wife Henry Gehman

Charles Beaver and wife

Franklin Bobst and wife

Lillian Frey

Emma Schul

In April, 1914, the membership was 90.

A Sunday school has been carried on in con- nection with the church. The members number 250. O. C. Kistler has been superintendent since 1908.

The pastors have been :

W. Steinmetz, 1900-03 W. J. Fretz, 1908-II

L. Frank Haas, I903-05 R. L. Woodring, 1911-14

R. Bergstrasser, 1905-08

FIRST MENNONITE CHURCH .- This congre- gation was organized by Rev. W. H. Grubb, in 1904, and a one-story frame building, 30 by 40 feet, was erected on the north side of Chew street, above Twelfth (No. 1215). The active members were:

Harvey S. Kummery and wife

A. M. Musselman Horace Kratz

Menno Sell and wife

Mrs. Amanda Benner

Peter Sell and wife

Mrs. Caroline Heller

V. C. Backenstoe and wife

Miss Addie Shleifer

Levi Heistand and wife

Amandus A. Moyer

Henry Griesemer and

Arthur Moyer

wife

William Rosenberger

Oscar Wurster and wife

The pastors have been :

W. H. Grubb, 1904-06 Victor B. Boyer, supply from 1910-12; pastor

William Gottschall, 1906-10 since Jan. 1, 1913.

The members of the church number 93, and of the Sunday school, 185, of which A. M. Mus- selman has been the superintendent from the be- ginning.

Mizpah Grove was established by the execu- tive board of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ of the Pennsylvania Conference in April, 1910, by the purchase of six acres of ground at Fifth and Lawrence streets, in East Allentown, the Fourteenth ward. The twenty-one ministers of the conference immediately, by their own per- sonal exertions, cleared off an appropriate spot at the northwest corner and set up 154 small tents for camping members ready for a meeting in the beautiful grove in July. A superior well was sunk to the depth of 40 feet and an abundant sup- ply of excellent "granite-stone" water secured. A two-story brick building was erected for a dining hall and storage purposes in 1910; another nearby in 1911, and an auditorium with a seating capac- ity of 1,000 in 1912. The conference is in three divisions, centered at Bethlehem, Mount Carmel, and Allentown, embracing twenty-one ministers, and since then they have conducted very successful meetings in this grove three times

each year in July and August. The sanitary ar- rangements are perfect.

SWEDEN BORGIAN.

The New Jerusalem church is founded on an acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as the one and only personal God of the universe. The first be- lievers at Allentown were Simon Sweitzer and his family, who moved from Philadelphia in 1830, and others who afterward united with them were Frederick Bohlen, J. Brader, Robert E. Wright, I. N. Gregory, E. D. Leisenring and Eli J. Saeger.

In the winter of 1868-69, Rev. A. O. Brick- mann, of Baltimore, came to Allentown and preached in Bohlen's Hall on North Seventlı street, and also in the Court House, which re- sulted in the organization of a congregation in the Court House on Oct. 20, 1869, with Mr. Sweitzer as president, Mr. Saeger as treasurer, and John Wunderlich as secretary.

Rev. L. H. Tafel, of Philadelphia, began to conduct services in 1870, and preached several years every fourth Sunday. He organized a Sunday school. Both church and school were car- ried on in Bohlen's Hall. During 1873, Rev. J. E. Bowers visited the church occasionally as a missionary. Then Rev. Brickmann accepted a call as the pastor and he carried on his minis- trations in a most effectual manner until 1877. During this time a new constitution was adopted and the congregation became connected with the Pennsylvania Association. The services attracted large audiences.

The meetings were suspended for several years until May, 1881, when the Right Rev. William H. Benade, the presiding minister of the Penn- sylvania Association of the new church, intro- duced a theological student, Eugene J. E. Schreck, from its academy, who began preaching every two weeks for a time, then every week. He preached in the English and German languages, and also acted as superintendent of the Sunday school. During this time, a property was secured by the society on South Seventh street, near Union, and the dwelling was altered for religious services, the dedication having taken place Dec. 10, 1882.

In 1883, the society severed its connection with the Pennsylvania Association, and Rev. Schreck, upon his ordination, became the regular pastor. Then there were about 70 members in Allentown, and additional members in the county districts. The congregation now worships in the Court House and the pastor is Rev. J. E. Smith.

FREE METHODISTS.

The religious denomination, which has been

Miss Sevilla Fink

550

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

named and recognized as the Free Method- ists, was first organized at a State Conference held in New York on August 23, 1860. The 50th anniversary of its existence was properly celebrated at Silver Lake in New York, in August, 1910.

Their doctrine, articles and rules are similar to those of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

A congregation was organized at Allentown on Aug. 10, 1867, by Rev. William Parry, and the first members were Charles Hartman, Henry D. Spinner, Anna Johening and Eliza Schantz. The chairman of the district at that time was Rev. William Gould, which embraced Allen- town and the Lehigh Valley circuit. The first meetings were held at the home of Mr. Hart- man, and afterward in a chapel at Eighth and Chew streets. In 1884 the membership was twenty.

The meetings were continued at different other places until 1892, when a one-story frame chapel was erected, 30 by 60 feet, on the rear of a lot of ground on the southwest corner of Turner and Penn streets. It is connected with the New York District, in the New York Conference. The principles positively prohibit members con- nected with secret societies or addicted to the use of tobacco and liquor.

Pastors .- The pastors since 1892 have been : W. B. Rose, 1890-92 A. W. Myer, 1902-04 J. T. Cameron, 1892-93 William Gould, 1904-07 W. R. Tamblyn, 1893-96 O. D. Seward, 1907-10 J. E. Payne, 1896-99 C. A. Kress, 1910-12

Chester Sanford, 1899-02 D. A. King, 1912 --- Rev. W. B. Rose is the general publishing agent of the church literature in all its forms, at Chicago, Ill.

The membership is 40. The Sunday school has 60 members, with Miss Sarah Johenning as superintendent. A previous superintendent for 30 years was Charles O. Schantz.

The National Conference includes only three German congregations.

NEW REFORMED.

ZION'S NEW REFORMED CHURCH .- This is a mission frame chapel of the Ebenezer New Re- formed Church at Bingen, in Northampton county, in dimensions 30 by 32 feet, situated on the northwest corner of Seventh and St. John streets. It was organized in November, 1912, by Rev. David G. Wiegner, pastor of the Bingen church, with the following members:

Marcus Dietz and wife L. Greenawald and wife James Vogenitz and wife William Nagle and wife John Kline and wife Benjamin Lentz and wife Thomas Rickert and wife Miss Mildred Lentz Miss Gertrude Rehert

Mrs. Sallie Latsham

Mrs. Wayne Trego

Mrs. Irwin Bartman

Mrs. Lewis Blass

Mrs. Anna Seagreaves

Mrs. Mary Lewis

Miss Sallie Wisner Miss Edna Miller

The membership of the church is 30, and of the Sunday school, 80, with George Lentz as superintendent.

GOSPEL CHAPEL.

An undenominational religious congregation was organized in 1912 by Rev. F. D. Geary with 30 members, having assembled in a one-story frame building on the northeast corner of Lin- den and Church streets, owned by Charles Losch, and this has been maintained until now. The membership in April, 1914, was increased to 70. A Sunday school was organized at the same time, with Asher Bower as superintendent. Its membership is 150.

Mr. Losch died in 1913 and devised this prop- erty to the congregation, but the last will is being contested.

AFRICAN.

AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH .- This building, a two-story frame structure at No. 738 North Penn street, 30 by 40 feet, was erected by Mrs. Harriet Baker in 1900, under the name of "Baker Home, Gospel Mission." She was an active and successful representative of the Philadelphia Con- ference at Philadelphia, which was interested in the religious welfare of the colored race, and conducted meetings here until a short time be- fore her death, March 1, 1913. She was 84 years old and during her life was recognized as a most remarkable woman. She caused a similar church to be erected at Lebanon. She was prev- iously located at Columbia, Pa., for many years, where her property was destroyed during the rebel invasion.

The first floor comprises the auditorium, which is fitted up with pulpit and backed benches. The second floor is arranged with nine rooms which were occupied by Mrs. Baker from 1900 until she died. The property is under the care of her family. Notwithstanding her death, the services have been conducted every Sunday by Rev. C. J. Morton. A Sunday school is also conducted there. The membership is small, on account of removals. The colored population of Allentown is estimated at one hundred.

JEWISH.

KENESETH ISRAEL congregation was organ- ized by Jewish inhabitants of the city about 1885, but a temple was not erected until 1906, when a handsome structure on South Fifteenth street, between Hamilton and Walnut, was dedicated on Sept. 9, 1906. The temple is built of cement block, and is one-story, with a basement for the use of the school. Rev. Morris Mandel was the pastor at the time of dedication. His successor was Joseph Leiser. The present able and ac-

55I

CHURCHES.

complished pastor is Rev. Theodore F. Joseph. The building committee of the temple was com- posed of A. Samuels, chairman; L. N. Ellen- boger, A. Ellenbogen, I. Weil, M. Stern, J. Mer- kel, M. Hess, C. Kline and M. Gladstone.

SONS OF ISRAEL congregation, at Sixth and Tilghman streets, was organized in 1906, and in 1908 built the handsome church building at a cost of $30,000. Among the members of the congregation are Max Rapaport, Jacob Caplan, Max Senderowitz, Max Rosenberg, Max Chan- nock, Samuel Swartz, Abraham Nathan, Jacob Schattenstein, Morris Movosovitz and E. A. Markowitz.

Agodas Achim Synagogue, at 625 North Sec- ond street, was built in 1885. Rabbi Goodman Grossman is its pastor.

CATHOLIC.

It appears from the following petition that a number of Catholics resided at Allentown in 1767; these, desirous of erecting a church, peti- tioned the governor for license to collect the necessary funds. There is, however, no account that the project was carried out.

The petition of the congregation of Roman Catholics of the town of Northampton, Sept. 25, 1767, (Penna. Arch., Vol. IV., p. 279) hum- bly sheweth :

That your petitioners are about to build a church for the worship of God in the town of Northampton, and have already provided mate- rials for putting their design into execution.

But they fear the inability of your petitioners is likely to render their good intentions fruitless, unless they are at liberty to ask assistance from charitable and piously disposed people. They, therefore, humbly entreat your honor to grant them a license for the said purpose, whereby they may have the peaceable and quiet enjoyment of their religion according to the laws of the prov- ince, and reap the benefit of those privileges granted them by your honor's benevolent ances- tors, etc.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 100

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158