USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 95
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On Sept. 12, 1852, Rev. Jacob Vogelbach was elected pastor and continued until February, 1857, when he resigned. Rev. Vogelbach preached in the German language and in Octo- ber, 1852, Rev. B. M. Schmucker accepted the call to become the English pastor of the congre- gation and remained until St. John's church was erected.
A new church building having been determined upon to replace the old stone structure, the final service in the old church was held on Easter, 1855. The name "St. Paul's" was adopted for the new church on May 27, 1855. A brick edi-
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
fice, erected at a cost of about $15,000, was con- secrated Sept. 21, 1856.
In 1857, Rev. A. T. Geissenhainer became pastor and remained until August, 1858, when Rev. William G. Mennig succeeded him, taking charge in February, 1859. He remained pastor until the spring of 1877, when he resigned. Dur- ing his pastorate the congregation united with the East Pensylvania Synod and about 350 of the members left the congregation and organized St. Michael's congregation. On Oct. 1, 1877, it was voted to make use of the English language in the Sunday evening services.
Rev. Charles E. Hay, D.D., began a success- ful pastorate on Dec. 1, 1877. The membership increased from 400 to 608; a new pipe organ was purchased in 1884 at a cost of $3,000; and in 1899, a parsonage, costing $5,000, was erected. Rev. Hay resigned Feb. 10, 1890, and with 113 of the congregation founded St. Matthew's con- gregation.
Rev. J. A. Singmaster became pastor May I, 1890, and served until May, 1899, when he was elected to the Singmaster chair of Biblical Theol- ogy in the Gettysburg Theological Seminary. Rev. George A. Greiss, the present pastor, suc- ceeded him, preaching his initial sermon Sept. 9, 1900. The present membership is 1, 137.
On April 19, 1903, the last services were held in the old church building, and on November Ist the cornerstone of the new building was laid. On Oct. 8, 1905, the new church was dedicated This magnificent Gothic edifice was erected at a cost of $92,000, and was made possible by the generous gift of William R. Yeager and his mother, of $10,000, as a memorial in honor of William F. Yeager, the former's father. The capacity of the church is 1,000 and of the chapel 900. The body of Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Tilghman, wife of Chief Justice Tilghman and granddaughter of the founder of the city, Wil- liam Allen, who died in 1798, reposes in a crypt in the foundation of the church.
The Sunday school of the congregation dates back to the year 1834, when the Lutheran and Reformed congregations had a union school. On Sept. 24, 1856, the school was organized in St. Paul's with Rev. S. K. Brobst as superintendent. It is divided into three departments, the main school, the primary school and the Bible class, each of which has a large membership. The societies of the congregation are: Home Mis- sionary Society, Society for the Care of the Poor, Woman's Home and Missionary Society, Young Ladies' Mission Band, Children's Mission Band, St. Paul's Sewing Society, St. Paul's Guild, and the Christian Endeavor Society.
ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
In 1852 the first steps were taken for the erec- tion of a separate English Lutheran church, the meeting having been held in St. Paul's Lutheran church, with Dr. Charles H. Martin as president,
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ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
and Augustus L. Ruhe, as secretary. As soon as this determination had been formed, the German members also resolved to build a new church, which rendered the work of securing an English church more difficult, because little assistance could be expected from those who remained in
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CHURCHES.
the old congregation. But an amicable arrange- ment was effected that the English church should be built and when completed the whole congre- gation would occupy it until the old church was removed and a new one erected. A lot was ac- cordingly secured at Fifth and Maple streets and enough subscriptions were obtained, upwards of $7,000, to warrant the undertaking.
The cornerstone was laid June 25, 1854; and the edifice was consecrated May 6, 1855, the services being extended for several days.
The English congregation was organized in the lecture room of the church July 16, 1855, the name "St. John's" chosen, and the government and discipline authorized by the General Synod were adopted. The first vestry was as follows: Trustee .- Dr. Tilghman H. Martin.
Elders .- William Saeger, Ephraim Grim, Christian Pretz, Charles Keck.
Deacons .- B. M. Krause, William H. Balliet, Tilghman J. Kleppinger, John J. Jarrett.
The members at the organization of the con- gregation were:
Ephraim Grim Henry Weinsheimer
Thomas Yeager Henry Keck
Solomon L. Keck Dewees Martin
Dr. H. A. Grim Philip S. Pretz
Andrew L. Keck Reuben Bright
Charles Keck Benjamin M. Krause
William Saeger John J. Jarrett
Christian Pretz
The first communion was held Nov. 4, 1855, with 39 communicants.
The congregation was incorporated February, 1856. An organ was then installed and C. F. Herman became the organist, who filled this posi- tion until 1891, a continuous period of 35 years.
In 1870, the church was enlarged and a par- sonage erected at a cost exceeding $10,000, and a new organ was installed. While the building operations were going on the services were con- ducted in the Court House. The total expenses for all improvements exceeded $20,000. A re- consecration took place June 11, 1871.
In 1877-78 a new front was added to the church and many improvements were made at a total cost of $18,000, which became necessary by rea- son of a fire in the church in October, 1887. The services were again conducted in the Court House and another consecration took place Jan. 27, 1889. Ten years afterward the organ was re- built and new carpets were laid in the church and Sunday school at an expense of $4, 100.
The membership had increased to 450 in 1885. In 1891, Prof. C. A. Marks became organist and served for 21 years, until his death in 1912.
In January, 1903, the pews were made free. During 1903 and 1904, a new Lutheran church was established at Thirteenth and Hamilton
streets, and 90 members of St. John's were dis- missed to it.
During this time, large improvements to the church became necessary which were made at an expense of $23,000. The renovated building was consecrated April 9, 1905.
During the past fifty years, the aggregate cost of the improvements amounted to $70,000. Be- sides, the congregation exhibited great liberality towards extension of the church benevolent oper- ations and the cause of Christian education at the theological seminary and Muhlenberg College.
The congregation sent into the Lutheran min- istry the following ministers from its members: J. D. Schindel S. A. B. Stopp
J. W. Richards Bernard Repass
J. W. Lazarus E. J. Wackernagel
Frank S. Seip F. W. D. Buchman
F. W. Wackernagel
George D. Foust
F. E. Cooper
- John Foust Charles R. Keiter
J. J. Schindel
L. D. Lazarus
The Ladies' Sewing Society, the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, and the Young People's Society, are worthy of special mention for their great asssitance in connection with the successful development of this historic church of Allentown.
The pastors have been :
B. M. Schmucker, Reuben Hill, 1872-85
1855-61 S. A. Repass, 1885-1906
J. F. Fahs, 1863-72 A. Steimle, 1907-
The congregation numbered 700 members in April, 1914.
A "Union" Sunday school was first opened in the stone building of 1774, in the year 1825. Prior to this date it was carried on in the Court House. The separate school of this congregation was organized in 1855 out of some of the old, active members of the Union school, whose with- drawal resulted in a great loss to the school in Zion's Reformed church. The first superinten- dent was Henry Weinsheimer, who had been one of the most efficient members of the Union school for many years. Among the early teachers were Maria and Amanda Reichard, Mrs. Messina Samson, Christiana Bender, Cordelia Saeger, A. G. Saeger, Ella Koch, S. A. Bridges, Amanda Yeager and Rebecca Keck. Later superintendents until 1878, were T. H. Moyer and R. K. Buehrle. A mission school was started about 1868 which was afterward transferred to St. Peter's congre- gation. It had an enrolled membership of 400.
Subsequent superintendents to 1886 were A. C. Pretz and T. H. Diehl. Then the pastor became ex-officio the superintendent, with assist- ants, and he has since filled this position. The total enrollment in 1914 was 398.
The 50th anniversary was held May 14, 1905
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
ST. PETER'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The first efforts toward founding this church in the portion of the city between the Jordan creek and Lehigh river, at Ridge avenue and Chew streets, were made Feb. 26, 1866, by a number of Lutherans who resided in that section of the city, known for a time as "Mingo." They were en- couraged to organize a congregation there by the pastors of the Lutheran churches in Allen- town, and in this behalf public meetings were held in the First ward schoolhouse. Within a month, active steps were taken to secure a lot on which to build a church, and on July 3d the name "St. Peter's" was adopted. Building oper-
ST. PETER'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
ations were begun Aug. 31, 1867, the cornerstone was laid September 22d, and the dedication took place Aug. 9, 1868.
The first vestry was elected Sept. 7, 1867, which comprised the following :
Elders .- Karl Richter, Peter Bernhard, Wil- helm Merkel, Jacob Poeppel.
Deacons .- Francis Sterner, Paul Knoechel, Louis Boyer, William Diehl.
The German language was wholly used in the services for some time; then demands came for services in the English language also, and
since then the morning services have been con- ducted in the German language and the evening in the English.
The congregation was incorporated in 1878.
Improvements were made to the building at different times, and it was enlarged at the rear in 1895.
In 1883, distinguished services were held in the church in commemoration of the 400th anni- versary of the birth of Martin Luther, and to signalize the event a unique monument was set up in front of the building, surmounted by a bust likeness of the greatly revered founder of the Church, which is said to have been the first established in America. It is designated by the modest white figure in the accompanying cut. The following expressive couplet is inscribed on its face in the German language:
Gottes Wort and Luther's Lehr
Vergehen nun and nimmermehr.
These words translated, signify that the Word of God and the teaching of Luther will never pass away.
The pastors have been :
K. Schlenker, I866-67 W. A. Lambert, 1904-09
Y. Sentner, 1868 F. W. Wackernagel,
S. K. Brobst, 1868-76
1910-
G. F. Gardner 1877-1904
A parochial school was conducted for a time during the ministry of Rev. Gardner in a sepa- rate building erected at the rear of the church; and in this building the Sunday school has been conducted. English services were introduced by Rev. Gardner.
The membership of the church in April, 1914, was 540; and of the Sunday school, 350, of which the pastor has officiated as superintendent, with an assistant.
A neat directory of the congregation, includ- ing an historical sketch, was compiled by the pastor, Rev. Wackernagel, and published in 1913.
ST. MICHAEL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The first steps towards the formation of another Lutheran congregation at Allentown were taken Jan. 25, 1875, at a meeting of the Fourth Ward Mission Society, on account of dissensions over doctrine and discipline in St. Paul's congregation, which was composed mostly of its members. On the 8th of February, an executive committee was appointed, consisting of Rev. Reuben Hill, Sam- uel J. Brobst, Mrs. Mary Eisenhard, Franklin Sieger, John Sanders and Edwin Kramlich, and then regular services were begun which were conducted by pastors of Allentown connected with the Pennsylvania Ministerium in the chapel of the Salem Reformed congregation at Eighth
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CHURCHES.
and Chew streets. There were at that time 123 communicant members.
In May, 1876, a lot was secured at the south- west corner of Ninth and Turner streets, the name "St. Michael's" was adopted, and the fol- lowing officers were elected :
Elders .- Abner H. Wint, George Ludwig, Samuel Roth.
Deacons .- Charles Gehringer, Addison Wint, Henry Ludwig, Amandus Kuhns, Charles Dresh- er and Reuben Lichtenwalner.
In June, a building committee was appointed consisting of Edwin Kramlich, Walter J. Grim
ning services to satisfy the younger members. The communicant membership at that time was 550; and the Sunday school had 580 teachers and pupils.
In 1895, the parsonage at No. 201 North Ninth street was purchased. The church was remodelled in 1901; and again in 1913, includ- ing a superior granolithic pavement.
The congregation entertained the General Synod of the Lutheran Ministerium in 1902.
The first daily Christian Kintergarten was started in this church in 1905.
A monthly parish paper has been published for
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ST. MICHAEL'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
and Charles W. Ludwig. Ground was broken soon afterward, the cornerstone of their proposed church was laid on August 13th, and the com- pleted edifice consecrated May 7, 1877. The cost was about $20,000. Shortly afterward the congregation was formally received into the Lu- theran Ministerium of Pennsylvania.
The religious services were conducted wholly in the German language until October, 1883, when the English was introduced for the eve-
the use of the congregation since December, 1903, under the auspices of the Luther League. The pastors have been :
Benjamin M. Schmauk, 1876-83 1894-1904
J. Steinhaeuser,
A. T. W. Steinhaeuser, George F. Spieker, 1883-94 1905-
Three times portions of its membership have 'swarmed' in the formation of St. Luke's, St. Stephen's and Christ congregations, but still the old hive is as busy and active as ever.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
ST. MATTHEW'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
In response to a call in the newspapers of Allen- town, about 100 persons assembled on the eve- ning of Feb. 4, 1890, in a vacant store-room on Hamilton street above Eighth, for the purpose of considering the propriety of establishing another English Lutheran church, and then it was determined to organize a congregation under the General Synod. A second meeting was held on February 1Ith, a constitution was adopted and Rev. Charles E. Hay was invited to con- duct religious services. On February 23d, a congregation was organized with 107 members, under the name of "St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church" and the following vestry was elected :
Elders .- P. K. Grim, F. S. Wilt, H. D. Biever and Edward Fetzer.
Deacons .- C. P. J. Bittner, J. C. Kleinsmith, W. J. Frederick, L. O. Shankweiler, I. W. Leiby and J. Lehrman.
Rev. Hay was then elected as pastor.
On March 14th a plot of ground for a church was secured, situated at the corner of Tenth and Maple streets, and the cornerstone was laid on May 25th, when the congregation and Sunday school marched there in a body. The member- ship was 151, of which 133 had withdrawn from St. Paul's.
The chapel was erected at a cost of $6,000, and dedicated Oct. 26, 1890. Financial aid was received from the Board of Home Missions. Various improvements were subsequently made to the property, including concrete walks, elec- tric lighting and the installation of a pipe organ and steam heating plant.
The auxiliary organizations connected with the church are the Sunday school, Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, Ladies' Aid So- ciety, Ushers' Union, Sunshine Circle and Mis- sion Band, the first two having been particularly useful and efficient factors in the development and success of the congregation.
The pastors have been :
Charles E. Hay, 1890-98 E. C. Ruby, 1908-14 H. D. Newcomer, George Bowersox, 1898-1904 1914-
William I. Good, 1904-07
ST. STEPHEN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The organization of this congregation had its inception in a joint meeting of the teachers' as- sociation and members of the St. Stephen's Sun- day school, held in the Seventh ward public school building on June 14, 1896. The follow- ing persons expressed a willingness to become members of the new congregation :
L. W. Weiss and wife Miss Mame Miller
John Oswald and wife Miss Sallie Haaf
John Kopp
Miss Laura Haaf
Ira O. Nothstein
Miss Carrie Bauer
Henry Heintzelman
Barton Shoemaker
James Heintzelman
Miss Minnie Kuhns
Mrs. Frank Derr
Rev. Wm. Wackernagel
The congregation was organized October 29th with 48 members, 24 of whom were from St. Michael's congregation ; and the first council con- sisted of :
Elders .- William Deisher, L. D. Weiss and D. S. Ludwig.
Deacons .- H. T. Heintzelman, Frank Derr, Elmer T. Gehris and Oscar C. Bast.
The first regular services were held Novem- ber 14th in the school building mentioned, where the Sunday school sessions had been held since 1889.
A one-story frame chapel was built on Four- teenth street below Chew and completed in De- cember, 1897, and the Christmas services were held there. The dedication took place Jan. 30, 1898. The services were in the English and Ger- man languages. In 1902 the subject of a change to a different location and the sale of the chapel was considered, and on Feb. 1, 1903, by a vote of 60 to 2, it was decided to secure a new site, and in December following, two lots were secured on the northeast corner of Turner and Franklin streets.
A charter of incorporation was obtained Nov. 9, 1903. The charter members were: F. H. Jacoby, E. S. Kuhns, O. S. Rabenold. H. F. Wint, M. Werkheiser and Wilson Schneck, and the vestry consisted of :
Oscar F. Hauser John Christman
Z. Cressman H. T. Heintzelman
F. W. Weber M. K. Seibert
D. E. Snyder George B. Bortz
C. F. Miller L. G. Heilman Oscar Bast
George Egolf
On Jan. 1, 1904, the congregation decided to erect a new church on the lots secured, a con- tract was awarded June 9th, ground was broken June 12th, and the cornerstone was laid Septem- ber 4th. The Sunday school room was com- pleted and the dedication took place May 21, 1905. Active services were held for six years and in this time there was a large increase in the membership. Building operations were re- newed vigorously; but a great calamity occurred Sept. 29, 1911, when the large corner stone tower collapsed through defective workmanship, caus- ing "many sad hearts and tearful eyes" in this energetic, determined and hopeful congregation.
This suddenly threw a serious problem upon the members and upon the young pastor who had just taken hold of the corporation, for they felt the great loss in various ways. But they were
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equal to the most trying position and determined unanimously to raze the remaining building to the ground and start anew, in which they were nobly encouraged by the surrounding community and all the churches in Allentown. The corner- stone was laid April 21, 1912, and by September Ist the basement was finished, ready for a "Home Coming Service," which was largely attended and liberally encouraged ; and by Oct. 5, 1913, the new building was put under roof and made ready for all the regular church services, and the pastor could well preach a sermon on the text: "What hath God wrought!"
St. Stephen's Lutheran church was at last dedi- cated Nov. 9, 1913, a most beautiful edifice, "with a congregation of over 400 members, a Sunday school of over 700 members, an earnest and devoted Ladies' Aid, a happy Mission Band, and two encouraging choirs."
Rev. Dr. William A. Wackernagel was par- ticularly prominent and useful during a most trying period of 17 years in the establishment of this Lutheran church, and quite naturally he has come to be regarded as its founder. He acted as superintendent of the Sunday school for nearly 12 years.
The pastors of the church have been: Ira W. Klick, 1900-10; Howard A. Kunkle since 1910. The latter compiled a complete history of the church and Sunday school.
The Sunday school of St. Stephen's Lutheran church was organized March 10, 1889, by Rev. Dr. Wackernagel under the auspices of the Mis- sionary Society of Muhlenberg College, and the major part of the teachers during its early his- tory for nearly ten years were students at the college. The sessions were held in the Seventh ward school building until "St. Stephen's Day" (2d day of Christmas), 1897, when they were transferred to the chapel erected on Fourteenth street, near Chew. The largest attendance until then was 157. Prof. C. H. Neubert organized the German Bible Class in 1897, and he has since continued its efficient teacher. The sessions were held in the chapel from 1897 to 1905, in which time the attendance was developed to 171, in spite of losses on account of the removal ; since then they have been conducted very suc- cessfully in the modern room of the church. In April, 1914, the membership was upwards of 700, and the average attendance upwards of 350.
ST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
By the encouragement of Rev. J. A. Scheffer and his wife, a Sunday school movement was started in 1885 on the first Sunday in Advent by a meeting in the public school building on Ninth street in the Eighth ward and church services
were also conducted there afterward, at which Rev. Scheffer preached in the English language, and Rev. J. S. Renninger in the German. These meetings and services were continued for a year and resulted in the erection of a one-story frame chapel on North Seventh street, beyond Liberty, which came to be occupied in January, 1889.
The Lutherans who stood by Rev. Scheffer and formed the congregation were :
Martin L. Erich wife
and Nathan Schneck
Calvin Ritter
D. D. Druckenmiller and
Caroline Seibert
wife
Martha J. Haas
Edwin A. Krause and wife
Levi Ritter John Derr
Moses Heilman
Lucy Derr
Matilda Rabenold
Mrs. Leinberger
Benjamin F. Heilig
Jacob Bogert
William Trexler
Lizzie Krause
William Heilig
Successful services were conducted here until Sunday, Feb. 7, 1897, with the membership in- creased to several hundred, when, to the amaze- ment of all assembled during a session of the Sunday school, a fire broke out and ruined the building. This occurrence put increased energy and religious spirit into the struggling members and they immediately determined to build a new church, and within a year (Christmas, 1897), their proposed handsome, red sandstone edifice was so far advanced that they had religious serv- ices in the basement.
The members persevered and struggled for five years, and finally, in December, 1902, their church was dedicated to the service of God with sincere praise and thanksgiving. The total cost was $21,500. In two years they added a fine pipe organ costing $3,000, towards which Andrew Carnegie contributed $1,400. The membership at that time was 300, and among them may be specially mentioned the following, who gave great financial assistance :
Rev. Scheffer and wife Richard S. Kistler and wife
Dr. A. W. Hendricks and wife
M. L. Erich and wife
D. D. Druckenmiller and wife
Mrs. Kate W. Cressman J. H. Bender and wife Levi F. Rex and wife Aaron Hahn and wife C. H. Neubert William Heilig
The wife of Rev. Scheffer manifested special devotion towards the maintenance and welfare of this church, by serving as head of the Mis- sionary Society for twenty years, and superin- tendent of the primary department of the Sun- day school for twenty-one years.
An addition was built at the rear of the edi- fice in 1913 for Sunday school purposes, owing to the rapid development of the school. The membership in April, 1914, was 616; of the church, 635.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
The regular pastors have been: J. S. Ren- ninger, 1888 to 1892; J. A. Scheffer, 1892 to 1894; and J. C. Rausch, 1894 to the present time. Rev. Scheffer was obliged to discontinue active work in the church and Sunday school
on Third street in East Allentown. A Sunday school was first organized there by students of Muhlenberg College and other interested Chris- tians and carried on for a number of years; then a congregation was organized in 1888 and came
ST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.
services on account of a serious throat affection, but he is still devoted to the welfare of the con- gregation in which he is encouraged by his wife.
ST. JOSEPH'S LUTHERAN CHURCH. St. Joseph's Lutheran church is situated
to be known as St. Joseph's Lutheran church of Hanover township. A frame building was erected under the directions of a building com- mittee consisting of George Mosser, Sr., Jacob Dannecker, Sr., and Oliver Deily, which was dedicated Aug. 2, 1888. . The lot was donated
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CHURCHES.
by William Saeger. Rev. J. S. Renninger served as supply pastor until Rev. P. P. Wisser was called to the regular pastorate. The congregation has had as its pastors, Revs. Wisser, Renninger, Kramlich, Scheidy, Mattern and P. A. Behler, the present pastor. The church council consists of the pastor, Hiram S. Fry, John Fetter, Edwin Hunter, William Luetten, Dr. C. C. Rogers, Henry C. Smith, Clarence Kurtz and Harry Fritch. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the congregation was observed on Oct. 26, 1913.
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