History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 99

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 99

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ZION U. E. CHURCH is the product of mis-

sion work conducted in South Allentown, by the Trinity United Evangelical Church of Allen- town. At the Quarterly Conference, held July 25, 1898, a committee was appointed to inquire for a place of worship south of Hamilton street, in the city of Allentown. This committee, hav- ing failed to find a place, was discontinued at a conference session held May 27, 1897. At the same conference William Hoffman reported that the missionary societies of Trinity congregation had appointed a committee to make further in- quiry for a place of worship and, at the confer- ence session of September 3, of the same year, this committee reported that a temporary chapel had been erected in South Allentown at a cost of $109.20, of which amount, $36.41 had been contributed in offerings at the opening service. The conference appointed a collector to secure the balance. At the conference of November 25, of the same year, the collector reported the bal- ance paid. It was also reported that the mission was organized with a membership of twenty- three and that a Sunday school was being organ- ized. A year later, November 9, 1898, the con- ference decided to purchase the Scheetz's lot at a cost of $440.00. Up to the year 1899 this mission was under the supervision of Rev. D. A. Medlar, pastor of Trinity congregation. At a session of the Quarterly Conference, held Feb- ruary 17, 1899, a memorial was addressed to the Annual Conference which met at Mohnton, Pa., the following month, asking that South Allen- town, be supplied with a pastor. The Annual Conference added Northampton to South Allen- town, called the charge South Allentown and Northampton Mission and appointed Rev. J. Stermer as pastor. During his first year the present brick building was erected at a cost of nearly $4,000.00. The cornerstone was laid on June 4, 1899, by Rev. D. A. Medlar, and the dedication took place on October 1, Rev. W. F. Heil officiating. In 1913 the parsonage was built. The congregation was incorporated No- vember 13, 1899, the charter members being, Jacob Christine, Charles Weidner, John J. Gangaware, Harrison Bortz, Charles Fry, Daniel B. Harper, James Moritz, Oscar Mohr, Paul R. Byer, and Horace Haas. The following minis- ters served this charge: John H. Stermer, 1899- 1902; J. M. Rinker, 1902-03; J. E. Bahner, 1903-06; D. G. Reinhold, 1906-07; W. H. Snyder, 1907-11 ; Thomas Knecht, 1911 -.

CATASAUQUA.

The adherents of the United Evangelical Church met on October 6, 1894, and organized themselves into a congregation and adopted the

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

name, "St. John's Congregation of the United Evangelical Church." Peter Heilman, John W. Souder, George Minnich, James Fahler, and Charles W. Weibel were elected trustees. Rev. D. S. Stauffer, John W. Souder, Peter Heilman, George Minnich, and David Graffin were ap- pointed a committee to purchase a lot and build a church property. A lot on the corner of Third and Walnut streets was purchased for $3,000

and a brick church was erected on the rear. The church was dedicated March 5, 1895, Rev. A. M. Stirk officiating. Among the oldest members of the church are: Mrs. Caro- line Gilbert, Mrs. Mary Minnich, Henry Sou- der and wife, Charlotte, Peter Heilman, James Fahler. The following ministers served as pas- tors: D. S. Stauffer, 1894-96; R. M. Lichten- walner, 1896-1900; C. D. Huber, 1900-03; D. P. Longsdorf, 1903-07; John H. Stermer, 1907- 10; R. W. Hand, 191012; A. W. Warfel, 1912 -.

EGYPT.

In 1901 the United Evangelical Church of Egypt was organized. The appointment was served in connection with Catasauqua. In 1902 it was taken from Catasauqua and connected with Emerald. At present it is again connected with Catasauqua. The congregation occupies a small chapel, erected in 1902. A Sunday school is maintained and the congregation is served on al- ternate Sundays by the pastor of Catasauqua.

EMAUS.

The St. Matthew's United Evangelical Church was organized in 1894. John Koch, Sr., Joseph Bagenstoe, Jonas Fritz, Sylvanus Ritter and James Hauser were elected trustees. Samuel Lee and James Hauser were appointed to secure a place of worship and to arrange for the purchase of a building lot. The lot on the corner of Fifth and Ridge streets was purchased. Thomas Knecht, James Hauser, and Henry Knouss were appointed a building committee. On November 10, 1894, the cornerstone was laid. Rev. H. D. Schultz had charge of the service. The church was dedicated by Bishop R. Dubs on December 25, 1894. Until 1913 Emaus was served in connection with Cetronia and Vera Cruz but at the session of the East Pennsylvania Conference of that year, it was constituted a mis- sion by itself. The following ministers served as pastors : C. S. Brown, H. H. Smith, Thomas Knecht, F. Sechrist, J. K. Seyfrit, John Stermer and D. F. Kostenbader. Rev. Stermer served a full term, beginning with 1903, and was re-ap- pointed in 1911. He is the present pastor. During the term of Rev. Frank Sechrist, a very successful revival resulted in seventy conver-

sions. The congregation has advanced slowly since its organization, the most noted advance having been made in the Sunday school, which reports an enrollment of 384.

SLATINGTON.

The officials, with a number of other members of the St. Paul Church of the Evangelical As- sociation, met in the home of Aaron Peter on October 5, 1894, L. F. Brensinger, acting as president and William H. Gish as secretary. William Ruch's hall was secured as a place of worship. Committees on worship, on location, and on organization were appointed and a con- gregational meeting was called for October 8. At the appointed time a large number of the members of St. Paul's congregation met. Rev. A. M. Stirk presided at the meeting and L. F. Brensinger acted as secretary. Rev. I. J. Reitz for the committee on organization, submitted a report providing for a temporary organization un- der the name of Trinity Evangelical Congrega- ton. It also provided that the form of organiza- ion which had obtained in the St. Paul's Church, should be recognized in the new congregation. At an official meeting held October 12, 1894, it was decided to purchase two lots on the east side of Second street, owned by Charles Mack. The lots had a frontage of eighty feet on Second street, and a depth of 150 feet and cost $2,- 500.00. Rev. I. J. Reitz, Stephen Zellner, John DeLong, Aaron Peter, William Ruch, Edward German and Edward Shoenberger were elected a building committee. A permanent organizatio was effected on April 2, 1895, by electing W. H. Gish, L. A. Jones, William Ruch, Stephen Zell- lier and Alexander Weaver, trustees. The cor- nerstone of the new church was laid June 2, 1895, and the church was dedicated November 3 of the same year, the Rev. A. M. Stirk officiat- ing. The cost of the church was $6,128.00. Later an adjoining lot was purchased for $900.00 and a parsonage costing $2,376.00 was erected on it. In 1913 the congregation had 153 mem- bers, a Sunday school enrollment of 289, with an organized men's class of 66 members. J. P. Miller served as pastor from 1891-93; I. J. Keitz, 1893-96; D. S. Stauffer, 1896-1900; J. W. Woehrle, 1900-02; W. J. Edelman, 1902- 03; J. M. Rinker, 1903-07; G. A. Knerr, 1907- Il ; W. H. Snyder, 1911 -.

EMERALD.

At a public meeting at which Rev. I. J. Reitz presided and A. C. Nolf, Esq., acted as secretary, held on October 6, 1894, it was decided unani- mously by the people adhering to the United Ev- angelical Church, to erect a place of worship

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CHURCHES.

at once. At a second meeting held two days later, the committee on location and property, consisting of A. C. Nolf, Peter Oswald, and Peter Kern, reported that Daniel Thomas of- fered a suitable lot for $500.00; $50.00 of the purchase price was to be paid in cash and the balance was to be secured by a mortgage. The said Mr. Thomas also agreed to pay $25.00 to- ward the erection of a church. This offer was accepted and A. C. Nolf, Jeremiah Oswald, Peter Kern, Justus Moyer and Lewis Kuntz were elected as building committee. The ex- cavation for the foundation was begun on Oc- tober 14; on November 4, the cornerstone was laid by the pastor, Rev. I. J. Reitz; and on De- cember 23 of the same year the church was dedi- cated by Bishop C. S. Haman. It was the first church of the United Evangelicals to be dedi- cated in the East Pennsylvania Conference. Cash subscriptions to pay the entire cost of the build- ing were secured on the day of dedication. The temporary organization held over until August 22, 1895, when a permanent organization was effected by the election of Peter Oswald, A. C. Nolf, Justus Moyer, Elias Roth, and Peter Kern as trustees. In the organization of the board Peter Oswald was chosen as president, A. C. Nolf, secretary, and Justus Moyer, treasurer. The congregation was connected with the Slat- ington charge until 1902, when Egypt and Franklin (now Emerald) were constituted a mis- sion. In 1906 Franklin was constituted a mis- sion by itself and in 1911 Berlinsville and Cherryville were added to Emerald. In 1913 Cherryville was detached, leaving Emerald and Berlinsville a separate charge. The following ministers served as pastors: J. P. Miller, 1891- 93; I. J. Reitz, 1893-96; D. S. Stauffer, 1896- 1900; J. W. Woehrle, 1900-02; J. D. Kistler, 1902-04; J. K. Hoffman, 1904-1908; A. W. . Warfel, 1908-12; J. F. Layton, 1912 -.

HOSENSACK.

In the year 1897 about 85 of the members of the Upper Milford Evangelical Association withdrew and organized the Grace United Ev- angelical Church. A committee consisting of Rev. Daniel Yeakel, Asa Miller, Nathan Stahl, Jesse S. Moyer, Josiah Doney, Charles Miller, and Levi Miller, was appointed with power to select a site. Rev. Daniel Yeakel, the senior member of the committee and the leading spirit in the congregation, was given the privilege to make the final selection, and he, after a night of prayer, chose the present site, located near what was formerly known as Powder Valley railroad station. Rev. David Yeakel, Jesse S. Moyer,

H. L. Yeakel, Asa Miller were appointed a build- ing committee. Work was begun at once and on September 26, 1897, the church building was dedicated by Rev. C. Newton Dubs. The first trustees were. Rev. Daniel Yeakel, H. L. Yeakel, Jacob Geho, Jesse S. Moyer, and Charles Heil. 'The congregation forms a part of the East Greenville Mission and is served in connection with the East Greenville and Clayton appoint- ments. Rev. C. W. Heffner was pastor when the church was erected and since then the fol- lowing ministers served the congregation: D. G. Reinhold, 1898-1900; J. K. Freed, 1900-04; N. S. Hawk, 1904-06; S. A. Heisey, 1906-07 ; Thomas Knecht, 1907-10; J. E. Bahner, 1910- 14.

CETRONIA.

For the greater part of a century the Evan- gelical Association had a foothold along the waters of Cedar creek. Pioneer missionaries preached in private houses, in barns and under the open heavens, until, in later years a stone building called "Bet-Hügel" was used as a church. From this first place of worship a number of churches had their beginning of which the last in years is the Grace United Evangelical Church of Cetronia. A neat church building was erected in 1896 under the pastorate of Rev. Frank Se- christ. The building committee consisted of Ed- ward Mertz, Willoughby Hartman, Edward Glick and Tilghman Helfrich. The church is located along the main street of the village. The present congregation includes a number of the older families of the community. It has given many members to the churches in Allentown. A good Sunday school is maintained and conditions promise a fair growth in the future. This school was organized by Reuben Glick about seventy- five years ago. Its sessions were held in a shed used to store bark. Elden Glick, Edward Mertz and John Beidler are the present trustees. Ells- worth Reinhart is the steward, Peter Weaver the class leader, and Mrs. Lillie Helfrich the Sun- day school superintendent. Rev. D. G. Rein- hold is pastor.

VERA CRUZ.

The Evangelical Association people began their worship in the Baptist church in the year 1852. The United Evangelical congregation was or- ganized in 1898, and purchased the rights of the Baptist people, receiving sole title to the lot on which the building stands and to the adjoin- ing cemetery. In 1901 the church was enlarged and remodelled under the pastorate of Rev. J. K. Freed. At this time Francis G. Swartz of Al- lentown donated a piece of ground in honor of

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

his parents, which was added to the cemetery. The trustees at the time when the property was purchased were Amandus Kline, Edwin H. Mohr and Philip Ritter. The present trustees are the same, excepting Amandus Kline, deceased, whose successor is George Wambold.

REV. JOHN SCHELL.

Rev. John Schell was one of the early minis- ters of the Evangelical church. He was born in Upper Milford township, Lehigh county, Jan. 29, 1816, son of George and Catharine (Schuler) Schell. At the age of eighteen years he learned the stone mason trade, which he followed dur- ing the summer months; and during three suc- cessive winters he attended the uakertown Acad- emy. Afterward he taught school at Shimers- ville, Pa. In 1847 he was soundly converted

REV. JOHN SCHELL.

to God and the following year he entered the ministry of the East Pennsylvania Conference and was assigned upon the Germantown Circuit. In 1849 he was appointed upon the Bowmans- town Circuit; from 1850-51 he served Pine- grove Circuit. From 1852-53, Schuylkill Haven, from 1854-55, Pottsville, from 1856-57; Salem church, Allentown; from 1858-59, Weissport ; from 1860-61, Orwigsburg; from 1862-63, Leb- anon; from 1864-65, Catasauqua; in 1866, Sa- lem church, Allentown, for a second time; Sa-

lem church, Reading, during 1867 and 1868; Milford Circuit in 1869; Sixth and Dauphin Street Church, Philadelphia, in 1870 and 1871 ; during 1872 he located at Allentown, owing to ill-health. In 1873 he served Hamburg, after which he was appointed to the North Allentown Mission, which he served during 1874 and 1875, and in the latter year he built the Zion's church, located on Liberty street, near Ninth. In his efforts in building the new church he was very successful and scores of souls were converted. His death occurred Feb. 16, 1876. His funeral was conducted in the Salem church, at Allen- town, and it was largely attended. The funeral sermon was preached by Bishop T. Bowman, D.D., assisted by Presiding Elder J. M. Saylor and other ministers of the denomination.

Rev. Schell was a minister of service, having been a delegate to the General Conference which met at Buffalo, N. Y., in 1863. He was a man of great piety and goodness of heart, although not noted for the eloquence of his preaching, he nevertheless was a power in the church in which he labored so long and faithfully. Rev. Schell had been ailing for a long time and he suffered much pain during his last sickness, but he bore it all with Christian fortitude, and during the last days of his life he spoke much of Heaven and the blessedness of the Christian's death. He was buried at Schubert Meeting House in Upper Milford township.

Rev. Schell was first married to Mary Miller, who died in 1843, leaving one daughter, Mary A., whobecame the wife of Henry Ibach and she now resides at Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

He was married, second, in 1850, to Amelia, a daughter of George and Mary (Koch) Heil of Lower Macungie. She was born in 1830 and died in 1889. Their children follow: (1) Sarah who died aged fourteen years; (2) Anna H. J| (m. J. A. Moyer, and they have the following children : Amy M., Howard U., Robert W., and Arthur G.) ; (3) Addison A., who died in his third year; (4) John W., who died aged fifteen years; (5) Lillie L. (m. O. C. Donecker. She died in 1886, aged twenty-four years) ; (6) Wil- liam M., died aged twenty-four years; (7) Er- win G., died in infancy.

SOLOMON NEITZ was born in Lehigh county, Pa., April 2, 1821. He was converted at the age of fourteen at the Mertz church (the first Evangelical church in Lehigh county), in March, 1835. He entered the ministry of the East Pa. Conference, 1840. In 1855 he was conference agent for Union Seminary. He was elected pre- siding elder in 1856 and 1860, but having been

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CHURCHES.

appointed by the Board of Publication to write the "Life of Bishop Seybert," he resigned in 1861, and devoted himself to that work. He was re-elected presiding elder in 1862, 1866 and 1870; served Reading Eighth Street church in 1874, was re-elected presiding elder in 1875;

REV. SOLOMON NEITZ.

resigned in 1878, and was appointed to Reading Eighth Street again, where he served three years. In 1881 he rested because of failing health, and in 1882 he was appointed to Reading Ninth Street, which he served until September, 1883, when he became disabled for further service and thereafter was retained in the itinerancy with- out appointment until hs death. He was a dele- gate to the General Conference of 1856, and to every subsequent one until his death. In 1863 he was sent by the Board of Missions to Ger- many to inspect and more firmly establish the work there. He was the faithful and efficient treasurer of the Charitable Society for a number of years.

As an orator Solomon Neitz has probably never been surpassed in the church. His speech was always weighty, impressive and convincing, and he often swept his audience into raptures by his grand and overwhelming oratory. Unlike many, whose only strength is in their victory, Neitz was always fertile in resources and fresh in his subject matter, and frequently led his hearers into fields not often traversed by others. In 1844 Neitz was married to Susan Hammer, a member of an eminent Evangelical family of that name, who were among the fruits of the great Orwigs- burg revival. His son, Henry, entered the min- istry of the East Pa. Conference in 1867. Fa- ther Neitz suffered a stroke of paralysis in Sept., 1883, which caused his death May 11, 1885, in

Reading, Pa. His wife and four children sur- vived him.

JOHN P. LEIB was born at Cornwall, Leb- anon county, Pa., Dec. 30, 1802; converted dur- ing the great revival at Orwigsburg; entered the Eastern Conference in 1831 ; was elected presid- ing elder in 1836, in 1840, in 1848, in 1852 and in 1866. He died at his post while pastor at Phoenixville in 1875, being found dead in his bed on the morning of September 7. He was justly regarded as one of the leading men of the church. A short time prior to his death he at- tended a camp meeting at Milford, during which he made the following statement at a praise meeting. Raising his right hand, trembling with age, he said: "I, John P. Leib, seventy-two years of age, having spent fifty-one years in the service of God, and forty-five years in unin- terrupted succession in the ministry of the gos- pel, confess before you all that I have found par- don and salvation in the blood of the lamb, and that I am the Lord's with body, soul and spirit, with all I am and possess both for time and eternity." His wife, Hannah, a sister of Rev. Chas. Hammer, preceded him in death.

JOSEPH M. SAYLOR was born at Orwigsburg, Pa., Sept. 4, 1803, and died at Reading, Pa., Oct. 12, 1891, aged 88 years, I month and 8

REV. Jos. M. SAYLOR.

days. He was converted at Orwigsburg under the labors of John Seibert in 1823, with whom he traveled York Circuit in 1824. He was li- censed by the conference in 1825, and in 1826 he traveled in Ohio, where he was ordained at

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

the first annual session in the West. He was elected presiding elder in 1833. In 1843 he founded the Evangelical work in Germantown, and in Reading in 1844; was again elected pre- siding elder in 1848, 1851, 1872 and 1876. He became superannuated in 1882, but preached fre- quently until his death, being the oldest preacher in years and length of service in the church. He was in many respects a remarkable man, and his services to the church were indeed great and

Notwithstanding his irresistible humor and gro- tesque manner, he was a good preacher and a highly useful man. In 1854 he was licensed to preach by the East Pa. Conference, and two years thereafter entered the active ranks, in which he did valiant service for twenty-seven years, filling some of the most important appoint- ments of his native conference during twenty- three years, after which, in 1879, he took work in Kansas Conference, where he served four

REV. MOSES DISSINGER.

valuable. He was one of the compilers of the English hymn book and ther church literature. His mind remained clear to the last, his mem- ory retaining with great vividness the events of the early days. Upon his retirement from active work in 1882, the East Pa. Conference adopted suitable resolutions recognizing his long and valuable services.

MOSES DISSINGER was born in Shaefferstown, Lebanon county, Pa., March 17, 1824. This inan was in some respects unrivalled in the church. He was the embodiment of peculiarities. His manners, speech, sermons, everything about him, bore the stamp of his marked individuality.

years. After severe suffering, he died in Doug- lass county, Kansas, Jan. 25, 1883, in the fifty- ninth year of his age. An interesting volume might be written about this eccentric son of the church, whose quaint manners and sayings will long be the theme of conversation around thou- sands of firesides. He was a strong advocate of temperance, and his discourses on that subject were unique and very effective. During the Civil War he was a radical Unionist, and de- livered numerous speeches in support of the ad- ministration. He was fearless, brave and pat- riotic, a foe to sin and evil of every kind and his memory will ever be revered in the church. [See Dissinger Family in Vol. II.]

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CHURCHES.

REV. BENJAMIN JOHN SMOYER.

A son of John and Sarah (Neitz) Smoyer, was born at Emaus, Dec. 13, 1844. He was edu- cated in the public schools and also attended Freeland's Seminary, Collegeville, Pa., Union Seminary, New Berlin, Pa., and Lebanon Valley College. In the early part of his life he clerked in a store and taught school.

Church, in which position he did excellent work for five years; in 1895 he was re-elected Presid- ing Elder and continued in this office until the time of his death, April 24, 1903, aged 58 years, 4 months, 11 days. Rev. Smoyer was an earnest, profound and powerful preacher and frequently swayed his audiences into rapture or moved them to tears by his zeal and eloquence.

REV. B. J. SMOYER.

He was licensed to preach in 1866 by the East Pa. Conference of the Evangelical Association, and served these appointments successively: Le- high Circuit, Carbon Circuit, Mahantongo Cir- cuit, Schuylkill Haven, Mahanoy City, Annville, Shamokin, Allentown English Mission (now Bethany Church), Tamaqua, Lehighton and Lebanon. In 1884 he was elected Presiding Elder and served 8 years; in 1891, at the Gen- eral Conference held at Philadelphia, he was chosen Corresponding Secretary of the General Missionary Society of the United Evangelical

He was married twice. His first wife was Sarah J. Kawvel, who died in 1898. The issue of this union was 4 sons and 6 daughters. His second wife was Mrs. Emma (Sherer) Knerr, who with the children survived him.

GEN. HENRY MERTZ, a foremost citizen in Upper Milford township, was born July 21, 1782. In the heart of the fertile Cedar Creek Valley lived General Mertz, a man of commanding in- fluence, who had served his fellow citizens in the State government, and as a Brigadier-General

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of the State Militia, and he was in active service in the War of 1812 as a Brigadier-General. Besides his plantations, General Mertz had a woolen mill, the power of which was derived from Cedar Creek, and operated by his son, David, the central figure of the narrative. Gen- eral Mertz died March II, 1844, aged 61 years, 7 months and 26 days. His wife was born Aug. 25, 1783, died March 10, 1844, only a few hours before her distinguished husband was called into his reward.

REV. DAVID MERTZ was born Jan. 26, 1806. In 1831, an Evangelical named Francis Gabel came to the Mertz establishment seeking em- ployment. He was duly 'engaged by David Mertz to work in the woolen mill, and proved to be a steady and reliable workman. Best of all, Gabel let his "light shine" in a way that won the confidence of the Mertz family in his profession of piety. Through the conversation of Gabel, David Mertz and his wife became spiritually concerned, and requested Gabel to bring his preacher to them and preach in their home.

Accordingly, Rev. J. G. Zinzer preached at David Mertz's house and soon afterwards he and his wife were converted and connected them- selves with the Evangelicals.

In 1835 General Mertz and his son, David, determined to build an Evangelical church at their own expense. The church is located near

the "Alms House" in South Whitehall and soon became known as "Der bete Hugel" (Hill of

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 99

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