USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of Perry County, Pennsylvania, including descriptions of Indians and pioneer life from the time of earliest settlement, sketches of its noted men and women and many professional men > Part 116
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123
The several plants and leather stores enumerated are largely the result of the industry and financial capacity of Mr. James E. Mooney, of Cin- cinnati, who was president of the American Oak Leather Co. of that place until his death, which occurred in his eighty-fourth year, up to which time he had been active in business. It might be considered in this connection that Mr. Mooney was the father of the extract business in this
IO31
BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES
country, having established the first one in Alabama, and the second one at Newport. In 1900, when the Oak Extract Company began operations, it was paying $2.25 per cord of 128 cubic feet for chestnut wood, while in 1920 the price had risen to $7.50 per cord. The history of the Newport tannery appears in Chapter XV.
The Newport Hosiery Mill is located on South Fifth Street, and is a result of the Board of Trade, organized in Newport in 1902. Through this organization the building was erected and turned over to H. A. Rom- berger, of Philadelphia, for a three-year period, rent free. Prior to the expiration of the three-year lease Mr. Romberger agreed to purchase the interests of all the stockholders at eighty per cent of the value of their holdings, and thus secured entire control of the plant. It first started operation July 21, 1902, with but fifteen employees. Soon after its begin- ning Aaron D. Hoke became the manager and part owner of the business, and from then on its strides were rapid. In fact, the writer has always considered this business a monument to the business ability of Mr. Hoke, whose death occurred November 19, 1915, while in the prime of his use- fulness in the community. Mr. Hoke had charge of the Middletown mill of Mr. Romberger before coming to Newport. After the death of Mr. Hoke, E. M. Buffington was made manager, and still holds the position. Upon the death of Mr. Hoke, his interest in the mill was sold to Mr. Romberger. The mill is a substantial brick structure, 100x140 feet in size. It has been enlarged twice since 1902 and has its own electric plant, the power being furnished by a ninety-horse-power steam engine. The greatest period of expansion was in 1914 and 1915, when the pay roll mounted to 115 persons, mostly female help. The production was then nine hundred dozen per day. During the past three years the production has been about three hundred dozen per day, and the pay roll numbers about fifty. This mill passed into the ownership of Wilbur D. Gring, No- vember 1, 1920.
The Moorehead Knitting Company, Incorporated, of Harrisburg, opened a branch mill in Newport on February 27, 1920, citizens of the town invest- ing in stock of the company to induce its location. The resident manager is Wilmer B. Hoke, a son of the late A. D. Hoke, who was superin- tendent and part owner of the Romberger mill on Fifth Street. It is located in the Smith garage building, on Penn Avenue, near the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Station. It started with seven employees, and at the present time (1921) employs thirty, mostly females. The Moorehead people con- duct an immense plant at Harrisburg and several other branches, and no doubt their Newport plant will, in time, become one of Newport's valued industries.
The Newport Shirt Factory was started by H. W. Shumaker, in 1904. In 1906 a one-story factory was built, to which another was added in 1914. It was later owned by J. K. Saucerman, and now, by the Phillips-Jones Corporation of New York.
Newport has a live Chamber of Commerce. It was organized on March 15, 1920, as a result of a meeting held on March Ist, which was attended by over two hundred business men and citizens. On the date of its organiza- tion 135 members had enrolled. The membership fee is $10 annually. It is affiliated with both the State Chamber of Commerce and that of the United States. Its first officers were Dr. L. A. Carl, president; A. L. Gelnett, vice-president ; George R. Fry, secretary ; G. P. Bistline, treasurer.
Of the Newport organizations the Civic Club is most noted for accom- plishments of a public nature. It was organized April 20, 1906, with these officers: Mrs. J. E. Fleisher, president ; Mrs. Alvin Jones, vice-president ; Mrs. Delphine Pennell, secretary. and Mrs. T. H. Butturf, treasurer. It began with fourteen members, and at the end of a year had thirty-six.
1032
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
During 1906-07 it initiated its program by having the old graveyard cleaned and fenced. It also had waste paper receptacles placed throughout the town, donated $io to Mt. Alto Sanatorium, and contributed $200 to the fund for the improvement of the river road opposite town, for which Newport business men had obligated themselves heavily. During 1908 organs were purchased for the primary and intermediate schoolrooms. In 1900 the club obligated themselves to pay annually for four years to the McNight scholarship at State College. During 1909-II various projects were helped, principally adding to a town foundation fund, started in 1909. In I911 a contribution was made to the Titanic Memorial Fund. In 1912 a fountain was placed in the public square, at a cost of $525.63. In 1914, through permission of the school board, a room was obtained in the public school building and fitted with shelves and other library equipment, and a public library opened. On November 23, 1915, it was first opened to public use. The members took turns as librarian at first, its hours being from two to four, and to be open one day each week. About 1,600 books are already upon its shelves. The secretary, Mrs. Pennell, is there much of the time, both her time and labor being given gratuitously. Mrs. W. J. Flickinger, for the past two years, has been assisting along the same line. The club is now aiming for a building large enough for community service. Many other local projects have been aided financially. Mrs. Fleisher was president from the organization until 1919, save for two years when she was abroad, and Mrs. Pennell has been secretary during the entire time. It now has seventy-three members, and six honorary male members. Its officers now are: Mrs. J. E. Fleisher, honorary president; Mrs. J. S. Eby, president; Mrs. Win. J. Flickinger and Mrs. D. B. Howanstine, vice- presidents; Mrs. Delphine Pennell, secretary ; Mrs. George Fry, corre- sponding secretary, and Mrs. Edna Boyer, treasurer. This library project should be encouraged by citizens and former residents by the contribution of at least a book a year, which would eventually give the town a large library. Let it be a "Book a Year Club."
Newport has two clubs which maintain club rooms and incidentally en- gage in community projects. The Calumet Club was organized in 1908, and the Phi Epsilon Kappa Fraternity, on June 18, 1909. The latter is a high school fraternity, but in Newport was not confined strictly to such students. It has been responsible for the community Christmas tree for the past several years, among its other activities.
Newport has by far the largest number of business places of any Perry County town. According to the report of the mercantile appraiser the fol- lowing business places are located there, the dates. following the names being the year of entering the business :
General stores, J. M. Flickinger ( 1889), succeeding E. B. Weise.
Groceries. C. T. Albright, C. L. Bair (1899 to 1920), succeeding William Emenheiser ( 1877); M. C. Bower, C. F. D'Olier, Philip Fickes, S. J. Horting (1901), A. W. Kough ( 1881), succeeding E. B. Weise, elected county treasurer ; W. W. Manning. E. S. L. Soule (1908), succeeding I. H. Souders (1904), and C. T. Rice (1895) ; W. G. Wilson (1890), established by Jackson Rhoads ( 1883), Chas. L. Fleck.
Druggists. John S. Eby ( 1910), established by H. M. Singer (before 1855), whose successor was B. M. Eby ( 1864) : Chas. E. Bosserman (1920), estab- lished by E. C. Beach ( 1878), successors W. H. Hoopes, J. N. C. Hether- ington.
Dry goods, W. R. Bosserman, established by Philip Bosserman and in his charge until his death (1899), C. V. Bosserman & Co., until her death (1916) ; J. B. Leiby & Sons ( 1901), established by J. B. Leiby (1861), at Market and Water Streeis as a small general store.
Hardware, C. T. Rice & Son (1905), established by C. T. Rice; J. M. Smith & Sons ( 1897), established by B. F. Miller & Son, succeeded by J. W.
1033
BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES
Frank (1871), who located in present building in 1878; F. E. Taylor (1910), established by T. H. Milligan (1886), later owned by H. B. Wilson.
Stoves and tinware, T. W. Bassett, S. W. Burd (1894), J. W. Davis & Son. Furniture and undertaking, S. D. Myers (1907), succeeding John Fleisher (1875) ; I. M. Kell (1915), succeeding W. H. Hopple (1888) and Jacob Hopple.
Clothing, J. S. Butz (1880) ; Fleek & Hyman, succeeding David Spotts, who succeeded Marx Dukes; Newport One Price, succeeding Peter Schlomer, Ira Meminger, H. Lipsett.
Restaurants, L. E. Gannt (1913) ; Noll Bros.
Hotel, C. F. Kloss.
Confectionery, J. C. Berger, E. C. Sheibley, C. F. Smith Estate.
Jewelers. F. C. Gannt (1914), succeeding W. H. Gannt (1872) ; Chas. P. Keim (1901), formerly C. P. McClure's.
Meat markets, Chas. A. Oren (1914), established by Silas W. Clark (1911) ; J. A. Jackson, Mrs. Thad. Stephens.
Wholesalers, Rice Produce Co. (1915), William Fickes, C. F. Smith Estate, J. Frank Fickes, S. A. Sharon, Newport Planing Mill, Henry Shull, George Boova.
Automobiles and supplies, Gelnett Bros. (W. L. and A. L., 1915), estab- lished by their brothers, Daniel L. and Benj. L., 1910; Roy Keller (1917). C. H. Rebert, J. S. Smith, H. R. Kell.
Cigars, C. R. Horting, Geo. J. Wagenseller, F. P. Witmer.
Musical instruments, H. M. Kough, W. A. Smith ( 1887).
Miscellaneous, R. T. Smith, coal; W. H. Kepner (1891), gram and feed ; F. M. Snyder & Co., coal and feed; Jacobs & Wright, machinery; R. T. Beatty, furniture ; B. F. Horting, fertilizers; Harry McKee, plumbing sup- plies (1906) ; Sarah A. Adams, Anna Hibbs and Mrs. Geo. J. Wagenseller, millinery : D. A. Hockenberry, fish; W. J. Morrow, photographer (1910), established by W. A. Keagy (1890) ; J. J. Newberry & Co. (1919), succeeding Banks Bros. (1908), 5 and 10 cent store ; Juniata Public Service Co., electrical supplies ; Fickes & Wolfe, eoal and feed ; Paul Hombach, marble works, es- tablished by A. V. Hombach (1867) ; J. W .. Leonard, marble works.
The Photoplay Theatre was opened in 1910 by Zinn & Frank, whose suc- cessor was H. E. Williams. In 1918 purchased by John S. Kough and W. J. Morrow, the former succeeding to ownership in 1921.
The Newport Union Church. The Lutheran, Reformed and Presbyte- rian folks residing about Newport held a conference early in 1846 and agreed to erect a joint church. On May 1, 1846, John Wiley and Barbara, his wife, deeded to Andrew B. Maxwell, John Loy and John Fickes, a plot of ground for church purposes at the corner of Second and Walnut Streets. The corner stone was laid on May 12, 1846, and it was dedicated May 23, 1847. In 1868, the Reformed congregation desiring to build a church, sold their one-third interest to the Lutherans and the Presbyterians for $900. In 1877 the Presbyterians purchased the other half-interest from the Lu- therans for $2,380, and became sole owners. From then on the history of this church building will be found under that of the Newport Presbyterian Church. This was Newport's first church.
Newport Lutheran Church. As early as 1830 Rev. John William Heim was preaching in the homes and in the schoolhouses in the vicinity. In 1842 he was requested to also preach in the English language, his previous exhortations having been in German. On January 14, 1844, the congrega- tion was regularly organized, under the care of Rev. Levi T. Williams, who became pastor in November, 1843, preaching in the old brick school- house. The first officers were Daniel Rider, elder; Godfrey Lenig and Henry D. Smith, deacons. In connection with the Reformed and Pres- byterian congregations the old Union church was built by them and dedi- cated in May, 1847. In 1877 the Lutherans sold their interest in the church to the Presbyterians for $2.380.
A contract was made with Joshua Sweger for the erection of a new church on Market Street, for the sum of $10,000. Including the ground
IO34
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
and furnishings its cost was over $15,000. This church still stands, having been one of the best in the county. Its Sunday school room is on the first floor, and the second floor is occupied by the ample auditorium, which seats five hundred people.
This church was connected with the New Bloomfield charge until 1868, when a separate pastorate was formed, of which it was the head, the other churches being St. Samuel's, in Oliver Township, and the Lutheran Church in Buck's Valley. This church belongs to the Synod of Central Pennsyl- vania and was the first church in that synod to have a pipe organ, which it had installed as early as 1885. This was also the first pipe organ in Perry County. The ministers have been :
1830-42-Rev. John William Heim. 1876-81-Rev. M. Colver.
1843-45-Rev. Levi T. Williams. 1881-85-Rev. W. B. Glanding.
1845-49-Rev. Lloyd Knight. 1885-88-Rev. J. T. Gladhill.
1849-52-Rev. Jacob Martin. 1889-94-Rev. S. E. Smith.
1852-53-Rev. Wm. Gerhardt. 1895-00 -- Rev. Geo. M. Diffenderfer.
1853-54-Rev. Adam Height. 1900-01-Rev. J. Henry Harms.
1855-63-Rev. David H. Focht. 1902-05-Rev. J. H. Musselman.
1863-66-Rev. P. P. Lane. 1906-09-Rev. Joseph B. Baker.
1866-71-Rev. Geo. F. Sheaffer. 1910-20-Rev. William C. Ney.
1871-76-Rev. A. H. Aughe. 1920- - Rev. L. Stoy Spangler.
Reformed Church. The Reformed people in Newport began holding services in the homes and schoolhouses before the organization of the county and while the place was still known as Reider's Ferry. In the same year as the county's formation, 1820, the congregation was regularly organized, its first meeting place being in the old Jones warehouse, and its first pastor being Rev. Jacob Scholl, who remained as such until his death in 1847. Until the pastorate of Rev. William F. Cauliflower, the congre- gation worshiped in the old Union church, which was owned jointly by the Reformed, the Lutheran and the Presbyterian organizations, and was dedi- cated May 23, 1847. In June, 1869, the Reformed interest in this church was sold to the Presbyterian and Lutheran people for $900, and the same year a new church building was erected at a cost of nearly $7.000. It was named Christ's Reformed Church. The building committee of this first Reformed church was composed of William Bosserman, Sr., John W. Smith, Dr. Joshua Singer, Josiah Fickes, Charles K. Smith, Charles Bress- ler and Isaiah Carl. It was dedicated January 16, 1870.
The organization was incorporated in 1868, and in 1874, during the pas- torate of Rev. James Crawford. a parsonage was built at a cost of $2.518, which is to-day one of Newport's attractive homes and which would cost several times that amount to build. The building committee included James B. Leiby, John W. Smith, Elias B. Leiby and Jacob Saucerman. The first Sunday school was organized in 1869, George Ickes being the first superintendent.
Unfortunately the foundations of the first church were faulty, and al- though it had been in use but twenty years it was abandoned, torn away and replaced with the present fine structure of brick, which was dedicated September 7, 1890. It was then named the Reformed Church of the Incar- nation. Its cost was about $10,000. The building committee was composed of J. B. Leiby, C. K. Smith, Daniel Smith, Josiah Fickes and Jeremiah V. Fickes.
In 1897. Carlisle Classis, the governing body, detached the New Bloom- field church from the pastorate, and during the pastorate of Rev. Meixell the Markelville church was detached and placed with New Bloomfield. Dr. Deatrich continued as pastor at New Bloomfield, after the charge was divided, and remained until his death in 1900.
IO35
BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES
The ministers in charge of the congregation have been :
1820-47-Rev. Jacob Scholl. 1881-97-Rev. W. R. H. Deatrich.
1848-50-Rev. Daniel Gans. 1897-00-Rev. James M. Mullan.
1851-63-Rev. Samuel Kuhn. 1900-02-Rev. Edwin D. Meixell.
1863-67-Rev. David W. Kelley.
1903-08-Rev. Frank L. Kerr.
1867-70-Rev. Wmn. F. Colliflower.
1908-15-Rev. James M. Runkle.
1871-75-Rev. James Crawford.
1876-81-Rev. John Kretzing.
1915- - Rev. U. O. H. Kerschner.
Newport Presbyterian Church. When the first Presbyterian meetings were held in Newport is not recorded, but the Presbyterian people were, in connection with the Lutherans and the Reformed people, the builders of Newport's first church, the old Union church. The Reformed people sold their interest, in 1868, to the Lutherans and Presbyterians, and the Presbyterians eventually purchased the interests of the Lutherans, and thus the building became theirs.
It was dedicated May 23, 1847, as a Union church, and since then the Presbyterians have worshiped at this location, where their new edifice is also located. The Sunday school dates to 1873.
While the church was owned jointly by the Presbyterians, Lutheran and Reformed people, yet it seems not to have been a regularly organized con- gregation at first, as the folowing will show.
The Session record of the Presbyterian Church at Newport, commencing from its origin, has this entry :
April 18th, 1863. The following petition was presented to the Carlisle Pres- bytery at their meeting in Middletown, Pa., April 12th, 1863 : "We the under- signed members of the Presbyterian Church residing in the town of Newport and its vicinity do most respectfully petition your Reverent Body to organize us into a Presbyterian Church. We would suggest Saturday the 18th day of April as a suitable time and that the Lord's Supper be administered to us on the following Sabbath. Signed
GEORGE JACOBS,
JOHN PATTERSON,
JANE PATTERSON,
HENRIETTA PATTERSON,
MARGARET LOWTHER,
CAROLYN ENGLISH,
SARATI MARLIN,
JANE DUNBAR,
MARGARET MITCHELL,
SARAH REYNOLDS,
ANN MITCHELL, Wife of Robert,
MARGARET MITCHELL, Wife of William.
MARTHIA MITCHELL,
Some of those named had been members of the Middle Ridge church long before, among them being the Mitchells. The movement to organize the church was the work of a Perry Countian, a minister gone abroad and returned on account of sectional feeling, Rev. William P. Cochran, of Missouri. The war was on, and Unionist that he was, Rev. Cochran had returned to his boyhood home at Millerstown and became the stated supply for the pulpits there and at Buffalo (Ickesburg). When not busy else- where he held meetings in Newport in the Union church, in which the Presbyterians had an interest, and the above petition resulted. He and Elder W. L. Jones were appointed to organize the church. On April 18, 1863, the church was organized with the fifteen members, named in the petition.
In 1869, upon the payment of $450, and in 1877, for a consideration of $2.380, according to the deed, the interests of others in the Union church were bought and the church became the Presbyterian Church. In 1885 an addition was built and the entire church remodeled, being dedicated De- cember 13th. Its location is a fine one, on the corner of Second and Wal- nut Streets. The pastors since the organization have been :
MARGARET JACOBS, WILLIAM MATEER,
1036
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1863-69-Rev. William P. Cochran. 1909-11-Rev. R. L. Williams.
1869-71-Rev. J. G. Downing. 1911-18-Rev. R. M. Ramsey.
1872-75-Rev. Albert C. Titus. 1919-20-Rev. J. C. Clarke (stated sup-
1876-86-Rev. William H. Logan.
ply).
1887-01-Rev. S. C. Alexander.
1902-09-Rev. A. F. Lott.
1921- - Rev. Harry M. Vogelsonger.
Newport M. E. Church. About 1830 the Methodist people began holding meetings in their homes, but the church was not built until 1836, when, October 19th, James Black gave a deed for a lot on which to build the church, the site being the location of the former Evangelical Church. This first church was a plain one-room frame building, being then the only church building in the town. The first class leader was John Ernest. At a conference in 1845, the New Bloomfield Circuit, to which it had belonged, was divided and it was made a part of a circuit consisting of Newport, Liverpool, Millerstown, New Buffalo and Petersburg (Duncannon). In 1856 this circuit was divided into the Newport and Duncannon Circuits. The first Methodist church was sold in 1869 to the Evangelical denomina- tion for $1,450. On January 8, 1871, the new church at Fourth and Market Streets was dedicated. It was a two-story building, costing about $15,000. There were two pastors until 1871, when Liverpool and New Buffalo were separated from the circuit and made a separate charge. In 1900 Millers- town was separated from Newport and with Donally's Mills became a station. The walls of the church having become unsafe, a new church was built and dedicated on June 10, 1904. The building committee was composed of Rev. L. Dow Ott, B. M. Eby, G. H. Frank, A. Fred Keim, Henry Smith and H. L. Tressler. The names of the pastors from 1833 to 1856 will be found under the Duncannon chapter. Since that time they have been as follows:
1857 -Rev. Geo. Stevenson. Rev. Chas. H. Zigler. 1869 -Rev. Alexander R. Miller. Rev. J. M. Meredith. 1858 -Rev. Frederick E. Crever. 1870 -Rev. Alexander R. Miller.
Jas. T. Wilson.
1871-73-Rev. H. C. Cheston.
1859 -Amos C. Smith. Rev. Isaac C. Stevens.
1874-75-Rev. H. M. Ash.
1860 Rev. Amos C. Smith. Rev. J. Clark Hagey.
1876-78-Rev. J. W. Buckley.
1879-81-Rev. N. W. Colburn.
1861 -Rev. G. W. Bouse. Rev. Milton K. Foster.
1882 -Rev. B. P. King. 1883-84-Rev. John Vrooman. 1885-87-Rev. E. E. A. Deaver.
1862 -Rev. G. W. Bouse.
1888-91-Rev. Jared Y. Shannon.
1864 -Rev. H. S. Mendenhall. Rev. Samuel R. Deach.
1897-99-Rev. Furman Adams.
1865
-Rev. John W. Cleaver.
1900-02-Rev. Elmer G. Baker. 1903-05-Rev. Lorenza Dow Ott. 1908-10-Rev. J. Vernon Adams. 1911-16-Rev. John C. Collins.
1867
Rev. John Donahue. -Rev. John W. Cleaver. Rev. A. Duncan Yocum. -Rev. John W. Cleaver. Rev. J. Milton Akers.
1917 -Rev. John W. Glover. 1918-21-Rev. Frank T. Bell.
1868 -Rev. Alexander R. Miller. Rev. W. N. Houghtelin.
1921- -Rev. R. Frank Ruch.
1863 -Rev. H. S. Mendenhall. Rev. Robt. R. Pott.
1892 -Rev. Amos S. Baldwin. 1893-94-Rev. Peter P. Strawinski. 1895-96-Rev. John L. Leilich.
1866
Calvary Evangelical Church. The Evangelical people of Perry County were originally served by two circuit riders, the one section finally narrow- ing down to Marysville, Newport and Rye Township's two churches-Salem and Bethel. The latter two were finally detached and made the nucleus of Keystone charge. Marysville and Newport then continued as one charge until 1898, when they were separated. The work at Newport dates back to "the sixties."
1037
BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES
This people evidently were organized somewhat before the time of the purchase of the old Methodist church, but records are lacking. From 1870 to 1874 the pastor of Perry Circuit, residing at Elliottsburg, served the Newport church, but in that year it became a part of the Marysville Circuit. In 1898 Newport was made a separate charge. The first services were held at various places, but in 1869 the congregation purchased the old Methodist church which stood on a lot fronting Walnut Street, and extending along an alley, between Second and Third Streets, for $1,450. They repaired and used it until 1878, when they erected a new brick church, 32x60, upon the same site. Its cost was $2,500. In 1919-20 the congregation erected a handsome church building upon a plot of ground located at the corner of Fourth and Oliver Streets, at a cost of about $35,000. Adjoining the church, in 1919, a fine brick parsonage was erected.
The earlier pastors, under the Perry Circuit, whose pastors resided at Elliottsburg, were: Rev. S. W. Seibert, Rev. D. W. Miller, Rev. M. Sloat, Rev. H. A. Deitterick, Rev. U. F. Swengel. These pastors then followed : Rev. R. W. Runyan, Rev. A. Stapleton, Rev. G. W. Currin, Rev. C. F. Zehner, Rev. P. S. Orwig, Rev. E. Swengel and Rev. J. C. Reeser, who resided at Newport.
The pastors from then on who resided at Marysville and served both churches were : Rev. S. P. Remer, Rev. B. Hengst, Rev. H. H. Douty, Rev. J. F. Dunlap and Rev. C. W. Finkbinder.
Those since who have resided in Newport, it having been made a sepa- rate pastorate: Rev. W. J. Dice, Rev. George Joseph, Rev. J. T. Pettit, Rev. C. S. Raffensperger, Rev. A. F. Weaver, Rev. W. H. Brown, Rev. E. Fulcomer, Rev. M. W. Stahl, and Rev. W. K. Shultz.
Newport Episcopal Church. The first Episcopal services in Newport were held in the parlor of Mrs. H. H. Bechtel, through her efforts and those of Mrs. Peter Heistand, on March 28, 1875. Later a Sunday school was organized there, but soon transferred into what is now the office of the supervisor of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which was fitted up for church services and where this people worshiped. Rev. T. O. Tongue was the first rector. The Sunday school the following year had over a hundred pupils, and Mrs. Bechtel was long its superintendent. The lot for a church was bought in 1887. It is located on South Second Street. The church was dedicated November 14, 1889. Rev. C. E. D. Griffiths, under whose charge the building had been started, died in March, 1889, and was succeeded by Rev. J. E. C. Schmedes, D.D., who served this church in connection with Mechanicsburg. In August, 1891, Rev. Wm. Dorwart took charge, in connection with Steelton, but in October of the same year relinquished the Steelton appointment and moved to Newport, where he is still rector. The rectory was erected in 1893. Others who served in the earlier years were Alfred J. Billow, John Gregson, S. K. Boyer and James Stoddard.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.