History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended > Part 104

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Mr. Kurtz's work was very successful, he did a great amount of ministerial work in the country west of York. He served as sec- retary of the Ministerium in 1763, and wa- president in 1778, and on the death of Dr. Hs. M. Muhlenberg he was accorded the high hon. or of becoming his successor, as senior Minis- terii. In 1789, Rev. Kurtz moved to Balti- more, where he lived with his son, Rev. J. Daniel Kurtz, He died suddenly of apo-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY

plexy, May 12, 1794, aged seventy-two years. America had in his day very few preachers equal to him.

Rev. Jacob Goering, 1783-1807 .- The next pastor was the son of Jacob and Mar- garet Goering, and was born in Chanceford Township, York Co., Penn., January 17, 1755. When eighteen years old his father took him to Dr. Helmuth of Lancaster, with whom he remained two years as a diligent student. He was ordained in 1776, and set- tled in Carlisle. He there preached to six con- gregations: Carlisle, Dover, Paradise, Upper and Lower Bermudian and Lower Settlement. In 1783, the Ministerium met at York for the second time, on which occasion the first even- ing service was held of which there is any record. At this time Mr. Goering had be- come assistant pastor of this charge and had removed to York. On the removal of pastor Kurtz to Baltimore, Mr. Goering became sole pastor. In 1791, he accepted a call to Ha- gerstown, Md., but he soon after came back to York. In 1793, he had charge of the York, "Chockley" (Conojohela), and Kruetz Creek congregations.

The parochial school in 1796, was very strong. Instruction was given in both Ger- man and English. The congregation was in- corporated in 1804; under it two elders were to be elected each year to serve for six years; the wardens, as the vorsteher are called, to serve for two years.

Rev. Jacob Goering died of consumption November 27, 1809. He was a man of very acute and active mind; he wrote three treatises that were published, and a number of others which, before he died, he ordered to be burned. Dr. J. G. Schmucker studied Hebrew with him during his pastorate at Quickel's Church. After his death there was a vacancy for two years.

Rev. John George Schmucker, 1809-36. -This gentleman was chosen pastor May 2, 1809, and he received a call while at a meet- ing of the synod at Hanover, on the 28th of same month. His charge consisted at that time of York, Quickel's, Wolf's, Holzchwamm, Kruetz Creek and Chockely. In 1813, he gave up part of the field, but retained five -- John Herbst, Jr., it is supposed took one of them. In 1814, Charles A. Morris took charge of Kruetz Creek, and in 1817, Chock- ely had been for some time in Herbst's charge. In 1820, Rev. Schmucker's charge consisted of York, Quickel's and Wolf's Churches, to which some years later Hoover's was added. In 1811, steps were taken for erecting a new church. George Hay and Peter Striber, were made managers; George

Lottman, John Barnitz and Jacob Schmeiser, John Brillinger, Peter Schmeiser, made as- sistants; Ignatius Lightner was elected treasurer. Corner-stone was laid July 2, 1812; the services were conducted by Rev. Drs. H. E. Muhlenberg, J. Daniel Kurtz, George Lochman and the pastor.

The new church was dedicated May 1, 1814, by Rev. F. V. Melsheimer, of Hanover, and the pastor. In 1813, a new schoolhouse was built, under supervision of Jacob Upp and Jacob Eichelberger. The cost of the church alone was at least $18,590.

In June, 1817, the ministerium of Pennsyl- vania, met for a fourth time in York; Dr. George Lochman, father of A. H. Lochman, was president. The synod of Ohio was formed by authority of this meeting. It was the third centennial commemoration of the Reformation. The president invited Re- formed, Episcopal, Presbyterian and Mora- vian people to participate in the commemora- tion. Jacob Barnitz, who had been the worthy secretary and treasurer of the church for many years, died in April, 1828.

In 1827, a Sunday-school met in the church for the first time. In 1828, a seal was adopted; in 1829, lamps were bought for evening services. In 1830, land was bought on Duke Street for a burial place; in 1832, the use of the small bell was granted to the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.

When the temperance question came up for discussion, both Dr. Schmucker and Mr. Oswald, assistant, were deeply interested in it, and very zealous in its advocacy, where- upon the yearly salary was for a time dimin- ished one half, but they persisted in the cause, and eventually won high honor.

English services began about 1820, only in the evening. The time for English services was indicated by a peculiar ringing of the bell. October 7, 1829, Rev. Jonathan Os- wald, D. D., was licensed, and became assist- ant pastor, and also took entire charge of Wolf's and Hoover's Churches, where the services were German, and preached English in York three Sunday evenings out of four. Dr. Schmucker continued at Quickel' 8 Church. Dr. Oswald, then a young man, is now a highly respected and honored citizen of York, familiar to all our people.

In 1836 the ministry of Dr. Schmucker ended. In person he was of medium stat- ure, rather thick set, but not corpulent; his complexion was dark, and his body was very erect. His character was unusually syın- metrical and well balanced, and his temper so placid, or under such control, that even his own household scarcely ever saw it

BOROUGH OF YORK.

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ruffled. He was especially regardful of the feelings of others, and so unaffectedly polite on all occasions that he won the admiration and respect of every one he met. He was careful in the preparation of his sermons, methodical in arrangement, earnest in delivery, tender in feeling, and deeply serious. All of these elements united to make him an admirable and most useful preacher. He was a great student, and procured books from Europe each year, and had his whole library at com-

when he removed to the home of some of his children at Williamsburg, where he died October 7, 1854. His remains lie in front of this church. He was married first to Eliza- beth Gross, from Quickel's congregation, by whom he had twelve children; she died in 1819; second, in 1821, to Anna Maria Hoffman, of Baltimore, by whom he had seven children.

Rev. Jonathan Oswald, D. D., assistant pastor, 1829-36 .- Dr. Oswald was born in Washington County, Md., December 20,

REV. A. H. LOCHMAN.

mand. He contributed largely to the Evan- gelical Magazine. He published a number of volumes, chiefly connected with the proph- ecies. In the establishment of Pennsylva- nia College and Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, he took a prominent part, and at the time of his death was vice-president of the American Tract Society.

He continued to reside at York, still preaching at Quickel's Church until '1852,

1805, son of John and Eve Oswald. His parents were of Swabian and Alsatian origin, and on his father's side of long generations of Lutherans; his mother the descendant of Mennonites. After pursuing theological studies for sixteen or eighteen months, he went to Gettysburg, and was the second the- ological student registered. After pursuing the whole theological course he was gradu- ated and licensed.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY

Rev. A. H. Lochman, D. D., 1836-80 .- Mr. Lochman was a son of Dr. George Loch- man and Susanna Hoffman, whose sister was the second wife of Dr. J. G. Schmucker. He was born October 5, 1802, in the parsonage of Salem Church, Lebanon, Penn., of which his father was pastor. In 1815 his father moved to Harrisburg, when the son entered the academy there. In 1822 he entered the University of Pennsylvania, in the junior class, and was graduated July, 1823, and then studied theology with his father, and licensed to preach June 16, 1824. He be- came pastor of a charge in Cumberland Coun- ty in 1825, and was married in July of that year to Anna Maria Partenheimer, of Phila- delphia, and took up their residence in Me- chanicsburg, then a village of a dozen houses. In 1826, upon the death of his father, he became his successor at Harrisburg. In April, 1836, he was called to York, where he continued pastor until 1880, where he was greatly beloved and eminently successful. He has taken an active part in all the general movements of the Lutheran Church in Amer- ica; was a member of the first board of trustees of Pennsylvania College; was a trustee in Franklin College; has been for a long time one of the board of directors of the seminary, and many'years its president; was president of the synod of Pennsylvania and of the general synod.

The honorary degree of D. D. was con- ferred upon him in 1856, by Pennsylvania College. He has made a number of valuable translations from the German. Dr. Loch- man has retired from the active pastoral office, full of years and of labors, after serv- ing this church nearly half a century. During the first year of his pastorate, the Second Lutheran Church of York (St. Paul's) was formed.

In September, 1841, the old town clock was placed on the steeple by the county com - missioners. In 1850 Zion Lutheran Con- gregation was formed. On October 31, 1867, the jubilee of the Reformation was cele- brated with much enthusiasm by the churches in York. In the afternoon all the Lutheran Sunday-school children (1,500) assembled in this church. In 1874 the church was remodeled. On June 12, 1880, Dr. Loch- man resigned his long pastorate. For two years the congregation was served by sup- plies.

Rev. George W. Endere, the present pastor, entered upon his duties in 1882. A stairway and sacristy has since been placed on the east side of the chancel. At the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the history of the

church, in 1883, Rev. M. Schmucker, D. D., of Pottstown, Penn., grandson of one of the pastors, delivered an historical discourse to this congregation, and to him we are greatly indebted for much of the information herein given. The membership in 1885 is 628, and the congregation very prosperous. The Sun- day-school has fifty-two teachers, and 580 pupils. All of the other Lutheran Churches of York colonized from this church.

The First Reformed Church of York, Penn- sylvania .- The reformed congregation in York antedates the organization of the county, and is connected with the first settle- ment of the town, in 1742. The precise date of its organization cannot be fixed. The Rev. Jacob Lischey, its first pastor, in a record made, 1744, in a book held by the present pastor, Rev. Dr. J. O. Miller, says " this congregation has been for several years without a pastor." They had an organization prior to his coming to visit them, and they must have worshiped in a private house.

In August, 1744, Rev. Mr. Lischey, a "Swiss preacher," visited this settlement and preached for them. The elders, George Meyer, Philip Rothrock, and others, extended to him a call; and a second call, in May 29, 1745, which latter he accepted. The congre- gation had no house of worship until 1746, when a block building was erected on Lot No. 91, granted by the Penns. The congregation passed through many scenes of excitement in the first fifteen years of its history, on ac- count of the conduct of its pastor, and the uncertainty of where he stood, as Reformed or Moravian. He several times offered to resign, but a strong party took up for him and retained him. He finally, under a charge, withdrew in 1760, and organized an independent church, in Codorus Township, and was deposed by the synod. A biography of Rev. Lischey will be found on page 406.

The congregation was vacant for one year. They then called the Rev. John Conrad Wirtz, who entered upon his labors, May 9, 1762; and soon brought the congregation into har- mony. The church prospered. The block building was taken down and the corner stone of a large stone building was laid May 24, 1763. Rev. Wirtz did not live to see it com- pleted. He died September 21, 1763, and was buried under the altar. A vacancy of two years, of which there is no record, occurred. In September, 1765, Rev. William Otterbein was called, became pastor November, 1765, and served five years. A desire to visit his native land pressed upon him, and without resign- ing he departed for Germany. The congre- gation was occasionnally supplied by the Rev.

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BOROUGH OF YORK.

Daniel Wagner, who preached at Kreutz Creek The Rev. Otterbein returned October1, 1771, continued to serve this people three years more, and then went to Baltimore. In May, 1774, Rev. Daniel Wagner became the pastor. He was a most estimable man; the church prospered under his ministry. He remained during the period of the Revolutionary war. He resigned in 1786, and accepted a call from the Tulpehocken congregation, Berks County.

In the fall of the same year the church was supplied by a young man, Rev. Philip Stock, who remained until November, 1789. And the records show that, in 1790, Rev. George Troldenier was pastor; not much is learned from the records concerning him; his last baptism was on May 31, 1793.

The congregation extended a call to their former pastor, the Rev. Daniel Wagner, who accepted, and entered upon his duties August 1, 1793. His second ministry was more successful than the first had been. Dur- ing this period the stone church, built in the time of Rev. Wirtz, was destroyed by fire on July 4, 1797, and all the records were burnt save one book. The congregation at once took steps for a new building, which they reared on the same spot 65x55 feet, with the side to the front, which was dedicated in May, 1800, and which is still standing. In May, 1804, Mr. Wagner resigned and the Rev. George Geistweit took his place. He ministered to this people for sixteen years, until 1820. There is no record from which to estimate the work done. He is kindly spoken of by those who knew him, and the church held its own, but made no progress.

Rev. Lewis Mayer, D. D., took charge Jan- uary 8, 1821. It was followed by an awakening and the bringing in of new life. His preach- ing was profound-his energy great. He in- troduced English preaching with the German, built a lecture and school-room on the rear of the lot. He had weekly service for lecture and prayer-also Sunday-school. In the midst of his usefulness he was called to the theological professorship in the seminary. He resigned April 3, 1825.

The church was vacant for two years. The Rev. James Reily was called, April 1, 1827. His health failing he had Rev. Daniel Zacha- rias, a licentiate, for an assistant. He resigned July, 1831.

A vacancy of one year and a quarter occurs; when the Rev. John Cares, of blessed memory, was called, October 1, 1832. He did an effectual work. The lecture room at the rear of the lot was destroyed by fire December 8,

1837, and instead of rebuilding it the con- gregation resolved to alter the interior of the church, taking off ten feet of the audience room and making lecture and Sunday-school room out of it. The Rev. Cares served eleven years, and on April 5, 1843, died. He was greatly lamented by his people.

Now followed an exciting and stormy pe- riod in the history of this congregation. Scarcely had the grave closed over their be- loved pastor, until an effort was made by cer- tain parties to secure the services of Rev. Herman Douglas, a converted Jew, then pastor of an Associated Reformed Church, at Hagerstown. He was a man of brilliant attainments, and great pulpit ability. This excited serious opposition among a large class of persons; they resented it and appealed to the classis. Mr. Douglas took charge July, 1843; he remained only one year and a half. January 1, 1845, resigned, and went to Europe. The congregation did not remain long vacant. On January 16, 1845, they called the Rev. William A. Good, from Ha- gerstown, Md. He, like the four who pre- ceded him, preached in both languages, En- glish and German, and likewise served sur- rounding congregations. During his minis- try, the congregation was chartered by the legislature of Pennsylvania, on March 9, 1849, under the title " The First Reformed Church of the borough of York and its vicin- ity," and under this charter, the congrega- tion was authorized to lay out a public cem- etery, under the title of "Prospect Hill Cemetery," which now contains between 80 and 100 acres. In the latter part of Mr. Good's pastorate. it was resolved to call a co-pastor, to preach exclusively in the English lan- guage. This was unsatisfactory. They then resolved to divide into two sections, English and German, each to call its own pastor, and support him, but to hold their property in common under one corporation. This called for the resignation of both Messrs. Good and Philips, in the fall of 1851.

This opens a new era in the history of this congregation. It was virtually two congre- gations under one corporation in one building. The Rev. David Bossler, of Harrisburg, Penn., was called by the German section, and entered upon his work April 4, 1852; and on November 6, 1852., the Rev. J. O. Miller, of Winchester, Va., was called by the English section, and accepted the position, January 1, 1853. Each section had the use of the audience room on alternate Sunday mornings; the English preached alternately in the lecture room, and in the evening in the church above.

A mission chapel was built by the pastor

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

of the English section for Sunday-school service, 1861, on Queen Street. In the spring of 1862 Rev. D. Bossler resigned, and he was succeeded by the Rev. Daniel Ziegler. The inconvenience of two congregations worshiping in one building became daily manifest; and steps were taken for a final and entire separation of the sections. Terms were agreed upon-the property, all but the cemetery, should be put up, and the highest bidder of the two sections should have it. The Germans bought it, and paid the English for their rights in the church build- ing, graveyard, and parsonage, $9,725-the English to retain the corporate title, and the Cemetery (Prospect Hill).

The English section, now an independent congregation, went out, and for a year or more worshiped in the court house, and then built for themselves their splendid church, called "Trinity," on the second lot east of the old building. It is in Romanesque style of architecture, with tower and turret, 60 feet front and 180 feet deep, with chapel attached; a chime of nine bells, organ, etc., the entire cost $60,000. The building was consecrated during the meeting of the Synod of the United States, October 21, 1866. The pastor is the Rev. J. O. Miller, D. D., who has been with it for nearly thirty-three years since it become a distinct English con- gregation. The congregation is in a healthy, growing condition, with a membership, confirmed and unconfirmed, of 550 people; two Sunday-schools numbering 520.

Zion Reformed Church .- The German section of the original congregation, is now under the pastoral care of Rev. Aaron Spangler, who conducts services in both German and English. The church building on the original site, was remodeled and im- proved a few years ago at an expense of several thousand dollars. The communicant membership of Zion's Church is 498. The elders, for 1885, are William, Reisinger, Charles Yost, John Stouch, Frederick Sake- miller, Peter Moore and Lenhart Himmel- reich; the deacons are George R. Stough, Franklin Quickel, Jacob Spahr, Adam Nay- lor, John L. Sheffer and Charles Craft. The Sunday-school has 301 members. The pastor is president; Samuel G. Hildebrand, super- intendent; H. F. Keesey, secretary; George R. Stough, treasurer; William B. Fry is organist of the church, and Samuel G. Hil- debrand leader of the choir. To the rear of the First Reformed building, Philip Liv- ingston, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was buried in 1778, while congress met in York, His remains have

since been moved to Prospect Hill Cemetery.

It will be a matter of great interest to know who some of the original members of this church were. The following is a list of some of the more prominent persons who were members before 1754. They did not all live in York; some were farmers:

George Mayer,

Zachariah Shugart,

Casper Kieffer,

Christopher Weider,

Christian Wampler, John Wahl,

Jacob Ob (Upp),

George Grimm,

Philip Hintz.

John Guckes,

John Welsch, Michael Neuman,

Abraham Welschans,

John Appleman,

Martin Danner, .

Christian Dittenhoffer,

Peter Wolf,

Dewalt Emrich,

Philip Weber,

George Schrum,

Henry Glatfelter,

Jonas Leib,

George Zinn,

John Bentzel,

George Hoke,

Jacob Schaffer,

Philip Houck,

Michael Kann,

Michael Weider,

George Rudy,

Philip Ganss,

Christian Wampler, Sr.,

John Welsch, tailor,

Jacob Hildebrandt,

Killian Smith,

Conrad Miller,

Dieter Meyer,

Henry Everhart,

Benedict Swope,

Jacob Welsh,

Ludwig Kraft, master,

Jacob Wagner,

Ulrich Hess,

Jacob Shearer,

Nicholas Reisinger,

Nicholas Kerr,

Abraham Kieffer,

Henry Wolff,

Gerhart Luc,

Henry Luckenbaugh,

Nicholas Ob (Upp),

Matthias Gemshem,

Jacob Reiff,

John Meyer,

Michael Greybill, Charles Grimm,

John Gerber, Henry Stittler,

Nicholas Scheaffer, Henry Linebach,

Henry Bier,

Godfry Frey,

Nicholas Wilt,

George Weldey.

Nicholas Schrum.

St. John's Episcopal Church. - It is im- possible to ascertain when the services of the English Church were first introduced into York. When the first regular missionary was sent from England by the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," in 1755, he found a congregation of churchmen, duly organized at York, though enjoying no regular services. In May or June, 1755, Rev. Thomas Barton, who had just returned from England, whither he went to be ordained, instituted stated wor- ship. No record remains of the place where such services were held. For nearly a dec- ade he was the zealous missionary of the "Venerable Society," at Huntington (York Springs), Carlisle and York, and with large- hearted charity, even sought the conversion of the Indians. His letters to the society are full of this truly missionary work among the aborigines of the soil. To his office of priest he added that of soldier, for in the troublesome times with the French and hos- tile Indians, he organized his people for de- fense against their allied foes; and so much did he distinguish himself in this patriotic

school- John Wolff,

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BOROUGH OF YORK.

service, that his conduct was spoken of in a letter from Philadelphia to Mr. Penn, the proprietary : "Mr. Barton deserves the com- mendation of all lovers of their country, for he has put himself at the head of his con- gregations, and marched either by night or by day at every alarm; nor has he done any- thing in a military way but what hath in- creased his character for piety, and that of a sincerely religious man and zealous minister; in short, he is a most worthy, active and serviceable pastor and missionary." (See chapter entitled "Historical Biography," in this work, page 405.)

Mr. Barton was succeeded as missionary by the Rev. John Andrews, who set about at once to secure a church. In 1765 a subscrip- tion was opened and in 1766 "an act of as- sembly was obtained for a lottery to raise a sum of money sufficient to build Episcopal Churches in York and Reading and to pay the debts due on the English Episcopal Churches of St. Peter's and St. Paul's of Philadelphia." By this lottery £257 5s. were obtained for York. Through solicitation on the part of the members of the congregation among their friends in Philadelphia and Lancaster £150 more were secured. The Rev. Mr. Andrews also secured £57 which in addition to the subscriptions from the congregation furnished sufficient funds to complete the church with but a trifling debt remaining unpaid.

The ground was secured through the influ- ence of the Rev. Dr. Peters, who had himself subscribed £10. "He applied to the Pro- prietaries and got a lot of ground in York ,Town-eighty feet front, 250 feet in depth, for the building of said church and for burial ground, at the yearly rent of one shilling sterling if demanded, and the warrant was granted to Samuel Johnston and Thomas Minshall, Esqs., and to Mr. Joseph Adlum as trustees of the congregation." The church was built under the supervision of these gen- tlemen, but whether in 1766 or 1769 is a matter of dispute. The church records in- cline to the former, while the tablet on the church tower gives the latter. It is worthy of note that the English Church at York was, when erected, one of the only four in the colony of Pennsylvania outside of Phila- delphia. It was a small unpretentious brick structure situated back from the street, facing the alley and opening thereupon. The chancel was at the opposite (northern) end. The total cost of the church was £459. The Rev. Mr. Andrews resigned his missionary charge of York and Cumberland Counties in 1772, and was succeeded by Rev. Daniel Bat- well, likewise an Englishman. In 1774, the

year of Mr. Batwell's induction, a bell was presented to the church by Queen Caroline, consort of George III, but as there was no belfry to the church the bell was hung in the cupola of the Court House in Centre Square where it rang out its patriotic sum- mons to the members of the Continental Con- gress when in session in York. It remained in the Court House for half a century, when, upon the demolition of this temple of liberty it was recovered by the church and placed in its tower, where it has done faithful service ever since.

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History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor Publication date: 1886 Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104