USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Hempfield > History of old Zion Evangelical Lutheran church in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Near Harrold's > Part 11
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Another Christmas a year later, when the school ren- dered "Ogden's Birth of Christ," a religious cantata con- taining bright carols, the congregation was delighted with the development of talent of the community. The expense of the cantata for those days, over $125, was considered quite an undertaking. So well were the Pastors, Rev. Dr. J. C. Kunzman and Rev. Dr. Cyrus Dieffenbacher, pleased, that from their seats in the audience, they arose and requested that it be repeated within a week, which was done, a crowded house again being present. These exercises were held in the Old Zion Lutheran Church.
Congregational reunions, then termed "Sunday School Celebrations," were begun in 1886, and have continued annu- ally ever since, and increased in number and popularity. More recently the Old Zion's and Zion's Lutheran Sunday school and St. John's Reformed Sunday school, have joined their efforts, and the annual Church and Sunday school reunions have proven very successful, and productive of a splendid spirit in the community.
Memorial Day from 1886 and 87, and some years there- after was also observed and occasionally since, when opportun- ity affords. At times the Sunday schools united in big patriotic parades, either from Old Zion's or from the Cross-road to the Old cemetery. Prominent speakers were secured and special
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patriotic music rendered by the large chorus choirs. Some years there were more flowers than could be used. Such par- ticipations in special Patriotic and Religious observances have been the means of fostering a spirit of earnest and success- ful co-operation.
The Old Zion's Sunday school has now 142 scholars and 12 officers and teachers, and is progressing nicely in its work.
The different superintendents of this school since its organization in 1885, have been, in turn; Henry M. Zundel, John A. Zundel, Cyrus D. Eisaman, A. M. Zundel, Jr., Robert M. Zundel, A. M. Zundel, Jr., James E. Cope and R. M. Zundel, (1922).
The Cemeteries
When the location for the new church was secured, pro- vision was also made for a cemetery. Even before the erec- tion of the church, and before the woods across the road from the school house was all cleared, a burial ground was needed.
Daniel Baughman, Sr., who died before the first cemetery plot was laid out, was buried in the extreme southwest corner, so as not to interfere in plotting the lots.
When it came to selling lots considerable discussion en- sued. The fathers, who were really the bone and sinue of the congregation, with a very few exceptions, favored "free lots," the same as had been the custom in the Old Union Grave Yard. At one of the first meetings, a motion to sell the cemetery lots was discussed for a long time without a deci- sion being reached. Those who favored "selling the lots," discovered that the motion would be overwhelmingly lost, so a postponement of two weeks was finally agreed upon. In the meantime, a person of the community, not a member, died, and was granted a lot. This was used as an argument at the next meeting, and the motion carried to sell the lots. This
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shows how difficult it was to establish a fund for the future care of the cemetery.
The first cemetery proved a success, financially, although the prices of lots were very low. Realizing the need of more burial ground for the future generations, more ground oppo- site the church was purchased, and laid out in lots. This second effort proving even more popular than the first, and the third tract was purchased, Now Old Zion's, with its com- bined plots has indeed a beautiful burial place, a veritable "God's Acre," and also has a fund which will provide proper care of the cemetery.
The first church and cemetery ground, of two acres, was donated by Mother Eisaman in 1883-84.
The second cemetery plot of three and one half acres, and one half acre for hitching place, was purchased from the Eisaman Estate, during Rev. W. H. Zuber's pastorate.
The third and last cemetery plot of five acres, was pur- chased from Cyrus D. Eisaman in 1907. The three parts thus, contain over ten acres for burial purposes. The ground is well located and well adapted for the purpose. This is now one of the most attractive cemeteries of the county.
Church Music
Years ago when books were very scarce, the pioneer pas- tor was accustomed, to announce the hymns, line by line, and especially so, at the grave, during the burial of the dead. Those who sang then joined in or closely followed the pastor or "fore singer."
The gallery in the Old Stone Church, forming the three sides of a square, with the "wine-glass shaped pulpit" against the wall, in the middle of the open space, was the place for the singers. Grandfather Eisaman, in his day, and later I. W. Wentzel, David B. Wentzel, Reuben Eisaman and others served as "fore-singers," or leaders in the music. The singers when out in number, were lined all around the three sides in
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the first gallery tier of seats. The sopranos on the South and West, and the bass on the east of the pulpit. The tuning fork was struck for the pitch, the tone secured, then the leader began and as readily as possible all joined in the singing. What the music then lacked, at any time in its artistic render- ing, it gained in religious fervor and worshipful spirit.
Among the things that stimulated the rendering of the Church music, was the Old-time Singing School, at the old school house. Many thus learned to read not only the buck- wheat-notes, but also the modern round notes as well. Millers- dahl school house to the west of Harrold's also, for years, maintained a singing school.
About 1875, Mr. Thomas Marshall, a noted instructor, conducted a musical convention in the Old Stone Church, which was largely attended and gave a great impetus to music in the Harrold settlement. John R. Francis, about 1887-88, also conducted a class in Old Zion's. Others also from time to time, were instrumental in adding knowledge, and creating a deeper love for music. Taken as a whole, for a rural district, the music of this section, has compared favorably with that of other localities. With the introduction of organs and pianos, better church music has been promoted. Perhaps, in our day we cannot fully appreciate the services of these early pioneers in music, nor realize the valuable work performed by them.
List of Pastors of St. John's Congregation at Herold's
Rev. John William Weber 1783-1816
Rev. Henry Habliston 1816-1819
Rev. Nicholas P. Hacke, D.D 1819-1877
Rev. C. R. Diffenbacher 1878-1889
Rev. M. H. Mill 1890-1891
Rev. I. N. Berger 1891-1895
Rev. H. S. Garner 1897-1904
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Rev. L. D. Steckel 1904-1909 Rev. E. D. Bright 1910-
Zion Settlement and Patriotism
The people of Zion Church Settlement have always been patriotic. They took their full share in defending their coun- try's flag. They were among the most skillful and daring Indian fighters. They did their full share in the several wars of our country, as the following report will show. We need to note, however, that not all who fought with the colors are buried here. In the Indian wars, he who fell was fortunate if he was buried at all, and in the earlier wars those who fell in battle or succumbed to disease, were not sent home, but buried where they died. Many names on the early rolls of this Church were extinguished in this way.
The Annual Memorial Roster of Adjutant S. P. Feight- ner of Capt. George A. Cribbs, Post, No. 276 G. A. R. for May 30, 1922, shows the following summary of the soldier dead in the Herold Cemeteries.
Indian War, 1; Revolutionary War, 6; War of 1812, 1; Mexican War, 3; Civil War, 45; Spanish American War, 4; World War, 4; a total of 64.
In all the cemeteries closely connected with the Herold Settlement the totals are Indian War, 1; Revolutionary War, 15; War of 1812, 11; Mexican War, 23; Civil War, 323; Spanish American War, 19; World War, 38; Regular Army, 2; Mexican Border, 1; total 433. The Post No. 276 has 59 survivers of the Civil War and there are hundreds of sur- vivers of the later wars. The Herold cemeteries contain the dead of every American War.
Fort Allen was built in 1774 during Connolly's War. The Herold Settlement stood solidly for Pennsylvania's rights west of the mountains.
The fact that the great west was peopled through Penn- sylvania has meant more to our country than many suppose.
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Pennsylvania developed the first true type of American- ism. The great west followed the Pennsylvania type of civilization and government.
The celebrated Historian, Woodrow Wilson, twice presi- dent of the United States, a Virginian by birth, governor of New Jersey and president of Princeton University, says ; "However mortifying it may be to them or to us, America did not come out of the South and it did not come out of New England. The characteristic part of America originated in the middle states of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, because there, from the first, was that mixture of populations, that mixture of racial stocks, that mixture of antecedents, which is the singular and distinguishing mark of the United States."
In helping to maintain Pennsylvania's rights west of the Alleghenies the Herold Settlement contributed to the influ- ence that Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey exerted even the western states.
Bancroft says: "The Germans who composed a large part of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania were all on the side of liberty."
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CHAPTER XVII Education among the German Elements in Western Pennsylvania
For the history of the settlements and the problems of the early settlers see the preceeding first eight chapters.
It required several years for these hardy pioneers to build necessary cabins for shelter against the cold of winter, and to clear sufficient ground for the necessary crops ; hence school work had to wait until the work necessary to existance was accomplished. However, the historical interest of the German for education was shown when, in 1772, three years after the settlement at Zion Church or Herold's a school-house was erected and a teacher secured. This school-house also served for church purposes until a suitable church was built.
Balthasar Meyer, who settled in Zion Church Settlement in 1779, was the first schoolmaster in the settlement and, per- haps, the first in Western Pennsylvania. There being no minister in the settlement as yet, the schoolmaster was called upon to read sermons, baptize infants, and children, and to bury the dead.
The early records of the school are mingled with the church records of the time, hence we read in the old Lutheran Parish Register at Herold's: "Register of all children in Zion Church Settlement baptized by Balthasar Meyer, schoolmaster, from the second of August, 1772, until -. " The last entry in the handwriting of Balthasar Meyer is in the year 1792, the fourth of June. The record indicates, in the year 1782, the advent of a regular Lutheran Minister, Rev. Anton Ulrich
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Luetge, but owing to the vastness of the field schoolmaster Meyer still continued to baptize children, though in limited number, and to enter the baptisms on the record, up until the fourth of June, 1792; hence we may believe that Balthasar Meyer served as schoolmaster from August 2, 1772, until June 4, 1792.
It is difficult to give an estimate of the life and work of this pioneer educator. The only knowledge we have of him is the records that he left. Judging from the neatness, style and content of these writings, he was a man of no mean ability. His standing in the community is attested by the fact that they made him their pastor de facto, and when the congregation called Anton Ulrich Luetge to become their pastor, it was schoolmaster Balthasar Meyer who ordained him to the ministry and installed him as Pastor.
The intelligence of these early pioneers may be gauged from their acts and writings. In 1774 the settlers met at Fort Allen at Zion Church Settlement and signed a petition to the governor. Of the seventy-seven signers every one could read, ' & and write his own name legibly; which was not a general attainment among pioneers of other nationalities of that day. It is a mark of intelligence and progressiveness that they so early made provision for schools and churches. Because they spoke German and many did not speak English fluently, they were generally rated as "dumb Dutch" by many of their il- literate contemporaries.
The personnel of the early county officialdom is no indica- tion of the relative qualities and worth of the early settlers. In the first place the German settlers took up farms and did not seek political preferment as did their Irish, Scotch-Irish and English neighbors.
Secondly, during the reign of the Penn heirs, many of the first officials of the county were appointed; consequently the better known English speaking men received the lion's share
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of the best political jobs. That the officials were not always the best men is shown by the following instances: "John Smith was charged with stealing and pleaded guilty. He was sen- tenced to receive thirty-nine lashes on the bare back, well laid on, and his ears were then to be cut off and nailed to the pillory : and he was to stand one hour in the pillory."
"In October, 1775, Elizabeth Smith was ordered to receive fifteen lashes on the bare back, well laid on. She was further- more an indentured servant of James Kinkaid, who had a right to her uninterrupted services. Four days after she was whipped, James Kinkaid presented a petition to our courts set- ting forth that he had been unjustly deprived of her services while she was in prison, and while she was recovering from the effects of the sentence. He therefore asked a redress for this loss. Judges Hanna, Lochry, Sloan and Cavett were on the bench and they deliberately considered his request and decreed that she should serve Kinkaid for a period of two years after the expiration of her indenture."
"James McGill was found guilty of a felony in 1782, and was sentenced to a public whipping, then to the pillory, after which his right ear was cut off, and he was to be branded on the forehead with a hot iron."1
Such revolting incidents as the above speak volumes in the fact that not a German is mentioned in these crimes. While the English, Irish, and Scotch-Irish were thus extending the "blessings" of English laws and customs to Western Pennsyl- vania, the German settlers were building schools, supporting schoolmasters and Ministers of the Gospel.
Boucher in his history of Westmoreland County says : "A people are not generally better than their laws. Many who came from England and Ireland and settled in Western Penn- sylvania purchased large tracts of land and at once regarded
1History of Westmoreland County, by John W. Boucher.
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themselves as nabobs, owners of large landed estates, like the nobles of England. They tried to emulate and imitate the weaker rather than the stronger characteristics of the landed gentry of Great Britain. Hugh Henry Brackenridge, after- wards justice of the supreme court, says in "Modern Chivalry," that we had men in Westmoreland County who held and abused slaves and Redemptioneers, who would not for a fine cow have shaved their beards on Sunday."
As a rule the Germans settled on moderately sized farms, and owned no slaves or Redemptioneers, although quite a number of Germans were brought here as Redemptioneers ; choosing to sell their services for a period of years in order to gain transportation to America.
In 1780 there were two hundred and three slave holders, including George Washington, in Westmoreland County, and six hundred ninety-five slaves. In 1798 there were only twelve slaves in Hempfield township, which then embraced Greens- burg, the county seat. Hempfield Township was settled mainly by Germans, and this small number of slaves in this large township, is proof of the general attitude of the German toward slavery.
Mr. Boucher pays the following tribute to their peaceable- ness and self-governing ability: "They had an unwritten law among themselves which in effect worked out the spirit of all law as defined by Justinian, the great Roman law-giver, viz .: 'To live honestly, hurt nobody, and render to everyone his due.' One in that community who habitually violated this precept, was very soon ostracised from the society of his neighbors; the ordinary field hand would not work for or associate with him. He was not invited to the barn raisings or log rollings so common in the sparsely settled country ; and this unwritten law of social ostracism was carried out so thoroughly against the offending dishonest or unworthy neighbor, that families
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thus ostracised have abhorrently left the fields they had cleared with great labor, never to return to them.
"These principles of right living were brought with them and thoroughly implanted in the new country, for most of them had been brought up under the English law and knew thor- oughly their inherent rights as citizens of a community. The very absence of courts or convenient tribunals before which to redress their grievances, helped them in a great measure, to give a high moral tone to their rural communities in their personal relations with each other."
This brief survey of the community life will give some insight into the aims and objects toward which they desired their schools to function in those pioneer days.
A record of the financial settlement of the church council, dated the fifteenth day of February, 1793, is signed by (Rev.) John Michael Steck, President, and Karl Sheibeler, school- master, which indicates that Karl Sheibeler succeeded Baltha- sar Meyer as schoolmaster in the Zion or Herold's Settlement.
. The writer is in possession of a Getaufschein (Baptismal Certificate)1 of John George Eisenmann, a great great grand- father of the writer.ยช This Getaufschein names as parents the honorable Peter Eisenmann and Justina, nee Altmann, his beloved wife. The sponsors were John Peter Eisenmann and Anna Barbara his wife. This certificate was "made by Karl Sheibeler, schoolmaster, Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, 1788." It is a work of art. The penmanship is beauti- ful. The body of the certificate consists of a poem concerning Baptism and its meaning, then follows the names of child, parents and sponsors, then another poem or hymn. About this body there is a border of fine workmanship done in mosaics and flowers in three colors. After one hundred twenty-four years the colors are bright and the writing legible.
'See cut page-also Appendix D.
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Schoolmaster Sheibeler was a pen artist of no mean ability, in his day. He was also a veteran of the Revolutionary War and the first schoolmaster in Greensburg. In 1788 the German settlement in Hempfield Township had at least two school- masters, Balthasar Meyer and Karl Sheibeler.
To show that even the life of a schoolmaster has its perils and also to show the devotion of the early schoolmasters we append the following story.
To this early period belongs the Massacre of Schoolmaster Brown and his ten scholars. We quote from Col. Henry Bouquet and his Campaigns, by Cort :
"In 1764, July 26, three miles northwest of Greencastle, Franklin County, Pa., was perpetrated what Parkman, the great historian of Colonial times, pronounces 'an outrage un- matched in fiend-like atrocity through all the annals of the war.' This was the massacre of Enoch Brown, a kindhearted exemplary Christian schoolmaster, and ten scholars, eight boys and two girls. Ruth Hart and Ruth Hale were the names of the girls. Among the boys were Eben Taylor, George Dustan and Archie Mccullough. All were knocked down like so many beeves and scalped by the merciless savages. Mourning and desolation came to many homes in the valley, for each of the slaughtered innocents belonged to a different family. The last named boy, indeed, survived the effects of the scalping knife, but in somewhat demented condition.
The teacher offered his life and scalp in a spirit of self- sacrificing devotion if the savages would only spare the lives of the little ones under his charge and care. But no! the tender mercies of the heathen are cruel, and so a perfect holo- caust was made to the Moloch of war by the relentless fiends in human form. The schoolhouse was located on the farm now occupied by Mr. Henry Diehl, and formerly owned by Mr. Christian Koser. It stood in a cleared field, at the head of a deep ravine, surrounded by a dense forrest. Down this
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ravine the savages fled a mile or two until they struck Conococheague Creek, along the bed of which, to conceal their tracks, they traveled to the mouth of Path Valley, up which and across the mountains they made good their escape to their village, near the Ohio.
It is some relief to know that this diabolical deed, whose recital makes us shudder even at this late date, was disapproved by the old warriors when the marauding party of young Indians came back with their horrid trophies. Neephaughwhese, or Night Walker, an old chief or half-king, denounced them as a pack of cowards for killing and scalping so many children.
But who can describe the agony of those parents in the Conococheague settlement weeping like Rachel for her children and refused to be comforted? Or who can describe the horror of the scene in that lonely log school house, when one of the settlers chanced to look in at the door to ascertain the cause of the unusual quietness ?
In the center lay the faithful Brown, scalped and lifeless, with a Bible clasped in his hand. Around the room were strewn the dead and mangled bodies of seven boys and two girls, while little Archie, stunned, scalped and bleeding, was creeping around among his dead companions, rubbing his hands over their faces and trying to gain some token of recognition.
A few days later the innocent victims of savage atrocity received a common sepulchre. All were buried in one large rough box at the border of the ravine, a few rods from the school house where they had been so ruthlessly slaughtered. Side by side, with head and feet alternately, the little ones were laid with their master, just as they were clad at the time of the massacre."
This story shows the perils as well as the devotion of the frontier schoolmaster.
How long Karl Sheibeler served as schoolmaster in the Zion's or Herold's school, the records do not reveal, but the
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records of the annual settlements of the Lutheran and Re- formed Congregations indicate that the school was continued without interruption.
In September, 1810, we have the first record of the school- mastership of John Michael Zundel. He served continuously in this settlement and neighboring settlements until May, 1827. After considerable search we located his grave in a little neg- lected cemetery near Mt. Pleasant, Pa. The inscription on the tomb stone is as follows: "Hier ruhet Johan Michael Zundel. Er ward geboren den 25ten Julius 1757 und starb den 14ten August 1844. Sein ganzes Alter war 87 Yahren und 19 tagen." "Selig sind die reines herzens sind, denn sie werden Gott schauen."
We were told the following incidents relating to Michael Zundel and his work by Mrs. Salome Miller, nee Leasure, of Armburst, Pa., in the year 1912. Mrs. Miller was then in her ninety-third year but was well preserved in health and had a remarkably clear memory. She was born March 31, 1819, and as a little girl was a pupil of "Grandpap" Zundel, as his pupils affectionately called him. She remembered him as a little old man with side whiskers who was a "Vorsteher" (Deacon) in Herold's Church. He lived at that time (probably 1829) on the "Yar" Adam Schneider's place, later the Goodlin farm.
When not busy teaching at Herold's he would organize schools at various places wherever scholars could be assembled and a room secured for their comfort. While teaching such a school at Keppels near Feightner's school house, he boarded with Mrs. Leasure, a widow, mother of Mrs. Miller, who lived on the Heckler farm. The term of school was three months. Tuition was fifty cents a month per pupil, and there were generally about twelve pupils; making a monthly salary of six dollars : and eighteen dollars per term.
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Mrs. Miller also related how her own tuition was remitted because her mother was very poor. The Bible and Luther's Catechism were the text books. All instruction was in German. The curriculum, comprised the four R's: Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmetic, and Religion. The schoolmaster found means out of his "liberal" salary to offer prizes and ofttimes to remit part of the tuition for work well done.
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