USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > Hempfield > History of old Zion Evangelical Lutheran church in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Near Harrold's > Part 7
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They tracked the horse until it was dark, and were then obliged to lie by; and in the morning, taking it again, they tracked the horse as before but found the course varied, taking into branches of streams to prevent pursuit and which greatly delayed them, requiring considerable time tracing the stream to find where the horse had taken the bank and come out; sometimes taking along hard ridges, though not di- rectly in his course, where the tracks of the horse could not be seen; in this manner he had got on to the Allegheny river where they found the horse with the bark bridle, where he appeared to have been left but a short time before. The sweat was scarcely dry upon his sides; for the weather was warm and he appeared to have been ridden hard; the distance he had come was about ninety miles. It was presumed the Indian had swam the river, into the uninhabited (and what was then called the Indian) country, where it was unsafe for the small party that were in pursuit to follow.
"After the war, I took some pains to inform myself whether he had made his way good to the Indian towns, the nearest of which was Sandusky, at a distance of about two hundred miles; but it appeared that after all his efforts, he had been unsuccessful and had not reached home. He had been drowned in the river or famished in the woods, or his broken limb had occassioned his death."
The following was the order issued by Gen. Irvine :
"You are hereby enjoined and required to take the Indian delivered into your charge, by my order, and carry him safe
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into the settlement of Brush Creek. You will afterwards warn two justices of the peace and request their attendance at such place as they shall think proper to appoint, with several other reputable inhabitants. Until this is done and their advice and direction had in the matter, you are, at your peril, not to hurt him nor suffer any person to do it. Given under my hand at Fort Pitt, July 21, 1782.
To Joseph Studibaker, Frances Birely, Henry Willard and Frederick Willard."
Rugh's Blockhouse
Michael Rugh came to Westmoreland in 1772 from North- ampton County, Pennsylvania. He early built a large two- story log house a little south of the present barn and a little above the spring on the farm of John Rugh, about two miles south of Greensburg and near the County Home.
Michael Rugh was a man of some prominence, especially in the latter part of the Revolution. He was elected coro- ner in 1781, and was also later in the same year, one of the commissioners of Purchases and a Common Pleas judge. There is an unbroken tradition of the people's fleeing to Rugh's Blockhouse from all the surrounding country after the attack on Hannastown.
Fort Allen, Hempfield Township
Fort Allen was the name given to a structure erected in "Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, between Wen- del Oury's and Christopher Truby's" at the same time that Fort Shippen, at Capt. John Proctor's. Shield's Fort, and others of like character were erected, that is, in the summer of 1774. This structure was probably a stronghouse, or a block- house erected for the emergency and never required, so far as is known, for public use. It was named probably in honor of Andrew Allen, Esq., of the Supreme Executive Council. From the names of the signers (see Chapter 5), the locality was manifestly in the German settlement of Hempfield Township,
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to the west of New Town (Greensburg). No other mention of this place by that name is found (see Rupp, West Pa. Appx.). All knowledge of its exact location has passed away.3
The site of Fort Allen was probably about four hundred yards south of the school house, slightly westward at a spring, on the northern slope, on the Church farm. A build- ing stood here at an early time. We ourselves have seen foundation stones and rotting logs at this location. Some school sessions were held here also.
The proximity to a spring and doubtless the cleared ground made this location superior to the school house site, which was surrounded by forrest and had no spring nearby.
Kepple's Blockhouse
Kepple's Blockhouse was located on the farm of Michael Kepple in Hempfield Township about a mile and a half from Greensburg on the road to Salem (Delmont P. O.).
Stokeley's Blockhouse
was located near Waltz's Mill.
McDowell's Blockhouse
was at Madison.
Marchand's Blockhouse
was situated on the Doctor David Marchand farm, on the north fork of the Little Sewickley in Millersdale, Hempfield Township, about four miles west of Greensburg. It was used during the Revolution and as a refuge against the Indians. Rev. Cyrus Cort writes: "It is one of the traditions of our family that my great grandfather, John Yost Cort, had charge, in perlious times, of the women and children in that fort."
3Frontier Forts.
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Philip Klingensmith's House
Col. James Perry writes to President Reed from West- moreland County.
"Savikley (Sewickley) July 2, 1781. This morning a small garrison at Philip Clingensmith's about eight miles from this, and four or five from Hannastown, consisting of be- tween twenty and thirty men, women, and children was destroyed; only three made their escape. The particulars I cannot well inform you, as the party that we sent to bury the dead are not yet returned and I wait every moment to hear or perhaps see them strike at some other place. The party was supposed to be about seventeen, and I am apt to think there are still more of them in the settlements.
The location of the fort was probably on the farm of Daniel Mull, Penn Township. Some think the location was on the North Eastern part of Jeannette.
List of Forts and Blockhouses
connected with the German settlement.
Fort Ligonier.
Wallace's Fort, erected 1774, Derry Township.
Barr's Fort, 1769, about one mile from New Derry.
Palmer's Fort, 1774, Fairfield Township.
Shield's Fort, 1774, New Alexandria.
Walthour's Fort, eight miles west of Greensburg. Rugh's Blockhouse, south of Greensburg. Fort Allen, 1774, at Harrolds.
Kepple Blockhouse, 11/2 miles north of Greensburg.
Stockeley's Blockhouse, near Waltz's Mills. McDowell's Blockhouse, Madison.
Marchand's Blockhouse, Millersdale. Fort Shippen, 1774, Unity Township.
Lochry's Blockhouse, 1781, Unity Township. Klingensmith's House, 1770 (?) Jeannette. Fort Reed, Hannastown.
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CHAPTER VIII Social Life of a Pioneer
Strenuous and dangerous as were the lives of the Pio- neers, they had their social side with appropriate relaxation and amusement.
While it was customary for each family to live on its own farm, there were numerous occasions when neighbor- ing families would unite. Partly by necessity to handle large logs, partly for social reasons the settlers would gather together for "log-rolling." The German settlers cut down the trees and burned them instead of girdling them and per- mitting the dead tree to stand, as the English and Scotch- Irish did. These log-rollings were contests of strength among the young men and the blazing logs furnished the light for the evening entertainment of the young folks.
The marriage of a young couple brought the country side together, the first day was the bride's day celebrated at the home of the bride, the second day was groom's day and the "Infair" was celebrated at the home of the groom. All the delicacies of the times were served. There was abundance of wild game and other meat, corn-bread, pone, white bread, vegetables and fruits of the season. Cider and whisky in abundance. We may be assured that these hard-working Pioneers ate and drank heartily. A wedding party was broken up at Millers station and many of the guests taken prisoner, when Hannastown was attacked in 1782.
Another get-to-gether time was for a house or barn rais- ing, when the crowd would be divided into contending groups,
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each vying with the other to get their log hewn and fitted into place first and we may be sure the young men did their best for the maidens were interested and cast many an ap- proving glance and smile as they prepared the meals in the woods nearby.
Young people always have some way of meeting each other. Besides the long journeys to church and the "Kinder- lehre" which we may be sure were improved to their own satisfaction for those early pioneers did not complain of a walk of five or six miles through the woods, and the records show that many were confirmed at from eighteen to thirty years of age; and we know that many a youth and maiden learned other things than Luther's Five Parts at the "Kinder- lehre" and shortly after confirmation the pastor would have the pleasure of uniting two lives in holy wedlock.
Then there were singing schools, Spelling Bees, Apple Butter parties, Corn roasting parties, Frolics to cut grain or do some unusual labor for some settler. Altogether the lives of the pioneers were not dull except when the Indians were on the warpath.
For the women, they had their pride in culinary skill, spinning and housekeeping, which included the kitchen gar- den; the German settlers introduced the kitchen garden into America. It was the duty and privilege of every bride to spin her own trousseau. While the interests of the pioneer woman largely belonged to "Kirche, Kind and Kueche," this does not imply that their lives were narrow and sad. We pity the woman who would rather work with a dead typewriter, sell dead drygoods, than minister to a living family in the home and teach the living soul of a child to love its Savior and its mother.
The men had many diversions that exhibited their en- durance and skill. The boy learned how to shoot by "bark- ing" squirrels, i. e. when a squirrel clung to the side of a
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HISTORY OF OLD ZION EVANGELICAL
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LUTHERAN CHURCH, GREENSBURG, PA.
tree the hunter would shoot so that the rifle ball would strike the bark under the squirrel, thus stunning the squirrel. So skillful were these settlers with the rifle that no matter how tall the tree, they would either "bark" the squirrel or shoot off its head. Then deer and bear hunting and trapping fur bearing animals kept the men busy in winter and added to the income, for the furs had a ready sale and could be bar- tered for salt, sugar and other home necessities that they them- selves could not produce.
During the Indian wars and the Revolution the men were busy defending their country. Many fought in the armies of the east and the others defended the frontier against the savage British, Tories and Indians. Goaded on by the scalp- ing of helpless women and children they often fought superior numbers at great odds and as a consequence often times failed and lost their lives. Many names that appear on the early church rolls were removed in this way and no kin were left to perpetuate their names and achievements. If a brief mention of the fact were made in the official reports, historians have "edited" it out of the narrative.
Inured to hardship and danger many of the early settlers, like the Wetzel's and Brady's thoroughly enjoyed hunting the Indian. It was dangerous sport but the thrills of narrow es- capes afforded great enjoyment. Competition in shooting was always a stirring sport which led to practical ends. Shoot- ing matches for prizes were quite frequent.
The early German settlers were home lovers and found their chief joy in providing for its comfort and enjoying the company of wife and children around the open fireplace dur- ing the long winter evenings. Notwithstanding the German's inclination to build a good barn for the cattle, his house was superior to many of his contemporaries. It is interesting to note the efforts made to beautify the home. The German's library was superior to that of his contemporary and he kept
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abreast of the times through his German newspaper. Men and women of fine culture and great literary and scientific ability were found in the humble log cabins.
In general there was a deep fervent piety among the early settlers. They brought their Bibles, prayer books and religion with them into the wilderness. They built the first church and schoolhouse in Greensburg and the first church in Pittsburgh. Their schoolhouse at Harold's was one of the very first, probably the first, west of the mountains.
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LUTHERAN CHURCH, GREENSBURG, PA.
CHAPTER IX The Patriarchs
Rev. John Michael Steck, 1791-1830.
Rev. John Michael Steck became pastor September 24, 1791, and served until July 14, 1830.
Rev. Steck was born on the 5th of October, 1756 in Germantown, Pennsylvania, where he was also brought up and received his proparatory education. He studied theology under Dr. Helmuth of Philadelphia.
"In 1784, Rev. Steck was licensed, and accepted a call from Chambersburg, Franklin County, where he labored suc- cessfully for four years. In 1788, he was sent as a mis- sionary to Bedford County, which then included the territory now Somerset and Fulton counties, where he labored for four years with great diligence, and remarkable success. He
preached wherever he found settlements of German people."1
In the summer of 1791, he received a call from the field in Westmoreland County and entered upon his work Septem- ber 24, 1791.
He held his first communion Oct. 11, 1791, at which time there were 80 communicants (see appendix B).
He confirmed his first Catechetical Class on the 26th of May, 1792, there being 43 in the class (see appendix C).
In the Minutes of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania in 1796, we read, "Resolved, 9th, that Mr. Johann Michael Steck,
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LUTHERAN CHURCH, GREENSBURG, PA.
as licensed candidate, serve Greensburg, Herold's Brusch- kirk, Ridge, at Jacobskrik and at Allegany, in Westmore- land County."
In 1798, "Licensed candidate Joh. Michael Steck, from Gruensburg" attended the Ministerium with Jacob Stroh as delegate. At this time, Mr. Steck reports :
335 baptized members
333 communicant members.
67 confirmations 37 funerals
In the minutes of 1801 we read "A letter from four con- gregations in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, was read; they testify to their satisfaction with Mr. Steck, and beg that his absence be excused, because of sickliness."
In his report for 1801 Mr. Steg (Steck) from Greensburg reports :
Baptisms 174
Confirmations 77
Communicants 928
Funerals 17
Mr. Steg's license was renewed.
In 1806 Mr. Jacob Ruch accompanied Mr. Steck to the 59th Convention at Hagerstown, Md.
"Mr. Jacob Ruch handed in a letter from the congrega- tions in and about Greensburg in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, a good testimonial for their preacher, Mr. Joh. Michael Steck. They asked to be permitted to keep him, and that he may remain a member of the Reverend Ministerium."
At this meeting Mr. Steck reported :
Baptisms 246
Confirmations 63
Communicants 500
Funerals
27
Schools 3
Grbg. 4
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As with Rev. Luetge so with Rev. Steck, he became a member of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania and was pledged to the unaltered Augsburg Confession and the other Symboli- cal Books of the Lutheran Church. This petition of the con- gregations is a tacit acknowledgement that they were in har- mony with the faith and practices of the Confessional Luther- an Church. Their appeal and the sending of delegates shows that they acknowledged and appreciated their membership in the Ministerium of Pennsylvania.
Zion Lutheran Church was founded upon and always sus- tained the full Confessional position of the unaltered Augs- burg Confession and the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
"On June 3rd, 1806, the Ministerium "Resolved that Mr. Joh. Michael Steck shall be ordained this evening."
"Joh. Mich. Steck handed in the license and one sermon." "In the evening Mr. Joh. Mich. Steck was solemnly conse- crated to the ministry in the Church." This is witnessed by J. Heinr, Helmuth, President, and Jacob Goering, P. T. Secre- tary.
In 1812 Rev. Steck reports :2
Baptisms 296
Confirmations 100
Communicants 472
Funerals 30
In December 1812 the ministers of the "frontier" met in Special Conference in Washington County. Rev. Steck was Secretary of the Conference. These conferences continued until 1818 when they culminated in the formation of th: Ohio Synod.3
2Minutes Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsylvania.
3The Fourth Special Conference met in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, October 22-25, 1814. The powers of the Conference were enlarged by the Ministerium of Pennsylvania.
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LUTHERAN CHURCH, GREENSBURG, PA.
In 1818 when the Ohio Synod was formed, Rev. Steck and his congregations withdrew from the Ministerium of Pennsyl- vania and joined in forming the new Synod. The Ohio Synod met in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1822. J. P. Schmucker and Steck, Jr., were sent as delegates to the General Synod.
The congregation remained in connection with the Ohio Synod until the formation of the Pittsburgh Synod in 1845.
Rev. John Michael Steck was truly a "bishop." He la- bored in a field that now includes Westmoreland, Fayette, Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, Clarion, and Mercer Counties. He was truly a man of God. He labored faithfully until the Lord called him home, a period of nearly thirty-nine years.
It was during his closing ministry that the new stone church was built. The building committeemen were Jacob Haines and Bernard Thomas. The corner-stone was laid May 28th, 1829, and the church was dedicated in 1830. Rev. J. G. C. Schweitzerbarth preached the Lutheran sermon and Rev. H. E. F. Voight, the Reformed sermon at the dedication. The church was a tall, almost square stone building with a gallery on three sides. It was heated by two stoves, the stove pipes extending up to the ceiling, where they entered chimneys and extended through the combs of the roof.
There were two entrances; on the east side and the west side. The main floor was divided into four sections by the aisles which led to the chancel. One of these sections on the northeast side was termed the "Old Men's Corner." The other opposite, on the northwest side was the "Old Women's Corner." The younger women, girls, and children sat under the gallery on the south side, while the middle-aged men and boys "hiked" to the gallery.
In the chancel place, to the north central part, was a large rectangular altar, painted white; behind this besides the chairs for the preachers, was the pulpit. The pulpit was
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a high wine glass pattern with steps leading up to it. It rested against the wall in the north central side. It was the custom for the minister to conduct the opening service at the altar and
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Wine Glass Pulpit from Old Stone Church
during the singing of the hymn before the sermon to mount the steps and enter the pulpit.
In the early days the services of the two denominations was so similar that the only difference some people could see
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was in the use of the Lord's Prayer. One denomination said "Unser Vater" and the other "Vater Unser."
In the early days before hymn books were common, the minister used to "line the hymns," i. e., read a line of the hymn, then the congregation led by some sweet-voiced ma- tron, would sing that line; then another line would be read, and sung in like manner ;- thus through the hymn. Humor- ous incidents are recorded of the mistakes that sometimes oc-
George Eisaman (Fourth Teacher at 'Harrold's)
curred. It is related of one old minister that upon taking up his hymn book, he apologized, saying, "My eyes are weak, the light is dim, I can scarcely see to read this hymn." Where- upon, the congregation, thinking this was the first line of the hymn, began to sing the line.
Happy and accomplished was the man or woman who could "keep the 'air'" of the tune and lead the singing. We
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LUTHERAN CHURCH, GREENSBURG, PA.
can still see father Isaac Wentzel leading the singing and beating time to the "buckwheat" notes. Before him, George Eisaman taught school and led the singing. He, doubtless, led the singing at the dedication. The new church cost about $3,000.00.
This church was repaired, painted, and papered in 1855.
Before the completion of the church, Rev. Steck's health began to fail and in the summer following the dedication, on July 14, 1830, he fell asleep. Before his death, at the request of the congregation, his son, Rev. Michael John Steck, was called as his assistant. Upon the death of the father, the son became the regular pastor and was soon as beloved as his father.4
A fitting obituary of Rev. John Michael Steck appears in the Minutes of the Ministerium of Ohio, 1830, as follows in part : "This Senior of the Ev. Luth. Ministerium of Ohio and pastor of the Lutheran congregation in Greensburg and vicinity departed this life July 14, 1830, aged 73 years, 9 months and 8 days. He had been truly a faithful and useful laborer in the vineyard of the divine Savior: and in conse- quence of his departure the Church has sustained a very serious loss. Without the fear of man he unreservedly reproved vice ; he devoted much time to the instruction of the youth ; he was a loving companion, an affectionate father and a friend to the poor and needy.
Rev. N. P. Hacke delivered the funeral discourse from Heb. 13:7: "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation," followed by remarks from the Rev. Jonas Mechling from the same pas- sage. A sorrowing widow, thirteen children, one of whom
4List of Congregations served by Pastors, in 1826. Senior Steck (7 cong.) Greensburg, Brush Creek, Zehners, Herolds, Manor, Ritsch and Youngstown in Westmoreland County, Pa. 'History of the Ev. Luth. Joint Synod of Ohio.
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followed his father into the ministry and sixty-six grand- children, together with the members of his congregations were left to mourn his departure.
"The Gospel was his joy and song E'en to his latest breath ; The truth he had proclaimed so long Was his support in death."
Rev. Michael John Steck, 1831-1848
Rev. Michael John Steck was born in Greensburg, Pa., May 1, 1793. From early youth, he aspired to the ministry. He received his theological training under his father and the Rev. Jacob Schnee, of Pittsburgh. At the 69th Conven- tion of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, June, 1816, it was "Resolved that a candidate license be filled out for Mr. Steck."5
In December, 1816, he was called to Lancaster, Ohio, where he labored successfully for 13 years, from whence he was called in the Fall of 1829, to assist his father and in 1830 became pastor upon the death of his father.
It is difficult to form adequate estimate of his services to the Church. For many years, he served from eight to ten congregations, traveling to preaching points from ten to thirty miles distant.
"It is estimated that during his ministry of 32 years he preached 8,000 sermons, baptized 5,000 children, and con- firmed over 2,000 adults, performed over 1,000 marriages, and pronounced the burial services over hundreds of his members."
He was eminently practical and gripped the affections of his people. They thought he did everything just right. For years afterward, "So hat es der Pfahrer Steck gemacht" was a by-word among the people.
"Minutes, etc.
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LUTHERAN CHURCH, GREENSBURG, PA.
"In his preaching he was always evangelical and scrip- tural. He united the qualities of a good preacher and a suc- cessful pastor in a high degree. He had a commanding pre- sence, a strong and musical voice and distinct articulation. His manner in the pulpit was natural, his style simple, and his delivery earnest and impressive." In his early years, he was very timid, but he was always earnest and preached as if he believed in the efficacy of the Gospel.
Rev. Michael John Steck
Rev. Jonas Mechling®
A Conference of Ohio Synod men was held at Greensburg, Pa., in 1831, just after Easter, and they prepared a memorial signed by ten ministers which they presented at Canton, Ohio and "in which they pray the Synod of Ohio to approve of their plan of forming a new synod between the Allegheny Moun- tains and the line of the state of Ohio."6
6 History of the Ev. Luth. Joint Synod of Ohio, page 89.
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The following is the Constitution of our first Domestic and Foreign Mission Society adopted October 18, 1837.
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