USA > Pennsylvania > Union County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Snyder County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Juniata County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 12
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
June 12, 1856, the new church edifice, having been completed some weeks previously, was dedicated to the service of Almighty God. The serviges at the dedication were as follows : Ist, an appropriate anthem of praise, " I was glad," etc., by the choir ; 2d, hymn of praise ; Bd, prayer by the Rev. Dr. Rogers, of' Philadelphia ; 4th, hymn of praise; 5th, a brief history of the church and congregation by the pastor, the Rev. James S. Woods, D. D .; 6th, sermon by the Rev. Dr. Rogers; 7th, the dedicatory prayer by the Rev. Dr. Plumer, of the Theological Seminary, AAllegheny City, Pa. ; 8th, hymn ; 9th, the benediction by the Rev. Dr. Rogers. Previous to the dedication sufficient money was subscribed to free the church from all indebtedness. The cost of the church edifice was twelve thousand dollars, and the ladies of the congregation ex- peuded the sum of one thousand dollars in car- pets, cushions and furniture.
LUTHERAN CheRen. 4-The Tatheran Church
1 This sketch is taken from historical discourse by Rev.
At the October meeting of Presbytery after | J M. Reimenspyder.
F
516
JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
of Lewistown dates back to 1796, when Rev. Fisher preached in the old log jail. However in- toresting might have been the doings of these early days, our fathers have left no record. The services evidently were few and the number of worshippers equally so. In 1811, on the 3d day of January, the Lutheran and Reformed con- gregations bought lot No. 119, on the south side of West Third Street, for the purpose of erecting a house of worship and of burying their dead. For this lot they paid the odd sum of $66.55. The names of the Lutheran trustees mentioned in the deed are Andrew Keiser and John Ort. This lot was purchased of Peacock Major. The Intherans head services at different times during these years in the old jail and court-house, but have left no record until ten years after the purchase of this lat, when we find the following interesting account of the corner-stone laying of the first church, which took place on the 29th day of July, 1824. These proceedings were recorded in an old book in German and a Ger- man and English copy were filed with the church papers. We give the paper in part,-
"ZON'S CHURCH.
"In the name of God the Father, the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Be it known nnto all men that this building in the borough of Lewistown, county of Mifflin and State of Pennsylvania, which shall be called Zion's church, and into which walls we this day, the 29th day of July, in the year of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, lay the corner-stone in the name of the Holy Trinity. The German Evangelical Lutheran and the German Evangelical Reformed members have commeneed to build this house in common and will also finish it in the same way, and it shall from this time and forever, as long as the world stands and the sun and moon run their course, be used as a house for worship by the German Lutheran and German Re- formed congregations. The gospel shall be preached in its purity in this Evangelical Christian Lutheran and Reformed church, so that it may be in accordance with the constitution of both synods. This lot on which we have commenced to build and also intend to finish this Zion's church, was bought from Pen- cock Major and his wife Martha, in the borough of Lewi town, the 3d day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, by Andrew Keiser and John Ort, as trustees of the Lu- theran congregation of Lewistown and neighborhood, and Christian Gro and Isaac Spangler, trustees of the Reformed congregation of Lewistown and neighbor-
hood, for the sum of sixty-six dollars and fifty-five cents. The deed dated on the above date will also show that the above four named trustees or guardians of the said Laitheran and Reformed congregations have bought the said lot of Peacock Major and his wife Martha for both congregations as aforesaid, for their descendants, their heirs and assigns, and that the above said congregations shall together forever have equal rights to the same. The lot itself on which this Zion's church is to be erected and in which walls we, the trustees or guardians of the Lu- theran and Reformed congregations, do lay the corner-stone in the presence of the different members of both congregations, as also in presence of all men which are assembled here, is sitnate on the south side of Third street, in the borough of Lewistown, border- ing on lots No. 118 and 120, and in the plan of said borough known as lot 119. If it should happen that in the course of time the members of both congrega- tions as aforesaid should become so numerous that there should not be sufficient room for all the mem- bers of said congregations on usual days of divine ser- vice in this Zion's church, then shall the members of both congregations have a right to do with said church as they in their best opinion would think proper. That is, to tear down said church and build a larger one jointly or one or the other, or one of either congrega- tions (no difference whether the Lutheran to the Re- formed or the Reformed to the Lutheran), may sell said church and give up all their right and title of said church for the share which by right and accord- ing to deed belongs to them, as also their share for building said church, and then said congregations have full right and privilege to build a new or other church for themselves in their own name. But such a separation and sale should never be done with dis- pleasure and by no means with unchristian feeling and discord, but in union and Christian love, as true Christians and sincere followers of Jesus Christ should do.
"Aud all that we will yet lay into this corner-stone for the memory of our descendants of the German Evangelical Lutheran and German Evangelical Re- formed Ziou's church, is a Lutheran and Reformed Catechism, as also the following coins of the United States, namely : One copper coin, worth one cent ; one silver coin, worth one-half dime ; one dime, one five-dime piece, or half-dollar, and one ten-dime piece, or a whole dollar. And now we put, as all good Christians do, or at least should do, all our trust in God, who has created the heavens and the earth and all that is therein out of nothing, with the full confidence that he will bless and prosper our children and all our descendants from our generation to another of both these congregations, as well in relation to their spiritual endowments, which all true Evan- gelical Christians are most in need of, as also in re- lation to their bodily wants. We all know that on
517
MIFFLIN COUNTY.
God's blessing everything depends, and if the Lord will not preserve this church which we are about to erect, all man's trouble and labor will be in vain; therefore let us in our silent prayers entrust this build- ing to Him in the name of the holy trinity, and after it is tinishe I we shall with His blessing consecrate it to be a temple of God. He says My house shall be a house of prayer ; in the name of God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. Written on the day and in the year first above mentioned, to which we, the trustees of this common Zion's church, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, and in the presence of these witnesses, have herennto set our hands and seals.
"JOUN ORT [Seal]. " DANIEL RACON [Scal]. " CHRISTIAN HOOVER [Seal]. "GEORGE BECK [Seal].
" Witness :
"F. O. MELSHEIMER.
"I. W. SCHMIDT, Evangelical Lutheran, in Union County.
"Joux FELIX, Evangelical Reformed, in Union County.
" DANIEL RAUCH, "CHRISTIAN HOFFMAN, Builders."
This church, built jointly by the German Luth- eran and German Reformed congregations, was completed in less than one year, and was dedi- catel on the 12th day of June, 1825. Rev. A. IT. Lochman and Rev. D. Weiser were the officiating clergymen. This fact is the first item recorded in a regular church record. From this time forward we have landmarks leading us in the way of our fathers. From this date the Lutherans continued to increase in numbers and prosperity. The two congregations were incorporated on the 9th day of July, 1827, under the title of the Evangelical Intheran and Re- formed United Church of Zion. From these rerords we find that the first church was called Zion's Church. On the 10th day of June, in the same year, we have the first list of communi- cants. There were ninety communed and four- tren ronfirmations. It is further recorded that of this number, thirty-eight attended the pre- paratory service. It is hardly likely that all of these were Lutherans, but more likely com- posed of the members of both congregations. The Reformed denomination, however, must have bren very weak, as they had no pastor of their own, and are not mentioned in the proceedings of the congregation later than 1828.
At a meeting of the councils of the two con- gregations, held at the house of Henry Eisen- bise, on Wedursday evening, the Ith of April, 1827, a constitution was adopted, which we still have. The only thing peculiar about this docu- ment is that it was copied from the formula for the government of the Lutheran Church, as adopted by the General Synod, and that the copyist omitted the name of the Reformed in it from one end to the other. He evidently was a Entheran. This error was corrected after- ward with a lead-pencil. In the back part of this old constitution book are a few resolutions which complete the history of this carly period,
" First. None but the members of the Lutheran and Reformed congregations who contribute regularly to the church shall have privilege to bury in the Intheran and Reformed burying-ground.
" Second. Respectable members of other congre- gations, by paying three dollars, shall have privilege of a grave, unless two-thirds of the council object to it. " Third. The church council shall have power to ad- mit respectable poor persons who have not been able to contribute anything to the church."
Three names are fonnd connected with all the business of the church in those days, -- appear- ing on every page. They were the pioneers and are given now that they may be handed down to succeeding generations. They are John Ort, Sr., Christian Hoffman and F. A. Melsheimer, and also that of Henry Eisenbise.
"Annty Marks" appears among the faithful ones recorded in the earliest list of communi- cants. This church building is still standing, situated on the south side of West Third Street. It is now known as the Henderson fire engine honse. It is even yet quite a respectable struc- ture, and was, at that carly day, a very good church. The gray yard lot in the rear of the old building is still the property of this con- gregation. It has not been used as a place of burial for many years. Nearly all the bodies interred there were removed to the present Lutheran Cemetery some years ago. This church building and this burying-ground were used by the congregation for a period of twenty- six years.
A few items will close this period and bring the history down to 1849. The first church was not frescoed, but the walls were kept pure
518
JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
and clean. This resolution was passed by the commeil February 25, 1811,-
" Resolved, That the walls of the church be white- washed preparatory to the next communion."
There were some progressive movements in those days. 1. Mellwaine was employed by the council to give the choir one quarter's sing- ing. The salary of the sexton was raised from nine dollars to twenty five dollars. The pas- tor's salary, or rather the part paid by Lewis- town, which was nearly all of it, was three hundred dollars. A resolution to raise it to three hundred and fifty dollars failed. This, however, was apparently based upon the un- popularity of the pastor. A balance due the pastor of eighteen dollars at the end of the church year proved quite a trouble. A sub- scription started in the council resulted in raising six dollars, each member giving fifty cents. Finally a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions in the country. March 14, 1847, Rev. Flint preached a sermon which greatly disturbed the peace of the congregation, and he felt nece -- itated to hand in his resigna- tion, which was at once unanimously accepted. The subject of the sermon is not recorded ; but some whose memories extend to that day say it was "Temperance." During the next pastorale the salary for Lewistown was increased to four hundred dollars. During all these years there was a steady increase of membership. Pro- tracted meetings, catechetical classes and con- firmations are regularly recorded, the unmber of additions running up at times to twenty- seven. We now lay aside the old book, with its occasional and brief records, and take up one which introduces a period more familiar to all. The services of Colonel John Hamilton (deceased) date from this period, being secretary of the council nearly all the time until the mid- dle of the present pastorate. Colonel Hamil- ton, long known as an active member of the congregation, kept a careful record of all the important transactions of the congregation. Ile was always interested in the past history of the church. This latter period is so full of doings that it will be impossible to do more than men- tion the specially important transactions. The very first record of this book, under date of
October 20, 18 19, is a resolution to build a new church. A building committee was appointed at that same meeting, consisting of Rev. John Rosenburg, James 1. Mellwaine, David Bloom, John Hamilton, Jonathan Yeager and John Ort, Sr. Henry Dubbs was instructed to pro- cure a plan. The building of the church was first let to Isaiah Coplin for three thousand seven hundred dollars, being the lowest bidder. Articles of agreement were signed January 10, 1850. Hle, however, having taken the church too low, afterwards declined undertaking it.
The lot on which this building stands was purchased May 27, 1850, and was known in the plan of the borough as lot No. 152. The chain of title is traced back to 1792, there be- ing a deed in our hands of that date.
The congregation was incorporated by an act of Assembly appproved May, 1850, under the title of " St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lewistown, Pa." This act of incorporation took the place of the old incorporation, under which the two denominations were bound by one title. It invested all the rights of the old property in the Lutheran Church, and specified the right to sell or tear down or use the material in the old building. December 2d of this year John Ort and Daniel Fichthorn wore appointed to fill vacancies in the building committee. Up to this time over two thousand dollars had been paid to Coplin, when the building committee took the church in their own hands. It was given to George Carney, December 21st, to complete upon his bid of one thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. Mr. Carney, how- ever, refused to sign an agreement, when the specifications were read, and it was finally let to John R. Turner for one thousand nine hundred and twenty-five dollars. The old church was sold to Joseph F. Yeager, April, 7, 1851, for four hundred dollars. April 21, 1851, the council held a meeting in the lecture-room of the new church. This is all the record we have of any meeting held in the new church, which was now rapidly nearing completion. About ten o'clock on the night of January 28, 1852, the new church was discovered to be on fire and an alarm was immediately made. It appears that the fire was discovered very soon after it
.
519
MIFFLIN COUNTY.
had commenced, and could easily have been ex- tingnished had there been a supply of water. It seems there had been a misunderstanding for some time between the borough officials and the water company as to the obligation of the latter to furnish a sufficient supply of water as a pro- tection against fire. No effort was made to re- move articles from the building, as all con- tidently hoped the fire could easily be controlled. After the hose companies appeared and made the fatal discovery that water was wanting, the fire had gained such headway that only a few benches were saved. The beautiful structure, much the finest in town, was soon a mass of -mouldering ruins-nothing but the bare walls remaining. This was the saddest night in the history of the thriving congregation.
As no fire had been at any time about the building, the fire commencing in the steeple and the night being calm, the opinion has always prevailed that the fire was the result of a willful art. True to the spirit of their fathers, a meet- ing was held the next morning, January 29, 1852, at the home of F. Swartz, where we find the following action :
"Whereas the new Lutheran church was consumed by fire last night, by the hands of some incendiary nuknown to the church, the church being almost tin- ished by the contractor, John R. Turner. Therefore, "Resolved by the Trustees and Church Council of the Evangelical Intheran Congregation of the bor- ough of Lewistown and its vicinity that we will proceed to rebuild the Lutheran church."
Resolutions of sympathy were passed by all the churches of the borough, and each one kindly offered the use of their church for one Sabbath service. The building had been insured for three thousand dollars. The trustees had considerable difficulty in securing this money. At one time a resolution was passed to bring suit against the company. A compromise finally was made in which the council agreed to settle for fifteen hundred dollars. April 26, 1852, the building committee were anthorized to re- ecive proposals to rebuild the church, and the name of Jacob Ort was added to the committee. Through the confusion aud misunderstanding between the insurance companies and the con- tractor, the lot and ruins were sold by the sheriff, but were purchased by Daniel Fichthorn,
well known to the older members of our congre- gation, and were repurchased by the congrega- tion June 21, 1852, for $451.50. The ro- building of the church was finally given to William MeClure for thirty-three hundred dollars, to be built on the old walls.
The old bell was purchased at Harrisburg for $186.50, and weighed five hundred and twenty-nine pounds. Rev. C. M. Klink preached the first time in the present lecture- room January 16, 1853. The congregation was now in straitened circumstances. A mortgage for one thousand dollars was given, which increased to fifteen hundred dollars before it was removed. The congregation would certainly have failed at this time had it not been for a few persons who made great sacrifices. The old church, which had again passed into the hands of the trustees, was sold to the African Methodist congregation. The trustees evidently were in doubt as to the financial ability of their colored brethren, from the conditional clauses found in the agreement. The colored friends, too, felt uneasy under these shackles, and after paying one hundred dollars asked to be relieved, which was promptly done and the money paid by them refunded. The building was finally sold to the borough and used by it as a hose-house.
Dr. W. W. Conrad, editor of the Lutheran Observer, preached the sern. a when the church was dedicated, May 15, 1853. The amount of money subscribed that day was $719.19. Dur- ing this year the present parsonage was built and the salary raised to six hundred dollars, and that of the sexton to fifty dollars. Daniel Fichthorn was the contractor for the building of the parsonage. In 1856 the salary was raised to eight hundred dollars, and steps were taken to aid the Jack's Creek congregation to seenre a pastor, so that the pastor could confine his labors to the Lewistown congregation. During this prosperous year in the new church eighty-five members were added. In addition to all the expense of this and the past year, gas was introduced into the church, and the pulpit and other fluid lights presented to the Jack's Creek congregation.
In 1858 a mortgage was entered against the
520
JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
new parsonage for fifteen hundred dollars, which by considerable efort was raised by subscription in 1:00. It was to remove this mortgage that part of the present cemetery lot was sold.
In 1865 the pastor, having received and ac- cepted a call to another field, thought it a good opportunity to give the council a plain talk as to their duty and neglect of duty, whereupon a member of the council returned the favor by giving the retiring pastor a few hints as to his duty and neglect of duty. They, however, parted on good terms. April 9, 1865, Rev. J. B. Reimensnyder, D.D., now pastor of St. James Lutheran Church, New York City, and brother of the present pastor of this church, was unanimously elected pastor of this congre- gation. During the next pastorate the salary was raised to one thousand dollars, and that of the sexton to one hundred and twenty dollars. The church building was extensively repaired, at a cost of over three thousand dollars. The gallery was removed, and the choir changed to their present position near the pulpit. The lec- ture-room was also remodeled ; the audience- room was frescoed and the present stained glass windows purchased.
The pastorate of J. IT. Brown was especially a prosperous and happy one for both pastor and people. The congregation had increased largely in its membership and usefulness. It was only ended by his death, on Monday morning, Sep- tember 14, 1874. Pastor Brown had won the affection and esteem of the entire community, and was held in high regard by his brethren. This was the second time that death had de- prived them of a pastor, Rev. Koch having been killed by being thrown from his horse in the Long Narrows. On February 7, 1875, the present pastor, Rev. J. M. Reimensnyder, was manimonsly elected. He took charge on the first Sunday of March of the same year. The present pastor has resided in Lewistown nearly four years longer than any former one, having entered upon his ninth year the Ist of March. During this time the church and parsonage have been improved at various times. The spire carried away by the tornado of July 4, 187 4, was replaced by another which was com- pleted July, 1876. A new bell, weighing with
the frame over one thousand pounds, made of pure bell metal, was purchased at a cost of over three hundred and fifty dollars. In 1882 MM- pairs were made at a cost of over two thousand three hundred dollars. The church was re- opened with appropriate services and a sermon by Key. M. Valentine, D.D., September 21, 1882. The beginning of the present pastorate was marked with the addition of seventy-five members within the first year. During the entire eight years the increase of membership had averaged thirty-six. The benevolent opera- tions of the congregation have more than doubled that of former periods. A young people's religions society was formed by the pastor in 1875, which has been of great service. The congregation to-day numbers three hun- dred and thirty-eight regular communicants, and the Sunday-school three hundred and fitty scholars. The history of the congregation is concluded with the names of all who have served it as pastor,-
Revs. Fisher, Koch (killed by being thrown from his horse in the Long Narrows), Gensel, Schnepach, George Hime, William lime, John Smith, A. H. Lochman, Nicholas Stroh, J. Ruthranff, George Yeager, Charles Weyl, C. Lepley, S. Schmucker, Thomas M. Flint, John Rosenberg, C. M. Klink, Henry Baker, 11. R. Fleck, J. B. Reimensnyder J. B. Baltzly, J. H. Brown (died at the parsonage Sep- tember 14, 1874), J. M. Reimensnyder.
ASSOCIATE REFORMED CHURCH .- The old brick building standing on Tlurd Street, now used as a dwelling-house, is said to have been the first house of worship erected in Lewis- town. It was built by members of the Asso- ciate Reformed congregation, of whom but little is known. It has been used by different congregations of the town at various times. The Rev. John Elliot preached in the honse to a New School Presbyterian Society which did not form an organization as a church. It was sold to the Baptist Society about 1847-48, who kept it a few years and conveyed it to the orig- nal owners. Later it came into possession of General James Burns, who converted it into dwelling-houses.
THE FIRST METHODIST SOCIETY .- The first Methodist in the town of Lewistown was Charles Hardy, as is clearly shown in the let-
1
521
MIFFLIN COUNTY.
ter given in the history of the carly settlement of the place. He evidently prevailed on preach- ers to come there, as services were held in the old log jail, which was torn down in 1802-3. The Rev. Mr. Davis and the Rev. Mr. Gilwal visited the place before 1812, and in May of that year the Rev. Mr. Stevens preached. On the 5th of January, 1815, the Rev. Mr. Buck held service, and in that year the Methodist So- ciety in Lewistown was formed and placed in charge of the Anghwick Circuit, Rev. Tobias Reilly, pastor, and Rev. Jacob Gruber, presid- ing elder.
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.