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. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 44
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. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 44
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. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 44
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. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 44
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. 2, Pt. 2 > Part 44
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THE BEAVERTOWN MUTUAL FIRE INSUR- ANCE COMPANY .- This enterprise was estab- lished in the place on the 14th of November, 1879. The company does not assume any risks outside of the county. The following statements and figures will convey some idea as to the extent of its business :
Amount of Insurance in force December 31, 1885. .$1,621,102.00 Amount of Premium Notes subject to As- sessment, December 31, 1885. 104,616.22 Amount of Insurance effected during the year 1885. 549,522.00
Amount of losses paid since organization of Company to date. 1,481.40
Number of Policies issued during the year 1885. 458
The following persons constitute the present officers and board of directors : President, S. A. Wetzel ; secretary, A. H. Bowersox ; treasurer, J. G. Snyder. Directors, S. A. Wetzel, S. A. Helfrich, William H. Dreese, Daniel Kern, Phares Gemberling, John S. Smith, Henry Kern, A. M. Smith, Peter Rigel and John Hep- ner. In 1860 George Stettler and Henry Kern started a foundry at this place, and carried on the business until about 1868, when Kern re- tired, and the business has since been conducted by George Stettler.
A. J. Middleswarth, who lives in the town, is a son of the Hon. Ner Middleswarth, and was an associate justice of the county from 1865 to 1870. Ile was major of militia seven years, lientenant-colonel four years and brigadier-gen- eral a mber of years. He is also an older in the Lutheran Church.
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Samuel Wetzel is a native of Beaver town- ship, and resided in the town many years. He was a justice of the peace, and is now an associ- ate justice of the county and president of the Beavertown Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
John P. Kearns established a coach mannfac- tory in the town several years ago, which has growu to an extensive business and gives eu- ployment to many.
J. P. Shirk is the proprietor of a hardware store, and has established a large trade in the town and surrounding country.
BEAVERTOWN LODGE, No. 623, I. O. OF O. F. of Pennsylvania. Instituted February 22, 1868, by D. D. G. M. Jackson W. Gaug- ler. The following were the first officers : T. G., Charles C. Fees ; N. G., John Y. Shin- del ; V. G., Peter Rigle; secretary, I. I. Man- beck ; A. S., J. J. Mattern ; T., Moses Specht. Charter members, J. D. Conrad, A. M. Snyder, F. M. Montelius, John Y. Shindel, Charles C. Fees, Moses Specht, Henry S. Freed, Peter Ri- gle, Joseph S. Ulsh, Moses Krebs, I. I. Man- beck, J. J. Mattern, Edward A. Smith, Frank- lin Koch and Abraham Wagner. The lodge has a membership of thirty-five.
CHURCHES,-There are at the present time four congregations in the place, -- Evangelical Lutheran, of the General Synod ; Lutheran, of the General Council ; Reformed, and the Evan- gelical Association.
Of the Lutheran and Reformed congrega- tions, the following facts have been communi- cated by the Rev. J. P. Shindel, of Middle- burg: The Beavertown congregation was formed, principally of the western part of the Adams- burg congregation, and was organized in 1851 as a Union Church, for the use of the Lutheran and Reformed denominations. The material of : the building was of logs, framed and weather- boarded, and painted white. The corner-stone was laid on the 27th of April, 1851, in the presence of a large concourse of people. The ministers present on this occasion were Revs. Derr and Haekman, of the Reformed Church, and Reys. J. G. Anspach and J. P. Shiudel, of the Lutheran. By the 11th of Oe- tober following the house was finished and ready for dedication, which took place that day.
The ministers present at the dedication were, Revs. R. Dnenger and A. B. Casper of the Re- formed, and Revs. J. G. Anspach and J. P. Shindel of the Lutheran. Ou the 4th of Janu- ary, 1852, Rev. Shindel took charge of the con- gregation as Intheran minister, and Rev. Hack- man, as Reformed minister. The services of both pastors were well attended. Peace and harmony was found among them, and rendered it very pleasant for the ministers to serve. Rey. Shindel continned to serve this congregation until January 24, 1869, when he delivered his valedietory to a large congregation, and regretted very much that his health would not permit him to continue his services among them. During his ministry among the people, he admitted by confimation, one hundred and ten young per- sons. In his own words Rev. Shindel says : " Although we enjoyed our relationship very mneh, as minister and church members, we were frequently called upon to mourn the loss of many church members, and to pay the last tribute of respect to them. On the 21st of No- vember, 1852, we were called upon to bury one who was especially warmly engaged in the or- ganization of the congregation, viz., Solomon Engel, aged fifty-three years, nine months and seven days. Many others were followed to the grave, who now sleep in that Beavertown cemetery ; such as Jacob Beaver, Simon and Jacob Aigler, John Hassinger, Levi Fisher and many others. On the 4th of June, 1865, we carried to the grave, the remains of the Hon. Ner Middleswarth, aged eighty-two years, four months and twenty days. His last words spoken to me, whilst on a visit to him during his sickness were, 'Thank God that I have lived to see the Rebellion crushed, and that we have a government. I am willing to die now.' This was the last time I saw him. He was a contributing member of the Beavertown congre- gation. Many of his family belonged to that church.
Rev. J. P. Shindel was succeeded by the Rev. JJohn Kempfer, who came as a supply in the summer of 1871. Rev. Kempfer was sue- ceeded by the Rev. S. P. Orwig, who supplied the congregation from Jannary to April, 1872, when he was regularly elected pastor. This
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congregation was then connected with the Mid- dleburg and Hassinger's congregations, and to- either these three constituted the Middleburg charge. Rev. Orwig served the congregations until October 1, 1873.
After his resignation a faction of the congre- gation organized themselves into what they called an old school Lutheran congregation, and extended a call to the Rev. Stetler, of the Min- isterium of Pennsylvania, who accepted and is till serving them (1885). The old congrega- tion at the same time called Rev. G. Roth, April 18, 1875. Each congregation claimed the right to the church, which resulted in litiga -. tion for some years. But the decision was given in favor of the last-named congregation. Rev. Roth served them one year and then re- signed. ITis suecessor was the Rev. Kendall, erving them one year. Rev. Irwine became their pastor in the spring of 1877 and resigned May 1, 1881. Rev. Brodfuehrer served as a supply about six months.
Rev. Spangler became their pastor July 16, 1. D. 1882, and resigned December 2, 1883. Rev. S. P. Orwig, the present pastor, received and accepted a call and became their pastor April 1, 1884. The present unmber of com- municants is about one hundred.
The Intheran Congregation sold their inter- est to the Reformed and erected a neat frame building with a lecture room on the first floor and an andience chamber on the second floor.
The Lutheran Church was dedicated on the 23d of May, 1880. The ministers present on this occasion were Rev. Riemensnyder, of Lewistown; Rev. Belliner, of Selin's Grove; Wieand, of Adamsburg ; J. P. Shindel, of Mid- dleburg; Rev. Honeycutt; and Rev. I. Irvine, pastor. The General Comeil Lutherans still worship with the Reformed in the okl church.
THE REFORMED CHURCH of Beavertown is now.under charge of the Rev. W. M. Landis. An account of the pastors who have served the congregation will be found in the sketch of Christ Reformed Congregation, of Adamsburg.
THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH. - This place of worship was created by the United Brethren in Christ denomination about 1865. It was purchased by the Evangelical Association in
1872. The buikling and lot are worth about six hundred dollars. The following pastors have been in charge: S. E. Davis, S. Yeariek, A. Kranse, J. M. Price, N. Young, W. H. Stover and S. Smith.
Senoons .- Old Beaver township embraced what is now Beaver, West Beaver, Adams and Spring townships, and within its limits were school-houses as follows:
There was a school-honse near Jacob Houser's in Beaver township, in 1818, on the road lead- ing from Albright's to Hassinger's Mill. Drees' school-house, in Beaver township, was erected in 1840 on road leading from Middleburg to Hassinger's Mill.
About the year 1820 Henry Hendricks taught school in a log house where Jerry Herb- ster now lives, about two and a half miles north of Adamsburg. He lived near Jack's Moun- tain and was in the habit of carrying a bottle of whisky. Jacob Mook tanght an English and German school at this place about 1823. Mook moved to the West.
Henry Cook, a German, taught in the log school-house near Troxelville abont sixty years ago. IIe taught an English and German school and was noted for his profanity and the severity he practiced in whipping his pupils.
David Overmeyer taught a German and English school in a log school-honse, near Au- drew Ulsh, now Spring township, about sixty years ago.
Henry Young taught in Adamsburg in a double honse used for dwelling and school pur- poses. He was the organist of the Lutheran and Reformed Congregation at Adamsburg, and tanght many years.
Henry Smith, now an aged and respectable citizen of Adamsburg, attended these schools from sixteen to thirty days each year, which was abont the average time of attendance of cach pupil.
J. C. Weiser was one of the first teachers in Beavertown. Taught about the year 1820; taught German and English. John Long, Cur- tis C. Capirs, John M. Bouch, Daniel Gross, Samnel Scholl were among the carly teachers. When JJ. C. Weiser taught school at Beavertown he kept a tavern opposite where Moses Specht
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
now lives. Ile flogged his pupils ummercifully. John Long was a good and merciful teacher.
Joel Klinger, aged eighty-three years, now living between Adamsburg and Troxelville, taught school many years prior to the adoption of the free school system.
Beaver township has at present ten school districts with an attendance of three hundred and seven pupils. The school property is val- ved at ten thousand five hundred dollars.
Four of the schools in this township are now embraced in the new township " Spring." The new school-house, with four rooms, in Adams- burg, is now embraced in "Spring" township. Beavertown has a first-class school-house with four rooms.
Beaver township adopted the free school sys- tem in 1819 and was the last in the county that accepted the system. This territory now has some of the best school-houses in the county.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
MOSES SPECHT.
The subject of this sketch was born in Beavertown, Suyder County, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1818, where he has resided up to this time. He is a son of Adam Specht, who was a corporal of Captain Henry Miller's company, attached to the regiment commanded by Lien- tenant-Colonel George Weirick, at Marens Hook, November 10, 1814. Adam Specht came to New Berlin in 1791, when he was seven years old. In later years he married Catharine Smith, a daughter of Peter Smith. When he moved to Beavertown it was a village that con- tained only a few houses. At this place he carried on the pottery business many years. He died November 6, 1872, aged eighty-eight years. His wife died April 20, 1870, aged eighty-two years. They are interred together in the Bea- vertown Cemetery.
In the year 1839, when he had just arrived at the age of twenty-one years, he was elected con- stable of Old Beaver township, which then em- braced the territory of what is now Beaver,
West Beaver, Adams and Spring townships. In 1845 he was elected justice of the peace for Beaver township, succeeded Solomon Engle, but resigned before the expiration of his term. He las also served as school director for many years at different periods, and has been one of the anditors of Beaver township for a period of forty years. In the year 1861 Frederick Banse, the sheriff . f Snyder County, died, when Mr. Specht was appointed by the Governor of Pen- sylvania to fill the nnexpired term. In the fall of 1862 the people of Snyder County electal him to the office of sheriff. He served the full term with great acceptance to the people. Ile used every means at his command to save those against whom he had executions. All his ofli- cial acts were characterized by promptness and correct official duty, but they were " temperat with merey " to the needy. He was appointed postmaster at Beavertown, in the year 1840, which position he has held under all the ad- ministrations, with one exception, to this date- a period of forty-two years. Ile also served a full term as county auditor of Snyder County. At the annual settlements he scrutinized every item, and suffered nothing to pass unless strict- ly in accordance with justice to all concerned. Tl. se evidences of confidence by the people among whom he was born and reared are the strongest commentary that could be written of his worth as a citizen.
In his youthful days he learned the gunsmith- ing trade, and was engaged in the business of his trade for a number of years. He attended the subscription school of his native town three terms, of three months each, where he learned reading, writing and the rudiments of arithmetic. The schools of his youthful days were taught by poorly-qualified teachers, and he is " a self- made man," so far as his education is concerned. By application and experience he became a good accountant and acquired a business education. In the year 1845 he erected the building he now occupies, to which he has added improvement-, as the demands of his business required, and has here kept a public-house up to this time. It has acquired a wide reputation for the excel- lent manner in which it is conducted. In 1847 he commenced the mercantile business, in which
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he has been engaged up to this time, having one of the largest store-rooms in the county. He was instrumental in having the steam tan- nery located in Beavertown, which is an enter- prise that gives employment to a number of men, and at which about two thousand tons of bark are annually consumed. It is the leading business of the town.
He was one of the principal ,projectors of of the Sunbury and Lewistown Railroad, and
mer are located, and devoted an entire summer to the completion of this enterprise without compensation. In the year 1879 he graded two miles of the changed line of this road, doing the hardest work on the line at a cost of eleven thousand dollars. He carted into one fill fifty-eight thousand loads of dirt. He was the contractor and built the Lutheran and Re- formed Church at Beavertown, in the year 1850, which was the first church erected in the place.
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served as a director of the company until it was i He also contracted for and built the commodi- in running order. He secured subscriptions ons brick school-house, with four rooms, in Beavertown, in the year 1880, and suggested a mimber of improvements, which were adopted after the plan had been made by the directors. from citizens of the locality where the road is located to the amount of thirty thousand dollars; collected and paid the whole amount to the cor- poration. He scoured the gratuitous right of Mr. Specht has three children, all living in Beavertown,-Arthur, Louisa and Horace. Ar- thur carries on the foundry business, in which his father had also been engaged for many years. Horace has a notion-store, way for eighteen miles of the road, and free and imenenmbered deeds and titles for the lands where the stations at MeChre, Adamsburg, Beavertown, Paxtonville, Middleburg and Kre-
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
He has lived to see the small village grow into a business town on the railroad in which he is so much interested. He can look with pleasure on the buildings he has created in his native town, and the places of business his ener- gy and enterprise have brought into existence. Ile is in the vigor of manhood, and is a living exemplification of the proverb-" Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might," and " he that driveth with a slack hand becometh poor, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich."
CHAPTER X.
WEST BEAVER TOWNSHIP.
THE first effort to divide Beaver township was in February, 1839, when a petition was presented to the court, and viewers were ap- pointed as follows : Samuel Barber, Robert G. II. Hays and George Kremer. These viewers made a report at September term, 1839, setting forth, " That on the 20th day of Angust last, they fixed a division line and suggested that the new township be called Lewis township." This report was not confirmed. Another petition was presented for the same purpose at the Jan- uary term, 1813, and Mr. M. H. Weaver, Thomas Bower and James K. Davis were ap- pointed commissioners to view the township. They reported at April term, 1843, a division line, as it existed prior to the formation of Spring township, which report was confirmed by the court on May 16, 1843, and the new township named West Beaver.
The reader is referred to the sketch of Beaver township for an account of the early settlers of this township. The following is a list of the maines of property-owners and their ocenpa- tions, who lived in this township between the years 1839 and 1850;
Gieo. Arbogast, stage-driver. Henry Anrand, stage-driver. Daniel Alter, carpenter. Jacob Breiner.
Daniel Baker, Sr., farmer. William Berger, shoemaker. 1. Baumgartner, Sr., laborer. lohu Brannon, laborer. Daniel Berger, millwright. 1. Baumgartner, Jr., laborer.
Henry Benfer, farmer. Daniel Baker, Ir., farmer. William Bard, shoemaker, inn-keeper and postmaster. John Bobb, farmer. Chris'n Brown, More-keeper. William Baker, gentleman. Philip Baker, farmer. Fred. Baker, Sr., laborer. 11. Bamogartuer, laborer.
Samuel Brunner, laborer. Michael Boyer, laborer. John Baker, Sr., farmer. Fred. Baker, Ir., laborer. A. Baumgartner, Sr., weaver. Henry Cosgrove, inn-keeper and postmaster. John Diemer, farmer.
Charles Damley, farmer. William Damley, laborer. Charles Damley, Jr., farmer. George Erb, farmer. Israel Erb, shoemaker. John Erb, shoemaker. David Fessler, chair-maker. Abraham Freed, laborer. Isaac Fees, inn-keeper, dep. uty postmaster. Peter Fees, gentleman. Henry Felker, farmer, John Felker, farmer. Joseph Felker, miller. Peter Freese, farmer. Elias Fuhrman, farmer. Henry Gross, Farmer. George Goss, Sr., farmer. Jacob Goss, wagoner.
Henry Goss, son of George, shoemaker.
Henry B. Goss, son of Henry, farmer.
Henry Goss, Sr., farmer. George Goss, Jr., farmer. John Gross, gelder.
M. Gerhardt, Jr., farmer. Sanmel D. Graff, farmer and saw-mill.
Elias Goss, Jaborer.
l'eter Goss, Sr., farmer. Peter Goss, Jr., blacksmith. Simon Goss, carpenter. Widow Catherine Hoffman. Henry Holl, farmer.
Daniel Herbster, laborer. Thomas Herbster, Jaborer. George Herbster, laborer. Henry Hook, weaver. D, Hassinger, Jr., farmer. Peler Heater, farmer. Daniel Hartley, laborer. J. Hlinely, farmer, distillery. Jacob Hartman, shootmaker. David Hollocher, farmer. George Hoofnagle, mason. Widow Hammel. Peter Herbster, farmer. Jacob Herbster, farmer. Gabriel Herbster, carpenter. William Heater, laborer. Peter Hoffman, laborer. Geo. Henry, Sr., gentleman. John Hartley, pearl button- maker.
Frederick Haines, laborer. Heury Hoofnagle, laborer. Jacob Hersch, laborer.
Peter Knepp, Sr., fariner. Widow Maria Krebs. Henry Krebs, farmer. Charles Krebs, farmer. lacob Krebs, laborer. Daniel Knopp, Jr., laborer. Jumes Kalpetzer, laborer. Adam Kalpetzer, Jr., black. smith.
Daniel Koch, tailor. Henry Knopp, Jr., farmer. 11. Knopp, Sr., gentleman, Simon Kerstetter, farmer. Jacob Klick, laborer.
Widow Catherine Klick. Adam Kalpetzer, Sr., cooper. John Knepp, Sr., farmer. John R. Knepp, Jr., farmer. Daniel Koepp, Sr., farmer, Reuben Koch, tailor.
.Jacob Kemmerling, Sr.
gentleman. Jacob, Koons, laborer. George Kline, farmer. Michael Kline, farmer. Jacob Kline, farmer.
John Kline, Jr., farmer. John Kline, Sr., farmer. John Kriek, farmer.
George Kehley, farmer. Daniel Kehley, carpenter. George Knepp, Farmer. Henry R. Knopp, teacher.
lohn Keller, laborer. Jesse Lepley, laborer.
Michael Lepley, farmer. John Lash, farmer. lohn Lehr, weaver. Henry Lichtle, shoemaker. A. K. Middleswarth, farmer. Andrew Mick, farmer. 11. H. Mageritz, justice. Mageritz, Smith & Mageritz. George Mageritzs heirs, grist and saw-mill .. Charlotte Mageritz.
Joli Moyer, farmer and saw-mill. Daniel Mattern, mason, Isaac Mattern, farmer. Henry Miller, farmer. Jacob Mattern, mason. Philip Manbeck, Farmer. Michael Maurer, farmer. Joli Maurer, farmer.
Heury Manrer.
Widow Mitchel, clover and saw-mill.
Anthony Manbeck, farmer. Edward A. Mageritz, farmer. Joseph Manbeck, laborer. Conrad Moll, shoemaker. Heury Moyer, Farmer. Jacob Middleswarth, farmer, Jacob Neidig, timmer. David Ocker, carpenter.
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John Oldt, farmer, saw-mill. Daniel Price, succeeded by . Benjamin, farmer.
William Price, farmer. John Peter, Sr., farmer and saw-mill.
John Peter, Jr., laborer. Jacob Peter, carpenter. Henry Peter, farmer. Lennard Peter, gentleman. Jacob Price, tailor. Joseph Pontins, farmer. George Romig, laborer. John D. Romig, farmer. Sam'l Reninger, shoemaker. Benj. Ream, blacksmith. Geo. N. Roth, blacksmith. Jonathan Romig, farmer. George Ritter, farmer. Nicholas Reitz, laborer. llenry Ritter, Sr., farmer. Jacob Ritter, farmer. James Ranch, miller. Henry Rauch, farmer, grist and saw-mill.
leury Ritter, Jr., farmer. Susanna, widow of .I. Romig. Thomas Ruston, pearl but- ton-maker.
Solomon Romig, Jr., farmer. S. Htomig, Sr., gentleman. Isaac Romig, farmer. Peter Romig, laborer. Daniel Romig, farmer. John Romig, Sr., grist and saw-mill.
Jolin Romig, Jr., farmer. Widow Margaret Rager, tan. yard.
John Royer's heirs. William Smith, teacher. Philip Spigelmyer, farmer. Daniel Spigelmyer, laborer. Adam Shout, laborer. J. Smith, farmer, saw-mill. J. Smith, Sr., gentleman. Jacob Spigelnyer, farmer. David Spade, unseated land. J. Spigelmyer, Jr., laborer. Godlieb Specht, doctor. George Smith, farmer. Jacob J. Smith, farmer. Solomon Steininger, farmer. John Stumptl, Sr., farmer and saw-mill.
Joseph Stumpff, farmer. William Stumpfl', farmer. Samuel Stumpif, carpenter. D. Steininger, gentleman. David Steininger, farmer. J. Steininger, falling-mill. Peter Shreller, weaver. Peter Stronse, farmer. Dimiel Strouse.
Levi F. Smith, blacksmith. Simon Steininger, farmer. Matthias Smith, farmer. John Strouse, millwright. Solomon Stuck, laborer. John Snook, Sr., farmer. Reuben Shadey, farmer. Isaac Snook, laborer. Solomon Snook, laborer. C. Swanger, shoemaker. Peter Sipe, cabinet-maker. J. Steininger, blacksmith. Jacob F. Smith, blacksmith. William Shilling, laborer. Joseph R. Stumpil, single, farmer.
Jacob Stumpil, supervisor. Henry Spigelyer, farmer. Daniel Swanger, farmer. William Trester, farmer. George Trester, farmer. John Trester, farmer. John Try, farmer. Andrew Ulsh, Sr., farmer and postmaster.
Andrew I'Ish, Jr., farmer. John U'lsh, farmer, saw-mill. George Wiandt, farmer. John Weiand, Sr., farmer. Adam Wagner, Sr., laborer. Adam Wagner, Jr., laborer. Elias Wagner, laborer. George Wagner, miller. Moses Weader, laborer. Amos Wireman, farmer. John Weader, farmer. Elias Weader, farmer. Andrew Weader, farmer. George Wagner, laborer. John Wagner, farmer. Daniel Wagner, farmer. George D. Wagner, farmer. John Weiand, Jr., laborer. Lodwig Yetter, farmer. John Young, laborer.
There are two villages in this township- Bannerville and MeClure. Many of its inhab- itants devote their time and attention to agricul- ture. The school-houses and churches erected throughout the township bear testimony of the advanced character of this conmuity. Extend- ing through the township is the Sunbury and
Lewistown Railroad, which also tends to invig- orate business and private enterprise.
The churches established are Evangelical Lutheran (General Synod) on Black Oak Ridge; the Union Church, of Lutheran and Reformed, at the same place; Evangelical Association (Baker's Church), at Cosgrave Hall ; Evangeli- cal Association, at MeClure. St. John's congre- gation was organized in 1790 by the Rev. Geist- weist, and a few years after a church was built on Black Oak Ridge by the Reformed and Lutheran congregations. It was used jointly until 1876, when the Lutherans withdrew and built St. Paul's Church not far away. Old St. John's Church was torn down in the same year and the present church built by the Reformed and General Council Brethren. The congrega- tion is in the " Old Beaver Charge," and in the care of the Rev. W. M. Landis, who resides at Adamsburg.
St. Paul's Lutheran Church (General Synod) stands on Black Oak Ridge, in West Beaver township. This congregation was formed ont of a part of the Intheran congregation, which worshipped in old St. John's Church, with the Reformed congregation. A separation took place abont 1876, and in that year St. Paul's Church was erected.
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