USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania > Part 18
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" It was my privilege to attend those six terms of school, and there are but few living at present that could give a bet- ter account of the fourteen years he lived in Fayette County than myself. We had a chance to know him as a preacher, a school-teacher, and as a neighbor-in fact, in every way.
" We want to tell something about the school which he taught; also about his teaching. Four terms of the school were held in the Mennonite churchhouse. I can not give the size of the house, but now, after a period of sixty-three years, I can name eighty-five scholars who attended. This goes to
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show that the house was large and that it was full. It was the first for the District, and was located in what was called 'Dutch Corner.' Quite a number of the scholars were grown-up young men and women, who had never attended school. Some of them could read German, but, so far as English was concerned, they knew but very little about it. Some of us who lived on the outskirts of the ‘Dutch Cor- ner ' had been to school, and we felt as though we were a little ahead of the rest.
Prof. Jacob Martin Zucl .. Founder of Juniata College, Pennsylvania.
" Well, it was with this school that Brother Quinter had to do, but he went to work with a will, and, though the con- ditions were unfavorable, he succeeded. The house was seat- ed with slab benches. The scholars had different kinds of books. One had the 'Life of Francis Marion ' for a reader, another would have 'The Rise, Progress, and Downfall of
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Aristocracy,' and so on. All those that could read would have two lessons a day from the New Testament, two chapters at each lesson. A number of young men and young women had to begin with the alphabet, but it was only a short time until they were able to read. They wanted to learn, and they applied themselves.
" All the young men and boys, who were old enough, were put to work in arithmetic. At first some of them could not read the problems, but they managed, in some way, to find out what was required in the problem; then went to work. You can imagine what a time Brother Quinter had, but he was equal to the task. The scholars all liked him as a teacher, and tried to do their best.
" This, perhaps, was the most peculiar school Brother Quinter ever taught, and I doubt whether any other man could have succeeded as well as he did. The boys and girls were not bad, but were full of fun and merriment. Some amusing things would happen almost every day, and sometimes they were brought about purposely. Brother Quinter could enjoy innocent fun, and would often smile when something amusing happened. He permitted the school to enjoy a little fun for a short time, and then called them to order. He did not attempt to suppress the merriment, but when he said, 'Stop,' that would end it. All would go to work as though nothing had happened. He could readily control the school because the pupils wanted to please him.
" Anything that was amusing would bring a smile, but if a scholar would do somethng mean, or would be found guilty of playing a trick at the expense of some one else, Brother Quinter's face would flush, and the guilty party would be punished accordingly.
" I still remember a number of amusing things that hap- pened in the Dogwood Hollow school, and could tell some which, perhaps, would show the worth of the man, but I will now drop the school and talk of him as a neighbor."
Brother Quinter lived in Fayette County from 1842 to 1856. In addition to teaching, he was also selected by the
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board of directors of Nicholson Township to examine the teachers of that township with reference to their qualifications for teaching.
Elder Lewis Kimmel, of Armstrong County, graduated from Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, in 1859. He taught twelve successive winters in Plum Creek Town- ship and Elderton Borough. In Elderton he had 108 scholars on the roll and an average attendance of ninety-seven. In the spring of 1860 he opened a select school in Rural Village. This he closed in 1862 when the war took his students away.
Gymnasium, Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pa.
In the fall of 1873 he opened a select school in his own house. In the following spring the school was taken to the Plum Creek church, and Howard Miller became assistant principal. Elder Kimmel's son, Quinter, says the school opened with six pupils. It increased until there were over 100 pupils. In the spring of 1877 it was united with Juniata College. Of this school Elder S. Z. Sharp, in "Two Cen- turies of the Church of the Brethren," says: "In 1874 Elder Lewis Kimmel, assisted by Howard Miller, began a school in the Plum Creek meetinghouse, one mile from Elderton, Pennsylvania. He gave to the institution the name of the Plum Creek Normal School. Only three students were en- rolled the first day, but the two principals were accomplished teachers and the school soon gained a large patronage, and in
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the spring of 1875 had an enrollment of about 100, a large proportion of whom were teachers or those preparing to teach. The character of the school was maintained on a high moral and religious plane. Its unfavorable location and opposition induced the friends to abandon it at the end of four years."
Library, Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pa.
Another attempt to establish an educational institution must be noticed. I quote again from Elder Sharp's address, page 319: "In 1872 an educational meeting was held in the Western (should be Middle) District of Pennsylvania, at Martinsburg. At this meeting it was decided to establish a school of a higher grade at Berlin, Somerset County, Penn- sylvania. In this enterprise H. R. Holsinger was a prominent factor. The character of the school was to be such as to main- tain the distinctive features of the Church of the Brethren. The plan was to raise $100,000 by subscription, of which no part was to be due and payable until the whole amount was subscribed. Brother Holsinger sent for S. Z. Sharp to ac- company him on a tour of taking subscriptions and to lecture on the advantages of higher education to the church. In less
dh
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Students' Hall.
Founder's Hall.
Ladies' Hall.
Oneida Hall.
Juniata College, Pa.
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than ten days nearly $20,000 was subscribed. Why some brethren subscribed so freely may be illustrated by an inci- dent. Passing a mill owned by a wealthy brother, not favor- able to higher education, Brother Holsinger remarked, 'This brother won't subscribe, but courtesy demands that we offer him the opportunity.' The brother read the heading of the
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The Stone Church, Huntingdon, Pa.
subscription and then subscribed $500, and with a mischie- vous smile handed the paper to other Brethren present, say- ing, 'Schreibt hertzhaftig Brueder, ihr brauchts niemals be- zahlen.' ('Subscribe heartily, brethren, you never need to pay it.') On bidding good-by to Brother Holsinger, we re- marked that he had incorporated the death sentence of Berlin College into the heading of the subscription paper, and so it happened. Sixty thousand dollars was at last subscribed, but the hundred thousand never was reached and the project went no further."
But our young people wanted a college education. We had the Summer County Normals, but they were not suf- ficent. We also had within our District several State Normal
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Schools, but the best thinking brethren felt that it would be so much better to have our sons and daughters educated in a church school, where they would receive moral and re- ligious training as well as mental. So, when the Huntingdon Normal (now Juniata College) was established in 1876, our churches were among the first to patronize the institution. Ever since then Juniata College has received abundant sup- port from our District, both in students and money. Of stu- dents we have furnished more than 550, and of moral and fi- nancial support a very great deal. Since the establishment of Juniata College about fifty young brethren who attended that institution from our District have been called to the min- istry. Not quite all of these have accepted the call. Besides these, all along our past history men have been called from the ranks of the teachers to preach the Gospel. Besides Juniata College, nearly all, if not all, of our other church colleges have at different times been patronized in a small degree. This is true also of our State Normal Schools. Many others who did not patronize any of the above institutions qualified themselves to teach by attending the Summer County Normals. Many of our brethren and sisters have in the past held, and are now holding, provisional, professional and permanent cer- tificates, and are filling important positions as teachers, both in the rural districts and the towns and cities, and are rec- ognized as leaders in the educational world. While many are engaged as teachers, ministers, pastors and missionaries, others are filling positions of trust and usefulness in the other vocations and professions. Yes, we are an education-loving people.
CHAPTER X.
District Meetings.
The Annual Meeting of 1866, held in the Antietam church, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, recommended that each State form itself into convenient District Meetings. These meetings shall be formed by one or two representatives from each organized church, and we recommend that each church be represented in the District Meeting, either by rep- resentatives or by letter.
In compliance with this recommendation Pennsylvania was divided into three Districts, Eastern, Middle and Western. At this time the Alleghanies were the dividing line between the Middle and the Western Districts. Since that time, in 1874, the line was changed so as to take in the Dunnings Creek congregation, for the sake of convenience.
The first District Meeting of the District was held in the Grove meetinghouse, near Berlin, November 5, 1866. The officers of the meeting were: Moderator, John Wise; Cor- responding Secretary, Joseph I. Cover; C. I. Beam, Assistant Clerk. The District at this time was composed of eighteen churches. These were represented as follows: Berlin, John P. Cober and Jacob Blough ; Elk Lick, David Livengood and Cornelius Berkley ; Middle Creek, Jacob D. Miller and John C. Schrock; Quemahoning, Tobias Blough and C. I. Beam; Shade, Hiram Musselman and Jacob Hoffman; Conemaugh, Stephen Hildebrand; Manor, Levi Fry and Samuel Brallier ; Montgomery, Peter Beer and Henry Speicher; Plum Creek, Jacob Kelso; Cowanshannock, not represented; Red Bank, John Wise and Jesse P. Hetrick; Clarion, not represented ; Glade Run, Chrissman John ; Indian Creek, D. D. Horner and John Horner; Jacobs Creek, William A. Murray; Georges
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Creek, Joseph I. Cover ; Ten Mile, Daniel Lane; and Ryerson Station, not represented, twenty-four delegates. This meet- ing deliberated on thirteen queries. Elders John Wise and Ephraim Cober were elected delegates to Annual Meeting of 1867.
May 27 and 28, 1867, District Meeting was held in the Plum Creek church, Armstrong County, with twenty-three delegates present. Moderator, C. G. Lint; Corresponding Secretary, J. P. Hetrick; Clerk, J. I. Cover. Nine queries were considered.
May 4, 1868, District Meeting was held in the Conemaugh church, Cambria County, with eighteen delegates present. Moderator, C. G. Lint ; Clerk, J. P. Hetrick; Assistant Clerk. Lewis A. Cobaugh; Corresponding Secretary, Joseph W. Beer. Nine queries were handled. Delegates to Annual Meet- ing, C. G. Lint, Abraham Stutzman and Jacob Blough.
April 26, 1869, District Meeting was held in the Elk Lick church with seventeen delegates present. Moderator, John Wise; Secretary, Lewis A. Cobaugh; Corresponding Secre- tary, C. G. Lint. Ten queries were discussed. Elias K. Buechley and John Wise were elected delegates on the Stand- ing Committee.
May 9, 1870, District Meeting convened in the Shade church, Somerset County, with twenty-three delegates en- rolled. Moderator, John Wise; Corresponding Secretary, C. G. Lint ; Secretary, J. I. Cover; delegates to Annual Meeting John Wise and Joseph Berkey.
May 8, 1871, District Meeting was held in the Manor church, Indiana County, with twenty-three delegates in at- tendance. Moderator, John Wise; Clerk, Joseph Holsopple. Six queries were presented for consideration. Delegates to Annual Meeting, John Wise and Joseph Berkey.
May 1 and 2, 1872, District Meeting convened in the Pigeon Hill house of the Ten Mile church, Washington Coun- ty, with twenty-three delegates present. Moderator, C. G. Lint ; Clerk, J. P. Hetrick. Thirteen queries were acted upon. Elders John Wise and C. G. Lint were elected delegates to
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Annual Meeting, the former being named for the Standing Committee.
May 21, 1873, District Meeting was held in the Georges Creek church, Fayette County, with twenty-three delegates present. Moderator, John Wise; Clerk, J. P. Hetrick; del- egates to Annual Meeting, John Wise and Joseph Berkey.
May 13, 1874, District Meeting convened in the Middle Creek church, Somerset County. Moderator, John Wise; Clerk, C. G. Lint; delegates to Annual Meeting, James Quin- ter and John Wise. Dunnings Creek church was transferred from Middle District to Western District.
April 28, 1875, District Meeting was held in the Mont- gomerty church, Indiana County, with nineteen delegates. Moderator, James Quinter ; Clerk, H. R. Holsinger ; delegate to Annual Meeting, James Quinter.
May 10, 1876, District Meeting convened in the Jacobs Creek church, Westmoreland County, with twenty-two del- egates in attendance. Moderator, James Quinter; Clerk, C. G. Lint. James Quinter was elected on the Standing Com- mittee, and John Wise, delegate.
May 8, 1877, District Meeting was held in the Berlin church, Somerset County, with twenty-five delegates in at- tendance. Also two new congregations were formed during the year; viz., Summit Mills and Meyersdale. Moderator Joseph Berkey; Clerk, J. I. Cover; Delegate on Standing Committee, John Wise; delegate to Annual Meeting, J. I. Cover.
May 16 and 17, 1878, District Meeting was held in the Indian Creek church, Westmoreland County, with thirty del- egates present. Moderator, C. G. Lint; Clerk, J. I. Cover ; delegates to Annual Meeting, C. G. Lint and J. I. Cover. Rockton, Shemoken and Ligonier Valley congregations were added to the list of churches.
May 20 and 21, 1879, District Meeting convened in the Dunnings Creek church, with twenty-nine delegates in attend- ance. An unusual amount of business came before the meet- ing-twenty-one items. Moderator, Joseph Berkey; Clerk,
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Joseph Holsopple; Reading Clerk, H. R. Holsinger. This is the first record of a Reading Clerk .. Member on the Standing Committee, Mark Minser; delegate to the Annual Meeting, Silas C. Keim.
April 20, 1880, District Meeting was held in the Red Bank church, Armstrong County, with twenty-three delegates in attendance. Johnstown, a new congregation, was added to the list. Moderator, H. R. Holsinger; Clerk, J. W. Beer ; Reading Clerk, Daniel Crofford. Sixteen items of business were passed upon at this meeting. Member on the Standing. Committee, Lewis Kimmel; delegate, H. R. Holsinger.
May 24 and 25, 1881, District Meeting convened in the Quemahoning church, Somerset County. This meeting was a record breaker in the number of churches represented, in the number of delegates enrolled, in the number of sessions held (five) and in the amount of business transacted, as well as the importance of the same. The old Berlin congregation was divided into four congregations, thus forming three new ones; viz., Brothers Valley, Somerset and Stony Creek. Markleysburg was also added. Forty-five delegates were in attendance. Moderator, J. I. Cover ; Clerk, Joseph Holsopple ; Reading Clerk, E. K. Hochstetler ; member on Standing Com- mittee, C. G. Lint; delegate, J. I. Cover.
May 16 and 17, 1882, District Meeting was held in the Jacobs Creek church, with forty-seven delegates on the list Brush Valley church was added to the list of congregations. Another warm meeting consisting of six sessions. Moderator, J. I. Cover; Clerk, J. S. Holsinger ; Reading Clerk, John H. Myers; member on Standing Committee, J. I. Cover ; dele- gate, J. S. Holsinger.
April 24, 1883, District Meeting convened in the Meyers- dale church, Somerset County, with thirty-eight delegates en- rolled. Of the thirty congregations now composing the Dis- trict, eleven failed to represent by delegate this year. Modera- tor, J. S. Holsinger; Clerk, Joseph Holsopple; Reading Clerk, S. C. Umbel ; member on Standing Committee, J. S. Holsinger.
May 20, 1884, District Meeting was held in the Shade
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church, Somerset County, thirty-two delegates in attendance. Somerset church is disorganized and becomes a part of the Brothers Valley church. Moderator, C. G. Lint; Clerk, W. G. Schrock; Reading Clerk, R. T. Pollard ; member on Stand- ing Committee, C. G. Lint.
May 12, 1885, District Meeting convened in the Manor church, Indiana County, with thirty-one delegates deciding the queries. The Shemoken church is recommended to the care of the committee of supplies and the Mission Board of the District. Moderator, J. S. Holsinger ; Clerk, W. G. Schrock ; Reading Clerk, H. H. Keim; member on Standing Committee, J. S. Holsinger.
June 1, 1886, District Meeting was held in the Johnstown church, Cambria County, with thirty-two delegates from the various churches present. Moderator, C. G. Lint; Clerk, Joseph Holsopple; Reading Clerk, J. H. Myers; member on Standing Committee, C. G. Lint.
May 17, 1887, District Meeting convened in the Middle Creek church, with thirty-five delegates enrolled. Moderator, C. G. Lint; Clerk, W. G. Schrock; Reading Clerk, H. H. Keim; member on Standing Committee, J. C. Johnson.
May 8, 1888, District Meeting was held in the Elk Lick church, Somerset County, and the enrollment of delegates was thirty-seven. Moderator, J. C. Johnson; Clerk, Joseph Holsopple; Reading Clerk, W. H. Cover; member on Stand- ing Committee, J. S. Holsinger.
May 15, 1889, District Meeting was held in the Plum Creek church, Armstrong County, with an enrollment of thirty-five delegates. Stony Creek church was dropped from the list of congregations, but three new ones were added ; viz., Fayette, Glen Hope and Maple Glen. Moderator, J. C. Johnson; Clerk, Joseph Holsopple; Reading Clerk, J. N. Davis; member on Standing Committee, Valentine Blough.
April 30, 1890, District Meeting convened in the Quema- honing church, with thirty-seven delegates in attendance. The remnant of the old Conemaugh congregation having been taken over by the Johnstown congregation, it was dropped
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from the list, but Bolivar was added. Moderator, George Hanawalt; Clerk, W. G. Schrock; Reading Clerk, W. H. Cover ; member on Standing Committee, Hiram Musselman.
April 22, 1891, District Meeting was held with the Breth- ren of the Summit Mill church, and thirty-three delegates were enrolled. Moderator, J. S. Holsinger; Clerk, W. G. Schrock; Reading Clerk, George W. Lowry; member on Standing Committee, J. C. Johnson.
May 11, 1892, District Meeting convened in the Johns- town church with a representation of thirty-six delegates. Brush Valley congregation was dropped from the list. Mod- erator, J. C. Johnson ; Clerk, W. G. Schrock; Reading Clerk, D. H. Walker; member on Standing Committee, J. C. John- son.
April 26, 1893, District Meeting was held in the Shade church, with thirty-four delegates present. Moderator, J. S. Holsinger; Clerk, Daniel .Holsopple; Reading Clerk, D. H. Walker ; member on Standing Committee, J. S. Holsinger. July 5, 1893, a special District Meeting was held in the Middle Creek church for the purpose of making preparations for the Annual Conference, which is to be held in this District in 1894. There were twenty-five delegates in attendance, and the same officers that served in the spring also served at this meeting. The following brethren were elected on the com- mittee on location : J. S. Holsinger, C. G. Lint, Stephen Stutz- man, Joseph Holsopple, Valentine Blough and W. G. Schrock.
May 2, 1894, District Meeting was held in the Jacobs Creek church, with thirty-five delegates on the roll. Moder- ator, J. C. Johnson ; Clerk, Daniel Holsopple; Reading Clerk, W. G. Schrock; member on Standing Committee, David Hil- debrand.
May 8, 1895, District Meeting convened in the Brothers Valley church, with thirty-six delegates present. Moderator, J. C. Johnson; Clerk, S. S. Blough; Reading Clerk, Jasper Barnthouse; member on Standing Committee, C. G. Lint.
May 29, 1896, District Meeting was held in the Markleys- burg church, Fayette County, with thirty-three delegates in
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their seats. Moderator, G. S. Rarigh; Clerk, W. G. Schrock; Reading Clerk, Jasper Barnthouse ; member on Standing Com- mittee, G. S. Rairigh.
May 12, 1897, District Meeting convened in the Meyers- dale church, with thirty-four delegates on the list. It would seem that the Fayette church has gone out of existence. Moderator, C. G. Lint ; Clerk, W. G. Schrock; Reading Clerk, D. H. Walker; member on the Standing Committee, C. G. Lint.
May 4, 1898, District Meeting was held in the Rockton church, Clearfield County, with thirty delegates enrolled. Moderator, Jasper Barnthouse; Clerk, S. S. Blough; Reading Clerk, H. A. Stahl; member on the Standing Committee, W. A. Gaunt.
August 23, 1899, District Meeting convened in the Shade church, with thirty-five delegates on the roll. A siege of smallpox in Windber and surrounding country prevented the meeting from being held at the usual time, and so this year we had no delegate on the Standing Committee. West Johns- town was added to the list of congregations. Moderator, C. G. Lint ; Clerk, S. S. Blough ; Reading Clerk, D. H. Walker.
May 9, 1900, District Meeting was held in the Markleys- burg church, with thirty-three delegates in attendance. Mod- erator, Jasper Barnthouse; Clerk, S. S. Blough; Reading Clerk, P. J. Blough; delegate on the Standing Committee, Jasper Barnthouse.
May 1, 1901, District Meeting convened in the Fairview house of the Georges Creek church, with thirty-eight delegates enrolled. Moderator, C. G. Lint ; Clerk, S. S. Blough ; Read- ing Clerk, W. A. Gaunt; delegate on Standing Committee, C. G. Lint.
April 23, 1902, District Meeting was held in the Maple Spring house of the Quemahoning church, with an attendance of thirty-six delegates. Moderator, Jasper Barnthouse ; Clerk, S. S. Blough; Reading Clerk, P. J. Blough; delegate on the Standing Committee, Joseph Holsopple. Pittsburgh church was organized this year, July 6, 1902.
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May 6, 1903, District Meeting convened in the Meyers- dale church, with thirty-six delegates acting. Moderator, Jasper Barnthouse; Clerk, S. S. Blough; Reading Clerk, J. F. Dietz; delegate on Standing Committee, C. G. Lint.
April 27, 1904, District Meeting assembled in the Walnut Grove house of the Johnstown church, and the attendance of delegates was forty. Moderator, Jasper Barnthouse; Writing Clerk, J. J. Shaffer ; Reading Clerk, J. F. Dietz ; delegates on the Standing Committee, D. H. Walker and Jasper Barnt- house. Cowanshannock congregation was dropped out of the list of active congregations.
May 17, 1905, District Meeting convened in the Middle Creek church, with thirty-six delegates constituting the voting body. Moderator, D. H. Walker; Writing Clerk, J. J. Shaffer; Reading Clerk, Jasper Barnthouse; member on Standing Committee, C. G. Lint.
May 9, 1906, District Meeting was held in the Penn Run House of the Manor church, with thirty-six delegates in at- tendance. Moderator, Jasper Barnthouse; Writing Clerk, S. S. Blough; Reading Clerk, J. F. Dietz; delegate on the Standing Committee, D. H. Walker.
April 3, 1907, District Meeting was held in the Berkey house of the Shade church, with an enrollment of thirty-eight delegates. The Clarion congregation was dropped from the list. Moderator, Jasper Barnthouse; Writing Clerk, H. S. Replogle; Reading Clerk, J. F. Dietz ; delegate on the Stand- ing Committee, S. S. Blough.
April 22, 1908, District Meeting was held in the County Line house of the Indian Creek church, with thirty-eight del- egates present. Moderator, S. S. Blough; Writing Clerk, J. J. Shaffer; Reading Clerk, M. J. Weaver; member on the Standing Committee, P. J. Blough.
April 14, 1909, District Meeting was held in the Salisbury house of the Elk Lick church, with an enrollment of thirty- eight delegates. Moderator, Jasper Barnthouse; Writing Clerk, M. J. Weaver; Reading Clerk, H. S. Replogle; mem-
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bers on the Standing Committee, Jasper Barnthouse and J. J. Shaffer.
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