USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania > Part 23
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In 1868 he sold his farm, and after a fruitless prospecting trip through the West, he bought a large farm in Conemaugh Town- ship, on the Quemahoning Creek. Here he lived till 1872, when he moved to a farm in Jenner Township, near Stantons Mills, where he lived the remainder of his life.
Elder Blough took great interest in education, and for some years served on the township school board. After his call to the ministry, however, no persuasion of his neighbors could induce him to accept a township office. When asked for a reason, he told them he already had a higher office than the township had to offer. He made great sacrifices in order that his children might have all the educational advantages possible. All four of his sons became successful teachers, teaching altogether forty terms of public school, while three of them are at present teaching in higher in- stitutions of learning. His four sons and son-in-law were called to the ministry and eldership.
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His uniting with the church in his single days, which was a very rare thing in his time, is evidence of his early piety. Early in his married life he was elected deacon in the Quemahoning congregation, and in 1865 he was called to the ministry. In order to be able to take his whole family to church he early provided himself with a suitable conveyance. Later on, when his ministerial labors frequently made it necessary to go to the distant meeting places to fill appointments, which deprived the family of church privileges, he did a very wise thing-bought a farm close enough to the Pine Grove meetinghouse that the children could walk to church when he was away. Though that was a move void of any financial gain, it is very certain that it resulted in untold spiritual benefit to the children, all of whom united with the church in their young days.
With Elder Blough the needs and work of the church held first place. It was nothing unusual for him to leave his plow in the furrow and go to preach a funeral, visit a sick member, baptize a penitent soul, carry the message of salvation to the isolated in his own congregation or across the Laurel Hill Ridge to the scattered members there, solemnize a marriage or assist neigh- boring congregations in special church work. If the mother and children could do the work in his absence, all right, and if not, it had to wait till he returned. He was prompt in keeping ap- pointments. No weather was too severe for him to go.
On January 1, 1882, Brother Blough was ordained to the elder- ship of the Quemahoning congregation. During his administra- tion, extending over more than a quarter of a century, he had the satisfaction of seeing the church prosper. The membership was largely increased, meetinghouses were built and rebuilt until there were seven, three of which were love-feast houses; Sunday-schools were conducted in these churches, strong brethren were called to the ministry and deaconship, and the missionary spirit had so grown and developed that the congregation pledged the support of a brother on the India field.
Elder Blough was an early advocate and supporter of Sunday- schools, and it was largely through his effort that the first one in the congregation was organized at Pine Grove in 1880. His name was on the class book at his death. He was a close student of the Word; he also read many religious and historical works, as well as debates and books of travel. He was a regular subscriber and occasional contributor to, and a constant reader of, our church papers from the beginning of the Gospel Visitor, and for some time was agent for the same.
Early in his married life he established the family altar. He also found much comfort and strength in secret prayer. His
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children often discovered him wrestling with God when the dark clouds were overhanging and threatening the peace of the church. These seasons of secret devotion were a source of great comfort to him.
He cared little for publicity, being content to do his duties in a quiet way. He sought no honors, but when responsibility was placed upon him he did his best willingly.
He was not widely known outside of his State District, though he made several trips to the West to visit his brothers and sisters and two to Virginia to his sons. He frequently represented his church in District and Annual Conferences. It was when alighting from the train in Johnstown, when returning from the Annual Conference at Mexico, Juniata County, Pennsylvania, in 1885, that he was run down by a train, crippling him for life. This accident nearly cost him his life, causing him great suffering for many months.
He kept no record of his ministerial labors, believing, no doubt, that the record was kept in heaven. It is known, however, that he preached many funerals, solemnized many marriages and bap- tized many converts. He was frequently called to preach funerals for outsiders and members of other denominations. His labors were given free. He preached in the German or English lan- guage as the occasion demanded. During the latter part of his ministry the German was not required. He had full faith in the anointing service. He did a great deal of it, and he himself re- ceived it three times, every time with much blessing.
His home was noted for its hospitality. It was open to beg- gar, tramp and peddler as well as to friend and brother. No worthy call was turned down if it was within his power to help. He was willing to make sacrifices in order to assist the mis- sionary cause and the erection of churches. He stood firmly on the principles of the church, yet in administering discipline, len- iency, rather than severity, was his motto.
When he was well up in the seventies his eyesight failed him and for a while he was blind. This was a great affliction, because it deprived him of his reading, of which he was so fond. How- ever, he bore his affliction with commendable patience. During the period of his blindness he continued to preach, either quoting his text from memory or having it read by another. After the cat- aract was sufficiently developed, it was removed, and once more his sight came to him. He was overjoyed when he could once more look into the faces of his dear companion, children and friends. Though it was somewhat tiresome he was again able to read.
Elder Blough was a lover of music, and early in the morning
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his voice could be heard hymning praises to the Father above. He had a constant concern for sinners. His last sermon in the Pine Grove church, May 27, 1910, was preached from Matthew 11: 28, 29 and 30-an appeal to sinners. It was this concern for the lost that enabled him to consent to let his youngest son, Jacob M., go to the India mission field. He had hoped to live to see his son and daughter-in-law once more, and as the time for their fur- lough grew nearer he became quite anxious, but the good Father willed it otherwise, and after an illness of six weeks he passed to his reward, August 29, 1910, at the age of 79 years, 9 months and 23 days.
The funeral services were in charge of Elder P. J. Blough, who was assisted by the home ministers and Elder A. Fyock and George Hanawalt. Interment was made in Maple Spring ceme- tery, where he had so often stood by the open grave and prayed God's benediction upon the mourners. Here Elder Tobias Blough was buried and Elder Jonathan W. Blough has since been laid. It seems appropriate that these three old soldiers of the cross, who for a number of years lived on adjoining farms, and who had so peaceably labored together so many years, should be buried al- most side by side in the same cemetery, awaiting the resurrection morning.
At his death he was kindly remembered by the Blough Asso- ciation in the following resolution: "Whereas, We learn with extreme sorrow of the death of Rev. Emanuel J. Blough, father of Rev. Jerome E. Blough, third vice-president of our association, and brother of John J. Blough, first vice-president of our associa- tion, therefore be it resolved, That our secretary be instructed to convey our condolence to the friends of the bereaved family.
" While he will be missed in the home and family and in the church which he so faithfully served, we can rejoice that his life has been devoted to the cause of spreading Christianity, and that he has done what he could to enlist men in the army of Christ, thus helping to purify this world of sin. We commend his noble life to all the members of the Blough family.
Signed by Committee, Abraham W. Blauch, Nathaniel Blough, Charles M. Blough,
Very respectfully, Tillman K. Saylor, Secretary.
The sentiments of this resolution can well be endorsed by all who knew him.
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JEROME E. BLOUGH.
Jerome E. Blough, oldest son of Elder Emanuel J. and Sarah (Barndt) Blough, was born near Hooversville in Quemahoning Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, August 22, 1861. When seven years old the family moved to Conemaugh Township, and in 1872, to near Stantons Mills, Jenner Township, where he grew to manhood on the farm with his brothers and sisters.
The schoolroom always had great attractions for Brother Blough. After finishing the grades in the Walter public school he attended five terms of Normal School in Stoystown, Pennsyl- vania, and part of a term of Summer Normal in Front Royal, Vir- ginia. He always held first class and professional certificates. He began teaching school in 1880 and taught twenty winter terms in succession, ranging in length from five to eight months. He taught ten terms in Jenner, Conemaugh and Paint Townships, Somerset County; three terms in Richland Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, and seven terms in the Cannon Branch school, Manassas District, Prince William County, Virginia.
In addition to teaching he has at different times engaged in carpentering, contracting, undertaking, farming, bookselling, clerking, and is at present writing this history.
On December 22, 1881, he was married to Miss Mollie M. Dietz, daughter of Jacob W. and Sarah (Miller) Dietz, Elder Joseph Berkey performing the ceremony. To this union three daughters were born; viz., Bertha A. Keim, Clara M. Paden and Cora L. Keim. They have lived two years in the Quemahoning congregation; from 1884 to 1892, in Paint Township (five years of which time in Scalp Level); from 1892 to 1899 in Prince William County, Virginia; from 1899 to 1900 near Geistown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania; from 1900 to 1910 with his father, where he was reared, in Jenner Township; since December 8, 1910, in Johnstown.
Under the preaching of Stephen H. Bashor he gave his heart to God, being baptized by him in Stanton's Millrace, March 26, 1877. On July 10, 1887, with Hiram Lehman, he was called to the min- istry in the Shade Creek congregation, and was installed by Elder John S. Holsinger. In the Midland congregation, Virginia, he was advanced to the second degree of the ministry by Elders S. F. Sanger and S. H. Myers, May 13, 1893. He was ordained to the eldership May 4, 1915, in the West Johnstown congregation, Elders W. M. Howe and H. S. Replogle officiating. He was elected elder in charge of the Pleasant Hill congregation in the summer of 1915.
As a child, all the opportunity he had to attend Sunday-
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Elder Jerome E. Blough and Wife.
school was the Hopewell Methodist Sunday-school for several months one summer. When the Pine Grove Sunday-school was organized, in 1880, he was elected secretary-treasurer; he also was a teacher. Ever since then he has embraced every opportunity to attend Sunday-school. He has labored ten years in the Scalp Level school, six years in the Cannon Branch, five years in the Pine Grove and five in the Roxbury, usually as an officer or teacher. . He has been active in local and District Sunday-school conventions.
Elder Blough is a lover of music, has taught a number of sing- ing classes and has been a leader in song thirty-five years. He has frequently represented his congregation in District and An- nual Conference. He has always been among the leaders in his community in advancing the best interests of church, school and state. He is a promoter of the missionary activities of the church, and a strong temperance advocate. For a number of years he has been District Treasurer of the Annual Meeting Fund. He has been church correspondent almost continuously for more than thirty years, and has written considerably for the essay depart- ment of our church periodicals.
NORMAN H. BLOUGH.
Norman H. Blough is the only son of Hiram and Eliza (Fry) Blough, and was born near Thomas' Mill, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1875. His sisters are Emma Merley, Ida Lohr, Ella Stevens and Sadie Kaufman. His education in the public schools was supplemented by several terms of local
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Norman H. Blough and Wife.
normal work. He taught eight terms of public school. For nine years he operated a sawmill and threshing outfit. While thus engaged he met with an accident which cost him his left arm. The past eight years he has conducted a retail and whole- sale feed store in Davidsville, Somerset County.
During a series of meetings held in the Maple Spring church by Elder D. H. Walker, when fifteen years of age, he united with the church, being baptized by Elder S. P. Zimmerman. Ever since then he has been active in Sunday-school work, having served as superintendent of Maple Spring Sunday-school several terms, and for the past fifteen years he has been Bible class teacher.
Brother Blough was elected deacon in the Quemahoning con- gregation in the spring of 1903, and on June 2, 1907, he was called to the ministry in the same congregation, where he now labors.
On March 11, 1903, he and Sister Grace I. Hershberger, daugh- ter of Brother and Sister Solomon Hershberger, then residing at Brentsville, Virginia, were married by Elder J. C. Murray, then of Washington, District of Columbia.
CHARLES W. BLOUGH.
Charles W. Blough, son of Simon D. and Agnes (Beam) Blough, was born near the present town of Jerome, Conemaugli Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, November 8, 1889. His ancestors for a number of generations back were faithful members of the church. His grandfather, C. I. Beam, was a min- ister, and his great-grandfather, Christian Lehman, was an elder. Charles was reared on the farm. On account of the death of his
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father when he was young, his education was somewhat neglected, because his services were needed on the large farm.
He united with the church at the age of ten and a half years, and began teaching in Sunday-school at the age of fourteen. He has been a Sunday-school teacher almost continuously ever since. On November 25, 1909, he was united in marriage to Sister Amanda Kaufman, daughter of Deacon John E. and Elizabeth (Kaufman) Kaufman. He was elected to the ministry in the Quemahoning congregation November 2, 1910, and advanced to the second degree December 8, 1912. Brother Blough takes his share of the preaching in the congregation, having preached on an average thirty sermons a year since his installation.
(Portrait on Page 158.) ELMER D. BLUE.
Elmer D. Blue, fourth son of David and Margaret (Swan) Blue, was born at Chambersville, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1880. Brother Blue's parents were born in Ireland, sail- ing from Belfast to the United States at different times, not having known each other in their native country. In their church affilia- tions the Blues are Presbyterians, and in this faith Elmer received his early Sunday-school and church training.
The family is prominent in educational circles. Of the nine children of Mr. and Mrs. David Blue, six were school-teachers, teaching, altogether, well on toward one hundred terms. Elmer worked on the farm in the summer and went to school in the winter. By applying himself diligently to the common school curriculum he was able, at the age of eighteen, to pass out of it into the ranks of the school-teacher. The profession being crowd- ed in his native county, he began teaching in Cambria County in the fall of 1898, and taught six successive years. He was permitted to enjoy two terms (twenty weeks) of Summer Normal.
Brother Blue entered the United States civil service as mail carrier, in the Johnstown postoffice, in 1906, where he is still em- ployed. On October 15, 1901, he and Sister Laura A. Rhodes, daughter of Emanuel and Mary (Knavel) Rhodes, were united in marriage by Elder J. F. Dietz. Brother and Sister Rhodes are pioneer members of the Church of the Brethren in Taylor Town- ship. Brother Rhodes is a deacon. Sister Rhodes comes from one of the oldest Brethren families in this section. Brother and Sister Blue are the happy parents of the following children: Nina, Marie, Vesta Pearl, Donna Gertrude, Blair Rhodes, Merle Sloan, Dwight Byron and Loren Elmer. The oldest three are members of the church.
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Brother Blue was baptized into the Church of the Brethren on July 5, 1903, by Elder H. S. Replogle, his wife having been a mem- ber from her childhood. Brother Blue has been active in church and Sunday-school work, and on December 12, 1911, he was elected to the ministry in the West Johnstown congregation, being in- stalled on January 4, 1912. About a year later he was advanced to the second degree. When the Pleasant Hill congregation was organized in February, 1915, he and his brother-in-law, Hadden Q. Rhodes, were the only resident ministers. The past year Broth- er Blue has been in charge of the Pleasant Hill church as resident pastor.
(Portrait on Page 199.) J. L. BOWMAN.
J. L. Bowman was born near Jones Mills, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, March 1, 1866. He is the son of Daniel and Agnes (Lohr) Bowman, who were members of the Baptist Church. In a quiet and uneventful way his childhood and youth were passed in his parental home. At the age of eight he entered the public school at Jones Mills. After completing the common schools, he attended Summer Normals at Stahlstown, and at Springfield, Pennsylvania. He began teaching, and for a number of years taught in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania. In 1890 he entered the Southwestern State Normal School at California, Pennsylvania, from which institution he later grad- uated with honor, being chosen as one of the three contestants from the literary society to which he belonged.
Two events of unusal importance occurred shortly after his graduation. One was his call to the ministry in the Brethren (Progressive) Church of which he was then a member; the other was his marriage to Miss Martha Logan, daughter of William and Sarah Logan. In his choice of a companion he made no mistake, as subsequent developments proved by the faithful way she has stood by him in all his labors. Much of his success in the min- istry was due to her untiring labors.
After his call to the ministry he felt very keenly the need of wider and more careful preparation for his work, so he decided to enter Juniata College, from which institution he was graduated three years later in the sacred literature course. After his grad- uation he held three pastorates, one of seven years at Vinco, Cam- bria County, Pennsylvania, one of four years at Berlin, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and one of one year at Louisville, Ohio. All of his pastorates were marked by a number of additions to the church. At Louisville, Ohio, he was compelled to quit preaching for a while on account of a severe attack of throat trouble. From
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J. L. Bowman.
Louisville they came back to Cambria County, Pennsylvania, where they are now located on their farm in Jackson Township, farming in the summertime and teaching in the winter. He has taught school for more than twenty-five years, in three counties and under five superintendents.
On December 12, 1915, he united with the Church of the Brethren at Pleasant Hill, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. After much study he became convinced of the soundness and safeness of the doctrine and polity of the Church of the Brethren and ac- cepted them without reservation, and was received into the church by the elder in charge, Jerome E. Blough, assisted by Brethren S. W. Pearce and Elmer D. Blue. At the same meeting he was called to the ministry in the Church of the Brethren, the election and installation being conducted by Elders Blough and Pearce.
SAMUEL BRALLIER. By Sadie Brallier Noffsinger.
Above the list of many children, upon the old family record, which has long been treasured as a sacred relic, and whose margin is now yellow with the rust of years, can be traced a name and date which are significant of a long and vigorous, likewise a benefi- cent and useful life. It reads as follows: "Samuel Brallier, born September 2,-1824; died October 1, 1894."
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Perhaps it was the blending of the sturdy Franco-German blood which laid the foundation for the strong physique, also the strong characteristics of his after-life. At any rate his per- sonal traits early asserted themselves; for at a very tender age, while still residing with his parents in the pleasant though quaint home in Morrison's Cove, where he was born and thus far reared, we find him taking upon himself, in a peculiarly marked manner, the position of firstborn, and intelligently and tenderly assuming the duties of elder brother, whom a large family of children learned to look up to as their ideal of both friend and counselor.
When about ten years old, I think, he moved with his parents to near Belsano, Cambria County. Here is where the remainder of his childhood was spent. Here he attained unto the duties and responsibilities of manhood, before his time. Delving deep into the problem of business activity, going to mill, following the plow, joining the harvesters, and driving the team, sometimes for almost twenty miles a day, before he had attained his teens, he forced himself to be recognized as quite a unit in family industry and maintenance.
At the age of twenty-seven he married Susannah Good, a sweet girl of seventeen. To this union fourteen children were given. My father's educational advantages were extremely mea- ger, according to the grosser mode of calculating, not exceeding four months of district schooling. Yet some of the very earliest recollections which my memory conjures are of seeing him pore over some ponderous book, of which his library contained not a few of no mean value. Did I say he was an uneducated man I should belie not the lesser of his merits; for herein lay his genius -a genius to which not every man is born. Decidedly he was a self-taught man-a patron of that system which has for its foun- dation the clearer vision; the system which is circumscribed neither by environment nor age. And he delved away and profited by his task until he attained unto a degree of knowledge at which men marveled, and which also equipped him to be an astute discerner in matters of moment.
Soon after their marriage, my father and mother together united with the church; and this was the beginning of an epoch of concentrated thought and effort which signalized the trend of my father's entire after-life. With the earnestness and assiduity which were his due, he considered all things as dross compared with the duties of his spiritual vocation, in a literal sense being willing to spend and be spent for the Master's use. In regular succession he rose from one official position to another, until he wielded the supreme authority of the bishopric. Here the full measure of his manhood asserted itself; and though it must be
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admitted that his views were somewhat radical, out of sympathy with a strenuous and unbiased will, perforce, it must be said, not- withstanding, that his deliberations were tempered with wisdom and his judgments with mercy; and whatever else might betide, the truth must be upheld at any cost; compared with which pre- cept, popular aggrandizement or personal ease was as nothing. When he was in the meridian of his power and usefulness I was but a little child; yet I can well remember how he was sought by young and old alike, in troublous epochs, for his wise counsels; and there were times when his face alone reflected inspiration and cheer sufficient for the task at hand; as a dazzling bit of sunshine while storm besets the earth, or as the serene face of a pilot when the sea is angriest. I used to think that he must have caught a sound of that strain which the shepherds heard, for this was the motto of his life: " Peace on earth, good will to men."
Yet, let no one suppose that he was " carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease." Nay, verily. Perhaps few men have trod a rougher or thornier path-partly by making other men's dis- asters his own personal calamities; partly by other men making his calamities their exceeding joy. Either through lack of discern- ment or lack of sympathy the world ofttimes suffers the hero to depart uncrowned.
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