USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania > Part 27
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He was married October 18, 1855, to Miss Catharine Vickroy, daughter of Solomon and Polly Ann (Younker) Vickroy. Seven children were born to this union. Of these Solomon is the only one of the entire family now living. His school advantages were limited. After he was fifteen he received only a few months a year of winter school, and at eighteen he quit school. His mother being an invalid a number of years required his presence with her.
He was started to Sunday-school when but five years old, at- tending at different times the Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Baptist schools, because the Brethren had no Sunday-schools. Brother Dorer holds as a souvenir, a certificate, certifying that he is an "Annual Member of the 55th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Baptist Sunday-school Army, Auxiliary to the Pennsylvania Bap- tist General Association for Missionary Purposes," signed by the president, secretary and treasurer.
Brother Dorer was baptized in November, 1876, at the age of twenty. He was elected assistant superintendent of a union Sun- day-school, January 1, 1877, since which time he has served in all
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capacities in the Sunday-school. At present he is teacher of the Bible Class in the Morrellville Sunday-school, where he has la- bored for a number of years.
On October 31, 1878, Brother Dorer and Miss Maggie Camp- bell, daughter of James and Lelia (Murphy) Campbell, were mar- ried. To this union nine children were born, of whom seven are living. At their marriage his wife was not a member of the Church of the Brethren, but later became such, as did also six of the children.
On November 29, 1883, at a council in the Walnut Grove schoolhouse, Brother Dorer and A. W. Myers were elected to the ministry in the Johnstown congregation, being the first so called after the deplorable division. When Brother Dorer united with the church the Conemaugh congregation 'was the only one in the Conemaugh Valley. Because of divisions of old congre- gations and organization of new ones Brother Dorer has lived and labored successively in the Conemaugh, Johnstown, West Johnstown and Morrellville congregations. When Brother Dorer took up the ministry the work was hard, but the Lord gave pros- perity. There were five places of preaching with four ministers. He is now the oldest active minister of the Church of the Breth- ren in the Conemaugh Valley. He is hoping for the day when every churchhouse will be the center of one congregation.
(Portrait on Page 199.)
JOHN K. EICHER.
John Eicher, the father of Elder J. K. Eicher, in his early days was a member of the Mennonite Church. He married Miss Bar- bara Kalb, who was a member of the Lutheran Church. They made their home on a farm in Mt. Pleasant Township, West- moreland County, Pennsylvania. This union was blessed by four sons and two daughters, all of whom were baptized into the Lutheran Church when young.
John K., the third son, was born October 1, 1844. He was reared on the farm, and in addition to the common school advan- tages he attended a few summer terms at Sewickley Academy. Be- ginning in 1864 he taught eleven terms of common winter school and two terms of summer school.
Elder Eicher was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Weaver in 1868. He united with the Church of the Brethren in 1874, and in 1877 he was called to the ministry in the Jacobs Creek con- gregation. In 1880 he was advanced to the second degree, and in 1897 he was ordained to the eldership. He is at present, as he has been for some years, elder of the Jacobs Creek congregation. (Portrait on Page 107.)
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DAVID ESHELMAN.
David Eshelman, son of Isaac Eshelman, was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1799. His grandfather was David. His great-grandfather, Heinrich Eshelman, came from Switzer- land in 1727, and owned property in Rapho Township, Lancaster County.
Elder David Eshelman married Esther Longanecker, and they had six children; viz., Andrew (a deacon and father of Elder M. M. Eshelman, of Tropico, California), Catharine, Samuel, Nancy, Susannah and Hattie. Brother Eshelman was called to the min- istry in Mifflin County, and moved to Salem, Clarion County, Pennsylvania, about 1852 or 1853. He became quite active in the ministry, and he, with Elder John H. Goodman, was a leader in building up the church in Clarion County.
Elder Eshelman had appointments at various places in Clar- ion and adjoining counties. Three Sundays of each month he would go on horseback from thirty to sixty milcs, round trip, to his appointments, and the other Sunday he preached at home. The appointments were four and eight weeks apart, and he gen- erally held two services at a place before returning. He inva- riably traveled horseback, going on Saturday and returning on Monday.
He preached in both English and German. He belonged to that class of pioneer preachers who, by self-sacrifice, went about preach- ing and doing good without pay or direction, save as the Spirit took charge and urged them on, thus making it possible for the Brethren Church to extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Hc was a mild-mannered man and made friends wherever he was known. He was calm under great provocation.
Towards the close of his life he moved back to Mifflin Coun- ty and did some work' near Lewistown. His last days were spent at Mohrsville, Berks County, where he died October 4, 1873, aged 74 years, 3 months and 12 days. Sister Eshclman died near McVeytown, aged 72 years and 11 months. Some of his contem- poraries were William Howe, Andrew Spanogle, Graybill Myers, and Joseph R. Hanawalt.
ALVIN GIRARD FAUST.
The Foust family of Somerset and Cambria Counties is among the older ones. They belonged to a number of different denomi- nations. The family of Jacob Foust, of Scalp Level, was largely Lutheran. One of the sons, Jacob E., married Sister Fannie Berke- bile, daughter of Peter and Hannah Berkebile, and granddaughter of Deacon Daniel Berkey, and so naturally united with the Church
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Alvin G. Faust and Wife.
of the Brethren in the Shade Creek church. Jacob E. Foust is a deacon. Their children are Abbie, Alice (deceased) Arthur (de- ceased), Alvin G., Newton, Sadie, Hannah, Clark, Bertha (de- ceased), and Ruth.
Alvin G. Faust (as he prefers to spell the name) was born in Paint Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, February 8, 1885. He was reared on the farm and given the advantages of the com- mon school from which he graduated in April, 1901. He also at- tended four terms of local normal, one spring term (1905) at Juniata College and two years (1908-09, 1909-10) at Bethany Bible School, Chicago, Illinois. In the fall of 1901 he began teaching school, being at the time sixteen years of age. He has taught thirteen terms of winter school, two terms of which he was prin- cipal of the Scalp Level schools. He taught one term of normal, spring of 1907. In 1906 he was granted a State permanent certifi- cate.
On August 9, 1908, he and Sister Maud C. Johns, daughter of Moses K. and Annie (Thomas) Johns, were united in marriage. Maud Johns is a great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Johns, the founder of Johnstown, and for six years was a popular school- teacher. In addition to the common schools she attended local normals, Juniata College in 1906, and was with her husband in Bethany Bible School two years. Brother and Sister Faust have one son, Nile Eugene, born September 7, 1911.
During a series of meetings, held in the Scalp Level church by H. S. Replogle, Alvin united with the church, being baptized by Jas. F. Ream. He was elected to the ministry November 24, 1904;
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installed March 25, 1905; preached first sermon June 25, 1905; was advanced April 7, 1908; became pastor of the Shade Creek con- gregation in May, 1915. He is a leader in music, having taken music and voice culture in Bethany. He taught a number of singing classes. He has been a member of the executive board of the Sunday School Association of the District three years.
Isaiah B. Ferguson.
ISAIAH B. FERGUSON.
Robert and Elizabeth (Burkholder) Ferguson lived in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and were faith- ful members of the. Indian Creek Church of the Brethren. Their son, Isaiah B., was born at the same place, April 10, 1868, and reared on the farm.
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Brother Ferguson united with the church young in life in the Indian Creek congregation, where he was elected to the ministry in September, 1892. One year later he was advanced to the second degree. On September 20, 1891, he and Miss Mary Ann Miller, daughter of Daniel and Rachel (Peterson) Miller, were united in marriage. No children were given to bless this union, but they raised Miss Katie Sporey, who is now the wife of Brother Mahlon J. Blough.
Brother Ferguson has at different times lived in the Indian Creek church, Westmoreland County, and in the Middle Creek and Quemahoning churches, Somerset County. Their present home is in Jenner Township, Somerset County, in the last-named congregation.
Most of his ministerial labors have been done in his home congregations, though he has done evangelistic work in Pennsyl- vania, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio. He has baptized and married a number of people.
THE FIKE FAMILY. By Emra T. Fike, Oakland, Maryland.
Among the "Pennsylvania Dutch " of the Western District of Pennsylvania, should be reckoned Peter Fike, Sr., who was born and reared near Meyersdale, Somerset County. After his mar- riage with Miss Magdalena Arnold, of Burlington, West Vir- ginia, he located near Maple Grove, Maryland. After living there a few years he moved to Indian Creek, Fayette County, Pennsyl- vania, where he reared his family of ten children until the young- est one was eleven years of age.
Peter Fike's great grandfather, who came from Hanover, Ger- many, was, no doubt, the ancestor of all the Fikes now in the United States. This Fike, who came from Germany, was a weaver by trade and a member of the Amish Church. It was either his son or his grandson, who, through the influence of his wife, came into the Church of the Brethren, Since that time the greater per- centage of the Fike family are members of the same church. At least Peter's father, Christian, and his mother, Christina, were con- secrated members of the Church of the Brethren.
In A. D. 1851 Peter moved to Sang Run, Maryland, and three years later he moved to Preston County, West Virginia, where much of the country was an unbroken forest, being on the edge of Hoy's Wilderness.
Here grandfather had no church home, he and his family being among the pioneer members. His ten children soon all set- tled around him, and as they had large families, nearly all of
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whom were members of the church, it was not long until a church organization was effected. Thus it is that the German Settle- ment congregation, numbering about 400 members, is composed almost entirely of descendants of Peter Fike, and as he came. from Western Pennsylvania, it may be truthfully said that this congre- gation is a child of Western Pennsylvania.
Of the four sons of Peter Fike, two, Samuel A. and Aaron, were elders, one, Moses, was a minister in the second degree, and one, David, was a deacon. This family is unique, in that more than twenty of grandfather's family are ministers in the Church of the Brethren.
JOHN FORNEY, SR.
John Forney, Sr., was born six miles south of Meyersdale, near Salisbury, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1777. There he grew to manhood, with his three brothers, Abraham, Christian and Peter, and some sisters. He was married to Susannah Buechley, daughter of Elder John Buechley, of the Elk Lick church. To this union twelve children were born, nine sons and three daugh- ters. Three sons, Michael, John, Jr., and Peter, were ministers and elders, and two sons, Daniel and Elias, deacons.
In 1817 he moved with his family to a large farm two miles north of Berlin, in Brothers Valley Township. Here he lived and reared his family till about 1840, when he moved to a farm on the West bank of the Quemahoning Creek, in Conemaugh Township, where he died August 31, 1846, aged 69 years, 9 months and 21 days. His widow died July 27, 1862, aged 75 years, 11 months and 9 days.
After serving in the office of deacon for some years he was elected to the ministry in the Berlin church about 1830 (exact date not known), and with Peter Cober was ordained at a council at Berkley's, in October, 1836, "having a good report from those without as well as from those within." In 1840 he moved, as al- ready stated, to Conemaugh Township, being the first and only elder in this arm of the church for six years, when he went to his reward. I have a letter from Elder Peter Forney, Glendale, Arizona, his youngest son, written April 4, 1914, when he was 84 years old, from which I quote: " I was the youngest one of the fam- ily, and I was very vain and foolish, 'cared for none of those things,' like Gallio, and my father died before I was eighteen. As to where he was born, or what his father's and mother's names were, or of what nationality he was I know absolutely nothing. I heard him say that he and Peter Cober were elected to the deaconship at the same time, then chosen to the ministry, advanced to the second degree, and ordained to the eldership together, and
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they worked together, shoulder to shoulder, as long as they lived, without a clash. Father's preaching always was sympathetic. He seemed to be tender-hearted. I do not know that I ever heard him preach without shedding tears himself, as well as his congre- gation. As to how deep or shallow he was, I am not able to say. He always had family worship, evening and morning, and asked a blessing and returned thanks at meals, morning, noon and even- ing. I heard him say that by request he preached one funeral in English. He wrote a good hand, both in German and English. In German he signed his name Fahrney, and in English, Forney. He always kept a book of all his business with all with whom he had dealings. He was some kin to old Dr. Peter Fahrney, but how near I know not.
" He had several trades, carpenter and cooper. In his young days he was hewing timber, got very warm, went to the river, cut the ice, lay down and drank, and arose an afflicted man for his lifetime. I have heard told that for weeks and months they thought every day would be his last. But he finally rallied, but had to do with it as long as he lived, and finally it turned into dropsy.
" In March, 1846, he was called to preach a funeral across Stony Creek, near where Hooversville now is located. He went horseback. Next morning when he dressed himself he noticed that his feet were swollen a little. He pressed his thumb on the swelling and a dint remained. 'Why,' said he, 'they say that is dropsy.' He finished dressing and went about his work as usual. The next morning it was worse, and so it continued day by day until finally his legs burst open. His suffering was intense at times, and lasted till he died. So we are going down the valley one by one. My letter is somewhat fragmentary. I was out of fix for several days, so I could not write. Under the circumstances I did the best I could. I do not know whether my scribbling will be of any use to you or not."
His body was laid in a lonely grave on the farm, but after the farm went out of the family's hands his body was removed to the Blough-Forney burying ground, near Berlin, where he and his wife lie buried side by side.
Few men have the honor of being the ancestor of so long a iine of ministers. Three sons, six grandsons and three great- grandsons by the name of Forney were and are ministers. That was eight years ago. Probably there are more now.
JAMES FOUCH.
James Fouch (Pfautz) moved from the Coventry congregation, Lancaster County, and settled in Georges Township, Fayette Coun-
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ty, near Leatherman's farm. Brother Fouch was born in 1769 and elected to the ministry in 1795. In 1814 he was ordained to the cidership. He was a successful farmer, besides being a minister, and died in 1850, aged 81 years.
LEMUEL ROYAL FOX.
In the year 1879 Henry B. Fox and Rachel Martin were united in marriage. To this union were born four sons and one daugh- ter. Lemuel R., the third son, began his earthly career January 8, 1885, the parents at this time living on a farm near Mount Pleas- ant, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The parents, being of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, followed the inbred inclination to be farmers, and Lemuel naturally followed the same pursuit, as- sisting his father until his twenty-sixth year, since which time he has been employed in a factory.
Owing to the fact that from the time Lemuel was sixteen years of age his entire services were given to his father on the farm, his education was limited to the common schools. The family, living a long distance from the church and the father not being a mem- ber of the church and providing no church conveniences, Lemuel's early church training was much neglected, and he was not made to feel the need of yoking his life up to Christ's work until com- paratively late in life.
The mother, however, being a faithful member of the Church of the Brethren, had instilled Christian principles into the young man, and so while attending a series of meetings held in the Greensburg church by Elder Daniel Webster Kurtz, in March, 1913, he gave his heart to Christ, and was baptized April 2, being past twenty-eight years of age.
A part of his church and Sunday-school work was done in Greensburg. After his marriage to Sister Ida Mary Shaffer, May 29, 1914, they took up their residence in the Jacobs Creek congre- gation, where he takes an active interest in the Sunday-school and church work. He has served as delegate to Sunday-school Convention, District Meeting and in 1915 to Annual Meeting. On March 27, 1915, he was called to the ministry in the Jacobs Creek congregation, being installed by Elder M. J. Brougher.
(Portrait on Page 107.)
WILLIAM H. FRY.
William H. Fry, son of Josiah D. and Harriet (Lehman) Fry, was born near the present town of Jerome, Somerset County, Penn- sylvania, November 26, 1868. He is a grandson of Elder Chris- tian Lehman. With his parents he moved to Richland Township, Cambria County, where he grew up as a farmer's son.
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In addition to his common school education, he had two terms of Summer Normal. He taught two terms of school, from '85 to '87. By occupation Brother Fry is a carpenter, having followed the trade ever since 1890, with the exception of three years.
On December 14, 1892, in the Shade Creek congregation, Wil- liam united with the church. He has lived in the same congre- gation ever since. January 1, 1895, he and Miss Minnie Hostetler, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Baer) Hostetler, were united in marriage. On March 31, 1902, he was called to the ministry by the Shade Creek congregation. At the same place he was or- dained to the eldership, July 4, 1912. Elder Fry lives near the Berkey church, Paint Township, Somerset County, and is pretty centrally located in the large congregation over which he has had the oversight since his ordination.
Elder Fry is an active Sunday-school worker, having, at dif- ferent times, been superintendent of the Scalp Level, Rummel and Berkey Sunday-schools. While he was yet a layman he served five years on the District Mission Board. He also served his con- gregation in the capacity of church clerk six years, and as Mes- senger agent. He represented his church as delegate to both An- nual and District Meetings a number of times. He has served on home mission committee, as well as on a number of other com- mittees.
(Portrait on Page 183.)
JOHN B. FURRY.
John B. Furry, son of Elder Leonard Furry, of New Enter- prise, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, was born July 24, 1829. He united with the church in his early days. He was united in mar- riage, at the home of his father, to Miss Elizabeth Snowberger, daughter of Brother Daniel Snowberger, on January 29, 1854. In his obituary it is stated that he was a faithful minister of the Word for some years. He died December 18, 1863, aged 34 years, 4 months and 27 days, leaving a disconsolate widow and five small children. They were Sarah A., Hannah A., Daniel S., Franklin P. and Leonard. The text used at his funeral was Rev. 14: 12, 13. The widow some years later was married to Elder John B. Miller, also of Bedford County. She died July 12, 1905.
ABRAHAM FYOCK.
Abraham Fyock is the third son and child of Jacob and Bar- bara (Reighard) Fyock, and was born on the Fyock homestead in Conemaugh Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, No- vember 30, 1844. His early days were spent on the farm of his
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father, assisting the latter in its management and thus acquir- ing a practical knowledge of the details of farm life. The Fyocks are of German ancestry.
Upon the death of his father he resided with his brother, who had assumed the management of affairs, until he had attained his eighteenth year, when he removed to Johnstown and obtained a position with the Cambria Steel Company in the rolling mill.
Abraham enlisted in Company F, 198th Pennsylvania Volun- teers, in 1864, Captain Stackhouse commanding. He served in all ten months, taking an active part in the battles of Petersburg, Five Points and several others. He was present with his regiment at the surrender of General Lee. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged and returned to Johnstown.
The same year, November 23, 1865, he married Miss Nancy Varner, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Good) Varner. After marriage they moved to the Fyock homestead, remaining there until 1869, when he purchased a farm in that vicinity and moved upon it. Here they lived and reared their family until 1892, when he sold out and moved to Walnut Grove. Here he bought a home with some land adjoining. For twenty years they lived in Walnut Grove, until April 1, 1912, when, with his wife, he re- moved to New Paris, Bedford County, where he at present resides.
Their children are: Samuel H., Clarissa J. Wilson, Sarah A. Strayer, Rachel E. Mills, Emma C. (dead), James W., Lucy E. (dead), and John C.
Brother Fyock was elected to the ministry September 29, 1887, advanced to the second degree September 26, 1889, and ordained to the eldership December 28, 1899, all in the Johnstown congre- gation. Elder Fyock is a faithful and willing preacher and has done his best work in his home congregation. He frequently serves his church in the capacity of delegate to District and An- nual Conferences.
Besides serving his home congregation Brother Fyock did most of the preaching in the Bolivar church for several years. He also had the oversight of this church from 1904 to 1908.
For several years Elder Fyock has been a member of the Old Folks' Home Committee, and has done considerable work in try- ing to mould sentiment favorable toward an institution of that kind. He is a firm believer in the necessity of a home for the poor and aged of our church. Two of Elder Fyock's sons, Samuel H. and James W., and one of his sons-in-law, John W. Mills, have been elected to the ministry in the Johnstown congregation. Sis- ter Fyock died in the spring of 1914 while on a visit to her chil- dren in Johnstown.
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JOHN W. FYOCK.
John W. Fyock, son of David and Margaret (Wise) Fyock, was born in Green Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 22, 1861. He is a grandson of John Fyock and a great grand- son of David Fyock, who moved from Somerset County at an early date.
Brother Fyock was reared a farmer, which occupation he still follows. When he was five years of age his mother died. In addi- tion to the public school he was a student of Purchase Line Acad- emy, of which institution he is a trustee at this time.
Brother Fyock was baptized at the age of seventeen. He was elected deacon in the Manor church, July 1, 1887; minister, June 9, 1892; advanced to the second degree inf 1894; ordained to the eldership in 1909. For some years he has been the elder in charge of the Manor congregation, and since the spring of 1915 of the Chess Creek congregation also.
Elder Fyock was united in marriage to Sister Elvira E. Minser, daughter of Elder Mark Minser. To this union six children were born, of whom five are living. All are members of the church and one son is a deacon.
(Portrait on Page 128.)
Elder Oran Fyock.
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ORAN FYOCK.
Elder Oran Fyock was born June 29, 1868, in Indiana Coun- ty, Pennsylvania. Here he grew to manhood and was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bundy, October 31, 1889. Both became members of the Church of the Brethren in the fall of 1894, being baptized by Elder Mark Minser. Three years later, in 1897, he was elected deacon, and in 1907 he was called to the ministry in the Montgomery congregation. Brother Fyock is the only minister in the Montgomery congregation, and in 1912 he was ordained to the eldership.
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