USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania > Part 31
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Elder Johnson died in Huntingdon, April 3, 1908, aged 68 years, 7 months and 2 days.
SAMUEL COVER JOHNSON.
Samuel Cover Johnson, oldest son of eight children (four sons and four daughters) of Nicholas B. and Elizabeth Cover Johnson, was born four miles west of Uniontown, Fayette Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1843. Nicholas was reared in the Mennonite faith, but through the influence of his wife, who was a strong and faithful member of the Brethren, he united with the church of her choice in 1850. By occupation he was a farmer, but he also did all the blacksmithing and carpentering needed on the farm.
Samuel was brought up a farmer, but having a mechanical turn of mind he naturally learned the use of the tools his father had on the farm, and as he grew to manhood he learned the better use of them. When Samuel was a boy the school terms consisted of only four months a year, and with the farm work and Maple Sugar boiling he did not get even the full benefit of that short term. However, by home study he acquired a fair education. At the age of twenty he studied civil engineering and has done much farm surveying. During all this he did much in the line of repair- ing small jobs of machine and carpenter work.
In 1882 he bought five building lots in Uniontown, and he and his brother Alfred built a machine shop on them and did all kinds of repairing, from the smallest articles to sawmills, stationary engines, etc. They also manufactured a few lines. Their patent gas heating stove was the best and most economical stove in the market. This partnership continued till 1903, when Samuel sold out his interest in the business. Since then he has done small repairing, just enough to keep busy and in good health.
In 1860, during a two weeks' series of meetings held in the Fair View meetinghouse, near Masontown, by Elder John Wise,
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.
Samuel Cover Johnson.
eight persons manifested a desire to live the better life. These were: Samuel Durr and Catharine, his wife, George Brooks, James Hamilton, Elizabeth Walters, Mary Paul, Samuel C. John- son and John DeBolt. These eight penitent believers were bap- tized in the Monongahela River, at McClaine Ferry, March 26, 1860, when Brother Johnson was just a little past seventeen years of age. The day was very cold, the thermometer standing at ten degrees above zero.
Brother Johnson has been an active Sunday-school worker from his young days. In 1863, when the Georges Creek congre- gation, in quarterly council, organized its first Sunday-school, Brother Johnson was elected superintendent. To this office he has been elected twelve times since, some of the terms being for a longer time than a year. He held the same office at a union school, at Sandy Hill, two miles west of Uniontown. He fre- quently is an attendant at our Sunday-school conventions.
Since he was elected deacon in 1884 he has had much of the church work to look after. He has represented his church at Dis- trict and Annual Meetings frequently. He has attended a large majority of our District Meetings from the first, and fourteen All-
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nual Meetings, including the one at Los Angeles, California. He is a close Bible student and a regular church attendant. He is now in his seventy-third year, and is enjoying reasonable health and strength. As he passes down the western slopes of time and the shadows lengthen, he sees the great necessity of taking strict care of the little things that make up the full Christian life.
At the District Meeting of 1912 he was appointed a member of the historical committee, to take the place of Elder Joseph Holsopple, who had resigned on account of age. As a member of that committee his labors have been very valuable, especially so in gathering data for the history of the Georges Creek congre- gation, and the biographies of its ministers.
CARMAN COVER JOHNSON.
Carman C. Johnson, oldest son and fourth child of Elder John Cover Johnson and Mary Saylor-Miller Johnson, was born on the Johnson farm, known as "Adams Bower," in the Georges Creek congregation, near Uniontown, Pennsylvania, on July 19, 1874. He attended country school until eight years of age, then the grade schools and Redstone Academy in Uniontown until four- teen; then for four years he worked as newsboy, photographer, glass-house boy, and boot and shoe clerk, studying some at night with private tutors, until the fall of 1892, when he attended the teachers' course of the then Brethren Normal School at Hunt -. ingdon, Pennsylvania, being graduated therefrom in June, 1894.
Coming home he spent a year in his father's general store as clerk and bookkeeper, returning to Huntingdon in the fall of 1895 to pursue further studies in the newly-organized Juniata College, acting at the same time as teacher of English, geography, and alge- bra in the preparatory department. The year '97-98 was spent en- tirely in study at Huntingdon, and the year '98-99 in Waynes- borough as clerk to Treasurer Oller of the Geiser Company.
The college course, with a number of religious electives, was resumed in '99, and finished after two more years of study exclusive- ly in 1901. Upon graduation, the subject of this sketch was called to Porto Rico by the then commissioner of education, Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh, to become assistant commissioner of public charities there; but a call to the Juniata faculty, even at one-fourth the sal- ary, was accepted. In this position he taught sacred and secular history and social sciences, edited the Juniata Echo, and acted as principal of the academy, and as assistant-registrar, spending short terms in graduate study at Harvard, Cornell, and Chicago Universities meanwhile, until called to a professorship of history and civics in the Pittsburgh High Schools in 1910. He taught there two years, and at the same time was superintendent of the
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$7
Prof. Carman Cover Johnson.
Emma Farm Fresh-Air and Educational Association; then became examiner and inspector in the Pennsylvania Bureau of Profes- sional Education for a year; then resigned to return to the Pitts- burgh schools, and soon was made principal of the North School, where he is now spending his third year, doing special day and night work in the fields of vocational, civic and social center work.
Professor Johnson began his religious work early, assisting his father on his preaching circuits as a singer, and at home as janitor, Sunday-school teacher, usher, and Sunday-school super- intendent-all before seventeen years of age. In Uniontown, Huntingdon, Waynesboro, Chicago, and Pittsburgh, where he has had, or now has, particular interests, the Church of the Brethren was and is his real concern. He has written for the church and Sunday-school literature from childhood until now, regularly teaches a Sunday-school class, preaches occasionally since his in- stallation at Huntingdon, in 1904, has taken much interest in the history and polity of the church, and is broadly interested, through committee membership and frequent speaking engagements, in such public welfare movements as the Y. M. C. A., the Pittsburgh Christian Social Service Union, and the Associated Charities.
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Along with Elder S. S. Blough, Brother Johnson was directly responsible for the first Sunday-school convention of the Church of the Brethren of Western Pennsylvania in 1897; and along with a few others established the Sunday-school convention of Southern Pennsylvania in 1899. He was moderator of the Sunday-school convention of Middle Pennsylvania also in 1909.
Brother Johnson has been married twice, the first wife being Ada Catharine Reichard, daughter of Elder W. S. Reichard, of Hagerstown, Maryland. She left a beautiful record of unusual in- terest in church and Sunday-school work, being of great assistance to her husband during the scarcely four years of their married life. The present Mrs. Johnson was DeLana Anne Mohler, of Cov- ington, Ohio, a graduate of Juniata, for a number of years a teacher, always active in Sunday-school and church work (as is the tradition of her family), and present missionary secretary and Messenger correspondent of the Pittsburgh congregation. To this latter union two sons have been born, the first, Mack Mohler Johnson, dying as an infant, the second, Forbes Mohler Johnson, being now in his second year. The new home at 5886 Burchfield Avenue, on Squirrel Hill, is a veritable " Hearthstone " for many church and school and other friends.
SILAS CLARK KEIM.
John Keim, earliest ancestor of the Keim family in the United States, came from Germany in 1697, and settled near Reading, Pennsylvania, and had considerable land. Elizabeth was his wife. Their son, Peter, was a farmer in Berks County, but not much is known of him.
Nicholas Keim was a son of Peter. He headed westward and made his first settlement at Ben's Creek, Cambria County. Later he lived at Davidsville, Somerset County. From there he moved to Elk Lick, where he purchased considerable land, which he cul- tivated to advantage till death in 1832. He was a member of the Amish Church. He was three times married and was the father of twenty-four children.
Jonas Keim was the third son of Nicholas and Mary (Stutz- man) Keim and was born within six miles of Johnstown, Penn- sylvania, in 1803. He was a leading citizen of Elk Lick Town- ship. He represented his District in the State legislature in the forties as a Whig. He was associate judge of Somerset County; also county commissioner. He was one of the first promoters of free public schools, and taught advanced methods of farming and dairying. He was married to Miss Sarah Livengood, and to this union were born seven sons and five daughters. He died in 1865.
Silas C., the fourth son and fifth child in this family of twelve,
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Silas Clark Keim.
was born October 6, 1835. At this date four of the brothers and two of the sisters are still living, although at least three are past fourscore years of age. His entire life was spent in the neigh- borhood of his birth. He grew up on the farm and learned to love all kinds of stock. He attended the public school available at that time, till fourteen years of age. After this time his school- ing was limited to six weeks each winter for two years. But a mind such as he had will seek an education. Books were scarce, but such as were to be had were read and studied. As a boy he carried to his work in his pocket a small dictionary, learning to spell and define a new word as the plow team was lazily turning a corner. He was a voracious reader and knew his Bible well.
In those days, before the Brethren encouraged Sunday-schools, few unmarried people united with the church. Contrary to this custom, Brother James Quinter, then a young preacher in South- western Pennsylvania, was called over to Elk Lick to baptize three young men, the youngest of whom was Silas, then aged eighteen. A letter written by Brother Quinter to Brother David Livengood in response to this request is in possession of Elder H. H. Keim, son of Silas. The other two young men were Mahlon W. Keim, brother of Silas, and Samuel D. Livengood.
In the fall of 1857 Samuel Beeghly and Silas Keim went on horseback to attend a love feast, almost sixty miles from home, in the Beaver Run church, Hampshire County, Virginia. During
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this meeting Silas met the lady who later became the wife of his bosom and the queen of his household. January 12, 1858, he was married to Anna, only daughter of Elder Joseph and Elizabeth (Sloan) Arnold, at their home on Patterson's Creek, the father of the bride officiating.
They set up housekeeping on the farm acquired from his fa- ther, and adjoining the Keim homestead, and one mile west of Salisbury. After seven years of successful farming and dairying the farm was sold and the family moved to the town. Here the family lived six years, or until a new and larger home was built. In 1872 the new house on Ord Street was occupied, the father dy- ing there ten years later, and the mother residing there till her death, over forty years after its occupancy. Here, at different times and with different partners, he was engaged in merchandis- ing, manufacturing shooks, " droving," and banking. He and Ja- cob D. Livengood opened the first bank in Salisbury. This was a private bank, and because of the ill health of the senior member was closed in 1879.
Brother Keim and Elder Joel Gnagey were called to the min- istry about the year 1862. In church activities he was always among the foremost. He was an early advocate and ardent sup- porter of Sunday-schools and social and prayer meetings. He kept open house, and his generous hospitality was enjoyed by rich and poor alike, and never was any one in need of food, lodging or clothing known to be turned away empty. After his death the mother continued this ministry, and only in advanced age, when compelled to do so, did she fail to "minister to the necessity of the saints." Many a preacher has remembered a visit in that home.
Brother Keim was always forward in providing for the edu- cation of the masses. He served as school director, was deeply and carefully interested in the selection of suitable teachers, and in several instances rendered material aid to young men in ob- taining a higher and professional education. He was often heard to remark that he would rather give his children a good education than to leave them material inheritance.
Every effort to encourage schools among the Brethren met his approval and support. Though always progressive in busi- ness and the Lord's work, he clung to the middle of the road theory during the disturbance of the early eighties and kept him- self in the love of Jesus. When the Plum Creek Normal was opened at Elderton, Pennsylvania, he sent two of his sons and encouraged two others to attend. When Brother Zuck opened the ' Brethren Normal School at Huntingdon, his sons were among
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the early students. He supported the school financially and en- couraged others to do so.
This very active and successful career was cut short in the middle of life. At the age of forty-six, just as his children were needing him most, he was cut down. After four years of suffering from the effects of an internal injury received while leading a horse at the halter and being jerked; and after spending a large sum of money in seeking the best medical skill, in the very prime of life he fell asleep, March 10, 1882, and was laid to rest in the old Livengood-Keim family graveyard on the farm where he began housekeeping, and where his father and grandfather are awaiting the resurrection of the just. Here now repose the remains of four or five generations of the Keims.
His family life was a joy to him, and he always seemed young when among his children. The oldest son, Richard, died in 1875, at the age of seventeen, soon after his return from attending the Plum Creek Normal. A little more than a year after the father's death, the oldest daughter, Libbie, came home sick from the Hunt- ingdon Normal, and died July 2, 1883.
The mother, left to rear her family alone, undertook the work with Christian fortitude. All the children were baptized into the Church of the Brethren and were faithful in their care for their mother to the very last. Mother Keim died July 20, 1912, at the age of 75, and was borne to the grave by her six sons.
JAMES KELSO.
As nearly as can be ascertained Brother Kelso moved from Western Maryland to Fayette County about the year 1824. He was then a minister in the second degree. While residing in the Georges Creek congregation he was ordained to the eldership. This was in 1854. He was rather an able and active preacher, and his sermons were uplifting and instructive. His good judg- ment made him a wise and helpful counselor. He was born in 1788.
. He labored in this congregation until about 1861, when he re- moved to the Elk Lick congregation, where he made his home with his son, Jonathan, the remainder of his life. As old age came on he was much afflicted with asthma.
I quote from his obituary: "Elder James Kelso, Sr., died February 1, 1867, aged 79 years and 15 days. He was elected to the ministry at the age of twenty-eight years and ten months. He was ordained in the year 1854. Few of the brethren have traveled more extensively and have labored more zealously for the cause of their Master than he. He was a member more than
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fifty years. The latter part of his life was spent in reading, medi- tation and prayer. He died of a pain in his left side which he contracted while on a tour to the State of Ohio, some thirty years ago. He was never entirely rid of said pain until it terminated in his death. Funeral services by Elder C. G. Lint." He is buried in a marked grave in the Peter Livengood graveyard.
Three of his sons were ministers: 1. Jacob Kelso, a school- teacher in Elk Lick Township. He married Eliza Lichty, daughter of Peter Lichty. He afterward moved to Armstrong County, where he assisted Brother Lewis Kimmel in organizing the first Sunday-school at Plum Creek, in 1860. There he was elected to the ministry in 1865, and in 1878 he moved to Beatrice, Nebraska.
2. Jonathan Kelso, who married Susannah Lichty, 'daughter of Elder Jacob Lichty. After her death he married William Hor- ner's widow. He was an elder in the Elk Lick congregation, and was first elder of the new Elk Lick congregation. He moved West in 1886. He moved first to Kansas, then to near Carleton, Ne- braska, where he died in 1906, in his 83d year.
3. Joseph Kelso, who was elected to the ministry after he moved West.
LEWIS KIMMEL.
Lewis Kimmel was born October 19, 1836, near Derry, West- moreland County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Tobias and Barbara (Breniser) Kimmel, both members of the Church of the Brethren. They were of German descent. His chances for an education were not the best. He gave "the one thing needful" his early attention, being baptized at the age of eighteen, in Crooked Creek, near Cockern's Mill, by Elder Shumaker.
He was married to Elizabeth Wells, daughter of Levi Wells, September 22, 1859, by Elder James Quinter. His parents moved from Westmoreland County to Armstrong County when Lewis was only four years old. He lived within a mile of Plum Creek church the remainder of his life.
He was called to the ministry in the old Cowanshannock congregation, in 1858, when only twenty-two years of age and still a single man. When the Plum Creek church was organized he became its first minister. After his ordination to the eldership, in 1872, he had the oversight of two congregations for some years.
In his younger years he held a number of series of meet- ings with good success. His ministerial duties called him away from home a great deal. He also attended the Annual and District Conferences in his younger years, and frequently represented his congregation in District Meeting. He represented the Western
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Elder Lewis Kimmel.
District of Pennsylvania on the Standing Committee at Lanark, Illinois, in 1880.
He was a strong advocate of Sunday-schools. In harmony with his stand on this question, we find him and J. Kelso opening a Sunday-school at the Plum Creek church as early as 1860. He always was a regular attendant at Sunday-school and church serv- ices.
He was a liberal contributor to missionary work. He also gave considerable of his time to the same, being chosen a mem- ber of the first Mission Board of the District in 1872. His school work will be taken up in another chapter.
He died within a mile of where he was reared, Aguust 7, 1907, aged 70 years, 9 months, and 18 days, and is buried in the Breth- ren cemetery.
HARVEY H. KIMMEL.
Tradition says that many years ago seven brothers by the name of Kimmel emigrated from the Fatherland to England, and later to America, and that all the Kimmels in the States are de- scendants of these brothers. Somerset County is fortunate in hav- ing a very large share of these descendants.
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Samuel A. Meyers. Harvey H. Kimmel.
John M. Kimmel and Elizabeth Miller were married many years ago and were among the substantial citizens of Jefferson Township, and he was an active deacon in the Middle Creek con- gregation.
Their son, Harvey H. Kimmel, was born in Jefferson Town- ship, Somerset County, April 2, 1862, was reared on the farm, and has since followed farming. His public school education was sup- plemented by attendance at the County Normals, and he taught nine terms in the schools of the county.
Brother Kimmel was married to Miss Nora Will, daughter of J. K. and Sarah (Hunter) Will, in 1886, and to this union were born Charles M., residing in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and a faith- ful deacon in the Morrellville church; Nina, married to Brooks Horner; and John J.
At the age of seventeen Brother Kimmel united with the church, being baptized by Elder Solomon Bucklew. He was called to the deacon office in 1898, to the ministry in 1900, and advanced in 1901, all in the Middle Creek congregation, where he now la- bors. He is an active Sunday-school worker, having been super- intendent and teacher. He served his township as auditor six years.
A. R. KITCHEN.
The subject of this brief sketch was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, May 8, 1858, and is a son of John D. and Rachel (Bonewell) Kitchen. Brother Kitchen was united in marriage to Miss Thurssey J. Montgomery May 25, 1879, in Clearfield. In the Glen Hope (now Chess Creek) congregation he was called to the
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A. R. Kitchen. Four Generations of the Kitchen Family.
ministry about 1895, Elders Jacob Holsopple and Harvey Beer officiating. He has been a member of the church some twenty years. He is the only resident minister in the Chess Creek con- gregation.
CHARLES S. KNAVEL.
Charles S. Knavel, son of Samuel and Susan (Statler) Knavel, was born in Paint Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, July 23, 1882. He was reared on the farm and attended the Rummel public school. Having a thirst for knowledge above what the pub- lic schools could supply he attended a number of terms of local normal school and qualified himself to teach. His teaching has been done in Paint Township and adjacent boroughs. He holds a State permanent certificate and is now teaching his sixteenth term of winter school. He has also taught normal school.
His father's family was made up of the following children: Elmer, Harvey, Charles S., Edgar and Mary. His father was a deacon, as are his three brothers, his uncle, Jacob C., and his cousin, Samuel W. Brother Charles was elected to the ministry in the Shade Creek congregation June 19, 1906. He was united in marriage to Sister Abbie Foust, daughter of Deacon Jacob E. and Fannie (Berkebile) Foust, September 25, 1904. One child, Richard, blesses the union. Brother Knavel was baptized Sep- tember 18, 1901. He is an active Sunday-school worker in addition to his church and school work.
(Portrait on Page 183.)
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Elder Peter Knavel.
PETER KNAVEL.
Peter Knavel, oldest son of Jacob and Hannah . (Berkey) Knavel, was born in West Taylor Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1848. He was reared on his father's farm, and given the ordinary school advantages of his day. There were no Sunday-schools when he was growing to manhood, yet he gave his heart to God at the age of fifteen, being baptized in the Conemaugh congregation.
When he was eighteen years of age, in 1866, his father moved to Paint Township, Somerset County, on a farm near the Berkey meetinghouse. Brother Knavel was united in marriage to Miss Maria Blough, daughter of Yost Blough. Besides being a farmer he followed contracting and building many years, erecting many houses and barns in the community. After the death of his wife he made his home in Paint Borough.
In June, 1870, he was called to the deaconship in the Shade Creek congregation. In 1874 he was elected to the ministry and June 10, 1902, he was ordained to the eldership. He served in that capacity in the same congregation till the division into two
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congregations in 1912, when he became the senior elder of the newly organized congregation, Scalp Level. Elder Knavel is active and energetic in his preaching and general church work and has traveled extensively, having made five trips to the Pacific coast, and spent considerable time in Southern California with his daugh- ters.
He is a regular attendant at our District Meetings, frequently acting as delegate. He has also attended a number of Annual Conferences.
SOLOMON KNEPPER.
Solomon Knepper, son of John and Elizabeth (Stahl) Knep- per, was born near Berlin, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, De- cember 11, 1820, and died at his home, two and one-half miles south of Berlin, February 17, 1854, aged 33 years, 2 months and 6 days. His parents were Pennsylvania Dutch, but were undoubt- edly. of German descent. They were farmers and Solomon was reared a farmer. He received his education in the private schools of his day and Berlin Academy, and specimens of his penman- ship, still in existence, are hard to equal, both in style and beauty. He taught school in the winter and farmed in the summer.
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