USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania > Part 34
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He was married to Louisa Blocher, in 1866, by Elias Weitzell. When and where he was called to the ministry is not stated. He was a Sunday-school worker. Brother Merrill was consid- ered an able preacher in his day, and he was much loved and highly esteemed by all who knew him. For some years he lived in Salisbury, Pennsylvania, and assisted in the work. He also labored at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and other places and did mis- sionary work in Hampshire County, West Virginia. He held some series of meetings. He died in Greensburg, about 1893, and is buried there.
WILLIAM S. MEYERS.
William S. Meyers was born at Berlin, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1831. He was the third son of Samuel and Maggie Meyers. Eight children were in this family.
William S. was at home helping his father on the farm until twenty-three years of age. On September 7, 1851, he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Peter Miller. In October he and his wife, newly married, were baptized.
In March, 1854, he purchased a farm in Milford Township, Somerset County, and moved thereon, where he still resides, with his youngest son, Mahlon J. This is in the Middle Creek congregation. To this union were born nine children; viz., Jo- seph W., a deacon, residing on an adjoining farm; Susan and Mary, deceased; Samuel J., residing on a farm at Milledgeville. Illinois; Maggie, now deceased, was the wife of Madison Brough- er; Annie, married to J. W. Hostettler; Mahlon J., also a deacon, with whom he now resides; Sadie, married to Cyrus Bitner, liv- ing at Garrett; and Lizzie, deceased. All but Mary, who died at
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AGE 80
AGE 3 5
W.S. MEYERS
W. S. Meyers.
three years of age, united with the Church of the Brethren. Eliz- abeth, his wife, died March 14, 1906, in her seventy-fifth year. Brother Meyers has now twenty-eight grandchildren and twenty- five great-grandchildren.
Brother Meyers was elected to the deacon office in 1855, and in 1867 he was called to the ministry, all in the Middle Creek con- gregation. He has lived to see many changes in his home con- gregation and in the Brotherhood at large. He is now almost eighty-five years old and is enjoying reasonably good health. Four grandsons have been elected to the ministry; one of these has been ordained to the eldership, and a fifth has been elected to the deacon office.
Written by his eldest grandson, W. H. Meyers, by request of the subject of this sketch.
FRANK L. MEYERS.
Frank L. Meyers, son of Brother Noah and Sister Elizabeth (Lohr) Meyers, was born in Upper Yoder Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, June 25, 1873. He was reared on the farm and attended the Stutzman public school, where he received a good common school education. In 1890 he began teaching school. Having a desire for a better education he entered Juniata Col- lege, where he spent about four years, graduating in 1894.
In September, 1898, he and Miss Annie Strayer were united in marriage, Dr. C. C. Ellis, of Juniata College, officiating. December 28, 1899, he and C. A. McDowell were called to the
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ministry of the newly organized West Johnstown congregation He taught in the Kernville Hill and Woodvale schools a number of years. He was a successful teacher and entered upon his ministerial duties with commendable zeal, and bid fair to be- come a useful minister, when death claimed him August 25, 1901, aged 28 years and 2 months. He was laid to rest in Grand View cemetery. The large number of people that attended his funeral and followed his remains to the cemetery was proof of the high esteem in which he was held.
SAMUEL A. MEYERS.
Samuel A. Meyers was born in the Middle Creek congrega- tion, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1887. He is the youngest of the three sons and three daughters of Deacon Jo- seph W. and Elizabeth Meyers. He was reared on the farm and was given good educational advantages. He taught in the pub- lic schools of Milford Township during the winter and worked on his father's farm during the summer until the winter of 1914-15, when he spent one term in Bethany Bible School, of Chicago, Illinois.
He was baptized in the spring of 1899 by Elder Silas Hoover. On August 17, 1910, he was united in marriage to Sister Mary M. Walker, daughter of Elder D. H. Walker. Brother Meyers was elected to the ministry in the Middle Creek congregation, on May 20, 1911, and forwarded to the second degree on August 30, 1913. He labors in the same congregation.
(Portrait on Page 445.) THOMAS B. MICKEL.
T. B. Mickel was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1871, and was one of a family of thirteen children. He was reared on the farm, worked some at the carpenter trade, then returned to the farm.
He was married to Miss Annie M. Blackburn February 25, 1892. To this union were born four children, three of whom are living; namely, Raymond, a student at Juniata College, Verna and Ruth, at home.
Brother Mickel was born into the fold of Christ in 1893, was elected to the ministry March 16, 1901, advanced to the second degree October 28, 1905, and ordained to the eldership September 10, 1915, all in the Holsinger house of the Dunnings Creek congre- gation. He is one of the present elders of that church.
JACOB D. MILLER.
Jacob D. Miller was born June 6, 1809, among the hills, near Meyersdale, in the Elk Lick congregation, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and died at the home of his son, C. J. Miller, near
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Jacob D. Miller.
Somerset, on March 17, 1896, after an illness of eight weeks, at the ripe old age of 86 years, 9 months and 11 days. He was the oldest of a family of eleven children-six sons and five daugh- ters.
He was married to Miss Barbara Saylor, also of Elk Lick, and in their marriage they were blessed with eleven children- seven sons and four daughters. All but one of the children became members of the Church of the Brethren, of which church both Brother and Sister Miller became members shortly after their marriage.
As it was common in those days for young men to learn some trade besides farming, Elder Miller was a wagonmaker. In 1847 he sold his farm and stock near Elk Lick, and bought a farm of 600 acres one mile from Somerset. On this farm, known as the Charles Ogle farm, he, with his faithful companion, reared his children to manhood and womanhood.
In 1854 Brother Miller and his oldest son, Edward, were elected to the ministry at the same time, in the Middle Creek congregation. Here he served the church faithfully as a minis- ter in the second degree until the end of his life. He was not a
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fluent speaker, but was a faithful and earnest worker in the cause of Christ, filling the pulpit to the best of his ability, and fre- quently preaching in the German language. As a counselor and promoter of peace he will long be remembered in the large congregation, out from which so many members moved to the West.
In 1856 he donated the plot of ground where a churchhouse was built and dedicated to the services of God, and where meet- ings were held instead of in the homes of the Brethren, as was then the custom. This house of worship was called the Fairview house, and was in use for many years. In the minds of many pleasant memories linger of the days when Brother and Sister Major preached to large audiences; also Elders D. P. Sayler, Graybill Meyers, John Wise, Joseph I. Cover and others.
In those days of civil strife in the nation, then of recon- struction, then of division within the church, causing great strain in family and church relationship all over the Brotherhood, West- ern Pennsylvania found great comfort in the sincerity and faith- fulness of loyal brethren like Jacob D. Miller.
JOHN B. MILLER.
John B. Miller, son of Jacob W. and Catharine (Walter) Mil- ler, was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1837. By oc- cupation he was a farmer, and his entire life. was spent in Bed- ford County, living, however, at several different places. After 1873 he lived either near or in New Paris. His early educa- tional facilities were poor, yet by close application he became a well read man, and an acceptable speaker.
January 6, 1859, he was married to Susannah E. Hoover, daughter of John P. Hoover. To this union were born three sons and three daughters. Sister Miller died in 1868. Some time after he married Elizabeth Furry, widow of John B. Furry, and daughter of Daniel Snowberger. His second wife died July 12, 1905.
He united with the church in his young days (1856), and for six years served the church in the capacity of deacon. January 15, 1871, he was elected to the ministry, in 1875 he was advanced to the second degree of the ministry, and June 8, 1895, he was or- dained to the eldership.
Elder Miller was a man of good judgment and was the means of winning souls for the kingdom. In his earlier years in the ministry he held a number of series of meetings in Pennsylvania and other States. He traveled from ocean to ocean. He attend- ed many Annual Conferences as delegate, the last one being at York, in 1912. He was agent for our church publications from
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Elder John B. Miller.
the Gospel Visitor to the Gospel Messenger, being agent until death. He was often called to preach funerals, for which he was peculiarly adapted. He was of a cheerful and somewhat jovial disposition, and was capable of bringing comfort and con- solation to saddened hearts. He also solemnized sixty-four mar- riages.
Elder Miller was of German ancestry, but he preached in English. The Lord prospered the labors of his hands, and he accumulated considerable of this world's goods, yet he counted himself only as steward over the things that God had entrusted to him, and was very liberal. He gave much of his time and means for the benefit of the church, and was always ready to help the poor. He often said that the Lord never prospered him till he became liberal with his means. He always was a member of the Dunnings Creek congregation, and was a strong pillar of the same. He was a strong believer in mission work, and served on the Home Mission Board one term, when he was well up in years. Many will remember his appeals for more liberal con- tributions to the mission funds, so as to be able to render as- sistance in the many needy fields.
He died October 9, 1912, aged 75 years, 5 months and 4
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days. Funeral services were conducted by his colaborer, Levi Rogers, assisted by Elder Levi Holsinger and Reverend Conly, of the Evangelical Church, in the church of the Brethren in New Paris, and interment was made in York cemetery.
Elder Perry U. Miller.
PERRY U. MILLER.
P. U. Miller, son of Peter C. and Rebecca Miller, was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1847. Being the son of a farmer, he spent his boyhood days on the farm.
The War of the Rebellion affected his school life very much. When fourteen years of age, his older brothers having enlisted in the army, he was deprived of all school advantages, and this continued for the next twelve years. At the age of twenty-six he again took his books and started to school. By his industry and perseverance he soon had a teachers' professional certificate. He began teaching in 1874 and taught twenty-five terms in the same school district.
While teaching he assisted in the organization of a read- ing circle, known as the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Cir- cle, from which he graduated in 1886.
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On the 7th of February, 1869, he was married to Elizabeth Walker, daughter of Daniel P. and Elizabeth Walker, Elder George Schrock officiating. He was baptized in 1871 by D. P. Walker. His Sunday-school life dates from about 1859. He still loves to labor in the Sunday-school in behalf of the children as well as for all who need help.
After having served faithfully as deacon in the Brothers Val- ley congregation, he was elected to the ministry on November 6, 1897. He was advanced to the second degree November 13, 1898, and ordained to the eldership August 23, 1908, by Elders Silas Hoover and S. P. Zimmerman.
DR. SAMUEL G. MILLER.
Samuel G. Miller was born near Livermore, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1831. He received a good common school education,
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Dr. Samuel G. Miller.
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and for two years he taught school. He attended an academic course at Glade Run Academy. At the age of twenty-two he studied medicine three years, and attended a course at Cleve- land (Ohio) Medical College. He began practicing medicine in 1854, and practiced nine years, then went back to the same col- lege, took another course, and graduated. Then he moved to Bolivar, Westmoreland County, and has been practicing ever since.
Dr. Miller was married at the age of twenty-one. He was twice married. When a boy he united with the Methodist Church, and in 1855 he was licensed to preach in that denomination. When the Brethren began preaching at Bolivar, he became interested in their doctrine, and he and his wife united with the church in 1872, being among the earliest converts. In 1877 he was elected to the ministry in the Bolivar congregation, being the first resi- dent minister the congregation had.
He lived at different times in Scalp Level, Ligonier Valley, Johnstown, and other places, and is now living at Livermore, Pennsyvania, at the age of 84 years. Dr. Miller was considered a trustworthy and competent physician, and a well-informed preach- er, but for a number of years has done very little preaching, as he has been living somewhat isolated from any of our churches. Last fall, at a love feast at Bolivar, he declined to assist in the services, feeling the weight of years. A few more years, at the best, and Brother Miller will attend no more earthly communions.
JOHN W. MILLS.
John W. Mills, son of William W. and Barbara Mills, was born in Franklin Borough, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. He received part of his education in the public schools of that bor- ough. As a boy he was delighted to spend his summers on the farm. At fourteen he learned the trade of wire drawing, at which he made good progress. While working in the wire mill the great flood of 1889 rolled in upon the town, and in it Brother Mills lost his dear father.
This left a sorrowing mother, four sisters and a little baby brother, who was too young to have any recollection of his father. In those days of sorrow Brother Mills realized what re- sponsibilities rested upon him. Though young in years, he was the only support of the family. Many a time he wept when he re- flected upon his responsibility. He loved his mother, sisters and little brother more than tongue can express. The wire mill in which he had worked had been swept away by the flood, so he had to seek elsewhere for a job. He secured employment in
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John W. Mills and Wife.
the Conemaugh engine house, where he labored a number of years, giving all his earnings to his mother until he was twenty- two years of age.
He was a member of the United Evangelical Church, of which his mother, sisters and brother are still members. On October 3, 1893, he married Lizzie, daughter of Elder Abraham Fyock. He attended the services of the Church of the Brethren, became much interested in the church and her doctrines and finally decided to become a member, and was baptized one evening after services, m a stream. After being in the church six or seven months he was elected to the ministry, June 29, 1905, in the Johnstown con- gregation.
At this time he was running a locomotive for the Cambria Steel Company. When Sister Mills, who had been at the council, informed him of his election he was at first inclined to treat it as a joke. After serious reflection he decided not to heed the call. Sickness entered their home and fastened itself upon their baby. The child grew worse. A physician was called. He could not
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help the child, and gave it up to die, saying it could not live more than a few hours. His mother came into the home and stated how she had prayed the Father in regard to the child, and further asserted that if he would heed the call of God through the church, the child would get well. In tears he decided he would try to preach the Gospel. From that time the child began to thrive and is living today. Remember, reader, God will find us some way when we refuse to heed his call.
He changed from locomotive engineer to locomotive machin- ist, working seven days a week, and trying to do some preach- ing along with his work. Believing it wrong to work on Sunday, he and his foreman had a consultation on the matter. As it was difficult to get men to work on holidays, Brother Mills offered to work on all holidays, providing he did not need to work on the Lord's Day. The offer was accepted. That was a happy day for Brother Mills. He enjoyed being free on Sundays. It is not strange that he learned to preach.
Again there came a test. In 1914 the members of the Mor- rellville church of the West Johnstown congregation extended a call for him to become their pastor. The burden lay heavily upon him. He remembered Elisha, and decided that if God could use a man from the plow he could use a man from the mill. They moved to Morrellville and began the work February 3, 1914. God has wonderfully blessed their work. The church and Sunday- school attendance has increased very much. The Sunday-school became Front Line the first year. The membership has very materi- ally enlarged.
Brother Mills has held some successful series of meetings. In three protracted efforts nearly threescore persons united with the church. Brother Mills has represented his church at the va- rious meetings of the District as well as at Annual Conference.
JOHN MINEELY.
John Mineely was born in Ireland in 1783. His parents were members of the Presbyterian Church. He came to America when he was but eighteen years of age in order to escape military serv- ice. He had a bright intellect, and became a school-teacher of note, teaching in both the English and German languages. He taught school for a number of years.
He married Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of Elder Peter and Margaret (Groos) Morgan, October 6, 1809. Their children were:' Peter, who married an Irish Catholic lady; Jacob, who married a Miss Arthurs; John, who married Susan Custer; Peggy, who married Jacob Giffin, into whose possession the Mineely farm
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came; Hannah, who was married to a Mr. Ling; Susan and Mary, who were never married. After marriage he farmed his father-in-law's farm on the Wertz Hill for three or four years, after which he moved to a farm above Conemaugh, afterward called Mineely Hill, then Giffin Hill, now Locust Grove. Here he reared his family and lived while he did his church work in the Conemaugh and surrounding congregations. He died June 2, 1852, after an illness of eight or nine weeks, aged nearly 69 years, and is buried on his farm.
We do not know when he was elected to the ministry, but in his ministerial labors he was contemporary with Elders Jacob Stutzman, Levi Roberts and Samuel Lidy, and probably not a whit behind any of them in ability and zeal for the cause of the Master. He was the first minister in all these parts to wear a full beard. He dressed plainly and was a very consistent member of the church. His services were in demand as far as he was known. He traveled much among the churches of Bedford, Indiana, Armstrong, Somerset, Cambria and other Counties. He was not a large man physically, but strong and had a powerful voice. He preached earnestly, fluently and in a plain, simple manner. He often walked long distances to preach. He never carried a gun to defend himself, because he believed that God would defend him while in the discharge of his Christian duties. It is said that once as he was walking along a road through some woods, he looked ahead and saw what he thought was a large dog driving some cattle. When he got nearer he found that it was a pan- ther, which crouched down in a position to spring upon him. Having no weapon with him to defend himself, he just stood still and stared the panther straight in the eyes for a while, when it ran into the thicket. He stood still to see the salvation of the Lord, and was safe. He was a man of great courage and deter- mination. Three of his children, Peggy, John and Susan, became members of the Church of the Brethren. He tied so many nuptial knots that his youngest two daughters witnessed, that one of them on one occasion said that she could do it as well as her father, if he was not at home.
We here give a copy of his naturalization papers, which we believe will prove interesting to coming generations.
Naturalization Papers of John Mineely.
"BE IT REMEMBERED, THAT at a Court of Common Pleas, held at Ebensburg, for the County of Cambria, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States of America, on the first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, John Mineely, a native of Ireland,
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exhibited a petition, praying to be admitted to become a CITI- ZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, and it appearing to the said court that he had declared on affirmation before same court on the third day of October, A. D. 1831, that it was bona fide his in- tention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of whom he was at that time a subject; and the said John Mineely, having on his solemn affirmation declared and also made proof thereof by competent testimony of Daniel Huber and Robert P. Linton, Esq., citizens of the United States, he had resided one year and upwards within the State of Pennsylvania, and within the United States of America, upwards of five years immediately preceding his ap- plication; and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court, that during that time he had behaved as a man of good moral char- acter; attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same; and having declared on his solemn affirmation before the said court, that he would support the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, and that he did absolutely and entirely re- nounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state and sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of whom he was before a subject, and thereupon the court ad- mitted the said John Mineely to become a CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, and ordered all the proceedings aforesaid to be recorded by the prothonotary of the said court, which was done accordingly.
" In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court at Ebensburg, this ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty- four and of the SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE of the United States of America, the Fifty-ninth.
" A. Bausman, Prothonotary."
MARK MINSER.
David Minser, of Dutch parentage, whose ancestors came to America from Holland, settled in the western part of Pennsyl- vania. He was married to Mary Howe, whose parents came from Germany. Her father was a near relative of General Howe, of Revolutionary times. These were the parents of fourteen chil- dren, ten sons and four daughters. Ten of these were older than Mark, our subject, who was born near Harmony, in Butler Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1828.
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Elder Mark Minser and Wife.
His father, who depended on day labor to maintain his large family, could well spare little Mark, seven years old, to his grand- mother, when his mother died. The little boy delighted to make himself useful by rendering such services as he could to his grandparent. Not the least of these services was reading the Bible for her. This was Mark's first opportunity of training for a life devoted to the Master, and was an indispensable help to the woman, now almost blind.
After Mark's grandmother died there was no place he could call home, until he was married December 31, 1851, to Elizabeth Standley, of near New Castle, Pennsylvania, who assisted him in erecting a home of their own. Of the ten children born to this union nine were brought up to maturity; five sons and four daughters. One son died in infancy.
Elder Minser started out in life with no capital but an abundance of will power. His great desire was for an education,
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though the only opportunity for gratifying this desire was the private school. His Bible was his mainstay and principal Text- book. This he diligently studied. The financial side of his life was a hard problem to solve, he working in the lumber business. He also was a plasterer by trade. Assisted by his faithful wife, he worked out a living for their nine children.
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