USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania > Part 39
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He was united in marriage to Sallie Ann Whitacre, daughter of Robert Whitacre, May 17, 1866, by Alexander Jewart, J. P. The first five years after marriage they lived in the above-named coun- ty. After that he purchased a house and lot in Indiana County, where he carried on a harness and shoemaking establishment. About eight years later he bought a small tract of land, and farmed some in summer and worked at his trade in winter. One son was born into the home, but he died in infancy.
Isaac and his brother, Caleb, were baptized at a June love feast at the old Manor church when the former was about thirty years of age. He served the church in the capacity of deacon for some years, and June 23, 1882, he was elected to the ministry, and advanced to the second degree June 16, 1883. He labored in the Manor congregation until 1890, when he moved to Armstrong County to take charge of the Cowanshannock church, and was installed its pastor by Elder J. C. Johnson. Here he labored until March 14, 1893, when he moved back again to the Manor church, and took his turns in filling the pulpit at Crooked Creek, Pur- chase Line and old Manor. His health was now failing, so he could do but very little, having had one hemorrhage during the summer.
He attended one term of Juniata Bible study. This put new energy and zeal into him, but he felt that he had not gone early enough. He was active in church and Sunday-school work. His mode of travel was usually on foot.
A short time before his death he walked to the old Manor church, a distance of eight miles, to preach and teach a Sunday- school class of twelve. He also had a class at Crooked Creek, and in order to teach it in the afternoon he walked back without din- ner. He had not much more than begun his best ministerial work when the Master called him up higher. He is not known to have made a disappointment. The weather was all right at all times. Sunday-school was his specialty.
He died September 16, 1893, aged 49 years, 7 months and 10 days. Funeral at Crooked Creek, a ten-minute walk from his resi- dence. Elders Mark Minser and Joseph Holsopple officiated, as- sisted by others. Interment was made at the same place.
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WILLIAM SEVITS.
William Sevits was born (1812) and reared in Stony Creek Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. He was a son of Ben- jamin and Catharine Sevits. He was brought up in the faith of the United Brethren Church. At the age of twenty-three (1835) he was married to Barbara Miller. They united with the church and in the course of some years he was called (probably in the fifties) to the ministry in the old Berlin church. In 1880 he and George Schrock were ordained to the full ministry.
Being a man that appreciated his home very much he never traveled much outside of his home congregation. He was a faith- ful home preacher, and had a deep concern for the welfare of the church. He was contemporary with Elders Jacob Blough, John P. Cober, Daniel P. Walker, and George Schrock, for whom he had a great attachment. Indeed, it is said that his attachment to Elder Blough was so great that he asked to be buried side by side with him in the Blough-Forney cemetery, in preference to being buried in a church cemetery. And so the two old elders who labored so faithfully and peaceably together for so many years, with their faithful companions, are sleeping their long sleep side by side, in a country graveyard, on a beautiful rise, on the edge of a nice woods, about a mile from the old Grove meetinghouse, where was the center of their church activities. Elder John Forney's body sleeps in the same cemetery. These old pioneers of the cross labored and built better than they knew. Today we are reaping the fruits of their labors. Elder Sevits died in 1889, at the age of 77 years. Funeral services were conducted by Elder D. H. Walker.
DANIEL D. SHAFFER.
Daniel D. Shaffer, fifth son of Deacon David J. and Rachel (Holsopple) Shaffer, was born where the town of Windber is now located, in Paint Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 8, 1868.
He was reared on the farm, but his father also operated a sawmill and planing-mill, and many of Daniel's younger days were passed in the woods and in the mill. Being naturally some- what of a genius, he enjoyed working about machinery. He also learned the carpenter trade. As there was always much work dur- ing the winter he received only an ordinary common school edu- cation, though he was a diligent pupil when in school.
May 7, 1889, he was married to Miss Marilla Grush. To this union were born six children. A year or two after their marriage both united with the church, and in 1893 he, with James F. Ream and J. J. Shaffer, was called to the ministry. Brother Shaffer
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was a close student of the Scriptures, and took up the work of the ministry with commendable zeal, preaching not only from the pul- pit, but privately he made use of every opportunity to persuade men to lead a Christian life. . By nature he was kind and gener- ous, ever ready to help others. His mother, who is an octo- genarian, put it this way: "Daniel was always a good boy."
While working at his trade he had a fall from a building, from which he never fully recovered. His mind also was somewhat affected. He died December 6, 1900, aged only 32 years, 9 months and 28 days. He is buried in the Berkey cemetery.
DANIEL E. SHAFFER.
The subject of this brief sketch was born in Thornton, West Virginia, April 5, 1866, and has lived practically all his life in West Virginia. His parents' names were J. P. and Elizabeth Shaffer. The father is dead. Brother Shaffer's education was confined to the public schools.
Brother Shaffer has buried two wives and is married the third time. Five children have come to bless his home, of which num- ber three are deceased.
In his early church life he was affiliated with the Methodists and the U. B. Church. He was baptized into the Mount Union church of the Brethren at Morgantown, West Virginia, October 12, 1912, and in February, 1913, he was elected to the ministry, and advanced to second degree in 1915. Brother Shaffer has re- sided in Morgantown the past five years. He is affiliated with the various auxiliaries of the church.
JOSEPH J. SHAFFER.
Joseph J. Shaffer was born and reared on a farm in the Shade Creek congregation, two miles east of Hooversville, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Deacon Hiram and Frances (Berkebile) Shaffer. Joseph early manifested a desire for an education. By means of the Summer Normals he fitted him- self for teaching. He united with the church at the age of four- teen, and on July 4, 1893, when twenty years of age, he was called to the ministry in the Shade Creek congregation. After his call to the ministry he attended Juniata College, graduating in the nor- mal English course in 1896. He took some postgraduate work in 1897. All these years he took special Bible study.
While in college he did some preaching at Tyrone, Warriors Mark and Ardenheim, of which Prof. Swigart had charge. In the autumn of 1898 he accepted the pastorate of the Coventry church, the second oldest church in America, being the first pastor of that church. After a year at Coventry he returned to the Shade con-
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gregation and was principal of the Windber schools two years. During this period he also preached for the Shade Creek congre- gation. It was also during this period that he and Miss Clara Grace Reiman, daughter of Elder S. F. Reiman, of Brothers Val- ley, were married.
After residing a short while in Hooversville they located on a farm near Berlin, in the Brothers Valley congregation. He was called to be the first pastor of the Shade Creek congregation, serving from March 2, 1907, to April 6, 1909. While here he was ordained to the eldership in 1908. Since 1909 they have lived in their present home. Here December 7, 1913, sadly, unfortunately, and unexpectedly his companion, who was his good colaborer in the Lord's work, was called away by death, leaving tliree sons and three daughters. In June, 1915, he was married to Elizabeth Reiman, his former companion's sister.
Beginning with 1896, Elder Shaffer has done extensive evan- gelistic work, and when not engaged in pastoral work he held as many series of meetings a year as he could-one year as many as eight. His evangelistic work was done in Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland and Iowa. Through his efforts many were brought into the church-as many as 100 in one year. He held thirty series of meetings in and around Morrison's Cove. At some points he held the third meeting and has been asked to return.
Elder Shaffer is a regular attendant at all the various meetings of the District and frequently fills important offices of the same. His services have been much in demand as secretary. He repre- sented his District on the Standing Committee at the Harrison- burg, Virginia, and Seattle (Washington) Conferences. He has been a member of the Home Mission Board for a number of years, and eight years he was president of the same. He is at present president of the temperance committee of the District.
Several years he did much of the preaching in the Berlin con- gregation, having had charge of the congregation in 1911 and 1912. He is now assistant elder of the Markleysburg congregation.
LEWIS G. SHAFFER.
Professor L. G. Shaffer was born near Hooversville, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1877. His parents are Gillian and Caroline Shaffer. His mother's maiden name was Caroline Berkey, daughter of Elder Joseph Berkey, one of the early minis- ters of the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Brother Shaffer shared with his four brothers and seven sis- ters the hardships of early life on the farm, and attended the pub-
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Prof. Lewis G. Shaffer, Wife and Child.
lic schools in the winter. He was the first pupil to graduate from the common schools of Paint Township, graduating in 1894, receiv- ing his diploma from the county superintendent, Prof. J. M. Berkey. During the summer of 1894 he attended a select school, received his first teachers' certificate and began teaching, and has taught every term of school since, except the winter of 1898-99, when he was attending the Indiana State Normal School, from which institution he graduated with honors in 1899. He shared the honor with but one classmate in completing the three years' course of nine terms in but five terms.
Professor Shaffer has been a principal of schools in the city of Johnstown for twelve years, and is now head of the largest common schools in the city, where the attendance is 800 pupils.
Brother Shaffer was twice married. He married Miss Addie Hoffman, daughter of Brother Daniel and Sister Mary (Kauf- man) Hoffman, March 30, 1902. His first wife died June 13, 1904. On June 2, 1907, he married Miss Daisy M. Hoffman, a sister to
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his first wife. He was baptized when he was but eleven years old, in 1888, and on June 19, 1900, he was elected to the ministry in the Shade Creek congregation, and later advanced to the second degree. For a number of years he shared with the other minis- ters of the Shade Creek congregation in filling the pulpits of the home congregation.
When he moved to Johnstown to take up his school work, he was called on by the Windber church to do all the preaching there, which he did, twice each Sunday, for nearly three years, in connection with his principalship in the schools. He now is prin- cipal of the Meadowvale schools, Johnstown, of twenty-two teach- ers, teaches his classes during the day, as well as three nights of night school during the week, and preaches regularly in the Johns- town congregation.
SAMUEL U. SHOBER.
Samuel U. Shober, oldest son of George W. and Leah (Berk- ley) Shober, was born April 7, 1853, one mile west of Beachdale, Brothers Valley Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, He is a grandson of Jacob and Catharine (Cable) Shober, the former being of Swiss parentage.
George W. Shober was born in Berlin, Pennsylvania, Septem- ber 15, 1826, and when yet a small boy went with his parents to Armstrong County. When George was nine years old, his father, Jacob Shober, broke through and fell into a well and was drowned. After this George was cared for by Brother Tobias Kimmel until he was almost matured. He was educated in the subscription schools of his day and followed teaching. He also learned the fuller's trade. On January 25, 1852, he was married to Leah, daughter of Solomon and Catharine (Boyer) Berkley. G. W. Shober died June 15, 1897. His widow is still living at the ad- vanced age of eighty-three years.
Elder S. U. Shober obtained his intellectual training in the common schools of Brothers Valley Township, and Berlin Normal. At the age of fifteen he began teaching, and taught five winter terms. During the summer he assisted his father on the farm.
On September 26, 1872, he was married to Sarah Ellen Kim- mel, daughter of Daniel and Emeline (Landis) Kimmel, Elder Michael Weyand officiating. Miss Kimmel was born September 19, 1855. Both her parents were born in Stony Creek Township, in 1829, on May 22, and April 3, respectively, and were members of the Church of the Brethren. Brother Kimmel died February 20, 1902. Sister Kimmel still lives, and is in her eighty-seventh year.
A few years after his marriage Brother Shober bought a farm
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Elder Samuel U. Shober and Wife.
in Brothers Valley Township. After nine years he sold out and bought a farm in Somerset Township, and continued farming ever since. He is a representative citizen and progressive farmer. He has also held public positions, such as school director, county auditor three years, county commissioner six years, and other minor offices.
Elder Shober was partly reared in the Church of the Brethren, and partly in the Reformed Church, and at the age of sixteen, on Ascension Day, 1869, he was baptized by Elder Ephraim Cober, at Beachdale, with fifteen others. He was elected deacon in the Brothers Valley congregation, January 1, 1880, and, with his wife, installed the same day. On November 6, 1897, he was called to the ministry, and installed December 18, 1897. He was advanced to the second degree of the ministry, November 13, 1898, and or- dained to the eldership October 3, 1908, and is serving his con- gregation in the ministry at five different points, with the other ministers of the congregation. From 1908 to 1912 Elder Shober had the oversight of the Bolivar congregation; he was also a member of the District Mission Board some years.
DAVID F. SHUMAKER.
David F. Shumaker, son of Abraham and Mahala (Snyder) Shu- maker, was born in Meyersdale, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, December 9, 1858. His brothers and sisters are: Alex. E. (de- ceased), M. A., Henry J., Edward L. (deceased), Charles, Ellen (married U. M. Housel) and Amanda (Kneream) (deceased). The Shumakers trace their ancestry to Germany. His Grandmother Snyder, who was a Miss Nicholson, was of English descent. Broth-
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er Shumaker is an uncle of Sister Ida Shumaker, missionary to India. Elder Adam F. Snyder was his grandfather.
For thirty-one years Brother Shumaker was a miller by trade, operating in a number of the best mills in the southern part of Somerset County. On account of being apprenticed when young his education was much neglected. Meyersdale and vicinity was his home until 1906, when the family moved to Moxham, Johns- town, Pennsylvania, where they have since resided. For the past ten years he has been an employé of the Loraine Steel Company.
David F. Shumaker and Sister Emma J. Miller, daughter of Manasseh and Eliza (Lint) Miller, of Meyersdale, were united in marriage February 2, 1882. Sister Shumaker united with the church when fifteen years old and has always been an active member. Brother Shumaker became a member in October of 1887. While living at Rockwood, in the Middle Creek congregation, he was called to the deacon office in 1897. He was called to the ministry in the Johnstown congregation on June 2, 1910, and advanced July 23, 1913.
To Brother and Sister Shumaker were born the following children: Nellie Maud, who died at the age of twenty; Harvey W., and Gilbert A. The whole family is active in church and Sunday-school work. Both sons are deacons in the Johnstown congregation.
(Portrait on Page 177.)
JOSEPH SHUMAKER.
Joseph Shumaker, son of Philip and Elizabeth (Rose) Shu- maker, was born April 19, 1819. He was married to Catharine Baughman May 26, 1840. Their children were: Hannah, Isaac, David, Adam, Maria, Elizabeth, Solomon, Levi, Mary, an infant son, Daniel and John W. Joseph Shumaker died December 17, 1860, less than three months after his youngest son was born, at the age of 41 years, 8 months and 8 days. The oldest child, Han- nah, was but nineteen years of age. Thus the rearing of the family devolved largely on the widow, who lived till September 14, 1914, dying at the advanced age of 92 years, 6 months and 13 days. Brother Shumaker had but a very poor common school to go to for his education. The schoolhouse was a log structure.
He was elected to preach in 1841, when quite a young man. Here is a quotation from Elder Joseph Holsopple: "Joseph Shu- maker was gifted and a natural elocutionist. He was a model preacher and labored very acceptably, and was ordained to the eldership, but died in the early sixties of the past century. The writer remembers seeing him at a love feast in the Shade con-
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gregation in September, 1860. In the morning he preached from the first chapter of Hebrews, subject, 'The Dignity of the Son of God.' He seemed to select an individual in the rear of the audience and modulated his voice to reach him. So natural was his elocution that a certain young man afterwards remarked to me, 'The preacher talked to me all the time.' The early demise of Elder Shumaker was a great loss to the Red Bank congregation and also to the Brotherhood in general."
From a letter from his son, S. T. Shumaker, I quote: "I know this much, the Bible he carried to preach from was German and English, and I know he could read either language, as I often heard him. I think he preached as it suited his congregation, either German or English. I have been at quite a lot of places in Arm- strong County where he preached in farmhouses and barns, as there were no churches. My father gave his life for the church. He would ride horseback forty miles to a place called the Cherry Tree, where he preached. He called it The Wilderness. Father preached most every Sunday. He died young, but he got his sick- ness from exposure." Funeral preached by Elder John Good- man, from John 12: 26.
An interesting history of the Shumaker family might be writ- ten if we had the space. It is said that seven brothers came from Germany about 1770, and first settled in Virginia, presumably in Loudoun County. Their names were: John, Solomon, Adam, George, Simon, Samuel and Daniel. At least two of these broth- ers, John and George, moved to Western Pennsylvania. John set- tled in Westmoreland County about 1800 and George in Armstrong County near the same time. John married Mary Ann Baker, by whom he had two sons, John and Philip, and three daughters. George married Margaret Miller, and their children were: Isaac, John, Peter, Daniel, George, Jesse, Joseph, Catharine (Blocher), Margaret (Hind) and Hannah (Uncapher). Of these several were ministers.
ADAM F. SNYDER.
Adam F. Snyder was born in Upper Turkeyfoot Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and lived there all his life- time. His ancestors were from Virginia and were of German de- scent. He was a man of ordinary educational attainments and well read in the Scriptures. He first was a member of the Lutheran Church. Catharine Nicholson was born in Hagerstown, Mary- land, also in 1806. Her parents were members of the Church of the Brethren. These two young people were united in marriage and some time after both united with the church.
To this union were born three sons and six daughters. David
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united with the church at Belmont, Ohio, and is at present an ordained elder at Raisin, California. Franklin united with the church at Franklin Grove, Illinois, and is at present a deacon at that place. Alfred also was a deacon. His home was at Ashland, Ohio, where he died about a year ago. Of the daughters, Cath- arine, Sarah and Mahala (Mrs. Shumaker) are dead. Those liv- ing are Mrs. Elizabeth Berkley, of Somerset, Mrs. Annie Faidley, of Lincoln Township, Somerset County, and Mrs. Abbie Shultz, of Kingwood, Somerset County. All the daughters except one were members of the church. She was a member of the Church of God.
Sister Snyder died February 2, 1873. No dates are available, but Brother Snyder served the church successively as deacon, min- ister and elder. All his life was spent in the Middle Creek congre- gation. He was a farmer by occupation.
Here I quote from his obituary: "Adam F. Snyder died Feb- ruary 27, 1891, aged 85 years, 3 months and 23 days. He married Catharine Nicholson, August 30, 1830. He was elected to the min- istry about fifty years ago, and was an ordained elder twenty- eight years. His ministerial labors were principally confined to his own congregation. He was a strong advocate of the doctrines and principles of the Gospel, as understood by the Church of the Brethren, to which he was strongly attached. He once told a brother he would not leave the church, even if all the rest of the congregation would leave. Funeral services were conducted by Valentine Blough and G. W. Lowry." Interment in Mt. Zion cem- etery, about one mile from his residence.
JACOB P. SPEICHER.
"Jacob P. Speicher was born in Conemaugh Township, Som- erset County, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1818. He united with the church when quite a. young man, and was always faithful and earnest in his work as a Christian. He was married to Sallie Schrock when twenty-two years of age, and she was indeed his helpmate in all his church work, as well as a careful housekeeper.
" He was always ready to extend a helping hand wherever help was needed, and no one ever came to his door who was really in need that was turned away without the necessary aid. His life was always kind and considerate and his sympathy for others was great. His one great desire and prayer was to fulfil the law of Christ, and his mission seemed to be to find where worthy ones needed help, and render such aid as was in his power.
"Sometime in 1861 he was chosen deacon and was indeed an excellent one. But he held this important office only a few years, when he was elected to the ministry (1865), which position he held
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for nearly forty years until his death, in Somerset Township, No- vember 20, 1903, aged 85 years, 10 months and 17 days.
" His warning to his friends and brethren was always given with much charity, and his love for his fellow-man was very strong. It seemed to be his desire that all should be saved and that every one should be a follower of the great Master. His prayers were earnest intercessions for his fellow-beings, and admonitions to those around him were timely and to the point.
" He preached in the German language, and in his last years it was quite a treat to listen to his German sermons, because they were a rare thing in our community. He preached his last sermon in the Summit church about two years before his death. His wife lived a little more than five years, until she was laid by his side in the Sipesville cemetery."
On a large farm adjoining this Sipesville church and ceme- tery Brother Speicher had lived the greater part of his married life, and here his family grew to manhood and womanhood. His two sons are deacons and one son-in-law was a minister. His la- bors were principally in the Quemahoning church, that being his home church.
JOHN W. SPICHER.
John W. Spicher, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Wampler) Spicher, was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1829. In his father's family were two sons and five daughters. When John was quite small the entire family moved to Armstrong County, but did not remain here very long. The many acres of cheap land east of them attracted their attention, and they soon pushed their way east into the virgin pine forest, and settled in what is now Grant Township, Ind'ana County. With others that came with them they proceeded to build up homes for themselves. Here John W. labored with his father in clearing off land, so they could raise grain for their daily bread.
When grown to manhood he purchased a tract for himself, paying for it principally with timber that he cut from it and sold to the lumber markets on the Susquehanna River. On this farm which he had cleared out he lived the remainder of his days.
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