USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania > Part 4
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" The names adopted by the several branches were: 1. Berlin church, embracing the town of Berlin, the meetinghouse known as Peter Beeghly's (Schmaltz Thal), and the appoint- ment at Custer's. The officers were: Ministers, Dr. John P. Cober and H. R. Holsinger ; deacons, John J. Bittner, Jacob Musser, Joseph G. Coleman and Peter Beeghly, with a mem- bership of one hundred and fifty.
"2. Stony Creek church. The territory occupied by this congregation is bounded on the south by the Berlin church, on the east by Dunnings Creek, on the north by Shade, and on the west by Brothers Valley and Somerset churches. Josiah Kimmel, Abram J. Miller, and Joseph L. Kimmel were the deacons. There were no ministers, but a membership of about seventy-five, with two meetinghouses.
"3. Somerset church. This congregation is surrounded by Brothers Valley, Stony Creek, Quemahoning and Middle
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Creek churches. Michael Weyandt and Solomon J. Baer, ministers ; William N. Trent and Philip F. Cupp, deacons ; with a membership of about seventy-five, and one meeting- house.
"4. Brothers Valley. This congregation is bounded by the other three congregations, and Quemahoning on the north. Its officers were Elder Jacob Blough, George Schrock, William Sevits, and Daniel P. Walker, ministers; and Lewis J. Knep- per, William G. Schrock, John S. Meyers, and Samuel F. Reiman, deacons. It had a membership of about one hundred, and two houses of worship."
Garrett Church, Berlin Congregation.
The new congregation comprised parts of Brothers Val- ley and Summit Townships and the towns of Berlin and Garrett. This congregation was one of the centers of the Progressive element. January 1, 1881, John H. Knepper was called to the ministry, and as nearly as can be ascertained Brethren W. H. Cober and Alvin Cober were also elected be-
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fore the division was effected. In the division the Progres- sives took probably about half the membership. The Con- servatives held the meetinghouse at Peter Beeghly's, and their officials were Elder John P. Cober, minister, W. H. Cober, and Deacons Peter Beeghly and Joseph G. Coleman. Elder Cober reorganized the church and for a number years the preaching was done principally by the ministers from the Brothers Valley and Summit Mills congregations, jointly. In 1893 (March 23) Dr. R. T. Pollard moved into the congre- gation, and helped along with the ministerial duties.
In September, 1899, Warren W. Blough was elected to the ministry, and for a number of years did the preaching, being the partially supported pastor. Brother Daniel W. Long was elected in 1908, and accepted the call. Other brethren called to the ministry at different times, but who did not ac- cept the call of the church were: Jerome H. Judy, Lee W. Pollard, William L. Judy and William H. Miller. Since Elder Blough moved West in 1909, the pastoral work has been done, first, by Galen K. Walker; second, by J. J. Shaffer ; third, by Brethren Pollard and Long; fourth, by Elder D. H. Walker. April 1, 1915, the present pastor, B. F. Waltz, took up the work. Garrett now has preaching every Sunday and Beachdale every two weeks. Brother Long has moved into the Meyersdale congregation.
The following elders have had charge of the church ; John P. Cober, Joel Gnagey, R. T. Pollard, J. J. Shaffer (1911 and 1912), and R. T. Pollard again. Deacons have been elected as follows : Francis Brant, Levi Lee, Jerome H. Judy, Henry Yoder, Hiram Brant, William Cassel, John Long and John Fisher. In 1901 William H. Miller, a deacon, moved in from the Plum Creek congregation. With the exception of Francis Brant this is the present board of deacons.
The first Beachdale (Schmaltz Thal) meetinghouse was built many years ago. At different times two additions were built to it and in 1881. it was arranged suitable for love-feast purposes. In 1911 a fine new church, costing about $4,000, was erected to take the place of the old one. It was dedi-
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Beachdale Church, Berlin Congregation.
cated by J. H. Cassady, September 24, 1911. In 1895 a church was erected in Garrett, which was dedicated by Dr. Martin G. Brumbaugh, our present Governor. Thus the con- gregation now has two good meetinghouses, two live Sunday- schools, two weekly prayer meetings, two teacher training classes, and one Sewing Circle, with a membership of one hundred and fifty-eight. The church is in a fine working con- dition.
BOLIVAR CONGREGATION.
It would appear that Bolivar church was organized as a separate congregation about 1887. Elder George Hanawalt had the oversight of the church until 1900, when Joseph Hol- sopple received the appointment. In 1887, or a little later, Robert B. Bowser moved in, having been elected to the min- istry in the Brush Valley arm of the Glade Run congrega- tion. He was a fluent speaker, but somewhat capricious. When he came to Bolivar the members were captivated, and called him as pastor. He held a revival and baptized quite a number of converts, and seemed to be getting along nicely, when it was discovered that he had not been advanced to the
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second degree of the ministry and had not been authorized to baptize. A council was called and the case considered. It was found that old Brother Jacob Dell, a minister in the second degree, had been present at the baptism and had given his consent, and as the applicants had come forward in good faith, the council confirmed the work, and Brother Bowser was advanced to the second degree. After some more compli- cations, caused by Stephen Hildebrand, a Progressive min- ister, moving in and holding meetings, and baptizing a few people, Brother Bowser began to deride some of the principles of the church, and it became necessary for the church to call in some elders to see him. This resulted in his withdrawal and an effort to carry the membership with him to the Winebrennarians, the church to which his wife belonged. This was about 1891.
This left the work in bad shape. Elder Joseph Holsopple, who now had the oversight, met with partial success at recon- struction. Some of the officers, who had become weary, took hold of the work again. During all this time a fairly suc- cessful Sunday-school was maintained. Silas S. Blough faith- fully preached for them until he was called to the Pittsburgh Mission. This was the last years of the past century. After this Abraham Fyock, of Johnstown, Pa., took up the work. Elder Jonathan D. Myers, of Iowa, now moved in, and Elder Holsopple, being handicapped by bodily infirmities, after hold- ing an election for deacon, resigned. Elder Myers soon moved away, and the oversight devolved on Elder Abraham Fyock, who continued the pastorate. William Baird, in 1880, and Abraham Yager, in 1885, were elected deacons.
The deed for the church lot was made January 9, 1887, to Hiram Musselman, James Thompson, Michael Shetler and Jacob Dell. April 8, 1888, James Thompson and James I. Brett were elected deacons, and W. M. O'Leary, minister. October 3, 1891, Jacob Dell and A. D. Lichtenfels were elect- ed deacons. October 2, 1902, Elvin McGraw and W. J. Brendlinger were elected deacons, and on April 7, 1906, R. T. Brendlinger, and April 3, 1908, Chal D. Brendlinger, James
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N. Betts and Harry T. Montgomery were elected to the same office. In 1898 Michael Shetler was restored to the deacon of- fice. November 17, 1906, W. J. Brendlinger was elected to the ministry. April 1, 1911, C. A. McDowell became the pastor of the congregation, and was ordained to the elder- ship July 19, 1913, by W. M. Howe and J. J. Shaffer. David L. Little, who had been baptized here, moved to the Aughwick congregation, where he was elected to the ministry in 1910. He returned to the Bolivar congregation in 1912, and is now living at Vandergrift.
Elders had charge as follows: Joseph Berkey, from 1878 1886; George Hanawalt, from 1886 to 1900; Joseph to Holsopple, from 1900 to 1903; J. D. Meyers, from 1903 to 1904 ; Abraham Fyock, from 1904 to 1908; S. U. Shober, from 1908 to 1912; W. M. Howe, from 1912 to 1914, and H. S. Replogle, from 1914 to the present.
The first Sunday-school was opened by Theophilus Heiple in May, 1886, with John L. Brendlinger, superinten- dent, and Abraham Yager, assistant.
Considerable of the early history of this congregation is contained in the history of the Ligonier Valley congre- gation, as they at the beginning were one.
A Sunday-school, numbering nearly one hundred and fifty, is maintained the whole year; also a Christian Workers' Meeting, a Sisters' Aid Society and a weekly prayer meeting. In the spring of 1915 Elder C. A. McDowell moved to the Quemahoning congregation, taking up pastoral work at Sipes- ville.
As noted in the Ligonier history, the meetinghouse at Bolivar was erected in 1886.
BROTHERS VALLEY.
By Elder W. G. Schrock.
The history of the Brothers Valley congregation dates from the latter part of the eighteenth century. At this time some members of the Church of the Brethren settled west
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of the Alleghany Mountains, in what was then known as the Stony Creek and Brothers Valley " Glades." Among them- selves they named their new home " Brueders Thal "-Broth- ers Valley. This name may have originated with the Indians, who called them the " White Brothers of the Valley." Later on, when new townships were created, the principal part of the "Glades " was taken up and named Stony Creek and Brothers Valley. Stony Creek, the principal stream, drain- ing nearly all of this vast territory, has its source in Pius Spring, in Berlin. This may account for the name of the new township, taken from Brothers Valley in 1792, being called Stony Creek. Thus we account for the different names, " Glades," " Berlin " and "Brothers Valley," the last one the most endearing of all.
First Settlers, 1762.
Among the first settlers that came from the East across the Alleghany Mountains into Somerset County, about 1762 . or 1763, was a colony of Brethren, who settled in the northern part of what was then called " The Glades." By our church historian it is named Stony Creek church. The colony al- luded to above consisted of seventeen members, and was led by and under the care of Elder George Adam Martin. In Dr. Brumbaugh's "History of the Church of the Brethren " we have this statement: "About 1762 this congregation be- gan under Elder George Adam Martin. The number of mem- bers in 1770 was seventeen ; namely, George Adam Martin and wife, Henry Roth, wife and daughter, Henry Roth, Jr., and wife, George Newcomer, Philip Aswald, wife and daughter, Abram Gebel and wife, Philip Kimmel and wife, and a Broth- er Wildebarger and wife." Elder Martin was baptized in 1735, and ordained by Elder Peter Becker in 1739. His wife's maiden name was Knipper (Knepper). He was a man of strong convictions, a fine scholar, a natural orator and a ready writer, well adapted by nature for a pioneer leader.
From 1763 to 1770 a general Indian outbreak caused much trouble among the first settlers on this side of the moun-
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tain, and it is surmised that the colony was scattered and driven out for the time being. At least we have no further record of them. However, it is probable that some very fa- miliar names, somewhat modernized in spelling and pro- nunciation, such as the Rhoadeses, Cables, Kimmels, Knep- pers, and others, have come down to us from these pioneers. All these names are found upon our church records, and their descendants are living in our congregation at the present time.
1770 to 1825.
From 1770 to 1825 this church has no written record, and all we know is by tradition. Many of the church fath- ers, who were earnest workers for the Master during this period, have left us no data for writing up a church history of Brothers Valley. There is a wide gap between the time when Elder Martin passed away and 1825, of which very little is known to the present generation, however important and in- teresting it might be to coming generations. During this period the church increased in membership, both by immi- gration and conversions. In less than seventy-five years, from the time the first Brethren crossed the mountains, they were found in many parts of Somerset County and even beyond. If we can in the least rely upon tradition, the church's activity centered around Berlin later. That probably accounts for the first meetinghouse being built in that vicinity, and the congregation being called Berlin. Up to 1825 this large ter- ritory was without system and unorganized. Yet we have reasons to believe, nowithstanding the disadvantages those pioneer preachers labored under, that it was marvelous, in- deed, how the church must have prospered, while many of the old churches of today, with improved modern methods of work, scarcely hold their own.
1825 to 1849.
It is a question in the mind of the writer who succeeded Elder Martin in the eldership. From the best information ob- tainable, Michael Meyers, a resident minister near Berlin, was ordained about the year 1800, and had the oversight of the
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The Old Grove Church, Berlin Congregation, Built 1845.
church for a quarter of a century, or longer. It would seem that the next in order of time to be ordained were Peter Cober and John Forney, Sr., in 1837. This brings us up to 1849, when Somerset County was divided into four local congregations. In that early day of the history of the church itinerant preaching was largely in vogue in most of the churches. Members were regularly visited by preachers, and all the services were held in private houses, barns or schoolhouses, and nearly all con- ducted in the German language. The Word preached was greatly blessed of God, so that private houses for worship could in many places no longer accommodate the people. To solve this problem the Brethren built a large meetinghouse, in 1845, in sight of Berlin, and called it the Grove house. In this house regular services were held for sixty-two years. Here the first District Meeting of the District convened November 5, 1866, and the first Sunday-school Convention of the District convened here September 23 and 24, 1879. Many succeed- ing similar meetings were held here.
In 1849 the Annual Meeting of the entire Brotherhood was held in the Grove house. At this meeting a committee was appointed to consider the propriety of dividing the county into separate congregations. The committee was made up of the following brethren: Peter Long, Andrew Spanogle and John Holsinger of Pennsylvania, George Hoke and Henry Kurtz
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of Ohio, and Joseph Arnold and Jacob Byser of Virginia. In the history of Elk Lick is an account of the work done by this committee, which met at Berkley's Mills. Berlin congregation, as this division was named, contains Garrett, Beachdale and Berlin, and was bounded on the south by Elk Lick, on the north by Shade, on the west by Middle Creek, and on the east by the Bedford County line, with Berlin as the center of activity.
1849 to 1880.
From 1849 to 1880 the following elders presided over the Berlin church: Peter Cober, Jacob Meyers, and Jacob Blough. Elder Blough was elected to the ministry in 1851, and ordained in 1868. Samuel Meyers and Jacob Good may have been deacons prior to 1849, and served in said office up to their death. The following ministers assisted in the work of the church during this period: John P. Cober, Ephraim Cober, Solomon Knepper, George Schrock, William Sevits, Michael Weyandt, Solomon Baer, Peter Musser, Daniel P. Walker, Henry R. Holsinger and Joseph W. Beer. Deacons elected prior to 1880: Lewis J. Knepper, Jacob Meyers, Joseph G. Coleman, John J. Bittner, Dr. John Beachley, Valentine Blough, Jacob Lichty, Jacob Musser, John S. Myers, Peter Beeghly, Josiah Kimmel, William N. Trent and Philip F. Cupp. Most of the ministers named first served in the deacon office.
1880 to 1915.
In 1880 the old Berlin congregation was divided, as is noted in the history of that congregation. The same year an election was held for church officers. George Schrock and William Sevits were ordained to the eldership; W. G. Schrock and Samuel F. Reiman were elected to the ministry, and John J. Blauch and Daniel H. Walker, deacons. The organization now was : Elders, Jacob Blough, George Schrock, and William Sevits; ministers, Michael Weyandt, Daniel P. Walker, W. G. Schrock and S. F. Reiman; deacons John J. Blauch, D. H. Walker, and the above-named brethren still living who had served prior to 1880.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE
Elections for church officials have been as follows: For ministers-in 1886, D. H. Walker and Philip F. Cupp; 1897, Perry U. Miller, Samuel U. Shober and Ira D. S. Walker : 19-, George Reitz (was not installed) ; 1906, Galen K. Walker and John H. Fike (latter not installed) ; 1912, Lewis S. Knep- per and Ralph W. Reiman. Dr. Peter Musser, a minister, had moved into the congregation from Virginia during the seventies, but moved back again before the division. Ephraim
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Rayman Church, Brothers Valley Congregation.
Cober, an able minister, who was reared here and called to the ministry, moved to Sabetha, Kansas, many years ago. Elder Joseph J. Shaffer moved into the congregation from the Shade Creek congregation in 1909, and Ananias J. Beeghly also moved here from Southern Illinois, in 1909. Brother Beegh- ly was for a number of years an active deacon in the Que- mahoning congregation, but moved to Illinois and was called to the ministry, and then returned to his native county.
Deacons were elected as follows: In 1883, Cyrus H. Walker and Perry U. Miller ; 1886, Jacob O. Kimmel, George J. Shrock, Christian Reitz, John F. Reiman and Jeremiah J. Reiman; 1896, George Reitz and Mahlon S. Reiman; 1897,
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Pike Church, Brothers Valley Congregation.
Uriah F. Rayman, Jacob M. Knepper, Emanuel M. Knepper and Sherman Peck; 1904, Clinton K. Shober, Jacob C. Rei- man, Allen F. Mostollar and George S. Reiman ; 1912, William W. Cupp, Alvin Knepper, Edward S. Schrock and H. N. Mostollar.
Ordinations : In 1886, Michael Weyandt; 1895, W. G. Schrock and S. F. Reiman; 1899, D. H. Walker; 1908, P. U. Miller and S. U. Shober.
In 1903 a large brick love-feast house was erected at Brotherton, to take the place of the old Pike meetinghouse, which had been in use for, perhaps, nearly a half century, and by the side of which the Brethren have buried their dead for many years. This new church, being centrally located, also takes the place of the old Grove meetinghouse for love feasts and other large gatherings. In the spring of 1907 the old Grove house was razed to the ground, and a neat brick church now occupies the place. In addition to the Grove and Broth- erton houses, the congregation has the Salem house on the Ridge, and the Rayman house, near Friedens, and a share of the Summit house at Geiger Station, on the line between the
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New Grove Church, Brothers Valley Congregation-Day of Dedication.
Brothers Valley and Middle Creek congregations. Both con- gregations have half interests in this house. The first Summit house was built in 1885, and dedicated on January 31, 1886, by Elder James Quinter. This modest structure, after being in use twenty-eight and a half years, was replaced by a fine, modern brick edifice, in 1914. The new house is equipped for communion purposes and has Sunday-school classrooms, and is among the best in the county. Elder J. H. Cassady, of Huntingdon, preached the dedicatory sermon August 23, 1914, to a crowded house.
The first Sunday-school in the congregation was organ- ized in the Pike church, in 1865 or 1866, and the superintend- ents were W. G. Schrock and Lewis J. Knepper. At present there are evergreen Sunday-schools at Brotherton, Raymans, Salem and Summit-the last a half interest. Teacher training classes, Christian Workers' Meetings, and teachers' meetings, receive special attention. Temperance work also receives due attention, with a local temperance committee. The writer, with a number of others, is especially interested in the tem- perance movement.
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The present officials are: Elders, W. G. Schrock, D. H. Walker, S. U. Shober, P. U. Miller and J. J. Shaffer; minis- ters, A. J. Beeghly, Lewis S. Knepper and Ralph W. Reiman ; deacons, John S. Meyers, John F. Reiman, Jeremiah J. Rei- man, George Reitz, M. S. Reiman, J. M. Knepper, E. L. Knep- per, Sherman Peck, J. C. Reiman, A. F. Mostollar, G. S. Reiman, C. K. Shober, W. W. Cupp, A. R. Knepper, E. S. Schrock and . H. N. Mostollar.
Inasmuch as the church kept no records until 1880, it was impossible to give a clear and systematic outline of data and facts in regular order. Any errors or omissions in the above are due to oversight or want of better information.
BRUSH VALLEY.
This congregation was located in Washington Township, Armstrong County, and constituted what was formerly the "John Settlement " of the Glade Run congregation. The Glade Run congregation was divided in 1881, and the new con- gregation, named Brush Valley, was organized the same year, being first found on the list of congregations the following year. The congregation had one meetinghouse. Some time in the eighties Robert B. Bowser was elected to the ministry, but after having labored only a few years removed to the Bolivar congregation.
In the division the majority of the members went with the Progressives, and in 1892 the few that yet remained loyal were consolidated with their mother congregation, Glade Run. and Brush Valley ceased to exist as a separate organization. At the time of the organization this church had about eighty members.
CHESS CREEK (Formerly Glen Hope).
This congregation is situated in the southern part of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. The first members located here were Charlotte and Amelia Kitchen, and Elizabeth Smead in the Chess Creek settlement about 1868, and Charles Lewis, near Gazzam. These members called for preaching. Mark
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Minser, of the Montgomery congregation, responded. Peter Beer and J. W. Spicher also preached here at an early day. J. B. Wampler and J. W. Smouse did some evangelistic work here. Joseph Wilt, of the Middle District, also labored here in the vicinity of Glen Hope, and took an active interest in having a meetinghouse erected in 1885. Preaching was kept up here for some years, but some of the members died and others moved away, so that there were no meetings held for a long time.
At the District Meeting in the Johnstown church, 1886, George Patterson, a minister, and Charles Lewis, a deacon, appeared as delegates from Glen Hope, the new congrega- tion organized in 1883. They asked to be attached to the Western District of Pennsylvania. Their desire was granted, and Elders Mark Minser and Peter Beer were appointed a committee to attend to their wants.
Elder Peter Beer had the oversight of this congregation from its organization till his death in 1892, when the work devolved on his. son, J. H. Beer. When he resigned the Mis- sion Board gave the work into the hands of Elder Jacob Hol- sopple, who tried to work up the Glen Hope point and also looked into the prospects at Rose Bud, where there were still a few faithful members. Looking over the whole field he reported that Chess Creek settlement was decidedly the most promising point, and in 1902 the congregation was authorized to move the building to Five Points. This was done in 1903. Elder Holsopple died in 1905, and the Mission Board appoint- ed Elder S. P. Zimmerman over the work.
In addition to those above named the following brethren have served in the ministry : S. A. Beeghley, T. G. McMasters and A. R. Kitchen. Those who have held the office of deacon are: John Eckles, Charles Lewis, Newel Davis, T. G. Mc- Masters, Joseph Patterson, A. L. Kitchen, D. C. Michael, J. Z. Kitchen, Jacob Beeghley. The present board of deacons is : Newel Davis, A. L. Kitchen, J. Z. Kitchen and John Haag. In 1915 Elder Zimmerman was superseded by J. W. Fyock as elder in charge.
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CLARION CHURCH.
This congregation was located in Clarion County, but was not confined to this county, as there were members scattered westward in Butler, Lawrence, Mercer, Crawford, Venango, and even in Erie Counties. In the early forties of the past century some members from Huntingdon and Mifflin Counties moved to Clarion County. Not finding a Brethren Church here they called for a preacher from the East. Elder Andrew Spanogle, of Mifflin County, responded to their call, and after making several missionary tours he moved out himself. Brother Spanogle was a missionary in a double sense. While he carried the Gospel to these pioneers, he also bought a woolen mill and built a gristmill, thus encouraging sheep-rais- ing and agriculture.
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