USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania > Part 40
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He was married to Catharine King, March 25, 1852. One son and four daughters blessed this union. His wife preceded him to the spirit world one year. When a young man he united with the church, and proved himself an active worker. For some time this band of Christians was ministered to by ministers from Arm- strong County. When the Montgomery congregation was organ- ized, Brother Spicher continued one of the faithful workers, be- ing elected to the ministry in 1854, soon after his marriage.
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Brother Spicher would labor all week on the farm to provide temporal things for his family, but was always ready to deliver a spiritual message on Sunday. It was largely through his activ- ity that the Montgomery meetinghouse was erected. This build- ing, though remodeled, still stands, and is one of the landmarks. Brother Spicher being a resident minister, much of the church work devolved upon him. When the mission at what is now the Chess Creek congregation was opened, Brother Spicher did his share of the work, making the trip of twenty miles mostly on horseback, though sometimes he would walk it, never receiving any compensation.
He was a strict adherent to Annual Meeting decisions. He was not a fluent speaker, but his discourses were pointed and in- structive, his preaching being principally along doctrinal lines, set- ting forth the power gained in observing the plain commands of the New Testament. He was an ardent Bible student, and was well read in the whole Bible, being always ready to converse on any Bible topic that might arise. In council he was always safe, weighing a subject carefully before giving his decision. Although he was not ordained, it may be truthfully said that he was the leader of the Montgomery church for many years, and under his preaching and care the church flourished. His latest admonitions were to stand by the church and to observe the distinguishing features for which she has always stood.
He was a firm believer in tithing, and for many years he practiced it, also giving the tenth of his estate to the church when he died. The end came April 10, 1909, aged 79 years, 6 months and 2 days. Funeral services were conducted by Elder Brice Sell, and his body was laid to rest in the Montgomery cemetery.
PETER B. STATLER.
Peter B. Statler, son of Peter and Jacobena Statler, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1838. The parents were of sturdy German stock, and had but recently emigrated from the Fatherland. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and their children were brought up in that faith. Soon after the birth of Peter the family moved to a farm in Richland Township, Cam- bria County, Pennsylvania, near the present site of Windber, where the family was reared.
His early educational advantages were limited, but later in life he applied himself closely to home study, and by this means he became able to read and write both the English and German languages.
November 22, 1860, he was married to Miss Sally Holsopple, daughter of Mr. Isaac and Sister Christena Holsopple, of Paint
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Township, Somerset County. In addition to being a farmer, he also engaged in the lumber business. He bought his father's farm, and with the exception of several years' residence near Rummel, Paint Township, he spent his entire life on this farm. Of the seven sons and three daughters born to this union two sons died in infancy.
Through his faithful study of the Bible he became convinced that the faith of the Church of the Brethren was substantiated by the Scriptures, and in 1864 he and his wife were baptized. At a council in the Berkey church, Shade Creek congregation, previous to the June love feast, in 1872, he was elected to the ministry. His services were principally in the German language. He was a strong advocate of the distinctive Bible doctrines as believed by the church of his choice. He was a friend of Sunday-schools, and a worker in the same. Impaired health hindered him the last four or five years from being as active in his ministerial duties as he desired to be. He died Nov. 27, 1881, while still a compara- tively young man. He is buried in the Horner cemetery. His widow kept the family together, and reared them up to be respect- able citizens. For the past quarter of a century she has resided in Scalp Level, Pennsylvania.
FOSTER B. STATLER.
Foster B. Statler, son of Ephraim and Mary A. (Seese) Statler, was born near Windber, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1895, and was reared on his father's farm. By his kind parents he was given excellent school facilities, graduating from the grammar grade of the Windber schools in 1909, and from a four years' high school course, with the honors of his class, in the spring of 1913.
In the spring of 1913 the family left the farm and moved to Middletown, between Windber and Rummel. Foster spent the summer and fall working about the new home. In February, 1914, a vacancy occurring in the Windber public schools, he was asked to take charge of the fifth grade the remainder of the term. This brought to him a love for teaching, which line of work he had not previously especially cared for. He now expected to follow teach- ing, but during the last week of school an opportunity opened for him to enter the employ of the Windber Trust Company.
During a series of meetings held in Windber by Brother B. B. Ludwick, he gave his heart to Christ, being baptized November 23, 1911. Since then he finds his greatest joy in the work of the Sunday-school and Christian Workers' Society. On November 14, 1914, he was elected to the ministry in the Shade Creek congrega- tion, and December 13 he was installed. He is looking forward
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to further preparation in school, being desirous to be used in the best way and in the place the Master chooses.
(Portrait on Page 183.) PETER C. STRAYER.
Among the early and substantial families of the Conemaugh Valley, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, we find the Strayer fam- ily. Their ancestors came from Germany many years ago. Peter Strayer, the great-grandfather of our subject, moved from Bed- ford County to Cambria about 100 years ago. He had a number of brothers and sisters. His first wife was a Miss Nicely, and his second one a Miss Ream. He had a large number of children, the oldest one being Adam.
Adam Strayer married Elizabeth Stull, and their children were: Barbara (Kring), John A., Eli, Adamı, David, Martha (Dunmyer), Samuel, Elizabeth (Paul), Jacob and Isabella. Adam Strayer was a farmer and resided in Richland Township.
John A. Strayer, son of Adam, was born March 14, 1830, and died at Walnut Grove, October 1, 1907. He was united in marriage to Susannah Dickey, daughter of William and Julia Dickey. Sister Strayer was born August 11, 1835, and died in the seventeenth ward, Johnstown, November 4, 1910. Their children are: Syl- vester, Ephraim, a deacon in Brooklyn, New York; Andrew J., a deacon; Sadie, married first time to Elmer Lohr and the second time to Joseph Kantner; John D., Benjamin, Julia, married to J. W. Powell; Elizabeth, married to M. G. Metzger, a deacon; Peter C., a minister; and Anna, married to James W. Fyock, a minister. Broth- er Strayer and wife became members of the old Conemaugh church about fifty years ago, and he was elected deacon. They resided a while in Richland Township, then located in Taylor Township, where they reared their family on a large farm. About 1890, they moved to Walnut Grove, Johnstown, where they lived the re- mainder of their days.
Peter C. Strayer, son of John A., was born in Taylor Town- ship, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1875. He grew up on the farm and attended the Strayer school until 1890, when he moved with his parents to Walnut Grove. After attending the Walnut Grove school a few months he began work with his father at the carpenter trade. This occupation he still follows. He was united in marriage to Mary E. Wissinger, daughter of Deacon Archibald and Sarah (Blough) Wissinger, June 9, 1898. Sister Strayer was born February 20, 1877. The Wissingers are another old family of Cambria County. Brother and Sister Strayer are the parents of the following children: Vera (deceased), Ivan J.,
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Orville L., Paul G., Everet E. (deceased), Clyde C., Sarah Anna and Merna May.
During a series of meetings held by Elder Allen Myers, Peter gave his heart to God and was baptized October 15, 1900. He was elected deacon in the Johnstown church, May 19, 1904, and installed June 30, of the same year. He was elected to the ministry June 29, 1905, but not installed till July 23, 1913. Their residence is in the seventeenth ward, Johnstown.
(Portrait on Page 117.)
· JACOB STUTZMAN.
Jacob Stutzman was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in 1777, and died in Taylor Township, Cambria County, same State, in 1859, at the age of 82 years, and he and his wife are buried in the Benshoff Hill cemetery. His grandfather, Abram, was born in Germany, and his father, Abram, was born in Switzerland.
Jacob was reared in his native county, and learned the trade of shoemaker under the tuition of his father, and when a young man came to Cambria County, seeking work along the line of his craft. In those early days it was the custom of the trade to travel from house to house seeking employment, and it was while thus engaged that he became acquainted with a family named Ulery, one of the daughters (Susannah) of which he afterward married.
Jacob was an industrious worker, and of a thrifty and frugal disposition. He was soon (in 1813) able to purchase a farm of 231 acres, in what is now known as Osborn, or the eighth ward of the city of Johnstown. Here he erected a two-story house, 30x40 feet, and fitted out the second story for holding love feasts and meetings. Here he reared his large and interesting family. He lived upon this homestead until 1853, when he sold it to his son Stephen, removed to Taylor Township, and spent the remainder of his days with his son Samuel. His children were: Daniel, a deacon, Abraham, a minister, Jacob, John, David, Elizabeth, mar- ried to Abraham Weaver; Hannah, who was married to George Knavel; Susannah, who was married to John Knavel; Mary, who was married to Samuel Berkey, a minister, and subsequently to Christian Good; Samuel and Stephen, a deacon.
It is not known when Brother Stutzman was elected to the ministry, but he was one of the first preachers in the Conemaugh Valley. He was associated in the office of elder with Levi Roberts and John Mineely. Three of his sons held office in the church. He was a consistent member of the church and a respected citizen. He was earnest and sincere, and preached most in the German language. Elder Stutzman was one of those early pioneer preach- ers, who through faithful, patient endurance laid the firm founda-
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tion for the future activities of the church. It was customary at that time for the preacher to go to the place appointed for preaching, on Saturday, remaining with the family over night. At these visits the preachers generally engaged in discussing matters pertaining to the religion which they represented, and also teaching from the Scriptures. Many good impressions were thus made.
ABRAHAM SUMMY.
Abraham Summy was born in Garrett County, Maryland, April 20, 1829. His parents, Christian and Eve (Harshberger) Summy, who were members of the Church of the Brethren, moved to Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and when Abraham was about fourteen years of age they moved to Westmoreland County.
On July 3, 1849, he married Miss Susannah Monticue. To this union one son and two daughters were given. April 6, 1862, the wife died; the three children also have died since. On August 20, 1862, he married Rachel Fulkerth, and to this union four sons and three daughters were born. The second wife died December 25, 1900. One son also died.
Elder Summy was elected to the ministry in the Jacobs Creek congregation in 1867, and some time in the seventies he was or- dained to the eldership. His labors were principally in the Jacobs Creek congregation. Being a carpenter he was much from home. He would work all week at his trade, and on Sundays he would fill his appointments, frequently riding sixteen miles on Sunday morning for that purpose. His second wife was a great help to him in the home and in the church, willingly bearing her part of the burdens.
Elder Summy united with the church early in life, and was a loyal, faithful and earnest worker. He was elder of the Jacobs Creek congregation more than forty years. He died October 11, 1910, at the age of 81 years, 5 months and 21 days. His funeral was conducted in the Mt. Joy church by Elder Silas Hoover, as- sisted by Elders Jasper Barnthouse and J. K. Eicher.
JACOB M. THOMAS.
Michael Thomas, Sr., was born in Conemaugh Township, Som- erset County, Pennsylvania, August 15, 1774. He was of Welsh descent. Magdalena Maust, daughter of Abraham Maust, was born near what is now Summit Mills, Somerset County, Pennsyl- vania, December 25, 1775. She was of German descent. Michael Thomas, Sr., and Magdalena Maust were married October 9, 1794. To this union were born the following children: Jacob, Abraham, Michael, Catharine, Samuel, Daniel, John, Joseph, Anna, Fannie, George and Christian. In 1810 the family moved to a farm near
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Elder Abraham Summy.
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what is now Markleysburg, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, near the West Virginia line, where all the children were reared.
It is not known when or where Michael Thomas, Sr., united with the church, but his wife was the first person ever baptized in the Sandy Creek congregation. All the children with their com- panions became faithful members of the church of their parents.
Jacob M. Thomas, the oldest of the children, was born on a farm in Conemaugh Township, March 15, 1795. Jacob grew to manhood on his father's farm, and took advantage of the little
Elder Jacob M. Thomas.
schooling those early days afforded. In 1818 he married Miss Mary Fike, bought a farm about eight miles from his father's home, and lived there the rest of his life. Four sons and six daughters were born to them. His first wife dying he married again. As a business man and farmer he was successful, being the owner of a good 175-acre farm.
Where they located there was no church of the Brethren and no minister. They welcomed occasional visits of ministers, and their home was open for their services. At the age of thirty-five he united with the church, and became an earnest Bible student
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from the start. He could read English and German equally well, had a wonderful memory, and soon was possessed of a store of helpful biblical knowledge. In 1836 he was called to the ministry in the Sandy Creek congregation, which was organized the year before. His earnest contention for the faith stirred the people. The congregation grew and Brother Thomas grew in the work. In 1841 he was ordained, the first bishop in the First District of West Virginia, and perhaps in the State.
Under his preaching and fatherly shepherding the member- ship increased rapidly, the Salem meetinghouse, a large love-feast house, was built, and the dissatisfaction and discomforts of hold- ing love feasts in barns and homes were things of the past. His usefulness extended outside of his home territory. Astride his faithful horse, he went forth, planting gospel seed over a large part of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland. On some of these trips he was accompanied by Elders Samuel Fike and Jacob Beeghly. By request of judges and lawyers he preached in the courthouses of three counties. He was a leader in his District, served as moderator frequently, and represented the District on the Standing Committee several times. He served on a number of important church committees.
Earnestness and sincerity characterized all his actions. His counsels were wise. After thoroughly understanding a matter, and having given it due consideration, he was firm in his convic- tions. . Forty-five years he preached a free Gospel. As he grew older he gave practically all his energies to the Master's work. As a recompense for his devotion and labor he had the satisfaction of seeing many souls born into the kingdom and congregations multiplied.
About ten years before his death Elder Thomas was very sick, and the attending physician had given him up. He called for the anointing and speedily recovered, to the amazement of the physician, who thought he had felt a death pulse. His strong, closely-built body gave him great endurance.
When eighty-five years of age, Elder Thomas, by special re- quest, preached the first sermon, the Saturday evening before the dedication, in the large church in Markleysburg. He was blessed with a clear, strong voice; his delivery was exceedingly earnest, even to the removal of his coat when he became too warm; his discourses were largely exegetical, strongly fortified by many proof texts; and the closing was warm and touching in admoni- tion. He was revered by old and young. With a clear mind and an abiding trust in his Lord unto the end, he passed peacefully to his long rest, November 21, 1881, aged 86 years, 8 months and
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6 days, and his body was laid in the family cemetery on his own farm.
MICHAEL THOMAS.
Michael Thomas was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1804. He was one of a family of fifteen children, tvelve of whom attained to manhood, and whose combined ages aggregated 922 years in 1898. Brother Thomas was twice mar- ried, and was the father of sixteen children, 100 grandchildren, 181 great-grandchildren, and fourteen great-great-grandchildren, or a total of 311 descendants. He was a minister of the Church of the Brethren for many years. His energy and labor were confined to his local church. He died and was buried on the farm on which he had lived many years, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1898, in his ninety-fifth year.
ANDREW UMBEL.
Andrew Umbel, son of Isaac and Nancy Umbel, was born July 9, 1802, near Markleysburg, Pennsylvania. Miss Anne Thomas was born October 11, 1805. They were married January 22, 1825. They united with the church in their young days. Five sons and three daughters were born to this union. Three of the sons were deacons; viz., Michael T., Isaac M. and Elijah. Isaac died about four years ago. The other two are still active deacons in the Markleysburg congregation. Samuel C., another son, is at pres- ent one of the aged elders of the same congregation. Brother and Sister Umbel were born and reared in the vicinity of Mark- leysburg, and all their children were born and rearcd in the same house. Brother Umbel was a minister in the Church of the Breth- ren for nearly fifty years. By trade he was a tanner, and worked in the same yard sixty years.
Brother Umbel preached more powerfully by his consistent, upright life than he did from the pulpit. He was very charitably inclined, giving liberally to the church and the needy. He was opposed to taking interest on money loaned out. His son, S. C. Umbel, who was his executor, found that he had written across the back of the notes he held against people, "This note is without interest." He died December 30, 1887, aged 85 years, 5 months and 21 days, and is buried in the Umbel cemetery on the home farm. His last words in this world werc, "Praise the Lord."
SAMUEL C. UMBEL.
Samuel .C. Umbel, son of Andrew and Anne (Thomas) Umbel. was born May 20, 1835. The Umbels are of English descent. His mother was of Welsh and Irish extraction. On December 22, 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha L. Brown,
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Elder Samuel C. Umbel and Wife.
daughter of Robert S. Brown, who was a minister in the Church of God. June 12, 1855, both united with the Church of the Breth- ren, in the Sandy Creek congregation, being baptized by Brother Christian Harader. He was elected to the ministry March 14, 1856. In 1860 he was advanced to the second degree, and in 1906 was ordained to the eldership. It will thus be seen that Brother Umbel was called to the preaching of the Word before he was twenty-one years of age and has preached more than fifty-nine years.
Elder and Sister Umbel are the parents of three children- two sons and one daughter. Elder Umbel reared his family on the farm, but gave them a liberal education, and his sons began teaching at the ages of sixteen and fifteen, respectively. His oldest son, Demaerid, died in Denver, Colorado, about eight years ago. Their daughter, Emma Arnett, lives in Uniontown. The youngest son, Robert Emery, was elected judge of Fayette County in 1900, served his first term of ten years, and is now serving his second term. When Elder Umbel was young the school facilities were poor. Three months a year was the length of the terms. Thirty- five years he worked at the tanner's trade. Elder Umbel has a large territory to cover and needs help very much.
DANIEL P. WALKER.
Daniel P. Walker was born in Somerset County, Pennsylva- nia, in the spring of 1808, and was reared near Pine Hill, same county. In his younger days he taught school for some time, but most of his life was spent as a tiller of the soil.
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"He lived for many years in the Berlin congregation, now called Brothers Valley, and followed the quiet and peaceful voca- tion of farming, except in early life, when he taught school for a number of years.
"By nature he was a strong-minded, outspoken man. He al- ways acted from principle and the conscientious and honest con- victions of his heart. He was brought up in the Lutheran faith and connected with that church until shortly after his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of William Horner, when he united with the Church of the Brethren. He held this membership in the church about fifty years. During all this time he faithfully served the church of his choice, strongly contending for 'the faith once de- livered to the saints.'
"He served in the capacity of deacon for some years and the last twenty-four years of his life in the gospel ministry."
Brother Walker was, therefore, past fifty years of age when called to the ministry of the Word, but he became a noted worker in the church. All his children became members of the church at an early age, and became active workers in the church. One son is an elder, one a deacon, three sons-in-law were elders and one a deacon; also four grandsons and two great-grandsons were called to the ministry.
He died at the home of his son-in-law, John J. Blough, De- cember 27, 1885, at the age of 77 years, 9 months and some days. He was buried in the Pike cemetery. Funeral services were con- ducted by Elders Valentine Blough and George Schrock.
Brother Walker's grandfather came from Wittenberg, Ger- many, in about 1777, and settled in Somerset County, Pennsylva- nia. His son, Peter Walker, the father of our subject, was born near Pine Hill, Somerset County, and was a farmer. The chil- dren of Daniel P. and Elizabeth (Horner) Walker were: Sarah, Dinah, Rebecca, Cyrus H., Carlotta, William H., Elizabeth and Elder Daniel H.
DANIEL H. WALKER.
Daniel H. Walker, son of Elder Daniel P. and Sister Eliza- beth (Horner) Walker, was born in Stony Creek Township, Som- erset County, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1850. After passing through the common schools he attended normal school, and prepared him- self for teaching, which profession he followed five years. Since then his occupation has been farming.
He united with the Church of the Brethren June 15, 1869, be- ing baptized by Elder Ephraim Cober. He was called to the dea- con's office in the Brothers Valley congregation November, 1880, and was installed by Elder Solomon Bucklew. June 3, 1886, in
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Elder Daniel H. Walker.
the same congregation he was called to the ministry and was in- stalled by Elder Josiah Berkley. He was ordained to the full ministry in the old Grove church, near Berlin, by Elders Josiah Berkley and J. W. Peck, November 11, 1898.
He entered the evangelistic field December 15, 1887, holding his first series of meetings in the Mount Jacob church, Scullton, Somerset County. During the first twenty-five years of his min- isterial labors he held 160 series of meetings in eight different States of the Union. The whole number of sermons preached in that time was 2,540. He preached 156 funeral sermons and sol- emnized a number of marriages.
He served on the Standing Committee four times; viz., at Car- thage, Missouri; Springfield, Illinois; Winona Lake, Indiana, and Hershey, Pennsylvania.
He was given charge of the Brothers Valley congregation Jan- uary 20, 1906, and in 1907 he took charge of the Pittsburgh church.
Elder Walker served on the Home Mission Board a number of years, and has frequently been chosen moderator of our Dis- trict, ministerial and elders' meetings. In the spring of 1915 he moved to Geiger Station, where he is now living and giving much of his time to the church.
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