USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Church of the brethren of the Eastern district of Pennsylvania > Part 41
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1 For this sketch the committee is greatly indebted to the "Elder George Klein Association," and more especially to Prof. A. S. Kline, Upper Bern, Pa., secretary of said association.
OFFICERS OF THE ELDER GEORGE KLEIN ASSOCIATION. President, DR. W. F. KLEIN, Lebanon, Pa.
Secretary, W. B. KLINE, merchant, Berks P. O., Pa.
Assistant Secretary, A. S. KLINE, teacher, Upper Bern, Pa.
Treasurer, NEWTON KLINE, cashier National Bank, of Pottstown, Pottstown, Pa.
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
Since the wife of Elder George Klein died first, no doubt he carved the inscription on his wife's grave stone, which inscription indicates that the engraver was very accurate, as the three sevens (7) are so exactly engraved that there can scarcely be seen any difference in the execution of the sevens.
Elder George Klein lived 12 years at Amwell, New Jer- sey, where he received his Christian training under the noted preacher Johann Naas, who fled to this place from Germany, and found at Amwell, New Jersey, a place of religious safety. Elder George Klein made visits as early as 1745 and 1747 to Berks Co., Pa., and it is supposed he had 4 more brothers in America. One settled near the boundary lines of Bucks and Montgomery counties. One of his brothers is supposed to have settled in eastern Berks Co., Pa .; one, about 4 miles west of Reading, Pa., and one, at Bernville, Pa. No doubt while being a minister, Elder George Klein visited the struggling Brethren churches as a missionary minister along the route from Amwell, New Jersey, to Bernville, Pa., where he purchased lands in 1747. He owned considerable lands near the Old Northkill Church. His trade was no doubt carpentry and turning, as his sons and grandsons were among the best turners and grain cradle makers. Some of his descendants are still following the same trades. While at Bernville, he was laboring under difficulties as this region was then settled by those of different church inclinations. There seems to have been religious dissatisfaction existing among the people, and his own members were constantly leaving for the western sections of Pennsylvania. His labors in the Christian min- istry were confined to western Berks, Lebanon, and Lancas- ter counties.
He had six sons and one daughter. The daughter was married to Joseph Sollenberger, who took up his abode somewhere near Carlisle, Pa. His son George Klein settled near Broadway, Virginia. Here the martyred Elder John Klein, who was a great grandson of Elder George Klein, was raised. Two sons settled in Lancaster Co., Pa., and
KLEIN CEMETERY.
an Soltorbro Den: 29
ao g Movat
GRAVES OF ELDER GEORGE MILLER AND WIFE.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
the other sons in Berks Co., with the exception of Joseph Klein who has not yet been located.
The descendants of Elder George Klein have built a fine wall around the graveyard, and propose to erect a suitable monument to his memory. The present resting place is on a gently sloping hill near the Northkill Church, about one and a half miles northwest of Bernville, Pa., where Elder George Klein served so faithfully. After a long and useful career in the ministry, he was gathered home into the gar- ner of the Lord. Now the graveyard is being properly put in shape by some of his offspring.
The descendants of Elder George Klein have been dili- gently at work for over eight years in gathering facts to print or publish a history, and upon the completion thereof, the offspring expect to hold a reunion at the Old Northkill Church.
B. GEORGE MILLER.
We have no data as to where George Miller was born, or who his ancestors were, but he united with the Church of the Brethren in 1753. He lived, and raised his family, about two miles northwest of Elizabethtown, Pa., near the Conewago Creek. It is not known when he was called to the ministry, but Morgan Edwards, in his history, says that in 1770, George Miller and Adam Hamacher were the min- isters of Big Swatara. Brother Hamacher lived near Hum- meistown, and the last account we have of him, either oral, or written, is 1772, and the presumption is that he died not long after.
Elder Miller was ordained Bishop, by Elders Christopher Sower and Martin Urner, in 1780, and died in 1798, aged 76 years. He is buried on his farm, by the side of his wife, who preceded him in death two years.
A fuller biography of Elder Miller, and his family, fur- nished by the late Elder Moses Miller, of Cumberland County, Pa., who was a grandson of Elder Geo. Miller and a great-grandson of Elder Geo. Klein, and procured for this history by Elder John Herr from the Secretary of the Elder George Klein Association follows next.
S. R. ZUG.
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
C. WHO MY ANCESTORS WERE; AND WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THEM.
By ELDER MOSES MILLER, of Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Having frequently been asked whether I was related to such and such a Miller family, and generally would have to say no, not to my knowledge, at least not according to flesh, and as my mother was a Kline, and many of our kindred are scattered over a number of states, it may be a great sat- isfaction, to some at least, to know who their ancestors were and what they were. I will here say that, both sides being German, both names have been changed, or altered; Miller was formerly written Muiller, and Kline, which some write Cline, was formerly written Klein.
First, then, my grandfather, Geo. Miller, was born in Switzerland (if I am rightly informed) in January, 1722, and emigrated to America when a boy. His father's name was Michael. Of the latter I know nothing. Grandfather settled near Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Pa., and not far from the line between Lancaster and Dauphin counties. Here he became a member of the Church of the Brethren and also a minister in the church, his field of labor being principally in Dauphin Co., and was the first preacher in the Big Swatara Church. He would take his staff on Saturday and walk fifteen miles to the place of meeting; next day after preaching return home, and that without dinner, save a piece of dry bread by the way, frequently stopping, or visiting by the way; saying that if we stop but five or ten minutes, the Brethren can see that we have not forgotten them.
In council with the church, he would stand back so that the members should not talk after him; consequently not a great speech maker. Although he carried on farming, like many others at that time, he was also a weaver by trade, and when people brought yarn, he would hear how they wanted their work done, etc. As soon as that was said, he began to speak on the subject of religion. When some were will- ing and glad to hear, others said, "Yes I must go; I have not time to stay." I have also from good authority, that
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
he had an ox stolen from him. He knew where the ox was, but lived what he preached, "If any man take away thy goods, ask them not to return them again." But his neighbors had the thief arrested, and lodged in the Lan- caster jail. Being yet under the British law, he feared his neighbor would be brought to the whipping post, and pitied him very much. He also feared he might not have a bed in jail, and the weather being cold, he went to Lancaster, over twenty miles, to see, intending if he had none, he would bring him one.
He was beloved by many. One reason for this was, when he would hear anything bad about his neighbors, he would tell no one, but if he heard anything good, he would tell everybody. He died in September, 1798, aged 76 years, and 9 months, and is buried on the farm where he had lived, near the old road which leads from Hummelstown to Eliz- abethtown. Peace to his ashes !
He left ten children behind,-three sons and seven daugh- ters. Abraham moved to Mifflin County, Pa., was a min- ister in the church, and instrumental in building the Lewis- town Church. Died September 28, 1843. George was also a Brother, at one time, but moved to Erie County, Pa., where there were no Brethren. There he joined in with the Baptists, and also became a preacher of that faith. Barbara was married to Jacob Smith. Eve was married to Daniel Keefer, who was the fourth preacher in the Big Swatara Church. Elizabeth was married to Valentine Balsbaugh, fifth preacher of Big Swatara Church, who was in his ninety-seventh year when he died. He was the grandfather of C. H. Balsbaugh. This was the first preacher the writer heard. Catharine was married to George Minnich; Maria to George Fackler; Magdalena was married to Abraham Snyder. Fanny died single. My father raised fourteen children, nine sons and five daughters, myself being the youngest, and the only one who has the solemn charge upon him to watch over the flock, yet three of my brothers are deacons in the church.
Secondly, my mother's side. From manuscripts in pos- session of my cousin and Bro. David Kline, of Stonersville,
34
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
Berks Co., Pa., I have learned that my great-grandfather, Elder George Klein, was the first minister of the church at North Kill, now Little Swatara, the church in which our last Annual Meeting was held. He was born in Zwei- Bruicken in Germany, on the 9th of October, A.D. 1715. He emigrated to America and settled near Amwell, N. J., where he soon became acquainted with the Brethren, and was bap- tized to their faith in 1739, by Johann Naas, who was at that time presiding Elder at that place. He was soon after chosen an assistant in the ministry. In 1750 he removed to North Kill, on the Tulpehocken, to take charge of said Church, where he was ordained in 1757, by Elder Michael Pfautz, and Martin Urner. Of his family I know not much, but I do know that our deceased Bro. John Kline's (of Va.) grandfather was a son of this George Klein, and my mother's father was also a son of his. His name was David, and he was also a minister in what is now called Little Swatara Church. He had a number of children, nine of whom I was acquainted with. Their names were : David, Jacob, Abraham, Benjamin, Esther, Christiana, Catharine, Sally, and Elizabeth, the latter being my mother. Benjamin was also a minister in the same church as his grandfather and father were, but moved into Big Swatara Church, where he died a few years ago. Christiana was married to Joseph Merky, who was a minister and lived and died on the farm where the last Annual Meeting was held (see photograph) and where his daughter now lives. Sally was married to Lorentz Etter, who was a minister, and long a faithful servant in the Big Swatara Church.
So I have a little to glory in the flesh. One great-grand- father, two grandfathers, and at least six uncles, with a number a little further off, who ministered in holy things, though I be nothing. But I am well aware that it is written, "He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord," and again, "Let no man glory in men, etc."
I hope that many who may read this, not only those who are akin to those whose names are in this article, but even others, who were acquainted with some of those names, will rejoice with me, and my friends, for the blessed hope we
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
can have for our ancestors, who are gone before us; for we have more inducements to meet with our friends, than if they had lived and died out of Christ, and their prayers, or some of them at least, were for us, who are now in the warfare. May we then, by God's grace, be enabled to meet not only our fathers and friends who have proved faithful, but all God's children and with them rest from our labors, and sing the glad song of deliverance in eternal bliss. Amen.
D. VALENTINE BALSBAUGH.
George Balsbaugh and his brother Peter, and brother-in- law George Henrich, came from Europe, in 1754 or 1755, and settled in Pennsylvania. George Balsbaugh and George Henry settled on the same farm, near where the town of Hershey now is, which farm was, until recently, still in the Henry name, where Valentine was born February 14, 1755. A few years later, Henry and Balsbaugh had some misun- derstanding and Balsbaugh went to near where Linglestown now is, and bought a farm, and made a small payment on it (it being the farm now owned by Dr. Charles Smith). But when he came back and told his wife, she said : "I am not going there. The Indians will kill us." It was the time when the Tuscarora Indians from the valleys up the river, had been very troublesome. So he bought another on Manada Creek, about a mile east of Hanoverdale where he moved with his family, and where Valentine always lived and died. George Balsbaugh and his wife were baptized in 1763, and George Henrich and wife in 1766. Valentine was married to Elizabeth Miller, a daughter of Elder George Miller, who died in 1798, at which time Valentine was 43 years old.
We now give our conclusions after bringing together all we have on record, and the reader can take it for what he thinks it is worth. We conclude that Adam Hamacher died not long after 1772, the last we know of him; that Bals- baugh was elected a minister before Elder Miller's death; and that from that time he was the only minister in the Big Swatara settlement of members, until 1811, when George
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
Beshor moved in from Little Swatara, unless his son-in-law, Lorenz Etter, was elected prior to that, which is not likely.
We know that Elder Balsbaugh had three sons :- John, Henry, and Peter, and three daughters,-Elizabeth, a Mrs. Reichard and Christina. There may have been more. Peter succeeded his father on the old farm, where he was born, lived, died and is buried, and where he raised his fam- ily of five sons,-Valentine, Benjamin, Abraham, Christian H., the noted writer, and Samuel, and one daughter, Eliza- beth Zortman. He was a deacon, and so were three of his sons. His wife was Elizabeth Longenecker, a granddaugh- ter of the first Elder Christian Longenecker, of White Oak Church.
Elder Valentine Balsbaugh's father, George, died in 1802, aged 65, and the mother in 1798, aged 55, and his Uncle Peter in 1796, aged 58, all buried in Spring Creek cemetery. In his preaching he was in earnest, entering into the spirit of his subject with feeling, sometimes with weeping, thereby arousing his congregation into a feeling of sympathy, caus- ing many to weep with him. There was a man named Fish- burn, living about 5 miles away, of about the same age. When they came to be over 90 years of age, they would sometimes send greetings to each other. When he was nearly 97 years old, in 1851, one evening, he said to his son Peter that he prayed God to take him away suddenly without making trouble, and he believes that his prayer will be answered.
The next day he was repairing his chair, and in the ad- joining room he was heard to hammer. Then there was a thud as of some one falling. Hastening in they found him lying on the floor, conscious, but unable to speak. All he could do was to nod, or shake his head to anything they said ; and in thirty minutes he had fallen asleep. Thus ended a long, useful, and venerable life, and his remains now repose in the Balsbaugh family graveyard, and his grave is marked by a stone erected to his memory.
S. R. ZUG.
GRAVES OF ELDERS VALENTINE BALSBAUGH AND LORENZ ETTER.
HOLL
GATHAR NE
JACOB
Wift of Jacob Hollinger Born Junts. En ... DIED ******* 1. 7517. Aned S3 yrs. Il mo
Wcdovremo
-
GRAVES OF ELDER JACOB HOLLINGER AND WIFE (p. 518).
HERTELER
Died
FEB. TO, 199B.
AUG 2. : 300
38 YRS 1 80. 2 10 DS
GRAVES OF ELDER WM. HERTZLER AND WIFE (p. 523).
GRAVE OF C. H. BALSBAUGH (p. 516).
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
E. LORENZ ETTER.
Lorenz Etter was married to Elizabeth Balsbaugh, a daughter of Elder Valentine, and lived about a mile due northwest of his father-in-law. He was born April 2, 1787, and comes from the Etter stock, who were prominent in the church from its beginning in this country. We find the name of a "sister Eter" who was baptized prior to 1739. Again George Eder and wife in 1753, and at the general conference held in Lancaster County, in 1763, among the committee having that meeting in charge, we find the name George Etter, no doubt the same, baptized ten years before, only spelled differently. In 1770 there was a Jacob Etor living in Big Swatara, who, with his wife, were members of the church. They lived at the place where Brother Aaron Grubb now lives, with a larger scope of land to the farm, near Palmyra. It is known that the farm of over 200 acres belonged to Samuel Etter, over a hundred years ago, and after him, to his son Samuel for whom it was sold by the Sheriff, in 1859, to Geo. Tice. It is not known when Elder Etter was elected to the ministry. Neither is it known when he was ordained, but likely some- time from 1835 to 1840. He was married to his second wife, who was Sally Klein. A large portion of the Etter biography is given in connection with the history of the Big Swatara Church.
Elder Lorenz was a fluent speaker, and his services were often required on funeral occasions, far and near. He died in 1853, in his 67th year, and is buried in the Bals- baugh graveyard.
F. GEORGE BESHOR.
The biography of the Beshor family (pronounced Base- hore) is partly given in the history of Big Swatara Church, but we may here add that the great-grandfather of George, we are told, came from France, and settled in New York state, by his French name Jacques Milne la Baseaur. From there he, and others, came to Pennsylvania, and settled in the middle Swatara region, in 1724. He had a son Mathias
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
who is said to have been an Indian fighter, and fond of liquor. Mathias had a son Jacob, who and his wife, we learn, were members of the church in 1770. The record of Conestoga Church informs us that in 1772, when the church district was divided, Han Jacob Beshor and George Kline were in charge of Swatara Church.
We hereto give a copy of the inscription on Elder George Beshor's grave stone.
"Hier ruhen
" Die gebeine von Georg Beshor Wird gebohren 8ten Horn- ung im Jahr 1775, and starb den 14ten October 1841, und brachte sein alter auf 66 Jahr 8 monat und 6 tag.
Jacob Beshor und seine Frau Christina ist eine Tochter zur welt gebohren.
Anna Maria born Aug II : 1767
Benjamin
Nov 16: 1768
Christina
July 28: 1770
Elizabeth
July 31 : 1772
Georg Feb 8: 1775
Lydia
Mar 14: 1780
Michael
Sept 13: 1782
Margretha
May 3: 1785
Catharine 66 May 7: 1787."
The writer has seen one of this list, Michael, when he was said to be over 90 years old, at Little Swatara. Elder George Beshor had five sons, viz. : George, John, Abraham, Daniel and Wendell; and many of the descendants of Elder Han Jacob Beshor are now active members of the Church of the Brethren.
G. JACOB HOLLINGER.
Elder Jacob Hollinger and wife, who was Catharine Schumacher, were both born, raised, and married in Lan- caster County. In 1826 they moved to Dauphin County, west of Campbellstown. Soon afterward he was elected to the ministry. At that time the ministers of Big Swatara were Elder Valentine Balsbaugh, Lorenz Etter, and George
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Beshor (pronounced Basehore). Brother Hollinger was put to work right away. The territory was large and the membership scattered, and the meetings held in houses and barns. His preaching was always in the German language.
He was a strong man, both physically and mentally. His motto was : First be sure that you are right, then persevere. He often visited and preached for the churches in adjoin- ing counties.
He had two brothers, John and Daniel, and one sister, married to David Landis, living in southwestern Ohio. Abraham Minnich, who was also married to one of the Schumacher daughters, had a brother, and other relatives, living there; so they decided to pay them a visit. About 1840, or soon thereafter, they made the trip, and all went fairly well going out, and while visiting, but when they were getting ready to start home, intending to make the trip on horse back, Brother Minnich took sick so that he could not ride horse back. After much planning, and consultation, it was decided to sell their horses, and take the hack to where they could get a railroad that would take them east, for rail- roads did not go to every village then.
Elder Hollinger sold the horses and took the money and they took the hack in the evening, making some kind of a berth for Brother Minnich, Elder Hollinger, and one other man, a stranger, sitting up, and the driver on the outside. After going some distance, with the road on both sides skirted by timber, and the night very dark, the stranger took something out of his baggage, that seemed like a large knife, and with it reached out through a little ventilator hole, and rattled, as if giving a signal, whereupon the driver whipped up his team and drove like Jehu. Then turning to Hollinger, he said : "Take your leg over that way." He answered, "My leg is not in your way." Again in a harsh voice he repeated : "Take your leg that way." Upon this he thought the crisis had come, and jumped up, and ran against the door in the rear, forced it, and rolled out. By the time the vehicle had stopped, and returned, he had scrambled up, and turned into the woods. They called him, but he did not like their company, and did not answer.
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THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
He continued to walk, until he came to a hollow, which was filled with water; he pulled off his boots, and waded through some places knee deep, and so he met several ponds, until he reached an opening. Then he considered what to do next; and while he was thinking, all at once he saw a light some distance away. He started for it. When he came there it was two o'clock, and the people were getting ready to go to the Dayton market. They took him along, and there he found Minnich, safe, and the stranger of the 'bus, who approached him, and said, "Why did you run away last night." He answered him : "I think you know, and if this is the way you treat people when they come here, we would better prepare to meet such emergencies," and went across the street to a hardware store, as if to buy some weapon of defence. They took the same hack, minus the stranger, and reached home safe and well, and both lived to a ripe old age, all through life believing they had been among robbers, and that God had protected them.
He was a ready speaker, and in his preaching was em- phatic, so that people could always know where he stood on any subject. The writer heard him say in his preaching that he never voted at a political election; that in fifty years he has not taken more medicine than he could bear in his eyes; and that he has never taken a penny for his services as a minister. Elder Hollinger was the grandfather of Elder Jacob H. Longenecker, of Palmyra, who has charge of Spring Creek Church, and also great-grandfather of Elder H. B. Hollinger, of near Annville, Lebanon Co., Pa.
Much of the biographies of the Etters and Hollingers is given in connection with the history of Big Swatara Church. S. R. ZUG.
H. JOHN ZUG.
John Zug was born in 1797 in Rapho Township, Lancas- ter County, Pa. He was the eldest son of Elder Abraham and Susanna Royer Zug and worked for his father in the tannery, and later on the farm until he was over lawful age.
He was married to Eva Margaret Lehn, and they had
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BIOC RAPHICAL.
eight children,-five sons and three daughters. Abraham, the oldest son, died many years ago-before his father- aged 44, leaving one son and two daughters, one of them the wife of our dear brother, Elder John Herr, of Myers- town. The second son Israel moved to Illinois, where he united with the church, but later left and united with a people called Soul Sleepers, and died at Franklin Grove, Ill. The third son, Nathan, went west, on a visit, single, and took sick and died 1854, aged 22 years. His fourth son, John, lived between Lebanon and Myerstown, where now his son Ephraim lives, on the Pike, whose brother Benja- min, now a minister, lives near Myerstown, and a daughter Lizzie lives where their father lived before he bought the pike farm. The fifth son, Reuben, lived on his father's farm near Reistville. He had five children,-one daugh- ter, Lizzie, and a son, Morris, died single; another, Mary, was married to J. H. Gingrich, and dying, left several chil- dren. His son Lane has his father's farm, and Aaron lives in Richland. One daughter Mary died single, aged 24 years. Rebecca was married to Henry Bollinger, and died, aged 25, leaving two sons, Cyrus and Nathan, and Catharine married to David Yingst, died aged 29, leaving one daugh- ter, Margaret, married to Samuel Royer.
Elder John Zug and his wife were baptized in 1826, and he was elected a minister in the fall of 1841, shortly after his father's death, and the same day Daniel Royer and Jacob Oberholzer as deacons. This election was heid with the object in view of forming a new organization out of parts of Conestoga, White Oak and Little Swatara terri- tory. Then in 1842, the following Elders, viz .: Jacob Pfautz, Daniel Bollinger, William Price, John Price, and David Schallenberger, met with the members of the pro- posed new district, and organized them into a "separate con- gregation under the name Tulpehocken, and that they shall now keep house, with the counsel and assistance of the Conestoga Brethren." Two years after the organization of the new church they had a large ingathering of souls, mostly young people. The writer heard Elder Zug himself say, they had meeting every Sunday somewhere, and it was
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