USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 127
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANLA.
chartered by act of Assembly approved March 3, 1867, in which sixty portons were named as corperstora, to which quite a number have beca since added by election.
Early in the year 1868 the lot opposite the Herald office, co Mais Street, was put into market, and the trustees became the perchecers.
At the close of the last fecal year of this organization-third Monday in January-the statement of the financial condition of the "Greene- berg Masonic Fand" pressated the fact that the funds in the treasury and invested and bearing interest amounted to $11,618.06. That with an anasal income from dnes, fous, and life memberalipo which had averaged $3300.00 for the past three years, the trustees felt warranted in at once comassecing the erection of a suitable hall, and in supplementing by a loan what additional funds might be necessary to meet the presst original cathay in its erection. By act of Assembly they procered authority to borrow money at seven per cent. por annem, in o tom not to exceed $15,000, to be secared by mortgage on the lot and building.
Theo equipped with the necessary wars and means and perfected plans, carly in May gruand was broken, ced the building is now in progress of erectiea, of which we give the following brief description :
"It cocapies the catire front of the lot, 3496 feet, and extende 57)< foot in depth; and will be of iron and brick, three stories high above the parement. The celler sed first floor are intended to be rented in coa- section as a business boges. The store-room, co the first floor preper, will be twenty-two feet sight faches in width by eighty-four fost in depth inside, and fifteen feet high in the clear. A ball coven feet dix taches, for stairways to the second and third stories, will run the catire length co the south' side of the ballding, between which god the store- room & thirtese-inch wall will be carried up to the floor of the third Ctory.
"The second and third stories will be occupied by the Masonic cssieties. In the second story, which is to be fourteen feet in the clear, there will be a front- or banqueting-rooms for ciate eccantena, forty foot by twenty- three, and a rear reception-room forty two by twenty-one foot, a ball and stairway, water-clossta, etc.
"The third story will have the Maconde Hall proper, dirty foot by thirty-one and a half and sixteen feet high, with anto-roomy, wardrobes, cloesta, etc., in the rear.
" The catire front of the building will be free, from the pavement to the top, with heavy ornamental columns and cornice-projections for each story, the whole carmounted by ornamental from-work, reaching to a height of sixty-two foot above the pavement. The door and window Conings in front (of which there will be four in cach story) will be arched at the top. The doors and each will be sold walnet. The roof will be tin. The rear doors and windows will have fron chattera, and the whole made completely fire-proof from external contact. The on- tire structure will be most substantial, the walls having been gunk from two to three feet below the bottom of the cellar, and have a footing course co cach side, and the rear end of thirty inches wide, large stone. The cide cellar walls are carried up twenty-one inches thick, and the front wall thirty six inches thick, the main brick walls being eighteen inches. The flooring joists are twelve inches by two and a half thick, reaching across the whole width, and are placed twelve inches apart from centres. The roof is sustained by coven trusses, cnastructed of eight- by ten-inch pine timber.
"The second cd third stories will be heated by steam, generated by boller and farmace in the basement below the ball, and supplied with water from an eighty-barrel tank, built abovo and immediately under the principal stairs, which tank will be filled from the roof. An excel- lent well of water in the basement, arched over, perfectly secure and clean, will supply drinking water by pampe to any part of the building. " When finished it will be the most beautiful edifice in town, and will be a credit to the place and to the projectors and the committee having its execution in charge. No pales will be spared to make it a subetan- tial public structure that shall stand for centuries."
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS. GREENSBURG LODGE, No. 50,
was chartered April 16, 1849. Its first officers were :
N. Q., Hugh Arters; V. G., Lebbens L. Bigelow; Sec., David Cook; Asut. Sec., William Jack ; Trees., John Taylor.
The secretary in 1882.is W. C. Loor.
WESTMORELAND LODGE, No. 840,
was chartered May 21, 1873. Its first officers were :
X. G., F. M. Sarven; V. O., J. Arther Ege ; dee., A. L. Weegimsa; Amt. Sec., Ezra M. Gross; Tresa, George F. Hud.
The officers in October term of 1881-82 are:
W. G., Joseph Taylor ; V. G., Jobs A. Bank ; Sec., Chris. Krebs; Amst. Sec., W. F. Holtzer; Tress., George W. Probet.
It has thirty-five members, and meets every Tues- day evening at its hall on Main Street.
GREENSBURG ENCAMPMENT, No. 143,
was chartered May 14, 1866. Its charter members and first officers were:
C. P., Henry Kettering; H. P., John M. Smith ; 8. W., J. A. Marchand; J., Levi Cline; 8., William W. Keenan; Trees, Robert Brown; O., F.S. Bock.
The officers in 1882 are:
C. P., J. M. Polly; H. P., Chris, Krele; &. W., Heary &. Cooby ; J. W., W. J. Row; Sortbe, Joseph Taylor.
ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN. ST. CLAIR LODGE, NO. 53,
was chartered June 21, 1878. The charter members were :
Levi Cline, A. G. Marsh, Robert Brown, El A. Fisher, J. L. Thompson, J. R. Thompson, John M. Smith, H. C. Tranger, P. S. Hoffman, J. W. Wilson, George F. Haff, Robert Now, Zachariah P. Blerer, O. H. Stark, Clark F. Warden, W. 8. Brown, John A. Thearer, Hiram A. @Osoa.
The first officers were:
P. M., Caleb H. Stark ; M. W., Levi Cline; G. F., James W. Wilson; O., Robert Brown; Rec., A. G. Marsh; Fin., A. C. Tranger; G., EN A. Fisher; Rec., Zachariah P. Blerer; O. W., John M. Smith.
CENTENNIAL LODGE, No. 100,
was chartered March 14, 1876. Its charter members and first officers were :.
P. M. W., J. A. Marchand; M. W., W. H. Klagenmatth ; G. F., J. W. Kemerer; 0., 8. A. Kline; Rec., A. W. Eicher; Fia., A. B. Kuhne; Rec., George F. Haff; G., F. M. Sarver; L W., G. L. Clawson ; O. W, Amos Hawk.
KNIGHTS OF HONOR.
ENERGETIC LODGE, No. 76,
was chartered Feb. 8, 1875. The charter members and first officers were:
P. D., J. A. Marchand; D., J. Arthur Ego; V. D., F. M. Sarver; A. D., D. H. Rankin; Rep., W. H. Klingonsmith; Amst. Rep., D. J. Kline; Trena., F. 8. Huffman; G., John M. Smith ; &, J. O. Megert.
Other charter members were:
James A. Hunter, George L. Potts, James B. Robinson, B. Thomas, A. Armbrust, W. Sincely, H. Cope, J. A. Hawk, Jacob 8. Turney, 8. 8. Rumbangh, G. A. Hammer, J. J. Altman, D. F. Beer, George W. Crock, Rev. J. F. Core, J. W. Graff, Daniel Welty, Dr. A. Artera, J. B. Smith, C. R. Miller, A. B. Brown, W. Welty, Jeseph Harden, J. P. Evans, J. C. Rohrbacher, A. G. Marsb.
The officers in 1882 are :
D., James B. Robinson; V. D., Amos Teal; A. D., 8. A. Klino; Rep., G. A. Ellison; Tress., D. A. Denman; Fin. Rep., T. 8. Huffman; Chap,, A. P. Smith ; G., F. M. Sarver; G., J. A. Hawk; 8, 8. 8. Fell.
It has a membership of ninety-four, and meets every Friday evening in I. O. O. F. ( Westmoreland) Hall.
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GREENSBURG.
NOBILITY LODGE, No. 2447, was chartered April 25, 1881. Its officers for 1882 aro :
P. D., Rev. O. R. Dieffenbacher; D., J. J. Wirsing; V. D., F. M. Mech- ling; Amst. D., J. A. Sampeel; Treas., O. H. Stark ; Fin. Rep., J. P. Elober; Rep., D. F. Killgore; Chap., Freeman C. Gay; Guida, Jeff. W. Taylor; Guardian, 8. F. Baker; 8., John H. Highberger; True- tees, Bev. C. R. Dioffenbacher, J. 8. Moorhend, John H. Highberger.
It bas twenty-nine members, and meets every Tues- day evening.
ROYAL ARCANUM. GREENSBURG COUNCIL, No. 44,
was chartered May 8, 1880, but was instituted Jan. 14, 1878. The charter members were J. Arthur Ege, W. F. Holtzer, George W. Probst, Israel Glunt, S. P. Hill, Isaac P. Allshouse, Thomas H. Truxell, Irvin Walt- hour, D. H. Rankin, George F. Huff, Joseph S. Rees, F. M. Sarver, F. P. Goodlin, John C. Felger, John Porter, Lewis Walthour, Pearson Wendell, Bennett Rask, James B. Robinson, A. W. Jones, William J. Row, Jeremiah Gongware, John M. Peifly, D. A. Arters, Hezekiah Gongware. Its officers for 1882 are :
Regent, J. J. Johnston ; V. R., Caleb H. Stark ; O., Bonnett Reek ; P. R., H. J. Brunot ; Sec., 8. H. Ralston ; Col., 8. B. Toll ; Chap., T. P. Good- Hin; Guard., Thomas A. Traxell ; Trees., D. N. Denman; G., Hor- man Beamer.
It has ninety-six members, and meets every Mon- day evening.
CHOSEN FRIENDS. PROTECTION COUNCIL, No. 12,
meets every Thursday evening. It has a membership of one hundred and twelve. Its officers for 1882 are:
O. O., George W. Probst; V. O., E. T. Houseman; Prol., W. H. Manning; P. O. O., A. W. Jones; C. M., John Eicher; W., 8. 8. Foster; Bec., J: 8. Walthour; Asst. Sec., W. C. Loor ; Trema., C. H. Stark ; I. &, Herman Hammil; 0. 8., William Gessler.
A. O. K. OF M. C. WESTMORELAND CASTLE, No. 66, was chartered Oct. 16, 1878, and was in operation several years, but is now dormant.
BANKING INSTITUTIONS. THE BAROLAY BANK
was established in 1854, by Thomas J. Barclay. Its present proprietors are Wilson Baughman, president; John Barclay Keenan, cashier; and John Barclay.
THE UNION DEPOSIT BANK
was organized June, 1870, with David Teniman and John Walker, proprietors, the latter being cashier. Its first place of business was on Ottoman Street, and since then on Main.
THE MERCHANTS' AND FARMERS' NATIONAL BANK was organized Sept. 7, 1881, and opened for business October 24th following. Its charter number is 2562. Its paid-up capital is $150,000, and authorized, $300,- 000. The directors are Lewis Trauger, president; W. H. Markle, vice-president; H. C. Boyd, J. A. Marchand, M. G. Blank, J. D. Miller, W. Anderson,
E. F. Houseman, Joseph W. Steel, T. H. Brinker, T. H. Irwin; and Cashier, D. W. Shryock.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
was established in 1881, with a capital of $100,000. Its charter number is 2558. The directors are Rich- ard Coulter, president; John Zimmerman, cashier ; Henry Welty, James C. Clarke, George F. Huff, Rob- ert Pitcairn, William A. Huff.
THE GREENSBURG BANKING COMPANY
has its place of business at No. 15 South Main Street. Its proprietors are James C. Clarke, Richard Coulter, and George F. Huff, the latter being cashier.
CHURCHES.
FIRST REFORMED CHURCH.
Before there were any churches in Greensburg, or before the town itself was laid out or built, the Ger- man families in and around its site worshiped three miles southwest, at the old Harrold Church. But when a number of these people had found homes and built for themselves houses in the new town, a place for holding worship was also needed. This being determined upon, a piece of ground, a town lot and a half, situate on the main street, at the southerly part of the town, was purchased from Michael Truby and Peter Miller, as the site for a church, to be held in union between the Lutherans and Reformed. The consideration paid was £4, and for a like sum a parcel of ground farther down same street was bought for a graveyard. Where now stands the parsonage was the original lot, on which, a large building of hewn logs, was erected the Union Church.
On April 22, 1796, the first communion was held by its first pastor, Rev. John William Weber, when the following members partook of the sacrament : Simon Drum, John Turney, Jacob Barnhart, Jacob Buergy, William Barnhart, Daniel Turney, Michael Truby. Peter Barnhart, and Daniel Turney, Susanna Drum, Anna Barnhart, Magdalena Huber, Catherine Mech- ling, Maria Myers, Anna Maria Walter, Catherine Silvis, Susanna Turney, Elizabeth Sourer, and Eliz- abeth Barnhart. Through the church-door at its gable end the devout worshipers used to enter, and then within devoutly sit on its rude benches or sing praises from the open front gallery, and hear the word read or expounded from the altar. There were no stoves or heaters, not even chimneys or flues,-not even a pulpit was there as yet. In cold weather worship was held in private dwellings or in the old court-house. Another lot and a half adjoining that on which the first church stood was bought May 15, 1815, from Mr. Ehrenfreidt for three hundred dollars, on which the present brick church was built. Its corner-stone was laid the same year, but the scarcity of brick prevented its walls being raised above the first windows. It was completed in the summer of 1819, when Rev. Henry Gerhart, of Bedford, preached the dedication sermon. The building committee were
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Henry Welty and Simon Drum, Reformed; and Jacob Turney and Andrew Crissinger, Lutherans. Its cost was about six thousand dollars, a very large sum for those days, and it entailed a big debt. To relieve the congregation from the pressure of this burden the corner lot, with the building thereon, was sold in 1822, and was bought for a parsonage by the five Reformed congregations composing the Greens- burg charge for four hundred and sixty-one dollars. In 1857 the ceiling was renewed, a new pulpit and altar-railing put up, the house repainted, and carpets and mats laid down. In 1878 a new roof and cornice were put on and the steeple repainted, and through the liberality of Samuel B. Haines the church grounds neatly inclosed. The present iron fence was put up in 1861. In 1845 the pipe-organ was built by Stark & Minehart at a cost of nine hundred dollars. It was quite an event in those days for any Protestant Church of these parts to introduce an organ. Some opposi- tion was at first made to the project even among the members of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches. They were surrounded by influences entirely hostile to such use of instruments, which, it was charged, worshiped God by machinery. In a Presbyterian Church where a bass viol had been smuggled or foisted into the choir, the old dominie startled the worshipers by calling upon them to " feddle and sing" the psalm. Some of the members, like the late Jacob Buerger, the Blancks, and others, helped to silence the opposi- tion and overcome and subdue the prejudices against it. So that still by some derided and scouted as the "old Dutch organ," it was finally accepted by the majority, and proved itself a power for good in the services. John Springer was for twenty years the organist and German school-master, and was suc- ceeded in playing the organ and training the choir in 1866 by-Joseph Huber. The Germans at an early day owned in Greensburg a lot, on which a school- house was built. In it an old Revolutionary soldier, the father of Frederick Scheibler, taught school. Jacob Buerger, one of the original members of the church, left by his will four thousand five hundred and sixty dollars, the interest on half of it to go for church purposes, and the other part towards the sup- port of a German school. This trust was first ad- ministered by John Kuhns and Simon Drum, trustees, then principally by Jacob Kiehl for twenty-one years, and since by Josiah Mechling and Samuel Truxal. The original graveyard was enlarged by two acres purchased of the heirs of the late John Bierer for three hundred and forty-one dollars.
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Until about 1875 services were held exclusively in the German language, now they are mixed, thus pro- viding for both tongues. Rev. John William Weber was succeeded as pastor by Rev. Henry Habliston in 1816, who was followed in 1819 by Rev. Nicholas P. Hacke, D.D. The latter's ministerial colleagues in Greensburg on the Lutheran side were Rev. John Michael Steck, who after serving his congregation
thirty-eight years died at his post in 1880. He was followed by his son, Rev. Michael Steck, until his death in 1848. His successor was Rev. Jonas Mech- ling until his decease. in 1868, who was followed by Revs. A. J. Brugle and Enoch Smith. The Reformed parsonage is on a part of the lot originally held by the two churches, and was specially purchased for a par- sonage in 1822 as before detailed. This was the first Reformned parsonage in Western Pennsylvania.
UNCOND REFORMED CHURCH.
Feeling the necessity for English services, a number of the members of the First Church petitioned the Synod of Ohio in 1844 to grant the organization of . an English congregation, to be known as the Second Reformed Church. The request was allowed, and Rev. S. N. Callender, of the theological seminary at Mercersburg, Pa., was invited to become the pastor in 1845. On arriving here to accept the call he concluded the step premature and declined to re- main. In 1848 another effort was made to obtain an English pastor by a meeting held at the house of Simon Cort, of which Daniel Kiehl was president and Reuben Shrum secretary. In January, 1849, the First Church gave consent for the organization of the second congregation, Classis having previously ap- proved the movement, as the Ohio Synod had done nearly five years before. About the same time Rev .. Samuel H. Giesy, who a few months before had ac- cepted a call to the St. James' Church, near Salina, consented to labor here and organize the new congre- gation. The organization was made Sept. 80, 1849, with the following members: Daniel Kiehl, Mar- garet Kiehl, Anna Maria Kiehl, Leonard Kunkle, Simon Cort, William J. Wells, Jacob Reamer, Jr., Reuben Shrum, Matilda Shrum, John Kiehl, Sophia Kiehl, David J. Wells, Christiana Wells, William Cort, Eli Kiehl, Maria Kiehl, Lucian Cort, Rebecca Wible, and Samuel Kelly.
On Feb. 6, 1851, it was resolved to erect the present church edifice. It was completed in the fall of the same year, and dedicated Jan. 16, 1852, by the pastor, assisted by Rev. S. H. Reid, of Huntingdon County. The building committee consisted of John Barnhart (who with his family had by this time united with the congregation), Daniel Kiehl, and David J. Wells. The subscription-paper was headed by Daniel Kiehl with $400, followed by John Barnhart with $325, Simon Cort, $330, John Kiehl, $120, Joseph Cort, $80, and twenty on down to $5. Many of the citi- zens of the town gave in sums of $50 down to $5, among whom were Hon. Joseph A. Kuhns, Gen. H. D. Fos- ter, Hon. Edgar Cowan, Henry Welty, Esq., and about fifty others.
Rev. Mr. Giesy resigned July, 1855, to accept a call to Hagerstown, Md., and Jan. 1, 1856, was succeeded by Rev. T. G. Apple, then of Easton, Pa. He con- tinued to April 1, 1857, and was followed the next month by Rev. L. H. Kefauver, of Adams County.
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GREENSBURG.
His pastorate continued three years and nine months. On April 1, 1862, Rev. H. W. Super became pastor, and this congregation, with those at Seanor Church and Irwin, was constituted one charge. He resigned in April, 1865, and was followed in January, 1866, by Rev. George H. Johnston, who served one year. His successor, Rev. T. J. Barkley, remained three years and four months, May 1, 1870, when he accepted a call to Grace Church, Pittsburgh. Rev. John W. Love's pastorate began Nov. 17, 1870.
This congregation has furnished for the ranks of the active ministry three efficient and successful preachers, -Revs. Cyrus Cort, Henry F. Keener, and Henry D. Darbarker,-all of whom were confirmed here. An- other one of its founders is Rev. Professor Lucian Cort, a distinguished laborer in the cause of Christian female education.
LION'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CONGREGATION.
In the autumn of 1847, Rev. Michael J. Stock, pastor of the German Lutheran congregation of Greensburg, made arrangements for regular English services to be held for the time being in the German Church. In order to carry out the purpose of Rev. M. J. Steck an English Lutheran minister was called, in the person of Rev. John Rugan, to take charge of this new enterprise in Greensburg, and also to assist Rev. Steck in other parts of his extensive field.
Services were held regularly every alternate Sab- bath, with very fair prospects of soon organizing an English Lutheran congregation. These services were conducted for a short time in the German Church, but as soon as it became known that it was the pur- pose to organize an English congregation the use of the German Church was denied, on the plea that an English congregation could not be allowed to be formed in a German Church.
When our German Lutheran fathers closed their church against their own children because they were English the use of the Episcopal Church was obtained for a short time, and when that could no longer be had, through the kindness of the commissioners the use of the court-house was granted.
After all necessary preliminary arrangements had been made an English Lutheran congregation was organized on the 16th of January, 1848, under the title of Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Greens- burg, with forty members, Rev. John Rugan, pastor, and the church council was constituted as follows : Elders, Daniel Welty and Martin Hartzell; Deacons, Daniel Kistler and Henry K. Welty ; Trustees, Sam- uel Hoffman and Peter Rummel.
Rev. Rugan continued to serve this new congrega- tion with fidelity and success till the autumn of 1848. On the 1st of October he resigned this congregation and accepted a call from St. James' and Salem, and the Rev. Michael Eyster, of Greencastle, Pa., became pastor of Zion's Church, Greensburg, and Trinity Church, Adamsburg. The services were held in the
court-house till the fall of 1848, when the old Presby- terian Church was leased, in which services were held till the autumn of 1851, when the congregation com- pleted and dedicated their own house of worship.
A movement to build a new church was commenced in the fall of 1850. Committees were appointed to secure a suitable lot and raise the necessary funds for this purpose.
The committee on securing a lot reported that Mr. John Kuhns offered a lot on the corner of Junction and Second Streets, which was thankfully accepted. The committee on finance also made a favorable re- port, and measures were taken to proceed with the work of church building without delay.
A plan was proposed and adopted, and the follow- ing-named persons were appointed as building com- mittee, viz. : Messrs. John Kuhns, T. J. Cope, Lewis .Trauger, Daniel Kistler, and John Bortz.
On the 1st of February, 1851, the contract for building the church was let to Mr. Philip Walthour, for the sum of $2800.
The work of building, which was commenced early in the spring, was vigorously and successfully prose- cuted during the summer until the fall of the same year, when the church was completed, and it was dedicated to the worship of God on the 21st of No- vember, 1851. Rev. Michael Eyster, the pastor, was assisted on this occasion by Revs. W. A. Passavant and W. L. Emery.
The dimensions of the church were forty-five by sixty-five feet, with basement and gallery, neatly finished and comfortably furnished.
- Under the faithful ministry of Rev. M. Eyster the congregation enjoyed an increasing measure of pros- perity in their new church; the membership .was doubled in less than five years, but in August, 1853, the ministry of this devoted man was suddenly ended by death.
His death fell like a great calamity on the congre- gation, and it suffered a vacancy of some months, as the minds of the people could not at once unite on a successor to their lamented and highly-esteemed pastor.
In April, 1854, Rev. Milton Valentine, now Dr. Valentine, of Pennsylvania College, became pastor of this congregation, and continued to labor in this field for one year. Though he was very faithful and diligent, he was not able during his short ministry to do more than repair the loss sustained by the va- cancy that followed the death of Rev. Eyster.
The resignation of Rev. M. Valentine was again followed by a vacancy of four months, during which the congregation was supplied by Rev. A. H. Waters.
In August, 1855, Rev. W. F. Ulery became pastor of this congregation, and continued to labor with a good degree of success for eight years. During his ministry one hundred and seventy persons were added to the membership; loss by death and re- moval, sixty-five; leaving the membership one hun-
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
dred and seventy, double what it was when his ministry commenced.
Immediately after his resignation, Rev. Daniel Garver, of Canton, Ohio, was elected as his successor, who entered on his duties on the 1st of October, 1863. He labored faithfully and successfully at his calling until the 6th of September, 1865, when the Master called him home to his reward. During his short ministry twenty-two persons were received into the fellowship of the congregation. After his death there was a vacancy of four months.
On the last of January, 1866, Rev. J. K. Plitt be- came pastor of this church, and continued to labor faithfully in this field till July, 1878. During his ministry one hundred and nineteen persons were received into the communion of the congregation, leaving the communicant membership at his resigna- tion two hundred and forty. After his removal there was a vacancy of ten months.
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