History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 61

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 61

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" This stone is erected

Out of the Gratitude Of his Consort."

Truly, " the force of satire could no further go."

was changed or divided into two Classes, to be thence- forth known as the Westmoreland and the Erie Classes.'

In 1850, by the Ohio Synod, the pastors and charges north of the Kiskiminetas River, and belonging to the Westmoreland Classis, were permitted to organize a new Classis. Westmoreland remained with the Ohio Synod up to the formation of the Pittsburgh Bynod, Feb. 12, 1870.

In October, 1871, the Pittsburgh Synod granted a request to the Westmoreland Classis to divide again into three parts, to be known by the names of West- moreland, Somerset, and Allegheny Classes. This division went into effect in June, 1872.

The first meeting of the Classis was held at New Salem (Delmont P. O.) in June, 1872. Rev. John I. Swander (now of Ohio) was elected president; Rev. J. F. Snyder, stated clerk; and Rev. John W. Love, treasurer.

We give the statistical report for the Westmoreland Classis for 1881 :

MINISTERS.

Congregat's.

Members.

UnconArmed

Jacob T. Snyder ...........

2 Emmenoel. ..................

John W. Love

3.Second, Greensburg ..

209 967

David B. Lady.

2 Brush Creek .....

660

John McConnell.

2 Salina ...

109

Samuel Z. Beam.

4 Mount Pleasant .....

228

400

George D. Gurley ..

1 |Latrobe ..

Benjamin B. Forer

3 Plesssat Unity.

815

John Dotterer.

1 Pine Bun.

189

Albert E. Truxal.

1 Irwin.

Charles W. Good

2 Salem ..

Prof. Lucian Cort ...

Principal Greensbarg Female Som

...... ......

James Grant ....

Without charge.

......

1 St. James Congregation

Supplied by Rev. Good. Wmn. H. Bates

1 Johnstown ...

Total, 15.

3096 2340

In the mutation of things, the history of the Re- formed Church in Westmoreland County has a chap- ter full of matter for melancholy reflection. This is the one devoted to the sketches of those congregations which are now extinct. Of these there were five,- namely, the Mühleisen (now called by its English name, the Milliron), Donegal, Indian Creek, Barren Run, and the Forks congregations. These were all located in the southeastern part of Westmoreland and the northeastern part of Fayette County. The dates of their organization are not known, and very little

" "Accordingly, the first meeting of Westmoreland Classis proper con- vened by appointment of Synod at Kindigh's, or St. John's Church, near Mount Pleasant, Pa., May 28th, 1843. There were present at this meet- ing dix ministers and seven elders, namely : Revs. N. P. Hacke, William Conrad, H. A. Ibeken, William Winel, H. E. P. Voigt, H. Knepper ; and Elders John Wentzel, Henry Smith, Michael Ruby, Benjamin Country- man, M. Zimmerman, Peter Whitehead, and David Stemble. There were absent : Revs. H. Koch, G. Lidy, P. Zeiser, and J. Althouse. Rev. William Conrad was elected President; Rev. H. A. Ibeken, Secretary, and Elder Peter Whitehead, Treasurer."

Digitized by

Google

160

178

Cyrus R. Dieffenbacher.

2 First, Greenebart

243

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

of their history, as no documentary history has been preserved.

These were, no doubt, the result of Rev. Weber's missionary labors in that region during his ministra- tions. Probably some of them are of a later date, as the first record of these congregations, as referred to in the "History of the Reformed Church," is found in the minutes of the Eastern District Synod of Ohio for the year 1841. With the exception of the Milliron con- gregation, there is no written record of any of them prior to this date. Tradition, however, reports that they were served by the Rev. Weber and his succes- sors, Revs. Weinel and Voight. The record for that year shows that these congregations, except that of Barren Run, were a part of the Mount Pleasant charge, of which Rev. Voight was pastor. In 1845 the name of the Forks is dropped, and that of Barren Run ap- pears for the first time. But from the following year it does not appear again upon the record. The number only, and not the names of the other congregations, appear after 1849, but some of them still are con- tinued till 1859. From this time there is no further notice taken in the records of the Classes of any of them.

Of these it may be said that there is no evidence they were ever in a prosperous condition, that they seem to have been weak and unpromising interests from the start, and that organized in remote localities, they could not receive the necessary pastoral services to make them prosperous, even under more favorable circumstances. For many years the organizations were kept up, and served with difficulty by the pastors, until they died from neglect. The membership was scattered, and some being absorbed in other denomi- nations.

The Rev. C. C. Russell is reported as the last Re- formed minister who preached at Indian Creek and Barren Run. He visited the congregations for the purpose of reorganizing them, but found the material entirely lost to the Reformed Church. The Rev. J. A. Heller stopped preaching at Donegal, while he was pastor at the Mount Pleasant charge, about 1870-72. This is the last account of any services held in any of these congregations.

The Muhleisen, or Milliron, congregation shall have something more said of it in the local history of the township to which it belongs. In their "Gottes- Acker" they hold the bones of their first missionary, John William Weber. And strange, while the con- gregation itself has passed into the " unseen forever," the old church, with its old octagonal pulpit, now covered with spider-webs, and the old "pastor's house," still remain deserted but not desecrated, while the little graveyard, with many unmarked graves, is yet kept cleanly and neatly, and over all is the granite monument erected by the Westmoreland Classis to the memory of their pioneer missionary.

REV. JOHN WILLIAM WEBER .- Rev. John Wil- liam Weber was born in the province of Wittzonstein,

Germany, on the 4th of March, 1785. He was a school-teacher in the fatherland. He emigrated to America probably in 1764, and in the "Coetal" (syn- odical) minutes of 1771 he is mentioned as a "school- master, who appeared with the request that he might be examined as to his knowledge of Divine things." The examination proving satisfactory, he was author- ized to preach. His first charge must have been in Northampton County, or rather in that part of it which constitutes Monroe County in this State. The . German traveler Schoepf, who passed through there in 1782, says in the account of his journey, "After we left Eckhardt's we missed the way which we were to take to Brinker's Mill, turning to the left; in this way, however, we came past several farms, for which we would not have looked in this region. They lay scattered in the woods, and are settled for the most part by Germans; for these are inclined mostly to lo- cate in remote places, where they can obtain land at a low price. We passed a small log church, which has been built by the Lutheran and German Reformed, whom it served alternately as a place of worship. Rev. Pastor Weber last served this congregation. We went to Pittsburgh."

In a document drawn up by Mr. Weber himself, he says that he came to Westmoreland County in September, 1782, and that he preached in Pittsburgh before the 18th of October in the same year, when he was officially called to the charge at a salary of £116 in money, one hundred bushels of wheat, a free house, and firewood annually. The 'traveler, Schoepf, refers again to Mr. Weber, when he was at Pittsburgh, in October, 1782. Speaking of this city he says, "Public buildings, as houses for worship, there are as yet none here. There is, nevertheless, a German preacher here who ministers for believing persons of different confessions." These "believing persons" Mr. Weber no doubt organized into a congregation very soon afterwards, as the records of 1783 and his own constant language clearly imply. His labors ex- tended over a large territory, and continued for many years. He preached much. He catechised the young regularly in all the congregations. He laid the foun- dation of his church in these parts broad and deep, and upon them a structure has been raised worthy of the man. He is described by Dr. Harbaugh : " In personal appearance Mr. Weber was a good-looking. portly, well-formed man, blessed with a strong and vigorous constitution, and to undergo a great deal of labor and fatigue. He was of an ardent, quick tem- perament, free spoken, rapid, but clear and distinct, in his enunciation while preaching, and in the habit of what is generally termed 'calling things by their right names.'" His labors in Pittsburgh appear. to have extended to the year 1812. He continued his ;labors in the country congregations until almost the day of his death, in July, 1816. He reached the ripe ' old age of nearly eighty-two.

His name is mentioned in the still remaining frag-

Digitized by Google

244

HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

mental congregational records. More particular refer- ence to his labors here we have in his journal and in the papers referred to in his biography. A pretty full account of his life and services is contained in the second volume of Harbaugh's "Fathers of the Reformed Church," from page 208 to 221.

REV. NICHOLAS P. HACKE, D.D .- This eminent divine departed this life on Monday, Aug. 26, 1878. His remains were interred in the German burying- ground, in Greensburg, on Thursday, August 29th, in the presence of a very large assemblage of citizens, ministers, and professional men. The Rev. Thomas G. Apple, D.D., president and professor in the theolog- ical seminary in Lancaster, Pa., was present, and preached the funeral sermon in the old German Church in Greensburg, where the remains of the de- ceased were placed during the funeral ceremonies, in which several distinguished clergymen participated.

The closing of the business houses and the un- usually large number of people who assembled to pay the last sad homage of respect to the memory of Dr. Hacke, evinced the profound respect that was felt for the deceased. Dr. Hacke was born in Baltimore, but educated in Germany. When he was about sixteen years of age he returned to America and studied di- vinity in Baltimore under the care of a Reformed min- ister. At the age of about nineteen years he came to Greensburg, in Westmoreland County, and soon after took charge of the German Reformed congregations in Greensburg, at Harrold's and at Brush Creek. The old German meeting-house in Greensburg, erected at the joint expense of the Lutheran and Reformed con- gregations, was a log building, erected in 1796 or shortly before that time, on the parsonage lot where Dr. Hacke lived previous to his death. Prior to his coming to Greensburg, the old brick Lutheran and Reformed German meeting-house, on the west side of Main Street, was commenced, but not finished when Dr. Hacke came out here, and it is said he preached his first sermon in Greensburg in the old court-house. He was the cotemporary of six of the president judges of Westmoreland County, namely, Judges Young, White, Knox, Burrell, Buffington, and Logan, and has survived all of them but two, and of all the members of the bar who were practicing law in 1819, when Dr. Hacke first came to Greensburg, but one is now surviving. At different periods of his life he had charge of at least nine congregations, namely, Greensburg, Harrold's, Brush Creek, Ridge, Ligonier, Youngstown, Hill's, Seanor's, and Manor.

No man in the county had intimate social relations with so large a number of respectable and influential citizens, and hence when Dr. Hacke was in the vigor of life he was himself a power in the county, and young men entering upon a professional career sought his friendship as a passport to success. His learning was accurate, solid, and comprehensive, and his con- versation varied, chaste, mirthful, and entertaining. His judgment of capacity and character was excellent.

A superficial, pretentious outside appearance never deceived him. In fact, all such characters soon dis- covered that it was useless and damaging to subject their shallow assumptions and pretended knowledge to the clear sunlight of his great discernment. By come law of our rational natures, men of great abil- ity, although of very dissimilar talents, naturally gravitate towards each other. With such there is an inherent law of friendship and cordial feeling when this tendency is not overcome by some stronger mo- tive of competition or ambitious aims. Not to speak of the living, we may refer to two of the eminent men of Greensburg, now deceased, as a striking il- lustration of what has just been remarked apon. The Hon. J. M. Burrell, formed by nature for politics rather than for the law, and Dr. Alfred T. King, the naturalist, both of whom were pre-eminent in their respective positions, were strongly attached to Dr. Hacke, and entertained for him the most profound respect ; and he, on his part, seems to have recipro- cated this sentiment of devotion. There was nothing in their professional or religious tendencies that led to this. It existed in spite of these causes of diverg. ence. Dr. Hacke was not only a Christian theologian, but also a religious philosopher, who in any age and in any country-on the banks of the Ganges, the Nile, or the Obi-would have "understood by the things that are made" the eternal power and divinity of the Creator, and his right to the homage, respect, and veneration of all intelligent creatures. It is said of Spinoza that he was a mystic, drunk with God. Dr. Hacke was the reverse of all this. His mind was practical rather than speculative. In the sphere of the things of the world he demanded proof or clear, logical demonstration based upon known facts.' While this was the tendency of his mental structure, it is evident that he was not wholly satisfied with this piecemeal and rodent process of attaining a knowl- edge of the facts in nature, because he read inces- santly and with eagerness, but with great discrimina- tion, the advanced thought and profound speculation of educated writers in every department of learning.

There is one trait of character without which no man can be great, whatever may be his ability. It is that inflexible firmness of purpose that moves along the whole stage of life without vacillation. The soul so habilitated is founded on a rock, and when the popular humor of the hour is spent is spared the mortification of having floated on a bubble, a retro- spect of which is hardly consistent with enduring self-respect. Dr. Hacke possessed in a remarkable degree this trait of character. New measures, tran- sient outbursts of popular fervor in advocacy of one virtue to the oversight of others equally important, did not enlist his sympathies or disturb the even tranquillity of his steadfast and immovable disposi- tion, and then when the ephemeral excitement had passed away, even those who had fallen in with the current of the abnormal movement could see and ap-

Digitized by Google

245

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

preciate "how much happier is he who remains im- movable, and smiles at the madness of the dance about him." For fifty-eight years of active minis- terial life Dr. Hacke sustained this solid character of temperateness, even in doing good, and when the community was surprised by radical and passionate popular movements in politics, morals, religion, and temperance, many learned to wait and hear what Dr. Hacke would say. This steadfastness indicated no indisposition to legitimate progress. Dr. Hacke was a great reader, and kept himself well informed on all scientific questions, and doubtless this had the effect of modifying his earlier convictions in regard to sci- entific truth. Perhaps the most difficult trial that he had to undergo in his ministerial capacity was the transition from German to English. The old mem- bers of his congregations of course insisted on ad- hering to German preaching and services in the churches, while the younger members, some of whom understood but little German, insisted on English preaching. Here was a dilemma hard to reconcile. Dr. Hacke was a man of large foresight, and doubt- less was convinced that sooner or later the transition must come; but while he lived he was anxious to pre- serve the unity and harmony of all his church-mem- bers, and could not, with propriety, take a very de- cided stand on either side, and some were unchari- table enough, perhaps, to say, " Yaw, der Hacke will auch Irish werden." But this was a great mistake. Dr. Hacke was a thorough German, proud of his Saxon ancestry. He had spent his youth at Bremen, on the Weser, which takes its rise near Detmold, where Arminius, his countryman, in the ninth cen- tury had annihilated the legions of Varus, the Roman consul, and where, at a later period, Wittekind, a man of illustrious descent and immense estates, in the eighth century resisted for several years the armies of Charlemagne. Their character was that of wild, ob- stinate freedom, and they were the last of the Ger- man tribes to accept the Christian religion; but within a generation after they had accepted it they became the most devoted followers of the Saviour.

And now, concludes his biographer to whom we are indebted, after fifty-eight years of active minis- terial service, the old patriarch, descended from this noble stock, has bid adieu to all the active pursuits of this world. In a good old age, crowned with honor and respect, he has been gathered unto his fathers, and will not rise "till the heavens be no more."

THE GREENSBURG SEMINARY.

Greensburg Seminary is located at Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pa., thirty-one miles east of Pitts- burgh, on the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad. At a meeting of the "Board of Trustees of Literary In- stitutions" of the Pittsburgh Synod of the Reformed Church, held March 3, 1874, this institution was estab- lished by the action of that body. In accordance with this action the preliminary steps were immediately

taken to put the institution on foot, and the idea of a permanent female seminary, which had been at- tempted at different times before, was now about to be realized. The Rev. Lucian Cort, of Martinsburg, Pa., was called to take charge of the enterprise. Although engaged in an important work in the insti- tution over which he presided at the time, he was in- duced by the earnest appeals and solicitations of the friends of the new enterprise to accept the call. After due consideration of the risks and the financial responsibilities of commencing and carrying forward such an undertaking, he entered upon the work in good faith, and the erection of the necessary buildings was accordingly commenced without delay. On the 18th of April a suitable location was purchased on elevated grounds overlooking the town and surround- ing country. On this beautiful site a large, elegant, and commodious building of the most substantial structure was erected for the accommodation of board- ing pupils and school purposes. The formal opening of the institution took place with appropriate services on the 7th of April, 1875. Thus in less than one year from the time of commencing the erection of the buildings they were entirely completed, and the in- stitution went into full operation. It took its origin, as may be seen on the one hand, from a deep-felt want in the minds of many of the citizens of Greensburg and surrounding community of a school of a high grade in their midst for the education of their daugh- ters, and on the other hand from the positive enact- ment of the Synod of the Reformed Church, in order to meet the educational wants of her own member- ship. The institution is thus brought into close rela- tion to the church, which gives it a broader basis and a more permanent character than a merely private project. It secures not only the support but the sanction of the church, without which no institution of learning can expect permanently to prosper. Whilst it is thus under the fostering care of the Re- formed Church, it is not sectarian, but only denomi- national and distinctively Christian. Its advantages are not exclusive, but free and open to all. With such a wide scope in view, it hopes to subeerve the general interests of Christian education, as well as the special wants of the particular denomination under whose care and direction it was more especially established.

The general object and character of the institution is set forth in a circular letter published before the opening, and is as follows :

" The object of this institution is to afford to young ladies the advan- tages of a Christian education as distinguished from a mere secular training. It aims to accomplish this important end not by cultivating their mental powers only, but their moral, social, and esthetic nature as well, thus developing the female character in broad, beautiful, and bar- monious proportions. Her education should be such es to fit her for the duties of her appropriate sphere. She may have an important mission to accomplish in the more public or literary arena, but she wields a far greater power and influence in the social and domestic relations of life, which is undoubtedly her appropriate sphere of action.

" It will be the constant aim of the principal to develop all those

Digitized by Google

246

HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

powers of mind and character which will fit her to move with dignity. grace, and effect in the various relations of life. While the colid braacbes of an education will always be made a principal object, those of a more ornamental character, such as music, painting, drawing, etc., will sieo receive special attention. The cultivation of correct taste and good manDers will always be ineleted upon as an important element in female education. These attainments, with the grace of Christian plety, form the crowning virtues of the female character. The course of studies in broad and liberal, such as to meet all the demands of a good education. " The instructions will be thorough, scientific, and practical. The very best facilities and advantages for gaining a first-class education will thus be afforded those availing themselves of its provisions."

In accordance with this design and purpose the in- stitution was opened, and the work of education com- menced and carried forward under most favorable auspices. All the departments of instruction were filled with able and competent teachers, which at once gave character to the institution, and was a means of attracting pupils. From the beginning the school enjoyed a respectable patronage, and the pupils have always come from the more substantial class of our citizens. It has grown in favor and in confidence with the pupils and people gradually until it has at- tained to th. ch ... acter and reputation of a first-c:ass school. While many of the older schools in the country were compelled, on account of the pressure of hard times, to suspend their exercises temporarily, or to close entirely, Greensburg Seminary maintained itself successfully beyond the expectation of its most sanguine friends. It is no more a doubtful experi- ment but an accomplished fact,-a successful enter- prise, and ranks among the best schools of the land. The annual examinations of the various classes, the elegant entertainments by the young ladies in the de- partment of music, the splendid exhibitions of the art department, and especially the creditable exercises of the annual commencement, are the best evidence of the character and efficiency of the work accomplished for the cause of higher education by this young but vigorous institution. It assuredly is a matter of great gratification to the principal and friends of the insti- tution to see so much evidence of the good work ac- complished, and to know that their efforts in behalf of the cause of female education have been, at least to some extent, appreciated by the public. It is, there- fore, hoped that the seminary will continue to receive the patronage and support its merits so justly deserve, and that its future will be as successful as its past his- tory. Young ladies completing the prescribed course of study and passing the final examinations will be awarded diplomas by the authorities of the institu- tion.

It will be perceived from the foregoing sketch that Greensburg Seminary is not merely an ordinary select or high school, but an institution of a high grade, in which young ladies may acquire all the branches of a polite and liberal education.

The school was originally established as a female seminary exclusively, and as such was carried for- ward successfully for four years. To meet the want of a good school for young men, it was then thought

best to open a male department in connection with the seminary by so changing its original design as also to extend its privileges and advantages to young men. This opened the institution to a wider sphere of usefulness and more extended operations. Accord- ingly, suitable departments of instruction were pro- vided for both sexes.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 61

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: