History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 65

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
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USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 65

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Previous to the erection of the new church building and after the sale of the first one, a small brick church, formerly used by the Presbyterians, and standing in a corner of now St. Clair Cemetery, together with the court-house, were used for preaching in. The first class met in this little church, and the second and other classes, when formed in 1884 and 1885 and thereafter, met principally at private houses until their own church was built. These private houses were those of William Gorgas, Jane Mckinney, Da- vid Cook, John McGeary, William Robinson, and Hugh Arters, and besides these places, prayer-meet- ings and revival meetings were also held at the houses of Jacob Myers, Samuel B. Bushfield, Samuel S. Tur- ney, Robert W. Turney, William S. Brown, and others. Meetings were held at some of these even when the first

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Dec. 14 and 15, 1850, the Second Quarterly Meet- ing Conference for Connellsville Circuit was held in the church on the cemetery grounds.

In 1849 the pastor in charge, Rev. J. G. Sansom, suggested that the meeting-house be enlarged or a new one built to accommodate the increasing con- gregation. The suggestion was acted upon, and in September the trustees appointed = committee of three-C. J. Kenley, William Robinson, and William A. Cook-to open a subscription and ascertain how much money could be raised for a new church build- ing. The money raised therewith, together with that realized from the sale of their old edifice, was used in purchasing a lot and building = new church. Early in 1850 the lot on the northeast corner of Main and Second Streets was purchased from Jehu Taylor. The building was begun on this lot in 1851. The basement was completed so as to be used for worship in 1852, and the audience-room was finished the fol- lowing fall, and on Nov. 25, 1852, the building was dedicated by Bish on Simpson.

At a meeting of the members of the church and a few friends, held Oct. 14, 1885, the first "Methodist Sabbath-School Society of Greensburg" was organ- ized, with Rev. David Sharp as president; Rev. Jeremiah Knox as vice-president; John W. Barr, superintendent; George T. Ramsey, assistant super- intendent and treasurer; William Mckinney, secre- tary ; and Charles F. Kenley, librarian. In 1871 it acquired an organ for the use of the school.

UNITED BRETHREN.

The church of the " United Brethren in Christ" began its existence among the Germans of America soon after the middle of the eighteenth century.1

The ecclesiastical literature of this denomination ardently proclaims that divine Providence greatly favored this people at that time by raising up min- isters of the gospel filled with grace and zeal and the disposition and ability to go out among their widely-scattered population and preach in such a manner as to gather many to their standard.

Prominent among those evangelista were William Otterbein, Martin Boehn, George A. Geeting, and Christian Newcomer.

Those men obeying what they took to be a call from the Lord, their labors were blest of the Lord. Ex- cellent societies were formed in many places, and congregations, after the manner of the Methodists, were established wherever they went. As the spirit of revival and reformation prevailed, their sphere of action spread more and more, so that they soon found it necessary to seek fellow-laborers to work in the fields, where the harvest was plenteous and the labor- ers were few. So the number of consecrated work- men was rapidly increased.

The number of believers multiplied, and the refor- mation spread through the States of Maryland, Vir- ginia, and Pennsylvania.

From the year 1766 to 1789, a period of twenty- three years, the preachers, who felt that they were "united brethren," and who were co-operating in the revival movement, met together as often as once a year, and generally at a great meeting, where in mu- tual and brotherly counsel they attended to cach bosi- ness as properly belonged to a Presbytery, a Classis, or a Conference. As the number of laborers increased, and as applications for authority to preach from those whom, as it was regarded, God had manifestly called and qualified for the work multiplied, these informal Conferences became more necessary and important. Mr. Otterbein, being eminently qualifed, usually pro- sided, and his counsels and instructions, especially to the rising ministry, were in a high degree useful.

At length, however, a formal Conference was deemed necessary ; the work had become so far extended that it became impracticable to attend to the necemary business of the church at the great meetings. Ac- cordingly the first Conference, regularly convened, was held in Baltimore in 1789. Fourteen preachers were recognized as members.

The second regular Conference was convened in 1791, in York County, Pa. Nine additional laborers were recognized, making in all twenty-three.

After this period it was found necessary to hold Conferences annually, in order to more closely unite the preachers and to establish a better plan for their labors.

At these Conferences the preachers who could give their whole time in traveling were assigned particular fields of labor, wherein they. worked as itinerants. Others were appointed to bold revival meetings des- ignated at the Conferences, in different sections of the country, and to devote as much of their time to the work of evangelization as circumstances would permit.

At a Conference held in Maryland in the year 1800, the name " United Brethren in Christ" was adopted. Up until this period the church had passed under the name of " United Brethren," an appellation very ap- propriate considering that converted Mennonists, Ro- formed Lutherans, Tunkers, and Amish were drawn together and compressed into this one harmonious ecclesiastical organization. The additional words "in Christ" were appended to the former name in order to give distinctness as a denomination, and to avoid any legal difficulty which might arise in making deeds, wills, and other legal instruments. In the year 1815, at a General Conference, composed of rep- resentatives of the entire church organization East and West, a discipline was adopted setting forth the doctrines and rules of the church according as they were taken to be, as based on the word of God, so that harmony and peace might be preserved both in doc- trine and practice as the church increased.

The polity of the church is a very modified episco-

1 My thanks for assistance in this sketch are due to Rev. F. Fisher and Rev. J. C. Shearer.

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pacy, in which the bishops are elected quadriennially and are not ordained to a superior order, but chosen as superintendents of the church.

All ecclesiastical authority is vested in a General Conference, consisting of elders elected by vote of the members of the church congregations from every Conference district. The bishops are elected by this body, and are its presiding officers. They superintend the Annual Conferences in the respective districts over which they are appointed. They officiate iu ordinations, and assist in stationing the preachers, according to the itinerant plan.

The conditions of membership in this church body are profession of faith in Christ and an experience of pardon of sin and peace with God.

The denomination now numbers one hundred and sixty thousand members, mostly English-speaking people. In our county they comprise a generally intelligent and respectable portion of the people.

The first United Brethren preachers who came to this county were Christian Newcomer, George A. Geeting, Abraham Draksel, Charles Berger, and An- drew Zeller.

These ministers came on extensive missionary tours from Eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland, visiting the county at intervals of three or four months, preach- ing in the houses, barns, and groves of those members of their communion who had moved from the East. Christian Newcomer, afterwards third bishop of the church, was the first to come to this county on those long preaching tours. His journal is still preserved, and shows that he visited this county and preached in it as early as 1800. He says,-

"Oct. 22, 1800. From thence I came to Mr. George Mumma's, a relation of mine in Westmoreland County, and stayed for the night. 23d. This morning set off on my way very early ; fed at a public-house in Lin- ganore [Ligonier] Valley," [this was at the old May's tavern stand, on theturnpike between Donegal and Laurel- ville]. Another extract will show the route by which these preachers traveled to this country from the East:

"Nov. 8, 1803. We traveled about thirty miles over a very mountainous section of country ; preached at Mr. Guth's, near Berlin. . . . 9th. To-day we -par- sned our journey across Laurel Hill, where we lodged with Henry Filger, in Ligonier Valley. 10th. We held a meeting at Mr. Weible's. The word made great impression. At night we preached at Mr. Bon- nett's [one mile east of Mount Pleasant], an intelligent German [but of French extraction]. Here I spoke from Heb. ii. 3. I had not spoken long before some of my hearers fell to the floor, others stood trembling and crying so loud that my voice could scarcely be heard." Six years later he writes,-

"June 20, 1809. This forenoon we had meeting at Walter's; in the afternoon I spoke at Swartz's ; lodged here for the night." [ This was near Pleasant Unity, at the house of John Swartz, grandfather of Mrs. John Gibbs and Mr. Paul Swartz, of Mount Pleasant.]

"21st. This day we preached in Greensburg, in the court-house ; Geeting preached in the German, myself in the English language."

Six years later he writes of being at the General Conference at Mount Pleasant :

"June 5th [1815]. Came to Worman's. 6th. This day the General Conference commenced at old Brother Draksel's. . . . Lodged with John Shupe" [ancestor of Mr. Oliver Shupe, of Mount Pleasant].

His visits are recorded as late as 1827, having been kept up with more or less frequency for a period of twenty-seven years. At page 313 of his printed "Journal" is the following entry : "June 22, 1827. Came to Daniel Worman's. 23d. Lodged at Bon- nett's. 24th. This forenoon I preached here from Luke xxiv. 45-47." .

At the first General Conference held in this region, above alluded to, were present the following ministers: Revs. Abraham Mayer, Henry Kumler, John Snyder, Abraham Draksel, and Christian Berger, of the State of Pennsylvania ; Revs. - Newcomer and Jacob Baulus, of Maryland ; Revs. Christian Crum, Isaac Niswander, and H. G. Spayth, of Virginia ; and Revs. Andrew Zeller, A. Hiestand, Daniel Tryer, and George Benedum, of Ohio.

Thus it will be seen that the church in this county has considerable historic interest, and the old house wherein was held this early church meeting is now a Mecca for the pilgrims of this faith. Every reason- able effort has been made to preserve it from demoli- tion, and it has been photographed and produced in all kinds of engravings, and in print hangs on many walls. It is certainly a commendable trait of respect and veneration now that the denomination has grown rich and influential that its members should set such store by old landmarks so full of interest.

The first resident United Brethren minister in the county was Rev. Abraham Draksel, or Draksell (now Truxell). He owned and lived upon the farm now occupied by David Miller, near Mount Pleasant. His grandson, Rev. J. H. Pershing, has charge of Ligonier Circuit, and resides at New Florence. Notable among the names of the pioneer ministers of the church in this county is that of Henry Spayth, who moved to Mount Pleasant and became resident pastor there about the year 1815. Besides performing the labori- ous pastoral work of more than half a century, he wrote a history of the church, and assisted largely in the preparation of a denominational hymn-book. Few men did more than he to shape the polity of the church during a period of thirty years, from 1815 to 1845.

The first preaching-places in the county were the one designated above, near Mount Pleasant, and others at Donegal, West Newton, Madison, Greens- burg, and Pleasant Unity.

The first regular organizations were at Mount Pleasant, Madison, and near West Newton.

Among the oldest of living preachers who labored

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for the church in this county during the last half-cen- tury are Rev. J. L. Baker, now seventy-two, still traveling a circuit afoot, and preaching with youthful clearness and force, and Rev. William Beighel, still in charge of a circuit and resident at Pleasant Unity.

Peter Walter, of Lycippus, is the oldest member of the church in the county .. He was converted, in a religious sense, and joined the church, then in a barn near Pleasant Unity, at the age of eighteen, and has now belonged to the church as a member for seventy years. He attended the first General Conference at Mount Pleasant in 1815, and knew all the early preachers that came to this section.

David Keister, an early member of Mount Pleasant, now above seventy, retains a large store of the tradi- tional history of his church, and remembers distinctly many of the fathers. He has a complete file of the Religious Telescope, the denominational organ of the church.

The early growth of the United Brethren Church was slow, owing to the fact that its early ministers were evangelists rather than organizers; hence it is a matter of complaint that, although their labors were abundant and their converts numerous, yet these fruits were often garnered by more skillful organizers of other denominations. These early preachers spoke German, and seldom preached English ; hence, as the children of the families learned English at school and began to lose the use of the German, they preferred English preaching, and consequently joined other churches.

There are now siz pastoral charges in this county, -Mount Pleasant station, in charge of Rev. J. C. Sharer ; Westmoreland Circuit, with the venerable Rev. Isaac Potter as pastor ; Madison Circuit, Rev. J. S. Buell, pastor; Greensburg, under pastoral care of Rev. J. L. Jones; Ligonier Circuit, Rev. J. H. Pershing pastor ; the west half of Ligonier Circuit is served by Rev. A. Davidson.

These pastoral charges consist of seventeen organ- ized churches, worshiping in fourteen meeting-houses, and having a total membership of twelve hundred and ninety-five members.

THE MENNONISTS-THEIR SETTLEMENT IN THE COUNTY.

America and settled in and about Germantown (now Philadelphia), and at subsequent times other bodies of. them came and located near the original settle- ment. In 1736 five hundred settled in Lancaster County, and from this region they gradually dispersed into various States. In the last part of the eighteenth century the first Mennonist families settled in West- moreland County, and as years rolled by its settle- ment received several additions from the Eastern hives. With an eye to plenty and prosperity, the Mennonist pioneers settled in East Huntingdon town- ship, one of the most beautiful and fertile sections of the county, at the same time one rich in minerals. In the same valley, but across Jacobs Creek and in Fayette County, another settlement of Meanonists came. To this settlement came principally Lancaster County families, while to West Overton came gener- ally families from Bucks County.

Among the subscribers to "The Christian Confes- sion of Faith," published at Philadelphia in 1727, occur the surnames Kolb, Ziegler, Gorgas, Conerade, Hirchi, Bear, Bowman, Langenecker, Beghtly. These surnames are to be found in Westmoreland, with such phonetic changes as point unmistakably to their deri- vation from the former. Thus Kolb has become Culp and Gulp; Ziegler, Zigler; Conerad, Coonrad; Hir- chi, Harshey and Hershey ; Langenecker, Long- necker. In other documents occur the surnames Oberholtzer, now Oberholt; Kendigs, now Kintig; Miller, Funk, Bowman still the same in this county. In the original list of subscribers to this Confession of Faith, " done and finished in our united churches in the city of Dortrecht, 21st April, A.D. 1632," occar the surnames Jacobs, Willisemsen, now Williamson; Winkelmans, now Winkleman ; Zimmerman, now the same, or translated into Carpenter; Shoomaker, now Shoe-, Shu- and Sboonmaker; Moyers, now the same, or Meyer, Meyers; Koenig, now King; Bom, now Baum; Claeson, now Clawson; Petersen, DOW Peterson ; Segerts, now about the same; Haus, now pronounced Houtz; op de Graff, now Updegraff. Thus the connection is shown between the Westmore- land Mennonists of the latter half of the nineteenth century and the Dortrecht, Utrecht, Leyden, Rotter- dam, and Amsterdam Mennonists of more than two hundred years ago.

The Mennonist Church is one of the fragments In this county the sect is on the decline. At one time their communicants were here numbered by hundreds, while now there are less than forty, and not one of these under the age of forty. The Men- nonist Church is in East Huntingdon township (which chapter see for its history), about midway in a line running north and south between West Overton and Bethany, and about midway in a line running east and west between Mount Pleasant and Reagantown. Its last minister was John Overholt, who resided on the eastern flank of the hilly range that farther north in the county is the well-defined Randolph or Dry into which the mother-church of Rome was shivered by reforming hands in the Middle Ages, and is ac- cordingly one of the many Protestant sects. The founder of the Mennonite-more preferably " Men- nonist"-sect was Menno Simon, who was in Fries- land in 1495 or '96, three years after the discovery of America by Columbus. He was contemporary with Luther, Zwinglius, Bucer, Calvin, Bullinger, and Me- lancthon. His doctrines were accepted by great num- bers, who became persecuted, and largely dispersed into Prussia, Poland, Denmark, Holland, and Russia. In 1683 a number of Mennonist families came to | Ridge. Since their settlement here the Mennonists

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have been distinguished for their moral worth, thrift, industry, and intelligence, and no portion of the county excels the part originally settled by them and still almost entirely owned and occupied by their numerous and forehanded descendants.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Salem Baptist Church, located near West New- ton, is the oldest of this faith in Westmoreland County.1 There are not more than three in the western part of the State that antedate it, and it may be there is but one. It was constituted nineteen years before the First Baptist Church in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately the records of its constitution, if there were ever any kept, have been lost. Yet the history that antedates its constitution, and for some years after, was kept in the attentive memory of Brother J. P. Weddell. Richard Pritchard, his grandfather, was a member of the Presbyterian Church, but from his study of the Scriptures was convinced that his baptism was not apostolic. The only Baptist Church that he could attend was in Washington County. Henry Speers was their pastor, and baptized him into the fellowship of that church. His wife soon after obeyed in the same ordinance. Soon after this Elder Speers began to preach in their house occasionally, on the farm now owned by Thomas Ray, where Elders Beatty and Corbley also preached. These meetings were held in memory by Father J. P. Weddell, who a short time since died.

The first persons baptized in that place were Jo- seph Budd and wife, and Nathaniel Hayden and wife, with some others whose names are forgotten.

The old meeting-house was built on the same spot where the present one now stands. It was built in the year 1792, and continued to be their place of worship until their present house was erected in the year 1842.

Among the early ministers were Lucy, Fry, and Phillips, and Elder Stone, pioneer preachers of West- ern Pennsylvania. Dr. James Estep preached to this church in his youth, in his prime, and even in his old age. He was their first regular pastor. He served them as a supply and pastor for almost half a century.

William Shadrach, D.D., when but a boy, with his youthful eloquence led many to connect them- selves with this church, some of whom are still mem- bers of the church.

Revs. Rockefeller, George I. Miles, and Dr. Wil- liam Penny, earnest ministers of the church, have gone to their rest, and their labors do follow them. The latter of these was baptized and received into the fellowship of this church. For thirty years pre- vious to the great revival under the preaching of Rev. Isaac Wynn, in 1841, was a dark page in the history of this church. They had no pastor and no preaching,

except when some traveling minister came among them. James Estep, generally once or twice a year, came and administered the sacrament. The members were few, but they were firm and true. They never ceased holding their prayer-meetings, and, like those of old, "They feared the Lord, and spake often one to an- other." At the latter part of this period there was a revival, which resulted in the conversion of over fifty persons, who were added to the church.

After Rev. Isaac Wynn closed his labors with the church, Rev. E. T. Brown took charge; then suc- ceeded Revs. Milton Sutton, R. R. Sutton, and J. K. Cramer, the latter of whom preached for them over twelve years. After he left the church was without a pastor for several years. Revs. A. N. Dye and 8. Washington each supplied them about six months. Rev. Daniel Webster was their pastor from June, 1869, till January, 1871. Rev. Aaron Wilson, their present pastor, entered upon his labors about April Ist. The Elizabeth, Mckeesport, Mars Hill, and Olive Branch were organized chiefly from the Salem Church.

The parsonage was built by Rev. A. Wilson.

Rev. A. Wilson closed his pastorate in April, 1873. Rev. W. T. Hughes entered upon pastorate in May, 1873. During his pastorate a branch was organized in West Newton, and a house built.

Rev. W. T. Hughes closed his pestorate, May, 1875. Rev. J. J. Leightburn became pastor November, 1875. He resigned in 1880. Now without a pastor, have a good church property and parsonage, worth $8000.

1882, Pastor, - -; Deacons, Nelson Weddell, Nathan M. Grew, J. M. Montgomery ; Clerk, J. M. Montgomery. Sunday-school of thirty.

MOUNT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH.

Organized November, 1828. Rev. William Shad- rach the first pastor, and only surviving constituent member. W. Shadrach ordained same year, and Abram Shallenberger ordained first deacon in Febru- ary, 1829. The next deacon was Jonathan Neumeyer. Both of these deacons have had sons ordained dea- cons of the same church.

Rev. Leroy Stephens resigned in 1879, having served the church about seven years, being the longest pastorate in the history of the church. Rev. N. L. Reynolds began his pastorate in 1880, and is still in charge of the church.

Few churches have had a more peaceful and pros- perous career for the last eighteen or twenty years.

It was through the members of this church and their efforts that the institute was located at Mount Pleasant, and they have given a liberal portion of the funds which have made it what it is.

MOUNT PLEASANT INSTITUTE.

The Baptists purchased the old Mount Pleasant College in 1870, and opened what is now known as . the " Western Pennsylvania Classical and Scientific

1 From " Minutes of the Pittsburgh Baptist Association for 1871."

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Institute" in September, 1878, under A. K. Bell, D.D., as president, and J. Jones, A.M., principal. The growth has been gradual but constant. ' Beginning with forty-six the first year, it has now reached one hundred and fifty, nearly all regular students. The institute is equaled by very few intermediate schoois in its full courses of study. There is a three-years' course to prepare for college, besides a three-years' sci- entific and a four-years' literary course.

There are now eight teachers besides the various lecturers. The property consists of a fine three-acre campus on one of the highest spots in the commu- nity, and covered with a beautiful grove of forest- 'trees, in full view of Chestnut Ridge. There are two large brick buildings, the one used as a ladies' dormi- tory building having cost twenty thousand dollars.

The graduates of the school are beginning to occupy positions of influence, and are giving evidence of the thorough work the school has done.

DONEGAL BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Baptist Church at Donegal was constituted June 14, 1834. The following are the names of the members: John R. Lohr, John Robison, Sr., John Robison, Jr., Samuel White (afterward removed to Iowa), Catharine Robison, Agnes Lohr, Margaret White, Julian Robison, Mary Lohr, Eleanor Shad- rach, Catharine Lohr, Mary Lohr (the younger), Lydia Weimer, Mary Berg, Eleanor Keslar. All these, with the exception of John R. Lohr, Samuel White, and Eleanor Keslar, are now dead. The church was organized by the Revs. John P. Rocke- feller and Levi Griffith, on the date above given, at which time the Rev. Rockefeller was chosen pastor, John R. Lohr, deacon, and John Robison, church clerk. It remained under the care of this pastor until April 1, 1835, when he resigned. On the 18th of that month Rev. Levi Griffith was chosen pastor, and he remained in charge until the 1st of March, 1837, when he was succeeded by Rev. Rockefeller, who was again pastor till March 31, 1838. He was then followed by these in their order : Rev. Milton Sutton, till Feb. 20, 1841 ; Rev. Garret R. Patton, from July 10, 1841, till 19th December, 1843; Rev. Caleb Russell, till March 7, 1846; Rev. Albert G. Eberhart, till March 20, 1847 ; Rev. W. W. Hickman, till April 20, 1850; Rev. John Parker, from Aug. 17, 1850, till March 13, 1852; Rev. J. K. Cramer, till Dec. 19, 1857; Rev. John Scott, till June 18, 1859; Rev. John

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History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 65

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

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