USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I > Part 61
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PUNXSUTAWNEY BAPTIST CHURCH
The Baptist Church of Punxsutawney was organized October 30, 1840, hy Rev. Thomas E. Thomas and Benoni Allen, with the follow- ing members by letter: Isaac London, Horam London, Lemuel Perry, Sr., Hannah Perry, John R. Rees, Margaret Rees, James Arm- strong, Mary Armstrong, Esther McMillen, Eliza Cochrane, Sarah Gilhousen and Eliza- beth MeCracken. In 1841 Rev. Thomas Wil- son took charge as pastor. Other pastors were Samuel Miles, J. J. Shorthill, Revs. Jeff- ries, Greesford and Muller, Rev. Mr. Parsley, James G. Noble, W. W. Connor, J. H. Palmer, P. J. McLean and Charles H. Fitzwilliam. Previous to the construction of the brick church on Jefferson street, in 1856, on the site now occupied by Carl North's livery, the Baptist congregation held services in the old schoolhouse on the public square. In 190.4. during the pastorate of Rev. Charles H. Fitz- william, the old church property was traded to Henry Rudolph for a lot on the south side of the park, where the present beautiful and commodious new church now stands, which was dedicated October 15, 1905. Rev. Henry Madtes is the present pastor, and the mem- bership is two hundred and twenty-five. James A. Minish, who has been a deacon in the church for many years, is perhaps the oldest member of the congregation now living (1915).
WELSH BAPTIST CHURCHI
The Welsh Baptist Church, West End. Punxsutawney, was organized in 1889 in the house of Thomas Gibbons, Horatio, by Rev. John R. Jones. The Tabernacle Baptist Church was built during the same year. The present pastor is T. B. Williams.
REYNOLDSVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH
The old Baptist organization was the pioneer church of Reynoldsville, having been
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
organized in the summer of 1858 at Cold Spring. The little congregation struggled along faithfully and was served by a number of energetic Christian pastors. Rev. C. H. Prescott started the good work in 1853, and was followed by Rev. Samuel Miles, Rev. Thomas Wilson, Rev. James Johnston, Rev. H. B. Runyan, Rev. B. H. Fish, Rev. Mr. Metz, Rev. Mr. Ridge, Rev. J. E. Dean, Rev. D. W. C. Harvey, Rev. Mr. Catell, Rev. J. W. Williams (during whose pastorate the pres- ent church was built), Rev. W. D. Kirken- dall, Rev. E. T. Derr, Rev. E. Lewis Kelley and Rev. John M. Dean. The pioneer church was a frame, erected in 1859 or 1860. The handsome brick church was erected in 1887- 88 at a cost of nine thousand nine hundred dollars. The large bell in the tower was pur- chased at a cost of over five hundred dollars by the Young People's Society of Faithful Workers. The present pastor ( 1915) is Rev. J. B. Smith.
MOUNT PLEASANT CHURCH
In 1840, as the result of the labors of Rev. Thomas Wilson at Corsica, the Mount Pleas- ant Church was organized. Many of the members of this church live in Clarion county. The church fence at the front is the line be- tween Jefferson and Clarion. Revs. S. P. Barr, D. W. Swigert, A. J. King, R. Dunlap and WV. B. Purdy have been among the successive pastors.
WARSAW CHURCH
Warsaw Church, at Richardsville, which was at first composed of members dismissed by letter from the Gethsemane and Brook- ville churches, was constituted April 22, 1865, with six constituent members. viz .: William Humphreys, Peter Rickard. Margaret Rickard, Andrew Rickard, Galbraith Wilson, Nancy Wilson. Since the organization the church has been served by the following pastors : Thomas Wilson, John Sallade, R. S. Hunt, W. M. Thompson, Daniel Webster, D. W. Swigart, Howell Jeffries, H. W. Boyer, T. J. Collins, R. Dunlap, S. P. Barr and W. B. Purdy. William Humphreys was ordained deacon at the organization, Joshua Long the following September; at a later date John Chamberlain and J. F. Snyder ; E. A. Bartlett and Thomas Brownell, June 8, 1885. Three ministers have been ordained: John Sallade, Thomas Evans and T. J. Collins.
BETHEL CHURCH
The Bethel Church at Sykesville, in Mc- Calmont township, was organized in June, 1886, with twenty or more members. Rev. J. N. Williams was the first pastor. Rev. H. H. Leamy, of Du Bois, had Sykesville in pastoral charge in 1878 in connection with the church at Du Bois, in Clearfield county.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
The pioneer priest to visit Jefferson county was Rev. John O'Neill, of Freeport, Pa. He visited here in 1832. There was no resident priest here until 1847, the pioneer Catholics in the county being attended by priests from Armstrong and Westmoreland counties. Pioneer services were held in the houses of John Dougherty, John Gallagher, Jacob Hoff- man and others. The pioneer priest stationed in Brookville was Father Dean, in 1847 : then Father Slatterly came from Clarion county, until 1851. The priests from St. Marys, Elk county, would occasionally hold services while passing through Brookville. In 1841 Bishop Kennick, of Philadelphia, delivered a temper- ance lecture in the courthouse. In 1852 Rev. Thomas Ledwith, who resided in Corsica, preached here occasionally. That year the cornerstone of the pioneer church was laid. This was on lot No. One on Water street. being the same lot on which the Evangelical church has since been built. In 1853 the brick work was completed, and although un- finished, it was dedicated July 8, 1854. Bishop Young, of Erie, Pa., officiated. I was there. His text was: "Hear Ye the Church." The church was neither plastered nor seated until about 1856. Up to 1853 services were always held in private houses.
In 1855 and 1856 Father Thomas Ledwith built near Corsica, St. Ann's Academy, a good- sized two-story brick building, with a base- ment, one room to serve as a chapel for the Catholics around Corsica and the rest of the building as a boarding school for young ladies. This academy was given in charge of the sis- ters of St. Joseph, Erie, Pa., and under the careful management of Mother Agnes bid fair to succeed, but because of the distance from a sufficient number of well-to-do Catholic families and from the highways of travel. he- sides the strong dislike and opposition of the pastor, Father Mollinger, to both the place and the sisters, Bishop Young, of Erie, was compelled to allow the sisters to vacate the academy in the early sixties.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Brookville pastors: Father John J. Zan- istosky, 1862; Father Lemagie, 1866; Fathers Schneider, Snively, Daly and Lemagie, 1868- 69: Rt. Rev. Mgr. Herman C. Weinker, July 21, 1872, to August 19, 1890; Rev. John Link, August 19, 1890, to June 27. 1898; Rev. George Winkler, June 27. 1898, to July, 1908. Rev. F. J. Wagner is the present pastor.
The present magnificent church structure, parsonage and school buildings were due to the inception, constructive ability, courage and energy of Rev. Father Herman C. Weinker. The cornerstone of the present building was laid with imposing ceremonies by him and Bishop Mullin in 1872.
FISCUS CHURCH
AAbout 1867 the Catholics of Eldred town- ship were severed from the Brookville con- gregation, and subsequently built a frame church thirty by forty ncar the Olean road, finished and dedicated in the fall of 1875. This is commonly called the Fiscus Church. It is on the A. J. Greenawalt farm.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF PUNXSUTAWNEY
On the 3d of September, 1860, Father Her- man Clement Weinker, then only twenty-three years of age, and who had come from Ger- many less than six months before, arrived in Brookville as assistant to Father Stumpe. In 1870 Father Weinker was assigned to Brook- ville as the pastor of Jefferson county, and of the church at Red Bank, Clarion county. About the year 1864 James U. Gillespie, a prominent business man of Clayville, went to Pittsburgh and was formally received as a member. Ilis brother and business partner, William E. Gillespie, joined the church a few years later, and it was in the house of Wil- liam E. Gillespie, in the spring of 1870, that the first mass was said by Father Weinker. assisted by Father Stumpe. Thereafter Father Weinker said mass once a month on a week- day in Punxsutawney, first in the house of William E. Gillespie, then in a little building opposite the Clayville foundry, and later in a room over Gillespie & Parson's store, and from 1883 to March, 1887, in the hall above the store building of G. W. Porter, since which time services have been held in the pres- ent church edifice. The cornerstone of this church was laid August 26, 1886, and the building was completed the following year. In 1800 Father Weinker became resident pas- tor. In 1904 Father Weinker, having been
made superintendent of the parochial schools of the Eric Diocese, was transferred to the Eleanora Church in order to lighten his cler- ical labors, and Father John Link, formerly of Oil City, the present pastor, took charge of the congregation.
In 1891 the church was improved by the addition of a transept, and a parochial school building was erected during the same year. In 1893 a convent was built, and a parochial house, or parsonage, in 1895.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF REYNOLDSVILLE
In 1872 the pioncer Catholic Church was built in Reynoldsville in the eastern part, known as Snydertown. As this was near to one end of town, a more central location was desired. a site being selected on the south side of Main street, between Sixth and Seventh streets. Adjoining the church is the fine brick parsonage occupied by Rev. T. Brady, who has been the pastor of the church ever since its organization.
GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Greek Catholic Church, of Punxsutaw ney, located in the West End, was organized in 1894, with Rev. John Szabo as pastor. A frame church was built, and Father Szabo ministered to a large congregation from the first.
LUTHERAN CHURCHI
The pioneer Lutheran congregation in the United States was at New Hanover, Mont- gomery Co .. Pa .. with Justus Faulkner, pas- tor, in 1703.
The pioneer Lutheran minister to visit this county was Rev. George Young, of Armstrong county, Pa. Rev. Mr. Young organized the pioneer church in the county in 1835, and erected a log building. The pioncer services were held in the barn of Abraham Hoch, one mile south of Sprankle Mills, in what is now Oliver township. Communion was commicm- orated in this barn. A log church building was erected in 1838 about half a mile from Mr. Iloch's, on the farm now occupied by Boaz D. Blosc. This log church was used for ten years, when it was abandoned for school purposes. and a large frame house of wor- ship was then erected on the ridge two miles from Sprankle Mills. This congregation was and is still known as St. John's, general coun- cil.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The second Lutheran Church was organ- ized in 1838, and a log building erected. This church was also called St. John's, and belonged to the General Synod branch of the denomi- nation. Joel Spyker and Peter Thrush took an active part in the organization. This church was on what is now Andrew Ohl's farm, and was about three and a half miles south of Brookville. The pioneer members at this com- munion were Thomas Holt, Peter Thrush and wife, Samuel Jolins and wife, Mattie Chesly, Charles Merriman and wife. Armenia Grove, Hannah Himes, Mary Johnson, Jacob Wolf- gang and wife, Mary Spyker and Joseph Kay- lor.
The pioneer preaching in Brookville was by Rev. Mr. Young. He preached in the homes of members and in the second story of the old stone jail. Rev. John Rugan, of In- diana. Pa., preached in the jail in 1844. No organization was effected. Rev. Jolın Nuner came after Rengan, but in what year and for how long is unknown.
The pioneer Lutherans in Brookville were John and Catherine Eason, Daniel Coder and wife, Hannah Mckinley, Mary A. Yoemans. Jacob Burkett and wife, Jacob Steck and wife, Jolin Boucher and wife, Maria Von Schroeder ; pioneer deacon, John Boucher.
Lutheran services were also held at Par- adise, Grube's, Reynoldsville. Emerickville. Punxsutawney and Ringgold, but no dates of service or records of organization can be found.
In 1845 Rev. J. B. Breckenridge was sent as a missionary into this field. He remained but one year. In 1847. Rev. John Rugan : in 1848, Rev. Henry Bishop; Rev. A. B. Boss- man ; Rev. Clement
A. Ehrnfelt, and Rev. Mr. Wedekind. All of these ministers preached near Joel Spyker's, in Brookville, and some at Roseville. In February, 1849. Rev. Philip Sheeder came and organized the Brook- ville Church and held the pioneer recorded communion. The Lutheran congregation num- bered at this time but thirteen. In 1850 Brook- ville and St. John's Church united in a call for the Rev. Mr. Sheeder. In 1850 the con- tract was let for the erection of the pioneer church building in Brookville. This contract was for one thousand dollars, the building to be erected on the present site. The contractor failed and the contract was relet at four- teen hundred and fifty dollars. The church was finished and dedicated in 1852. Rev. Mr. Sheeder remained until 1854. The total mem- bership that year of the Brookville Church was but nineteen. 2I
In 1854 Rev. Jacob H. Wright was called to Brookville, St. John's and to a congrega- tion that had been organized near John Grube's, in Bell township. Rev. Mr. Wright resigned his pastorate August 24, 1856. On October 3, 1858, until 1859, Rev. Jacob Singer was pastor. The pulpit was vacant 1860-61. In 1861 St. John's built a frame church. Pas- tors: In March, 1862, Rev. Joseph Welker, until 1863; 1864-65 pulpit vacant ; 1867, Rev. G. F. Ehrenfelt, one year ; vacant until Rev. I. J. Delo, October 27, 1869, served until March 3, 1872; March 12, 1873, Rev. J. M. Wonders, until February. 1878; May, 1878, Rev. S. S. Miller, until May. 1879; Lewis Hay, supply, November, 1879, until April, 1881; Rev. W. Selner, one year; Rev. D. W. Leitzell, Sep- tember 24, 1882, until May 18, 1886; Rev. J. E. Zerger, September 16, 1886, followed by Revs. D. W. Leitzell, Kerr, Crisman, Hesse, Frye and Weimer.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHIERAN CHURCH, PUNXSUTAWNEY
This church was organized October 7, 1853, under the name of the Martin Luther congre- gation. The cornerstone of the present church building was laid November 10, 1853. Owing to the conditions in those years, when the people of this community were poor. and all lumber had to be cut, hewn and planed by hand, the building was not completed for almost six years, and the church was not ded- icated until August, 1859. The following pas- tors served the congregation in the order given: C. C. Brandt, Jacob Reisig, Peter Engers, Rev. Mr. Groenciller, F. W. Spindler, Julius Bauch, K. Walz, John M. Meissmer, V. Engelder and E. J. Muller.
ENGLISHI LUTHERAN CHURCH, PUNXSUTAWNEY
The First English Lutheran Church was organized December 9, 1888, with forty-three charter members. The cornerstone was laid June 1, 1893, but the church was not for- mally dedicated until June 23, 1895. The first regular pastor was Rev. Braden E. Sharrer, who served two years. His successors were Revs. Peter Ewald. three years; S. E. Smith, four years; J. R. Sample. four years ; R. W. Mottern, one year. Rev. J. M. Weber is pastor in 1915.
LUTHERAN CITURCH, REYNOLDSVILLE
The Trinity Lutheran Church is situated on Jackson street, near Fourth street. The
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
cornerstone of this building was laid in the year 1884. A cornerstone had been laid on Pleasant avenue in 1875, but no building was erected there. The membership is made up of Americans, Germans and Swedes.
EVANGELICAL CHURCHI OF BROOKVILLE
It was not until 1872 that a mission was formed at Brookville, where a pretty little church was erected, and there is now quite a prosperous congregation. The ministers who have ministered there have been: Revs. J. J. Carmony, L. I. Baumgardner, Joseph Porch, J. A. Dunlap, J. W. Domer, L. H. Hetrick, C. C. Poling, I. A. Rohland. L. Schobert, J. B. Ward, F. P. Hummel, A. B. Day. B. F. Feit, J. M. Weaver, P. D. Steelsmith, G. W. Fin- necy. J. J. Garner, T. J. Barlett, E. L. Ear- nest, G. W. Finnecy, E. L. Nicely, R. D. Het- rick, S. Milliron and J. M. Miller ( 1915).
UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST
Originated in Pennsylvania in 1760, the pioneer preacher of this denomination was Rev. William Otterbein, who emigrated to the United States from Germany as a German Reformed missionary in 1752. Rev. Mr. Ot- terbein preached in groves, houses and barns. Usually those of other German denominations attended these services. At one of these meet- ings, after a sermon by Martin Bochm, Otter- bein arose and embraced him, and exclaimed, "We are brothers." This is the origin of the name. Otterbein and Bochm organized the church and worked together.
The pioneer conference was held in Balti- more, Md. This church is Methodistic in gov- ernment and doctrine, believing in the piety attending this form of worship. M. E. Steiner, Esq., of KnoxDale, Knox township, wrote to that body in the year 1860, asking that a mis- sionary be sent into Jefferson county. In com- pliance with this request Rev. J. W. Owens reported at KnoxDale, and commenced re- vival services, which resulted in fifty conver- sions, and a church was organized with seventy members. M. E. Steiner. Esq., was chosen leader, which position he held for many years. No manufacturer, seller or drinker of intox- icating liquors can be a member.
The United Brethren Church of Punxsu- tawney was organized in the fall of 1892. The first church was built in the spring of 1893. The following have served as pastors in the order named: G. W. Emenheiser. T. W. Parks, L. B. Fasick, U. B. Bubaker, Rev.
Mr. Truax, Allen Rhen, R. S. Showers. A. J. Orlidge is pastor in 1915.
EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
Rev. Jacob Albright, of Douglass, Mont- gomery Co., Pa., preached the pioneer ser- mon of the denomination in this State, prob- ably in 1803. He was the founder of the church, and preached as early as 1796. This name has been changed from Albright Meth- odist to Evangelical.
The pioneer efforts of the church in Jef- ferson county were made in the year 1832, when Revs. Elias Stoever and A. Frey were appointed to the Indiana circuit, then belong- ing to the Eastern Conference. Indiana cir- cuit embraced parts of Indiana, Armstrong, Clarion, Clearfield and Jefferson counties. At that date the church had but two annual con- ferences-the Eastern and Western. The Eastern embraced the States of Pennsylvania and New York. The Western included Ohio only. The Conference that sent the mission- aries to the Indiana circuit convened in the town of New Berlin, Union Co., Pa., June 4. 1832.
WORTIIVILLE CIRCUIT
The ministry preached in the German lan- guage exclusively in this county until 1860.
The pioneer church was erected on land of Samuel Lerch, in Beaver township, about the year 1848, Samuel Lerch, contractor. It was dedicated as the Zion Church. In 1853 the Pittsburgh Conference held an annual con- ference there, Bishop Long presiding.
Names of the pioneer members : George Weise, George Milliron, Samuel Michael. Daniel Enterline, Samuel Lerch, John Mot- ter, Sr., Daniel Motter, Abraham Milliron. Abraham Funk, Jacob Startzell and wife and Christian Startzell. The pioncer preaching was at the homes of the above named per- sons.
COVENANTER CHURCHI
This denomination had one church in Clover township, one in Rose township and one in Washington township. All these evoluted out of existence.
JEWISHI SYNAGOGUE
The Jewish congregation, Chevra Agudas Achim, of Punxsutawney, was organized and
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chartered in 1886. The cornerstone of the synagogue was laid September 30, 1900, and it was dedicated in December of the same year.
Pioneer preachers labored without money and without price. They gained their sub- sistence, as did their neighbors, by the rifle and by their daily toil in the clearings and the cornfields.
The following church statistics of Jefferson county, as found in census reports of 1850, 1870, 1890 and 1906, will be found of general interest :
In 1850 there were two Baptist churches, with aggregate accommodation for one thou- sand one hundred, and property valued at two thousand dollars; one Lutheran Church, ac- commodating four hundred, and property valued at two hundred dollars; six Methodist churches, seating twenty-one hundred, church property worth three thousand two hundred dollars, and nine Presbyterian churches, with capacity of four thousand, church property valued at eleven thousand and eight hundred dollars.
In 1870 the number of Baptist Churches was five ; Evangelical Association, five ; Lutheran, eight: Methodist, eighteen ; Presbyterian (in- cluding the United Presbyterians or Seced- ers), twenty-one; Reformed German, three; Roman Catholic. three. Sittings-Baptist, one thousand nine hundred and fifty ; Evan- gelical Association, one thousand five hundred ; Lutheran, one thousand five hundred ; Meth-
odist, five thousand three hundred and fifty ; Presbyterian, six thousand six hundred and eighty-five: Reformed German, seven hun- dred and fifty; Catholic, five hundred and seventy. Value of church property, one hun- dred and sixty-three thousand nine hundred.
1906
Denomination
Members or communicants
Baptist
1,516
Church of God (Winebrennerian)
86
Congregational
67
Disciples of Christ. 178
133
United Evangelical Church
539
Lutherans 1,236
5,452
Methodist Protestant
349
Presbyterian 3,946
Protestant Episcopal.
105
Reformed Church in United States
434
United Brethren in Christ.
492
Other Protestant bodies.
183
Total Protestants 14,716
Roman Catholic.
. 10,529
Jewish (heads of families)
300
Total church members
25,545
There are two hundred and twenty-seven religious sects of the United States. In 1800 only seven persons out of every hundred were church members. In 1900 it was twenty-four out of every hundred. But in 1910 statistics showed there were still only twenty-four out of every hundred who were members.
1890
Number of Organizations
Churches and halls
Sittings 2,625
Value of church property $38,000
Number of Members
Denomination
8
I
I
400
30
Congregational
2
I
350
700 9,200
110
Disciples of Christ.
I
I
75
56
Evangelical Association.
17
18
3,425
14,700
575
Lutheran
14
14
3,345
18,250
958
Methodist Episcopal.
.39
39
10,525
84,950
3,067
Methodist Protestant.
7
7
2,800
6,000
266
Presbyterian
.30
31
9,270
120,300
2,551
Protestant Episcopal Church.
8
1,350
11,200
123
Reformed Church in United States.
4
1,200
7,000
219
United Brethren in Christ
3
3
925
4,000
171
Roman Catholic.
7
7
2,340
53,100
2,505
Total
140
143
38,630
367,400
11,476
7
4
9
845
Baptist (regular)
Church of God (Winebrennerian)
Evangelical Association. .
Methodist Episcopal.
CHAPTER XVIII FRATERNAL AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS, ETC.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS-MASONIC FRATERNITY-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC AND AUXILIARIES-PATRIOTIC ORDER SONS OF AMERICA-TEMPER- ANCE SOCIETIES-AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS
The pioneer lodge of Odd Fellows organ- ized in Jefferson county was Brookville Lodge, No. 217, I. O. O. F. It was chartered December 21, 1846, with the following mem- bers: Pearl Roundy, David S. Deering, John Hastings, James S. Mccullough and William McCandless. The lodge was opened and the officers installed by John L. Cuttle, of Clear- field. Pa., February 8, 1847. The hall occupied by the order for that purpose was above what was called "The Philadelphia Cheap Store," or in the second story of the building on East Main street now (1915) occupied by Norman D. Matson as a residence. The pioneer offi- cers installed were Pearl Roundy, noble grand; David S. Deering, now of Indepen- dence, Towa, vice grand; John Hastings, sec- retary ; James S. Mccullough, assistant sec- retary ; and William McCandless, treasurer. Meetings were held regularly every Saturday night. The pioneer applicants for member- ship were Uriah Matson, Dr. James Dowl- ing. D. B. Jenks, Jamies C. Matson, Barton T. Hastings, Daniel Smith, W. F. Clark, now living at Maquoketa, Iowa; and John Reich- crt ; date, February 8. 1847.
Public opinion in Brookville, as well as in the churches, was violently opposed to this organization being created in our midst. It was "a revival of Freemasonry"; it was "im- moral," and "in league with the devil." Mar- ried women, as a rule, were bitter, and serious trouble arose between some pioneer members and their wives. An order founded on so grand a tripod as Friendship, Love, and Truth could not be destroyed by this "babbling gossip of the air," but rapidly increased in numbers under the light of the knowledge that the United States in this year ( 1846) had nine hundred and sixty-two subordinate lodges and a membership of 90.753. with a revenue from
these lodges for benevolence to widows, or- phans and afflicted brothers of $708,306.40; and the total amount paid that year for sick brethren, widows, and orphans was $197,317, which proved conclusively that the practical workings of this order were anything but from the devil, and that all the predicted woes and calamities of the enemies of the order were imaginary and but the darkness of ignorance.
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