USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 22
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Be it further resolved, that we give thanks to God for thus having this high privilege of working together with Him to chart the way for further growth and expansion, believing that under His guidance, and in the faith and effort which characterized the progress of the past generation, we shall "go forward" to achieve:
FIRST, the development of our local membership to a greater strength and spiritual efficiency and power; SECOND, the bringing to completion the purpose of providing an adequate church plant, to be known as the Memorial Building in memory of our departed loved ones; THIRD, the developement of the East Mckeesport work into a self-supporting church; and FOURTH, the opening of new mission points within the bounds of the Greensburg Church territory as rapidly as opportunity, talent, and finance will permit.
The one outstanding result since the adoption of the Anni- versary Resolution is the ongoing of the East Mckeesport mission. Another result is that our church has now an accumu- lation of more than $20,000.00 toward church-building expansion.
M. J. Brougher and Seven Helpers
Left to right, front row: F. F. Beeghly, E. E. Holsopple, Frank Rehm Back row: J. E. Faust, M. J. Brougher, L. R. Fox, George Detar, Jr., Galen Bittner
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It is significant that on the thirty-fifth anniversary occasion a pulpit Bible was presented by Clyde M. Kuhns and dedicated in memory of his father, who had presented the first pulpit Bible.
A group of ministers were in full co-operation with Brother Brougher at the time he became ill. They were willing to carry an extra share of his work during the months of his confinement to his home, doing the preaching and the visitation. No group of local ministers could show greater loyalty to a pastor. Also, the board of deacons, the ministerial committee, and other groups have been willing to take on extra duties as needed.
The Greensburg church, "determined to know nothing, save Jesus Christ and him crucified," continuing with an aggressive outlook, plans to purchase one hundred Bibles for use in the auditorium during worship. These Bibles will be dedicated the last Sunday of this year, December 31, 1950, as a memorial to our departed loved ones and as a thanksgiving to God for His blessing during the first half of the twentieth century.
Likewise, the congregation looks forward to closing this year, 1950, by holding a watch-night service of Bible reading, singing, and special music in commemoration of God's blessings, singing at the very close of the year the Doxology as our final thanks to God as we close this first half of the present century. We plan, also, in the first minute of the new year, 1951, to read from memory, in unison, and as a commitment of our lives to him, the great ascription given by the Apostle Paul, recorded in Ephesians 3:20, 21: "Now unto him that is able to do ex- ceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." -Committee: Myers Moore, C. M. Kuhns, and M. J. Brougher
CHAPTER 20. THE HOOVERSVILLE CHURCH
Sunday school organized, September 14, 1895 Present church dedicated, September 13, 1903 Present church membership, 112
It seems that prior to 1895 the members in Hooversville had no services in the town. One of the leading businessmen was P. J. Blough, who served as Sunday-school superintendent at the Sugar Grove (Blough) church, one mile north of the town.
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In 1895 Perry J. Blough built and furnished a church room above his warehouse in Hooversville, which was dedicated by Jeremiah Thomas, September 14, 1895. For eight years, to the day, preaching and Sunday school were held here. September 13, 1903, a new love-feast house was dedicated, J. M. Blough delivering the sermon on the occasion, shortly before leaving for India.1
The church, sturdily constructed of yellow brick, was erected in the northwest corner of the town, close to the Stonycreek River. This congregation remained a part of the Quemahoning congregation until a final separation was effected in June 1922.
Hooversville Church, 1915
Several local pastors served the church for many years. In the summer of 1922 Byron Sell filled the pulpit. The following ministers have served the congregation: Charles W. Blough, from the latter part of 1922 until September 1923; F. D. An- thony, September 1923 until April 1926; W. K. Kulp, March 1928 until the summer of 1929; W. D. Rummel, from September 1933 until October 1942. The present pastor, Kenneth Blough, has served since October 1942.
The work of the various organizations has been functioning smoothly. The adult Bible class, the Keystone class, the young people's class, the women's work, and the men's work have given loyal support to the many projects sponsored by the church. Love-feast services are held semiannually. The present membership is one hundred twelve.
Herbert Shaffer has served as chorister for more than thirty years. Leah Shaffer is the pianist. Milton G. Lohr is the Sunday-school super-
1 Blough's history. Page 162.
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intendent. Deacons and deaconesses include Hiram J. Koontz, Brother and Sister Charles B. Zimmerman, Brother and Sister Clarence Keith, Brother and Sister Jacob D. Shirk, Milton G. Lohr, and Mrs. Harry Mueller. Trustees are Jacob D. Shirk, Dale Litzinger, and Glen Shaffer.
Some of the members with twenty-five years or more of faithful service are Mrs. Emma Blough, Blanche Hershberger, Milton Lohr, Sr., Brother and Sister Herbert Shaffer, Brother and Sister Charles Zimmer- man, Hiram Koontz, Mrs. Albert Ashbrook, Mrs. Ida Marshall, Clara Shaffer, Christly Peterman, Ernest Koontz, Fred Zimmerman, Freda Custer, Mildred Mueller, Leah Shaffer, Lois Litzinger, and Ruby Rosey.
Recent years have brought new improvements to the church. In 1943 a new furnace was installed and the slate roof was replaced by an asphalt shingle roof. During 1948 and 1949 the church basement was completely reconstructed at a cost of approximately $1,500.00. A modern kitchen, rest rooms, a furnace room, and a new stairway were built. A new lighting system was installed. A piano was placed in the recreation room in the basement, and a gas stove was installed in the kitchen. An Estey organ was placed in the church in 1949. Much of the labor was donated.
A girls' choir was organized in 1947. They present annually a Christmas cantata and an Easter worship service. At this writing there are fourteen members. Leah Shaffer is the director and accompanist.
As the seasons pass the small church in the Stonycreek Val- ley has progressed in many activities with a spirit of co-operation and good fellowship.
-Miss Leah Shaffer
Congregation in 1950
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CHAPTER 21. THE HOSTETLER CHURCH
Members known to have settled here, 1812 First church house erected, 1854 Present church membership, 158
The Hostetler church, formerly known as the Greenville con- gregation, dates back for almost a century and a half, and possibly earlier. Some of the Hostetler family are known to have been living in what is now the southern part of Somerset County before the first love feast was held in 1783. Blough's history says:
The first members to settle here were the Klingamans, Hostetlers, Longs and Arnolds, in about 1812. The Klingaman farm was the one now (1916) occupied by Samuel K. Hostetler. Grandfather Klingaman's house was built with a large room in which meetings were regularly held. This was prior to 1838. There was preaching before this, probably in the barns.
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Hostetler Church, Built in 1892
The first meetinghouse in this section was erected on the George Klingaman, Sr., farm in 1854.1 For some years previous to this meetings were held in the schoolhouse on the George Arnold farm. The second meetinghouse was built on the same site in 1892, and was arranged to hold love feasts in.
Most of the first preaching done here was by Eli Steele, Jacob Berger, Peter Cober and others. Later on the Elk Lick and Meyers- dale ministers filled the pulpit. On July 4, 1879 E. K. Hostetler was elected to the ministry. The first Sunday school was organized in 1878.
Deacons who served this church included George Klingaman, Jr. (who moved away in 1865), Samuel K. Weimer, Joel Yutzy (elected 1878), Nelson Crissinger, Ed Myers, William Shultz, A. O. Beal, S. K.
1 History of Greenville Twp., Waterman, Watkins and Co., 1884, page 589, says: "The first church house was erected in 1855. The cost of the house was four hundred dollars."
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Hostetler, Jacob S. Hostetler, Frank Yutzy, John Bittner, and Owen Murray.
S. J. Berkley served as pastor from 1930 to 1944, and John Grim from 1941 to 1944. Brother Grim organized the BYPD (now CBYF). J. Ewing Jones took up the pastoral work in September 1944 and continues to the present. Since Brother Jones is here we have preaching on Sunday morning and Sun- day evening, and prayer meeting on Wednesday evening. The attendance at church and Sunday school has increased since Brother Jones became pastor.
Local ministers assisting our pastor are Edward Kerschen- steiner and Samuel Knieriem.
This church was separated from Meyersdale and became a congregation in 1914. At that time the Hyndman church, Bed- ford County, was included in the Greenville congregation, but was turned over to the District Mission Board in 1921. The pastor comments, "We have been progressing nicely, thanks, first of all to the Lord, and to the faithful brothers and sisters in the church."
-Miss Mae Hostetler
CHAPTER 22. THE HYNDMAN CHURCH
First church house dedicated, 1887 Present building re-opened, 1921 Present church membership, 21
The history of the Hyndman church, Bedford County, dates back over seventy years, to the period when the ministers of the Meyersdale church were pushing out into other communi- ties to establish their faith. The Brethren preached at Kennell's Mills, where Brother and Sister James Harden, of Ellerslie, Maryland, attended the services.
About 1881, Brother and Sister Harden moved to Hyndman. They were the only members of our church in the town. After residing in Hyndman a few years, they decided to make this town their permanent residence. Accordingly, they moved from the south end to the north end of the town, where Brother Harden began the construction of their own home. In those days, a Brethren family in a new community thought only of the estab-
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lishing of a church of their own denomination, instead of being lost to the Dunker faith through indifference or by uniting with another church.
Near this new home of the Hardens was an old Methodist Episcopal church, which had been turned into a residence. James Harden, per- sonally, bought this building for one hundred seventy-five dollars and began the work of reconverting it into a place of worship. It was necessary for him to work through the day to support his large family. Then in the evenings and late into the nights he would divide his time between their new home and the remodeling of the church. Long days of arduous toil, over a period of years, weakened his body; but, in the words of his son, Edward, he "saw the finish of both."
After the remodeling of the church was finished, the Meyersdale church gave him some pews. Then came the problem of securing a preacher. Brother Harden wrote to three Brethren ministers, who never answered his letters. The fourth answered but said he couldn't come. One day in the summer of 1887, Brother Harden, after his day's work was done, came past the post office, but there was no letter. He trudged wearily home, and, after coming inside the house, remarked to his family, "If no minister comes by the last Sunday of October, it will be too late for me." And, true to his premonition, he worked on Saturday, October 26, and died on Monday, October 28, 1887, aged fifty-four years. Bishop C. G. Lint responded to the call to preach his funeral, which was the first service held in this first Dunker church in Hyndman.
When Brother Lint saw what Brother Harden had provided, lonehanded, he announced a day for the dedication, and arranged for the ministers of the Meyersdale congregation to preach here. Sunday school was organized soon after the dedication of the sanctuary.
James Harden left a widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Burkett Harden, and nine children: John Thomas, who became a minister; Benjamin, who became a deacon; Albert; Samuel, who moved with his family to Cumberland, Maryland, November 11, 1902, and whose children became prominent leaders in the church there; Edward, who became a deacon (see his biography); Mrs. Carrie Sines; David; Mrs. Elizabeth Mason; and Mrs. Hattie Miller.
The first person baptized into the Hyndman church was the wife of James Harden's oldest son, John Thomas. That winter John Thomas was stricken with typhoid fever. Up to this time he had resisted the preaching and the conviction in his own soul, but he now decided that he wanted to be baptized before he died, since typhoid was usually fatal in those days. It was on a cold winter day, with ice in the stream near the church, but they took him out of the typhoid-fever bed, went to the water, and baptized him amid the shrieks of those who thought it would kill him. Instead, the fever left him, and soon afterward he was elected to the ministry, with Bishop Lint in charge of the service. He lived to be eighty years of age. It is needless to say that a great awakening was experienced in Hyndman by this miraculous healing.
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Frances Bowen was also elected to the ministry at the same time. Daniel K. Clapper was elected to the ministry, just a few years later, September 25, 1890, and he became a prominent leader in Western Pennsylvania (see his biography).
Mother Harden often would write to the Gospel Messenger requesting ministers to stop at Hyndman and preach for them, as they would be going to or from the Annual Meeting, Hyndman being on the main line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad between Pittsburgh and Cum- berland. Samuel Ritchie and William Ritchie, from Snake Spring Valley (Middle Pennsylvania), helped out in the preaching, also.
When the Evangelical congregation built a new edifice the Brethren bought their old church, with the tallest spire in Hyndman, for five hundred dollars. (The spire was removed a few years ago.) Although members were continuously being lost by migration, the work was kept going for a number of years by E. K. Hochstetler and others until about 1916, when the church house was finally closed.
After about five years, or in 1921, the work was re-opened through the efforts of the field secretary, W. J. Hamilton. Since a spirit of ultraconservatism had hindered the church in its closing days, the fieldworker's condition for re-opening it was the installation of an organ before the first service was at- tempted; to this the members readily consented, and music has been a feature of the services since then. A Sunday school was organized, and the fieldworker preached once a month for some Hyndman Church time. Then William K. Kulp, pastor of the Rockwood and Middle Creek churches, did the preaching for a while, after which the Hyndman and Cum- berland churches formed a joint pastorate, with Newton D. Cosner and DeWitt Miller serving. Then, as the Cumber- land church began to need the full-time service of their pastor, the Hyndman church had to make other pastoral plans.
On Mothers' Day, 1927, John H. Buffenmyer assumed his du- ties as pastor, having recently been elected to that position. He served until about 1931, when he resigned because of ill-health; for two years he did
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no work, undergoing three operations. He resumed the pastorate in 1933, but during the years 1938 and 1939, discontinued his work at Hyndman and assumed pastoral charge of the Potomac Park community church, at Potomac Park, near Cumberland, Mary- land.
From 1937 to about 1940, Sister Beatrice Hamilton served as pastor, in co-operation with the other ministers, and did much of the visiting and preaching.
Roscoe Wareham, a teacher in the Hyndman schools, did outstanding work in the church through his teaching of Bible classes. After being elected to the ministry in 1938, until moving away in 1944 or 1945, he did much preaching also. At a special council held in May 1943 it was unanimously decided to have Brethren Wareham and Buffenmyer ordained to the office of elder. In summarizing his years of service for the Hyndman church, Brother Buffenmyer said he had baptized sixty persons and had preached seventy funerals (see his biography).
This church has never had a large number of deacons, as has been the custom of many other churches. Benjamin Harden and Edward Harden were elected in the earlier years of the work, and Edward Brown and George Harden in 1940.
For many years Edward Harden served as Sunday-school superintendent, chorister, teacher of the adult class, and janitor. His daughter, Lillian, now Mrs. Edward Crabtree, served as pianist. In recent years Edward Crabtree and Casper Hyre have been the superintendents.
Although the congregation has never been large, the mem- bership has always been loyal and helpful. The members have been very liberal givers, and have kept the building in a good state of repair, making improvements from time to time. First they changed the two front doors to a single entrance through the tower; then they installed a furnace, redecorated the interior of the church, and improved the platform and the pulpit, thus adding greatly to both the attractiveness and the usefulness of the church building.
This closing comment is from Brother Buffenmyer: "God is good to all of us; and, if we would trust him more and be more patient, He could lead us further. May we always be on God's side."
-Edward Harden, John H. Buffenmyer, and W. J. H.
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CHAPTER 23. THE LIGONIER CONGREGATION
First church house erected, 1888 Ministry to shut-ins dedicated, June 2, 1946 Present church membership, 153
The territory originally embraced by the Ligonier Valley church was a wide triangular section of Westmoreland County bordering on Somerset, Cambria, and Indiana counties, extend- ing from Waterford to Cokeville, and including the above-named points, as well as New Florence, Wild Cat, Bolivar, and that part of Indiana County of which Garfield is the center.
The first settlers around Waterford were members who had moved across the Laurel Hill from the Quemahoning church. For a number of years, ministers from the Quemahoning congregation served these early settlers. These ministers included Tobias Blough, Jonathan W. Blough, Emanuel J. Blough, and Jacob W. Speicher. Probably the first minister elected from among their own number was Dr. Samuel G. Miller in 1877. In August 1878, Theophilus Heiple was elected a minister, and Jacob Bridge and G. Yager were elected deacons. Among the early members of the Ligonier Valley church were John Hauger, Henry Myers and wife, Joseph Miller and wife, David Horner, Franey Horner, Nancy Fletcher, Polly Peterson, Theophilus Heiple, Samuel Knupp, Fannie Bricker, Josiah Heiple and wife, and Jacob L. Wolford and wife. Meet- ings were held in the schoolhouses.1
Following the building of the Bolivar meetinghouse in 1887 or 1888, the congregation was divided. Bolivar, Wild Cat, and Cokeville were made a new congregation named Bolivar, and Waterford retained its original name. The newly created Water- ford congregation began the construction of a meetinghouse in 1888. Upon its completion, W. J. Swigart preached the dedi- catory sermon. George W. Hanawalt, who had recently moved from Johnstown to Waterford and had assisted in the construc- tion of the building, was elected the first elder of the church.
When Elder Hanawalt moved into the congregation in 1886, there were twenty members in and around Waterford. From that time until May 15, 1913, eighty-five members were received by baptism and letter. Thirty-four letters were granted and seventeen members died. The early ministers elected from this church were: William C. Hanawalt, 1901; Harvey M. Hanawalt, 1902; William E. Wolford, 1902. After having lived here for sixteen years, the entire Hanawalt family moved to Lordsburg, California, in 1902.
After George Hanawalt's leaving, the office of the eldership was resumed by P. J. Blough. His services continued from 1909 until his death in 1919. During this period, an extensive re-
1 Blough's history. Page 120.
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modeling of the church building was effected, including the refinishing of the church pews, the addition of concrete steps and a walk at the church entrance, and a partial excavation and finishing of the church basement. In 1919, Elders P. J. Blough, M. Clyde Horst, and M. J. Brougher installed J. W. Sanner and W. E. Wolford into the eldership.
On January 21, 1921, under the able leadership of Sister Margaret Griffith of Meyersdale, a mission was organized at Wilpen, four miles northwest of Waterford. Assisting Miss Griffith in her work were Sister Ruth Beahm Whitacre, W. E. Wolford, and Arthur Rummel. This work continued for four years.
A year prior to the organization of the Wilpen mission, M. J. Brougher was elected to the eldership of the Waterford church. This office he retained until 1933.
Our first contribution to the Old Folks Home of Western Pennsylvania was given in 1922. A great asset to the church was the installation of an electric lighting system in 1926. The following year, through the generosity of Herman H. Wolford, four Sunday-school rooms were added to the back of the sanctu- ary. W. J. Swigart, who preached the Waterford Church, Ligonier, Route 1, Built in 1888 Notice the tall spire, through the leaves. dedicatory sermon in 1890, returned for the dedication of these classrooms. An electric clock and a piano were added to the church property in 1929 and 1932, respectively. Under the eldership of Tobias Henry (1933- 1938) the church adopted the use of the individual communion cups, and the exterior of the church building was finished with inselbric. Aided by the government, the community installed a water system, the church being one of the initial subscribers and recipients.
John M. Geary served the church as elder from 1938 to 1940, followed by John H. Clawson, 1940 to 1945, and Arthur L. Rummel, 1945 to 1946. During these en- suing years, new pews were placed in the church and a steam heating system was installed. George Detar officiated as min- ister during the summer of 1941. W. E. Wolford served as a free minister to the church from 1902 to 1946.
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In accordance with the decision of the church council, Robert G. Mock was called to serve as pastor of the church for the summer of 1946. He assumed his full-time pastoral duties in the fall of 1946, being elected for an indefinite period of time. During these past three years (1946-1949) the interior of the church has been redecorated, a central treasury system has been adopted, a trustee board has assumed its duties, com- munion services have been extended, and plans for remodeling the entire building are being carried out.
On June 2, 1946, the Church of the Brethren of Ligonier dedicated a public-address system in the church for shut-ins. Loud speakers were placed in two of the homes near the church to make it possible for those bedfast to hear all services of the church. In addition to this, there is a committee in the church who takes the responsibility of assigning someone to visit the shut-ins each week. At Easter, we particularly remember each of our aged and shut-ins with a beautiful flower which is first displayed in the church sanctuary during the Easter Sunday service. Some fifty flowers make up our "Easter flower garden" located at the front of the church auditorium. These flowers are dedicated and sent out on a ministry of cheer to the shut-ins of the entire community- not only members of our church. Of course, the minister of the church makes his periodic calls.
H. Dale Zimmerman, from this church, was licensed to the ministry on September 9, 1948. He is at present attending Juni- ata College, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
The Waterford church, Ligonier congregation, officially changed its name to the First Church of the Brethren, Route 1, Ligonier, Pennsylvania, on July 18, 1949, with the rewriting of the church deed. Previously the church property was in the hands of an individual, who had passed away several years ago. At present, the new deed is held in the name of the Western District of Pennsylvania. The present membership is one hundred fifty-three.
The official board consists of: Clarence R. Bowman, elder: Robert G. Mock, minister; H. Dale Zimmerman, assistant minister; Chester Park, Arthur Wolford, Herman Kinsey, George Cauffield, and Sadie Wolford, active deacons.
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