USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 23
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EDITOR'S NOTE: An Italian Sunday School Convention was held at Wilpen on June 5, 1921. The fieldworker (W. J. H.) was moderator. John Caruso, pastor of the Brooklyn Italian church, and Brother Joseph Faranola of the Pittsburgh church, were speakers. Sister Ruth Beahm (Whitacre), the mission worker, and local ministers, J. W. Sanner and W. E. Wolford, also participated.
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CHAPTER 24. THE LOCUST GROVE CHURCH
First church erected, 1855 Locust Grove organized, 1921 Present church membership, 128
The history of Locust Grove should begin with a preacher's daughter, Elizabeth Maugen (Morgan), who married a young Irishman of the name of John McNealy (Mineely). The wedding occurred on October 6, 1809, and the couple settled on a tract of land above Conemaugh which for years was called Mineely Hill, later Giffin Hill, and now Locust Grove.
As was the custom in those days, the young husband, John Mineely, united with his wife's church. He was elected to the ministry and succeeded his father-in-law, Elder Peter Morgan, as the elder (or bishop) of the Conemaugh congregation, to which McNeely Hill belonged. So far as is known, preaching services were held in the houses or barns of the members. Sometimes special rooms were arranged to accommodate the audiences. For a while preceding the erection of the Mineely Hill church in 1855, services were held in the old Gossard school.
Perhaps the only church house, without residence, in the congregation was the first Horner church, erected possibly in the 1830's or the early 1840's. Elder Mineely died June 2, 1852, three years before the first Mineely meetinghouse was built. The present church at this location (Locust Grove) was erected in 1903. The names of early Brethren families include McNealy (Mineely), Griffin (Giffin), Varner, Ribblett, Burkhart, Harsh- barger, Berkebile and Ream.
Locust Grove Church
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Much of the information on our church was obtained from Sister Lovina (Varner) Knavel in 1931. As she remembers it, there was no church in which to hold burial services for her sister. The funeral was held on a site where they were erecting a church. This was in 1855.
At the time the congregation was divided in 1879 into Cone- maugh and Johnstown, Solomon Benshoff was the elder. He was assisted in the ministry by George Hanawalt, Benjamin Gough- nour, Stephen Hildebrand, John Harshbarger, Daniel Crofford, and Wesley A. Adams. The first missionary sermon Sister Knavel remembered was preached in this house on April 28, 1895, by A. W. Berkley and Abraham Fyock.
The present church was built in 1903, and the first services were held in December of that year. The first baptisms were performed in Clapboard Run. Evangelistic services were held by B. B. Ludwick in June 1916, and at the close we held our first love feast in this church house. We had always gone to Walnut Grove for love feasts after the Horner church was discontinued. We bought our first organ in 1918. In 1921 the church was organized into a separate congregation, and the name was changed from Giffin Hill to Locust Grove. At that time the deacons were David Ribblett, James Wilson, John Berkebile, Frank F. Fyock, W. G. Wilson, and W. C. Berkebile.
Our first pastor was J. Lloyd Nedrow, who came in 1922 and stayed until May 15, 1925. After the organization until Brother Nedrow came, P. C. Strayer did most of the preaching. Walter F. Berkebile and Ira Berkebile were elected deacons on May 20, 1923, and a year later Brother Walter was licensed to the min- istry. The next year, on May 15, 1925, he was installed. In 1924 our pastor, Brother Nedrow, had been ordained as an elder. The ladies' aid society, organized in February 1924, has been very helpful in our church, both financially and spiritually. Brother Nedrow closed his pastorate on May 15, 1925.
Local ministers filled the pulpit until Arthur L. Rummel became pastor on January 1, 1927. He served us until October 1, 1931, when the local ministers again filled the pulpit until the coming of Ordo Pletcher, following a unanimous election on April 5, 1945. At the present time, D. Edward Cauffiel is serving us as pastor.
In 1928 and 1929 the church was remodeled; a kitchen, a furnace, and Sunday-school rooms were built into the basement. In 1929 it was decided to hold the love feast twice a year, in May and October. On August 14, 1949, our homecoming services were held in memory of Brother Fred Ribblett. The church supports all missions and the Old Folks' Home.
The following ministers received their early Christian training in
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the Locust Grove church: John Hershberger, Joseph Burkhart, Abraham Fyock, Samuel Fyock, Cornelius Harshberger, David Ribblett, James Fyock, and Walter F. Berkebile.
-Caroline Thomas
CHAPTER 25. THE MANOR CONGREGATION
Congregation organized, 1843 First supported pastor, 1924 Present church membership, 228
The Manor congregation, in Indiana County, has a meeting- house at Purchase Line and a part interest in the Union church at Diamondville. Three other congregations (Shade Creek in Somerset County, the old Conemaugh congregation of Johns- town, and the Cowanshannock congregation, in Armstrong County) had a definite part in its early history.
Among the first Brethren to settle here were Christian Fry and wife, Barbara (Shultz); David Fyock and wife, Mary (Hoffman); Adam, George, and David Helman. They came from Shade Creek, Somerset county. Another group, consisting of Emanuel Brallier and wife, Mary (Lidy); John Nisewonger and wife; and Solomon Wise and wife, came from east of the Alleghenies. This was about 1840. Others came also and for about five years, they depended on preachers coming in from other congregations. They also shared with the Montgomery congrega- tion in preaching services. Elder George Rareigh, Sr., of Cowanshan- nock preached for both Manor and Montgomery. Levi Roberts and John
Purchase Line Church Today
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Mineely from the Conemaugh congregation also preached for them.1
The organization of the society was effected in 1843 at the house of John Soyester; the record of constituency is now lost, but Elder Lidy was commissioned Bishop and Adam Helman and David Brown elected deacons, probably at the same time, for Mr. Helman was chosen for the ministry [only] two years later.2
In 1845, Samuel Lidy, a minister of the Conemaugh congregation, moved near Nolo in Indiana County. He met with the Brethren in David Brown's barn, two miles east of Greenville (Penn Run), on July 13, 1845. It is believed that at this meeting Brother Adam Helman was elected minister. They met in barns or schoolhouses and sometimes in homes until 1854, when the Manor meetinghouse was built, two miles southeast of Penn Run. The loft of this house was fitted out for sleeping quarters for people from distant congregations who attended the love feasts. It was rebuilt in 1886. The Purchase Line house was built in 1868 and remodeled and enlarged in 1899. The Belsano house was built in 1873; a few years later a house was built at Crooked Creek (Ruffner) near Tanoma, and a part interest was acquired in the Diamondville union house.
Of these five churches only Purchase Line and Diamondville now comprise the Manor congregation. Penn Run became a separate congregation on April 28, 1923. D. K. Clapper and C. Walter Warstler of the District Ministerial Board were sent by District Meeting to assist in the separation.
At Belsano and Crooked Creek the number of Brethren became depleted by death and by removal to Johnstown, Al- toona, and other industrial centers. However, the Nicewongers, the Wises, and the Fyocks are still names among the present members of the Manor congrega- tion. Some new members came from other congregations, and some were new converts. In 1938 the Crooked Creek (Ruffner) church and cemetery were sold to the people of that community, with the provision that the church was to be used for reli- gious purposes only. In 1933 the church building at Belsano was Old Purchase Line Church torn down and the lumber was used to help build an addition to the Purchase Line churchhouse, that congregation having grown in numbers. Five rooms were built for Sunday-school classes, two
1 Information taken from Blough's history, page 126.
2 Stewart, History of Indiana County (1913), Volume I. Page 363.
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of which can be used as part of the main auditorium. One room is reserved for the use of the women's work group. Sister Catherine A. Walker having given a bequest by will to provide such a room, the money was used for that purpose. The new addition was dedi- cated in 1933. Brethren C. C. Ellis and G. E. Yoder were the speakers for this occasion.
The Manor congregation was served by the free ministry from 1843 to 1924. The first elected minister was Adam Helman, 1845; he soon moved to Somerset County. In July 1847, Levi Fry, son of Christian Fry and brother-in-law to Adam Helman, was called to the ministry. Adam Helman returned from Somerset County and settled on the farm of Christian Fry, about a mile east of Indiana. In 1863 Adam Helman moved to Ohio. David Ober was elected to the ministry on May 13, 1855, was ordained to the eldership about 1870, and died on March 14, 1886.
Samuel Brallier, elected September 26, 1858, later moved to the Conemaugh congregation and became an elder there. Joseph Holsopple, elected to the ministry June 17, 1866, was ordained an elder on June 9, 1892. Daniel Brallier, elected June 13, 1868, later moved to Altoona and was ordained to the eldership there. Caleb Secrist, elected in 1873, later moved to Kansas. Isaac Secrist was elected June 23, 1882, and died on his farm adjoining the Crooked Creek church property. His wife, Sally A. Secrist, after his death married a man named Burkhart, and, after his death, married Jacob Helman. She was three times a widow. At her death, she left a bequest by will to the Manor congregation. Penn Run was a part of Manor at this time.
Frank F. Holsopple, son of Joseph Holsopple, was elected to the ministry about 1886. He left for Juniata College, married, and lived in another congregation.
John W. Fyock was elected to the ministry June 9, 1892, and was ordained to the eldership in 1909. He served in Manor until 1916. James Widdowson was elected to the ministry but gave most of his time to teaching school in Pennsylvania and other states. Walter N. Myers was elected in 1901 and ordained to the eldership on June 19, 1910. He served as presiding elder at different times and had a continuous term from 1917 until 1936. After this period of willing service, his death occurred on July 19, 1938. E. E. Holsopple, elected May 27, 1917, moved to another congregation soon after his ordination on September 20, 1941.
Some of the ministers who served Manor were elected elsewhere and moved into and served this congregation. Jacob Soyster came from Morrison's Cove in 1850. He died February 20, 1885. Mark Minser came from Montgomery, September 12, 1880. Ira C. Holsopple, elected in New Jersey, served in Manor until called to Chester County. D. R. Berkey came from Montgomery in 1912. He had been elected in 1907 and
Old Manor Church, Near Penn Run
ordained an elder on October 28, 1917; he died May 26, 1923. C. D. Brendlinger resided in Manor at different short intervals. The free ministry gave a noble and sacrificial service to the churches. These men often traveled long distances by buggy, horseback, or foot. Their families also shared in this service as the ministers often left their work and were absent for long or short periods of time.
The first pastor, C. H. Wakeman, came from Virginia, began his pastorate June 1, 1924, and ended it November 1, 1926, when he moved to Cumberland, Maryland. During his pastorate the parsonage was built. The bequest by will of Sister Sally A. Hel- man of the Crooked Creek church helped to make this possible. Penn Run also shared in this bequest. On April 9, 1927, E. A. Edwards became pastor; he remained until April 1935, when he moved to another part of Pennsylvania. The addition to the Purchase Line church was built during his pastorate. From 1930 until 1935, the pastor also helped with the work at Montgomery. W. N. Myers shared in the work at both places. Dorsey E. Rotruck from West Virginia began his work as a full-time pastor of the Manor congregation on May 12, 1936, and served until April 1, 1943, when he resigned to take up the work at the Tire Hill church near Johnstown. He served the Manor congre- gation during the lean years of the depression, but in spite of the financial depression it was a period of growth for the church.
Improvements were made at the Diamondville church house with the help of other denominations who worship there. M. J. Weaver, who had been serving at Nappanee, Indiana, became pastor on August 1, 1943, and served until December 1, 1946, when he resigned and moved to the Middle District of Pennsylvania. This was during World War II, and Brethren service work had a prominent place. From 1946 until January 1, 1949, the church was without a pastor. The presiding elder, D. E. Rotruck of Tire Hill, and the pastoral board and deacons, together with the
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congregation, arranged for supply preachers to come in from other congregations. Chalmer Dilling from Nanty Glo, his brother George, and Richard Grumbling from Johnstown preached for Manor during this period.
The church called Robert Kneff from Fairchance to begin his pastorate on January 1, 1949. At present, we have a member- ship of around two hundred ten. Plans are being formed to make improvements on the church house at Purchase Line.
Sisters Catherine A. Walker and Sally A. Helman each gave a gift by will to the Manor church. Sister Helman was a member of the Crooked Creek church. Sister Walker was a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Wise) Fyock. Another daughter, Elizabeth (Fyock) Swartz, was outstanding as a teacher and in other work of the church. Her ministry to the sick, her personality, and her hospitality deserve men- tion. In her diary we found this item: "During this meeting by J. H. Beer, I cooked meals for 230 visitors, 21 strangers the most we had overnight at one time and 24 visitors the largest number for one meal." The Christian parents of the community deserve mention as they con- tribute to the work of raising Christian children to carry on the work of the church.
The Purchase Line aid society was organized January 31, 1924, with twenty-four charter members. Sister Lizzie Swartz was the first president. The society is now a part of the women's work group, who have been active in church work. The men's work group began their work as a group in 1944. They have been active in relief work in co-operation with the Brethren service program. Brethren service has been carried on under the leadership of Sister Velma Harbrige at Purchase Line and Sister Gertrude Patterson at Diamondville. In October 1944, Levi Ziegler officiated in the dedication of the gift of five heifers for relief work. It was the first service of this kind at which he officiated.
The Sunday school at Purchase Line consists of eight classes with an average attendance of about ninety-five members. J. W. Fyock and his son, Mark Fyock, served as superintendent for long periods of time. Others also have served faithfully and well.
Vacation Bible schools began in 1926, during the pastorate of Brother Wakeman. They have been carried on at both Purchase Line and Diamondville.
Manor has been interested in the cause of missions. Sister Elizabeth Swartz was a close personal friend of Ida Shumaker, Ida Himmelsbaugh, and other missionaries. We have a mis- sionary department in our Sunday school. Mrs. M. J. Weaver taught a school of missions. Paul Weaver gave interesting talks about missions in Africa. Lila Berkey Peckover and her husband have been doing work in Puerto Rico. She is a granddaughter of D. R. Berkey.
Manor has an active CBYF, which co-operates with the cir- cuit organization.
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Music has played an important part in the Manor church. There are too many music leaders to mention all, but the names of Fyock and Wise appear among the leaders since the beginning of Manor history. The men's chorus deserves mention for its special music. Oliver Holsopple paid tribute to Hezekiah Berke- bile for his contribution in music and Sunday-school work by saying that he once feared that everything would stop if he should quit working.
We should not forget the faithful janitors and those who give financially, but the greatest contribution that any church can make is to magnify the name of Jesus as the Savior. This is our greatest message: "Jesus saves, by his death and endless life." The name above all names in any church history is the name of Jesus.
-Committee: Beulah Houck, Galen Ober, Cora Fyock
THE DIAMONDVILLE CHURCH
Meetings at Diamondville were first held in the barn of Levi Ober in 1889. Following this, services were held in the union church of Diamondville, at which place services are still held. This being a part of the Manor congregation, the pastors at that time were Mark Minser and Joseph Holsopple.
Sunday school was first started in 1912, and in three years was one of the front-line schools of the district. Vacation Bible school was first held in 1923. Most of the history of the Diamondville church is included in that of the Manor congregation, of which it is a part.
-Beulah Houck
CHAPTER 26. THE MAPLE GLEN CHURCH
Preaching at Peck's schoolhouse, 1850 First love feast, October 1882 Present church membership, 80
This rural congregation, situated near the highest point of land in the state of Pennsylvania (Mount Davis, elevation three thousand two hundred thirteen feet), and although never having had a large membership at any one time, has sent forth from its sanctuary and Christian homes an exceptionally high per- centage of talented men and women.
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On September 17, 1846, Peter Shumaker and Elizabeth Shu- maker, his wife, sold a parcel of land to the school directors of what was then Addison Township, for "the establishment and support of common schools in said district, according to law, to be held by them and their successors and assigns for the use of school and a place of worship for all Christian denominations, when not in use for school, but not to be sold and used for pri- vate residence." Within a few years, a little log building was erected and used for school and religious services by the Breth- ren. This was the beginning of public worship in the community. Later a frame building was erected on the same lot. We quote from History of Somerset County:1
THE GERMAN BAPTIST OR TUNKER CHURCH.
There was a preaching place at Peck's school house as early as 1850, ... or even earlier, and was supplied by the [Elk Lick] district ministers. John Peck, Jonas Peck, Elias Peck, Moses W. Miller, with their wives, and Daniel and Moses Peck, were the charter members.
The history of the early settlers abounds with endurance, sometimes bordering on the heroic, and occasionally mingled with tragedy and pathos. It is of interest to remember the annual shipment of kegs of butter to Baltimore, and the famous maple sugar camps. But these material blessings were only the mediums for the production of manhood and womanhood through the church and the Sunday school.
The early public school became known as Dale View; the Sunday school held in the same building was also named Dale View. The report of the Sunday school at the first Sunday-school convention, 1879, names
1 Welfley's History of Somerset County, Volume II. Page 498. Published, 1906.
Maple Glen Church
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Jacob Peck as the delegate from the Dale View Sunday school. Joseph B. Sell is known to have been the superintendent on June 18, 1876.2 They took up a "penny collection," which ranged from twenty-eight cents to a high of sixty-five cents. They had the following classes and teachers; first Bible class, Sue E. Peck; second Bible class, William Peck; first spelling class, Solomon Hershberger; second spelling class, William King; first abecedarian class,3 A. A. Shumaker; second abecedarian class, Joel Slaughbaugh.
A plot of ground was purchased from Solomon Hershberger and his wife, Sally, in 1880 and the present church was erected. It was dedicated to the worship of God in May 1881. The first love feast was held in October 1882. The church was called "the Peck congregation of Elk Lick at Savage" until December 29, 1888, when the name was changed to Maple Glen.
The early church was presided over by elders from Markleys- burg, Summit Mills, and Elk Lick, including Samuel Umble, Jonathan Kelso, Joel Gnagey, and Jonas Lichty. On September 27, 1896, J. N. Davis and L. A. Peck were ordained elders-in- charge of the Maple Glen congregation. Both had previously served the local church as ministers for several years. P. S. Davis, a son of J. N. Davis, was elected to the ministry on Sep- tember 6, 1914. These brethren all served willingly, ably, and without any salary. About 1930 Maple Glen, Beachdale, Garrett, and Salisbury united in securing Guy E. Wampler as pastor. He remained until 1935 and was then followed by John D. Long, who was our pastor for three years. A. Jay Replogle took up the work in 1938 and served until December 1, 1948. In the spring of 1949 Ross Speicher of Accident, Maryland, became our pastor and still serves (1950).
The church has gone through many changes throughout the years. May it ever stand as it always has, a great lighthouse ready to guide and save weary travelers.
-P. S. Davis and Ross Speicher
2 The first summer Sunday school is thought to have been organized in 1859.
3 One teaching or learning the alphabet.
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CHAPTER 27. THE MAPLE GROVE CHURCH
Church house dedicated, January 1894 Sunday school evergreen since 1908 Present church membership, 118
In August 1893 the men of the church began to clear the ground, forest land, one-half mile west of Salix in Adams Town- ship, Cambria County, which was deeded free to the Maple Grove church by Brother and Sister S. S. Knavel, preparatory to building a house of worship. Much of the lumber was donated and most of the labor too was donated by the men of the Johns- town congregation, of which Maple Grove was a branch. The building was completed and dedicated in January 1894 by George Rareigh, a minister of the Johnstown congregation. There were around thirty members, among them two ministers and one deacon, living near the church when it was dedicated.
In March 1894 the first revival was held and nine new mem- bers were added. In June 1894 Brother C. W. Harshberger was elected deacon. In the spring of 1895 a Sunday school was or- ganized with Brother C. W. Harshberger as the superintendent. He served as superintendent until he was called to the ministry in 1900. Church services were held every third Sunday for a few years, then every other Sunday until about 1907, and, since then, every Sunday.
Because of bad roads and bad weather, Sunday school was held only six months in the year, but, since 1908, it is held every Sunday. The pulpit was filled by the ministers of the Johnstown congregation. The following deacons served: Brother S. S. Knavel, C. W. Harshberger, I. S. Harshberger, S. M. Varner, A. B. Varner, H. H. Berkey, O. J. Rhodes, G. C. Stutzman, Paul Berkey, and Harold Trent. Two brethren were called to the ministry: C. W. Harshberger, 1900; and Lora B. Harsh- berger, 1910. In the summer of 1914, A. B. Varner, O. J. Rhodes, and G. I. Stutzman were elected deacons. A ladies' aid society was organized in February 1915.
In 1916 or 1917, Brother D. P. Hoover, a minister and school- teacher, moved to Salix to teach in the Salix school. He was a great help to the church and the Sunday school, but he re- mained only a few years until he became pastor of another church. He was followed by Irvin Vandyke, who was a good church and Sunday-school worker, but he lived at Salix only a few years until he moved to the state of Indiana. In the spring of 1923, Brother E. H. Blue became pastor.
Until this time, no love feasts were held at Maple Grove. Brother Blue arranged the church so that in September 1923
Maple Grove Church, Near Salix
the first love feast was held, and since then two feasts are held yearly. In August 1924 an additional room was built to the church. In August 1926 the church was wired and electric lights were installed. Four revivals were held while Brother Blue was pastor. In August 1926 Brother H. Q. Rhodes held a revival; as a result twenty-three members were added. In November 1928 Brother P. C. Strayer became pastor. Ordained to the eldership soon afterward, he was our elder also.
On April 3, 1929, Maple Grove became a congregation known as the Maple Grove congregation, with a membership of seventy. Since this time fifty-two new members have been added to the church through revivals. In 1930 the church was plastered, the basement was dug out, a heater was installed, the old windows were replaced by new ones, and the church was painted inside and outside. Several revivals were held.
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