USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 26
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The present pastor came to a church well organized and func- tioning in a splendid way as the result of a number of years of planned pastoral shepherding. It had been agreed by the congrega- tion that 1948 should see the end of the church indebtedness. As the year drew to a close, a generous gift of $1,000.00, climaxing a great deal of continuous and sacrificial giving through the years on the part of many, erased the debt and made it possible to write off all financial obligations of the church. This fact, announced in the morning worship hour of the first Sunday of the new year (1949), was received with joy and a general sense of relief. Much credit must be given to the finance committee of which Dr. Guy N. Hartman served as chairman, for careful and thoughtful financing throughout the years, as well as to those who gave their dollars.
The membership . . . numbers about 500. one of the mem- bers of the official board stated recently: "In the light of our present standing and seeming possibilities, the future of the Meyersdale Church looks bright." Shall we not all under God labor to that end.
CHAPTER 31. THE MIDDLE CREEK CONGREGATION
First members settled here about 1795 Sunday school organized, 1868 Present church membership, 200
The first members of the congregation seem to have come into the area sometime after 1795 and made their homes near
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what is now Rockwood. Others settled in the rolling fields close to the Middle Creek. Which family came first is not quite clear, but the names of Miller, Walker, Lichty, Meyers, and Hauger are early on the records.
Meetings were held in the homes or barns until the first meeting house, without residence, was erected on Middle Creek in 1848. This was the third large sanctuary built in Somerset County by the Brethren, the other two having been the Pleasant
Middle
free
Ger. Baptist Ch.
First Middle Creek Church, Built 1848 From Walker's Map, 1860
Grove house, near Berlin, in 1845, and the Elklick Creek house (Summit Mills) in 1846. At the historic Annual Meeting of 1849, plans were formulated for the church in Somerset County to be set off in four congregations, of which the large western section was called Middle Creek. We are told that there were one hundred members living in the territory at the time of the separate organization. Elder Henry Myers (Moyer) was made bishop, and at least two other ministers resided in the new congregation, Jacob S. Hauger and Adam F. Snyder, both having been elected to the ministry in 1835.
Perhaps the most outstanding contribution that this congre- gation has made to the Brotherhood has been the calling of thirty-nine brethren to the ministry, thirty-five of whom ac-
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cepted the sacred service. Among this list we find many promi- nent names, including that of Bishop Tobias Meyers, an outstanding churchman but also one of the promoters and stock- holders of the Cumberland and Connellsville Railroad (1871), now the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. His two sons, Jacob T. Meyers, who was an outstanding pastor and the publisher of one of our church papers, and Dr. T. T. Meyers, a successful pastor, theologian, and writer, added distinction to the name. Herman A. Stahl, perhaps the last of our ministers in Somerset County to be ordained a bishop, and Elder Silas A. Hoover, both became very successful evangelists of their generation, Elder Hoover being called far and near for funerals also. One other name deserves special mention here, and the others will be found in the biographical section. Brother M. J. Brougher, of this generation, has filled a large and very useful place as pastor, evangelist, and District Board and General Brotherhood Board member.
This formerly large congregation at one time had eight church houses in use at one time and a half-interest in the ninth. Sev- eral of these are reported in other local histories, and will not be duplicated here. The Middle Creek house has been the love-feast house for more than a century. The second and pres- ent building was built in 1894. Members traveled for many miles to attend these services. Many came on Saturday and remained over the two days. The church yard was filled with horses and carriages and feed for the horses was purchased by the church. As late as 1909 we purchased "beef at nine cents per pound, to be delivered at the place of meeting."
Middle Creek Church (1950)
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Sunday school was organized in the little red schoolhouse on the lot adjoining the Middle Creek church in 1868 with Josiah Gross as the superintendent. A little later it was moved into the church house. As was then popular, library books were used as the literature. The books were assigned to different pupils of the school and reports were given during the class sessions. Many of these books are still in the homes of the present members of the congregation. Mrs. Sanfrancisco (Will) Kimmel was teacher of the beginners class from the organization (1868) until 1920, a period of fifty-two years, at which time she was promoted to the position of children's division superintendent. The school has been active all through these years and is at present under the direction of Mrs. Glen Bruner, superintendent.
The church was served by the free ministry until 1918, when Calvin Rose was chosen to become the first regular pastor of the Middle Creek church and the Rockwood appointment. He died, a victim of the flu, in the same year. In 1919 he was suc- ceeded by W. J. Hamilton, who served the church for two years. N. D. Cosner was summer pastor in 1921, followed by W. K. Kulp as pastor from 1922 to 1928. Walter F. Berkebile has been serving the Middle Creek and Rockwood churches since 1928.
PIKE RUN CHURCH
The German Baptist of Jefferson township was a branch of the Middle Creek Church. The first preaching in the township was at the house of Christian Miller in 1844. Services were conducted by Peter Cover and John Beachly. There were then but two members in Jefferson township, John Maust Pike Run Church and his wife. The present number of members in 1884 is fifty-two. Organization was effected in 1850 by Henry and Jacob Meyers, min- isters. There were then 12 mem- bers in this township. A meeting house known as Laurel Hill church was built in 1873 at a cost of $550.00.1
A meetinghouse known as the "Grove G. B. Church" (Plank Road) was built before 1860, as explained in Chapter 53, "The Somerset Church." After having served their generation, these two old churches were united by better roads and easier transpor- tation, and the Kimmel church house (now known as Pike Run)
1 Welfley's History of Somerset County (1884). Page 513.
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was erected and dedicated in 1915. This attractive brick edi- fice, near the long-time home of Elder Harvey H. Kimmel and family, is a continuous witness to the passing motorist as well as a sanctuary for the weekly worshipers. The Moore church, in Jefferson Township, has also been discontinued in later years. The Kimmel Sunday school (Pike Run) was organized in 1878 with John B. Kimmel as superintendent.
THE PLEASANT HILL CHURCH
The first meetinghouse built in this community, according to the map of Somerset County, published in 1860, was called "G. B. Church Milford Tp." A detailed history of this local church, including the first and second buildings, was written by
B .R. Ch Milford Ty
First Pleasant Hill Church From Walker's Map, 1860
W. Harvey Meyers several months before his tragic death. The church, now discontinued, made a very large contribution to the denomination, as will be disclosed by a brief excerpt from Brother Harvey's writings. He was secretary of the Middle Creek congregation for many years.
In 1855 Michael Kimmel and wife, William S. Meyers and wife, German Baptists, and Jacob Walter and wife, of the German Re- formed church, each donated and deeded a parcel of ground ad- joining each other, making two acres to the German Baptists church.
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A small church was erected thereon, costing about $400.00. It was dedicated on a beautiful day in early autumn, 1856. While the people were assembling some one remarked or suggested that this place should be named Pleasant Hill. And it was.
As the years passed the following brethren from this com- munity were elected to the ministry: Martin L. Meyers, Jonathan Lichty, John Dull, Tobias Meyers, Michael Kimmel, William S. Meyers, Jacob T. Meyers, John W. Wegley, W. H. Meyers, and Samuel A. Meyers. Deacons elected were Joseph W. Meyers, Mahlon J. Meyers, Milton J. Shank, Edward J. Meyers and Luther C. Bowman. J. T. Meyers and his brother T. T. Meyers were school mates of Mahlon J. Meyers and Edward E. Dull at the Walter School, near the Pleasant Hill church. I am grateful to both Dull and Meyers for some of the information given here. They are both in their 84th year.
The interest and attendance kept constantly growing, so that by 1905 we had outgrown the capacity of our building. A new building was erected in the summer of 1906 and dedicated in November. The cost was approximately $3,000.00 and the old church was sold for $44.00.
In the early years of Pleasant Hill's history some of her families sold their farms and moved to Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. They helped establish and support other churches where they went.
After the Somerset and Rockwood churches were organized taking considerable of our territory, and hard surfaced roads were built, we lost some of our most loyal members to these churches, a few elsewhere and some by death. . . . Early in 1937 we decided to close and sold the building.
THE CENTER CHURCH
For a number of years prior to 1905 the Brethren held preach- ing services in the Pletcher schoolhouse, some distance up the valley from the Trent post office. As a result, some families of members living among the foothills of the Laurel Hill Moun- tains felt the need of a church house in their community, more convenient than the schoolhouse. We quote from the minutes of the council meeting held on May 27, 1905:
Report of Committee to locate a meeting house. The committee agreed the most suitable place is on the John Reese farm, along the County Line [road].
Decided that Elder Berkley take charge of the funds raised to build the new meetinghouse above mentioned.
The minutes of the council meeting held on May 19, 1906, say: "Two deacons elected, namely: William Saylor and John Reese; also two brethren to the ministry, namely: Mahlon Brougher and Jacob Sanner." The two deacons lived in the Center church community, and the ministers in the Fairview church area.
The minutes do not give any account of the building com- mittee, or the amount of money paid to Elder Berkley for the erection of the new church house, but it must have been properly
Center Church, 1950
cared for, as the council on September 28, 1907, had "solicitors appointed at every meeting house" for the general congregational treasury, and in the list of churches is "Center,-Brother Levi Miller."
Our limited space does not permit a detailed history of the next forty-two years, but Sunday school, preaching services, evangelistic meetings, baptisms, deaths, emigration, and many changes in families fill the years until the present day, when we have an ongoing church with various activities and hopes for the future. The picture of the church will show the reader a well-kept, remodeled building, which is the center of our religious and social life. Brother Carl Wilkins is our Sunday- school superintendent, and, with our ministerial help, we are building a fellowship for the days ahead.
-W. F. Berkebile, W. Harvey Meyers, and W. J. H.
CHAPTER 32. THE MONTGOMERY CHURCH
Congregation organized, 1852 First church house erected, 1873 Present church membership, 160
This congregation, territorially, covers all that part of Indiana County north of the old Purchase Line and east of the Mahoning Road, which leads from the town of Indiana to Punxsutawney. There are now, or have been, members belonging to this con- gregation living in Jefferson County.
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It was about the year 1845 when Samuel Spicher and George Rairigh, Jr., with their wives, moved here from Armstrong County. Their call for preaching was responded to by George Rairigh, Sr., and Joseph Shumaker, from the Cowanshannock congregation. There were some conversions, and other members soon moved in. By the year 1852 the members met in the home of Cornelius Rowley and organized a church. Peter Beer, a promising young brother with perseverance and good judgment, was elected to the ministry, and Jonathan Berkey to the deacon's office. Brother Beer ministered to the spiritual needs of the people with such diligence as his limited temporal resources justified until 1876, when he moved to Clearfield County, where he served in the Rockton congregation.
J. W. Spicher was elected to the ministry in 1854. Mark Minser, a minister, moved in from Jefferson County in 1868. George S. Rairigh was elected in 1879, M. H. Spicher in 1893, and Brother Minser in 1877. Although Brother Minser moved to the Manor congregation in 1880 and placed his letter there, he continued, upon request, the oversight of the Montgomery congregation. After Brother Minser's death in 1895, J. Harvey Beer had the oversight until 1903.
George S. Rairigh moved, in 1891, to the Johnstown congregation, where he was ordained to the eldership; he subsequently moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where he became connected with the work of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and did valuable work in the Brooklyn mission. M. N. Spicher moved to Prince William County, Virginia, and thence to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. This left the congregation with only one resident minister, J. W. Spicher. This faithful old brother, anxious for the prosperity of the congregation, called for the election of ministers. The result was that D. R. Berkey and Oran Fyock were called in 1907.
Brice Sell, of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, had the oversight for a number of years until 1912, when Oran Fyock was ordained and became the elder, in which office he continued until death. J. W. Spicher died in 1909, and D. R. Berkey moved to the Manor congregation in 1912; so Brother Fyock was the only minister at that time.
The following deacons have been elected: Samuel Rairigh and Henry Spicher; Daniel Rairigh, 1876; W. G. Walker, 1877; A. H. Brilhart, 1891; Frank Fyock and John Rairigh, 1892; D. R. Berkey, 1904; Harry Brilhart, 1908.
The first meetinghouse was erected in 1873, and was named Montgomery, after the township in which it is located. This house, the only one in the congregation, was remodeled in 1906. The present membership numbers one hundred sixty. A good Sunday school is maintained, with an enrollment of eighty. It was organized some time before the church was built and was held in a township schoolhouse.
Oran Fyock filled the pulpit until 1931, when E. A. Edwards was elected pastor. Brother Fyock then served as elder for the year 1931. Brother Edwards served as pastor and elder from 1932 through 1934. Brother Edwards again served as pastor
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Montgomery Church
until April 1, 1936, with W. N. Myers as elder. On April 1, 1936, Ivan Clyde Fetterman was elected pastor for a period of one year. W. N. Myers continued as elder until September 1938. Brother Fetterman was elected pastor for another year, on Sep- tember 1, 1938. D. Howard Keiper was elder from September 1938 until 1943, when John Clawson was elected elder. J. H. Wimmer is pastor and elder at present. Deacons elected on May 20, 1941, were Charles R. Brilhart and Leroy C. Brilhart. John Small was elected deacon on September 29, 1945.
The ladies' aid presented seats and cushions to the church in 1936. The trustees signed for the right of way for the electric line in September 1938. Harry E. Koozer presented the church with a piano in May 1936. The congregation bought new carpet, and replaced the stoves with a furnace in 1939. The old flues were taken down and a new outside chimney was erected. The inside walls of the church were painted in 1939. New hymnals were purchased in May 1940. In 1945 iron railings were placed around the entrance steps and decorative shrubbery was planted around the entrance and along the side of the church. In 1948 tables and chairs for the primary class were presented by M. F. Fetterman. Also in 1948, the Willing Workers young people's class donated a new pulpit Bible and a light. Collection plates were donated by Edith Fleming Powers and Beatrice Fleming Harvey in memory of their parents, Dave and Sadie Fleming.
Ivan C. Fetterman's resignation as pastor of the Montgomery Church of the Brethren was reluctantly recognized by the min- isterial board, effective November 1, 1948. Brother Fetterman left to take pastoral charge of the Green Tree Church of the Brethren at Oaks, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.
J. H. Wimmer of Indiana, Pennsylvania, is preaching each
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second Sunday at the present time. The average church-school attendance is forty-five. A group of ladies of the church met on November 16, 1947, and formed the Montgomery Missionary Society. There are eighteen active members, with meetings being held once each month in the homes of the members.
-M. F. Fetterman
RECOGNIZING FIFTY YEARS OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE
In honor of the members of the various Churches of the Brethren in Circuit No. 5 having membership for fifty years or more, a special service was held in the Montgomery Church of the Brethren on June 25, 1950.
At the afternoon program at 2:30 the speaker was Roy S. Forney, pastor of the Morrellville church, Johnstown. The eve- ning speaker was Ivan C. Fetterman, formerly of the Montgomery church. Special music was contributed by the four churches of the circuit: Montgomery, Purchase Line, Diamondville, and Penn Run. Twenty-nine persons received this special recogni- tion and their names are given under the churches listed below.
MONTGOMERY
Members
Affiliated Christian Service
Frank Fyock
Installed a deacon, 1892 . . over 58 years
Annie Walker
Affiliated over
50 years
William Nicholson
Affiliated over 50 years
Harry Brilhart
1892
58 years
Isabelle Brilhart
51 years
Amanda Nicholson Ginter
1897
53 years
Jennie Nicholson Jones
1897
53 years
Bertha Rairigh Brilhart
1897
53 years
May Cassidy Clark
1897
53 years
Edith Cassidy Koozer 1897
53 years
J. H. Wimmer, presiding pastor Affiliated over
50 years
Mrs. J. H. Wimmer
Affiliated over
50 years
Amanda Huffman Rairigh
50 years
Edna Huffman Rairigh
50 years
PURCHASE LINE
Members
Born
Baptized
Christian Service
Amanda Minser
1859
1887
63 years
S. L. Fyock
1860
1879
71 years
Sadie Mumau
1867
1885
65 years
Sarah Strong .
1874
1893
57 years
Belle Fulmery
1893
57 years
Robert Kneff, resident pastor
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DIAMONDVILLE
Members
Born
Baptized
Christian Service
A. C. Ober
1865
1886
64 years
Margaret Ober
1864
1882
68 years
David Ober
1871
1895
55 years
Jesse Gaston
1873
1897
53 years
Mrs. Jennie Myers
1868
over 50 years
Robert Kneff, resident pastor
PENN RUN
Members
Christian Service
H. A. Holsopple
58 years
Mr. C. D. Brendlinger
70 years
Mrs. C. D. Brendlinger
65 years
Carrie Widdowson
58 years
Annie Widdowson
54 years
John H. Clawson, presiding pastor
At the evening meeting Ivan C. Fetterman read the follow- ing expression of appreciation written by Sister Edith Cassidy Koozer, one of those honored from the Montgomery church:
In behalf of those of us upon whom this honor has been bestowed, I wish first of all to thank God for keeping us through the years and giving us loyal Christian parents, relatives, and neighbors who have left us this rich heritage and this church in which to worship.
Secondly I wish to thank the committees on arrangements and refreshments and the Faithful Gleaners Class who sponsored this program.
A special thanks to my husband, Harry, who originated this lovely tribute.
It took much planning and work to make this wonderful day possible for us to enjoy together, and much effort for those who have driven over the miles to be with us and to help make our day a pleasant Christian fellowship together; and to all who have contributed music, thank you.
To those of our honored members who could not be with us today, we ask God to keep them in his care to await that blessed reunion.
Again to all who have helped in any way, we say-Thank you and may God bless you all.
The committee on arrangements was: Harry E. Koozer (chair- man), H. D. Rairigh, Ethel Rairigh, Charles Brilhart, Edna Bril- hart, and Dorothy Blose. The committee on refreshments was Lucille Brilhart King (chairman) and Rosaline Rowley (co- chairman).
This special occasion was sponsored by the Faithful Gleaners Sunday-school class-president, Ethel Rairigh; secretary-treas- urer, Melvin Fetterman; teacher, Ray Rowley.
-Mrs. Charles Brilhart
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CHAPTER 33. THE MORRELLVILLE CHURCH
First services in Morrellville, April 3, 1898 Present church dedicated, March 4, 1928 Present church membership, 381
The Johnstown congregation of the Church of the Brethren began work in Morrellville on April 3, 1898. At that time all the congregations of the Church of the Brethren in Johnstown and vicinity were known as the Johnstown congregation. The
Morrellville Church
first meetings were held in the Baptist church on Sheridan Street. Later the place of meeting was moved to Cusic's Hall on "H" Street. In 1902 a new brick church was erected on "D" Street at Barron Avenue, in which services were conducted until 1922.
It should also be known that during this period the large congregations of the denomination were dividing into smaller units. On January 1, 1898, the Johnstown congregation divided,
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and the West Johnstown congregation was founded, including the Roxbury, Pleasant Hill, Westmont, and Morrellville church- es. Morrellville continued as a part of West Johnstown until February 14, 1915, when another division took place and Mor- rellville became a separate congregation with approximately two hundred fifty members.
The first official board of the Morrellville church was composed of the following ministers: S. E. Dorer, James F. Ream, and John W. Mills. The deacons were John Wissinger, Amos Campbell, and W. I. Strayer. Brother Strayer is still active in the deacon's office, and has served the church in various capacities during the past fifty years as secretary, treasurer, Sunday-school superintendent, teacher, building committee member, and trustee.
On September 3, 1917, the church in council considered the matter of remodeling the church on "D" Street. A committee composed of A. S. Howard, Amos Campbell, and W. I. Strayer was appointed to get estimates on the cost of re- modeling the church. They reported that approximately $1,295.00 would be needed to make the improvements. The council decided to postpone the remodeling. At the July 1920 council, Contractor Lewis Keiper was ordered to pre- pare plans for remodeling the church, and it was decided "D" Street Church, Morrellville that plans should be made for raising the money needed for the work. In the meantime, it was learned that there was a possibility of selling the church build- ing. The trustees were instructed to decide upon a price, and the council of February 15, 1921, accepted the suggested selling price of $12,000.00; of this sum, $6,000.00 was to be paid in cash and the remaining $6,000.00 was to be paid when the build- ing was vacated. The trustees were further instructed to look for a new location upon which to build a new church.
During this period an attempt was made to unite with the Third Brethren church and together build a new church, but after several joint meetings of committees, it was evident that neither congregation was willing to lose its identity. The church council appointed a building committee consisting of the following: A. S. Howard, Dr. Maurice Stayer, Lewis Campbell, William Dorer, and W. I. Strayer. A finance
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committee of the following members was appointed: W. F. M. Campbell, Jehu Allison, Campbell McDowell, Harry Stutzman, Roy Ream, Mrs. Charles Kunkle, Miss Millie Koontz, and Clarence White.
The present location, including the parsonage, was pur- chased for $10,000.00. The July 1921 council decided to build the church basement and worship in it until the way opened for completing the superstructure. Work was begun in the fall of 1921, and by spring the basement was completed at a cost of $33,000.00. The dedication service of the completed church was held March 4, 1928. Dr. C. C. Ellis delivered the dedicatorial sermon. H. B. Heisey conducted a three weeks' evangelistic service following the dedication.
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