USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 46
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CHARLES H. HELTZEL (September 20, 1911-) is the son of David F. and Susan (Hoover) Heltzel of near New Enterprise. When quite young he went to live with his uncle and aunt, David and Margaret (Hoover) Baker, staying until his marriage to Pauline McIlnay. They have be- come the parents of five children. The Koontz congregation elected him to the ministry in 1933, which church
Charles H. Heltzel and Wife
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he served for seven years. In 1941 he became part-time pastor in the Riddlesburg congregation. The Conemaugh church called him in 1948, at which place he still labors. Brother Heltzel was ordained as an elder in 1943.
TOBIAS FRANCIS HENRY (December 7, 1901-) was born near New Enterprise. He was graduated from Juniata College and Bethany Biblical Seminary and received both a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He was ordained to the ministry in the Koontz congregation on May 25, 1921. From 1929 to 1939 he served in the pastorate of the Roxbury church. In the district he served as clerk for six years and was a member of the Board of Christian Education, a member of the Ministerial Board, a trustee of Camp Harmony, and moderator of District Meeting. Since 1939 he has been located in the Middle District, first as pastor at Roaring Spring and later at Huntingdon. At present he is professor of sociology at Juniata College and a member of the General Brotherhood Board. He was united in marriage to Alma Gertrude Koontz on June 2, 1923. Three children bless their home.
E. M. HERTZLER (April 30, 1896-), a native of Lebanon County, was called to the ministry in the Lower Cumberland church on October 12, 1921, and ordained as an elder in June 1928. He received his edu- cation at Elizabethtown College and Columbia University, and has taught in the public schools several years and at Elizabethtown College one year. He served in the pastorate of the church in Brooklyn, New York, from 1927 to February 28, 1935, going then to Windber. In June 1940 he took charge of the Marion, Ohio, church. He has also served as fieldman for the National Reform Association from 1945 to July 1948, when he went to the Bellefontaine church, Ohio, on a part- time basis, giving time also as the executive secretary of the District of Northwestern Ohio. He was married to Rhoda E. Miller on Novem- ber 28, 1918. They have a daughter, Leah Mary.
HOMER CLIFTON HESS (Decem- ber 28, 1898-), son of Reverend John W. and Elizabeth M. (Fifer) Hess, was born near Mount Solon, Virginia. He united with the church at the age of twelve. The Beaver Creek congregation called him to the ministry on March 26, 1920. He was ordained to the eldership on May 7, 1928. Brother Hess was graduated from Bridgewater College in June 1923, and has since studied at the University of Pittsburgh. On Octo- ber 4, 1926, he was married to Vesta Blue, daughter of Reverend Elmer D. and Laura (Rhodes) Blue, of the Pleasant Hill congregation. Four sons and four daughters were born
Homer Clifton Hess
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into this home. Their son, Fred, was licensed to the ministry in 1948. Brother Hess served the church in Virginia and West Virginia until com- ing into this district in June 1924 to be pastor of the Birdville mission. From November 1, 1925, to September 1, 1927, he worked with the Rock- ton and Chess Creek congregations. The following year he labored at Markleysburg, going into the Nanty Glo church September 1, 1928. He remained there until March 1, 1933. He has since served the Maple Spring and Tire Hill churches. For a number of years he has been living within the Morrellville congregation, where he works in various offices in the church and Sunday school.
CLARENCE GEORGE HESSE (September 6, 1887-) is a native of Grant County, West Virginia. He taught in the public schools for five years. In June 1917 he was graduated from Bridgewater College and in 1920
Clarence George Hesse and Wife
from Crozer Seminary with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. While at- tending seminary he was pastor of the Bethany and Norristown churches. Myrtle L. Idleman, a sister of Elder Russell T. Idleman, became his wife and efficient helpmate in the parsonage on August 11, 1920. They moved to the Somerset church on September 1, 1920, as their first pastor, remaining there until 1929, when they moved to the First church, Roanoke, Virginia. In 1935 he assumed the pastorate of the Bridgewater church, Virginia. Since September 1, 1946, he has been serving the church at Greenville, Ohio. He was secretary of the Southeastern Region for several years, served four times on Standing Committee, and was moderator of the Second District of Virginia two times.
ARTHUR D. HETRICK (March 15, 1869-) spent most of his early years in Mahoning Township, Armstrong County, near Colwell Furnace. He united with the Progressive Brethren Church and was called to
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the ministry of that church. In 1897 he was married to Tillie Adams, who was a member of the Red Bank Church of the Brethren. Brother Hetrick united with this church in 1911, and on July 7, 1911, was elected to the office of deacon, in which capacity he continues to serve at this writing. He was also a member of the board of trustees of the Oakdale congregation for approximately twenty-five years. In 1945 Brother Hetrick was awarded the Fifty-Year Medal for faithful Sunday-school work by the Pennsylvania State Sabbath School Convention at its an- nual meeting. He served as Sunday-school superintendent for a number of terms and has taught the adult Bible class for almost twenty-one years. Now eighty years of age, he is very active both in his duties at home and in the church. His wife passed on in the fall of 1933. He and his only son, V. Ray Hetrick, and his family reside near the Oakdale church.
Arthur D. Hetrick
David A. Hetrick
(1) DAVID A. HETRICK (November 4, 1848-May 29, 1931), son of John and Catherine Hetrick and brother of Elder Jesse P. Hetrick, lived his entire life in Mahoning Township, Armstrong County. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Coleman of Kellersburg. They became the parents of thirteen children. On May 26, 1889, Brother David was called to the ministry by the Red Bank church. He served as minister to the Brush Valley, the Glade Run, and the Red Bank congregations. He lived a long, useful life in Christian service.
(2) JESSE C. HETRICK (January 5, 1872-November 21, 1951) was the oldest son of David A. Hetrick. He was baptized in February 1891. While a young man, Brother Jesse went to Fruitdale, Alabama, where he met and married Sister Mae Yundt, a member of the Fruitdale congregation. Later they moved to the Waddams Grove church, Illi-
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nois, where Brother Hetrick was or- dained to the office of deacon. Sister Hetrick died in August 1930. The following year Brother Hetrick and his only daughter, Virginia L., re- turned to their home near the Oak- dale church. Brother Jesse served as deacon, trustee, and church school superintendent, as well as teacher.
EFFIE HETRICK (January 1, 1876-) was the leading spirit in the establishing of a Church of the Brethren in Natrona Heights, located about twenty-five miles northeast of Pittsburgh. She has seen it grow from a small handful of people to a group with an average attendance of well over one hundred in the Sun- day school. She was the daughter of Paul and Margaret (Beahm) Craw- ford of Clarion County. Her parents, Jesse C. Hetrick members of the Free Baptist church, moved to Armstrong County when Effie was ten years of age. They lived near the Oakdale (formerly Red Bank) Church of the Brethren. A Catholic family who lived near them told her that the Dunkards were good people and that she should go to the church near by; they themselves attended the Red Bank church, but never united with it. Sister Hetrick was united in marriage on February 3, 1897, to Charles Calvert Hetrick, whose people were mem- bers of the Red Bank church. Of their children, Daryl, Leon, and Mar- garet grew to maturity. They were baptized in the Pittsburgh church on May 20, 1906. Sister Hetrick was one of the few charter members of the Birdville mission when it was organized in 1919. The Hetricks went to housekeeping in Natrona, where they lived until they built their own home in Birdville in 1903. Brother Hetrick died on January 10, 1907. In addition to rearing the children, Sister Hetrick had to finish paying for their home. She put the children in a home and worked for several years, doing housework and also working at the school for the deaf several years. Later she was em- ployed by people in Pittsburgh who owned a store. Buying the store, she brought the children from the home to be with her in Pittsburgh, but as this was not a very good location in which to rear her children, she sold the store and moved back to her home in Birdville. There she boarded children and adults to earn a living. It is inter- esting to know that while she operated the store she neither opened it on Sunday nor sold tobacco.
Effie Hetrick
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The former owners had done both. Sister Hetrick has served the church faithfully during the years. She has served as superintendent, treasurer, and teacher, as well as in other capacities. She envisioned a Church of the Brethren for this community and has lived to see its realization. Recently she gave a gift of one thousand dollars to the building fund from her small earnings. At the present time she is caring for a blind lady who is practically helpless. Though not so well and strong as she once was, she very seldom misses any service at the church. The words, "She hath done what she could," can be very fittingly said of her.
JESSE P. HETRICK (December 20, 1843-December 20, 1927) was the son of John and Catherine Hetrick. He was baptized in the Red Bank church September 5, 1864. The following June he was elected to the ministry. In 1865 he entered the Reid Institute, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1870. In the same year he was called to the pastorate of the Red Bank church. The early years of his min- istry were filled with unusual cir- cumstances. Western Pennsylvania was a virgin field in missionary ac- tivity. He traveled hundreds of miles on horseback, preaching to needy folks in isolated communities. The numerous conversions which accom- panied his efforts abundantly wit- ness to the validity of his call to the ministry. In April 1874 Brother Hetrick was called to the pastorate of the Old Marsh Street church in Philadelphia. He served this church faithfully and well until June, 1882. In 1878 he was ordained as an elder. In the fall of 1882 he went to the Coventry church, where he worked Jesse P. Hetrick for sixteen years. After closing his work there, he continued as elder of the Parkerford congregation until his death, at which time he was the oldest elder in that district. His first wife was Hannah J. King, whom he married November 19, 1872; they had two daughters. She passed away in April 1877. Ida K. Baugh Ellis be- came his wife in 1884.
DAVID HILDEBRAND (November 10, 1835-March 9, 1914) was the son of Abram and Anna Diamond Hildebrand of East Taylor Township, Cambria County. He united with the Conemaugh church in 1857, was elected a deacon on July 4, 1865, and about 1868 was called to the min- istry. He was ordained to the eldership on July 10, 1886. He was known to have preached two hundred twenty-five funerals after 1879. He also married many couples, and did much baptizing. Elder Hilde- brand frequently represented his church in District and Annual Meet- ings, and served on the Standing Committee at Meyersdale in 1894.
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David Hildebrand and Wife
Brother Hildebrand was very faithful in his ministerial duties, and after the Walnut Grove meetinghouse was built (1884) he did not miss a communion service; he missed only two councils-to preach funeral sermons.
E. K. HOCHSTETLER (March 4, 1857 -? ) was born and lived his life in the southern part of Somerset County. He was baptized April 29, 1878, elected to the ministry July 4, 1879, and ordained as an elder December 31, 1880. He was the elder of the Greenville congregation at its inception and continued as the only active minister for many years. He was also elder-in-charge of the Summit Mills and Indian Creek congregation.
(1) PHILIP HOFFMAN was among the earliest settlers in the Scalp Level area. He came from Morrison's Cove with his wife, Barbara (Miller) Hoffman. There were two sons, Jacob and John; their nine daughters grew up to become the mothers of many children. From this large family have come many outstanding leaders in the church, among whom are names such as Holsopple, Fyock, Detweiler, Berkey, and Lehman. Through the grandson, Jacob, who was married to Bena Statler, the subjects of the following sketches are descended.
(3) PETER HOFFMAN (May 29, 1853-September 21, 1934) was mar- ried to Sarah Custer. She died June 12, 1903, after having mothered ten children. His second wife was Rachel Custer, who still lives in Scalp Level. She has two sons, Russell and Galen. One son died in infancy. Brother Hoffman was a member of the Scalp Level church for sixty years, during many of which he served in the office of deacon.
(3) AARON S. HOFFMAN (November 29, 1858-September 2, 1945), a brother of the above, was married to Polly C. Blough. She died in August 1937. They were the parents of three children, Irvin, Sylvester, and Nora, the wife of Edward Weaver. Brother Hoffman was a farmer and a coal operator. He was a deacon in the church for about sixty years.
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(3) NOAH J. HOFFMAN (March 5, 1861-January 12, 1951) a son of Jacob and Bena (Statler) Hoffman, was married to Elizabeth Holsopple, who passed away on June 3, 1926. There were four children, Myra, wife of A. E. Hoover, Jacob, Cloyd, and Cora, the wife of Thomas Hus- tan. Brother Hoffman was a farmer.
(4) SYLVESTER B. HOFFMAN (Ju- ly 28, 1884-) is the son of Aaron S. Hoffman. He was engaged in farm- ing from 1909 until 1944. On May 28, 1905, he was married to Bertha Shaffer. To this union twelve chil- dren were born. Brother Hoffman united with the church on July 4, 1901. In 1916 he was elected to the ministry and was ordained to the eldership in 1925. For more than thirty-five years he has been a reg- ular teacher in the Scalp Level Sun- The Three Hoffman Brothers day school. Many other offices in the church have been faithfully and ably filled by Brother Hoffman.
JASON B. HOLLOPETER (August 23, 1886-) is known to people far and wide as a bee fancier specializing extensively in queen culture. But with this occupation he has also given time and energy to the cultivation of the Kingdom of his Lord. He was born near Rockton, Clearfield County, a son of E. W. and Libbie (Beer) Hollopeter. Brother Hollopeter was graduated from Maryland Collegiate Institute in 1905. His wife was Pearl Ray. His election to the ministry occurred on June 11, 1911, in the Rockton church, where he still serves as he is needed.
GEORGE BLACKBURN HOLSINGER (May 10, 1857-November 22, 1908). A lad born near the village of Pleasantville was destined to make a contribution to the church in a line somewhat different from those of many of his illustrious ancestors. This boy was born to the farm family of Joseph and Rebecca Blackburn Holsinger, and was given the name of George Blackburn. Perhaps it was his father's love of music as he led the hymns in the old Mock church (the nearest Church of the Brethren to the family) which furnished an inspiration to the eager boy.
In this church (which belonged to Western Pennsylvania until 1916) his grandfather, George Mack Holsinger, was a deacon, serving faith- fully. It is likely that in the long winter evenings around the blazing fireside they talked of young George's great-grandmother, Elizabeth, the daughter of William Mack, who married John Holsinger. She was the great-granddaughter of Alexander Mack, the founder of the church of which the Holsingers were faithful and loyal supporters.
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George's father had a natural talent for music and no doubt was a valuable aid to his son. The old log church building, called the Mock church, still stands with its chinked logs. It is no longer used for worship services.1 In the church yard in the rear rest the remains of George Mack Holsinger, the grandfather of George Black- burn Holsinger, who passed away on April 4, 1862. George B. Holsinger, this outstanding layman, could trace his line to the founder through Jo- seph Holsinger, George Mack Holsinger, Elizabeth Mack Holsinger, William Mack, and Alexander Mack, Jr.
In his early years, be- cause of the distance from George Blackburn Holsinger school, his mother was his teacher. Later he was able to secure eleven months of common school education and thus prepared himself for teaching. Music, however, was his first love, and toward this end his efforts were shaped. In 1875 he had an opportunity to attend a singing school taught by Benjamin Everett. From this training he began classwork himself.
He played the organ before he was able to read music. Numerous musicians of his day were the sources of his instruction. There were times when he would pay as much as six dollars for each lesson of one hour's length. When the Spring Creek Normal School, established in 1880, was moved to Bridgewater, Virginia, in 1882, to open under the name of the Virginia Normal School (now Bridgewater College), George B. Holsinger took charge of the music department. He ably filled this position for sixteen years. Being very versatile, he taught piano, organ, vocal music, the history of music, harmony, and composition. He is said to have given thirty thousand instrumental lessons alone.
From Bridgewater he entered a larger field of service; in 1898 he went to the Brethren Publishing House at Elgin, Illinois. Here he gave his time to the preparation of songbooks and to traveling among the churches, in which he conducted singing classes and musical institutes. He was a very successful editor and composer. Over two hundred songs were given to the public as a result of his ability. Some of the most popular were Rest Over Jordan, At the Savior's Right Hand, and Meet
1 A picture of this building may be seen in the first chapter of this volume, "Footprints of Our Forefathers."
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Me There. Brother Holsinger had an efficient helpmate in his wife, who before marriage was Sallie A. Kagey of Bridgewater.
For many years George B. Holsinger was a regular leader of song in the Annual Conferences. When standing before them, with his baton, he was the master of assemblies and led them to the highest summits of earthly praise. He was an inspiring leader who conducted with the minimum of apparent effort.
This highly consecrated and talented man was cut down in the very height of his active life. He had gone to Astoria, Illinois, to teach a vocal class when he was stricken with a malignant form of pneu- monia; before either his wife or his son could reach his bedside he was gone to join the chorus on high in the "city of the Great King." He had called for the anointing service and his last words were: "I have a narrow passage to go through. If it were not for my wife and poor child, I would be ready to lie down and go to my Father." His funeral was preached by the "walking Bible," Andrew Hutchinson, of whom it was said that he had memorized the entire Bible. George Blackburn Holsinger's body was laid to rest not far from where he had spent sixteen years teaching that which he loved most-music, in the Bridgewater cemetery .- Reverend Freeman Ankrum, St. James, Maryland.
HENRY RITZ HOLSINGER (May 26, 1833-March 12, 1905) was the son of Elder Daniel Mack and Polly (Ritz) Holsinger of Morrison's Cove. His father and grandfather were ministers in the Church of the Brethren. His grandmother on his father's side was Elizabeth Mack, daughter of William Mack, son of Alexander Mack, Jr. He was married to Susannah Shoop on June 1, 1864. Two daughters were born to this union, Mrs. P. G. Nowag of Johnstown and Mrs. S. J. Holsinger of Phoenix, Arizona.
The life and work of this great church leader is so well revealed in the pages of this history, both in "District Developments" and in various congregational histories, that this biography need not be lengthy.
He was baptized in the spring of 1855 at Clover Creek by Elder George Brumbaugh, elected to the ministry October 28, 1866, advanced to the second degree a few months afterwards, and ordained to the eldership on October 21, 1880. After a year's apprenticeship with Henry Kurtz in the office of the Gospel Visitor, he published the Tyrone Herald for about a year. Then, in January 1865, he began to publish regularly the Christian Family Companion, the first weekly paper published in the interests of the Church of the Brethren. "For a time James A. Sell was associated with him. It was seen that the business would not support two families; so Sell left the firm. Mrs. Holsinger told Reverend Sell at a later date that 'if you had stayed with him, there would have been no division.'"-Ankrum, Alexander Mack the Tunker and De- scendants, page 198.
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I. EDWARD HOLSINGER (August 10, 1878 -? ) was the oldest son of Elder Levi F. and Barbara Replogle Holsinger, New Enterprise congregation, Bedford County. He took up teaching in rural schools at the age of eight- een years, graduated from Juniata College normal course in 1902, and the classical course in 1909. While principal of the Avalon High School, he received the master of arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and continued graduate study for the doctor of philosophy degree.
Brother Holsinger united with the church at the age of thirteen years, and was elected to the minis- try in 1907. In January 1914 he be- came field secretary of the Sunday School Association of Western Penn- sylvania, in which capacity he served for four years; during which time he organized the entire District into eleven circuits for more inten- sive work .- Taken from Blough's history, pages 262 and 263
I. Edward Holsinger
Brother I. E., as he was known, was married to Laura B. Ober on June 29, 1904. To this union were given two sons, Alden O. and Bernard O. Following the conclusion of his work in this district, he moved to Elmira, New York, engaging in Boy Scout work. There he died; he was buried in the New Enterprise cemetery.
Virgil Clair Holsinger
VIRGIL CLAIR HOLSINGER (Octo- ber 29, 1892-) was born in Blair County, the child of William H. Hol- singer and Corena (Gates) Holsing- er. He was received into the church at the age of ten years. On Septem- ber 6, 1941, he was married to Emma Besse Wright of Lancaster. After marriage he attended Elizabethtown College and in 1916 was graduated from the pedagogical course. For a few years he worked in the educa- tion field. In August 1920 he assumed the pastorate of the Bellwood church, teaching school concurrent- ly until June 1924. He was gradu- ated from Juniata College in 1927 and from the University of Pitts- burgh in 1937. From September 1927 to the present he has worked in the Millvale High School, first as teach- er, and since 1935 as supervising
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principal. Since 1927 he has assisted with the work of the Pittsburgh church, serving twice as interim pastor during this period.
(1) ISAAC HOLSOPPLE was sixteen years old when the family came to this area in 1817, according to information supplied by Edwin E. Holsopple, a grandson. His father was Henry Holsopple, who went out as a captain of the militia to quell Indian raids in the War of 1812. He was captured by the Indians and burned at the stake at Deliverance, Ohio. The State of Ohio gave his widow a grant of land which re- mained unclaimed until Susannah (Lefever) Holsopple moved to Somerset County onto a tract of five hundred acres where the town of Hollsopple now stands, which was bought by her father for the price of an overcoat. The Holsopples have been Dunkers ever since the days of Alexander Mack. Heinreich and Lena Holtzapfel are listed among the communicants at the first love feast in Germantown in 1723. He was an uncle to Erasmus Holsopple, who came to America in 1731. The latter was the first ancestor in this country of the family in this sketch. Isaac was no minister, but his progeny have made notable contributions in this field. Jacob and Joseph, the two older sons, and Daniel, the seventh and youngest child, were ministers.
(2) JACOB HOLSOPPLE (March 15, 1833-February 15, 1906), having only the most meager facilities for schooling-a few months in the first small log schoolhouse near Rummel-acquired sufficient training to enable him to teach, which he did for fifteen years. He possessed a keen mind and a strong body, great assets in a new country. In 1857 Polly, daughter of Elder Christian Lehman, became his wife. She passed away in 1865 leaving four small children. Later he was mar- ried to Catharine Wertz. She became the mother of seven children. Four of them attended Juniata College. The Shade Creek congrega- tion called him to the ministry in 1861. He was ordained as an elder on January 1, 1886. He was an early advocate of Sunday school, a strong believer in the decisions of Annual Meeting, a thorough Bible student, and a staunch promoter of home missions.
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