USA > Pennsylvania > Two centuries of the Church of the Brethren in western Pennsylvania, 1751-1950 > Part 50
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ARTHUR C. MILLER (October 9, 1886 -? ), third son of nine children of Benjamin F. and Nora Anna Myers Miller, was born near Green- mont, Rockingham County, Virginia. His father was a bishop in the Church of the Brethren for many years. After high school, Brother Miller took a two-year Bible course at Bridgewater College. He mar- ried Bessie E., daughter of John W. and Kate Wampler Cline. Four children blessed this union: J. W., Stanley C., Gay M., and Dorris M. The Pleasant Valley (Virginia) congregation called him to the min- istry in 1912. Ten years later he left the farm to become pastor of the Roaring Spring church, Middle District of Pennsylvania, on December 1, 1922, where he served until the summer of 1928. He was ordained to the eldership at Roaring Spring on May 27, 1923. During the summer of 1928 he was called to Windber, where he served as pastor until July 1930. In addition to holding a number of revival meetings in and out of this district, he held supply pastorates, and removed from the district to take up a regular pastorate at Pottstown. -Part of this data taken from the Middle District history, page 480
DEWITT L. MILLER (October 12, 1908-), a son of Dr. and Mrs. J. D. Miller of Bridgewater, Virginia, was graduated from Bridgewater College in 1928 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and from Bethany Biblical Seminary in 1930 and 1931 with a Master of Religious Educa- tion and a Bachelor of Divinity degree. In 1947 he received an hon- orary Doctor of Divinity degree. He has served in these pastorates: Huntington, Indiana, 1931 to 1934; Cleveland, Ohio, 1934 to 1938; Meyers- dale, Pennsylvania, 1938 to 1945; McPherson, Kansas, 1945 to 1949; Washington, D. C., since 1949. He has contributed much to the Gospel Messenger and has authored two books, The Mastery of the Master and You and Your Church. An able orator, he is much in demand over a wide area to speak to various civic and religious groups. He is active in district work and is an officer of the Washington Federation of Churches. On May 30, 1931, he married Mary Hartsough, daughter of
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Dr. H. L. Hartsough. She is talented and active in many areas of church and community work. They have a son, David LeRoy.
JACOB D. MILLER (June 6, 1809-March 17, 1896) grew up near Meyersdale. His wife was Barbara Saylor, also of Elk Lick. They were the parents of seven sons and four daughters. All but one united with their parents' church. Brother Miller was a farmer and wagon-maker. In 1847 he bought six hundred acres of land one mile from Somerset. The Middle Creek congregation called him and his son, Edward, to the ministry at the same time in 1854. Two years later he donated a plot of ground and a church was built. Services were held in the Fairview church until around 1900. Brother Miller was a man of faith and sin- cerity in days of tribulation and trial in the church and in the nation.
JOHN B. MILLER (May 5, 1837-October 9, 1912), the son of Jacob W. and Catharine (Walter) Miller, lived most of his life in Bedford County. With limited opportunities he became fairly well educated. He was baptized in 1856. On January 15, 1871, he was elected to the ministry and was ordained to the eldership on June 8, 1895. He was a good steward of his talents as well as of the wealth entrusted to him, giving liberally to missions and other worthy causes. Traveling was a joy to him. He attended conferences all over the country and held meetings in many states. On January 6, 1859, Susannah F. Hoover became his wife. Three sons and three daughters blessed this union. After Mrs. Miller's death in 1868, he married Elizabeth Furry; she passed away in 1905.
PERRY U. MILLER (December 9, 1847-1916), son of Peter C. and Rebecca Miller, was born in Somerset County. Being the son of a farmer, he spent his boyhood days on the farm. When fourteen years of age, he had to quit school because his older brothers enlisted in the army. At the age of twenty-six he again started to school. By his in- dustry and perseverance he soon had a teachers' professional cer- tificate. He began teaching in 1874 and taught twenty-five terms in the same school district. While teaching he assisted in the organiza- tion of a reading circle, known as the Chautauqua Literary and Scien- tific Circle, from which he graduated in 1886. On the seventh of February 1869 he was married to Elizabeth Walker, daughter of Daniel P. and Elizabeth Walker, by Elder George Schrock. He was baptized in 1871 by D. P. Walker. Elected to the ministry on November 6, 1897, he was ordained to the eldership on August 23, 1908. Sister Miller spent her closing years at the Old Folks' Home in Scalp Level.
SAMUEL G. MILLER (March 4, 1831-1913) was born near Livermore. He attended Glade Run Academy. In his early twenties he studied medicine three years, then took an additional course at the Cleveland (Ohio) Medical College. He began practicing medicine in 1854. After practicing nine years, he went back to the same college, took another course, and was graduated. Then he moved to Bolivar, Westmoreland County. When the Brethren began preaching at Bolivar, he became interested in their doctrine, and he and his wife united with the church in 1872, being among the earliest converts. In 1877 he was elected to
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the ministry in the Bolivar congregation, being the first resident min- ister the congregation had. He lived at different times in Scalp Level, Ligonier Valley, Johnstown, and other places. His later years were spent in Livermore. Dr. Miller was considered a trustworthy and competent physician and a well-informed preacher, but for a number of years he did very little preaching as he was living somewhat isolated from our churches.
JOHN W. MILLS (1861-), son of William and Barbara Mills, re- ceived his early training in life's school. When John was still a youth, his father perished in the Johnstown flood of 1889. He assumed re- sponsibility for the family, giving all his earnings from his employment to rear his four sisters and a little brother. On October 3, 1893, he was married to Lizzie Fyock, daughter of Abraham Fyock. Only six or seven months after he joined her church on June 29, 1907, he was elected to the ministry. He took the call lightly. God showed plainly through the serious illness of a small daughter the way he was to go. After he accepted the call, his daughter became well. He changed his work to avoid laboring on Sunday. When the Morrellville church called him to the pastorate on February 3, 1914, he gave all his time to that work, in which both he and the church were greatly blessed. Brother Mills still attends church at the age of ninety-two.
JOHN MINEELY (1783-June 2, 1852) was born in Ireland. His par- ents were members of the Presbyterian Church. He came to America when he was but eighteen years of age in order to escape military service. He had a bright intellect and became a schoolteacher of note, teaching in both English and German. He married Elizabeth Morgan, daughter of Elder Peter and Margaret (Groos) Morgan, on October 6, 1809. After his marriage he farmed his father-in-law's farm on the Wertz Hill, now Locust Grove. Here John Mineely reared his family of seven children while he did his church work in the Cone- maugh and surrounding congregations.
We do not know when he was elected to the ministry, but in his ministerial labors he was contemporary with Elders Jacob Stutzman, Levi Roberts, and Samuel Lidy, and probably was not a whit behind any of them in ability and zeal for the cause of the Master. He was the first minister in all these parts to wear a full beard. He dressed plainly and was a very consistent member of the church. His services were in demand as far as he was known. He traveled much among the churches of Bedford, Indiana, Armstrong, Somerset, Cambria, and other counties. He was not a large man physically, but was strong and had a powerful voice. He preached earnestly, fluently, and in a plain, simple manner. He often walked long distances to preach. He never carried a gun to defend himself, because he believed that God would defend him while in the discharge of his Christian duties. It is said that once as he was walking along a road through some woods he looked ahead and saw what he thought was a large dog driving some cattle. When he got nearer he found that it was a panther, which crouched down in a position to spring upon him. Having no weapon with which to defend himself, he just stood still and stared the panther
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straight in the eyes for a while; then it ran into the thicket. He stood still to see the salvation of the Lord, and was safe. He was a man of great courage and determination. Three of his children, Peggy, John, and Susan, became members of the Church of the Brethren. He tied so many nuptial knots which his youngest two daughters witnessed that one of them on one occasion said that she could do it as well as her father, if he was not at home.
MARK MINSER (September 5, 1828-November 22, 1895) was born in Butler County, a son of David and Mary (Howe) Minser. After the age of seven, because of the death of his mother, Mark lived in his grandmother's home. His grandmother's eyes being badly impaired, Mark read the Bible to her, thus becoming quite familiar with it. On December 31, 1851, he was married to Elizabeth Standley. Of their ten children, nine grew to maturity. He united with the church on September 7, 1854, in Clarion County. Four years later he was called to the ministry. In 1868 the family moved to Indiana County within the Montgomery congregation. Because of a gunshot wound received when he was young, Brother Minser was unable to ride a horse. He often walked up to twenty miles one way to preach. In 1877 he was ordained as an elder. Three years later he moved onto a farm in the Manor congregation, of which he later became the elder; still later he was chosen elder of the Montgomery congregation also. Always a Bible student, Brother Minser developed a faith which surmounted the most stubborn difficulties. His first and last concerns were for the interests of the Kingdom.
ROBERT G. MOCK (August 9, 1926-) is the oldest son of Chester and Lula (Statler) Mock of Windber. At the age of eleven, on October 24, 1937, he received Christian baptism in the Rummel congregation. During this same year he received the call of the Lord to the ministry of the gospel, which he willingly accepted. As a boy he enjoyed play- ing "church," and, once each week, he would convert the threshing floor of his father's barn into a house of worship. Originally children of his own age attended the services which he conducted. Within a few weeks a number of adults came also. The group increased to a maxi- mum of sixty-five regular attenders. These services were held for two summers. At the age of fifteen he helped conduct a daily vacation Bible school at Oakdale, near New Bethlehem, under the supervision of Clar- ence Rosenberger. On October 15, 1943, Brother Mock was licensed to the ministry in the Rummel congregation. Following his ordination to the ministry on June 2, 1946, he accepted the pastorate of the Ligonier congregation at Waterford, which he continues to occupy. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible and philosophy from Juniata College in 1949, studied at Western Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, and received a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Bethany Biblical Seminary in 1952.
PETER MORGAN is also known as Peter Maugen, or Maken, but his will is signed Morgan. He came from Hagerstown, Maryland, about 1797, bought a tract of land containing one hundred twenty acres from Lud- wig Wissinger, and secured a warrant for the land dated April 4, 1798,
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in which the tract is called Society Hill. At that time it was in Que- mahoning Township, Somerset County. Now it is in Stony Creek Town- ship, Cambria County. On June 8, 1799, he paid a surveyor forty shillings for surveying his tract. This Society Hill was later known as the Jacob Wertz farm, near Walnut Grove. He was married to Margaret Groos. They had six children: Daniel, Elizabeth (married to John Mineely), Hannah (married to Jacob Hoffman), Mary, Susannah, and Catherine. Through Mary Hoffman, born May 18, 1818, a daughter of Jacob and Hannah Hoffman, who was married to Jacob Wertz, the whole Wertz family descended. Elder Morgan was one of the first ministers who settled in this part of the state. Not much is remem- bered by the present generation about his ministerial labors. He was probably well up in years when he moved here. His descendants are still numerous in and around Johnstown.
WILBUR MULLEN (January 7, 1918-) is a product of the home of J. E. and Nellie (Johns) Mullen and of the Scalp Level church. Holding firmly to the New Testament teachings of life and peace as inter- preted by the church, Wilbur entered civilian public service during World War II. While at New Windsor in 1944, he became active in the relief program, which work he pursued following his discharge from government service. In June 1947 he went to Geneva, Switzerland, as our European Brethren Service Commission business manager. In 1948 he was the CRALOG representative in Hamburg, Germany. The following year he was given charge of the International Work Camp in Germany and assisted with the first Brethren tour of Europe. Ter- minating his service there in 1949, he entered Manchester College, from which he was graduated in 1952. His summers are given to work under the Brethren Service Commission here and abroad. He was installed into the ministry at Scalp Level on April 13, 1952.
CARRIE MAE MURPHY (August 4, 1890-April 15, 1935) was born near Windber, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Layton) Seese. At the age of eighteen she became a member of the church. In 1915 she was united in marriage to James E. Murphy. Mrs. Murphy was deeply interested in the work of the Kingdom in her local church, serving in many ways. In 1929 she was elected to serve as president of the District Aid Society. One year later when the Aid Society was reorganized to become the Women's Work Organization she was retained as its first pres- ident. During the transition period Mrs. Murphy worked untiringly to help the local churches reor- ganize to conform to the new pattern. Her faithful efforts and patience were instrumental in putting the new organization on a firm foundation in the district. Because of failing health she withdrew from the work Carrie Mae Murphy in 1935.
JAMES E. MURPHY (July 1890-), a son of Scott and Mary (Rummel) Murphy and brother to Elder Ross Murphy, was born at Rummel. He was baptized in 1904, called to the ministry in 1920, and ordained to the elder-
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ship in 1935. He received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Elizabethtown College and the University of Pittsburgh respective- ly. Brother Murphy was a schoolteacher for many years. He was active in various offices in the local church, and served as a supply minister when needed in the district. Since 1941 he has been the full-time pastor of the Maple Grove church. He was married to Carrie Seese in 1915. After Mrs. Murphy's death, Cora Wingard became his wife in 1937. They have a daughter, Sarah Ann.
MILES E. MURPHY (1900-), brother of Ross D. and James E. Murphy, was a member of the Rummel church. He was elected to the ministry. Attending Juniata College, he was graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1923. He received the Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Pennsylvania and is a professor in the psychology department of that institution. Brother Murphy is married to Genevieve McDermott, and they have one son, Scott.
Ross D. MURPHY (September 6, 1882-), son of Scott and Mary (Rummel) Murphy, is of Irish-German ancestry. Born near Elton, Cambria County, he was reared at Rummel. He was graduated from Juniata College in 1906 and 1912 with Bachelor of English and Bachelor of Arts degrees respectively, and has since then received a Doctor of Divinity degree. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania also. He united with the church at Rummel on August 13, 1900, was called to the ministry on November 24, 1904, and was ordained on November 4, 1921. From 1909 until 1914 he served as the district Sunday-school secretary, representing at the World Sunday School Convention in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1913. He was our district field secretary, a member of the General Mission Board, and a regular contributor to the Brethren Teachers' Monthly. As a pastor, he has served at Plum Creek, Roaring Spring, Shippensburg, and First church, Philadelphia; after he had served the latter church from 1923 until March 31, 1945, the church honored him by electing him pastor emeritus. On April 1, 1947, he was called to the work at Greencastle, where he has won recog- nition through his work with the boys of the church and community by photographs and his story in the magazine section of a Sunday news- paper. On December 22, 1918, Brother Murphy was married to Sara Florence Fogelsanger of Shippensburg. She was the first woman in the Church of the Brethren to achieve a Doctor of Philosophy degree and has taught in various institutions of higher learning for several years. She was the president of the Women's Work Organization of the Brotherhood.
(1) JACOB S. MURRAY was only two generations removed from Irish soil. His grandfather had a son, John Murray, who married Catharine Saur, Jr., of Philadelphia. Some time later they settled in Fayette County. Their son, Jacob, with his three brothers and a sister united with their mother's church. Susannah Aukerman became the wife of Jacob. They were the parents of six sons and six daughters. All belonged to the Church of the Brethren until the division of 1882. Some became prominent leaders, as did also some of their descendants. There are a few records of the work of Elder Jacob Murray. He worked with the County Line church mainly, but also gave much time and
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effort to the churches in Greene and Washington counties. He was thoroughly familiar with his Bible and worked incessantly to familiar- ize others. It was said that he often worked in his fields by night that the days could be used for the church. Three sons were ministers be- fore the division: James A., who went with the Progressives, William S., and Jacob A. The other three were deacons.
(2) WILLIAM A. MURRAY (March 12, 1824-April 14, 1910) received his call to repentance as he worked alone in the woods. He was bap- tized and became a devoted Christian. In 1846 he was married to a Baptist girl, Eliza Jane McEnteer, who soon afterward joined his church. They reared ten children. She died in 1900 after fifty-four years of marriage. Two years later he took as his companion Mrs. Louisa Gore. Elder Murray spent about sixty years in the ministry. He worked in the Jacobs Creek and Ryerson congregations, going later to live in Ohio, where he did much evangelistic preaching. He was blessed with a strong physique and used it unselfishly until the Lord suddenly called him home.
(2) JACOB A. MURRAY ( ?- 1922) was the youngest in Jacob S. Mur- ray's home. Being much with his scholarly and godly mother he imbibed from her much that was good. At the age of twelve he felt his strongest religious impressions, but because of his youth he was given no encouragement. He united with the church many years later while living in the Ryerson Station congregation. The same year, 1856, Sarah Bauders became his wife. In 1857 he became a preacher. In 1860 he moved to the Indian Creek congregation. Three years later he was drafted for military service; the exemption fee left him almost destitute. In 1864 he and his brother moved their families to Iowa. There he was ordained as an elder. There, too, he saw a small group of Christians growing into a large and active congregation and the South Waterloo church being erected. Much work was done there and also in South Dakota, in which state he helped to establish the first Brethren congregation.
CHRISTIAN C. MUSSELMAN (December 23, 1826-August 21, 1887) was a brother to Elder Hiram Musselman. In the days before public schools, with determination he acquired an education and taught school for twenty-seven years, after which he farmed. For many years he was held in high esteem as a Christian brother. He was chosen moderator of the great debate on baptism at Summit Mills in 1849 between the Lutheran and German Baptist denominations, and was the speaker at the first District Sunday School Convention (1879). Active in com- munity life, he was an original member of the first county agricultural society, was the first general superintendent of the Somerset County Agricultural and Industrial Society, and also presided over the first teachers' association and institute in the county. In 1863 he was elected to the Assembly, in which he served a second term also. In 1877 he was elected associate judge of Somerset County. He represented the county on the State Board of Agriculture for nine years, and was the first to contribute to the Somerset County Home for the poor, giving five hundred dollars to buy books and magazines. Few men of his
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time achieved success and honor in so many fields. No "half-way" person, he made no compromises when he thought he was right. When the church of that period would not tolerate political activity, he resigned from the church. Although we may think him to have been utterly wrong in his decision, yet we admire him for refusing to be lukewarm. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Christian Saylor. They had nine fine children, all of whom received good educations. One daughter survives, Mrs. Ida M. Mason, of New York City. She is interested and active in events of the day.
HIRAM MUSSELMAN (June 5, 1827-December 9, 1900) was reared in the home of Christian and Caroline (Walter) Gnagy of Meyersdale. Choosing carpentry as his trade, he became a contractor and builder. Many churches, schoolhouses, and homes still attest to his skill in that work. When a young man, he went to the vicinity of Windber, where he lived a long and useful life. On January 17, 1858, he was united in wedlock with Frances Yoder. About two years later, both were bap- tized into the fellowship of the German Baptist Church. In 1862 he was elected to the ministry and was ordained on January 1, 1886. Although not an eloquent speaker, he wielded great influence among people in a wide area because of his sympathetic understanding and his devo- tion and faithfulness to God. His home was known for its genial hospitality, and trav- eling ministers found rest and refreshment there. His gen- ial spirit and his interest in youth were especially appre- ciated by the younger ones of Hiram Musselman and Wife his acquaintance. In 1878 he opened the first Sunday school in the Scalp Level church and was its superintendent for many years. He also served the district notably, representing it on Standing Committee in 1890 and serving as district treasurer for more than twenty years. The Musselmans were the foster parents of Lizzie (Yoder) Rodgers. By hard work and economy, considerable property had been acquired through the years, much of which was shared with the church and other charitable institutions. Sister Musselman lived until August 29, 1925.
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FRANK L. MEYERS (June 25, 1873-August 25, 1901), son of Noah Meyers of Cambria County, was graduated from Juniata College in 1894 and became a teacher. The West Johnstown congregation called him to the ministry on December 28, 1899. Annie Strayer became his wife in September 1898.
(1) ABRAHAM MYERS (1799-February 2, 1872) was a son of Christian and Barbara (Beeghly) Myers. He married Rebecca, daughter of Solo- mon Kimmel; they bought a large tract of land and settled in Ligonier Valley within the Jacobs Creek congregation. There he was called to the ministry about 1830 and worked energetically for the church. He had a large family. A son, Joseph B., was called to the ministry but never preached. Mary was the wife of Elder David D. Horner. Jacob L. was the father of Cyrus Myers, and William L. the father of Frank Blaine Myers.
(2) JOHN H. MYERS (July 17, 1845-August 11, 1913), son of Joseph and Susannah (Hochstetler) Myers, and grandson of Christian, was born in Somerset County. In 1875 he was called to the ministry at Middle Creek, where he lived some of his life, other years being spent at Markleysburg, where he died after several years of invalidism. He was a well-known evangelist.
(3) CYRUS E. MYERS (September 18, 1864-May 3, 1942) was a grandson of Elder Abraham Myers. Born in Westmoreland County, he received a good education, attending Mount Pleasant Institute and Juniata College. Baptized in June 1886, he was called to the ministry in the Jacobs Creek congregation in 1887. He married Sudie E. Kim- mel on April 16, 1889. They reared six children. Their lives were lived at Mount Pleasant and at Shelocta, Indiana County.
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