USA > West Virginia > A history of the Church of the Brethren in the first district of West Virginia > Part 4
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Beaver Run has the distinction of being the oldest continuous organization of the Church of the Brethren in West Virginia, though the Powers had an active, thriving church somewhat earlier on the South Branch in Hardy County. She also has the distinction of being a mother of churches. From her territory and fathered by her ministers came the following congregations: White Pine, Greenland, Knobley, Old Furnace, Bethel, Sunny- side. Also Bean Settlement, Capon Chapel, Wiley Ford, Tear Coat, Keyser, and others have either been carved out of her original territory or been fathered by her ministry, or both.
This congregation had its beginning with the coming to this community of the Leathermans from near Hagerstown, Mary- land, in 1784, and the Arnolds from near Frederick, Maryland, in about 1785.
Daniel Leatherman was born in Germany in 1710, moved to America in 1730, and to Maryland in 1757. He is the founder of the Church of the Brethren in Maryland. His son, Nicholas Leatherman, a minister, and his wife, with a small child, Abra- ham, moved to Patterson Creek, now between Headsville and Burlington, in 1784. Abraham is buried in the Biser cemetery.
In an unbroken line these Leathermans have held member- ship in the Church of the Brethren in West Virginia and Mary- land now for well over two hundred years. Daniel's full and in- teresting biography is given in the History of the Church of the Brethren in Maryland, by J. M. Henry. He was a contemporary of the great early church leaders: Alexander Mack, Christopher Sower, Jacob Danner, and others.
We are interested in him in West Virginia for at least two rea- sons. First, because he was sent by the Big Meeting (Annual Meeting) held at Big Conewago, Pennsylvania, in 1785 to the Brethren in the South Branch Valley on the matter of carnal warfare and the swearing of oaths. (See page 30.) He was therefore one of the very first ministers of the Church of the Brethren to set foot in West Virginia, though the Powers must
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have had a considerable congregation of Brethren here by 1785. Daniel died in January 1798, but he left a long line of faithful followers of the Christ and ministers of the Church of the Breth- ren and other denominations, who have served in the fields of West Virginia and elsewhere.2
This is another reason for our interest in him. He had a grandson, Daniel, born 1865, who is buried in the Leatherman cemetery on Patterson Creek, one mile south of Headsville. He was also a Brethren minister. These Leathermans and the Ar- nolds, whose history is hereafter recorded, were the builders of the church, with other helpers being added.
Their first services were held in the private homes, many of which were built large, with removable partitions, for accommo- dating services. The old Daniel Arnold home, which was used for love feasts and preaching, stood across the road westward from the present church. It is no longer standing. The old Cheshire house, Zachariah Arnold's home then, which was sim- ilarly used, is still standing. John Kline conducted services in these houses.
Later when they had the church house the ministers preached at the Beaver Run house on the first Sunday. All would try to be present. Then on the other Sundays of the month they would scatter out to other preaching points, schoolhouses, homes, or other churches. Some of the places where they regularly con- ducted services were: Brick church, Bean Settlement, Old Fur- nace, Welton school, Harness Run, Red Star school, Grove school, Page school. The faithful members also often went to those points to worship on Sunday, often traveling ten to twelve miles one way.
Beaver Run in 1897 sent the query to district meeting which resulted in the beginning of the ministerial meeting, independent of district meeting.
Here follows the history of the congregation written by a committee of the church, inserted here by their kind permission.
Beaver Run has the distinction of being the oldest congrega- tion in the First District of West Virginia. It is about a half cen- tury older than Sandy Creek, which was the next organized work. The congregation here had its beginning in a group of members who moved here from Frederick County, Maryland, and settled on farms in this valley. About the year 1785 the
2 Leatherman, Rev. I. John, All Leatherman Kin History. 1940.
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THE CONGREGATIONS
following Arnolds moved from Frederick County, Maryland, to Manor Land, Hampshire County, Virginia, which is now Beaver Run, West Virginia: Elder Samuel, Elder Daniel, Deacon Zacha- riah, and two sisters, Betsy and Mollie. They were all members of the church and this was the beginning of the present Beaver Run congregation.
It is probable that the work of the church was started at the time the Arnolds located here with Sam and Dan as elders and Zachariah as deacon. Nothing very definite is known concern- ing the manner in which the work was carried on from the time of its beginning until the building of the first meeting house in 1834. It is understood, however, that the home of Daniel Arnold was built to accommodate meetings and love feasts held by the brethren before a church was built. The site of the Daniel Arnold home was just northwest of the present church across Beaver Run on the knoll which is now used as farming land, and is the possession of Oswald Rogers. It is believed that the homes of Samuel and Zachariah were used for meeting purposes in these early years.
This congregation was the first one organized in the state of Virginia west of the Shenandoah Valley. Its territory was prac- tically without boundary. From this original territory came several divisions with many congregations existing today where formerly there was but one. The congregations of Sandy Creek, Greenland, Eglon, Tear Coat, Keyser, and all others now existing came from this first territory.
The growth and the expansion of the church during these early days seems to have been the result of the work of these home brethren and of those passing through. Among those from the outside who had much to do with the work was Elder John Kline, from the Shenandoah Valley. His work began about the same time as the building of the old log meeting house.
The building of the first church must have been a happy event in the life of this community. Few of the circumstances surrounding its construction are known, but an attempt will be made to give a brief account here. The ground where the pres- ent church stands served as the site for the old log building, per- haps 40 by 70 ft., and was deeded to Joseph Arnold, Solomon Arnold, and James Long, Nov. 15, 1834, for the use of what was then known as the Tunker Society of Hampshire County, Vir- ginia, as a place of public worship, meetinghouse, and graveyard. The grounds comprised about three-fourths of an acre as given by the original deed. It is interesting to notice that the above named individuals to whom the deed was made did not consti- tute a board of trustees but simply a committee or group of in- dividuals. It must be remembered that at this time what is now West Virginia was still a part of Virginia and that the Hamp- shire County mentioned was in Virginia. Later it became a county in the new state of West Virginia. In 1866 Mineral County was formed from Hampshire County; thus the seeming
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paradox of this site being located in two different states and two different counties is explained.
The first church house stood on the exact spot where the pres- ent brick structure stands and was made of hewn logs. None of the details of the building operations can be given, since there have been no records found that contain anything about the actual work. It is pretty certain that the first building was not arranged to care for the love feasts, at least for some years after its construction. Elder John Kline in his diary refers to attending and holding love feasts in the various homes of the community several times after the date of the building of the church. From the book entitled The Life of John Kline the fol- lowing is copied.
Saturday, September 12, 1835. He arrived at Abbey Arnold's, Hampshire County, Virginia. (Later West Virginia.) On the thirteenth he attended a love feast at Daniel Arnold's nearby, and reports a very joyful meeting with the Brethren whom he had not seen for a time.
Monday, September 14, 1835. He took leave of the Brethren in Hampshire County, and directed his course through Mary- land into Pennsylvania; and on Friday, September 18, he crossed the Ohio river, two and one half miles below Acreton. He was ferried across on a flatboat. This incident seems to substantiate the belief that the old church did not accommodate love feasts at its first construction. It is said that the building occupied the same relative position as the present one, with the doors facing south, but with the benches facing in the opposite direction. The congregation thus had their backs turned to incoming people. It was decided when the new church was built to reverse the arrangement and have the congregation to face the doors since they would be able to see the late comers without turning around in their seats or noticeably taking their attention from the preacher. The present arrangement is a compromise between the two previous arrangements.
Since little can be found on the period from the building of the first church until the time of the new building, a few extracts are taken from The Life of John Kline to further give an idea of the influence he had on the work in this region and of some inci- dents in the life of this church.
Wednesday, September 21, 1843. Benjamin Bowman and I start very early to Hampshire County, Virginia. We get dinner at Rorabaugh's and reach Moorefield by night, after a ride on horseback of forty-seven miles.
Thursday, September 22, 1843. Go to David Vanmeter's [near Moorefield] for breakfast; reach Abbey Arnold's just after the first meeting. We have delightful weather, good order in the house and a pleasant meeting.
Friday, September 23, 1843. Meeting again. Revelation 3 is read. Stay at David Arnold's all night.
Saturday, September 24, 1843, Go to Joseph Arnold's and in
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THE CONGREGATIONS
the afternoon to Joseph Leatherman's, where we have night meeting. I speak on Luke 24: 48.
Sunday, September 25, 1843. Attend love feast at Solomon Michael's. Revelation 3 is read.
Monday, September 26, 1843. Homeward through Peters- burg; dine at lsaac Shobe's [south of Petersburg]; then to night meeting at Sister Chlora Judy's [between Petersburg and Frank- lin]. We speak on Matthew 11. Stay all night.
Tuesday, September 27, 1843. Cross the South Fork Moun- tain over to Jacob Warnstaff's, where we have an afternoon meeting. Speak on Luke 28.
Wednesday, September 28, 1843. We both get home.
Two years later we find Brother Kline in this congregation again, as shown by these entries in his diary.
Monday, October 20, 1845. Meeting at Solomon Michael's, where we stay all night.
Tuesday, October 21, 1845. Meeting at Joseph Arnold's [south of Burlington], on Patterson's Creek, in Hampshire County, Vir- ginia. I spoke today on 2 Timothy 1:13.
The Joseph Arnold referred to in the above entry from the diary of John Kline was the grandfather of Silas Arnold who now lives on Patterson Creek. Joseph Arnold was the father of Peter Arnold, known to many personally.
Again in 1848 Brother Kline enters in his diary a few more references to his early work here. These are taken from one of his extended trips.
Wednesday, June 21, 1848. Stay fiftieth night at Brother Daniel Arnold's in Hampshire County, Virginia.
Thursday, June 22, 1848. Dine at Brother Zachariah Arnold's and stay fifty first night in Moorefield, Hardy County, Virginia.
In 1851 Brother Kline started on another journey to Hardy and Hampshire Counties. He held a night meeting at James Stump's in Hardy; preached the funeral sermon of Brother Sol- omon Arnold; held a union meeting at Brother Benjamin Leath- erman's; attended morning meeting on Saturday, November 15, at the meetinghouse; and held night service at Joseph Arnold's. 1858 records that Brother Kline again visited the northwestern counties of Virginia holding meetings daily. They visit Nicholas Leatherman's, John Leatherman's, and Samuel Arnold's, in Hampshire County, Virginia.
Practically every year his diary makes some reference to his being in this section. Many times he rode from two to nearly five thousand miles during one year on his faithful Nell. He records in 1863, "I have traveled 4,263 miles, all on horseback." He was riding Nell when he was fatally shot while returning from the blacksmith shop where he had taken her to be shod. This was during the war between the states and Brother Kline knew that he was being watched. On one occasion he said, "I
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am threatened; they may take my life; but I do not fear them; they can only kill my body."
It has seemed fitting that these references to the work and influence of Brother Kline be included here. It is hoped that the purpose of their inclusion is understood by all who read this.
The Present Building
The year 1876 found the members of the Beaver Run Congre- gation anxious for a new building. Consequently, the old log building was torn away to make ready for the present one. Many of the logs in the old house ran the full length of the build- ing and faced 15 inches. It has been suggested that they were significant of the sturdiness and strength of the people who had been worshipping within those walls. The old logs were sold at auction and many of them became beams for bridges. Some were purchased by Peter Biser and used in building the porch to his house now owned by E. B. Staggs. One of them was put into use as a foot log across Beaver Run on the Bailey place where it served children going to school, church, and the com- munity store. Still others were to be kept as relics.
One of the tables used in the old log building was also used in the present church until 1919. It was then sold at public auc- tion to J. B. Rogers who uses it as a table for family reunions. It is constructed without the use of nails, being of pin and mor- tise construction.
When this site was ready, brick were brought from the burn- ing grounds on the late Dan Arnold place, now owned by A. S. A. Holsinger. The kiln was located near the road on the knoll be- tween the house and the farm of G. H. McDonald. The work of supervising the building was in the hands of a committee. The laying of the brick is thought to have been done by con- tract, as was also the burning.
Men by the names of Keller, Sheetz, and Kibler worked as bricklayers. It is said these same workmen laid the brick in the Abner Bane home on Patterson's Creek and the late John W. Leatherman home on Beaver Run during the same year of the building of the church. Among the carpenters were Adam Pop- kins, Winchester, Va., Gus Clinedinst, Taylor Arnold, Will Flory, Andy Gladden, George T. Leatherman, and Edward Bailey. All of the flooring, window frames, sash, benches, tables, and finish materials were made right on the grounds.
Serving as brick carriers were M. M. Biser, Isaac Shipe, and Dave Whiteman. Andy Whiteman was mud-mixer and Joe Moyers acted as water carrier. The roofing was put on by Taylor Arnold and Daniel B. Arnold, the latter being agent for same. The original roof is still in use and in good shape after 63 years of service.
The list of ministers at the time of this building included Joseph Arnold, Solomon Biser, Daniel B. Arnold, Peter Arnold, William George, and Nicholas Leatherman.
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THE CONGREGATIONS
In 1897, three years after the building of the present church, the grounds were enlarged as shown by a deed given by Benja- min S. Leatherman and wife to the trustees of the Beaver Run Church.
A few facts concerning the division of the congregation are given here: On October 4, 1879, the council agreed to a line be- tween the Beaver Run Congregation and the Pine Church. A line between the Beaver Run Congregation and the Greenland Congregation was established March 1 of that same year. Old Furnace became a separate congregation in 1914.
Other minutes were found which showed that Peter Arnold, George S. Arnold, and Isaac W. Leatherman were advanced to the second degree of the ministry in 1879. Brother George S. Arnold was in the second degree of the ministry 57 years [and elder for forty-five years]. Sister Lydia Arnold was installed in the second degree as a minister's wife in 1884.
In 1919 the present church was remodeled. A partition was placed across the northwestern end forming Sunday School rooms and making possible the present arrangement of seating. The church has had the use of electric lights for 12 years.
Sidelights
To give an idea of the number of people who attended the love feasts sixty years ago the following list of supplies is taken from an old minute book: 59 lbs. butter, 95 loaves bread, 100 lbs. meat, 8 gal. applebutter, 8 lbs. coffee. One year the bread num- bered 141 loaves.
On another occasion permission was given by the council to sell horse feed, bread, meatpies, and cakes at the time of com- munion. Another minute said, "Decided the saddle house shall not be used for huckstering." This meant at communion time. It must be borne in mind that people came for two or three days' stay at these early communions. Sale of provisions was quite necessary.
The first Sunday School was organized about the year 1880.
The first Superintendent was Dick Leatherman. Some of the early teachers were: Isaac W. Leatherman, Janie Bailey, John R. Leatherman.
Brother E. W. Bailey has the honor of serving 20 years as Superintendent of the Sunday School at Beaver Run.
Written September 1, 1939, for the first annual homecoming of the Beaver Run Church.
Committee
A. S. A. Holsinger, E. W. Bailey, J. Curtis Miller.
In 1944 Bro. Robert Hoover was secured to serve as pastor jointly the Beaver Run, Knobley and Sunnyside churches.
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BETHEL
Pioneer ministers: Dr. Nicholas Leatherman, George S. Ar- nold, James Fleming, B. W. Smith.
Present ministers: None resident.
Preaching place: Bethel, three miles west of Old Fields.
Date of organization: November 9, 1940.
Boundary line: Beginning on the east side of Petersburg, West Virginia, on the South Branch of the Potomac at the point of its crossing the boundary line between Hardy County and Grant County the line runs thence in an easterly direction with the boundary line between the First District of West Virginia and the Northern District of Virginia to the top of South Branch Mountain (this line runs "thence with the river to Moorefield and to the bridge above Old Fields; thence with the Cunningham across the mountain); thence with top of said mountain to the second high knob, thence westerly in a direct line to U. S. Route 220 and the Haggarty Road, thence with the Haggarty Road to the Mountain View schoolhouse, thence westerly to a point where the three counties of Hardy, Mineral and Grant meet on top of Patterson Creek Mountain, thence with the top of said mountain southwesterly to the starting point on the South Branch of the Potomac.
Dr. Nicholas Leatherman was the first to preach in this con- gregation. He began preaching at Thrasher Springs, near Bethel, and there he and John M. Leatherman worked faithfully for more than twenty years, preaching in the grove in summer and in the school in winter. George S. Arnold, D. B. Arnold, and James Fleming were other ministers who helped. George S. Arnold held the first revival and baptized the first group of con- verts, so far as is known. Some of these were Lillie Sions, Maggie Sions, Kate Sions, Gertie Smith Sions, and Nancy Veach.
This was before 1896. By this time the work had grown to such proportions that a building was needed. This church was built and Elder Jonas Fike preached the dedicatory sermon in 1896. Elijah Shoemaker furnished the money and the material for the building and is called the founder of the church. Later he got uneasy about getting his money back, became discour- aged, and sold it to the Methodists. They held it for a number of years. Then when Elder A. S. Arnold and family moved here
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THE CONGREGATIONS
the Methodist minister said to him, "Bro. Arnold, you folks ought to own this house. Your members have been supporting it more than the Methodists have and you have more members here." Bro. Arnold made investigation and took action result- ing in the buying back of the house in about the year 1916 for the sum of $200.00. During those years the Brethren and the Meth- odists had been working jointly in church and Sunday school, and some claim that the Methodists owned only a part share in- stead of all.
Since the passing away of Bro. Albert S. Arnold this congre- gation has been handicapped by not having a resident minister. But Brethren W. W. Bane, B. W. Smith, India Hockman, and others have been helping as much as possible. Some of the years from 1934-38 Bro. Raymond Martin served as pastor.
Feeling that their needs could best be met as a separate con- gregation, this group early in 1940 applied at a council at White Pine for the privilege to organize as a separate congregation. This request was granted with an almost unanimous decision. The movement was approved by the district conference of Octo- ber 5, 1940, and on November 9, 1940, Elders Ray Showalter and Foster M. Bittinger representing the district ministerial board and Elders B. W. Smith and W. W. Bane representing adjoining elders met with the church at Bethel and helped with the new organization. B. W. Smith was elected the first elder of the congregation.
CAPON CHAPEL
Pioneer ministers: Abraham Miller, Isaac Miller, William Roby, Abraham Detrick, Peter Arnold, Benjamin Leatherman, B. W. Smith, David Merrill.
Present ministers: A. P. Bohrer, Bruce Shanholtz.
Preaching places: Capon Chapel, three miles west of Levels; Oak Grove, one mile south of Okonoko; Mountain Dale, three miles east of Paw Paw.
Date of organization: March 16, 1908.
Boundary line: Beginning at a point on the South Branch of the Potomac where the line of the magisterial districts of Cabin Run and Frankfort cross said river and running down said river to the Potomac River, the line continues down the Potomac Riv- er to a point east of Cacapon River, thence southwesterly with the top of Cacapon Mountain (Baker Mt.) to a point east of the
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Forks of Capon, the line of the Tear Coat congregation, thence in a westerly line to the starting point on the South Branch of the Potomac.
According to the History of Hampshire County, by Maxwell and Swisher, about 1852 several families moved to the Levels from the Valley of Virginia. Abraham Miller, Isaac Miller, Wil- liam Roby, and Abraham Detrick were ministers in the Church of the Brethren and preached in the vicinity for a while and then moved to the West.
The next preaching was likely done by Elder B. W. Smith, who preached the first sermon in the old Excelsior school, where Bro. A. P. Bohrer now lives. A few members from the Tear Coat congregation called for preaching and this was the start. He continued for five or six years and a number were added to the church. The first love feast was held in the Hopkins Lick school- house near where the Chapel church now stands. This was sev- eral years before the church was built.
The church was built at the Chapel during the summer of 1906 and was dedicated September 2 of the same year by Elder E. T. Fike, using as a text Psalm 122. The organization was effected by the mutual consent of the home congregation, Tear Coat, and the new congregation, Capon Chapel, in 1908. There are three prominent preaching points today and other places where preaching has been done. Peter Arnold and George S. Arnold also preached in the Excelsior school in the years after 1892. Through their ceaseless efforts and the help of Bro. Benja- min Leatherman the work on Little Capon was started and pros- pered and at the time of organization in 1908 there were fifty- six members, two deacons, and one minister, Bro. A. P. Bohrer. The name chosen for the congregation was Little Capon, but was changed to Capon Chapel in 1913.
There at the Chapel church Anthony Bohrer was baptized in 1904, elected to the deaconship that fall, and at the spring council of 1905 was elected to the ministry by the unanimous consent of the church council, at which Elder Peter Arnold presided. Lu- ther Shanholtz was elected to the ministry in 1902 and in his time did a great deal of good and a great amount of preaching. Beginning about 1928 charges of immorality by Bro. Shanholtz were being made, and the work suffered a decline. He was later disfellowshiped. Bro. Bohrer has labored faithfully in the serv-
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THE CONGREGATIONS
ice. Though Bro. Peter Arnold was for a long time elder-in- charge, the work has been more or less under the guidance and support of the district mission board.
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