USA > West Virginia > A history of the Church of the Brethren in the first district of West Virginia > Part 9
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Present ministers: B. W. Smith (elder), Robert Hoover (pastor).
Preaching place: Church on U.S. Route 50, one mile east of New Creek.
Date of organization: 1889; reorganized in 1897.
Boundary line: Starting at a point on top of Knobley Moun- tain, just east of the reservoir, the line runs westerly in a direct line to the mouth of Stoney Run, thence upward with said Stoney Run to its headwaters, thence westerly in a direct line across the Allegheny Mountains to the North Branch of the Potomac, thence upward with said Potomac to the Grant County line, thence easterly with said county line to the top of Knobley Mountain, thence northerly with top of mountain to the starting point.
George W. Leatherman was born on Patterson Creek, Hamp- shire County, on July 2, 1835. His first marriage was to Mary Susan Whip of Patterson Creek (now Mineral County), who was the daughter of William and Sarah Whip. His second marriage was to Caroline Thrush. George and his family first lived near where he was born on the Patterson. After about five years he moved to Tucker County and then returned to Patterson Creek. About 1885, however, the family moved into the New Creek Valley and settled on a farm four miles south of Keyser. He was elected to the ministry in 1884 and ordained to the eldership not long afterwards. He died October 8, 1905, at the age of seventy years. He was elder of the Sunnyside congregation from its organization until his death. He and all deceased members of
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his family except George, Jr., lie buried in the family burial ground on the farm in the New Creek Valley.
With him the work in the New Creek Valley must have be- gun. In 1891 he took the lead in building what was known as the Leatherman church, which was near his home. Later I. F. Roberts, John A. Parish and J. H. Baker were elected to assist him in the ministry. In March of the year in which Bro. Leath- erman died, 1905, Bro. B. W. Smith moved from the Tear Coat congregation to Beaver Run. In the fall of that year he was elected to the eldership of the congregation and he has served in that capacity ever since-thirty-seven years. The church has flourished and is now a promising congregation.
The Leatherman church was torn down in 1919 and the Sunnyside schoolhouse was used for some time, as most of the membership then lived in that vicinity. In 1919 the schoolhouse and lot were purchased by Bro. J. H. McDonald and presented to the church as a place of worship. It was repaired and dedi- cated in 1925. Later a new brick structure was erected and ded- icated October 2, 1938. In 1938 the New Creek congregation asked district conference for the privilege of changing the name to Sunnyside. That was granted.
For some time previous to 1923 services had been held in Keyser. In that year the Keyser congregation was formed from the northern part of the New Creek congregation, including the town of Keyser.
Deacons who have served are: Milton Baker (transferred from Greenland when the line was changed in 1928), A. A. Rot- ruck, W. A. Smith, J. W. Leatherman, Z. A. Leatherman, Ollie Green, Larry Develbiss, E. I. Roberts, Earl Roberts, Edgar Ag- new, Harry Parrill, Cecil Metcalfe.
Bro. Earl Schnader served as summer pastor in 1942.
The Cross church, on the mountain eight miles west of Key- ser, is a part of this congregation. The work was started there by Bro. Abernathy. The house is owned jointly by the Brethren, Methodists and United Brethren.
Bro. Robert Hoover was secured in 1944 to serve the Sunny- side, Beaver Run, and Knobley congregations jointly.
TEAR COAT
Pioneer ministers: Abraham Miller, John Hockman, Jacob
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Beery, Newton Flory, Solomon Biser, D. B. Arnold, Dan Buck- lew, A. B. Bucklew.
Present ministers: J. D. Beery, Oscar F. Bowman (pastor).
Preaching places: Church two miles east of Augusta; Union Chapel at Delroy on North River.
Date of organization: 1860 or before.
Boundary line: Beginning at a point on the South Branch of the Potomac River, at the magisterial district line between the Cabin Run and Frankfort districts and running up said river to a point south of U. S. Route 50, thence southeasterly to a point on Great North Mountain and Cacapon Mountains where the county lines of Hampshire and Hardy meet, thence northeasterly with the line between the districts of Northern Virginia and First West Virginia to a point east of the forks of Capon, thence west- erly the line returns to the starting point on the South Branch River.
Abraham Miller of Levels was the first minister to preach here, according to Jacob Beery. He preached in the old Shickle school, four miles west of Augusta, about 1860. Brother and Sister Isaac Grapes, George Howdeyshell, and Sister- Sowers were some of the first members.
From Edgar Combs we learn that soon after the close of the war between the states William Detrich came into what is now the Tear Coat congregation and preached in the old Shickle schoolhouse, later known as Woodlawn. As a result of his preaching some of the Sowers family were baptized, one of whom was Grandma Sowers, who was a Shickle before mar- riage. James Peer and wife were baptized soon afterwards.
Two of the early pioneer preachers who came to Hampshire County and into the Tear Coat congregation were Daniel B. Arnold and Solomon Biser of Mineral County and from the Beaver Run congregation. It was mostly by their work that the Tear Coat congregation got started. They preached in the homes of the Brethren in the community and held love feasts in barns, where suitable. Some of these love feasts were held in the barn near Pleasant Dale, on the farm of Isaac Grapes, who was one of the early members of the congregation.
According to the History of Hampshire County, by Maxwell and Swisher, "Its origin dates back about forty-five years (to
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1852). Several families connected with the church early emi- grated from the Valley of Virginia to Pleasant Dale and Levels: Abraham Miller, Isaac Miller, William Roby, and Abraham Det- rick who lived on the Levels, but finally moved to the West."
William Bucklew moved here from Rowlesburg sometime be- fore 1880 and was the first resident minister. He was a master with the Bible. About 1880 John Hockman, Jacob Beery, and Newton Flory were elected to the ministry. Marcellus Bucklew, son of William, was also elected to the ministry and did some preaching, but finally went with the Old Order branch of the church.
As nearly as can be ascertained, the first church was built about 1875 on land donated by Isaac Grapes, and was located by the side of Tear Coat Creek about one-fourth mile down the creek from where Route 50 crosses this stream. There was a good spring of water there. Some of the brethren who were active in the building of this church were Isaac Grapes, Calvin Rogers, John Daugherty, John Flory, B. W. Smith, Newton Flory, W. H. Flory, Robert Wolford, John J. Wolford, D. A. Daugherty and B. J. Shanholtz.
This building was in use from that time until 1903 when a suitable location was secured from H. C. Cooper and the old church was torn down and rebuilt at the present location. This new church was dedicated in May 1905 by D. B. Arnold and E. T. Fike and was fully paid for when dedicated. E. T. Fike held a series of meetings at the new church following the dedication.
Work at Union Chapel was started by Bro. B. W. Smith about 1890. The work prospered and soon the church was built.
Some additional ministers who have labored in the congrega- tion as evangelists are Jeremiah Thomas, Ezra Fike, Jonas Fike, Earle Wm. Fike, M. G. West, A. J. Beeghley, J. H. Cassady, Charles Wakeman, C. G. Hesse and R. G. West. Alonza Carter and Raymond Martin served as pastors. Elder Oscar Bowman is the present pastor and the work moves forward.
The following named brethren have entered the ministry in the congregation: B. W. Smith, I. J. Saville, J. D. Beery, D. B. Spaid, A. R. Spaid, C. E. Grapes, Homer McDonald, Dan Buck- lew, A. R. Bucklew, S. P. Daugherty.
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TERRA ALTA
Pioneer ministers: Philip Brown, Jacob Brown, Jacob Thomas, James A. Ridenour, Jacob Rush, John A. Arnold, Sam A. Fike, Chalmers Glen, William Bucklew, Solomon Bucklew, John Freeland, Tobias Fike, Sam Sisler, and others.
Present ministers: Galen Fike (pastor), Chester Thomas, N. V. Leatherman.
Preaching place: White Dale church, one mile west of Terra Alta.
Date of organization: About 1855.
Boundary line: Beginning at a point near Hutton where the B. & O. Railroad crosses the state line, the congregational boun- dary runs thence westerly in an air-line to Amblersburg, thence southwesterly with said B. & O. Railroad to the Cheat River at Rowlesburg, thence northerly down Cheat River to the mouth of Big Sandy Creek, thence by an almost direct easterly air-line, passing through Valley Point, through Lennox to Orr, where it contacts the Sang Run Road, thence easterly with said road to the state line, thence south with the state line to the starting point at Hutton on the B. & O. Railroad.
About the year 1830 James Freeland settled on Nettle Ridge and hewed out a home in the wilderness. This land included parts of the farms of Elmer Arnold, George Freeland, Loy Au- man, and W. B. Freeland of the present time. This ridge re- ceived its name from the great growth of nettles on the land, which was of black loam and timbered with white walnut, chest- nut, ash, poplar, oak, and other trees.
James Freeland had married the daughter of Jacob Ridenour, who had come from Pennsylvania and settled in this vicinity. The Ridenours were members of the Church of the Brethren and when James Freeland married into that family he too espoused their faith and established a Brethren home. State and county historians 24 give the name of one James A. Ridenour, Dunker minister (who may have been a son or brother of the above Jacob Ridenour) as likely the first resident minister of this con- gregation, who lived here until about 1860 and then moved into the Sandy Creek congregation, later moving to Ohio and uniting with the Progressive branch.
24 Wiley, History of Preston County. 1882.
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About 1854 or 1855 Hiram Dodge, who married Savilla Ridenour, a sister of James Freeland's wife, purchased a tract of land north of and joining James Freeland's on which they estab- lished a home of the Brethren faith. This home is now owned by his son, Charles Dodge. About this time Jacob Hartsel and wife, both Brethren, came into the community and cleared the farm now owned in part by Mrs. Elias Bucklew, Spencer Whitehair's heirs, and George Lining. About 1853 Edward F. King married Mary Freeland, daughter of James Freeland, and established a Brethren home on the land now owned by Asa Wilhelm. Near the same time David A. Freeland, son of James Freeland, mar- ried Mary Smith, and established a Brethren home on land east of his father's, now owned by C. E. Markwood. This was the nucleus around which the Brethren faith started in this community.
About 1855 the people of the community, feeling the need of some community center building, pooled their resources for that purpose. Timber being plentiful and money scarce, they went into the woods, hewed out logs, dragged them together, and, all hands joining in hoisting them, they soon had a one-story log house large enough to hold one hundred people. David A. Free- land donated the ground and it stood on the exact spot now oc- cupied by the Earl Bucklew residence. It supplied a much-felt need and was used for religious services, all denominations hav- ing equal privileges. Subscription schools were also held in it. Here James A. Ridenour, resident minister, preached. Soon after 1850 Philip Brown from Sandy Creek moved here and helped with the work, though he later moved to Ohio. Here also came Elder Jacob Thomas, from Sandy Creek, before and after this date. Elder Sam Fike from Eglon often came here. So we can say that at least by the time of the building of the house for services, 1855, the church was in a thriving condition with two resident ministers.
This building was filled with benches made of small chest- nut logs, split in the middle, and the flat side smoothed off. Two holes slanting outward near each end held wooden pegs driven in for legs. When free schools were established in Preston County in 1867 this house was turned over to the board of edu- cation, but it continued to serve for religious services until 1876 when it was torn down and hauled away. The lot went back to
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the land owner-now John M. Freeland, who became owner of his father's land.
A new Dunker, or the Freeland, church, as it came to be called, was erected in the years 1869-70. It was a large white frame building which would accommodate about five hundred people. David A. Freeland built the church with the assistance of Aaron Miller as workman and by donations from others. This congregation, then called the Cheat River congregation, was coming to its best. Its membership numbered around 100, mak- ing it then the largest congregation in West Virginia. Some of the members were: Edward King and family, David A. Freeland and family, James Freeland and family, the Jacob Hartsel fam- ily, Hiram Dodge and wife, Mrs. Daniel Whitehair and family, Mrs. Louisa C. Wilburn and others.
The church was dedicated in the autumn of 1870 with Elder Jacob Thomas officiating, assisted by Solomon Bucklew and oth- ers. Ministers then preaching here were Solomon Bucklew (res- ident here), William Bucklew, and still later C. E. Glen, Samuel Sisler, George Bucklew, Moses Fike, Aaron Fike, Jeremiah Thomas, Emra Fike, Thomas Rhodes (resident), John M. Free- land (resident), and others. Edward King, Jacob Hartsel, and George Wilhelm were deacons. Much preaching was being done in many near-by schoolhouses and groups of members grew up there. Solomon Bucklew, a blacksmith by vocation, was known far and wide. He was a very large, stout man of tremendous strength, with long curly hair. He was a saintly and godly man, reverenced by all, and made a very solemn, dignified, stately ap- pearance in the pulpit. He had a pleasing, far-carrying voice. Religion was to him a thing of power and others felt that power when he preached. Thus he was described to me by an old res- ident of the community who knew him. He was moved to tears in loving remembrance as he spoke. Sam Sisler was rather active as an evangelist. The work of this congregation reached out to Washington Manor, Sisler school, Rhodes school, Freeland school, Mt. Carmel, and elsewhere.
Love feasts then were great religious festivals. They con- tinued over a period of three days and drew five hundred or more communicants with one thousand or more attending. These came from Eglon, Sandy Creek and farther away. These hundreds would be cared for in the homes of the members, some
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homes caring for thirty or forty visitors at night, bedding them on the floor. Then was the day of great Brethren fellowship. Sometimes services would be disturbed by drinkers among the nonmembers attending.
But now a sad note must enter. The evangelistic note gave way to one of dissension. The Progressive-Conservative debate and schism reached here. The church divided, about half of the Freeland group going with each side. Many of the Conserva- tives died or moved away and services were irregularly held by them in the old church. Shortly after the turn of the century services were entirely abandoned. In 1920 the building was sold, torn down, and moved away. The lot is now owned by C. E. Markwood.
A piece of land was donated to the Progressive group by W. L. and Lew White. This land is just west of the Terra Alta cemetery, between Route 7 and the road leading to the Freeland settlement. The White Dale church was built here by David A. Freeland, John M. Freeland, Solomon Fike, Elijah Hardesty, and others. It was dedicated in May 1895. Some of the charter members were: Rev. George Bucklew, Rev. J. M. Freeland, Rev. C. E. Glen, M. Katherine Glen, Mary Freeland, T. B. Jackson, Elizabeth Welch, Margaret Bucklew, Eva Jackson, S. K. White- hair, Gillie Whitehair, Sue M. Dodge, Susan DeBerry, Retta Bucklew Wilson, J. B. Cassady, Sarah L. Whitehair, Savilla Dodge, Hiram Dodge and Louisa Wilburn.
Early ministers who served this church were George Buck- lew, C. E. Glen, John M. Freeland, and S. K. Whitehair, all resident. Others were E. B. Shaver, J. M. Tombaugh, Henry Wise, D. C. Layman, A. E. Thomas, Edward Bardman, Thomas Howell, L. L. Lindower, Herman Hoyt and George McDonald, who served either as pastor or evangelist. As the years passed members moved away or died and the membership became too small to support a pastor.
During this time Elders J. A. Arnold, Obed Hamstead, Loren- zo Fike, Emra Fike, Tobias Fike and others of the Church of the Brethren were maintaining services at the older outlying preach- ing points of the Cheat River congregation. In 1920 the district mission board assumed some financial obligation to help supply a ministry to this congregation and Lorenzo Fike was continued
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as elder. The congregation had reached its low point with a membership of only about twenty.
But now other new members of the Church of the Brethren began to move into Terra Alta, viz., the A. R. Fike family, Frank Guthrie and family, Melvin Slaubaugh, Revie Slaubaugh, and others. These were interested in maintaining their Brethren faith. In 1931 the elders of the district petitioned the district for a committee to investigate the advisability of discontinuing the congregation. Jeremiah Thomas, E. T. Fike, and J. S. Fike were named. But they became a committee for the building up of the congregation. Progress from year to year was reported. These of the Church of the Brethren had come to know the Progressive Brethren of the vicinity and their church at White Dale, which was struggling along. They discovered they had a rich heritage of Brethren faith in common. They began to work, plan, think, and worship together.
The district committee, now consisting of C. A. Thomas, J. S. Fike, and Alva Harsh, worked with the Terra Alta Brethren and a similar committee from the Progressives. They mutually agreed to have preaching twice a month at the White Dale church, the Brethren and Progressives each preaching once a month. C. A. Thomas was elected elder for the Church of the Brethren and N. V. Leatherman for the Progressives. This oc- curred in 1935. In that year district conference was petitioned for the privilege of changing the name of the congregation from Cheat River to Terra Alta. This was readily granted as the active thriving part of the congregation was now in Terra Alta.
In July 1936 Dr. C. A. Bame of the Progressives was called to White Dale to conduct a revival. He was delighted and most co-operative. Indeed, the whole Progressive branch had been much interested and helpful. Dr. Bame carefully studied the situation, consulted the membership, and then drew up a con- stitution uniting the two branches legally and fully. This con- stitution was adopted by both bodies of the church on July 25, 1936. The name became the Co-operative Brethren church of Terra Alta.
The denominational leadership of both branches has been much interested in encouraging this effort. Articles about this union have been published in the church papers of both branches. It has been studied by both branches, Both have
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been most helpful and unselfish in their co-operation. The mem- bership there is of "genuine good old-fashioned Dunker blood. They know why they are Brethren and are not easily moved from their convictions," said C. C. Grisso, a Progressive minister, in the Gospel Messenger for July 17, 1937. It is an example that could be profitably followed elsewhere.
Bro. Foster M. Bittinger served as part-time pastor for about eighteen months, beginning September 1939. Olonzo Fike then served them. Both of these ministers are of the Church of the Brethren. Usually an evangelist of the Progressive branch is secured. But utmost harmony exists between the branches. Visitors, lay or ministerial, say, "I wondered whether I could dis- tinguish between the branches. I cannot."
Again, after much heartache, suffering, sacrifice, and sorrow, those of the Brethren faith of this vicinity look forward with hope and courage. They face a promising future. Galen E. Fike now serves as pastor.
WHITE PINE
Pioneer ministers: Nicholas Leatherman, Solomon Biser, Daniel B. Arnold, John M. Leatherman, Nelson Kelly, Crisley Wine, John Kline, Jacob Biser, James Fleming, Daniel Work- man.
Date of reorganization: 1870. Possibly a large congregation by 1785 under the leadership of the Powers brothers. See page 30.
Preaching places: White Pine church, near Purgitsville; Kelly Chapel, near Russeldale; Old Pine church, one mile west of U. S. Highway 220, near Purgitsville (used now only for funerals).
Present minister: India Hockman.
Boundary line: Beginning at the point of the second high knob on the South Branch Mountain (near Old Fields) the line runs northeast with said mountain to above the headwaters of Grassy Lick River to the Tear Coat boundary line, thence with said boundary line northwest to the Mineral County line, de- scribed in the 1879 minutes of the Beaver Run church as fol- lows: "Commence at Lions Mill, running across the mountain through Smacktown Gap, thence down the ridge east of Joshua Rinker's and Edward Whiteman's, crossing Mill Creek above
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Elijah High's, thence up Sandy Hollow through the land of Harriet High, same course continued to county line, thence a straight line to Pearce's Mill, thence with top of Furnace Moun- tain (Patterson Creek Mountain) to Grant (now Mineral) County line," thence southwest with top of said mountain to a point where the three counties of Hardy, Grant and Mineral meet, thence easterly to the Mountain View school, thence with the Haggarty Road to U. S. Highway 220, thence easterly in a direct line to starting point, the second high knob on South Branch Mountain.
This congregation has been variously known as the Mill church, the Nicholas church, the Old Pine church, and now the White Pine congregation. Religious services were begun here at least by 1843 when Elder John Kline in August visited in the home of Bro. Nicholas Leatherman. He was certainly here again in June of 1858. In June of 1859 he was again on a preaching trip down South Mill Creek through what is now Purgitsville and on June 5 saw "what I have never seen before, viz., a kill- ing frost in June. The corn up to knee high was frozen stiff, the heading wheat is frozen."25 It affected the tone of his preaching.
From the History of Hampshire County, by Maxwell and Swisher, 1897, the following is gathered: "The Pine Church or- ganization, partly in Hampshire and partly in Hardy, dates its organization from mission work done by the Beaver Run con- gregation. The Pine Church was formerly Nicholas, organized about 1870 by Dr. Leatherman, who entered the ministry near this time. Pine Church is owned in partnership by several churches but the Brethren are the largest shareholders."
The Old Pine church, a log church about thirty by thirty feet, standing about one-quarter mile off United States Highway 220, just south of Purgitsville, is the oldest church building of the Church of the Brethren in the entire district. Its exact age is un- known but old men of the community say it dates back to 1814. There are tombstones in the old cemetery dating back to 1834 and some unmarked graves which are said to be still older. These marked stones are of the Huffmans, who came there from Germany. Some old ones of the community say the church has been there for one hundred fifty years, which would make its building date at least as early as 1792. Could this be the place
25 Funk, Benjamin, Life of John Kline. Page 414.
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where the Powers built up the first Dunker community, the South Branch church, which met a rather fateful end? Perhaps so.
Certainly this church is very old. No one knows of its be- ginning. Certainly it marked a period of early activity of the church here. Mrs. Roby, who lived there at the time of the Civil War, has worshiped there ever since. She says that the church then appeared about as old as it does now. The church was built by the Methodists, the United Brethren, and the Church of the Brethren, though now all have built other churches. This church is used now only for funerals or reunions. It was originally of bare logs though sometime later it was weatherboarded. It is said that Rev. Charles Miller, a United Brethren preacher, during the Civil War always brought his gun to church and left it outside the door. The tension between the sections was at this place very high, as is thereby shown.
Dr. Nicholas Leatherman was born November 4, 1826, and married Catherine Arnold, daughter of Jacob Arnold of Beaver Run. He was a physician and he and his good wife traveled all over the country roads in buggy or spring wagon or on horse- back to care for the sick.26 He was also a minister and elder in the church and as seen before he is given credit for organizing the church at White Pine about 1870, at which time he was placed in the ministry. He died in 1890.
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