USA > West Virginia > Hampshire County > History of Hampshire County, West Virginia : from its earliest settlement to the present > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
St. James, formerly known as Laurel Chapel, was organ- ized in 1866. There is also a congregation at Rio, on North river, known as North River Evangelical Lutheran church. It was founded by Rev. H. J. Richardson in 1849. The house of worship is owned jointly by Latherans and Pres- byterians.
Regular Primitive Baptist Church .- Three congregations of the Primitive of Regular Baptists were early formed in the limits of what was then Hampshire. The first of these was at North River and was established in 1787 by B. Stone, with twenty-six members. Crooked Run had forty-four members to start with and was founded by B. Stone, 1790. Paterson's Creek congregation was formed in 1808, by John Munroe, with sixteen members. All these belonged to the Ketocton association. Robert B. Semple, in his "History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia," published in 1810, speaking of the
377
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
above-named organizations, says: "North River, Crooked Run and Patterson's Creek are new churches, concerning which nothing interesting is known, except that they are preached to by Elder John Munroe, a practitioner of physic. Doctor Munroe has long been engaged in the heavenly employment of dispensing the gospel, and was, when a resident of Fauquier, as well as since his removal to Hampshire, a very successful preacher of the gospel."
Crooked Run, one of these early congregations, is now known as Union church, and is situated hear the North- western grade, one and a half miles from Pleasant Dale, and one mile from Augusta. There are three other churches of this denomination in the county known as Lit- tle Capon, Mount Bethel or Branch Mountain and Grassy Lick. Elder B. W. Power is pastor of these congrega- tions at the present time. The total membership is about sixty.
Messrs. John Arnold, John Munroe, Herbert Cool, Jesse Munroe, George Loy, Benjamin Cornwell, John Corder, and T. N. Alderton have all served in the capacity of elder for the Regular Primitive Baptist church in Hampshire county.
Presbyterian Church .- Very soon after the Revo- lutionary war ministers of the Presbyterian faith preached at different points in this county. Mount Bethel, at Three churches on Branch mountain, was organized in 1792. The same year the Romney church was founded, but it was reorganized in 1833. Rev. John Lyle was the minister for the congregations of Frankfort, Romney and Spring- field when the Winchester Presbytery was formed in 1794. This presbytery had five ministers and sixteen churches, viz: "Rev. Moses Hoge, pastor of Carmel (Shepherds- town) congregation; Rev. Nash Legrand, of Winchester, Opequon and Cedar creek; Rev. William Hill, of Charles- town and Hopewell (Smithfield); Rev. William Williamson, of South river (Front Royal) and Flint run; and Rev. John
378
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
Lyle, of Frankfort, Romney and Springfield; with the fol- lowing vacancies, viz: Middletown (Gerardstown) and Back creek, united, able to support a minister; Concrete (in Hardy county), able; and Powell's fort and Lost river, not able."
Rev. John Lyle died in 1807 and was buried at Spring- field. After him, Rev. James Black preached at Romney, Springfield and Moorefield as stated supply. Rev. William H. Foote took charge of the work in 1819, and continued many years. Previous to 1833 all the churches in the county were included in the Mount Bethel congregation. In that year, October 19, we find the following entry upon the minute book: "Sufficient evidence appearing before the Presbytery that Mount Bethel church desires a division, therefore, Resolved, That the name of Mount Bethel church be changed to that of Romney, Mr. Foote continuing the pastor of the same; and that Mr. Foote have leave to form separate organizations at Springfield, Mount Bethel, North river and Patterson's creek."
Springfield was organized in 1833 at the time of the reorganization of Romney. Seven years before, in 1826, a church had been organized at Bloomery. North river church was organized in 1833. Stone Quarry, near French's Depot, is a flourishing congregation with a con- siderable membership. The last two churches of this faith, Westminster, at Capon bridge, and the one at Rio were organized in 1994, making eight churches of this denomination in the county. The combined membership at the present time is three hundred and sixty-nine; num- ber of Sunday school teachers, eleven; scholars, two hun- dred and twelve.
The Presbyterian church has always been closely con- nected with the various educational movements in the county. Some of its ministers have been teachers of won- derful ability and wide reputation.
Methodist Episcopal Church, South .- The
379
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
foundation of this church in the county is cotemporaneous with the foundation of the Methodist Episcopal church, for until recent years the two organizations were one. The history of the one is, therefore, the history of the other until comparatively recent years. It was in 1844 that a plan of separation was agreed upon by the churches, and in 1846 this separation took place. Conferences on the bor- der were allowed to chose whether they would adhere to the north or south. Baltimore conference was one of these, and its decision was to remain with the northern branch of the church. So many of the members of the Methodist church in this county were southern in feeling that, though the Baltimore conference was yet nominally in con- trol, they desired the churches in which they worshiped to belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, south. There were many disputes as to which of the churches the property belonged, but in most cases these were decided in favor of the Southern church. The Baltimore conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, then took these congregations under its.charge.
In 1845 Springfield was in Winchester district and John Smith was presiding elder. The annual conference, which met at Baltimore for that year, appointed Reys. C. Parki- son and J. W. Hedges as ministers to Springfield circuit. Rev. James A. Duncan is thought to have been the first minister to this county after the churches were definitely and completely separated. Mr. Duncan came in 1846. Among those who early supported the Southern Methodist church in Hampshire county especial mention should be made of Geo. W. Washington, who lived on the South branch a few miles below Romney.
-
Moorefield district at the present time is presided over by Rev. Geo. H. Zimmerman. There are six circuits of this district which touch Hampshire. Romney circuit, with Rev. C. Sydenstricker in charge, has the following churches: Romney, Fairview, Ebenezer, St. Luke's, Sul-
ยท
380
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.'
phur Springs, Duncan Memorial, Trinity and Marvin. There is also at present a congregation at Number Six, making nine congregations and eight churches on this cir- cuit. Capon Bridge circuit has for its present pastor Rev. W. H. Ballengee. It is made up of the following churches: Capon, Bridge, North River Mills and Green Mound. There are also congregations at the following places: Augusta, Sedan, Park's Hollow, Sandy Ridge and Capon chapel. Rev. W. A. Sites is at present in charge of Slanes- ville circuit, which was cut off from Springfield circuit about five years ago. There are seven churches on this circuit, known as McCool's Chapel, Bethel, Levels, Wesley Chapel, Branch Mountain, Salem and Forks of Capon. Since the cutting off of Slanesville circuit Springfield cir- cuit has but one church in this county. This is located in the town of Springfield. There is also a congregation at Green Spring. Rev. J. W. Mitchell and Rev. W. J. Kight are the pastors in charge. Hardy circuit touches this county with but two churches. One of these is Mt. Zion, the other Hott's chapel, Rev. C. H. Cannon pastor in charge. Wardensville circuit has just one church in this county, Shiloh. There are, however, congregations at Capon Springs and Mt. Airy. This circuit is at present minis- tered to by Rev. C. L. Potter. The Methodist Episcopal church south has at present in the county twenty-two churches and thirty-one congregations. Besides a hand- some district parsonage in Romney, there are circuit par- sonages at Springfield, Capon Bridge and Romney. There are about one thousand three hundred and eighty-five mem- bers in the county. The latest minutes show twenty-four Sunday schools with over a thousand scholars. There are also six Epworth Leagues.
The following is a list of presiding elders who have served since 1866 in this district: South Branch district, John C. Dice, 1866-1870; Moorefield district, David Thomas, 1871-1875; P. H. Whisner, 1875-1878; Rumsey Smithson,
381
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
1878-1882; W. G. Hammond, 1882-1886; S. G. Ferguson, 1886-1890; Geo. T. Tyler, 1890-1894; Geo. H. Zimmerman, 1894-1898.
Evangelical Association .- Rev. Moses Bowers in company with Rev. Henniberger came to Hampshire and preached in the interest of the Evangelical Association as early as 1825. Rev. Mr. Bowers was a man of pure char- acter and was commonly spoken of as the sainted Moses Bowers.
Rev. Jacob Shemp was the first preacher in the Grassy Lick region. He first held meetings just below where Bethel church now stands, on the creek which flows near the Shingleton property. The Grassy Lick Run church was built about the year 1855, by Rev. Elijah Beaty, who was then preacher in charge. He afterwards deeded the property to conference, asking no return for his labor and expense. The Bethel Church property was purchased in 1842. It belonged at first to Abigail and Elisha Pownell, who conveyed it June 18, 1831, to Martha and William Shingleton. They in turn conveyed it to the trustees of the church. These were Jonathan Pownell, Joseph Haines and William Poling. This latter deed was recorded March 9, 1843. Rev. Daniel Long preached at Bethel in 1845 and continued for some time to preach at different points in the county. Another of these early preachers was Rev. William Poling, who served as early as 1847. He after- wards went to Minnesota as a missionary, He is at pres- ent living at Dayton, Ohio and is nearly seventy-five years old. Rev. Daniel Poling joined the conference in 1855, and afterwards became presiding elder. Succeeding Rev. Poling came Rev. John T. Boles, the great revivalist.
In later years the following named gentlemen have served in the capacity of pastors of this denominntion within the limits of Hampshire: Reverends Reisinger, Treseith, Ellenberger, John Curry, Charles Floto, Dickey, John Mull, John Winger and Berkley. After the civil war
332
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
Rev. Hammer came to this circuit but was not well received.
Rev. S. M. Baumgardner then took charge and built up the church wonderfully. For four years previous to 1897 the church was without a pastor. At present Rev. Frank Van Gorder is in charge. Romney circuit, as this portion of the work is called, belongs to Somerset district of Pitts- burg district. Rev. S. M. Baumgardner is presiding elder. There are at the present time two churches owned exclusively by the Evangelical association and they have an associate interest on two more. There are seven places where preaching is held. About fifty persons belong to the Association in this county.
Methodist Episcopal Church .- Among the first churches that planted their banners in America was the Methodist. Long before the Indians had departed to leave the white settler in peaceful and undisputed possession of the country, the missionaries of this church were at work spreading good news from a far country.
Virginia was early a scene of their labors. In 1771 Robert Williams, "the Apostle of Methodism in Virginia, " was busy in the field, At the formation of the first Amer- ican Methodist conference, which took place in Philadel- phia in 1773, it was shown there were one hundred Meth- odists in Virginia. Likewise the work was early begun in this county. Who the first minister of this church in Hampshire was cannot be positively stated. The Rev. J. J. Jacob, who lived near where Green Spring, on the Balti- more and Ohio railroad, now stands, was licensed to preach in 1789.
Bishop Asbury held a session of the Baltimore confer- ence at Mr. Jacob's place in 1792. He is also said to have preached several times in the South branch valley about this time. It is said that the only minister of any denomi- nation who remained in Romney all through the Civil war, was Rev. O. P. Wirgman, of the Methodist church. The
383
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
Baltimore conference, to which the work in this county has always belonged, was established in 1784, on Christmas day. Methodist churches and congregations continued to in- crease in number and enlarge in influence to a wonderful degree. At the close of the late war the greater number of church organizations in the county adhered to the southern division of the church until at present there are but two Methodist Episcopal churches in the county.
One of these is the Romney church, with Rev. M. L. Beal as present pastor. This congregation belongs to Romney circuit, Frederick district of the Baltimore confer- ence. A list of the pastors who have served on Romney circuit since 1875 includes the following gentlemen: Reverends D. B. Winstead, Ed. C. Young, H. P. West, F. G. Porter, H. C. McDaniel, Pasco, William Harris, W. A. Carroll, Henry Man, John F. Dayton anr J. I. Winger.
The other church of this denomination is located at Levels Cross Roads. Rev. Milson Thomas is pastor at present. This church belongs to Paw Paw circuit in Frederick district of Baltimore conference.
Disciples of Christ or Christians .- The Church of the Disciples was first organized in this county by G. W. Abell in 1853. This organization was at Sandy Ridge, on the Springfield grade, two miles east of North river mills. Prior to the organization of the church several ministers of this faith labored in the county. About the year 1820 Thomas Campbell, father of the illustrious Alexander Campbell, founder of Bethany college and the person to whom the Christian church largely owes its present power and success, preached in an old school house on Sandy ridge. This old school house is now in ruins. It stood near the present Sandy ridge church. Other preachers in these early times were Rev. Robert Ferguson and his eloquent son Jesse, who afterwards became an infidel. A Rev. Jackson and Rev. William Lane also belong to the pioneer period of the church's history.
384
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
Since the Civil war Reverends G. W. Abell, John Pirkey, Frederick Booth, J. A. Cowgill and R. C. Cave of St. Louis, Missouri, have served in the county.
About 1868 an organization was effected at Pine Grove school house, which was afterwards removed to Zion church, two miles west of North river mills. Somewhat later a church was organized at Barrettesville, now Augusta. In recent years the following-named ministers have served in this county: Revs. P. S. Rhodes, G. W. Ogden, W. E. Kincaid, Jacob Walters, J. A. Spencer, J. D. Dillard, J. D. Hamaker, W. S. Hoye, D. H. Rodes, J. P. Hawley, C. S. Lucas and J. J. Spencer. In 1896 a church was organized in Lupton's Hollow and a house of worship erected the same year at the junction of the Beck's Gap road with the Lupton's Hollow road.
The membership of the Disciples church in this county at the present time is three hundred. There is a Sunday school at each preaching place in the county. The minis- ters now serving the congregations are Revs. Alexander Khun and W. H. Patterson.
Quakers .- There was a congregation of Quakers in the county quite early in its history. This congregation built a church at Quaker Hollow in Capon district, near where John Powell and George Slonaker now live.
It is very probable that this church was established more than a hundred years ago by Quaker emigrants from the Shenandoah valley, as these people were. among the very early settlers of that region. Thomas Chaukley, a mem- ber of the church, wrote an official letter in 1738 to the "dear friends who inhabit Shenandoah and Opequon." Among other things he says: "I desire you to be very careful (being far and back inhabitants) to keep a friendly cor- respondence with the native Indians, giving them no occa- sion of offense; they being a cruel and merciless enemy where they think they are wronged or defrauded of their rights, as woful experience hath taught in Carolina, Vir-
27
385
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
ginia and Maryland, and especially in New England." Further on in the same letter he adds: "If you believe yourselves to be within the bounds of William Penn's pat- ent from King Charles the Second, which will be hard for you to prove, you being far southward of his line; yet, if done, that will be no consideration with the Indians with- out a purchase from them, except you will go about to con- vince them by fire and sword, contrary to our principles; and if that were done they would ever be implacable ene- mies and the land could never be enjoyed in peace." It is quite probable that these people perfected one of the first church organizations in this county.
German Baptist Bretheren .- The word "Dunk- ard," which is commonly applied to this church, is not cor- rect. The word was originally "'Funker," from the Ger- man word "tunken," to dip. It was applied to the Breth- ren as a term of derision because they baptized by dipping. English corruption of the original gives us the present word "Dunkard." Properly speaking, however, there is no such church as the Dunkard or Tunker, for the incor- porate name of this body of Christians is "German Bap- tist Bretheren."
The Beaver run congregation now in Mineral, but once in Hampshire, was the first organization of this church in the county. More than one hundred years ago three Arnold brothers moved here from Frederick county, Mary- land. Two of these brothers, Samuel and Daniel, were ministers, and soon began active work in behalf of their church. Dwelling houses were the only meeting places for many years until the first Beaver Run church was built. This church was used for nearly fifty years as a place of worship, but in 1876 it was torn down and the present brick church was built. The second generation of minis- ters in this section included Joseph Arnold, Benjamin Arnold, Jacob Biser and many others. At the present time
4
386
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
about fifty members of the Beaver run congregation live in Hampshire county.
The Pine Church congregation, partly in Hampshire and party in Hardy, dates its origin from mission work done by the Beaver run congregation. The Pine Church congregation was formerly Nicholas, organized about 1870 by Dr. Leatherman, who entered the ministry near that time. Pine Church is owned in partnership by several churches, but the Bretheren are the largest shareholders. A small portion of the Bean settlement congregation live in Hampshire and the others in Hardy. This church, which also owes its origin to the missionary labors of Beaver Run church, is near Inkerman. Its history extends over some thirty years.
The Tearcoat congregation is the only one wholly within the present limits of the county. Its origin dates back about forty-five years. Several families connected with the church early emigrated from the Valley of Virginia to Pleasant Dale and the Levels. Abraham Miller. Isaac Miller, William Roby and Abraham Detrick, who lived on the Levels, were ministers for years in that neighborhood, but finally moved to the west. The church now near Pleasant Dale was built after the Civil war. There are at present two hundred and forty members living in the county. There are also seven ministers, two of whom are elders. The Home Mission board of the First district of West Virginia is prosecuting work on the part of this church at various points in the county.
Mission Baptists .- Through the preaching of Whitfield in New England what was known as the New- light-stir, wasoriginated. Members of all churches, who felt the need of vital and experimental religion, separated from the established churches and formed themselves into a society which about the year 1744 was given the name of Separates. It is from this movement that the Mission Baptists have sprung. One of the early preachers of this
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
church organization was Rev. Shubal Stearns, who bedte. preaching in 1745. He felt himself called to preach.' t agre people in the "far west." Accordingly he set of L, priom New England in 1754 together with a few of his numbers. They first halted at Opequon in Berkeley county. Here they found a Baptist church already established and under the care of S. Henton. Here, also, he fell in with Rev. Daniel Marshall, a Baptist minister who had just returned from a missionary visit to the Indians. These two then joined their companies and moved to Cacapon in Hamp- shire county about 1755. This was the first church organ- ization in this county. Rev. Stearns and his companions did not stay long on Cacapon but moved to North Carolina.
There are at present four congregations of the Mission Baptist church in this county. They are named and loca- ted as follows: Bethel, on Grassy Lick; Zoar, near Mt. Zion; Salem, at Mechanicsburg; and Little Capon church, at Barnes' mills. Rev. Samuel Umstot is at present the pastor in charge.
United Brethren .- Parts of four circuits of this church are represented in the county, with a considerable membership. Preachers of this faith have been laboring in the county for many years and a fair degree of success has crowned their efforts.
Mormons .- There is no regular organized church of this denomination in the county, nor is there any estab- lished preaching place. From time to time itinerant eldery of the Latter Day Saints or Mormons preach at different places in the county and have made some converts.
Roman Catholic Church .- In the neighborhood of Barnes' mills there are a number of members of this church. They are visited from time to time by priests of that faith and services are held at intervals. There is no church building or regular church organization.
The Christian Church .- This is a different organ. ization from the Disciples church, though the two are some-
38 S.
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE.
abou
a Has confused. A church was built by this body about ilThe `ar 1818, on Timber ridge, seven miles from Capon Bridgety The lot was given by William Groves. The first person Dried in the cemetery at this church was Mary 'Spaid. The beautiful brick church which now stands on the site of the former log structure was built in 1875. There is an especially large congregation at this point. Reverends Isaac N. Walter, Miller, and Enoch Harvey are among those who have been ministers of this church in the county.
As a closing to this chapter the following extract from the diary of Rev. William H. Foote, is appended as giving a clear idea of the work of a missionary in Hampshire at an early day. This extract comes under the date of No- vember 16, 1819:
"I think I can never forget the events of this cool, chilly day. The morning was lowery, threatening rain, and the clouds riding low, gave to the Capon mountains back of Mr. S-'s a more sable hue. They had always a dreary appearance, but now looked melancholy, as if draped in mourning. I set out after breakfast to pass over them and wind amongst them to find N-L-, to whom I had sent on an appointment. The wind whistled a November tone among the fallen and falling leaves, and now and then a lowering cloud let fall a few drops as I wound my solitary way over and amongst the Capon ridges of barren soil. Few houses were to be seen from the road, which is sel- dom passed by wagons. At the second house I was to in- quire. The way measured a dreary length before I came to the second house. Then I was told to leave the road and take a horse path to N- L-'s. I left notice for preaching, which I found was entirely news to the people, and turned in among the thick pines and followed the spine of a ridge. I had proceeded not far before I met an old man riding a small black horse, his gray hairs from his bent shoulders hanging near the saddle-bow.
389
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
"I had approached near before he saw me. His bridle and saddle were like his raiment, the relics of a past age. A hat in keeping with his costume crowned his head, which was bent near to his saddle. As I came near he raised himself a little, for it seemed he could not straighten him- self, and gave a keen look from a bright black eye, which glistened amongst his long grey hair and beard. As he answered my inquiry, 'Is this the way to N- L-'s?' 'Iam N-L -; what do youseek?' 'Iam a missionary going there to preach.' 'A missionary!' said he, looking more intently. 'A missionary! who sent you; who are you?' I told him my name and by whom sent. 'Sent by Wilson!' said he, hold- ing ont his hand. 'Welcome! It is now a long time since missionaries came here. They used to come. There were Hill, and Glass, and Lyle; but none has been here for years. Can you go home with me? I was going to a neighbor's. When do you want to preach? Have you no appointment?' 'None; I sent you one for tonight.' 'Well, I never heard of it, but I will send out now; it is not noon yet.' So he turned and led me along a narrow, winding- path, questioning and talking, and expressing his satisfac- tion that a missionary had come from his own and his father's church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.