The Gospel Messenger 02-02-1907 p 80 Vol. 46 No. 5

QUEMAHONING CONGREGATION, PA.

What follows should be read in connection with my history of Quemahoning congregation, Pa., in the Almanac for 1907. My article being long, the editor decided to condense it and cut this section out, but now permits me to have it appear in the Gospel Messenger. Those who are interested can cut it out and paste it in the Almanac. Deacons. —Just what deacons fell to this congregation in the division is not certain. The following brethren are known to have served this congregation in its earliest history: John Blough. Sr., Abraham Miller, Tobias Blough, John Forney, Jr., Henry P. Hosteller and Daniel Forney. Among the first to be elected were Jonathan W. Blough and Michael Forney. Next, I think, were'" Daniel Bacr, Emanuel J. Blough and Josiah P. Meyers, in June, 1857. Then followed Jacob P. Speicher and Jonathan Berkley in 1863; Daniel Shaffer in about 1866; William G. Lint, Jacob L. Wolford, John J. Blough and Joseph Schmuckcr in June, 1868; Jacob Koontz and Samuel E. Berkey, June, 1869; -Aaron Blough and Joseph Forney in 1875; Joseph Shank and Christian C. Gnagey in the fall of 1876; John J. Darr and Henry Casebeer in about 1888; Tobias Berkley, Oct. 19, 1889; Michael H. Meyers and Peter Speicher, May 25, 1892; William H. Blough and Ananias J. Beeghley, April 22, 1899; John W. Rummel and Norman H. Blough, April 11, 1903; Edward F. Miller and Peter Trimpey, April 13, 1903; Francis J. Maust and Ephraim Speicher, Sept. 2, 1905. The following deacons moved into our congregation: Jacob Lichty, Henry Wentz, Daniel Gnagey and Simon S. Lint. Of the above we lost by emigration: A. Miller, D. Forney, W. G. Lint, J. Lichty, J. Berkley, A. Blough, D. Gnagey, J. L. Wolford, P. Speicher and J. Shank. We also lost by death: J. P. Meyers, D. Shaffer, D. Baer, J. Blough, Sr., M. H. Meyers, J. J. Blough, Jos. Forney, C. C. Gnagey, S. E. Berkey and H. Casebeer. Of the remainder, eight have been elected to the ministry and the remaining thirteen constitute our present body of deacons. Jerome E. Blough. Hollsopple, Pa., Jan. IS.

Pine Grove House, Quemahoning Congregation, Somerset Co., Pa. Built 1855.

BRETHREN FAMILY ALMANAC. 1907 p 20

A HISTORY OF THE QUEMAHONING CONGREGATION,

SOMERSET CO., PA.

By Jerome E. Blough.

Introductory. — It must have been towards the close of the eighteenth century when the Brethren crossed the Allegheny mountains into Somerset county (then Bedford county) and settled at a place called the " Glades," near which Berlin is now located. For some years all the preaching was done by ministers from the east. And south. The membership increased by immigration and conversion and gradually spread over the greater part of the county. During the first half of the nineteenth century they brought to the front strong and able men in the ministry of their own material. The first Brethren meetinghouse in the county seems to have been built near Berlin in 1845 and the second one at Summit Mills in 1846. These are perhaps among' the largest houses owned by the Brethren.

Division of the County. —Prior to 1849 all of Somerset county, with the Exception of Paint township in the northeastern corner of the county, which forms the greater part of the Shade Creek congregation, was in one congregation. In that year the Annual Meeting was held in the Grove meetinghouse near Berlin. At this meeting a committee consisting of Brethren Peter Long, Andrew Spanogle, John Holsinger of Philadelphia, Joseph Arnold, Jacob Biser of Virginia, George Hoke and Henry Kurtz of Ohio, was appointed to look into the advisability of districting this large territory into smaller districts or congregations. These Brethren met the same summer at Berkley's Mills and divided the county into four congregations, viz., Elk Lick, Berlin, Middle Creek and Quemahoning.

Territory. — Quemahoning congregation covers a very large territory, stretching from the Alleghanies on the east to the Laurel Hill Ridge on the west, and from within three miles of Somerset on the south to the Cambria county line on the north, an area of probably 400 to 500 square miles. At different times during the history of this church, members have been scattered over the greater part of this territory.

Organization. —The members living in this territory convened in council at a point now called Stanton's Mills to consider whether the division was acceptable to them. This meeting was held in Bro. David Crofford's large barn, owned at the present time by Sister Mary Stanton. It is not known when this meeting was held, who presided, how many members were present, neither is it known how many and what members lived in the district then; but it is known that strong objections were raised to being cut off from the " Glades," as it would deprive them of the efficient services of the Berlin Brethren. But upon being promised that those brethren should still do a part of the preaching, they agreed to the division, and the organization was effected. All the services were then conducted in German.

Ministers. —About the time of the division, the brethren who dealt out the Word of Life were Peter Cober, Henry Meyers, Jacob S. Hauger, John Forney, Sr., John Cober, Jonathan Berkley and Christian Schmucker, In the division the last two fell on the Quemahoning side. John Forney, Sr,, soon moved down from the Glades. About 1851 the first election for minister was held, and Tobias Blough was chosen. In 1852 or 1853 Henry P. Hostetler was elected. Up to this time all the preaching was in the German language, but the demand for English preaching becoming pretty strong, another election was held in 1854 and Christopher I. Beam was elected, whose services were entirely in English. Then followed the election of John Forney, Jr. (German and English) in 1855, Jonathan W. Blough (German and English) and Solomon Baer (German) in 1856, Emanuel J. Blough (English and German) and Jacob P. Speicher, (German) in 1866. These were the last brethren elected who could use the German.

Still later elections were Samuel P. Zimmerman in October, 1874; Joseph Beam in 1881 or 1882; John J. Darr, September 22, 1890; Jacob S. Zimmerman, October 21, 1893; and Perry J. Blough and Jacob M. Blough, September

4, 1897.

I had hoped to be able to give the date of death and age of John Forney, Sr., Jonathan Berkley and Christian Schmucker, but cannot do it now. Tobias Blough died November 20, 1884, aged 73 years. Bro. Hostetler died June 19, 1898, aged nearly 82, in the Shade Creek congregation, where he had lived many years. Solomon Baer moved to Brothers' Valley where he labored many years. John Forney, Jr., moved to Illinois in the fifties or sixties. Jacob P. Speicher died November 20, 1903, aged nearly 86 years. By the adoption of a line between us and Middle Creek, 1903, Joseph Beam fell to Middle Creek. Jacob S. Zimmerman moved to Waterloo, Iowa, in 1900. Jacob M. Blough went to the India mission field in 1903. Besides the foregoing ministers the following have moved into this congregation at different times: Amos Christner, Isaiah Ferguson, Francis Bower and Jerome E. Blough. Of these only the last-named remains. About 1856 or 1857 Michael Forney, having decided to emigrate to a section in Southern Illinois where there was no preacher, the church licensed him to preach before he left for the West. This was special and not by election. Both he and his brother John became prominent ministers in the West.

Elders. —It appears that John Forney, Sr., was an elder when he moved into this congregation. He died not many years after that and Christian Schmucker and Jonathan Berkley, Sr., succeeded him and they in turn were followed by Tobias Blough who was ordained before the close of the fifties. When he felt the work too heavy for his feeble body he called for help and on January 1, 1882, Emanuel J. Blough was ordained. Then there was no ordination until June 30, 1900, when Jonathan W. Blough was ordained. On September 3, 1904, Samuel P. Zimmerman and Perry J. Blough were also ordained to assist our two aged elders.

Meetinghouses. —For about five years the meetings were held in private houses, barns and schoolhouses. In 1855 the first meetinghouse was built near the Quemahoning Creek in Jenner township on land donated by Elias Forney. This is one-half mile north of Stanton's Mill, the place where the church was organized and the first love feast held. The house, now named Pine Grove, is still in use and in a fair state of preservation. The church happens to be located within the territory selected by the Johnstown Water Company for a large dam. The church lot (less than a half acre and house excepted) has recently been sold for two thousand dollars to the company and it will be only a question of a few more years until this dear, sacred spot will exist only in the hearts and minds of those who used to worship here. In 1860 a meetinghouse was built in the other end of the congregation, near Sipesville, on land purchased from Abraham Baker. In 1875 the first love feast house (40 X 70 feet and basement under the entire building), was erected in Conemaugh township, on land donated by Daniel Fry. The dedicatory services were conducted by Elder Graybill Meyers and a love feast held at the same time. Name of this house is now Maple Spring. Prior to this time the love feasts were held in barns. In 1880 the fourth meetinghouse was built in the extreme northern end of the congregation at the foot of Tire Hill on land donated by John Kaufman. Elder Joseph Berkey preached the dedicatory sermon. In 1888 the old house at Sipesville was replaced by a new one suitable for love feast occasions. It was dedicated by Elder C. G. Lint. In 1890 a meetinghouse was built at Dull Station on land donated by Jacob B. Blough. Elders D. H. Walker and E. J. Blough conducted the dedicatory services. This house is now named Sugar Grove. In 1893 the Baer schoolhouse, in Somerset township, was converted into a church and dedicated by U. D. Brougher and some of the home ministers on September 10, 1893. In 1895, Percy J. Blough built and furnished a church room above his warehouse in Hooversville, which was dedicated by Elder Jeremiah Thomas, Sept. 14, 1895. For eight years to the day regular services and Sunday school were held here. September 13, 1903, a new love feast house to take the place of the upper room was dedicated. J. M. Blough preached the dedicatory sermon. In 1905 the old Maple Spring house was replaced by a new one which was dedicated by Elder George S. Rairigh, March 4, 1906. These last two are brick cased houses nicely finished and furnished inside. We have three meetinghouses where the love feast is held annually and four where it is not.

Sunday Schools. — Our first effort in Sunday school work was at Pine Grove in the spring of 1880. Aaron Blough and Perry J. Blough were superintendents, and the writer secretary, but because of opposition it was discontinued at the end of the second summer. During the years of 1886 and 1887 a Sunday school was carried on for a short time in the Sipesville meetinghouse. Josiah P. Meyers was superintendent and J. J. Darr, secretary. After some years, schools were opened at Maple Spring, Hooversville, Sipesville, Tire Hill and Sugar Grove. The last two have been discontinued. While we were somewhat slow in taking up Sunday-school work, we were in the lead in local Sunday-school conventions in Western Pennsylvania. For a number of years we were the only church to hold such meetings. In the present year two have been held, one being a joint one with Shade Creek,

Mission Work. — When the many long and tedious horseback journeys of our old ministers are brought to our notice we cannot help but conclude that they were filled with the true missionary spirit. They did it not for honor or for money, but with hearts full of love for lost souls. They rode through heat and cold, storm and sleet, over hills and mountains, through glade and forest, preaching in their primitive way in schoolhouses, dwelling houses and barns, the unsearchable riches of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a reward for their labors they had the pleasure of seeing men and women turn to God. Many years ago some members moved across the mountains into Westmoreland county and a preaching point - was established among them. The preaching was done for many years by ministers from this congregation and many a hard, lonely trip was made over rough mountain roads. This was the beginning of what is now Ligonier Valley congregation. When foreign and home mission work finally took definite form a number of solicitors annually gathered mission money.

Within recent years the church adopted the plan of preaching a special missionary sermon at each of our meeting places during the month of October every year, and then take up a public collection. In this way we raised considerable money, but a number of our members thought we should do better; so in 1904 the church pledged herself to support a brother in India. Most of the readers will remember that Bro. J. William Swigart was appointed to go. He spent some weeks in our congregation getting acquainted with our people and preaching a number of sermons, then went home to make the final preparation to sail. He took sick and after a brief illness he crossed the Jordan of Death to his long home instead of crossing the ocean to toil and struggle in India. Bro. Charles H. Brubaker is now appointed in his stead and if our Father so wills we will have a brother in the field before New Year. But money is not all that we have to show as an evidence that our missionary teaching has been effectual. One of our number, S. S. Blough, is missionary in Pittsburg, Pa.; another one, J. M. Blough is in Bulsar, India; another, if I am correctly informed, Uriah J. Blough, has been an active member of the mission board of Northern Iowa for a number of years; another, Elijah E. Blough, is a member of the mission board of the Second District of Virginia; and still another one, P. J. Blough, has been an active member of our (Western Pennsylvania) mission board for many years. Quite a number of our young people have joined the Missionary'' Reading Clile, and I think few congregations receive more copies of the " Missionary Visitor."

General. —Almost from its organization to the present time this congregation has suffered very much from emigration. In this way we have lost many of our strong, promising members. No doubt there are hundreds of active church workers scattered over the West and the South whose ancestors were once members of this congregation. No church record was kept until the beginning of the twentieth century. From then to the present ninety-six have been baptized and sixty-five letters of membership granted.' Our present organization consists of four elders, two ministers in the second degree, thirteen deacons and about three hundred and five members altogether. In 1881 the district meeting was held in our Maple Spring house. Since the first Maple Spring house was built we have held a number of district ministerial and Sunday-school meetings. In education our people early took great interest. Many of our brethren have been leading teachers in their day. A large majority of our preachers have been called from these ranks. Then, too, quite a number of our young people have attended Juniata College a number of terms and other institutions of learning.

Ours has been in the fullest sense a free ministry, though our territory has been exceptionally hard to work and our ministers were frequently called upon to preach funerals for those outside of our church. Thirty or more years ago series of meetings began to be held, and there have passed few years in the last twenty but what several of these meetings were held.

We aim to keep in touch with our Annual Conference. We represent by one or two delegates when the distance is not too great.

We have at present two Christian Workers' meetings, but no Aid or Sewing Society. Our people, however, are always ready to respond to calls for help, be it for building churches, feeding the starving or clothing the poor.

R. F. D. No. 1, Holsopple, Pa.

The Gospel Messenger Jan. 2, 1909 page 13

Quemahoning church met in council Dec. 19, Eld. D. H. Walker was with us to assist in the electing of two deacons. The lot fell on Brethren John E. Kauffman and H. A. Rummel. One Letter of membership was granted. Bro. Walker remained with us over Sunday, and gave us two very instructive sermons. Our series of meetings are to begin Jan. 2, at the Maple Spring house. Bro. H. C. Early is expected to be with us. Our Sunday school was reorganized. The attendance is good during the winter months. Our teachers’ meetings are interesting. – J. W. Rummel, Holsopple, PA. Dec. 2