HISTORY OF THE PITTSBURGH SYNOD
ST. MARKS EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
EDDYVILLE PA
The pioneer work on behalf of the German settlers of this community was largely in the hands of pastors of the Reformed Church, and comparatively little is know of it.
There is a tradition to the effect that a union church was organized by Rev. Jacob F. Dieffenbacher of the Reformed Church some time between 1839 and 1842, but this has not been definitely established.
It is know, however, that Pastor J. G. Young of the Lutheran Church organized a union church here in 1848.
Through all the eariler years of their history these people were greatly neglected, and yet they remained true to the faith.
Pastor Young ministered to them in German with varying regularity, 1848-1864, but seems not to have regarded them as one of his regular congregations. He held services in different homes, but usually in that of J. D. Smith.
Communion services were held occasionally in a barn about one and a half miles northwest of Eddyville.
Catechetical classes were held in Foremans's school house. A Sunday School was organized at an early date.
Owning to the fact that the people were so widely scattered, two schools were held; the first in Foreman's school house, superintended by Archie Glenn; the second in Fleming's school house, and later in Rumbaugh's school house, superintended by a Mr. Fleming.
When the congregation built their first church in 1865, the two schools were united.
It was conducted as a union school until 1900, when it was reorganized on a Lutheran basis by Rev. Charles E. Berkey.
Among the earliest members of the church the following family names are now recalled:
Nulph
Beck
Doverspike
Long
Hollabach
Smith
Rugh
Rumbaugh.
Ground for the first church was secured from Reuben Hoffman, and was conveyed to the trustees of the German Lutheran and Reformed congregation in September, 1866.
The church was built in 1865, but no record of it's dedication has been preserved.
This building was usd by two congregations until 1903, when the Lutherans withdrew and built a new church in Eddyville at a cost of $3,000.
The corner stone was laid, June 18, 1902, and the church dedicated free of debt, June 7, 1903.
Pastor Berkey was assisted by Rev. S. D. Daugherty and Rev. Wilson Selner in the service of dedication.
The following pastors have served in St. Mark's:
Rev. J. G. Young, 1848-1864
Rev. Henry Gathers, 1864-1868
Rev. C. A. Fetzer, 1868-1871
Rev. W. E. Crebs, 1871-1873
Rev. David Townsend, 1873-1875
Rev. Wilson Selner, 1875-1881
Rev. E. A. Best, 1883-1886
Vacant, 1886-1890
Rev. A. H. Kinnard, 1890-1893
Rev. W. J. Bucher, 1893-1897
Rev. F. J. Matter, 1897-1900
Rev. C. E. Berkey, 1900-1909
Rev. W. B. Claney, 1903-1907
Rev. H. C. Salem, 1907-1909
Rev, W. E. Sunday, 1911-1915
Rev. E. N. Fry, 1915-1917
Rev. C. L. Quinn, 1917-1919
Rev. J. M. Axe, 1920-1921
Rev. C. S. Brewer 1921-1926
Hope this will help someone, I did a good bid of history on some of the Synod a while back.
More on the Synod can be found on Western Pennsylvania Old Photos, under Rev. Gabriel Adam Reichart.
Patricia
ST. MARKS EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
EDDYVILLE PA
The pioneer work on behalf of the German settlers of this community was largely in the hands of pastors of the Reformed Church, and comparatively little is know of it.
There is a tradition to the effect that a union church was organized by Rev. Jacob F. Dieffenbacher of the Reformed Church some time between 1839 and 1842, but this has not been definitely established.
It is know, however, that Pastor J. G. Young of the Lutheran Church organized a union church here in 1848.
Through all the eariler years of their history these people were greatly neglected, and yet they remained true to the faith.
Pastor Young ministered to them in German with varying regularity, 1848-1864, but seems not to have regarded them as one of his regular congregations. He held services in different homes, but usually in that of J. D. Smith.
Communion services were held occasionally in a barn about one and a half miles northwest of Eddyville.
Catechetical classes were held in Foremans's school house. A Sunday School was organized at an early date.
Owning to the fact that the people were so widely scattered, two schools were held; the first in Foreman's school house, superintended by Archie Glenn; the second in Fleming's school house, and later in Rumbaugh's school house, superintended by a Mr. Fleming.
When the congregation built their first church in 1865, the two schools were united.
It was conducted as a union school until 1900, when it was reorganized on a Lutheran basis by Rev. Charles E. Berkey.
Among the earliest members of the church the following family names are now recalled:
Nulph
Beck
Doverspike
Long
Hollabach
Smith
Rugh
Rumbaugh.
Ground for the first church was secured from Reuben Hoffman, and was conveyed to the trustees of the German Lutheran and Reformed congregation in September, 1866.
The church was built in 1865, but no record of it's dedication has been preserved.
This building was usd by two congregations until 1903, when the Lutherans withdrew and built a new church in Eddyville at a cost of $3,000.
The corner stone was laid, June 18, 1902, and the church dedicated free of debt, June 7, 1903.
Pastor Berkey was assisted by Rev. S. D. Daugherty and Rev. Wilson Selner in the service of dedication.
The following pastors have served in St. Mark's:
Rev. J. G. Young, 1848-1864
Rev. Henry Gathers, 1864-1868
Rev. C. A. Fetzer, 1868-1871
Rev. W. E. Crebs, 1871-1873
Rev. David Townsend, 1873-1875
Rev. Wilson Selner, 1875-1881
Rev. E. A. Best, 1883-1886
Vacant, 1886-1890
Rev. A. H. Kinnard, 1890-1893
Rev. W. J. Bucher, 1893-1897
Rev. F. J. Matter, 1897-1900
Rev. C. E. Berkey, 1900-1909
Rev. W. B. Claney, 1903-1907
Rev. H. C. Salem, 1907-1909
Rev, W. E. Sunday, 1911-1915
Rev. E. N. Fry, 1915-1917
Rev. C. L. Quinn, 1917-1919
Rev. J. M. Axe, 1920-1921
Rev. C. S. Brewer 1921-1926
Hope this will help someone, I did a good bid of history on some of the Synod a while back.
More on the Synod can be found on Western Pennsylvania Old Photos, under Rev. Gabriel Adam Reichart.
Patricia