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Lewis Einsel Baumgardner
REV. LEWIS EINSEL BAUMGARDNER, a clergyman, late of Rural Valley, where
he was living retired at the time of his death, was born in Springfield
township, Fayette county, Pa., March 29, 1847, son of Michael and Barbara
(Long) Baumgardner.The paternal great-grandfather came from Holland to the United States,
locating in Dauphin county, Pa., where he was an early settler.John Baumgardner, son of the original Baumgardner in this country, was born
in Dauphin county, Pa., and became a pioneer of Bedford county, Pa., where he
bought and developed a farm on Denning’s creek, selling it in 1816. He then
purchased another property, in Cambria county, Pa., and spent the remainder of
his life upon it, there dying after a long and useful life, filled with hard
work and constant endeavor. He married Barbara Sommel, and their children
were: Jacob, who was a minister of the United Evangelical Church; Joseph;
Daniel; John; Adam; Michael, and Samuel. Michael Baumgardner, son of John
Baumgardner, was born in Bedford county, Pa., Dec. 17, 1804, and married in
Somerset county, Pa. He was a farmer, and owned 216 acres of land in Wharton
township, Fayette county, Pa., which he cleared and improved. There he died,
the father of the following family: Drusilla, who married William Bishoff;
Daniel; Deliah, who married William H. H. Tattle; Nathan L.; Samuel; Lewis E.;
Franklin; Aaron L.; and Mary S. All of the sons were ministers of the gospel,
and remarkably good men.Nicholas Long, the maternal great-grandfather of Rev. Lewis E. Baumgardner,
was a native of Montgomery county, Pa., and rounded out his days in his native
county. He served in the Revolutionary war, participating in the battle of
Monmouth, New Jersey.Nathan Long, son of Nicholas Long, and father of Mrs. Michael Baumgardner,
was born in Wyoming county, Pa., and was a pioneer of Springfield township,
Fayette county, Pa., where he became the owner of wild land which he cleared
before his death, which occurred upon that property.Rev. Lewis Einsel Baumgardner, son of Michael Baumgardner, and grandson of
Nathan Long, was reared in Fayette county, Pa., and after finishing his course
in the public schools there entered upon a four years’ course in theology
under the instruction of a committee of his church. Following this he was
actively engaged in ministerial work for twenty-eight years, serving from two
to four years on his different appointments in the counties of western
Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, retiring in 1898. From 1901 he was a resident
of Rural Valley, where he passed away Jan. 27, 1914, just as the sun was
sinking in the west. To occupy his time Mr. Baumgardner gave his attention to
watch and clock repairing. He was a man of cheerful disposition, one who
always looked on the bright side of things, and the home is lonely and quiet
without his presence.On March 30, 1875, Mr. Baumgardner was united in marriage with Rebecca
Milliron, a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Bradenbauch) Milliron, of Wayne
township, and granddaughter of John Milliron, of Armstrong county, whose wife
was a Doverspike. The Millirons and Doverspikes are both pioneer stock of this
region. To Mr. and Mrs. Baumgardner were born three children: Mary L., who
married Rev. Dr. F. E. Hetrick, a minister of the United Evangelical Church;
Rudolph C.; and Vista, who married Rev. P. W. Baer, also a minister of the
United Evangelical Church.There are many interesting stories told of early days when the Baumgardners
were pioneers in various parts of Pennsylvania. Mr. Baumgardner stated that
when his grandmother, Barbara Sommel, was eighteen years old, she attended a
husking bee, and while the harmless festivities were at their height the house
was attacked by Indians, who killed the host and scalped him. The women of the
party managed to escape, fleeing thirty-three miles to Cumberland for safety.Mr. Baumgardner had a fine voice and even late in life was noted as a
splendid vocalist. He used this talent in his religious work with gratifying
results, as the good old hymns sounded strikingly effective when sung by him.
During his long service in the ministry he did much good, and he always
continued to be greatly interested in church work.Source: Pages 445, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed September 2001 by Vaughn Davis for the Armstrong County Beers
Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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