Somerset County

The Progressive branch of the Brethren or German Baptists, under the leadership of H. R. Holsinger, organized a church in Berlin in 1881-2. Their house of worship, erected in 1881, cost, including lot, twenty-seven hundred dollars. Membership in 1883, about one hundred; sabbath-school scholars, 85. The officers of the church are as follows:Bishop: H. R. … Read more

George Johnson, the founder of the Methodist Episcopal church of Berlin, emigrated from Shepherdstown, Virginia, to this place about the year 1786. He was then a member of the Reformed church, but always cordially treated the Methodist missionaries that visited the county, and opened his house for public meetings, as there was no other place, … Read more

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Brother’s Valley township, was organized May 4, 1842, by Rev. Charles Reese. The original membership numbered fifty-eight. The first officers were:Elders: Jacob P. Walker, William Fritz, Sr.Deacons: John Fritz, Peter P. H. Walker, Frederick P. Walker The pastors have been as follows:Rev. Charles Reese, 1842-3Rev. Jesse Winecoff, 1843-6Rev. Charles Young, … Read more

St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran congregation, located at Pine Hill, Brother’s Valley township, has always been a part of the Berlin charge. The earliest record we have of this congregation is a book containing names of communicants, beginning with the year 1790. The first list of names numbers sixty. This number of communicants justifies us in … Read more

The Berlin charge of the Evangelical Lutheran church comprises four congregations— Berlin, St. Michael’s, St. Matthew’s and Stony Creek. Sketches of each will be found in the history of the townships in which the churches are situated. There seem to have been Calvinistic and Lutheran congregations founded in the locality of Berlin as early as … Read more

St. Paul’s Reformed church in Brother’s Valley township was organized January 15, 1860, by Rev. F.A. Edmonds. The original officers and members were:Elders: Jacob Hanger and Nicholas SmithDeacons: Frederick R. Knepper and William HangerPeter StahlSimon HangerHenry ColemanJohn BrantJesse BrantRosanna WeimerHannah BrantJulia HooverMary HangerRebecca ColemanElizabeth Brant The pastors have been:Rev. F. A. EdmondsRev. F. WallRev. William … Read more

Mount Zion Reformed church in Brother’s Valley township was organized March 30, 1848, by Rev. William Conrad. The original officers and members were:Elders: Jacob Hanger and Daniel BowmanDeacons: Jacob Bowman, Jonathan Knepper and David Hay Philip HaySimon HayHenry RumiserGideon BowmanFrancis CountrymanJohn BowmanHenry BowmanCyrus BowmanBenjamin HayWilliam BowmanPeter Martin The pastors have been:Rev. William ConradRev. H. KneppleRev. … Read more

Memorial church of the Evangelical Association was organized by Rev. J. Portch, 1880, with about six members. Rev. Portch was succeeded as pastor by Rev. A. S. Baumgardner, who is now in charge. The house of worship, erected in 1882, was dedicated October 29, by Rev. H. S. Bowman, of Cleveland, Ohio. It cost fifteen … Read more

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church, Shanksville, was organized by Rev. Philip Sheeder in 1848. This congregation was formerly a part of the Shade church. The first officer’s were:Jacob WeigleHenry DoppstadtJohn SpeicherJonathan Woy The pastors have been:Rev. Charles YoungRev. Eli FareRev. Philip SheederRev. Jesse WinecoffRev. A. M. StraussRev. John W. PoffinbergerRev. J. J. Welch. The first church … Read more