Record Type: Church Records

Hoffman Lutheran church, near Jenner Crossroads, was organized November 20, 1814, Rev. Ernst Heinrich Tiedemann, pastor. The original members were:Jacob HoffmanSimon ShafferMichael CoverJohn KummerPeter FriedlinePhilip HoffmanConrad Keyser The pastors have been:Rev. E. H. TiedemannRev. D. H. KiefferRev. J. H. RabanachRev. P. SchmuckerRev. F. HeyerRev. D. HeiligRev. H. HaverstickRev. P. RizerRe. S. B. LawsonRev. J. T. … Read more

Savage Run Reformed and Lutheran Church, commonly called Fink\’s church, was organized by Rev. B. Knepper in 1849. The house of worship was erected in the fall of the same year at a cost of about nine hundred dollars. The first church officers were:Michael Fink – elderIsrael Shumaker – deacon, for the ReformedMichael Moser – … Read more

Gladden\’s Run Reformed and Lutheran Church commenced with six members in Hoyman\’s schoolhouse in 1846. In November, 1872, the congregation was regularly organized by Rev. B. Knepper, the pastor, who is still in charge. The first church officers were:Israel Emerich – elderAndrew Everlain – elderBailey Shumaker – deaconSamuel Shurmaker – deaconThe oldest members were:Jonathan EmerichBenjamin … Read more

Comp\’s Reformed and Lutheran Church is an old organization. In the first church book, nothing but baptisms are recorded. The date of the first baptism is 1810. The Comp, Troutman and Leidig families were the principal early members of this congregation. Lutheran pastors were:Rev. HungerRev. HeyerRev. FinkelRev. MeyerRev. SchlogelRev. StuftRev. John Nunner Reformed pastors were:Rev. … Read more

Wellersburg Reformed and Lutheran Church was organized by Rev. Henry Giesy about the year 1803. There is no account of the building of the first church. The principal early members were from the Uhl, Hoyman, Witt, Korns, Wilhelm and Reichert families; later the Wingert and Gaumer families were added. The present church ediface cost about … Read more

The German Baptists of Jefferson township form a branch of the Middle Creek church. The first preaching in the township was at the house of Christian Miller in 1844; serviced conducted by Peter Cover and John Beaghley. There were then but two members in the township–John Maust and wife. The present number of members in … Read more

Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized by Rev. P. Rizer, July 31, 1842. Prior to this date, however, there had been preaching in the schoolhouses for about three years. During the year 1849 a church was erected at Bakersville, and dedicated on November 4 of the same year. The congregation is now quite large … Read more

<center>MENNONITE CHURCHES</center>There are three Mennonite churches in the township. Many years ago the people of this denomination worshiped in a log building in the southern part of the township, not far from the spot where the present church stands. Jacob and Samuel Blough were the first Mennonite ministers in the township. The present house, a … Read more

LUTHERANThe Lutheran Church at Davidsville was organized in 1852, and a house of worship erected the same year. The church is a frame building, 35 x 45 feet, and cost eleven hundred dollars. The present membership is about 40. The first pastor was Rev. J. K. Bricker. The first officers of the congregation were:Joseph Hoffman … Read more

The Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Lavansville, was organized as Samuel\’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Bedford county, at a very early date, but the earliest records in existence do not show when the organization was effected. It was prior to the year 1784, however. The early records were written in German, and from a … Read more