PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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CHURCHES BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS

A HISTORY OF THE
LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS IN 
PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
by
REV. D. H. FOCHT, A.M.

CHAPTER IV
SECTION III
MOUNT PISGAH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
IN CARROLL TOWNSHIP

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This church is located in Carroll Township, on the southeast bank of Sherman's Creek, not far from Billow's Mill, on the site of what used to be known as "Sutch's School-house."  This school-house was erected some time between 1775 and 1780.  It was one among the earliest improved places in this region, and this was one of the first, if not the first, school-house in Pisgah Valley.  A large graveyard is connected with it, and here the earliest settlers were buried.*

*Reiber's (German, Rauber's) church or school-house, about two miles west of Sutch's and in Spring Township, was built about the beginning of the present century.  Here Rev. Messrs. Herbst, Sanno, Osterloh and Heim preached occasionally, and by some denominations it is still used as a preaching-place.

A number of Lutheran families settled here along Sherman's Creek at the beginning of the present century.  Some of these afterwards attended preaching at Mount Zion Church in Fishing Creek Valley, some at Carlisle, crossing the North Mountain at Sterrett's Gap, and some perhaps also at St. Peter's Church in Sprint Township.  They had preaching also occasionally at Reiber's school-house till about 1830.  Those of the members who could not understand the German language were members at Carlisle; but as it was from ten to fifteen miles to Carlisle, the pastor at that place came occasionally across the mountain and preached for the scattered members on this side.  This gave rise to the Pisgah Lutheran congregation.  The best information with regard to the origin and early progress of this congregation, within our reach, is given in a communication, dated October, 1860, to us by the 

Rev. John Ulrich

of Carlisle, the first pastor of the congregation.  Rev. Ulrich says:  "All the information I can give you will be from memory. The early history of Mount Pisgah Church is about this:  There lived in Pisgah Valley several families of the Lutheran Church.  They were entirely ignorant of the German language, and could therefore not profit by the preaching of Father Heim.  These families attended preaching at Carlisle, and were there regular members of the Lutheran Church.  They had from ten to twelve miles to Carlisle; they were, however,  very punctual in their Sabbath attendance.  To these families, and for the benefit of their neighbors, Rev. Messrs. Keller and Heyer preached whilst they had the pastoral charge of the church at Carlisle.  It may be that Rev. C. F. Schaeffer, D.D. (now Professor at Gettysburg), preached also occasionally for them; but very seldom, if any.  The others named, I know, did frequently preach for them, as I was told by different persons.  After I had taken charge o the congregation at Carlisle, I visited these families as my predecessors had done, and preached for them on week-days during the first three years of my ministry here.  When the children of these families had grown up, they found it very inconvenient to attend preaching at Carlisle, and hence they requested my Church-Council to allow me to organize them into a congregation and to preach regularly for them.  This request was granted.  The most prominent and active members of our Church, in Pisgah Valley, were Richard Adams, Joseph Egolf, and John Henderson.  Mr. Adams was a true Israelite--one of the excellent of the earth.  He was loved and respected by all who knew him.  No man in that section of country had more influence as a Christian than he.  In those days all looked up to him for counsel in spiritual matters.  Others were indeed active; but they had not the influence he had, as he was the oldest of the English-speaking members of our Church in the whole Valley.

"In the year 1838, I commenced to preach for this people regularly every four weeks.  My appointments were always on Friday evening and Saturday morning, except twice each year, when I preached on Sabbath and administered the Lord's Supper.  Thus, I preached twice every time I visited them---once in the school-house near where the church now stands, and the other time in the Protestant Methodist Church further down the Valley.  These Christian brethren very generously offered me the use of their church.  It was here, also, we usually celebrated the Lord's Supper, before we had a church of our own.

"In December, 1839, I organized the congregation.  A Church-Council was elected and installed, consisting of the following four members:

Richard Adams, John Henderson; Elders
Joseph Egolf, John Losh; Deacons

"For three years I continued my four-week appointments at the above-named places.  During that time this little congregation enjoyed several special seasons of grace, which resulted in the hopeful conversion of a goodly number of persons, both old and young.  When I organized the congregation there were only about ten or twelve members, who united with us.  There were, annually, considerable accessions by confirmation and certificate from other denominations.

"In the year 1842, the present Mount Pisgah Church was built.  I am not certain when the corner-stone was laid; but if any was laid, it must have been in the spring of 1842.  On Sunday, the 26th of September, 1842, the church was consecrated.  Rev. B. Kurtz, D.D., and Rev. B. Keller assisted on the occasion--it was at the time the West Pennsylvania Synod was in session at New Bloomfield.  The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Keller, and the consecration services were performed by Rev. Dr. Kurtz.  Mr. Adams was on the building-committee; but who the other members of the committee were, I do not recollect.  perhaps there was but one.  I know Mr. Adams had the entire care of the erecting of the church, the raising of the money, &c., in his hands.  He spared neither time nor money to have the church erected and completed.  It is a Lutheran church, though other denominations have the privilege to preach in it occasionally when not occupied by the Lutheran congregation.

"At the time when the church was consecrated the membership of the congregation numbered about eighty persons.  A few weeks after the dedication of the church, I resigned, and preached my last sermon on the 12th of November, 1842.  During my ministry among this people there was union and harmony.  My labors have perhaps nowhere been more signally blessed than among the people of this congregation."  So far Rev. Ulrich's statement respecting the early history of the church.

During the summer of 1839, Rev. Ulrich instructed a class of catechumens, and on the 8th of December, 1839, the following eight persons were confirmed:

George Souder; John Souder; Henry Souder; Jacob Brown; Daniel Losh; David Adams; Catharine Souder; Elizabeth Adams.

On the same day, being the first time Rev. Ulrich had communion here, the following members communed with the above eight persons:

Richard Adams                                    John Losh
Jane Adams                                         John Henderson
Elizabeth Adams                                  David Fair
Joseph Adams                                     Elizabeth Fair
Elizabeth Adams                                  William Melister
Frances Adams                                    Bradley Henry
John Adams                                          Mary Stouffer
Mary E. Adams                                     Elizabeth Stouffer
Joseph Egolf                                         Mary Shearer
Susan Egolf                                           Rebecca Lenhart
Christian Ziegler                                   Barbara Mickey
Mary Ziegler                                          Sarah Heckendorn

Thus at the first communion there were thirty-two members.  On the 5th of December, 1840, John Finicle and Sarah Finicle, and perhaps some others, were received as members by application.

During the early part of '41, the congregation was blessed with a precious season of refreshing from on high.  A number were hopefully converted to God.  These were for some time carefully instructed, and on the 27th of March, 1841, the following six persons were confirmed:

Peter Slusher; John Jones; Joseph Murphy; John McClintock; Martha Jones; Sarah McClintock.

and on the 20th of November, the same year, Margaret Shearer was confirmed.  The congregation increased in number.

The want of a suitable house of worship was deeply felt by all, and measures were taken to erect one.  Among other places offered, it was thought best to locate the church near "Sutch's School-house", where there was an old and large graveyard, and where Rev. Ulrich had hitherto been preaching.  The land belonged to Abraham Jacobs.  From the deed of conveyance we transcribe the following extracts:

"This Indenture was made on the 12th day of February, 1842, between Abraham Jacobs of the Township of Carroll, County of Perry and State of Pennsylvania, and Catharine his wife, on the one part, and Richard Adams, John Henderson, and Joseph Egolf, of the Township, &c,... aforesaid, Trustees of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and their successors in office, of the other part, Witnesseth that the aforesaid Abraham Jacobs and Catharine his wife,... for the purpose of erecting a church at the place called Sutch's School-house,... for the consideration of one dollar,... have granted, bargained, and sold... unto the said Trustees...a certain lot or piece of land, ... containing one acre and thirty two perches... The graveyard is reserved to be used as heretofore as a graveyard free to all those who may choose to inter the dead in said graveyard.  And further, said church may be used as a place of public worship by any denomination of Christians at any and all times when not occupied by said Evangelical Lutheran congregation, so that those who meet in said church do conduct themselves in a decent and Christian-like manner," &c. See Deed-Book, Letter I., pg. 591

During the winter and spring of '42 the Lord poured out his spirit copiously on the congregation, and many souls were awakened and professed conversion.  The Rev. Ulrich diligently instructed for some time these subjects of this gracious work, and on the 1st of May, 1842, the following fifteen persons were confirmed:

Jacob Adams                            Philip Shearer
Samuel Adams                         Benjamin Jones
William Adams                          Robert Jones
Levi Adams                               Elizabeth Shearer
David Adams                            Rebecca Jones
Michael G. Earhart                   Frances Hackendorn
George W. Briner                     Margaret Moore
John Shearer

and the following four persons were received as members by application, viz., John Souder, James McCrosky, Isabella McCrosky, and Leah Heckendorn.

The new church-edifice was erected this summer.  No corner-stone ws laid.  The building is frame, about thirty-five by forty feet in size.  In the Lutheran Observer of October 21, 1842, Rev. Dr. Kurtz gives the following notices of the dedication:  "A new church was dedicated to the service of God, in Perry County, Pa., on the 24th of September (1842), and received the name of Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mount Pisgah. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. B. Keller of Gettysburg (and Rev. Dr. B. Kurtz performed the services of consecration).  The church is frame, and though not grand is nevertheless quite a neat house of worship.  If we recollect right, this congregation was only organized at the close of the year '39.  It is in charge of Rev. Ulrich of Carlisle."

The congregation had now a house of worship, and under the efficient pastoral labors of Rev. Ulrich was in a prosperous condition; but to the sincere and great regret of all, he resigned at Carlisle, and here preached his farewell sermon on the 12th of November, 1842.  Soon after the resignation of Rev. Ulrich, the 

Rev. Jacob Kempfer

Carlisle took charge of the congregation, and served it about one year in connection with some congregations in Cumberland County.  On the 7th of May, 1843, Jacob Cornman and Elizabeth Cornman were confirmed, and the names of the following persons appear for the first time in the list of members, viz., Abram Trostle, Priscilla Trostle, Lewis Mickey, Elizabeth Souder, Mary Heckendorn, John Foulk and Mary Foulk.  On the 8th of October, 1843, Joseph Heckendorn and Mary Swarner were received as members by application.

Rev. Kempfer resigned some time in the fall of '43 and near the close of '43 or the beginning of '44, the 

Rev. Levi T. Williams

took charge of the congregation and served it in connection with Petersburg, where he resided.  The first communion he held here was on the 26th of May, 1844, when the following persons were confirmed:

William Heckendorn; Sarah Earhart; Susan Earhart.

On the 22d of December, 1844, having been carefully instructed, the following persons were confirmed:

Hamilton Mahaffey; Joseph Jones; Martha Mahaffey; Mary Rice,

and the names of George Shearer and Hetta Shearer appear now for the first time in the list of members.


During the early part of '45, a class of catechumens were instructed by the pastor in the doctrines of our holy religion, and on the 17th of May, 1845, the following were confirmed:

Philip Cornman; Jacob Shatto; Mary Shatto; Catharine Adams; Susan Adams; Mary A. McCord; Martha J. McClintock; Mary A. Heckendorn.

Having served the congregation nearly two years as pastor, Rev. Williams resigned in September, 1845, and was succeeded on the 1st of October following, by the 

Rev. Lloyd Knight

who served the congregation in connection with New Bloomfield where he resided.  At the first communion he held here, in the fall of '45, Rev. Knight found the congregation to consist of 55 communicants.

In March, 1857 (sic), it pleased the Lord to visit this congregation in an unusual effusion of the Holy Spirit.  Of this revival we have the following account from the pen of Rev. Knight in the Lutheran Observer of April 30, 1857 (sic):

"A protracted meeting was held the first week in March last, in one of our churches, built on Mount Pisgah, in Perry County, about twelve miles from Carlisle.  And the Lord be praised, there was more than one Moses, who took a view of Canaan from that consecrated Mount.  There was something peculiar about this work of grace.  It is sometimes said by the enemies of vital religion, that young persons and women are easily frightened by the presentation of the terrors of the law, and may be brought into any measures; but it was not so at this place.  True, there were some young females and one young man, who professed to have experienced a change of heart; but it was among the aged that the Holy Spirit seemed especially to be at work.  Almost every aged person in that vicinity now believes and feels himself to be a child of God.  You may now see some eight or ten persons assembled with others, for singing and prayer, whose united ages would amount to more than hundred years, who never before called on the name of the Lord with those views and feelings that are peculiar to the Christian.  Is not the very thought as well as the sight of such converts a great source of joy to the angels in heaven, and delightful and encouraging to all good men on earth!  There are some things connected with this meeting that will never be erased from my mind.  Whilst preaching on Thursday from the words, 'Quench no the Spirit,' a respectable aged gentleman arose about the middle of the church and came forward to the front pew without the least solicitation, literally bathed in tears.  This, together with the many other indications of God's awful presence, almost disqualified us for the agency which we bore.  We had no disorder, confusion or shouting.  The meeting was characterized with deep feeling and great solemnity.  We do not confine ourselves to one way of working, but make use of any way, by which more good than evil will be accomplished.  As one result of this meeting, twelve persons were added to our congregation; another is, that there is now a better state of things in the church---there is more interest taken in preaching, prayer-meetings, &c.  But the final result will be known only in eternity.  For this let us all prepare.  And in view of what the Lord has done for us all, may we say, 'Not unto us, but unto thy name, O Lord, be all the praise forever.' "

After the subjects of this revival had received instruction for some time, on the 11th of April, 1847, John A. Heckendorn and Charity Richter were received as members my application, and the following were confirmed and baptized:

William Stambaugh; Christian Docterman; Martha J. Adams; Agnes Cornman; Eve Cornman; Mary Cornman; Elizabeth Jacobs; Elizabeth J. Cornman (baptized); Mary Wolf (baptized).

Having preached for the congregation three years and a half, Rev. Knight resigned in June, 1849,and was succeeded on the 1st of July, the same year, by the

Rev. Jacob Martin,

who served the congregation in connection with New Bloomfield, the place of his residence.  When the Petersburg charge was regularly constituted in February, 1850, this congregation became an integral part of that charge. Rev. Martin continued however to preach here to the end of the pastoral year, which was on the 1st of July, 1850, when he resigned.  We cannot find that any were added to this congregation during the year Rev. Martin was pastor of it.  The Petersburg charge, as now constituted, was then vacant about four months.  In November, 1850, it was supplied by the

Rev. John P. Hiester,

who resided at Petersburg, and preached at Mount Pisgah once every three weeks.  Some time after he had commenced preaching here, he met and instructed a class of catechumens, and on the 23d of May, 1852, the following were confirmed:

Alexander Murphy; Mary Adams; Nancy Mickey; Susan Mickey; Elizabeth Lenhart.

Rev. Hiester served the congregation as pastor about three years, and resigned in November, 1853.  The charge was then vacant about six months.  A  call was then extended to the 

Rev. George A. Nixdorff,

who commenced his pastoral labors here in June, 1854.  On the 23d of May, 1857, the following were confirmed:

Daniel Jacobs; Elizabeth Jacobs; Susan Wolf; Julia Wolf; Margaret Adams; Catharine Losh.

Rev. Nixdorff served the charge about four years, and resigned it in May, 1858.  On the 22d of August, the same year, the present pastor, the

Rev. William H. Diven,

entered on his labors as pastor of the charge.  On the 30th of October, 1859, John A. Adams was confirmed and on the 11th of November, 1860, James McCord and Sarah McCord were received by application and Susan A. Bender was confirmed.

On the 17th of March, 1861, after having received instruction for some time, the following were confirmed:

David Sweger; William Souder; Henry Souder, Jr.; Frances McCord; Mary Hartman; Sarah A. Adams; Eleanor Adams (baptized).

On the 18th of October, 1861, Miss Nancy Yoh was admitted to membership by the rite of confirmation.

May the Lord revive this congregation!  The following is a list of the membership of the congregation at this time (June 1st, 1862)

Abram Jacobs                            Susan A. Bender
Catharine Jacobs                       Jacob Shatto
Elizabeth Jacobs                        John A. Adams
Joseph Heckendorn                   Jane Adams
Adam Heckendorn                      Mary Adams
Anna M. Heckendorn                  Sarah A. Adams
Susan Heckendorn                     Eleanor Adams
Henry Souder                              Mary Foulk
John Souder                                David Fair
Regina Souder                            Frances Fair
Elizabeth Souder                         David Sweger
John Finicle                                  Margaret Sweger
Susan Finicle                               Jacob Ensminger
George Smeigh                           Susan Ensminger
Catharine Smeigh                        Susan Wolf
William Souder                             Julian A. Wolf
Henry Souder                                Susan Wolf
James McCord                             Sarah Sluthower
Sarah McCord                               Elizabeth Shearer
Frances McCord                           Mary Hartman
Joseph Bender                              Rebecca Lenhart
Elizabeth Bender                           Nancy Yoh.

"Revive, O God, desponding saints,
Who languish, droop, and sigh:
Refresh the soul that tires and faints,
Fill mourning hearts with joy.

"Make known thy power, victorious King,
Subdue each stubborn will;
Then sov'reign grace we'll join to sing
On Zion's sacred hill."


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