1. Elder
Conrad Gillian Lint - served as pastor from 1855 to 1867. Served
as Bishop for 45 years, 1867 to 1912.
2. Elder William Howe - first paid minister of the
church. Served about three years, when he died while filling the pulpit.
3. Rev. Thurston Rodney Coffman pastor from 1917
to 1929.
4. Rev. George L. Detweiler - pastor 1930 to 1937.
5. Rev. DeWitt L. Miller - pastor 1938 to 1945.
6. Rev. S. Loren Bowman - pastor 1945 to 1948.
7. Rev. Ira Clifford Paul - pastor 1948 to 1954.
8. Rev. Earle W. Fike Jr. - pastor June 1, 1954
to 1957.
9. Rev. G. Arthur Hunn - pastor 1957 to Sept. 30,
1963.
10. Rev. Donald F. Hursh - came to Meyersdale church
in Oct. 1963 on a part-time basis while working on his degree at Pittsburgh
Theological Seminary. Later accepted full-time pastorate and served
until Sept. 1, 1967.
11. Rev. John W. Glick - pastor June 22, 1969,
to present.
BISHOP
CONRAD G. LINT
Recognized
as one of the most illustrious of all leaders in the long history of
the Brethren Church in the Meyersdale area is the late Bishop Conrad
G. Lint. A large stone marker marks the grave of the venerable Bishop
and his wife in the Union Cemetery in Meyersdale. Bishop Lint passed
away June 19, 1918.
Conrad G. Lint served the Meyersdale Church as a minister for twelve
years, 1855 to 1867, and as bishop for 45 years, 1867 to 1912. Following
Bishop Lint's retirement, William M. Howe was secured as an employed
full-time pastor, but he was to be permitted to serve only a few years,
however, he died while serving the pastorate.
Bishop Lint was born in Meyers Mill, now Meyersdale, in 1834, in a log
house which stood at the corner of Center and Large Streets. He was
the eldest son of the late Gillian and Elizabeth (Hochstetler) Lint,
who came to Meyersdale from Greenville Twp. about 1830.
Upon his attaining school age, the Bishop was sent to subscription schools,
there being no public schools in those days. Being naturally bright
and possessing a yearning for wisdom, under the able tutorship of such
eminent instructors as ExJudge William J. Baer, General W. H. Koontz,
George S. Knee, the Stutzmans, and others, he rapidly advanced along
lines of education, holding his own with the best of them.
In the year 1849 he entered the blacksmith shop of his father as an
apprentice and worked with hammer and tongs at the anvil until he was
21 years of age. He became very proficient in his trade.
On April 19, 1855, he was united in marriage to Catharine Elizabeth
Flickinger, eldest daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Flickinger. A large
celebration was held for the couple 50 years later at the parsonage
of the German Baptist Brethren Church on Keystone Street. The wedding
ceremony was performed in 1855 by the late Elder Samuel Berkley, who
at the time resided on the old Berkley homestead near Berkley's Mill.
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WILLIAM
M. HOWE
First paid
minister of the church who served about three years before dying in
the charge.
William M. Howe (May 3, 1867-May 2, 1917) was a son of Elder William
and Sarah (Mahler) Howe of Maitland, Mifflin County. He was the tenth
child in a family of six sons and six daughters. In the spring of 1883,
he went to Juniata College where he took his stand for Christ and became
baptized May 13. He graduated from Juniata College in 1886, and his
teaching career covered six years in Pennsylvania and four in Louisiana.
In the summer of 1893, he was elected to the ministry. He returned to
Juniata College for some Bible work, and later attended Dr. White's
Bible Training School in New York City, from which institution he was
graduated in 1907.
Brother Howe served as pastor of the Amwell and the Sand Brook churches
in New Jersey. Later he served the Norristown and Tyrone churches, and
from 1907 to 1914 the Johnstown congregations, where the greater part
of his ministry was confined to the Walnut Grove Church. He was serving
the Meyersdale church when he was called by death.
Brother Howe was married twice. He was first married to Edith Newcomer
in 1898, and two children were born to this union. In 1910 he married
Elizabeth Wertz, and two daughters were born to the second union. On
June 21, 1910, Brother Howe was ordained to the eldership in the Johnstown
congregation. William Howe did much enthusiastic work from the beginning
of his ministry. He was a trustee at Juanita College also at the time
of his death.
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THURSTON
RODNEY COFFMAN
The Rev.
T. R. Coffman was the second paid minister at the Meyersdale Church
of the Brethren, serving from August 1917 until October, 1929. It was
his wish that his friends referred to him as "T. R." as his
given name was both long and hard for people to remember.
He was born June 27, 1873, the son of Samuel and Susan Coffman of Washington
County, Md. After graduating from Wolf's Business College, he taught
for three years in the same institution. He was united in marriage to
Blanche E. Fahrney on Nov. 4, 1896. The following year both were baptized.
On Nov. 25, 1897, he was elected to the ministry in the Manor congregation,
Md. After his call to the ministry he took some Bible work to prepare
himself for better service. He was ordained as an elder on Dec. 10,
1911, in the Parkerford church, which he was serving as pastor at the
time. Previous to his nine years in the above-mentioned church, he served
the Tyrone church in the Middle District of Pa.
The Pittsburgh church called him on Feb. 2, 1913, and he served there
until August 1917, when he took up the pastoral work at the Meyersdale
Church of the Brethren. (He served the Somerset Church from October
1, 1929, until his retirement September 1, 1940.) While serving our
congregation, Pastor Coffman tendered his resignation in 1928 because
he planned to accept a charge in Windber. However, his resignation was
read before the church council, and upon taking a vote of the group,
it was practically a unanimous poll not to accept the resignation.
A committee conferred with Rev. Coffman, whereupon he withdrew his resignation
and decided to continue his conscientious service to our church. A year
later, however, he submitted his resignation once again and this time
was released from his devoted congregation.
The closing years of his life were spent in Pittsburgh, where he and
Mrs. Coffman made their home with their only daughter, Elizabeth, and
her husband, Orville Hittie. He passed away on April 15, 1944. Mrs.
Coffman followed him in death on July 7, 1951.
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GEORGE
L. DETWEILER
The
Rev. Dr. George L. Detweiler was known as one of the most prominent
ministers in the Church of the Brethren until his unexpected death January
17, 1974, at his home in Greencastle, Pa. Born and reared in Johnstown,
Dr. Detweiler was the son of Ezra H. and Emma (Harrison) Detweiler and
grandson of Christian F. Detweiler. He was born August 21, 1903.
He was baptized and ordained into Christian ministry in the Walnut Grove
Church of the Brethren at Johnstown. He served pastorates at the Northview
Church of the Brethren, Indianapolis, Ind.; the Waynesboro Church of
the Brethren in Pa., for 20 years; the Stone Church on the campus of
Juniata College; the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren, the Somerset
Church of the Brethren, as well as the Greencastle Church of the Brethren.
He began his ministry in Salisbury, Beachdale and Garrett churches in
southern Somerset County.
Dr. Detweiler served many years as a trustee of Juniata College and
chairman of the church relations committee of the board. He was a chairman
of the General Brotherhood Board of the denomination, former chairman
of the fraternal relations committee of the Church of the Brethren,
former member of the Brethren Service Committee, and former chairman
of the national music committee- of the Church of the Brethren.
He served frequently as a member of the standing committee of the Annual
Conference, as chairman of the Regional Board, as chairman of the District
Board of Administration, and as moderator of the District Conference
of the Church of the Brethren.
Mrs. Detweiler, the former Zola Meyers, was born and reared in Somerset
County and was baptized and licensed to the Christian ministry in the
Rockwood Church of the Brethren. They were united in marriage on June
19, 1930.
Dr. Detweiler was graduated from Juniata College in 1928, receiving
the degree of Bachelor of Music. He did graduate work in theology at
Western Theological Seminary and Auburn Theological Seminary. Elizabethtown
College conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
He was gifted with fine musical ability and a pleasing personality.
Because of this, he was well-fitted to serve as he did several times,
as musical director at our Annual Conference.
Just a short time before his death, Dr. Detweiler returned to Meyersdale
to participate in funeral services for a long-time friend and former
member of his Meyersdale congregation, Dr. Guy N. Hartman.
He was a member of the trustee board of Juniata College, at the time
of his death.
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DEWITT
L. MILLER
Rev.
DeWitt L. Miller was born October 12, 1908, a son of Dr. and Mrs. J.
D. Miller of Bridgewater, Va., and was graduated from Bridgewater College
in 1928 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He also graduated from Bethany
Biblical Seminary in 1930 and 1931 with a Master of Religious Education
and a Bachelor of Divinity degree. In 1947 he received an honorary Doctor
of Divinity degree. He has served in these pastorates: Huntington, Ind,
1931 to 1934;
Cleveland, Ohio, 1934 to 1938; Meyersdale Church of the Brethren, 1938
to 1945; McPherson, Kansas, 1945 to 1949; Washington, D.C., from 1949
to unknown date.
He has contributed much to the Gospel Messenger, has authored
several books, and, as an able orator, has been much in demand over
a wide area to speak to civic and religious groups.
On May 30, 1931, he married Mary Hartsough, daughter of Dr. H. L. Hartsough.
Born to this union was a son, David LeRoy.
Rev. DeWitt Miller presently is living in Hagerstown, Md.
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S. LOREN
BOWMAN
Rev.
S. Loren Bowman was born October 7, 1912, in Callaway, Virginia, a son
of Deacon and Mrs. C. D. Bowman, and a nephew of four Elder Bowmans.
He was licensed to the ministry in 1931, installed in 1933 at Pipe Creek,
Md., and ordained as an elder in 1942 in Virginia.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity degrees were received from
Bridgewater College and Bethany Biblical Seminary in 1934 and 1940 respectively,
and graduate work was done at the University of Pittsburgh in 1947.
He has served as pastor of the Melvin Hill and Mill Creek churches,
N. C.; West Marion, Indiana; Mount Vernon and White Hall, Virginia;
the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren; as well as Wenatchee, Washington.
He is presently living in Elgin, Ill., and involved in the District
office there.
He was married to Claire M. Andrew in 1935 and they are the parents
of two daughters, Barbara J. and Carol S.
Rev. Bowman has been a highly valued member of many boards, including
the Board of Christian Education in Western Pa., as well as of the Hymnal
Committee for "The Brethren Hymnal." The church membership
manual, "Choosing the Christian Way," was written by him in
1951.
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IRA CLIFFORD
PAUL
The
Rev. Ira Clifford Paul came to Meyersdale Church of the Brethren at
a time when things were well-organized and functioning in a splendid
way as the result of a number of years of planned pastoral shepherding.
During 1948 the church completely erased the debt that was hanging over
its head for many many years.
The Rev. I. C. Paul was born Feb. 9, 1898, in Milledgeville, Ill. He
was graduated from Mount Morris College with a Bachelor of Arts degree
in 1921, from Bethany Biblical Seminary with a Bachelor of Divinity
degree in 1934, from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science
degree in 1934, and also from the latter with a Master of Arts degree
in 1940. He taught in various high schools for eighteen years.
He held pastorates in the Pleasant View Church, Ohio, from 1929 to 1937,
and in the Virden and Lanark Churches, Ill., from 1942 to 1943 and from
1946 to 1948 respectively. He served the Windber church from 1944 to
1946 and the Meyersdale congregation from 1948 to 1954.
After leaving the Meyersdale Church, he served as superintendent of
the Church of the Brethren Home at Scalp Level. In 1960 he returned
as pastor to the Windber church where his second pastorate lasted until
1964 when he retired and moved to Illinois because of ill health. Rev.
Paul died October 23, 1965, at age 67 in Mount Morris, Ill., and was
buried there in the Oakwood Cemetery.
He married Marjie Ruth Fouts on June 8, 1922, to which union three children
were born: Mary Wilberta, Rowena Jean, and Preston.
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EARLE
W. FIKE, JR.
The
Rev. Earle W. Fike, Jr. was born Jan. 28, 1930, in Harrisonburg, Va.,
son of Earle W. and Hannah (Myers) Fike and after the death of his mother,
when he was eight, Rev. Fike was reared in the home of an uncle and
aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Miller. He was married in 1949 to the former
Jean F. Kiser of Dayton, Va., and three children were born to their
marriage: Mrs. Dwynn Jeannette Nelson, Joseph Earle, and Jon Paul.
Rev. Fike was ordained to the ministry in the Northern District of Virginia
in 1952 and was ordained to the eldership of the Western District of
Pa. in 1955. He is presently serving as Associate General S3cretary
of the General Board of the Church of the Brethren (Executive of Parish
Ministries Commission) since 1969 and is presently residing in Elgin,
Ill.
He received his B.A. degree in 1951 from Bridgewater College where he
graduated cum laude. In 1954 he received his B.D. Degree from Bethany
Theological Seminary. In 1964 he graduated cum laude with a Th. M. degree
from Bethany Theological Seminary, and did post graduate studies at
Garrett Theological Seminary and Northwestern University. In 1972 he
received his L.H.D. degree from Bridgewater College.
The Meyersdale Church was his first charge, and he left here in 1957
to serve as pastor of the Chicago First Church of the Brethren, which
he served until 1963. From 1963 until 1964 he was a student and part-time
chaplain and Director of Development at Bethany Hospital. From 1964-69
he was Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Director of Field Ministries
at Bethany Theological Seminary until he accepted his present position.
Rev. Fike has contributed writings to Brethren affiliated periodicals
such as Messenger, Pulpit, Brethren life and Thought, leader, and Horizons
and presented his Th. M. Thesis at Bethany Seminary on "Psychological
Factors Related to Effective Preaching."
In 1964 he was chairman of the Committee for Book of Worship of the
Church of the Brethren.
He is a member of the hospital board, Bethany Brethren Hospital, and
is the building committee chairman for the new hospital at Downers Grove,
Ill. He has served numerous times on the General Brotherhood Board of
the Church of the Brethren and is a past moderator of the District of
Northern Illinois and Wisconsin.
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G. ARTHUR
HUNN
Rev.
G. Arthur Hunn was born April 22, 1932, in North Manchester, Indiana
and graduated from Jefferson High School in Dayton, Ohio, in 1950.
At the age of 19 (March 4, 1952) he was licensed to the ministry; and
at age of 22 (Dec. 19, 1954) he was ordained into the ministry. He graduated
in 1954 from Manchester College with a B.A. degree in speech and dramatics.
In 1957 he graduated with a B.D. degree from Bethany Theological Seminary.
His first pastorate was at the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren, where
he served until 1963 when he accepted the pastorate at the Boulder Hill
Church of the Brethren, Aurora, Ill. After serving that congregation
for one year, he spent approximately a year at Bethany Theological Seminary,
completing graduate work on his Master's Degree.
Since 1965 he has been serving as pastor of the Polo Church of the Brethren
in Polo, Ill.
He was married Dec. 19, 1953, to the former Phyllis J. Heeter; and the
couple are parents of three children: Becky, born 2-25-1955; Jeff, born
3-10-1956; and Julie, born 4-13-1959.
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DONALD
F. HURSH
The
Rev. Donald F. Hursh, pastor of the Meyersdale congregation, resigned
effective September 1, 1967, to accept a position as director of Mental
Health Consultation and Education Services for Cambria County, Pa.,
with his office in Johnstown.
Rev. Hursh is a native of Manchester, Pa., and is a graduate of Elizabethtown
College and of Bethany Theological Seminary of the Church of the Brethren
in Chicago. He was ordained in 1948 and (prior to serving Meyersdale
Church of the Brethren) had served pastorates in Shippensburg, Fort
Wayne, Ind., and Roxbury Church of the Brethren in Johnstown.
He came to the Meyersdale Church October 2, 1963, on a part-time basis
until summer while he was attending Pittsburgh Theological Seminary,
where he later received his Th. M degree in advanced pastoral studies.
Rev. Hursh is married to the former Elberta Fox of Mt. Pleasant, and
three children were born to this union: Leann, Loren, and Joy.
Rev. Hursh is presently with the Intermediate Unit Child Guidance Center
of Cambria Co., Pa.
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JOHN
W. GLICK
The
Rev. John William Glick, present pastor of the Meyersdale Church of
the Brethren, was born Feb. 9, 1939, in the Bridgewater, Va., area,
the son of Jesse L. and Grace W. Glick. He is married to the former
Charlotte Chamberlain of Debary, Florida, who assists her husband in
many phases of church work, especially the musical parts of the services
as well as overseeing the church library.
Rev. Glick graduated in 1955 from North River High School in Mt. Salem,
Va., and after being out of school for five years enrolled at Bridgewater
College where he received his B.S. Degree in Sociology. He graduated
from the seminary at Bethany Seminary in Oak Brook, Ill.
Before attending college, John served in Brethren Volunteer Service
in Morocco, N. Africa, from December 1958 until December 1960. Prior
to Brethren service he assisted his father on his Bridgewater, Va.,
farm as well as working for an excavation firm. After he returned from
Morocco, he found himself hard at work, physically, with a construction
firm.
He was licensed by the Summit Church of the Brethren, Bridgewater, Va.,
in 1961 and ordained by the same church July 18, 1965. In 1963 he served
as a summer pastor at the Spartanburg, S. C. Fellowship, and, while
attending college, was a part-time pastor at the Madison, Va. Church
of the Brethren as well as the Pleasant Hill Church of the Brethren
in Grottoes, Va., where he served as a full-time pastor from 1965 to
1966. In 1967 he served as a summer pastor at the Everett, Pa., Church
of the Brethren. He came to Meyersdale as full-time pastor on June 22,
1969.
Our
Brethren Origin
Migration and Early Settlements
Dates and Anniversaries
Cornerstone Ceremony and Dedication Program
The Parsonage
Ministers to 1974
Organization 1974
Personalities
Pictures
Acknowledgments
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Meyersdale, PA
