History of the Meyersdale
Church of the Brethren to 1974

Personalities

Ida C. Shumaker
Harvey E. Arnold
David K. Clapper
Mary Gauntz Cumming
William B. Gauntz
Guy N. Hartman
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel W. Long
John D. Long
Carrie Peck

IDA C. SHUMAKER
By Fay Ohler
Ida C. Shumaker was born on October 27, 1873, the daughter of Alexander E. and Lydia (Lint) Shumaker. She was a niece of Bishop Conrad G. Lint, one of the earliest workers in our church. Ida was baptized in 1887 and started teaching the beginners' Sunday School class at the age of nine.
There was much rejoicing and happiness in the church on the occasions when Ida would return to visit with her home church people. She encouraged the work of missionaries on her visits home wherever she was invited. In the 1940's a marble tablet on the wall of the Meyersdale sanctuary was unveiled in her honor during her visit to the church. Her picture was among the mementoes which were placed in the church's cornerstone.
Our church library has a collection of Ida's personal belongings.
Miss Ida loved the Lord and all His children, and she began early in life to serve them both. When she graduated from high school, at the age of sixteen, she had already been teaching a primary Sunday school class for five years. Perhaps it was this experience which made her a teacher who won the hearts of her students and words of praise from her superiors. When Jacob Riis, the noted New York lecturer, met her and saw her work, he was impressed to say, "Now I have seen two people who know how to handle children."
Her devotion to children is exemplified by the memories of a man who was once in her Sunday School class. He lived two miles out of town and had not been able to attend the Christmas service. It had been a particularly muddy holiday season, so it was with some surprise that his family found Miss Ida Shumaker at their door that afternoon. She had walked from town to deliver a Christmas treat. It stays in his mind, still, because it had been a lean winter for the family, and had it not been for her thoughtfulness there would have been no candy for any of them that year.
There are other stories and memories of her early years, I am sure, for she was a "Home Department Visitor" for her church. Her territory covered ten miles, and she was always ready to help in times of trouble, sickness, or death. Her life was full and rewarding. She must have felt its pattern was just the way she liked it. Then God called her to India! It is understandable that she spent two years making sure the calling was true before writing to the Mission Board saying she was ready to serve where God had chosen. On October 26, 1910, the day before her thirty-seventh birthday, she sailed from New York on the Campania in company with the Jesse Emmert family. They changed ships in Liverpool, England, and reached Bombay November 28. The next day she reached Bulsar, her first home in a foreign land. She was met at the railway station by missionaries and Indian Christians bearing gifts of flowers. As she walked to the mission house, she was surrounded by lines of schoolboys carrying torches and singing songs of welcome. For one who loved children, it was a welcome beyond compare.
She must have thought back on that night many times in the days ahead, for she had entered India at a violent time. The Indian National Government, which had been established in 1885 for economic reform and gaining a greater voice in Britain's India policy, was becoming more militant. There was an uneasiness in the land, and talk of revolution. There was also hunger, disease, and a firm belief in the caste system which made it a matter of shame to be poor.
Despite this, Miss Ida's letters bubbled over with joy and enthusiasm as she told of visits to fishing villages at Bhat, Kakvadi, and Onjal, of her success with learning the Gujarati language in three months less than anyone expected, and mostly of watching the girls' school grow under her prayerful guidance.
The churches of Western Pennsylvania had not forgotten her, and many letters were written to thank them for their kindness and generosity. The money they sent was always appreciated and immediately spent on someone other than herself.
In 1917 she returned to America. It was to be a vacation, but she spent it touring the country, stirring the imaginations and the consciences of its people with her story of India.
When she returned to India on the last day of 1918, she was stationed in Jalapor and appointed children's missionary with her headquarters at Bulsar. Traveling by oxcart or the small two-wheeled damani, she crossed the land teaching the wonderful story of Jesus in private homes and under trees. It was through these meetings, where class distinction had to be forgotten in order to hear her message, that she saw the caste system begin to crumble in her area. Perhaps this was one of the reasons the Hindu people began to plot against the Christian movement. It was ten years before it reached a climax.
On May 7, 1928, the Dhodia caste called three Hindu swamis to come and speak against the missionaries. A mob gathered to hear their words. Everyone expected a riot. Many had come prepared to tear down the mission buildings and scatter the believers. Miss Ida shut herself in her room and prayed. Just as Balaam came to curse Israel and instead blessed it, the swamis stood before the crowd and praised the work of the Christian missions. God had delivered His people, and Miss Ida sang out His praise.
The years that followed were filled with hard work and great victories. Her energy seemed boundless as she filled even her furloughs with work for India. It was only to be expected that her health suffered. Although she sometimes had to spend time in the hospital, she never thought of giving up.
In 1940 it was decided she had done enough for the mission field, and she should return to Meyersdale to live out her
life with her family and friends. October 19, she left India expecting never to see it again. Meyersdale beckoned to her with its memories of her parents, Alexander and Lydia, her brothers and sisters, Anna, William, Margaret, Emeline, and Frank.
She soon realized memories were not enough to sustain her. She missed India and her work there. Her friends, seeing her sorrow, began praying she could return.
Four years later, in the midst of World War II, she sailed by way of Lisbon and South Africa to arrive at Bulsar just in time for their golden jubilee, commemorating fifty years of the Church of the Brethren in India. Despite her age, she joined in the procession which walked four miles around the town.
She spent the next two years at Khergam, living in back of the church, which in itself stood as a monument to her faith. They were hard years for her due to the lack of food and provisions caused by the war. She did not complain.
If her body had been as indomitable as her spirit, she would be alive today. But on Saturday morning, February 16, 1946, after several weeks of illness, she died at Bulsar while under the care of Dr. Laura Cottrell and Nurse Verna Blickenstaff.
As a final sign of their devotion, the Christian carpenters built her coffin and covered it with white linen. The people decked it with flowers.
A swift burial was imperative due to India's heat. The news of her death was sent out, and friends rushed to Bulsar. It was there, at 4 a.m. in the bright moonlight of a Sabbath morning, that the people said their last goodbye to one they loved so dearly.
As the tributes were spoken both in Gujarati and in English, the mourners must have remembered the other times she had left them, always to return within a few years still filled with an abundance of love for God's children. This time they knew she would not return. She had gone to the only place she loved more than India.
Just as the life of a woman cannot be summed up in a few pages, so the work of a lifetime cannot be terminated by death. It lives on, and as long as Christianity grows in India, Ida Shumaker will not die.

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HARVEY E. ARNOLD
Harvey E. Arnold was born November 5, 1889, near Eglon, West Virginia. After preparing to teach school, he taught four terms, having among his pupils Dr. D. W. Bittinger, former Africa missionary, former editor of the Gospel Messenger, and former president of McPherson College. In 1911 he married Malinda Vought, who was his faithful companion until her death in 1961. In 1918 Mr. Arnold was called to the ministry and ordained to the eldership in 1928.
In 1932 the family moved to Meyersdale, Pa., where he served as associate elder of the congregation, chairman of the official board, member of the church workers' planning board and of the church improvement and repair committee and assistant teacher for two adult classes. For over 20 years he sang with the Meyersdale Men's chorus. Always he loved the church and served in every way possible-in Sunday school, music department, youth activities, and the ministry. According to some, he was called a pastor's right hand.
The Pennsylvania State Sabbath School Association honored Mr. Arnold in 1962 with an award for his activity in Christian work and education for more than 50 years. During that time he served as Sunday school superintendent or associate superintendent and for six years he was president of one of Somerset County's Sunday School Group districts.
In 1963 the Meyersdale congregation honored him for services given in a quiet, humble manner and for his church ideals that carried over into his personal life. He became active in Senior Citizen activities and the American Association of Retired Persons after he moved to Elizabethtown in 1964.
He died in January, 1973 and is survived by five daughters. Mr. Arnold was a churchman; he was versatile, serving the church through its diverse ministries, and he was a living testimony of scriptural stewardship. The ever-present support of a great companion enriched his services to the church, through whose roots their faith grew and became a priceless heritage.

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DAVID K. CLAPPER
David K. Clapper lived from November 8, 1864 to January 16, 1927. He was born and reared in Bedford County, his parents being Samuel and Nancy (Kagarise) Clapper. He became a Christian on February 16, 1881, at New Enterprise, and was married to Rachel Hoover on January 25, 1885.
Mr. Clapper was a farmer for several years, after which he became employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. During his time at home and in his caboose he carried his books with him, educating himself in many things, including the Bible. The Hyndman church called him into the ministry on September 25, 1890; and the Meyersdale church ordained him as an elder on May 15, 1915. In 1907 he decided to devote all his time to the Lord.
Many evangelistic meetings were preached by him, and he served as pastor of the Meyersdale church for a year and a half and was elder of several churches. He was the treasurer in our district, of the committee on selection and support of missionaries on the foreign field in the first years of its existence.

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MARY GAUNTZ CUMMING
Mrs. Mary (Gauntz) Cumming was born April 2, 1908, the daughter of William and Clara (Bittinger) Gauntz of Meyersdale.
Mary grew up in Meyersdale and was graduated from Juniata College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1929. She also studied at Millersville State Teachers College and Gettysburg College.
Meyersdale Church of the Brethren licensed her to the ministry. .Mary taught high school for several years and served in various offices in the local church and district, after which she volunteered for service on the foreign mission field. In September, 1936 she sailed for China.
While in China she met and married W. T. Cumming, M.D., a Scottish Presbyterian missionary. Since then she has been serving in her husband's church. They have two sons and two daughters, all of which are grown.
In 1974 Mary and her husband are living in Calgary, Alta, Canada. They visited the Meyersdale area in late 1973 when Mary's sister, Miss Prema Gauntz, a wellknown member of our congregation, passed away.

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WILLIAM B. GAUNTZ
William Bittinger Gauntz was born in Meyersdale May 19, 1916, the son of William and Clara (Bittinger) Gauntz. He grew up in the Meyersdale area and was active in camp work, the district, and the young people's work. He attended Juniata College for two years, in addition to several following sessions. He also attended Penn State and taught in the public schools.
Bill was ordained into the ministry in 1939. This same year he married Evelyn M. Niner of the Springs area of Somerset County.
In 1942 they moved to Chicago, Ill., where he attended Bethany Biblical Seminary, Roosevelt College, and Northwestern University. While in Chicago he worked at the Central YMCA.
Rev. Gauntz gained some pastoral experience in Iowa and Indiana. In 1946 he spent the summer in Europe taking pictures of the relief program for the church. In September of 1948 the Gauntzes took the pastorate of the Mount Pleasant church. In later years he was the pastor of the Center Hill Church of the Brethren in Kittanning. Born to his marriage were two children, John and Kathy.
On April 12, 1968, when the pastor and his wife were returning to their home near Kittanning after being in the Meyersdale area for funeral services for his mother, they met with a car accident in which Mrs. Gauntz lost her life. Rev. Gauntz was critically injured and spent a long period in the hospital. In later years ill health plagued Rev. Gauntz, and he had to retire from the ministry. In April 1974, he was a resident at the Church of the Brethren Home in Scalp Level, as was his aged father.

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GUY N. HARTMAN
By Mrs. Donald (Janie) Frish
Guy Nelson Hartman, of Garrett RD 1, was born in Waynesboro, Pa., August 30, 1890, the son of John H. and Anna Mary (Brindle) Hartman.
"Poppy" was known throughout the county, principally as an educator. He served as superintendent of Somerset County schools from 1934 to 1946. From 1949 to 1954 he was supervising principal of the former Jenner-Boswell-Jennerstown school district.
He began his teaching career as an English instructor in Meyersdale High School in 1921 and became the principal of Garrett schools in 1924. He taught mathematics at Berlin High School in 1929 and in 1931 was named assistant superintendent of county schools. He was named superintendent in 1934.
"Poppy" and "Mockey" both graduated from Bridgewater College, where "Poppy" studied philosophy and religion, in which he has his doctorate. He has been a licensed minister for 50 years, occasionally exercising his ministry for our Lord Jesus Christ. His church work included being a Sunday School teacher for a long time. He gave his last real summary of his ministering in the spring of 1973 in our church and was given the plaque with the twelve disciples.
(Editor's note:) Janie did not have access to all the statistics. We wish to add the following:
Guy N. Hartman was baptized in the millrace at the Brown's Mill church in 1900. He was called to the ministry at the Hade meeting house in 1910, and a year later he was advanced to the second degree. For a number of years he served with the other ministers of the congregation. He was later ordained as an elder.
He attended Blue Ridge College Preparatory School and Blue Ridge College and was graduated from Bridgewater College in February, 1919 and from Crozer Theological Seminary in June, 1921. At the same time he received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
He did graduate work at Temple University, the University of Cincinnati, West Virginia University, and the University of Pittsburgh. A Doctor of Humane Laws was given to him by Bridgewater College in 1936. During the years Dr. Hartman not only served as supply minister in the Church of the Brethren, but in any and all churches as conditions and time permitted. He was active in Sunday school work, both denominational and interdenominational.
From 1921 he became associated with the Somerset County schools as teacher, supervising principal, and county superintendent. The Meyersdale Church of the Brethren received his most regular help. He was a Sunday school teacher and served through the years on many and
various committees. The church felt a great loss when an automobile accident claimed his life on November 5, 1973. He will be remembered to many as a devoted worker and friend.

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MR. AND MRS. DANIEL W. LONG
Two of the older members of the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren are longtime elder Daniel W. Long and his wife of more than 60 years, Suie Gnagey Long, both of whom are regular worshippers at the Sunday morning services.
Daniel W. Long was born in the Berlin area 86 years ago, the son of Levi and Lizzie (Plat) Long. He graduated in 1905 from the public schools and got his teacher's certificate in the Berlin Normal School. As a young man, Daniel W. Long worked ten years as a clerk in the company store of the Enterprise Supply Co. of Garrett.
He was elected to the ministry in 1907 in Garrett and was ordained in Meyersdale by the Rev. William Howe, the first paid minister in the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren about 1910. Afterwards he attended the Juniata College Bible School.
He was married 60 years ago, in 1913, to Suie Elizabeth Gnagey, daughter of John D. and Susan (Meyers) Gnagey, longtime members of the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren. She taught in the Meyersdale Elementary School at the time of her marriage. Together they farmed on the John D. Gnagey farm, her home farm, and Rev. Long preached in the neighboring churches whenever needed.
On this farm they raised their five children: the Rev. John Daniel Long, pastor of the Lancaster Church of the Brethren; William Jay and Mary Susan Hoar; both members of the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren; Paul L. Long of Bedford, RD 3; and Mrs. Ruth Virginia Walter of Verona, Pa. They have 12 grandchildren.
Daniel W. Long was licensed to the ministry about the age of 19 years and preached at the Beachdale, Hostetler, Cross Roads, and Garrett Churches of the Brethren in southern Somerset County as well as the Meyersdale Church whenever needed.
He served for 32 years as school director on the Summit Township and Meyersdale school districts. He served as president of the board approximately 12 of these years.
For many years Daniel Long was a teacher in the Adult Bible Class at the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren.

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JOHN D. LONG
One of the sons of the congregation of Meyersdale Church of the Brethren who has devoted his lifetime to the ministry is the Rev. John D. Long, presently serving his 19th. year as minister of the Lancaster Church of the Brethren. Just recently he published a book, Pastor and People, in which he included 25 of his favorite sermons preached in the Lancaster Church. He is the oldest of the five children of Daniel and Suie (Gnagey) Long, long-time members and leaders of the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren. John was born August 14, 1914. He graduated from Juanita College with an A.B. Degree; Bethany Theological Seminary with a B.D. Degree; Yale Divinity School with the S.T.M. Degree.
In 1943 he was married to Inez Goughnour, who, prior to her marriage, was editor of youth publications at the Brethren Publishing House, Elgin, Illinois. She is a graduate of Manchester College, North Manchester, Indiana, and has been a teacher and writer. They have two children, David, of Lebanon, Pa.; and Mary Kathryn, wife of Daniel Missildine of Harrisonburg, Va.
Rev. Long was licensed to preach by his home church, the Meyersdale Church of the Brethren, in 1932, and was ordained into the eldership by the same church in 1941. From June, 1936 to August, 1938, he served a circuit of churches in southern Somerset County - the Salisbury, Maple Glen, Beachdale, and Garrett Churches ending his pastorate of these churches in order to attend Bethany Theological Seminary in Chicago. For two years, while at the Seminary, he was student pastor at the Liberty Mills church in middle Indiana.
Completing his seminary training, he was called to the University Park Church, near Washington, D.C., serving there from September, 1941, to August, 1944. In 1944 and 1945 he did graduate work at Yale Divinity School, New Haven, Conn., and received the S.T.M. degree. He served as pastor of the Mack Memorial Church, in Dayton, Ohio from 1945 to 1955. Since 1955 he has been pastor of the Lancaster Church of the Brethren. In 1946 he received the honorary D.D. degree from Elizabethtown College.
Service to District boards and committees has included the moderatorship of Southern Ohio, Standing Committee delegate to Annual Conference, member of the General Brotherhood Board and Brethren Service Commission.
Both in Dayton and in Lancaster he was engaged in extensive building programs and in strengthening the concept of the importance of the local church.

CARRIE PECK
Carrie Peck was born in Summit Mills on April 8, 1882. She was baptized in Elk Lick Creek by Herman Stahl, and maintained her membership at the Summit Mills Church of the Brethren until the family moved closer to Meyersdale, at which time she transferred her membership to this church.
Carrie remembers many events of the church's history that most of us can only read about. In 1894, when the annual convention was held in Meyersdale, she helped in the kitchen several days until the regular help arrived. She remembers when Ida Shumaker left for India the first time; also the sermons which were spoken in German by Joel Gnagey, then translated into English by her father.
At the age of 92, with the longest standing membership on our record, Carrie is still very active. She looks forward to the Wednesday quilting with the Ladies Aid. Piecing quilt tops and other needlework is a hobby when she is home. Most of this work is done as gifts for her relatives and friends.
In her own quiet way, Carrie Peck has been a faithful member, working for her church and spreading joy to those who know her.

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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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This page last updated October 26, 2007.