BIO: JOHN R. FOGELSANGER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 551-553 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ JOHN R. FOGELSANGER, who is equally well known as a successful farmer and minister of the Dunkard Church, in Hopewell township, Cumberland Co., Pa., belongs to one of the old pioneer families of the county and is a man esteemed and respected wherever known. He was born Aug. 10, 1833, in the vicinity of Mainsville, Franklin county, a son of David and Lydia (Deihl) Fogelsanger. David Fogelsanger, the father, was born in Cumberland county Aug. 20, 1796, and was a son of David Fogelsanger, who was a pioneer in the county. The Fogelsangers emigrated from Switzerland long prior to the American Revolution; and some of them served in the Patriot army under Gen. Washington himself. David Fogelsanger, grandfather of John R., married Gertrude Minnich, of Lancaster county, Pa., and died in 1834, aged seventy-three years. On the maternal side, our subject's grandfather was George Deihl, who moved from Lancaster county to Cumberland and located at Middle Spring, where he died, Feb. 22, 1826. David Fogelsanger, father of John R., married Lydia Deihl Nov. 24, 1825, and they settled near Shippensburg, later removing to Mainsville, where the father died, March 20, 1849. Mrs. Fogelsanger was born May 8, 1800, and died in March, 1878, 552 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. on the old Fogelsanger homestead in Franklin county. She was the mother of six children, namely: Elizabeth died in 1851; Catherine is deceased; Lydia Ann became the wife of Joseph Railing; John R. is mentioned below; Rev. David M., a preacher of the German Baptist Church, died June 18, 1891; Mary A. died in infancy. John R. Fogelsanger is one of the two survivors of his parents' family. He was reared a farmer boy and attended the district school at the old Union schoolhouse, in Franklin county, until he was eighteen years old. Then he was sent to a private school conducted by Cornelius V. Kelley, a noted teacher of that day. When he had made satisfactory advance in his books he returned to the farm and assisted his mother until his marriage, which took place Jan. 18, 1856, to Elvilah Reigle, daughter of Jacob Reigle, the latter born May 17, 1801, near Gettysburg, Adams county; he died May 26, 1885. The mother of Mrs. Fogelsanger was Susan Ickes, who was born Feb. 12, 1802, and died Aug. 25, 1870. They were married in December, 1827. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. John R. Fogelsanger settled on the old Fogelsanger homestead in Franklin county, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. In March, 1874, he moved to the farm in Hopewell township formerly owned by Jacob Fogelsanger, which he purchased. This farm contains 227 acres, with good buildings, large brick house and bank barn, all other buildings being also of a substantial character. In April, 1899, the dwelling burned down, but it was immediately replaced by one of modern construction, designed to afford comfort and convenience of every kind. Mr. and Mrs. Fogelsanger had nine children, eight of whom lived to maturity: Jacob C. is a farmer; Catherine G. died in 1859; Emma married W. J. Main, of Shippensburg; George A. is a farmer; Charles E. is farming the home place: David R. is a clerk in the Geiser Manufacturing Works at Waynesboro; Clarence J. is at home; Lydia A. is the wife of N. E. Mowery; Mary E. is the wife of John Pilgrim. Mrs. Fogelsanger died April 1, 1902. Since June 5, 1867, Mr. Fogelsanger has been a minister of the German Baptist or Dunkard Church, and as a spiritual teacher and leader has traveled over a great part of Cumberland and Franklin counties. He misses the comfort and Christian support of his faithful wife, who was not only bound to him in love and adoration, but also in Christian fellowship. The following history of the Ridge Church, "While and since it belonged to the Antietam District," was kindly contributed by Mr. Fogelsanger. "In the year 1750 the then known Conococheague Church was organized in Franklin county near Greencastle, by Elder Abraham Stouffer and George Adam Martin. Prior to this organization the people were supplied with preaching by ministers traveling back and forth between Germantown and Virginia. Elder Stouffer did not remain there more than twelve years when he again emigrated Eastward to a place called Bermudian. Conococheague and Antietam are two prominent streams flowing southward in Franklin county and emptying into the Potomac river in Washington county, Md. Quite a number of families from various places settled along the Antietam. Some were members of the church, others joined after they arrived, and in a few years it was changed from the Conococheague to the Antietam, by which name it is still known. George Adam Martin and William Stover were the only resident ministers for the first fifty years as far as known. CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 553 This is one of the oldest German Baptist or Dunker Churches in America. Later the Wetch Run and still later the Back Creek Churches were organized into separate bodies, leaving the Antietam still with a large territory. The first meeting-house was built in the year 1795, called the Antietam or Price's Meeting-house. In this, since 1800, the ministers have been Daniel Stover, John Royer, Jacob Holsinger, Henry Strickler, Jacob Fahrney, Israel Senger, Daniel Keefer, David Fogelsanger and William Boyer. In the year 1842 the Ridge District was organized into a separate body and since that time the officers have been David Fogelsanger, minister; then William Etter and Joseph Gipe were chosen to the ministry. On March 20, 1849, David Fogelsanger died, after serving the church fourteen years. Later William Etter and Joseph Gipe were advanced and in a few years William Etter was ordained to the full ministry. In about 1852, Daniel Eckerman was elected to the ministry. In the year 1853 the Ridge Meeting-house was built by Jacob Fogelsanger, Rudolph Gunkle and Adam Shullenberger being deacons at this time. In a short time Daniel Eckerman was ordained to the eldership, June 7, 1858; John Newcomer and Adam Shoemaker were chosen deacons. On Oct. 16, 1862, John Newcomer was elected to the ministry, and John Grove and John Reuben Fogelsanger to the office of deacon. On June 5, 1867, John R. and David Minich Fogelsanger were elected to the ministry and Abram Hoch and Henry Cocklin to the deacon's office. In May, 1869, Jacob H. Fogelsanger was elected deacon. This year the Salem or Etter Meeting-house was built and dedicated Nov. 21. On May 24, 1871, John Monn was elected deacon, and Oct. 16, 1872, he was elected to the ministry. Henry G. Etter was chosen deacon and John R. and David M. Fogelsanger advanced. On Aug. 10th, Elder William Etter died. On April 1, 1875, John Monn died, and on May 18th, Henry Gelsinger was elected speaker, David B. Wineman and Daniel H. Miller were elected deacons. On May 27, 1879, D. B. Wineman was elected to the ministry and William G. Etter deacon. About 1881 or '82 Wendal Minich Fogelsanger and Harry S. Neff were elected to the deacon's office; April 15, Adam Shullenberger and H. S. Neff died; on June 1st, J. H. Fogelsanger died, and on the 18th David Minich Fogelsanger died; on Nov. 8, David W. Allison was elected to the ministry, J. R. Fogelsanger was ordained to the eldership, and H. G. Etter made assistant elder. The elders present were Jacob F. Oller and Jacob Hollinger. On June 2, 1892, Casper F. Hosfeld and John D. Garns were elected to the ministry and Calvin Baker and William H. Fogelsanger to the deacon's office. On Sept. 3d, Daniel C. Burkholder (deacon) and wife were received on certificate from Back Creek. On March 21, 1893, Daniel Eckerman died; on Oct. 27th Abram Hoch died. On June 7, 1895, C. F. Hosfeld and J. D. Garns were advanced. In 1897 Abram K. Hollinger (minister) and wife were received on certificate from Upper Cumberland. On Feb. 27, 1902, Elder H. G. Etter died. On April 1st Elvilah, wife of Elder J. R. Fogelsanger, died. In March, 1904, David Hostetter (deacon) and wife were received on certificate. On May 28th, J. D. Garns was installed assistant elder."