Church: History: St. Paul's (Schaefferstown), Schaefferstown Charge: Lebanon Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linnea T Miller ltmiller@geocities.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ____________________________________________________________ Centennial History of Lebanon Classes of the Reformed Church in the U.S., 1820 - 1920, Compiled by Prof. Thos. S. Stein, Lebanon PA: Sowers Printing Company. Excerpts from Chapter VI: "Sketches of Congregations" St. Paul's (Schaefferstown), Schaefferstown Charge. Rev. A.J. Bachman, Pastor. The first patents were granted by the PENNs to John MILEY, Jan. 17, 1736, for 347 acres. This tract conveyed to Durst THOMAS, March 19, 1736. He left his estate to his children, Nov. 29, 1754. Afterwards Philip MEISER came in possession of the tract which is the location of the town. Philip MEISER sold his tract to Martin THOMAS the same day, and Martin THOMAS sol, June 20, 1758, this tract to Alexander SCHAEFFER, who laid out the town, and was affiliated with the first church built at this place. The church was erected before the year 1758. The school house was erected before the church. It is said of Rev. RIEGER that he preached in SHAEFER's Church (History of the Church Fathers). Both the school house and the church were built of logs and stood until 1765. Both Reformed and Lutheran people worshiped here. In 1766 repairs were to be made, when the Lutherans withdrew, selling their interest for 80A3 sterling to the Reformed in four installments. In 1795 a new stone church was erected. The corner-stone of this building was laid June 11, 1795. Rev. Ludwig LUPP was pastor then, Revs. D. WAGNER and Wm. HENDEL assisting the pastor on this occasion. Elders: Peter WOLFENSPERGER, Nicholas MASE and Henry BORKEY; Deacons: George WOLFENSPERGER, Frederick MILLER; Building Committee: Henry SCHAEFFER, Nicholas MASE, Valentine MILLER, Geo. WOLFENSPERFER, George MASE and Jacob MILLER. Because of a sink hole the wall gave way. It became necessary to remodel or rebuild. So a third edifice was erected in the spring of 1858 and the corner stone laid July 31, 1858. Rev. Thomas A. LEINBACH was the pastor, assisted on this occasion by Rev. Daniel HERTZ, Ephrata, Lancaster county, Rev. F.W. KREMER, Lebanon, Pa., Rev. J.E. HIESTER, Annville, Pa. Elders: Geo. F. MILLER, Jno. STAGER, Henry YINGST and Michael GROH; Deacons: Henry KURTZ, Franklin KEENER, Henry STOHLER, Evan EVANS; Trustees: Geo. W. MACE, Am. Robinson, Samuel MILLER and Michael BOYER; Building Committee: Geo. MACE, George YINGST, Jno. STAGER, Geo. F. MILLER and Jno. MACE. This church was dedicated on Whitsunday, 1859. Rev. E.V. GERHART, D.D., assisted the pastor. A.C. WHITMER. then a student, was present. The centennial and sesqui-centennial were observed. The church was frescoed and carpeted, a kinetic organ-blower installed, a Sunday School organized, and a missionary society started in 1885. The following laymen deserve notice: Alexander SCHAEFFER, the man after whom the town was named, and who was one of the founders of the congregation. Jno. STEINMETZ, father of Rev. John W. STEINMETZ, and father-in-law of Daniel BRENDLE, who was the first superintendent of the Sunday School and remained such to the end of his life. He was the grandfather of Revs. Daniel D. BRENDLE and Royce T. BRENDLE. Solomon BOMBERGER, who was very active in all lines of church work, treasurer for a number of years and deacon as well. The following pastors served St. Paul's: Conrad TEMPELMAN, 1727 - 1746. Jno. Bartholomaeus RIEGER, 1746 - 1767. John Jacob ZUFALL, 1767 - 1769. John Conrad BUCHER, 1769 - 1770. Wm. HENDEL, Sr., 1770 - 1783. John Wm. RUNKLE, 1783 - 1785. Andrew LORETZ, 1785 - 1786. Daniel WAGNER, 1786 - 1792. Ludwig LUPP, 1792 - 1798. Wm. HIESTER, 1800 - 1828. Thomas H. LEINBACH, 1838 - 1864, assisted by his son, Thos. C. Thomas C. LEINBACH, assisted by his brother, Samuel, 1864 - 1868. S. SWEITZER, 1868 - 1870. Jas. A. SHULTZ, 1870 - 1873. Thos. C. LEINBACH, supply, 1873 - 1875. Aaron H. LEISS, 1875 - 1878. A.J. BACHMAN, 1878 - . The following have gone forth from our borders: Rev. John W. STEINMETZ, Benjamin MAYS, father-in-law of Rev. STEINMETZ, his sons, Cyrus V., who was Professor in the Academy at Lancaster, and Doctor GEORGE, a graduate of Franklin and Marshall, a physician and surgeon of ability, Samuel V. MAYS, Franklin and Marshall class of 1862. Rev. Harrison H.W. HIBSHMAN, D.D., was born here and was a member of this church. His brother, Henry H., was a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, class of 1861. Jeremiah HOFFMAN, Franklin and Marshall College, class of 1862, was a captain in the Civil war, studied law, admitted to the bar 1866. Hon. Allen P. HIBSHMAN taught school in the Reformed school house. George MACE, who was influential in building the last church building. Dr. Thos. V. MILLER, a devoted Sunday School worker. Wm. M. WEIGLEY, instrumental in building the addition to the parsonage. A.S. BRENDLE, Esq., Franklin and Marshal graduate, class of 1877, assistant superintendent of Sunday School during the last years of his father's incumbency. Interested in the upkeep of the local cemetery. Revs. D.D. BRENDLE and brother, Royce T., both graduates of Franklin and Marshall College and the Eastern Theological Seminary. Many other persons might be named who were influential and helped God's kingdom in this place in various ways. TEMPELMAN was one of the pioneers. No doubt others had been here before him, but no record can be found. A.J.B.