AREA HISTORY:  Emig’s Grove Campmeeting Grounds, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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EMIG’S GROVE CAMPMEETING GROUNDS – Page 620

June 21, 1880, a charter of incorporation was granted to the Emig’s Grove 
Campmeeting Association, the object of which was “to maintain the worship of God in 
gatherings or assemblies for religious purposes, according to the discipline and 
belief of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, and other Evangelical 
Churches.”  Fourteen acres of land were purchased of the late John Emig.  Thirteen 
acres have since been added.  The location is one mile south of Mount Wolf Station 
on the line of the Northern Central Railway.  The association organized with Rev. C. 
T. Stearn, president; David W. Crider, J. C. Smith and Daniel G. May, vice-
presidents; J. R. Hutchison, secretary; Col. J. A. Stahle, treasurer, and Henry M. 
Everhart, John Shepp, Charles Lafean, M. L. Duhling, Henry Reeser, J. B. Rentzel and 
A. H. Rice, directors.  The same officers have held their positions continuously 
since organization.  The directors for the year 1885 are M. L. Duhling, P. Mathias, 
H. M. Everhart, H. W. Steffey, Joseph Wagner, Henry Reeser, and H. D. Musser.  
Excellent board tents have been built, and a large number of people meet annually, 
during the month of August, for the purpose of worshipping the God of their fathers 
in the serene atmosphere of this beautiful grove – one of “God’s first temples.”

In one corner of the grounds, in a secluded spot, is a mysterious tomb of a soldier 
of the civil war.  It has been sympathetically remembered by some patriotic members 
of the Camp Meeting Association, and marked by a neat and appropriate headstone.  
His remains were found and interred near the spot, about the time that the 
Confederate Gen. Early took possession of York, but “of his name and his fame no one 
can tell.”  He was clad in the uniform of a Union soldier, the buttons of which 
contained the coat of arms of Pennsylvania, and his cap the number 65.