Wellersburg Lutheran and Reformed Church, Somerset County PA

The photo above is from the book "The Genealogy of Michael Korns, Sr. of Somerset County Pennsylvania" by Charles Byron Korns, Sr., M.D.. That book states "The religious life of the Germans in Southampton Township, Somerset County was not overlooked. Nor was the need for a proper place in which to worship, for the Wellersburg Reformed and Lutheran Church was organized about 1803, among the earliest members were: the Korns, Uhls, Hoymans, Witts, Wilhelms, Reichers, Wingers, and Gaumers. The Reverend Benjamin Knepper had served that congregation continuously for almost half a century. He conducted his service and delivered his sermons in German during the early years, later in English." Michael Korns, Sr. never saw the church building pictured above, as it was built before his lifetime. Click here to read an article about the Wellersburg Lutheran and Reformed Church from the 1918 book "History of the Alleghany Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Pennsylvania".

Page 482 of the 1906 book "History of Bedford and Somerset Counties Pennsylvania" by Blackburn & Welfley states "The Wellersburg Reformed and Lutheran church was organized by Rev. Henry Giesy, about 1803. Among the first members were the Uhl, Hoyman, Witt, Korns, Wilhelm and Reichert Families. Their second meeting house was dedicated June, 1855, and cost $2,100. The first pastor was Rev. Henry Giesy, from 1798. He was succeeded by many pastors, including Rev. Knepper, who served from 1846 for nearly half a century. Formerly he preached in German, but later in English."

Pages 579-580 of the 1884 book "History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania" state "Wellersburg Reformed and Lutheran church was organized by Rev. Henry Giesy, about the year 1803. There is no account of the building of the first church. The principal early members were from the Uhl, Hoyman, Witt, Korns, Wilhelm and Reichert families; later, the Wingert and Gaumer familes were added. The present church edifice cost about twenty-one hundred dollars. It was dedicated June 5, 1857. The church, once large, now has a membership of thirty-five. Most of the members left on account of the lack of employment when the furnace business suspended. The first regular pastor was Rev. Henry Giesy, Reformed, who began his labors in 1798..." For a scan of the rest of the text, click here.

Rev. Benjamin Knepper's notes state "In 1846 I came to Wellersburg, after having received a call to become pastor of the Reformed Church of this place. I was a licentiate at the time. From some of the old settlers I then learned the history of the Wellersburg Church, as being the joint property of the E. Lutheran, and the Reformed Church. I have my information from Henry Hoyman, Daniel Korns, and Barbara Shaffer, who were then old people, and knew all about how the church was started. It was in this way: Land was bought by different persons, to the amount of 17 acres, and then donated to the church. The land was then to be leased for 99 years, after which it would fall back again to the church. Of these lands, 14 acres were bought by members of the Reformed (Refermirte), and given to the Church, and three acres by members of the Ev. Lutheran Church. The old Church record showed that the Reformed (Refermirte) preachers at Wellersburg were: Rev. Henry Giese from 1798 to 1818, J. Keefer from 1823 to _____, H.E.F. Voigt from 1827 to 1829, H.G. Ibbeken from 1831 to 1844. B. Knepper took charge June the 18^th, 1846, and is still pastor of the Charge to the present date 1896, now 1901..."