Brethren Churches in Pocahontas County

 

• The Brethren denomination in Pocahontas County has historically been under the umbrella of churches in the Valley of Virginia, relying on them for leadership and receiving many of their preachers from that region.

Early History and Missionary Work

• The sources don't have local county records, but insights into the early history of Brethren churches in the area come from letters written by Rev. Isaac J. Garber to older individuals in Virginia whose ancestors served as early ministers in the mountain churches.

• One such letter, from A. S. Thomas, mentions that while no formal records exist, missionary work by the Brethren was established in Pocahontas County at an early date.

• A personal anecdote from A. S. Thomas recalls his father, Jacob Thomas, embarking on a preaching tour through Pocahontas County on horseback in 1858. During this trip, his uncle, Daniel Thomas, fell ill and passed away before his father could return.

• Further evidence of early Brethren presence in the county is provided by George Lane, who spoke about an old church located half a mile from Alleghany Chapel. This church predates the construction of the chapel, as Lane's first visit to the area involved preaching at a location below the road from the chapel, indicating that religious activities were already taking place there.

• This particular church, referred to as the "old church," is believed to be the earliest preaching site for the Brethren, often called Dunkards, in Pocahontas County. The spread of the denomination continued from there to Union Chapel, also known as Beverage Church, on Silver Creek.

Camp Baldwin and the Civil War

• The land for the "old church" was granted on July 31, 1858, by Jacob Yeager and Sarah, his wife, and John Yeager and Margaret, his wife, to a group of trustees.

• During the Civil War, Camp Baldwin was established on this site, and the old church building served as both a hospital and a barracks.

Statistics and Early Preachers

• Around 1880, the first statistics for the Brethren Church were compiled. These records highlight several locations in West Virginia with regular Brethren preaching, including:

  • Valley Head in Randolph County
  • Top of Alleghany in Pocahontas County
  • Clover Creek in Pocahontas County
  • Day Run, Mt. Freedom, South Branch, South Fork, and Pendleton, all in Pendleton County.

• Several individuals are identified as early Brethren ministers who were instrumental in expanding the denomination's presence in these communities:

  • J. Spencer, John Varner, and P. Mammoth of Top of Alleghany.
  • B. Wilfong of Clover Creek (his address was listed as Sdal, but he resided only a few miles from Beverage Church on Clover Creek).
  • Levi Deverege of Clover Creek.

• Additional early ministers in Pocahontas County included Jacob Thomas, Martin Miller, Hiram Cline, and Joe Leverage (brother to Levi, who often visited and assisted with preaching on Sundays).

Alleghany Chapel

• Alleghany Chapel, believed to be the highest church in West Virginia, stands at an elevation of 3,000 feet and is likely among the highest churches in the entire Appalachian Mountain range.

• The land on which Alleghany Chapel stands was donated by Mr. and Mrs. P. Mammoth. Notably, this site was part of the Top of Alleghany battlefield where Confederates successfully repelled Union forces during the Civil War. Remnants of the conflict are still visible today, including a rifle pit located 400 feet from the church and numerous piles of stones that were once chimneys of log cabins used by Confederate soldiers.

• Alleghany Chapel uniquely serves two denominations: The German Baptist Brethren hold services every other Sunday, while the Methodists hold services on the alternating Sundays. The congregation includes residents from both Virginia and West Virginia, drawn together by this church's unique location amidst stunning scenery.

Building of a Brethren Church and the Hevener Family

• The first and only Brethren church in Pocahontas County constructed and dedicated solely to the denomination was located on Piney Alleghany, two miles from Dunmore.

• The church's origins can be traced back to Adam and Rebecca Hevener, along with Adam's brothers Robert, Samuel, and John. These Brethren individuals migrated from Rockingham County, Virginia, settling on Back Mountain in the late 1800s.

• In 1904, they built a church on land gifted by Bascue Hevener, Adam's widow, to three trustees. The church's completion and dedication took place on a Sunday, with Abram Miller delivering the dedicatory sermon. At that time, the only Brethren families in the vicinity were those residing on Back Mountain and those associated with Benjamin Wilfong, a local preacher. Despite their limited numbers, they grew into a congregation of approximately 60 members.

• After the church's establishment, P. W. Hevener assumed the role of preacher until relocating to Pennsylvania fifteen years later. Following his departure, Rev. S. K. Sherfy continued the work, preaching not only at Hevener Church but also at Boyer, Top of Alleghany, and New Hope.

• Subsequently, Rev. Isaac J. Garber took over the circuit for seven years, representing the eighth generation in his family to serve as a Brethren preacher.

Revivals and Missionary Efforts

• Brethren preachers from the Valley of Virginia frequently visited Hevener Church to conduct revivals. A particularly impactful revival occurred 23 years prior to the source's writing when a preacher named Earnest Bougher baptized 20 individuals in a single day.

• Demonstrating the interconnectedness between the Brethren communities in Virginia and Pocahontas County, female missionaries from Virginia were regularly sent to conduct Bible schools at Hevener Church.

Other Brethren Churches and Preachers

• In 1918, a former schoolhouse in Doe Hill was acquired and transformed into a Progressive Dunkard Church, eventually being relocated to another part of the county in 1922.

• At the time the sources were written, two active Brethren preachers were serving in Pocahontas County: Rev. Isaac J. Garber and Rev. J. W. Pugh.

• Various Brethren churches in the area are mentioned with their corresponding membership numbers:

  • Hevener Church: 58 members
  • Barr Memorial Church (Boyer): 92 members (drawing members from Boyer and neighboring communities, some as far as Mill Gap)
  • New Hope Church (between Frost and Dunmore): 16 members
  • Alleghany Chapel: 11 members (only 4 of whom owned land, with the others on the verge of leaving the mountain).

• The declining membership at Alleghany Chapel, coupled with the Methodists no longer utilizing the building, resulted in the church's abandonment. Plans were underway to dismantle it in the spring, with the materials to be shared equally between the Methodists and Brethren. The Methodists intended to use their portion for building classrooms at the Arbovale Church, while the Brethren were still considering their options, possibly constructing a new church to accommodate members currently affiliated with the Boyer congregation.

• Rev. Pugh also preached at Hoode House Chapel at Pansy Lane, overseeing a congregation of 20 members. This community had a Brethren presence dating back to at least 1873 with the establishment of Union Chapel (also known as Beverage or Courage Church). The exact duration of the Brethren's presence prior to 1873 remains unknown.

• Rev. Pugh's ministry extended to Stony Creek, where the congregation initially met at old Hamline Chapel but later moved services to the Presbyterian Church.

• Additional locations with Brethren communities included Stony Creek (14 members), Central Union (10 members), and a historical note mentions the involvement of S. A. Sheeter, John A. Cline, and F. D. Senger in receiving calls for preachers and ensuring those needs were met.

Evolution of Leadership and Mission Work

• Initially, local churches in Pocahontas County bore the responsibility for missionary work in the mountain churches within their district. This changed in 1920 with the creation of a District Board tasked with overseeing the mountain churches.

• This shift in leadership structure reflected a move towards greater self-reliance among the mountain churches, aiming to reduce their dependence on the established churches in Virginia for support.

The information provided in the sources presents a detailed account of the Brethren's history in Pocahontas County, highlighting the individuals, communities, and challenges that shaped their presence in this mountainous region of West Virginia.