Amish Mennonite Children's Home: Grantsville, Maryland : 1914-1938

By Bernice Kepple

This is a history of the Amish Mennonite Children's Home in Grantsville, Maryland, which operated from 1914 to 1938. The institution has grown and has been Goodwill Mennonite Home since 1958, offering care for the elderly and the infirm. As a resident of the nursing home I was intrigued by the oldest part of the facility and wondered what the building had originally been. I began asking questions and the resulting answers led to further research which has created this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781257165964

Book preview

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Amish Mennonite Children’s Home Grantsville, Maryland 1914 - 1938

Amish Mennonite Children’s Home

Grantsville, Maryland

1914 -1938

Compiled and Edited by Bernice Kepple 2009 - 2010

This book began as a scrapbook in a three-ringed binder. As it grew in size and popularity the decision was made to print the book, but to maintain the look of an old-fashioned scrapbook. That’s why there may be more than one article about the same person or the same happening. In a scrapbook you try to save everything. That’s also why you won’t see page numbers, a table of contents, or an index. So just pretend you’ve found this old scrapbook in your grandmother’s attic; sit down, page through it, and enjoy.

Introduction

This is a history of the Amish Mennonite Children’s Home in Grantsville, Maryland, which operated from 1914 to 1938. The institution has grown and has been Goodwill Mennonite Home since 1958, offering care for the elderly and the infirm. As a resident of the nursing home I was intrigued by the oldest part of the facility and wondered what the building had originally been. I began asking questions and the resulting answers led to further research which has created this scrapbook to be displayed along with the memorial to the children who lived here sometime during the 24 years the home was in existence. The memorial was originally installed and dedicated at the home’s entrance in 1988. Because of on-going construction, the memorial had to be moved and will be given a new place of honor somewhere inside the facility. This book will be placed along with the memorial to give the public an understanding of this institution’s beginnings. To those who lived here, or had relatives here, though, the meaning of the memo­rial goes much deeper and represents the history of those who were cared for in the children’s home as well as those who cared for them.

I‘d like to thank all those who helped me in my quest for that history, those who provided information, pictures, memories, or simple encouragement. The list is long and unfortunately I may miss listing the names of some of those who have been most important to my journey. If that happens I’m extremely sorry and offer my apology to those I’ve forgotten. This book began when Patty Knopsnyder, activities director here at the home, gave me an old scrapbook compiled by former Activities Director Idella Bender with a few pictures and the limited amount of information available to her at that time. Idella credited the information and pictures she used to Walter Heinrich and the Norman Miller collection. I ‘d like to credit them also since I ‘ve used all that information and those photos. Both Patty and Idella deserve my thanks. Photos and information also came from Elaine Yoder, as well as her grandfather’s prized collection of Casselman Chronicles which she loaned to me; Marlene Tice and the Salome Yoder family; Maxine Beachy Broadwater; Alice Eary and Jean Grose who wrote Garrett County Schools of Yesteryear; David I. Miller for his contribution and for allowing me to use a chapter from his father, Ivan J. Miller’s, book The History of the Conservative Mennonite Conference 1910-1985; Emily Maust; Leona Maust; Fannie Peachy; Don Sincell; Arletha Bender Yoder, who passed along to me all she had written and the information she had collected; Janet Blocher and her mother Virginia Eichorn; Nevin and Anna Marie Beachy; Trivola Schrock and Ana Villanueva; Eli and Adeline Slabaugh; Debbie Haning; Thelma Hoover Martin; Dan and Olive Puffinburg, who collected and collected and kept the family together; IdaMaust; and Markand Lester Hershberger.

A sincere thank you goes to Alice Orendorf, archivist of the Casselman River Area Amish and Mennonite Historians. Her help was invaluable. A special thank you goes to the former and present editors and writers of The Casselman Chronicle for so many interesting stories about the home and its people over the years.

I’ve tried to give a true picture of the children’s home, its surroundings, and its people, and I hope I’ve accomplished that goal. Thanks to everyone for answering my questions.

Sincerely,

Bernice Kepple

MEYERSDALE, PA., THURSDAY, iUNE 6, 1912.

AMISH CHURCH DECIDES

TO FOUND ORPHANAGE

Interesting Proceedings of Amis Mennonite Church and Sunday School Convention Near Grantsville, Md,—All Discussions Conducted in Gerkan Dialect

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Leo Beachy Photo Courtesy ofMaxine Beachy Broadwater

The above picture shows place where the Amish Mennonite Conven­tion was held last week. The building to the right of the road is the Amish meeting house, one-half mile north of Grantteville, on farm of Jacob 8. Miller. The buildings to left of road are the house and barn of Christian J. Yoder. A part of Mr. Voder’s fine apple orchard is also shown. The house in the distance is the home of Bishop Moses D. Yoder, *the old homestead of his late father-in-law, Bishop Joel Beachy.

Reported by Sara Roberta Getty.

The second annual convention of the progressive branch of the Amish Mennonite church was held near Grantsviile, Md., on May 27th and 28th, followed by* a Sunday school convention-on the 29th and 30th. The attending ministers included the following: Michael Zeler and Solomon Schwartzenduner of Michigan; Jonas Yoder and John Mast, from Mifflin county, Pa.; Jonas Troy er from Indiana; J. P. Schwartzendruber, G. A. Yoder, Joseph Miller and Joshua King from Ohio; John Zimmerman from Missouri, and J. S., D. J. and J. B, Miller from the Grantsviile charge.

All matters pertaining to the church and its creed—of which there are eighteen articles, all faithfully adhered to were discussed is an able and interesting manner by 4he preachers. The dicussions of Superstition was both amusing and instructive. Very helpful was the topic Why do we go to church in disagree­able weather. Many other topics were under discussion.

The entire proceedings were conducted in the Pennsylvania German dialect and pure German

The project of starting an orphans home was broached and approved, a committee being appointed to find a suitable location for the home and a competent married couple to put in charge. The committee consists of John Hershberger, Sam. B. Miller, Joseph Hershberger and Peter Shetler, all of Johnson county, Iowa; Joseph Gunder and Daniel Shetler of Huron county, Michi­gan; Noah Brennaman of Bittinger, Md., and C. W. Bender of Elk Lick, Pa. These good men and true will take immediate steps for the furtherance of this worthy plan, and will appreciate any suggestions or information in that direction.

A church paper has been started at Scottdale, ,Pa., the editor being E. C. Bontrager of Minnesota. It is printed both in German and English.

The secretaries of the conference were Simon B. Miller and Jacob D. Gingerich, who will have the minutes of meetings print­ed in pamphlet form and ready for distribution at an early date. The meetings were greatly enjoyed by all present.

The Amish Mennonite church was founded in Deutrich, Hol-land, about 1623 and has among its faithful adherents scores of noble men and women. Many of the former are brilliant orators and successful business men. Many a perfect woman nobly planned is to be found in the Amish settlements. Quiet, unos-tentatious and unassuming, dressed always in a quaint garb of dark colors, yet always commanding respect by their calm, modest bearing, no thought of worldliness ever mars the peaceful sereni­ty of their lives; their hearts are without guile, and their souls are filled with the peace which passeth all understanding, for their lives are spent in the even pursuance of their daily duties which brings its own reward. ,:<

May their tribe increase.

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Strawberry Hill

Like a top-heavy T the tract Strawberry Hill bounds both Cornu­copia and Nonpareil, its top running along their west sides and its stem running east between them and almost dipping its foot into the Casselman River. (See accompanying map).

This tract, containing 208 acres and patented in 1812 was, after rather rapid ownership changes, sold to Solomon Sterner in 1850; he in the same year sold 57!4 acres of it to Conrad Boettner (Bodes) from the northern end of the tract. Southward along the Shade Hill area the tract is named in a number of land grants.

In 1856 Sterner’s son Archibald sold a section of the eastward stem of Strawberry Hill to Joel Beachy whose land adjoined, and also with it a part of his Cornucopia, a totai of 115 acres. This, together with a slice from the south side of Nonpareil, 25 acres, comprised the acreage which Joel Beachy conveyed by deed (1877) to his daughter Anna and her husband Jacob S. Miller. The Millers named their farm. Strawberry Hill, and, since ii pint of it later became the site of the Children’s Home (now the loca­tion of Goodwill Mcnimnik- Niirsini; Home), the school there (1922-37) was named Strawberry Hill.

The information above was taken from The Casselman Chronicle,

Vol. XVII, #1, 1977

Jacob S. Miller

Friend of the People

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They say that Jacob Miller gave 11 acres of his farmland for the Amish Mennonite Children’s Home to be built on. Photo courtesy of Daniel Puffi nburg.

It was said of Jake Miller¹, my be­loved grandfather, that there was a presence about him that caused pass-Iflby to turn and gaze after him. It is my opinion that this was the result nol only of his stature and imposing appearance, but also his compassion, love and good will. He had a con-lugious love for life and ail living ihings, both plant and animal; and a-hovc all he loved people and his Heavenly Father whom he served whole­heartedly.

From his mother, Lena Swartzen-1 ruber Miller, he inherited an excep-(ionally gentle nature, with an easy, going manner that stood him in good slead when the going grew rough and difficult decisions had to be made in church and community. It was said of Mother Lena that children stopped quarreling and became peaceful and quiet when she walked into the room. This quality of empathy for people was strong in Grandfather Miller, and people of all walks and stations of life sought his help and advice in many varied matters, from planting corn to preparing a will.

Among the most, outstanding char­acteristics of Jacob were his benevo­lences² and kindness to those in need. Widows received special attention, and he was often called on to settle estates, sit as head juror and comfort during bereavement. Uncle Noah once told me that he used to get up at midnight and drive the 33 miles to Oakland in his buggy to settle estates for the poor, no matter what their religious affilia-lion. The District Attorney often called him by phone, because he serv­ed for almost nothing.

One widow, Molly Milier, at his invitation moved into the shop Grand-p;i had fixed up as a home for her and her two little boys. She lived there for three years after her husband Lewis died. When Molly wanted to see about getting coal he said, Oh no, there’s coal in our shed. We’ll all use the same coal-house. He fed two cows for Molly and she had all the milk she wanted for helping at milking time. She was also given part of the large garden for her own use, as well as fruits and berries from the orchards and fields.

Often after butchering a sheep, Grandpa took a large piece of mutton, went to the grist mill at Little Cross­ings and bought a 25-pound bag of flour, and drove up over the mountain to one of the numerous destitute families he helped regularly- At Christmas time he remembered them with large packs of food. One very cold Christmas morning when the snow was deep and Jake was riding rapidly through the empty streets of Grantsville on his way to Negro Mountain to visit a poor family and bring them a generous gift, he was arrested for speeding by the town constable, a man of ill-will. The citi­zens of the town, who had he highest regard for Jake, rose up in arms and demanded that the arrest be rescinded.

Kindness to Neighbors

C. W. Bender once told mc that when his cows all died of tuberculosis, Jake called him to Strawberry Hill and gave him a calf. Soon after Lewis and Lizzie "Yoder were married, he invited them to come to his farm to boil applebutter for themselves, as apples were plentiful that year. Gur-ney Swauger (son of Ike Swauger who lived on Jake’s land in the Wolf Swamp area) told me of a time when Grandpa was talking with his mother and she complained that her tomatoes had done so poorly that year. A day or two later Grandpa drove to the Swaugers in the spring wagon behind his two black horses with 10 bushels of tomatoes for Mrs. Swauger to can.

Jake’s heart was touched when he met the blind girl, Lily Burkholder. He felt led to put her through a school for the blind in an eastern city, and served as heir counselor and friend the rest of his life. One year he bought material for a lovely red dress which he had his daughter Lucy sew as a Christmas present for Lily. (Aunt Lou told me Grandpa kept Lily in their home for quite a while when there was special need for help.)

On ray many visits to blind lady, Cindy Figgy Durst, she told me stories by the hour of Grandpa’s kindness to her family. In Cindy’s childhood, when her brothers and sisters were sick with diphtheria, he came regu­larly to bring food and to do the out­side work for Widow Figgy. When the roof of the old Figgy kitchen leaked and let rain and snow in, he took pity on the widow and said something must be done. He called a group of Amish friends and rela­tives together and tore down the old kitchen, then built a new one with a good roof. Later on the Widow Figgy (and afterwards the Dursts) pastured cows on Grandpa’s land, rent-free, at his invitation.

Asa Orendorf often related to me Grandpa’s kindness and care for the helpless and indigent. One couple living in Grantsville was in a pitiful state, and Grandpa spent hours on end bathing the old man, washing clothes and bedding for him, cleaning house, preparing meals, and just visit­ing and showing love in the midst of a most difficult and unsavory situa­tion. He brought the couple every­thing they needed, including food and clothing. Later on, when they be­came too helpless, he brought them to his farm and prepared a comfortable home for them in the shop above the house. The widow continued to live at Jake’s after her husband died.

At one time Elmer Swartzcntrubcr of Iowa was sick in bed at Grandpas for 10 weeks with typhoid fever, fol­lowed by tuberculosis. Grandpa sat by the hour with him and cared for him, holding his head when he was delirious and not expected to live. When Elmer was well enough to re­turn home, Grandpa traveled with him and his wife as far as Chicago in order to help them change trains. This was April 22, 1913, less than two years before Grandpa passed to his reward.

A Home for Orphans

One of the last benevolent deeds Grandpa Jake performed was the lay­ing of the groundwork for the Con­servative Amish Mennonite Home near Grantsville. He had a very warm spot in his heart for orphans, and when he delivered the conference address at the second Conservative Amish Mennonite Conference, held at Maple Glen where he was co-min­ister, the burden of his message was a plea for an orphans’ home under the suspices of the church land lot Hits purpose anil in hi ii greal deal oJ lime and energy prgiini/ing and motivating his fellow 11>11< It members for the great task rtfteiul, hut did not see his dream ful­filled, for he died in January, 1915, nmc months before ground was broken,

Grandpa’s love for his fellowmen lliowed up in many ways, some of iIk-ih rather unique. He had a way n| planting apple trees along the high-n,iv lor the traveler to enjoy as he drove slowly by on horseback or by buggy or carriage. He also grafted tree along the road, in one case with icven varieties of apples. He de-lirjilcil in planting trees and shrubs loi his friends. Cindy Piggy Durst ill owed me a beautiful Arbor Vitae Grandpa had planted lor her many years ago. The tree was her pride ami jov and brought happy memories ol blessed times shared with Grandpa lake.

Grandpa had a strong sense of. the importance of Christian missions and benevolent programs—-at a time when Ins fellow churchmen had not yet i might the vision. He budgeted bis income so thai he could give to in-in-sions and Other worthy causes when very few of his colleagues and con­temporaries were doing so- He sent money regularly to Council Bluffs, Iowa to support an Orphan’s Home he had learned about, and backed up bis dollars wilh enthusiastic moral support.

A significant commentary on Grandpa’s sacrificial giving of him­self and his means to alleviate suffer­ing was the question asked by many after his funeral, Now what will be­come of the poor people?

One may well ask what was the source of Jaco Miller’s tremendous intrest in and his great heart for the needy and unfortunate. The answer I am persusded, can be found in his relationship to the Lord and in the long hours spent in scripture reading and player. This was verified repeatedly by htose who knew him best, as were his true humility and his abiding faith in God. The impact this humble, sincere life had on others is testified to by the fact that his was the largest funeral ever conducted by will Winterberg in the house-and-buggy days.

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Strawberry Hill Farm

The information above was taken from The Casselman Chronicle.

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1 Jacob Miller oldest son of Posey Sam, grew to manhood at a time when the Amisb Mennonite Church was on the threshold of a great, change. Born in 1855, Jacob was married to Anna Beachy (daughter of Bishop Joel Beachy) in 1877, three years before the construction of four Amish meeting­ houses in the area, and IS years before the great church split which occurred in 1895, resulting in an Old Amish group and a Conservative Amish group, Jacob himself was ordained to the ministry in........

2 How does an admiring granddaugh­ ter who has made a careful study of Jake Miller’s life and has some 1,000 cards on file, choose one facet to write about? The choice was not easy, but Jake’s benevolences stand out in sharp relief as one of the major characterstics of his life.

A. E. S.

21

Maple Glenn

Conservative Mennonite Church

By IVAN J. MILLER

Maple Glen history begins with the coming of the Amish Mennonites to the Casselman River region (1772-73). For more than a century the Amish Mennonites along the Cassel­man were one congregation and met for worship in private homes through­out the area.

In 1877, during the administration of Bishop loel Beachy, the Casselman River district was organized into two congregations with the Pennsylvania-Maryland state line as the dividing boundary. Two years later, June 29, 1879, Joel Beachy ordained Manassa Beachy to the office of bishop for the Somerset County congregation. Joel retained charge of the Garrett County congregation, where he resided on the farm now owned by the Irvin E. Yoders.

In 1881 the Amish Mennonites built two meeting houses in Somerset County and two in Garrett County. Maple Glen was one of the four. The original structure was a simple frame building with two anterooms at the south end behind the speaker’s tabic. Later the auditorium was extended twelve feet at the northern end to make a building 28’ x 60’. The building of the meeting houses posed a problem to the Amish Mennonites, for in the first response to the pro­posal in 1880 the membership was divided. A number expressed them­selves willing to follow the decision of the church either way. Of those who expressed a preference, about one third responded negatively to the pro­posal to build. That general pattern prevailed across the district. But through the wise leadership of Bishop Joel Beachy and his fellow ministers, the differences were resolved and in 1881 the four meeting houses were built. . Much of the material and labor was furnished by members of the church. Jonas B. Miller recalled in 1946 that his first service to Maple Glen was carrying drinking water for the builders from the home of Joel J. Miller, his father. Jonas was then ten years old.

The church lot, located about a mile north of Grantsville, was secured from the farm of Jacob S. Miller, a member of the church who was or-dained to the ministry in 1986. The first < -I in’ i , i, ,| lh< I n n I \ i il\il.iil.nipjili I h| III Jn.|. I.H-I I .llltl SllVlllil Mlllil in 1889.

Casselman Chronicle

ON November Ik IKNV, l«-l I. Mild i vvn’i I I ice i>l I t 1.1|i hn < i;u it’ll (’iiinily. I lis M|iiltn|iMi included Miiplfj Glen ;uk! i In i i \ ( ilmlr, near Hininger. Mary-lilltil I In- I i;nirlt County ministry ,i,i" in, hii|c

Sunday Schools Organized

Sum lay Schools were organized at M it pie (Men and at Flag Run in 1893. Vi I hr A m isii Mennonites met ‘new i linlK’iij*es in their church and com-iiiinnIv life, differences began to strain Mini fellowship. In 1895. one year .illn I he death of the senior Bishop Iih’1 Iteachy,, a most unfortunate M-hiMii divided the church across the | WO counties. The two meeting houses in Garrett County became the piopcrly of the I. .1.8 member group led by Mi shop Joef J. Miller, Minister lne«b S. Miller and Deacons Elias I leishberger and John Brenneman. During the next decades this group became known as the Conservative Amish Mennonites, while the group worshipping in the Somerset County iuceling houses became known as Old ()i der Amish. Prior to the schism llie entire brotherhood called therm elves simply Amish Mennonite.

\i\, I’J I ! when llie I nii’-i-i villi Vi’ Aini’.li Menmniili’ ruiileienee niel al Maple (Men, Maple ( ilen hail hecomc Mir eenlial nurling place nl I ho Con­servative chinches in Ihe area with Chary (Made about 12 miles south and Oak Dale (built in 1897) seven miles north. Services alternated be­tween the three meeting houses, and Ihe ministers served on a rotating schedule at the three.

German was used in the services until the late 1920’s when English came into partial use. ‘The first Eng­lish sermon was preached by Jonas B. Miller at a funeral in 1898. By the early 1950’s the transition to Eng­lish was complete.

During its early history Maple Glen was known as the Miller meeting house, identifying it with the minis­ters Joel J. Miller and Jacob S. Miller who lived nearby. By 1915 the name Maple Glen was in general use.

In 1946 the old Maple Glen meet- ‘ ing house was dismantled. The last service was held on May 30. The next day the building was torn down to make room for a new building that would provide a full basement and other conveniences. The first service in the new building was held on Pentecost, May 16, 1948.

In 1946 the Conservative Mennon­ite churches of the area were organ­ized into separate congregations thus ending the practice of meeting on alternate Sundays at the various places and of operating in the area as one organized congregation. At that time the charter membership of Maple Glen was 123 baptized, adult members.

Taken from The Casselman Chronicle, Vol. XVII, #1, 1977