My Genealogy Hound

REV. S. L. MESSINGER, S. T. D., the well-known pastor of the Reformed church at Trappe, is a native of Iowa. He was born at Cedar Rapids, in that state, February 21, 1858. He is the son of Elias and Euphemia (Lockard) Messinger, both of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, at the time of their marriage, they removing afterwards to the west.

Elias Messinger (father) was the son of Isaac and Susan (Keiffer) Messinger. Isaac Messinger was a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania. His father, Jacob Messinger, came from Germany, and settled in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where he owned a large tract of land. He donated the ground on which Salem Reformed church in Forks township was erected. Isaac was a hotel keeper, and, as was usually the case with the innkeeper of the olden times, he was widely known and respected. It is remembered of his good wife that she started a Sunday school in the barroom, instead of permitting it to be used as a lounging place on that day. In politics Mr. Messinger was a Democrat but he never sought or held office. His children were: Maria (Mrs. P. Miller); Kate (Mrs. Fritz Miller); Samuel, a prominent farmer and member of the Reformed Church; Aaron, Elias (father); Sallie (Mrs. J. Fenner) and another son.

Elias Messinger was reared in Northampton county, where he taught neighboring schools for a time, and was also employed as a daguerreo-type artist. About 1857 he removed to Iowa, engaging in the merchandise business at Cedar Rapids, which he continued for about four years, and then sold out his business at a heavy loss and returned to his native county in 1861. Soon afterwards he enlisted in the Union army and did his duty at the battle of Gettysburg and elsewhere in defense of the national government. In that battle he was wounded by a minie ball from which he never fully recovered. He remained on duty for a time at the hospital. At the close of the war he was assigned to duty in the guard at Washington, where he remained about one year. He was honorably discharged, and later received a pension. Being a natural artist, during his stay at Washington he painted a picture of the White House which has been much admired. On his return to his home he engaged in painting, doing fine work on organs, chairs, etc., afterwards becoming a traveling salesman for Smith, Kline & Co., wholesale druggists of Philadelphia. This calling Mr. Messinger pursued during active life. He retired from business, and died at Allentown, September 7, 1902, at the age of eighty years, and eleven months. He was a member of the Reformed church, and a Democrat in politics, although not particularly active. His wife survived him, and is still living at the age of nearly seventy-four years, in Allentown. She is a daughter of Ephraim and Jane (Drake) Lockard, he of Northampton county, and she of Monroe county, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer. The Lockard family are of Scotch-Irish descent. The wife’s family, the Drakes, are of Holland Dutch origin. Mr. Lockard was a Democrat in politics. He died at the age of eighty-four years, but his wife at the age of fifty years. They were strict Presbyterians. Their children: Euphemia (mother of Rev. Dr. S. L. Messinger); Jefferson, a shoe-maker by trade, who took an active interest in politics, and filled the position of assessor as well as other township offices; Silas, a farmer; John, also a shoemaker, who died in young manhood; Ellen (Mrs. H. Kuntzman); Morris, a farmer and quarryman.

The children of Elias and Euphemia Messinger: Silas L. (subject of this sketch); William E., a teacher, and a painter for the past dozen years or more; Alice, wife of James Henbest, of Providence, New Jersey; Susan A. (Mrs. Jacob Dolan, of New York city); John C., principal of the Bethlehem high school for six years, and later a prominent manufacturer and inventor, of Bethlehem.

Rev. Silas L. Messinger, S. T. D., was reared at the homestead of his mother’s family in Northampton county. His youth was spent as a hired farm-laborer, and attending school a few months in winter. Accustomed to farm pursuits, he labored earnestly also to acquire an education. He became able to teach in 1876 and secured a school, continuing in that employment for five winter terms, and still perfecting his education as far as he could with his somewhat limited opportunities. While preparing for college he received instruction from a Presbyterian minister, and entered the freshman class at Ursinus College in the year 1881, graduating in 1885 with the second honor of his class, thus realizing the benefits of his earlier efforts to acquire an education that would fit him for some suitable position in life. He took the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Mr. Messinger entered the School of Theology connected with Ursinus, and graduated therefrom in 1887. He was then licensed to preach by Philadelphia Classis, on May 21, 1887, at the same time receiving a call to preach at Blaine, Perry county, Pennsylvania. At that place he had four congregations. He remained there five years and three months, and then went to Pleasantville Reformed church, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He was there four years and four months, and on January 1, 1897, took charge of St. Luke’s Reformed church, at Trappe, where he still continues. There was a large number of applicants for the pastorate of the Trappe church, of whom Rev. Dr. Messinger was not one, but when the ballots were counted at the congregational meeting he had a large majority of the votes, and he accepted the call. He succeeded Rev. E. C. Hibshman, who had resigned to go to Stroudsburg.

St. Luke’s church has a long and interesting history. It was founded October 18, 1742, by Rev. John Philip Boehm. For twelve years the congregation worshipped in the historical Old Trappe (Lutheran) church. In 1755 the congregation built a log church on a site in its present cemetery. In this it worshipped until 1835, when a new church edifice was built on the site where the first stood. The present large building was erected in 1874. In 1887 extensive repairs and improvements were made, with the addition of two Sunday school rooms. From its beginning this church has had the services of seventeen pastors, as follows: Rev. John Philip Boehm, 1742-1 748; Rev. John Philip Leydich, 1748-1784; Rev. John Herman Wynckhams, 1784-1787; Rev. Frederick Wm. Vandersloot, Sr., 1787-1813; Rev. Fred. Wm. Vandersloot, Jr., 1813-1818; Rev. Lebrecht Frederick Herman, 1818; Rev. John C. Guldin, D. D., 1819-1840; Rev. Jacob Wm. Hangen, 1841-1843; Rev. Andrew S. Young, 1843; Rev. John R. Kooken, 1844-1846; Rev. Alfred B. Shenkle, 1847-1867; Rev. H. H. W. Hibshman, D. D., 1867-1869; Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger, D. D., LL. D., 1870-1883; Rev. H. T. Spangler, D. D., 1884-1886, and 1889-1890; Rev. J. B. Shmuker, D. D., 1886-1889; Rev. Edwin C. Hibshman, 1891-1896. In November, 1896, Rev. S. L. Messinger, S. T. D., was given a call, and he began his present pastorate on January 1, 1897. The work of the church is in a prosperous condition.

In 1904 the church was beautifully renovated in every part, and a new pipe organ was installed, at a cost of $1,800. At the solicitation of the pastor, Rev. Dr. Messinger, this sum was donated by Andrew Carnegie and Mrs. Henrietta Patterson, of Philadelphia, each contributing $900. The present parsonage was built in 1869. It has been repaired at different times, and in 1904 it was thoroughly renovated and slightly enlarged.

Rev. Dr. Messinger is a most popular and satisfactory pastor. He is an eloquent speaker, and the church has greatly prospered under his ministrations. The Sunday school connected with the church is very successful, Rev. A. B. Stoner being the capable superintendent. There are also a Young People’s Christian Endeavor Society, a Junior Endeavor Society, and a large Woman’s Missionary Society. Much work is done for the orphans and the poor. The relations between the pastor and his people are exceedingly pleasant and kindly. The congregation numbers over 300 members.

In 1894 Rev. Mr. Messinger received the degree of Master of Arts (in course) from Ursinus College; and in 1902 and 1903 he completed a post-graduate course as a non-resident student of the American University at Harriman, Tennessee, receiving the degree S. T. D. The course consisted of seventeen branches, arranged under the heads of Philosophy, Theology, and English Literature. The average of his examination marks for the course was above ninety-six per cent. He was required to write a thesis of five thousand words on an accepted theme. On a card which Mr. Messinger received from the president of the institution was the statement: “Your thesis is excellent, and I mark it 100.” Genial and pleasant in his manners, an earnest worker, and a thorough believer in the doctrines he teaches, Rev. Dr. Messinger is a model of what a clergyman should be in every respect.

When Rev. Dr. Messinger was located at Ursinus College in the capacity of a student, he often engaged in teaching, chiefly in the Ursinus Academy; and since he has been pastor of the Trappe church, he taught for a time at Ursinus. He is an everyday student and educational worker, and is constantly pressing forward and upward in attainment of this kind.

On October 27, 1887, Mr. Messinger married at Schwenkville, Montgomery county, Miss Laura K. Bechtel, who was born at Limerick Square, February 28, 1860. She is the daughter of Dr. J. Y. and Margaret (Koons) Bechtel, both of Montgomery county, he is a son of John and Mary Bechtel. John Bechtel was at one time a hotel keeper at Crooked Hill, and later a farmer. His children: Mary (Mrs. Mock, and, second marriage, Mrs. Loomis); John, a hotel keeper; Jacob, Washington, Lavina, Jeremiah, an attorney-at-law; J. Y., father of Mrs. Messinger.

Dr. J. Y. Bechtel is a well-known physician and druggist of Schwenkville. He is a man of high educational attainments. After graduating at a medical college he began practicing when he was twenty-one years of age, and is yet engaged in practice, at the age of seventy-four years. His first location was at Limerick Square, from which place he removed to Schwenkville about 1862. In politics he is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the Reformed church. His wife is the daughter of James and Anna Koons. James was an elder in Trappe Reformed church for forty years. The children of James and Anna Koons: Elizabeth (Mrs. A. Thomas); John, a farmer; Margaret, mother of Mrs. Messinger; Abram, who was killed in the rebellion; Ann (Mrs. Shupe); J. Evans, a farmer.

The children of Dr. and Mrs. Bechtel: Laura, wife of Rev. Dr. S. L. Messinger; James A., a druggist (deceased); John, a druggist; M. Evelyn.

The children of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Messinger: Carl J., born October 8, 1889 (deceased); Evelyn H., born December 16, 1890; Nellie A., born November 5, 1892; Mark G., born March 9, 1896; Cynthia G., born January 3, 1898.