Carvell Genealogy

Rev. Jeremiah M. Carvell, Ph.D.

Postcard First Church of God,<br> date unknown

The postcard of the First Church of God in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, is undated, but an early one. This building was not there during my great-great-grandfather's tenure, but stands today. Information for this page was obtained from a copy of the "History of the First Church of God 1828-1978, Shippensburg, Pa." This copy was acquired thru the Newville Historical Society.

The write-up in this pamphlet is as follows:

Elder Jeremiah M. Carvell, Ph.D.

Elder Jeremiah M. Carvell, Ph.D., served our church Apr. 1861 - Apr. 1886.
"He was born in Snyder County Mar. 3, 1843, and attended the schools of Snyder and Perry counties and the academies at Millerstown and Markleysville. Always a diligent student, he completed his post graduate work at Wooster College for a Ph.D. in 1887.
Rev. Jeremiah M. Carvell, Ph.D. from records of First Church of God, Shippensburg During the civil War, he twice enlisted in the Army. The first time was Aug. 6, 1862, at Harrisburg in Co.I, 133rd Pa. Inf. Regt., in which he had action at Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Mustered out Aug. 20, 1863, he reenlisted Aug. 31, 1864, in Co. A, 9th Pa. Cav. Regt. This regiment was part of Gen. Sherman's Army in it's advance through Georgia "to the sea." Carvell was wounded at Bear Creek, Ga., Nov. 22, 1864, then rejoined his outfit and served to the war's end and his discharge May 29, 1865.
Returning home, he entered the ministry about a year afterward, beginning to preach first in Perry county where he had been converted under Elder T.M. Still. From this license in the fall of 1866 to the spring of 1893, he served these stations: Plainfield, Bainbridge, Maytown, Lebanon circuit, East York, Altoona, Chambersburg and Orrstown. Germantown Ave., in Harrisburg, 4th Street Church of God Philadelphia, Shippensburg, Fourth Street in Harrisburg and Middletown.
Dr. Carvell was one of the incorporators of Findlay College and a trustee for nearly two terms. He like art, literature and poetry. Being reserved in manner, he made his way by merit rather than by personal influence.
Dr. Carvell died Aug. 31, 1894, at the home of John M. Hamilton in Shippensburg and was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery."

On page 14 of this same pamphlet it tells of his tenure at the Church and what they accomplished during that time. Following is a quotation from it:

"the Annual Elderships appointed Dr. J.M. Carvell pastor of our church each year of the period Apr. 1881 - 1886.
At the eldership in Oct. 1884, we reported 164 members and in Oct. 1885, a total of 175.
Parsonage for First Church of God, 1884 - 1904 Shippensburg . . . Although our few loose-page Council minutes for the period 1882-1905 make no mention of the transaction, our trustees bought the brick house at 110 East King Stret from James Kelso McCormick in 1884 for $2,500 for use as a parsonage (our first one). Pastors and their families from Elder J.M. Carvell on to and including Rev. C.I. Brown lived in it until 1904 when our present parsonage was erected as part of the church. . . . In 1904 the church sold the former parsonage to E.J. Kitzmiller for $2,995. Today it is the home of Dr. and Mrs. Herbert A. Searle who have restored much of its early arrangement."

This parsonage is pictured above, as it appeared on a visit to Shippensburg in 1995.

The photograph of the Church pictured on this page is the Harrisburg Fourth Street Church of God.

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