Snow Hill Cemetery Records , Quincy, Franklin Co., PA

The Snow Hill Institution, 1798-1889, is located on a branch of Antietam Creek, along Route 997, about two miles north of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.

It was incorporated under the name of “The Seventh Day Baptist Society of Snow Hill” (4). Later it became known as the Snow Hill Institution.  Neighbors referred to it as the Nunnery. (1)  

Cemetery records were compiled in 1983 by Elmer Q. and Ruth R. Gleim.

Additional documentation in parenthesis and footnotes added by Dianne Gleim Bowders.

 Names with asterisks * indicate people who were original members of the Monastic unit.

·        *Bauman, Henry  d. March 20, 1878  aged 74y 5m 22d.  He was a member of the Society for 48 years and served as the charitable treasurer. Henry served as prior from Sept. 24, 1850 to Nov. 17, 1851.

·        *Fyock,  Jacob (Jr.?)    Withdrew from the Order. (married Mary Snowberger b. 1828-d. 1890, d/o Jacob and Margaret  Shockley  Snowberger-Source: Antietam Ancestors)

·        *Snowberger, Veronica   d. January  13, 1841,   58y 7m 12d  (b. Dec. 3, 1782, daughter of Jacob and Catharine Miley Snowberger- Source: Treher)Antietam source gives date of birth as Jan.15,1841

·        Rank, Barbara  d. Dec. 25, 1841,   74y 1m 9d (computed birthdate Nov. 16, 1767)

·        Mentzer, Hannah   d. Oct 16, 1843,  31y  10m  7d. (Was also called “Theckla”)

        (computed birthdate- Jan. 9, 1812)

·        Kimmel, Anna  d. Aug 11, 1847,  90y 3m 18d   (computed birthdate Apr. 23, 1757)

·        Snowberger, Catharine  d. May 1, 1855,   73y 8m 18d  (computed birthdate-Aug. 13, 1781)

·        Snowberger, Elizabeth  d. Sept 17, 1854 (?),  73y 5m 25d,  (Prioress until 1848.  Source: Treher)

·        Hoch, Catharine  d. Feb 12, 1858,  81y 2m 5d  (listed on the 1834 charter) (5)

·        Mentzer, Elizabeth  d. Jan 19, 1861,  82y 3m 26d (computed birthdate Sept. 23, 1778)

·        Toms, Polly  d. Dec 31, 1868,  66y  21d  (computed birthdate Dec. 10, 1802)

·        *Fyock, Susanna  d. June 26, 1870,  84y 11m  7d (computed birthdate is July 9, 1788)

·        *Snowberger, Barbara  d. Aug. 13, 1870,  86y 1m  12d (computed birthdate July 1, 1784) Barbara made staffs for notes embellished in black , green and gold, Source:  Treher, p. 59. (3)

·        Lehman, Barbara--------

·        *Fyock,  Hannah  d. June 26, 1870,  81y  11m  17d (computed birthdate July 9, 1788)

·        *Toms, Mary-------

*Hoch, Carolus  d. Oct 25, 1864,  63y 8m 25d (One of the first trustees at Snow Hill.  Was also one of the millers.  Source: Treher p. 45)   (5)

·        Reed, Henry  1823-1888 (Married Christiana Burger d/o David Burger. Source:  Cheryll Reed)

·        Resser, Andrew F.  b. May 28, 1827 d. Aug 18, 1879,  51y 8m 20d

·        Resser, George  b. Feb 23, 1793  d. Apr. 6, 1865,  72y 1m 13d

·        Resser, Catharine,  wife of George;  b. Dec 11, 1792  d. Feb 15, 1868, 75y 2m 4d

·        Riddlesberger, John  (Jr.),   b. Sept 29, 1770,  d. June 12, 1844,  73y 8m 13d   married Elizabeth Sechrist, daughter of Solomon Sechrist.  (9)

·        Fahnestock, Ephraim  d. Aug 16, 1840,  34y 7m 20d

·        Rock, Abram.  B. Oct 1796  d. Oct 7, 1830,  34y 4d

·        Fyock, Catharine,  wife of Peter  b. Jan 16, 1792  d. Apr. 26, 1863,  70y 10m 12d

·        Burger, Elizabeth (Ely), wife of Abraham  b. Oct 31, 1790  d. Dec 1866,  65y 1m

·        Monn, Andrew W. b. Sept 16, 1798  d. June 20, 1858  59y 9m 4d, (s/o John George Monn Sr. and Mary Unknown.

·        Monn, Rebecca, wife of Andrew,  b. Nov 11, 1808  d. July 11, 1867  58y 8m

·        Monn, Susan, wife of Jacob,  d. Oct 4, 1879,  64y

·        Monn, Emma E.  1893-1904

·        Monn, Charlotte, wife of David,  d. May 12, 1840  19y 11m 17d

·        Burketts, Michael, Sr.  b. Feb 22, 1790  d. Aug 19, 1865  75y 5m 27d

·        Study, John P,  d. Feb 22, 1899,  65y 3m 9d

·        Monn, Jacob S.  1886-1937

·        Monn, Elizabeth M.  1888-1969

·        Monn, Jacob A.  1858-1912

·        Monn, Alice B. Creager  1856-1929

·        Monn, Nettie M.  1933-1933

·        Monn, Rosie K.  1939-1940

·        Monn,  Daniel L. (Jr?) 1936-1940

·        Monn,  Daniel L. (Sr.?) 1897-1972

·        Monn,  Hazel I.  1902-1972  Married to Daniel L. Monn on Feb 21, 1921

·        Monn, ---------  1869-1947

·        Monn, Elsie J.  1880-1947

·        Kurtz, John  1887-1966

·        Kurtz, Clara B.  1889-1963

·        Moats, Charles Irwin  b. Oct 3, 1882  d. May 17, 1946

·        Moats, Tena  1842-1929

·        Moats, Daniel H., son,  1873-1929

·        Moats, Edward  b. Feb. 14, 1844  d. May 9, 1904,  69y 5m

·        Heller, Napoleon  b. Apr. 18, 1840  d. May 9 1904,  G.A.R. 1861-1865

·        Heller, Martha, wife of Napoleon  d. Jan 3, 1904  74y

·        Fahnestock, George  b. Sept 7, 1772  d. Nov 17 1851  79y 2m 10d (s/o Benjamin (of Dietrich) and Catherine Garber Fahnestock)

·        Fahnestock, Barbara b. Nov 14, 1780  d. July 24, 1851  70y 8m 10d (second wife of George Fahnestock)

·        Geesaman, William, d. Oct 30, 1898,  71y 6d

·        Geesaman, Lydia Ann, daughter of John Riddlesberger

·        Short, Philip,  b. Nov 5, 1787  d. Nov 6, 1857,  70y 1d

·        Pentz, _enah,  wife of William Rock and mother of Susan Rock

·        Reed, Christiana  Burger  1830-1894 (wife of Henry Reed, and d/o David Burger)

·        *Lehman, Peter  (In German)  b. May 24, 1757  d. Jan 4, 1823 65y 7m 11d

“Here rests the mortal remains of Peter Lehman; he was born on the 24th of May, 1757, and passed from time into eternity on the 4^th of January, 1823, aged 65years, 7months, 11 days.  Peter Lehman, upright in walk, righteous in life, just in faith, patient in hope, brings a blessed end.  Look at me.  I have had for a short time toil and labor.  And have found great comfort.  For the Lord appeared unto me from afar.  For the weary souls, He will revive;  and the troubled souls, He will comfort.”

Known as the “Father of  Snow Hill”.  Source:  Treher, p. 50.

“Peter Lehman has been described as a tall ‘smart looking’ man and (Peter) Miller (of Ephrata) felt that, although lacking formal education he would be called upon to minister…or possibly succeed Miller at Ephrata…Miller asked Lehman to visit the church (Antietam) there.” 

Source:  Treher. p. 39. (7)

·        Miley,  Christiana     d. Nov 16, 1883,  In her 50^th year. (computed birthyear is 1833)

·        Miley,  John P.,        d. May 10, 1888, 46y (computed birthyear is 1842)

·        Miley,  Oscar S.       d. Dec 13, 1888, 14 y

·        Miley,  Barbara        d. July 24, 1880,  4^th year

·        Monn, Celeste F. (Fahnestock)    d. Apr. 24, 1915,  73y 10m 3d (b. June 22, 1845, d/o John and Dinah Fahnestock Monn, never married but lived with her brother Andrew’s family.

·        Monn, John Sr.     b. Oct 16, 1771  d. July 11, 1864  92y 8m 25d (married Susanna Sechrist b. 27 April 1774.)  One of the first trustees.  Also known as Johnathon.

·        Monn, Alfred Graver     b. Aug 26, 1837  d. Oct 24, 1868,  31y 1m 28d  (s/o John and Dinah Fahnestock Monn, never married.)

·        Monn, Andrew S.  (Sylvester)  b. Mar 10, 1835  d. Oct 23, 1903, s/o John and Dinah Fahnestock Monn. ) married Isabelle Cook and was the father of the late Miss Emma C. Monn, author of Historical Sketch of Snow Hill and a leading force in the German Seventh Day Baptist Church in the Twentieth century. He operated the brick hotel on the northeastern corner of the Quincy town square, and reportedly, in a state of intoxication, rode his white stallion into the hotel tavern, up the stairs, and out the back door of the second-floor dance hall. In 1870 he erected the large brick hotel on the southeastern corner of the square, now owned by the United Methodist Church, and conducted a tavern and dance hall there. Andrew  S. Monn hanged himself in the Nunnery Mill at Snow Hill.

·        Monn, Isabel (Isabelle)  Cook, wife of Andrew S. Monn,     b. Mar 30, 1839  d. Feb 14, 1920.

·        Monn, Clara S.       b. Nov. 6, 1859  d. Sept 13, 1860

·        Monn, Emma C. (Celeste)    b. Oct 1, 1861  d. Jan 25, 1941 (d/o Andrew and Isabelle  Cook Monn)

·        Snowberger, Johannes     1703-1780, Monument erected to Johannes Snowberger and his descendants. (Emigrated May 29, 1751, on the ship “Queen of Denmark” to Philadelphia.)

·        Wolf, Lannah Monn     b. Nov 4, 1832  d. Dec 13, 1917  85y 1m 9d

·        King, David     b. Nov. 5, 1821  d. Dec 2, 1901  80y 27d

·        King, Mary,  wife of David,     b. Apr 23, 1823  d. Aug 25, 1906

·        Gossert, Lydia     b. Nov 27, 1824  d. Aug 29, 1904,    79y 8m 2d

·        Snowberger, Elizabeth, wife of John     d. Mar 20, 1875  53 years (computed date is 1822)

·        Snowberger,  Benjamin     b. Jan 7, 1838  d. Feb 28, 1863  25y 1m 21d (s/o David b. 1797 and Mary Monn  Snowberger

·        Snowberger,  Mary     b. Feb. 24, 1801  d. May 2, 1882  81y 2m 7d

·        Knepper, Andrew     b. Mar. 12, 1803  d. Nov. 23, 1844

·        Knepper, Mary A.      wife of Andrew,  b. 1806  d. Feb 7, 1880  74years

·        Fahnestock,  Margaret,  wife of Andrew (the minister)     b. Jan 18, 1779  d. April 11, 1847  68y 2m 23d

·        Riddlesberger, John III.), minister of the Gospel (installed 1845) b. Mar 4, 1813   d. Nov. 23 1887  74y 8m 19d. (married Elizabeth  Hartman) (9)

·        Riddlesberger, Elizabeth  wife of John, III     b. Feb 15, 1815  d. Aug 30, 1883  70y 6m 15d

·        Riddlesberger, Joseph, son of John and Elizabeth  14y 7m 7d

·        *Burger, John d. Jan 4, 1872  72y9m 6d  (married Susan Snowberger b. Apr. 8, 1786, d/o Jacob and Catherine Miley Snowberger,   Source:  Treher)     

·        Burger, David  b. 1797  d. Feb. 10, 1872  75y 2d ( David was the bricklayer of Snow Hill.  He was paid $37.50 in May 1838 for laying 50,000 bricks and in Nov. 1841, he was paid $36.75 for laying 24,500 bricks.  He helped erect the brick house on the west end in 1838 that was used as a brother’s house. Source: Antietam Ancestors, Snow Hill Ledger)

·        Burger, Samuel     b. Dec 31, 1828   d. Jan 18, 1860  30y 17d

·        Burger, Abraham     b. May 16, 1792   d. June 11, 1856  61y 28d  (husband of Elizabeth Ely.  Source:  Treher and Antietam Ancestors)

·        Monn, Dinah, wife of John, Jr.  B. Dec. 8, 1811  d. Apr 26, 1888  76y 4m 18d  (d/o Andrew and Margaret Fahnestock

·        Keagy, Louisa Snowberger, wife of George W. Keagy, b. May 25, 1846    d. Nov 19, 1911  65y 5m 24d, (married Dec. 29, 1863.  Louisa was the d/o David and Mary Monn Snowberger. Source: Antietam Ancestors)

·        Keagy, Lizzie, daughter of George and Louisa Snowberger Keagy  d. Oct 1, 1885  17y 7m 28d

·        Keagy,  Anna M., daughter of George and Louisa Snowberger Keagy d. July 12, 1893  23y 6m 4d

·        Keagy, Sarah Myrtle     b. Aug 19, 1875  d. June 6, 1924

·        Kurtz, Laura C.  1874-1946

·        Harris, Sarah     b. Aug 29, 1859  d. Apr.8, 1943

·        Cantner, Joseph E.  1896-1956

·        Cantner, Anne B.     1900-1906

·        Daywalt, James H.     1868-1953

·        Daywalt, Minnie V.     1875-1952

·        Monn, Bernard J.  PA Pfc. Signal Corps, WWII,  b. June 7, 1924,  d. Mar 3, 1945

·        Price,  Anna M., wife of Jacob S. Price  (daughter of David and Mary Monn Snowberger)  b. July 18, 1840 d. May 12, 1886  45y 9m 23d

·        Price, Daisy M., dau of Jacob Price and Anna M. Snowberger Price d. Sept 10, 1882  3m 1d

·        Brown, Henry L.     d. Aug 2, 1893  84y 5m  27d

·        Brown, Elizabeth     d. Mar 20, 1887

·        Butler, Esther          d. Mar 22, 1901  81y

·        Froms, John             b. Oct 13, 1812  d. Aug 10, 1884

·        *Snowberger, Obed     b. June 20, 1823,  d. Nov. 24, 1895  72y 5m 4d. (Never wed.  Son of David Snowberger and Mary Monn Snowberger. He was the last surviving single member of the Society and produced many historical records.  Obed operated the printing press and printed in both English and German. (Source:  Treher p. 89) He was well known in the community for his mechanical skills, and was one of the mystic  songwriters.   Source:  Antietam Ancestors) (6)

·        *Snowberger, Samuel  b. Jan 14, 1799  d. Mar 22, 1883- 84y 2m 8d, (Date of death as July 2, 1883-Antietam Ancestors) (Prior of Snow Hill from 1825 after the death of Andrew Snowberger, Samuel was the son of Andrew Snowberger, Jr., and the grandson of former prior Andrew , Sr.- Treher, p. 51.)

·        *Fyock, David     d. Dec 20, 1842  29y 4m (computed birthdate is Aug. 1813)

·        Specht,  Benjamin  d. May 6, 1843  31y 4m 11d    (computed birthdate is Jan 25, 1812) (Came to Snow Hill in 1835, elected pastor Feb. 1840 as a young man, composed hymns.  Source:  Treher p. 58, 84.)

·        *Ritter, Henry     d. Mar 9, 1882  69y 2m 28d   (computed birthdate is Jan 11, 1813)

·        Snowberger, David  b. Apr 4, 1797  d. Mar 29, 1871, (son of Andrew and Catherine Mentzer Snowberger, dwelt at Snow Hill.  He wed Mary Monn and had 8 children.  Source:  Antietam Ancestors)

·        Snowberger, Mary (Monn), wife of David   b. Feb 24, 1801   d. May 2, 1882, 81y 2m 7d

·        Lesher, Emma Kay,  dau. Of Henry and Barbara Lesher  d. Aug 16, 1880  18y 8d

·        *Snowberger, Barbara  d. Oct 23, 1851  83y 5m 25d    (computed birthdate is Apr 28, 1768)

(One of the Sisters of Snow Hill. Died unmarried.  Daughter of Andrew Snowberger.  Source:  Treher)

·        *Goshet, Susannah  d. May 1, 1866  75y 2m 12d   (computed birthdate is Feb. 19, 1791) prioress from 1848 to 1866. Source:  Treher.

·        *Mentzer, Lydia     d. Mar 15, 1860  41y 3m 29d   (computed birthdate is Nov. 16, 1818) Known as Sister Melonia, Treher, p. 46.

·        *Fahnestock, Andrew  b. Nov 27, 1781   d. Feb 5, 1863  81y 2m 9d (married Margaret Graver,

 7 children , s/o Peter and Elizabeth Fahnestock.    Succeeded Peter Lehman as pastor,

Served as prior for 17 years.  Worked as a weaver. Source: Treher

·        Monn, Anna M., dau. Of  William B. and C.M.,    b. Mar 2, 1869  d. Aug 4, 1888

·        Monn, Charlotte T., dau. Of  William B. and C.M.,     b. Sept 16, 1887  d. Mar 21, 1888

·        Monn, Effie E., dau. Of  William B. and C.M.,     b. Nov 21, 18875   d. May 9, 1886

·        *Fyock, Elizabeth     b. June 10, 1811  d. Nov 13, 1894 (83y 5m 3d)  (Known as sister

Zenobia .   Source: Treher )

·        Ritter, Elizabeth     b. Aug 30, 1802  d. May 22, 1889

·        Ritter, Hannah  b. May 6, 1815   d. Jan. 4 1892  (Worked in field making hay and cooking for room and board for 37 years and never received over $50.  Snow Hill Records)

·        *Schneeberger, Johannes     b. Feb 1776  d. Jan 12, 1839,  62 Jahr, 4 monat, 4 tag

·        *Burger, Lydia  d. Feb 9, 1832,  68 Jahr, 10 monat, 18 tag (computed birthdate is Mar 21, 1762)

·        *Snowberger, Andrew  d. 1825  79y  (Married Barbara Kerber who died Nov. 14, 1810.  Mother of 8 children.  Andrew, born in Switzerland about 1746, was the son of the immigrant Hans Schneeberger and Catharine Unknown.  Andrew served in the Revolution under Capt. Samuel Royer, 1779-1781.  Died Aug. 1, 1825.  The Deacon of Snow Hill. Source: Treher) (8)

·        Resser, Mary  d. Dec 8, 1905  72y 5m 24d

These additional individuals are also possibly buried in Snow Hill

·        Snowberger, Sarah, b. May 12, 1813-d. Feb. 8, 1884, (daughter of Andrew Snowberger and Catharine Mentzer.  Sarah never wed and lies buried at Snow Hill-Antietam Ancestors)

·        Ely, Abraham d. 27 Sept 1826  “Here lie the bones of Br. Abraham Ely, he went out of this time into eternity the 27th September 1826 brought his age to 59 years 9 months and 14 days.” ( Married Susanna Snowberger, d/o Andrew Snowberger. B. Sept 18, 1767.)

·        Ely, Susanna  “Susanna Ely died in God the 18th January 1828 and her whole life was 58 years and 21 days.”  (d/o of Andrew and Barbara Kerber Snowberger.  Source:  Treher) b. Dec. 28, 1769-Antietam Ancestors.

·        Ely, Barbara  “Barbara Ely died April 10th 1799 her age was 10 months & 14 days. “
(all three tombstone are translated from German)  d/o Abraham and Susanna  Snowberger Ely.

·        Riddlesberger, Jacob, b. January 21, 1840, Quincy Township, Franklin County; d. January 16, 1850,.
Quincy Township, Franklin County, PA.

·        Riddlesberger, John, b. December 19, 1841, d. July 12, 1845

 

·        Riddlesberger, Abraham, b. June 12, 1846, d. October 13, 1848

·        Riddlesberger, Daniel, b. March 01, 1848, d. September 16, 1862

·        Riddlesberger, Joseph, b. March 01, 1848, d. October 08, 1862

·        Riddlesberger, David, b. October 12, 1850, d. September 19, 1862

·        Riddlesberger, Samuel, b. January 30, 1853, d. September 15, 1862

·        Riddlesberger, Elizabeth, b. January 30, 1855, d. September 18,1862

(Many of the Riddlesberger  children died during the diphtheria epidemic of 1862.)

                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Additional information in parenthesis from these sources:

Treher, Charles, “Snow Hill Cloister”, The Pennsylvania German Society, Gettysburg, PA:  The Times and News Publishing Company, 1968.

Additional Notes: 

(1)     “These neighboring residents applied the name nunnery when speaking of the cloister.  When the railroad from Mont Alto to Waynesboro included a stop across the road, the station was called ‘Nunnery.’  This affixed the appellation of nunnery to the cloister which is common usage in the area even to the present time.  Peter Lehman was much opposed to the use of this term and wanted it simply to be called Institution.  Had the logical name Snow Hill Cloister been used, this applied name might not have become common.  For this reason, and also because the founding was a direct offshoot of Ephrata Cloister (German Kloster, a place of seclusion), the author (Treher) has taken the liberty to use the name Snow Hill Cloister, which was never used by the monastic society.”  Treher, p.49

(2)     Peter Lehman:  “…a prophetess named Hannah, who was thrice warned in a dream concerning (Peter) Lehman that a ‘flock hath need of thee westward,’ Lehman made the journey to Antietam, where he met Barbara Snowberger.”  (Peter) Miller gave his consent that Lehman should become leader and pastor of the Antietam Church.  Lehman accepted the call and preached regularly at Snow Hill so that the Antietam congregation became the Snow Hill congregation.  Lehman received no salary and began farming as a livelihood.”

Source:  Treher, p. 39.

(3)  “The music was introduced at Snow Hill, by Peter Lehman in about 1795-1800, and ceased to be heard.

         in about 1880-85.”  Treher, p. 92

(4)  On June 17, 1834 the community was incorporated under the name of ‘The Seventh Day Baptist

Society of Snow Hill’.  According to the charter of incorporation, the incorporators forming the    monastical society were John Snowberger, Henry Bauman, Elizabeth Snowberger, Catherine Hoch, Barbara Snowberger, Veronica Snowberger, Susannah Fyock, Hannah Fyock, and Mary Fyock, and Mary Toms.  The charter is signed by these and four others, Solomon Monn, Charles Hoch, Samuel Snowberger, and David Snowberger.”  Treher, p. 53.

(5)   “Carolus Hoch was the miller from 1835 to 1843…Peter Fahnestock became the miller in   

        1845…Benjamin Fahnestock then became the miller.”  Treher p. 67

(6)  “When Obed (Snowberger) died in November 1895, at the age of 72, his obituary stated he  was ‘a

        great  reader, well posted on current subjects and philosophy, an original thinker, was kindly, 

        benevolent, and everywhere liked.’ “

            Epitaph:  Go to thy rest in peace

                         And soft be thy repose,

                         Thy toils are o’er, thy troubles cease,

                         From earthly cares in sweet release

                         Thine eyelids gently close.    Source:  Treher, p. 94

(7)     Vorstehers (pastors):  “Pastors at Snow Hill have been George Adam Martin, John Horn, Peter

       Lehman, Andreas Fahnestock, Benjamin Specht (1840), John Riddlesperger (1845), Abraham Golley

        (1852), (Abraham?)Ely, Jacob McFerren, John Wall, John A. Pentz, W.A. Resser, Benjamin Miller,

        and Vernon Witt, probationer.”  Source:  Treher

(8) The Antietam Congregation was founded, in part by Ulrich Snowberger and his father-in-law, Theodore Ingold.  Ulrich was the brother of Andreas (Andrew) Snowberger who married Barbara Garber (Kerber). It was Andrew and Barbara who founded Snow Hill. Johannes (Hans) Schneeberger, father of Andrew and Ulrich, named the area after the resemblance to  the Snowberger's (Schneeberger's)  homeplace in Switzerland.  Source: Ben S. Barlow    [email protected]

(9) John Riddlesberger (Jr.), son of John Riddlesberger and ---------------, served as 2nd Lieut. with Capt. Samuel Royer, 1777 to 1779 and in 1780-81. The first deed of 1779 was from Daniel Royer of Bedford Co., Penna., to John Riddlesberger  (Jr.)of Cumberland  Co., the land in Antrim Twp., joining Wm. Beddy (Beatty), John Potter, Samuel McCrea and Christian Flougher. The 2nd deed of Oct. 17, 1782, James Potter, Vice President, to John Riddlesberger. Warrant to Jacob Fyock (Sr.?), dated Apr. 15, 1773, who sold to John Riddlesberger, Aug. 12, 1777. Situate in Antrim Twp., called "Fiascone" (Fyerstone).

Antietam Congregations: Snowberger’s Meetinghouse

One of the churches of the Antietam Congregation founded by Snowberger descendants.

 Written by Elmer Q. Gleim 

At the southern end of the village of Glen Furney, some years before the Civil War, the community constructed a little, red brick school house on the west side of the road, near to the Snowberger’s land. It was furnished with a large ten-plate stove in the center, two rows of long desks with benches without backs for the pupils and a table and chair for the teacher. In this house that was torn down in l875 or l876, the Brethren assembled for worship.

As the membership grew, they needed a more and larger comfortable place for worship, and decided to build a church. The place selected was at the end of the other lane to the Snowberger homestead. On August 9, l856, the deed was given for one acre of ground. from George and Elias Snowberger to Jacob Snowberger and Henry Bonebrake, trustees for the German Baptist Brethren Church, for the sum of fifteen dollars. These trustees acted as directors of the building which was already started and was completed in the same year.

The church was rectangular, about 25 x 30 feet, with a double door on the east side, a large stove in the center, a row of seats next to the wall nearly the whole way around the church, and two rows of benches with backs on either side of the stove. One section was for men and the other for women. On the southwest corner was of the building was the preachers’ table, facing the men, and close in front of this table was the deacons’ bench.

George and Elias Snowberger and a maiden sister, Elizabeth, lived at the home place nearly all of their lives. They usually made special arrangements to entertain the visiting ministers for dinner when services were held at the church. The services were conducted once per month until l880 when it fell into the hands of the Old Order Brethren. The house was then converted into a dwelling by Christian Shockey in l900. The graveyard nearby had bodies which were removed. Thus the Snowberger church continues to be only a memory