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Subject: Re: [BRE] SENGER, Felix & Joel - Brush Creek Meeting House / Cherry Grove, R...
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 2004 21:37:06 EST

The Willow Bend Books store located in Westminister, Md. has a number of
books related to history of Rockingham Co. Va. Their e-mail address is
www.WillowBendBooks.Com
In addition, I will give some information from 3 books that I have on
Rockingham Co. Some of what I write may already be known by you. From the
book "House Of Sanger " Vol 2 by Rachel Senger Bowen and Nettie M. Senger the
following appears on page 8. Joel Singer, son of John and Mary Dunbach Singer,
was born May 12,1800 in Washington Co.Md..He had a common school education and
spoke German and English.He married Mary Catherine , daughter of Felix and Mary
Beck on Sept. 3, 1819. She was born Feb.6,1798 and died Aug. 22, 1832 aged
34, 6 months and 17 days , four days after the birth of her son, Joel. (Joel
was born Aug. 18,1832 and died Sept. 23,1832.)
As his second wife he married on May 12, 1833 , Sarah Knouss of
Singer's Glen, Va. She was born Sept. 1 1809 and died Feb. 17,1865. They lived in
Franklin Co.Pa. and in 1850 moved to Cherry Grove, Rockingham Co.Va. He died Mar
7, 1888 at the age of 87 years, 9 months and 25 days. He is buried in the
Linville cemetery,Va.
In the book, " the Heartland of Rockingham County" compiled and edited
by Nancy B. Hess, 1976.; the following writing on page 55---under title of
'Garbers Church'. The first Dunkard Church in the county was organized at
Garber's in 1800. Garbers Church has long been known as a place of worship. In the
mid 1800's, many camp meetings were held in this area.
The Bethlehem Brethren Church located a PLeasant Hill near
Harrisonburg was erected in 1894 on land given by Reverend J.H. Hall, who was also a
musician.The church was organized when 20 charter members broke away from the
Dunkard Brethren Church in 1894. This new congregation was called the progressive
Brethren and the creed they selected was " The BIBLE, the whole Bible and
nothing but the Bible".
on page 59---Camp meetings were held on Sunday in northwest Rockingham
County in a place called Cherry Grove. Cherry Grove was originally a place
where a grove of cherry trees grew. An old road passed through here from Brock's
Gap to Linville.

In book," A History of Rockingham County Viriginia" by John W.Wayland, PhD,
1912.; the following is written about Brethren Churches. The Linville Church
was built in 1828. 1832 the Dunker Annual Meeting was held in Rockingham Co..
John Kline was killed JUne 15, 1864. In June 1879, the Dunker Annual Meetign
held at Broadway. Bridgewater College started at Spring Creek. 1889 the
Dunker annual Meeting held at Harrisonburg..
In the same reference the following list of Brethren Churches in
Rockingham Co. in 1912.. 1. Garber's; 2. Linville Creek; 3. Beaver Creek first
minister, John Brower. opened 1855, burned June 1869, new church used for
communion on Nov. 13, 1869.
4.Mill Creek organized 1840 5. Greenmount; built 1859; rebuilt 1898..
Benjamin Bowman was minister at this church for 50 years when he died at the age
of 87 years. 6. Pine Church 7.Plains: a Union house, the Brethren having
precedence on fourth Sundays. present building erected 1857 8. Bridgewater
built 1878 9. Dayton built in 1851 10 Timberville house
completed 1879 11. Mt Olivet 12. Montezuma old school house used for Dunker
Church. 13. Fairview 2 miles north of Mt. Clinton 14. Fairview 2
miles northeast of Tenth Legion, 15. Newdale one mile north of Tenth Legion
16. Bethel at Mayland 17 Cedar Lane 18 Brock's Gap 19. Oak
Grove 20 .Mt Zion 21.Melrose 22. Mt Pleasant 23 Harrisonburg 24.
Hinton Grove 25 Rawley Springs 26 Bridgewater College Chapel 28
Pleasant Run 29 Sunnyside.
The Brush Meeting house was erected in 1843,west of Broadway, and an
old church was used to stand near Ft. Hoover
In 1912 the membership of the Brethren in Rockingham Co. was about
2500.

I am a descendant of John and Mary Dunbach Singer by their daughter Mary
Elizabeth Singer. On Friday I will be in the Willow Bend Book Store and will look
for another reference to your question.
Betty

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