HECKATHORN CHURCH

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A BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE HECKATHORN CHURCH

The following is from a little paper booklet found in my grandfathers belongings.
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE HECKATHORN
EVANGELICAL UNITED BRETHERN CHURCH, August 12-15, 1948

It is impossible to write a complete and accurate history of the Heckathorn Evangelical United Brethren Church because no early records are now available. The meager records that were made by the early preachers have been destroyed or lost. The facts that are here presented have been secured from records left by later pastors who secured their information from older members of the congregation and community from their recollection of events. We are indebted to Rev. N. Frank Boyer for most of the information we now have. He states that he secured his information from Mr. William V. Perry. Mr. Perry was personally acquainted with the early members of the church and remembered many of the events.

The Heckathorn church had its beginning in services held by preachers of the Evangelical Association which date back to 1848. These meets were held in a log school house located on what was then known as the Munhall farm, now owned by Mr. A. N. Stanley. This school house stood about one hundred yards south of the present church, on the same side of the road. It was almost directly opposite the road on the south side of the present Heckathorn Cemetery. Rev. G. W. Cupp is reported as the first pastor assigned to the church. He was popularly known as "Daddy Cupp." He died in 1908 at the age of 88. The date in which the church was organized is not known but it is supposed that Rev. Cupp not only held the first preaching services but also organized the church.

The picture on the opposite page was taken at a Sunday School picnic in about 1909. With the exception of one all in the picture were then over sixty years of age. At least seven of them were charter members of the Heckathorn church. The identity of some is not certain, however, it is believed that their names are as follows:
Seated, left to right: *Jacob Oaks, *David Morrison, *Mrs. A. J. Stanley, *Mrs. Flora Johnson, *Mrs. Moorehead (?), *Mrs. Sarah Ziegler, *Mrs. Godfrey Flocklerzi
Second row: * Mrs. Alfred Clark, *William Perry, *August Glass, or *John Silzle, *Mrs. Andrew Bickel, Mrs. *John Heckathorn, *Mrs. Nancy Morrison, *Mrs. Alex Stover, *Mrs. George Coburn
Back row: *John Heckathorn, *Hezekiah Culp, *Alfred Clark, *Mrs. John Fry, *Thomas Perry, *Christian Toberer, *Mrs. August Glass.

A list of charter members is recorded. It is not likely that all of them were members when the church was first organized but it is known that they were members of the church in the very early days.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Heckathorn
Mrs. and Mrs. Jacob Heckathorn
Mr. and Mrs. J. K Heckathorn
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Heckathorn
Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Heckathorn
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Heckathorn Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. John Stanley
Mr. and Mrs. John Bickel
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bickel
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Bickel
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Oaks
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Reece
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sadler
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Fry
Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Fry
Mr. and Mrs. David Caldron
Mrs. Lizzie Fox

There were probably others who names cannot now be recalled.

The church services were held in the log school house from 1848 to 1863 when the first church was built. It stood on a lot of ground purchased from Mr. Henry Heckathorn for the sum of $12.85. This is now a part of the Heckathorn Cemetery, across the road from the present church. It was a small frame building. According to the recollection of persons who attended services in the church it was not more than 20 x 30 feet.

Mr. Henry Heckathorn
was one of the charter members of the Heckathorn church and
donated land for the beginning of the present Heckathorn Cemetery
The land on which the first church was built was purchased from him

Rev. Jacob Weikel was the second pastor. It is said that he lived in Cleveland, Ohio, and made itinerating trips, preaching in a large number of places in this section of the state. Rev. John Domer was the presiding elder at the time of the organization of the church.

By 1890 the first church was too small for the growing community and the increased membership. It was torn down and a larger frame building was erected across the road from the present church and about two hundred feet north of the site of the first church. Rev. F. E. Brickley was the pastor at the time when this church was built.

In 1892 there was a division in the Evangelical Association and a new denomination, the United Evangelical Church, was organized. The Heckathorn church adhered to the new denomination. As the Association had but a few members in the community, they sold the church building and a lot to the Heckathorn congregation in 1895.

The second church was destroyed by fire in 1900. Rev. C. A. Mock, who served the congregation in connection with the First Church, of Oil City, was conducting revival services at the time of the fire. Mrs. Belle Stanley donated a half acre of land and the present church was erected. It was dedicated in 1901 by Bishop W. M. Stanford.

The Heckathorn Ladies AID which was organized in 1934 by the late Rev. N. Frank Boyerwishes to offer congratulations for the 100 years of faithful service the church has rendered the communityThis was the second church built by the Heckathorn CongregationIt was built in 1890 and destroyed by fire in 1900

During the pastorate of Rev. P. F. Hollenbaugh, the building was raised and work was begun on the basement. Colored glass windows were installed. The basement was completed during the pastorate of Rev. H. M. Mohney. A new roof was also placed on the church.

In the early years the Heckathorn Church was a part of the Lickingville Charge. From about 1892, it was served with Oil City and Hogue Hill. Since 1922 it has been served with Venus.

When the church was first organized it was the only church within a radius of many miles. Many of the members came many miles on horseback or buggies to attend the services. Later other churches were organized in nearby communities. In the beginning there was little change in population. Later with the discovery of gas and oil and with the advent of automobiles there has been a great shift of population, many new families moving into the community and others moving away. At first the church was largely composed of Heckathorns, now there is not a single person by the name of Heckathorn on the Heckathorn church membership roll.

The Heckathorn Church has never been large, but it has for a century maintained religious services for the community. A great many persons over a wide area were converted in the Heckathorn Church or received religious instruction in its Sunday School. A century of religious services has been completed; a new century is opening up before us.
ContributorCheryl (Stroup) Pitts
cpitts@renet.com

A BRIEF HISTORYOF THE HECKATHORN CHURCH

A BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE HECKATHORN CHURCH