Meisenhelter’s Meeting House
David Meisenhelter born 1753, came
from
December 3, 1839 shows that John Meisenhelter of Dover Township gave title to David Ilgenfritz, George Weigel, John Fisar and their heirs, for consideration of $1.00, a plot of land containing 10 perches with a log house on it, which was to be used only for “School and a house of Public Worship, and if here is a funeral and they wish to have preaching, then the school house is to be given up to them for that purpose. Jacob Hake, William Caldwell and George Heilman witnessed the transaction.
It is known that prior to the advent of the “Free Public
Schools”, or about 1850, the children from parts of
In 1845, the log building was covered with white pine siding.
During the year 1886, there were 35 males enrolled in four different Sunday school classes and forty-two females in eight classes for a total of 77 persons. David Meisenhelter was Superintendent and Elias B Wallace was his assistant. By the year 1915 there were 115 members.
Title to the School House property reverted to the Meisenhelters. A deed recorded May 19, 1909 shows that Samuel H and John A, two sons of David Meisenhelter, as executors of his estate, gave a new deed, dated September 3, 1887, for a consideration of $5.00 to Elias B Wallace, Elias B Quickel, David E Bentzel and their successors in office as Trustees, forever. The property was designated Meisenhelters Trinity Chapel and consisted of 39 perches on which was a log house weather boarded, and was commonly known as “Meisenhelter’s Meeting house”.
The advent of the automobile made it easier to attend other churches and Sunday schools and in 1930 saw the end of Sunday school at Meisenhelters.
In a deed not recorded, dated December 17, 1822, for 120 acres and 157 perch given to John Meisenhelter, a plot 22 feet square was “excepted” for a burial ground for any of the Meisenhelter family who wished to be buried there. It is located about midway between the home buildings and the schoolhouse, in a field. The fenced-in plot in the center of the field, known as Meisenhelters Burial Ground, was the site of 24 markers and tombstones in 1945.
Several sandstone markers with no visible writing are in this burial plot. From newspaper files, it is assumed that the first burial was that of David Meisenhelter on August 10, 1819. The tombstone of Elizabeth Seifert carries the dates 1757-1830. and records her age as 72 years 7 months and zero days. The last burial recorded by a marker was that of Elmer E Leibernecht born March 2 1887 and died August 13 1887.
History Volume 1 1907