Valley Girl Views: The Stained Glass Window Dedications At The Watsontown Lutheran Church

While in the Watsontown Lutheran Church this week, I took note of the various dedications on the stained glass windows. The names include: Staley, Rambach, Gosh, Hartranft, Cronrath, Deitrick, Miller, Weidenhamer, & Heilman.

Many of those men served in the Civil War. One was drafted, but paid for another to serve in his place. Miller built the building that would become the borough building in Watsontown.

Gosh owned all the land east of the railroad tracks in Dewart, laying out Gosh's addition.
Sarah Heilman became Mrs Walter VanFleet - of the VanFleet Rose fame. Dietrick never lived in Watsontown. He was killed in an accident with a wood saw in 1878. His widow then remarried, and moved to Watsontown.

The Rambachs were not Lutheran - but they attended the building when it was shared by both the Reformed and Lutheran Congregations. When the new Trinity Reformed Church was built (today the UCC church), Mrs Rambach donated the bell tower and had it inscribed there, likely making them the only family to have lasting memorials with their names in two different churches in town.

Below is a look at each of the windows, a closer look at the dedications, and brief histories of each family.

Surrounding the altar are two long stained glass windows. On the left is a beautiful tribute to the Rev. F.W. Staley, 1st Sergt Co F 20th Pa Calvary. The tribute was provided by Bryson Post 225 of the GAR.

The Rev. Frederick Wampole Staley was born in Montgomery County Pa, in in 1844, the son of John & Sarah [Wampole] Staley. The Watsontown Lutheran Church was built in 1886/7, while Rev. F. W. Staley was pastor. He remained in Watsontown through May 1st 1890, when he resigned his position, and the Rev. Michael Henry Fishburn took over as Pastor.

In addition to serving in the civil war, "with distinction in the 6th and 20th Pennsylvania Calvary", Rev Staley's obituary in June 1920 tells us that he was formerly chaplain of the House of Representative, president of the Loysville Orphan Home for 19 years, formerly superintendent of missions of the Lutheran Church of Philadelphia, pastorages at Columbia, Middletown, Ardmore, and East Landsdowne.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his widow and 5 sons: F. Walton, Frank, Robert M, Joseph F., & Herbert.

The window to the right is dedicated to the Mrs F.W. Staley - Mary Cordelia [Freas] Staley, by the Society of Christian Endeavor.

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The 3rd window at the front of the church was placed by the Washington Camp No 229 P.O.S.A [Patriotic Sons Of America]

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The large window to the left of the pews has 4 panes, with dedications by two families

They read, from left to right:

Presented by G.W. & J.W. Rambach

In Memorial Silas Rambach

In Memory Of Christian & Margaret Gosh

By Their Daughters Mrs. Thompson Bower Mrs. DR Harley

Presented by G.W. & J.W. Rambach in Memoriam Silas Rambach

George & John were the sons of Silas.

Silas Rambach was born February 5 1813, the son of Johannes & Elizabeth Rambach.

He married Salome Fenstermacher. Silas died September 8, 1881, and is buried in Watsontown Cemetery.

Silas Rambach was on the original committee formed to solicit subscriptions to purchase land and construct a church building, which was to be used jointly by the Reformed Church congregation ,and the Lutheran Congregation. Others on the committee included Peter Shaeffer, E. Everitt, Philip Winterstein, and William H. Follmer.

The two denominations shared the building until 1886. At that time, the Reformed congregation purchased property on Main & 6th streets, and the trinity reformed church was built there. The Rambach and Hess families were part of the Reformed Congregation.

The History Of Northumberland County by Charles Bell provides a Biography:

SILAS RAMBACH was born in Newport township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1813, son of John and Elizabeth Rambach. His father died, October 17, 1836, and his mother, August 13, 1846.

He engaged in teaching in the common schools of his neighborhood, and afterward entered the general store of his uncle, Jacob Rambach, first as clerk, and subsequently becoming the owner of the store. He later formed a co-partnership with Michael Hess, and opened a store at Newport Centre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1847. During the administration of President Polk, a post-office was established at this point and Mr. Rambach was appointed post-master. He soon afterward sold his interest in the mercantile business, and directed his attention to the management of his farm, which was situated in the immediate vicinity. In 1854 he decided to enter politics, and presented his name to the Luzerne county Democratic convention for nomination to the office of county commissioner. His friends did not indorse him for that office, but the convention voluntarily nominated him for the office of county treasurer. He was elected by a large majority, and made for himself an enviable reputation as a business man and financier.

In the spring of 1859 he removed with his family from Luzerne county to Delaware township, Northumberland county, having purchased the Frederick Fox farm, which now forms the northern boundary line of the borough of Watsontown. Here he resided until the village of Watsontown commenced to assume the proportions of a modern town, when he erected for himself a commodious brick mansion, where he resided until his death.

At the erection of the first church edifice in Watsontown, St. Bartholomew's Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed, he was the chairman of the building committee, and the treasurer. He declined to serve longer as an elder, but served as trustee and treasurer until his decease. He was one of the corporators and managers, as well as the secretary and treasurer, of the Watsontown Cemetery Association, a member of the Watsontown town council, and borough treasurer a number of years. He took an active part in the organization and placing upon a good business basis of many things pertaining to the town.

At the organization of the Watsontown Bank, he at once became identified with its interests, solicited for stock, became a member of the board of directors, and was the vice- president, and he succeeded Ario Pardee in the presidency after the institution was made a national bank. He was also for many years a director and treasurer of the Watsontown Building Association.

July 14, 1834, he married Sarah Fenstermacher, of Salem township, Luzerne county, and to this union were born three children: Emily, who married George W. Hess, of Watsontown, and died June 19, 1878; George W., cashier of the Watsontown National Bank, and John W., of Milton. He was a man of sterling integrity, and of most excellent business qualifications, and maintained the respect and confidence of the entire community. He died, September 8, 1881.

The Reformed Church Building, today Trinity U.C.C., showing the bell tower. This building was constructed in 1886. Silas died in 1881, before the church was built, but his widow attended services in this new building.

His wife was a consistent member of Trinity Reformed church of Watsontown, and contributed very generously to the erection of the new church edifice built several years ago. She also presented the bell hanging in the tower, which is engraved with the name of the congregation, the date of the presentation, and the name of the donor. She died, May 16, 1887, aged seventy-seven years and ten months. The portrait of Mr. Rambach which appears in this work, was inserted by his son John W., of Milton, as a final tribute to the memory of his father.

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In Memory Of Christian & Margaret Gosh

By Their Daughters Mrs. Thompson Bower Mrs. DR Harley

Christian Gosh was born in 1807, the son of Christian and Catherine [Weist] Gosh

In the late 1850s, Christian Gosh owned the land east of the railroad in Dewart. He extended Main Street, and measured off lots on both side of the road in what was called "Gosh's Addition".

Christian died in 1871, and his wife "Peggy", the former Margaret Dietrick, died ten years later in 1881. They are both buried in the Watsontown cemetery.

The Harley Mansion, located on 8 Gosh Drive in Dewart Pa

Their children included Levi, Catherine, John (Dr John Dietrick Gosh), Frederick, and Mary. Mary Ellen Gosh married Dr John H. Harley. Catherine married Thompson Bower, who was president of the Watsontown National Bank.

From The History of Northumberland County By Charles Bell: [About Dewart, PA]

While these developments were in progress, the land adjoining east of the railroad was covered with timber, and remained in the possession of Christian Gosh, from whom Hull, Marr, and Nagle had purchased. Following their example, he extended Main street to the limit of his land, and, with the assistance of Arthur T. Ludwig, the first justice of the peace in the vicinity of the village, laid off a number of lots on both sides of the street; to this extension of the town plat the name of "Gosh's addition" was applied. Two grain houses were built thereon in 1860, by Christian Gosh and John McFarland; that of the latter burned before its completion, but was at once rebuilt. William Herring erected a brick hotel in 1861-62.
On the third lot from the railroad on the south side of the street John L. Strieby, from Lycoming county, a wagon maker by trade, erected a house and shop, and thus inaugurated this important branch of local industry. This house was the first erected for a residence in that part of the town. The second was built by Christian Gosh. The first store was opened by John Gosh and Irwin Smith.

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These two panes are labeled:

To Father & Mother By H.J. & J.C. Hartranft

In Memory Of Chas R. Cronrath

Andrew Jackson Hartranft was born Aug 12 1828 in Northumberland County Pa, the son of Andrew and Maria Magdalena [Frakenberger[ Hartranft.

The Children Of Andrew Jackson Hatranft

He married Isabella Reeser in 1856, and the couples children included:

Mary Leanda, Harry Judson, John Calvin, Florence McClella, Elizabeth Jane, and Anna Belle. Harry Judson Hartranft and John Calvin Hartranft would be the H.J. & J.C. listed on the pane.

Andrew Jackson Hartranft 1828-1890

& his wife, Isabella [Reeser] Hartranft 1837-1897

Charles R. Cronrath was born in 1818, the son of Daniel and Barbara [Rettinger] Cronrath.

He married Sylvia J. Carpenter, and they had children including: Elizabeth & William

Charles died September 1880, and is buried in the Watsontown Cemetery.

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The window behind the pews has 4 dedications:

To Charles & Susan Heilman by their daughters S.S., E.R. & M.C

In Memoriam Saml Deitrick by E.D. Deitrick

Presented by SM Miller & Family

To Father & Mother by CD HC WL Weidenhamer

To Charles & Susan Heilman by their daughters S.S., E.R. & M.C

Charles Heilman was born Aug 1831 in Lycoming County Pa, the son of John and Hanna [Rentz] Heilman.

Charles married Susan Everitt, and they had children including:

Sarah Sadie, Emma Regina, and Mary Clementine.

The initials on the pane appear to be S.S., E.R. & M.C. - for those three daughters.

Sarah Heilman, daughter of Charles, married Walter Van Fleet, who is famous for the Van Fleet Roses. Read more about Van Fleet here: https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-van-fleet-roses.html

Charles Heilman died in January 1893. He and his wife are buried in the Watsontown Cemetery.

In Memoriam Saml Deitrick by E.D. Deiterick

Samuel K. Dietrick was born May 30th 1836 in Lycoming County Pa, the son of Joseph & Roseanna [Fullmer] Dietrick.

Samuel never lived in Watsontown, from what I can tell, but did live nearby in the area of Elimsport. About 1858, Samuel married Savilla Dentler. He served in the 63rd regiment during the civil war, and Samuel and Savilla had at least two children - Rosco McLlan Dietrick who died in 1874 at age 10, and Edgar Dentler Dietrick, who would be the E.D. Dietrick on the dedication.

On January 17 1868, Samuel was working a circular wood saw when it exploded, killing him.

In 1879, Savilla married George Washington Hess, his first wife, Emily Rombach, having died in June 1878. Edgar Dietrick was 12 when his mother remarried, and moved to Watsontown.

Presented by SM Miller & Family

Samuel M. Miller Miller, who was a retired farmer, was born in Columbia county, November 17, 1830, the son of Henry & Catharine [Marsteller] Miller. He moved to Northumberland county and located in Delaware township, near the borough of Watsontown in 1804. A few years later he erected the Miller Block in Watsontown, removing there where he resided to the date of his death. He was identified with a number of the town's leading industries, including the Watsontown tannery, the Watsontown Boot and Shoe factory and one of the furniture factories

In 1841 Samuel married Miss Emeline Shuman also of Columbia county. Their children included: Mrs. Hulda Rarick who moved to Kansas; Francis Miller who moved to Hagerstown, Maryland; and Charles Miller, of Watsontown,

After the death of Emeline, Charles remarried to Miss Elizabeth Welliver, of Milton.

Charles was a member of the Lutheran church and also of Watsontown Lodge, No. 401, Free and Accepted Masons. He resided at Fourth and Main streets until his death in 1904.

The Miller Building, Corner of 4th & Main, was purchased by the borough in 1912. It was used by the West Branch Fire Company as well as the town hall. It was torn down about 1960, and the current borough building was built in its place.

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To Father & Mother by CD HG WL Weidenhamer

John Adam Weidenhamer, son of Jacob and Susanna (Dreibelbis) Weidenhamer, was born in Maiden Creek Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, April 5,1836, and when but a baby he was taken by his parents (in 1837) to Limestoneville, Montour County, of the same state where he grew to manhood and where he attended what schools they had in the district and the McEwensville Academy.

At the age of fourteen Mr. Weidenhamer clerked in the store of his father and brother Wellington Weidenhamer at Limestoneville, Penna. When sixteen years old he and his brother Daniel farmed the old homestead farm at Limestoneville, Penna.

From 1854 to 1857 Mr. Weidenhamer clerked in S .L. Finney's store in Milton, Penna. From 1857 to 1860 he clerked for Jerome and Robert Datesman in West Milton, Penna.

On November 1, 1859 Mr. Weidenhamer married Sarah Ann Datesman, a daughter of John Datesman a prominent merchant and grain dealer of West Milton, Union County, Pennsylvania. After which they commenced housekeeping at Limestoneville, Penna. Mr. Weidenhamer farmed one of his fathers farms in that section until 1865.

In 1863 John was drafted for nine months service in the Army during the Civil War. On account of his personal financial interests and others for which he was responsible and to which it was advisable and necessary to give his personal attention. At the request of his father, he sent a substitute at a substantial cost. The substitute served loyally for the full nine months after which he was mustered out and returned to his home intact. In 1865 Mr. Weidenhamer was again drafted and had, (at many sacrifices) made all arrangements to serve and had traveled as far as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, when fortunately, peace was declared and the war ended.

The father of Mr Weidenhamer having died in 1863 the farms were sold and the estate therefore was settled in 1865, so he rented and moved to what was then known as the "Caldwell Farm" which was located about two miles north of Limestoneville, Pennsylvania. He lived and farmed until 1866. When early in January of 1867 he purchased from C. B. Reifsnyder a General Merchandising Store located at Dewart, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. To which place he moved and took possession in February of the year 1867. He later bought the store property as well as the residence in which he lived. Which had been the property of Christian Gosh. This residence was a large brick building and was one of the finest in the village. The store property also was a two story brick building and had a frame warehouse attached to it. All well adapted for carrying on the mercantile business.

Mr. Weidenhamer continued this business until the spring of 1882. When he sold his residence and the store property as well as the stock of merchandise to Samuel I. Cooner who clerked in the competing store of Abraham Benner also of Dewart, PA.

After Mr. Weidenhamer had disposed of his holdings in Dewart, Pa., he rented another store with the residence combined on the corner of Third and Main Streets in Watsontown, Penna. This being the same property and location in which Phillip Shay, one of the pioneer merchants of Watsontown. Phillip Shay had lived and conducted his business of general merchandising for many years. Here Mr. Weidenhamer purchased an entire new stock of merchandise consisting of dry goods and notions, hats and caps, boots and shoes, ladies coats, groceries, flour and feed and etc. He opened for business in April of 1882, continuing doing business at that place until 1890. In the fall of 1889 he bought what was then known as the William Dean property, which was located on the corner of Main and Fifth Streets of the same borough. This property consisted of a large ten room house erected on a lot 90 x 160 feet. On the west corner of the lot he had erected a large brick store building with a basement 25 x 120 feet. In the spring of 1890 Mr. Weidenhamer moved into this building and continued to do business at this stand until April 1899. When he sold the stock of merchandise and rented the store building to Jewett C. Fowler and S. Griggs Lantz who operated the business under the firm name of Lantz and Fowler.

In July of 1899 John went on a trip to Sutton, West Virginia to visit his son Charles D. Weidenhammer, who owned and was successfully conducting a General Merchandising business at that place. It was while visiting his son on Monday, August 7, 1889, he was suddenly taken ill with fecal impacting of the bowels. Three physicians, who were called to take care of him, were unable to remove or relieve the problem. Thus causing his death on Monday evening, August 14, 1899, just at sunset.

Mr. Weidenhamer's wife and son, Horace Weidenhamer, had arrived at the home of Charles Weidenhamer, where lay the sick father, on Thursday preceding the day of his death. Charles Weidenhamer and the family was at his bed side at the time of his death.

Mr. Weidenhamer's body was taken to Watsontown, Pennsylvania and there buried in the family lot on Thursday August 17, 1899. The services were conducted by the Reverend A. O. Mullen of the First Lutheran Church of Milton, Penna. Of which Mr. Weidenhamer had been member since 1867 and where he had served as a deacon for many years. He had also served as Superintendent of the Sabbath School, of that church.

Mr. Weidenhamer was a Democrat in politics but not a partisan. He was liberal to the needy and was highly regarded in the community where he lived.

After the death of Mr. Weidenhamer his widow lived in the home at Watsontown, Penna., with her son Walter. Where they remained until 1903 when the property was sold and the estate settled. She made her home with her son Charles, in West Virginia, and lived there until 1917. When they moved to Washington D. C. where she continued to live with, her son, Charles until the time of her death.

Her death occurred at the home of her son, Charles Weidenhamer, who was then living at 4606, 16th Street N. W. Washington DC, on Friday August 13, 1926, at noon. Short services were held at the Weidenhamer residence in Washington Sunday evening August 15.. Her remains were then taken to Watsontown, Penna., on Monday August 16, where further services were held in the Lutheran Church of which she was a member for many years.. Interment was made in the Weidenhamer burial lot at Watsontown, Pa.

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Jesus In The Garden Of Gethsamane

In Red Robes, Not Blue.

This past weekend, February 2022, we attended the funeral of Margaret [Yeagle] Truckenmiller, my husbands aunt. Aunt Margie, who had married H. Robert Truckenmiller, son of Ward & Thelma [Brown] Truckenmiller, was a member of the Watsontown Lutheran Church for 72 years. Her father in law, Ward Welsh Truckenmiller, paid for the painting hanging at the front of the church.

A cousin told us the story, he was at the Truckenmiller farm when the artist, from Mifflinburg, came to the farm in Watsontown to show the painting to Ward, and his wife Thelma. He unrolled it, and after a few minutes, Thelma said there was a problem. The artist had painted the robes in blue. She pulled out her bible and showed him the photo inside, which portrayed the same scene, with Jesus in robes of red.

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The Pipe Organ, Installed 1905

With Matching Funds from Andrew Carnegie

Between 1901 and 1908, Andrew Carnegie assisted churches with the purchase of "fine musical instruments". Carnegie had a passion for organs, and helped to pay for more than 7,000 pipe organs worldwide. In Pennsylvania, Carnegies adopted state, he helped to fund the purchase of 3,119 organs. He reportedly joked that “I cannot be responsible for what preachers might say, but I can be responsible for the positive influence of the music", and also, "the organ lessens the pain of the sermon."

The Watsontown Lutheran Church took advantage of this generous offer , and raised matching funds to enable to them to purchase a $3,000 Hook & Hastings [Today Parson's Organ Co] pipe organ.

The Methodist Church in Picture Rocks also had a pipe organ installed in 1905, partially funded by Carnegie. Four churches in Union County received funds from Carnegie to support the installation of pipe organs. They included:

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lewisburg, St Johns United Church of Christ in Mifflinburg, First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mifflinburg, and the Mifflinburg Methodist Church.