Mock Meeting House
Mock Meeting House
This was one of the early Pioneer Brethren Churches located in the Dunning Creek area, near Pleasantville, West St. Clair Twp. Pleasantville was located in Bedford Co, PA. According to the book, Alexander Mack the Tunker and Descendants, by Rev Freeman Ankrum, (1943), this log church was completed in 1844. The church appears to have had its beginning when George Mack Holsinger, a deacon, and George Stull, a laymember, moved there, 1 April 1841, from Morrison's Cove, PA, and joined John Garber, a minister, and a few other laymembers already living there.
It was reported that since the minister spoke only German, others from the Conembaugh Congregation near Johnstown, who
could also preach in English, helped with meetings. Levi Roberts who was nearly seventy, and Peter Lutz, a much younger
man, walked twenty miles over Allegheny Mountain to hold three services over a weekend. In addition, John Mineely,
although crippled, would endure the horseback ride, over the same distance to render a like service every four weeks.
The land for this church was donated by Christian Mock, son of one of the Peter Mocks of Maryland. Although Christian's
wife, Mary (Shearer) Mock was a member of this church, there is no evidence that he was related to Alexander Mack. In the
foreground adjoining this Church is shown Christian Mock's grave. Christian and Mary (Shearer) Mock are ancestors of Paul
Swan.
It appears that in 1943 when Ankrum's book was written, this old log structure was no longer being used as a church and was
beginning to deteriate, so it is unknown what its condition is today or even if it is still standing.
We are grateful to Mr Donald F. Durnbaugh, co-editor of the Brethren Encylopedia who has granted permission to Paul
Swan, to let the Mock Family Historian Home Page reproduce a copy of a picture taken in 1955 of this old pioneer church.
Gene Andert / Fort Wayne, IN / [email protected]