REPLOGLE FAMILY EARLY RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS
By Paul H. Replogle
(Co-author of "Replogle-Reprogle Genealogy")
Note: This previously appeared as an article in the journal of the Fellowship Of Brethren Genealogists.
ALSACE AND YORK CO. PA (1590-1753): LUTHERAN
John Rinehart Replogle (Johann Reinhard Reblogel in German), 1720-1796, who was an immigrant to America, apparently attended the protestant church at Soultz Sous Forests, Bas-Rhin., like many of his ancestors. It was one of two churches in that locality: Catholic and protestant. At least the records of his birth and baptism, and the death of his son Johann Reinhard, are recorded in that protestant church. The records are described as "parish records in Soultz (protestants)." Also, "the information is from Lutheran church records indeed." So it is evident the Reblogel family was connected to the Lutheran church at Soultz, and had been for some time, as the family is mentioned in many records there, going back to the first records of that church of "early 1590" or, as mentioned elsewhere, "as early as 1595." It is reported that in "earlier mentions in first record of Soultz," meaning the first parish record of 1590 or 1595, "Matern Reblogel died in Sultz prior to 1617." Matern is presumed to be the earliest ancestor of John Rinehart for whom we have a written record. Of interest, only as recently as 1555, at an imperial diet at Augsburg, Catholic and Lutheran princes negotiated a treaty which gave recognition to Lutheranism in Germany on the narrow principle of cuius regio eius religio [whosoever rules the territory, his religion shall prevail].
After coming to America, John Rinehart was married in 1753 in St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church at Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania. This seems to continue the connection of John Rinehart Replogle, and his wife, to the Lutheran church.
MARYLAND, 1771-1775: GERMAN REFORMED
At some point after 1753 and prior to 1771, John Rinehart Replogle and probably some (or perhaps all) of his children, including John Philip, changed from the Lutheran church to the German Reformed church. This probably happened when the family moved from York County, Pa. to Hagerstown, Frederick County, Md. or to Conococheague District, Washington County, Md. Perhaps as a result they were located near a German Reformed church.
John Philip Replogle (1754-between 1810 and 1824) was a son of John Rinehart. A daughter of John Philip was baptised in 1774 in the Salem German Reformed Church, Conococheague District, Washington County, Md. His second marriage, in 1788, was in the German Reformed Church, at Frederick, Frederick County, Md.
Rinehart ("Jr.") Replogle (1763-1813), was a son of John Rinehart. Although his children were members of Brethren antecedant churches, there appears to be no proof of his own religion. However, what seems to be an unfounded opinion appears on a D.A.R. Application paper based on his Revolutionary War service: "...Noncombatant, as (he was) a Dunker in religion and opposed to bloodshed-- though he took part in a number of combats with Indians." No supporting primary source for this extraordinary statement has been found.
Jacob C. Replogle (1771-after 1840), a son of John Rinehart, was baptized in 1771 at Conococheague District, Washington County, Md. in Salem German Reformed Church.
Daniel Replogle (1773-1837 or 1838), a son of John Rinehart, was baptized in 1774 at Hagerstown, Frederick County, Md. in Salem German Reformed Church.
BEDFORD COUNTY, PA. AND OHIO, 1776-1800’s: BRETHREN & ANTECEDENTS
In 1802 Daniel Replogle, son of John Rinehart, resided Clermont County, Ohio. He and his wife were early members of the Stondick German Baptist Church, formerly called ‘Obannon Baptist Church. The church was organized in 1802.
Peter Replogle (1785-1861), a son of John Rinehart, migrated to Ohio in 1805, then to Indiana. In 1828, two years after settlers started arriving in Carroll County, Ind., three German Baptist families (Eyman, Replogle and Wise) started holding church services in Peter Replogle’s barn east of Delphi along Deer Creek. In 1829 Peter was elected to the ministry, and he was the first elder in Deer Creek churches. In 1838 there was trouble between Peter Eyman and Peter Replogle, which resulted in a division of church territory. Peter stayed with the Bachelor Run (Deer Creek) congregation, which celebrated its 150th year of worship in 1978.
Of the grandchildren of John Rinehart Replogle, several are identified with the Church of the Brethren or its antecedent churches.
The religion of Philip Replogle (1777 or later-1848 or 1853), son of John Philip, was United Brethren.
George Brown Replogle (1793-1855), son of Rinehart "Jr.", married, second, to Mary (Polly, Sally?) Mack Holsinger, daughter of William Mack. William was the son of Alexander Mack, Jr., whose father Alexander Mack, Sr. was the founder of the German Baptist Brethren Church in 1708.
Rinehart Replogle (1796-1859 or 1862), son of Rinehart "Jr." resided South Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pa. and he and family were members of Salemville Seventh Day Baptist Church.
Daniel Brown Replogle (1798-1871), son of Rinehart "Jr." was a member of the German Baptist Brethren Church, as was his brother David Replogle (1800-1875) and other children of Rinehart "Jr."