FIRST CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
THE KEYSER CONGREGATION

Elder George W Leatherman moved into the New Creek Valley and settled on a farm just four miles south of Keyser. Being an active minister, he began at once to proclaim the Gospel in this Valley. In 1890 he built, by subscription the "Leatherman Church" which was the mother church of the Brethren in the New Creek Valley. Assisting Brother Leatherman were Brethren I F Roberts and John Parish. Others who came into the field were I W Abernathy, S N McCann, John K Baker, Daniel B Arnold, George S Arnold, Charles Frantz, Jonas Fike and others.
On March 29, 1905 Elder B W Smith moved from the Tearcoat Congregation and settled on a farm on Beaver Run. Also in this year, Brother George W Leatherman passed away and Brother Smith was chosen as presiding Elder of the New Creek Congregation.
For a number of years both Sunday School and preaching services were held in halls. The old Oddfellows Hall on Mineral Street was the first used, and then services were held in the Mystic Chain Hall on North Main Street.
On January 25, 1919 a lot was purchased on Main Street and Fort Avenue, and the building of a church began. On December 1920, the Church was formally dedicated. Brother Jeremiah Thomas of the Sandy Creek Congregation delivered the Dedicatory Sermon, followed by a revival by Brother B W Smith.
On June 11, 1922, Brother Russell G West of Virginia became the first pastor to a congregation which numbered fifty.
During the six years of Brother West's ministry, the church enjoyed a number of stirring revivals. Some who served as Evangelists were: A B Miller, John T Glick, Jeremiah Thomas, A C Miller, O B Mathis and M J Bougher. Music directors were Brother Nelson T Huffman and Brother C W Roller.
Some Religious Education leaders were Brother Harvey E Arnold (Superintendent), Ezra Flory, Minor C Miller, J Quinter Miller and others.
The church was part of the New Creek Congregation until 1924, when it became organized as a city church by the charge of Brethren George S Arnold and B W Smith. The line was established parallel with Stoney Run, three miles south of Keyser. This gave to Keyser work the outlaying territory including Piedmont. The rural division retained the name of New Creek Congregation and Brother Smith as Elder.
The financial development was slow. Most Charter members were under the free ministry system, and due to having just purchased a lot and erected a building the weekly offerings were small. Money for current expenses were raised by soliciting each month from home to home. The pastor was secured for the first four years without financial consideration, he served as a High School instructor. He was put on full time service in 1925 when the envelope system was installed.
Revivals continued and in 1925, six brethren and sisters went for prayer at the home of Brother S K Fike in Piedmont. Regular Tuesday meetings were held from house to house there.
In Oct 1926 a two week revival was held at the Odd Fellows Hall in Westernport drawing membership to the Church. The Hall was then used as Sunday School and preaching.
In April 1927, Brother and Sister S Z Smith of Ohio conducted a revival added 35 more members to the church. On July 18, 1927 the Westernport Congregation of the Western District of MD was organized with a charter membership of 66. Twenty six members were automatically transferred to the Keyser Congregation. Brother Arthur Scrogum of Accident, MD was chosen part time pastor.
On 1 September 1928, Brother Russell G West entered Bethany Bible School and closed his pastorate. His successor was Brother B M Rollins of PA. The church membership had now increased to 265.
On October 1, 1928 Pastor B M Rollins held a Revival Campaign, adding 23 new members by Baptism. These members were:

ABERNATHY, MARGARET

RANDELL, BERNADINE

ASHBY, MABEL

ROBERTS, ANNA

BELL, JENNY

ROTRUCK, GERALD

HARRISON, GRACE

ROTRUCK, HERMAN

HOTT, BLAINE

SEARS, ELMER

HOTT, CARL MARTIN

SEARS, EVELYN MACKLEY

JOHNSON, ESTA

STREETS, IDA

KELLY, ANDREW

VERNON, BESSIE

KIMBLE, ERNEST

VERNON, FAY

KIMBLE, MABEL

WHIPP, MYRTLE

MARTIN, JUNIOR

WILT, ETHEL

MILLER, LOLA

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH AT THIS TIME WAS:

ELDER

H E ARNOLD

PASTOR

REV B M ROLLINS

MINISTER

OTIS W JOHNSON

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PERRY J CHESHIRE

HARRY F COFFMAN

JESSE E ROTRUCK

BOARD OF DEACONS

JESSE W ELBERT

CLARENCE ROTRUCK

ARNOLD LUDWICK

JAMES A ROTRUCK

C D LUDWICK

JESSE A ROTRUCK

ALVA F ROTRUCK

ERNEST A SEE

AARON TAYLOR

MINISTERIAL BOARD

HARVEY ARNOLD

ERNEST A SEE

CHARLES LUDWICK

MAMIE B WISE

NORA LUDWICK

BOARD OF FINANCE

HARVEY E ARNOLD

ERNEST A SEE

HARRY F COFFMAN

MAMIE B WISE

ARNOLD LUDWICK

CHURCH CLERK

OTIS W JOHNSON

CHURCH TREASURER

HARVEY E ARNOLD

LADIES AID SOCIETY

LUCY ROTRUCK

PRESIDENT

BESSIE EBERT

VICE PRESIDENT

MAMIE B WISE

SECRETARY - TREASURER

NORA LUDWICK

SUPERINTENDENT

SUNDAY SCHOOL STAFF
BOARD OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

HARVEY E ARNOLD

SUPERINTENDENT

IRENE FRIEND

ASST SUPERINTENDENT

JESS ROTRUCK

SECRETARY

DORSEY ROTRUCK

ASST SECRETARY

JIM ROTRUCK

TREASURER

PASTORS

ELDER GEORGE E LEATHERMAN

1890

ELDER B W SMITH

1905

BROTHER RUSSEL G WEST

1922

REV B M ROLLINS

1928

REV SHOWALTERS

1932

1936 MEMBERSHIP

ADAMS, DOROTHY LEE

HARRISON, HARLEIGH

RICE, ANNIE

AMTOWER, CLAUD

HARTMAN, AUDURY

RICKER, HANNAH CATHERINE

ARNOLD, HARVEY E

HARTMAN, GERALDINE

RICKER, JANE

ARNOLD, JANETT DELTA

HARTMAN, HELEN B

RICKER, JOHN

ARNOLD, MALINDA V

HARTMAN, ISABELLE

RICKER, MRS JOHN

ARNOLD, WILMA VENUS

HARTMAN, TED

RICKER, MARY ANN

BAKER, FLORENCE

HARTMAN, VIRGINIA

RICKER, MARY ANN

BAKER, FREDDIE

HAWES, DOROTHY

ROBERTS, ELLA

BAKER, MRS FREDDIE

HAWES, MORRISON

ROBERTS, JOSEPH LOUIS

BERG, EDITH

HAWES, PETE

ROBERT, LULA

BERG, NETTIE

HAWES, MRS PETE

ROBINSON, MARJORIE

BILLMYER, MARIA

HENDERSON, SOPHINA

ROBGERS, MADALINE

BILLMYER, WILDA VA

HINES O F

ROGERS, MYRTLE

BOBO, CHARLIE

HINES VIOLA

ROGERS, OTTIS LYNN

BOBO, MRS CHARLIE

HOOD, SALLY

ROGERS, ROSELLE

BOSLEY, IVAN

HOTT, ALICE

ROLLINS, B M

BOWMAN, ELIZABETH

HOTT, BLAINE

ROLLINS, FRANCIS A

BOWMAN, GERTRUDE

HOTT, ELANOR

ROLLINS, HAZEL

BOWMAN, GRACE E

HOTT, MILDRED

ROLLINS, JOHN MARK

BURNS, BESSIE MURIEL

HOTT, PAUL

ROTRUCK, ALVIA

BURNS, DORA GRACE

HOVATTOR, DELBERT

ROTRUCK, AMAMA

BURNS, HAZEL VA

HUGH, RUSSELL

ROTRUCK, MRS A

BURNS, HOWARD BROWN

HUGHES, INEZ

ROTRUCK, ARNOLD

BURNS, LILLIE K

ISER, BERTIE

ROTRUCK, BLANCH

BURNS, PEARL

ISER, LEONARD

ROTRUCK, BEULAH

BURNS, WALTER WILBUR

ISER, REBECCA

ROTRUCK, CLARENCE

CANNON, ALLIE

ISER, RICHARD

ROTRUCK, MRS CLARENCE

CANNON, LELIA

JOHNSON, MAGGGIE

ROTRUCK, CRESSIE

CANNON, OTTO

JOHNSON, OTIS

ROTRUCK, DORSEY

CHESHIRE, ANNA M

KITAMILLER, BESSIE

ROTRUCK, EDGAR

CHESHIRE, PERRY J

LAYMAN, ELIZABETH

ROTRUCK, MRS EDGAR

CLARK, HOMER W

LAYMAN, ETHEL VA

ROTRUCK, ELIZABETH

CLINE, GENEVIEVE

LEATHERMAN, AMANDA

ROTRUCK, FRANK A

COFFMAN, HARRY F

LEATHERMAN, NIMROD

ROTRUCK, HADDIE

COFFMAN, RUTH S

LEATHERMAN, SARAH

ROTRUCK, HEZEL

COOK, GEORGIA RAE

LEATHERMAN, VIOLA

ROTRUCK, HOMER

COOK, GRACE

LEWIS, ADAM

ROTRUCK, MRS HOMER

COOK, RAYMOND

LEWIS, ELIZABETH D

ROTRUCK, ISABELLA

COPELAND, EDNA

LEWIS, LUCILLE

ROTRUCK, JAMES

COPELAND, ELWOOD

LIKEN, SUSAN

ROTRUCK, JESSE A

COPELAND, JUSTINA

LILLER, ELIZABETH

ROTRUCK, MRS JESSIE

COPELAND, ROSEINA

LILLER, LELITHA

ROTRUCK, LUCINA

CUNNINGHAM, FAYE

LILLER, S

ROTRUCK, LUCY

CUNNINGHAM, MOLLIE MARIE

LILLER, MRS THOMAS

ROTRUCK, LUSIAN

DAVIS, B O

LUDWICK, ARNOLD

ROTRUCK, LYNN H

DAVIS, CLEQUS

LUDWICK, CARL RICHARD

ROTRUCK, MARIE

DAVIS, C O

LUDWICK, CHARLES

ROTRUCK, MYRTLE

DAVIS, FRANK M

LUDWICK, GEORGEIA

ROTRUCK, MRS TANNA

DAVIS KARE

LUDWICK, NORA MAY

ROTRUCK, WECK

DAVIS, MINNIE

LUDWICK, WILBUR M

RUMOR, HELEN

DAVEY, HATTIE

MARTIN, HERBERET F

RUNNER, CLARENCE

DAYTON, ELSIE

MARTIN, HOWARD, C

SAVILLE, AGNES

DEAN, BESSIE

MARTIN ROSA L

SEE, ERNEST

DOLL, BESSIE

MARTIN, VIRGINIA

SIMMONS, MARY

DOLL, CARL

MCCULLOUGH, SUE

SIMMONS, WALTER

DOLL, CHARLES

MCDONALD, BEULAH

SIMMONS, ZENNA

DOLL, ELLIS

MCDONALD, EMMA

SMITH, MARTHA

DOLL, EVA

MCINTYRE, MARTHA JANE

STONEBREAKER, ELLEN

DOLL, HATTIE

MCINTYRE, TESSIE

TASKER, EDNA

DOLL, VANCE

MCNEIL, GEORGE

TASKER, SUSIE

DORSEY, MRS JAMES

MCNEMAR, LUCY

TAYLOR, AARON

EVERETT, BESSIE

MCNEMAR, QUINN

TAYLOR, BEULAH

EVERETT, EDNA MAE

MILLER, DADIE

TAYLOR, IRENE

EVERETT, JESSE M

MILLER, EDNA

TAYLOR, NAOMI

EVAN, LYDIA

MILLER, MARY

TAYLOR, STANLEY

FERRIBEE, FROHINE

MILLER, MOLLIE

TURBIN, JMES RUSSELL

FERRIBEE, MYRTLE

MILLER, NELLIE

TURBIN, STELLA

FLEEK, EVELYN

MILLS, FLOYD

TURBIIN, THELMA

FLEEK, LORA IRENE

MOORE, BERTHA

TURNER, FERN

FLICK, VENDA L

MORIS, MRS J E

WHIP, FLOYD

FRIEND, PEARL

MORRIS, MAY

WHIP, MARTHA

GETZ, EDITH

MOTT, CREED

WHITACRE, ALMA

GREEN, ELSIE

MOTT, MRS CREED

WILSON, JOHN EDWARD

GREEN, RHODA

MOTT, LYNN

WILSON, MRS SADIE

GREEN, W E

NASH, STELLA

WISE, MAMIE B

HALL, EDNA

POLING, L G

HARRIS, MARTHA

POLING, MINNIE

HARRISON, CHARLES

PRITT, WAYNE

HARRISON, EULA M

PUFFENBERGER, JESSIE

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