The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-09-01
schoeh Family Reunion.

Upwards of three hundred msn.
bcs Of the Scboch Family gathered
in the grove ut Kreamer, Snyder
County, Pa, on Wednesday, August
"a, 1898, to hold their first family
Reunion. Representatives from
eight different states Of the Union
were present, viz: Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri;
Kansas, Nebraska and Texas.-A
permanent organization was effected
with the following officers:
Jacob Schoch, of Philadelphia,
Pres; Ira c. Schoch, Selin's Grove,
Secretary; Henry Schoch, Selin's
Grove, Treas; Allen Boyer, Of Chi
cago, Ill.,, and Ira c. Schoch, His
torians.
An executivecOmmittee was elect
ed consisting of the President, Sec
retary and Treasurer, together with
Mr.. Floyd Schoch of St. Louis, Mo.
and Mr.. Leonard Schoch of East
Leesport, Pa. 1t was decided to
hold next Reunion some timein 800.
The meeting was called to order
by Ira G. Schoch, of Selin's Grove,
the Secretary of "The Matthias
Schoch Family Association" Rev.
w. H. Schoch, OF New Berlin, then
offered u fervent prayer, after which
Secretary Schoch spoke substantially
as follows, giving as near AS it was
possibleto do history of the family {:
1t is not our purpose to-day TO give you con.
nected history OF the Schoch Family as II Is rep.
resented In America. To do this would require
more time and research than we have been able
! to give 10 this subject. We have endeav0red 10
do the best we could. Have no doubt there are
many errors. II there are any persons In this
gathering who are able to correct such we hope
they will do No before leaving here. For some
years the question OF a family association and
the making OF research into family history In
some systematic and connected way has been
discussed by different members OF the direct line
OF Matthias Schoch, but has never reached any
definite form.
In the beginning OF the year 1897 the officers
and members OF the Lutheran and Reformed
congregations OF Salem. snyder Co.. Pa. deter.
mined TO build new church edliice upon the
slle OF the old brick church. As our blessings
only become yaluab g when they be given TO dis
appear, so this old church building grew In value
they realized tha,::t historic walls were doomed
TO destruction. Many interesting events had
occurred within Its walls, and much that was
dear to the hearts OF the people Of that locality
clustered around that spot. | say TO the people
OF this locality, but realize that In this am too
narrow. as many have gone from here and are
located d ali over the laLd whose eyes and minds
Will often return to the place that gave them
birth. with tender recOllectOnS. the younger
generations have grown up who refer with uI.
told interest to the land OF their fathers. Sarely
more truth In its rhythm than
Lives there a man with soul so dead,
who never to himself hath said
THIS Is my own, my native land
Upon research being made into the origin OF
the church it vas found that John Schoch. with
others, was Instrumental In securing the origi.
nal patent for the land In l7,6 that Matthias
Schoch, together with his family, were members
! of the ronUrppoii i'm and contrlhutors toward ihp
erection OF the original log church which vas
built soon after, and that when early IN the
nineteenth century this log church became un.
tenable and new building was necessary, ia.
cob SchoCh was appointed and served as one Of
the building committee, himself and wife being
members OF the congregation. His family. with
a numerous contingent or the same name, being
also members OF the congregation, while up &c
the present time there always been descendants
OF the line active in all the work OF the church.
The members OF the building committee, who
have put up the present handsome ednce, sug
gested that 1t would be a proper and fiuing trib
ute to the Schoch family In Its local and church
connection, to have some memorial placed In
the new edifice The Idea was a good one ant
caught the feeling OF some Of the name In ant
about the vicinity. Accordingly. at the sugges-
tion OF Messrs Franklin J. and Henry Schoch, 6
preliminary meellng was called at the Office o.
Ira C. Schoch, In Selin's Grove, Pa June 81, 1897
when the following persons were present
Messls. j.. Henry, Geo. J. and Ira C. Schocf
Mrs. l.. +. Paving and Mrs. d. +. Wagenseller
A temporary organization was formed and cir
culars ordered printed and sent out to all OF tht
name In the immediate neighborhOod TO call
Injecting Aug. IA, 1897. Pursuant to the call
lpcrmanent organization was formed to be knowr
> as 1.-THE Matthias Schoch Family Association ;
1t was then determined TO place In the new
edince being erected at salem, Snyder Co., Pa.
"a "schoch Memorial window" The fol
lowing committee was appointed viz
Henry SchOch, Selins Grove Michael and q
Alfred schoch. Middleburg James schoch. New
Berlin: Henry Cook, vicksburg, and Ira G
Schoch Selin's Grove. This committee was au
thorized TO select design. contract for the win
: dow and attend TO all necessary business con
nected Herewith. Various designs were pre-
, Bented from which selection was made and tn
window placed 10 the south wall OF the church
the most prominent one In the edlflce The dc
sign is considered by all who have seen II as
very handsome one. representing the Ascension