History Highlights - Reinhard

Happy 275th Anniversary! I can hardly believe it, but the anniversary year is beginning to wind down; however there are still plenty of events left to celebrate this historic milestone (see the calendar at the end of the article.) Last month, I put a small display of some of the pictures of people of the church from the past. The church is really not just a building, but rather the people that use the building to do ministry. Hundreds of people have been part of this church over its long history and the display included photographs of faces both known and unknown. One of those pictures that I had displayed was a rather large photograph, printed on linen. People were intrigued by the faces, which appear below.

J. Augustus Reinhard and Rebecca Klein, parents of a large family at Jerusalem Church

Augustus Reinhard was the great grandson of Johann Adam Reinhard (1724 – 1806), the immigrant ancestor who came from Germany to America, arriving in Philadelphia on 26 September 1741. His son Hartman was a farmer in Salisbury Township and lived at the bottom of the hill below the church at the Rathburn Bridge in the farmhouse, which has since been remodeled. Hartman’s son Henry, who married Catherine Biery, was the father of J. Augustus Reinhard.

Rebecca K. Klein was the great granddaughter of Philip Wendel Klein, who also came from Germany to America and arrived in Philadelphia on October 20, 1744. He settled in Weisenberg township and was one of the founders of the Ziegel’s Church. His third son, Lorentz settled in Salisbury Township around 1767, about two years after the birth of their son, Christoffel Klein, who was the father of Rebecca’s father, Reuben Kline. Reuben married Julia (Judith) Wieand. J. Augustus Reinhard and Rebecca K. Klein were united in marriage at the Jerusalem Church 19 June 1858. This union was blessed with 13 children: Marcus R. H. (4 or 14 Oct 1858 – 27 Feb 1860); Quena L. (9 Jan 1860 – 27 July 1890); Ellen Jane “Ella” (20 Jun 1861 – 5 Feb 1939), married 1^st Alfred H. Dorney and 2^nd Milton Zimmerman; Oliver Henry (21 Jan 1863 – 19 July 1944), married Jennie Swick; Morris Reuben (24 Nov 1864 – 26 Dec 1929), married Lizzie Bear; Charles Franklin (26 Apr 1866 – 20 June 1947), married Mary A. Leiby; Victor Augustus (16 July 1868 – 30 Dec 1927), married Lizzie C. Schleicher; Milton Harvey (12 Apr 1871 – 15 Apr 1952), married Ella J. Keck; Martha Catherine (16 July 1873 – 4 Jan 1945), married Morgan B. Zimmerman; Ida Judith (1 Oct 1874 – 29 Jan 1953), married Warren R. Fisher; Alice Rebecca (1 Dec 1876 – 14 Jan 1930), married Victor C. Wenner; Henry Newton (20 Jun 1879 – 5 Sept 1957), married Ellen J. Ritter; and Alfred E. (2 Oct 1881 – 20 Oct 1881).

Baptismal Certificate

Henry Newton Reinhard, whose baptismal certificate appears above, had four children, Wilbur, Dorothy (Marlene Bergstresser’s mother), Paul, and Arlene (Barry Snyder’s mother). The baptismal certificate was in pretty bad shape (in pieces) when Marlene gave it to me to “put back together,” much like a puzzle. It is a beautiful example of a Fraktur, signed by its creator August Baumann.

This family has had many descendants, many of whom have continued to be associated with Jerusalem Church and rest eternally in the cemetery.

I appreciate the positive responses to my articles. If you have a curiosity about our church and its history, please contact me through the church office or at Finkyx@aol.com.

Joshua Arthur Fink, Historian