THE SAMPLE RUN CHURCH

Church services were first held in the old school previously mentioned. Mr. Howe also donated land for the old Sample Run Christian Church (which in effect served as a Bible School). A building was erected in 1886, and it was located in the area across from the Sample Run Coal Tipple on Route 80 (long before Route 286 was built). The church was also known the "Disciple Church." Miss Ella Howearth reported that her father, John Howearth, and Samuel Barnett hauled the lumber to build Sample Run Church from Green Township.

Trustees of the church were: James Davis and wife, Samuel Barnett, J. M. Winsheimer, James W, Howearth, Luther Helman. Members of the church were: Mr. and Mrs. James Davis and Family, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Barnett and Family, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Windsheimer and Family, Mr. and Mrs- James Howearth and Family, Mr. and Mrs. John Howearth and Family, Mr. Ezra Winsheimer, Mr. and Mrs. David Fleming and Family, Miss Bertha Lockard, Mrs. Amanda Shank and Family, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Lydick, Miss Mary Oatman, Mrs. Emma Stahl Reeves, Miss Ella Howearth, Mr. and Mrs. John Rising and Family, Mr. and Mrs. James Howe, Mr. and Mrs. John Kinter and Family, Mr. and Mrs. Silas Howe, Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Grott and Family, Mr. and Mrs- John McLaughlin, Mr. Frank Wilson, Miss Zuma Wilson, Miss Zoe Howe, Mr. and Mrs. Luther Helman and Family, Miss Ethyl Braughler, Mr. Ora Helman, Mr. and Mrs. George Trimble, Mrs. Blanch McGuire Craig, Mr- Irvin McGuire, and Miss Maude McGuire.

Over time there were a number of ministers. They were: D. M. Kinter, H. C. Cooper, J. F. Coss, R. T. Singer, C. S. Baulieu, M. H. Tipton, C. E. Smith, Mr. Gross, H. C. Saum, M. Allan Stickley, D. L. dark, H. D. Poland, E. J. Barber, E. K. Van Winkle, J. P Ginter, and Ward B. Booher.

When Mr. Stickley was the pastor of the Sample Run Church (he also served at the Clymer Christian Church as well), converts were baptized in Two-Lick Creek. (Obviously this was done before the stream became polluted.) There was actually a time when, during the winter, a hole was cut in the ice and people were baptized in the freezing waters.

All of these names are listed because some were most likely early residents of Sample Run. (It is known that Revered G. A. Barlock, pastor of St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church in Clymer, was a Sample Run resident from 1913 through 1916.)

A charter was granted to "The Christian Church of Sample Run" in 1910. Shortly thereafter the members decided to build a new Christian Church in Clymer, and it was dedicated in April, 1911. (It remains to this day.) The old Sample Run Church was then abandoned. Obviously the old school and the old church disappeared long ago.

6