Husband of Sarah.

Father to Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Sarah, Peter...

Rev. Isaac Gerhart is the first known Reformed pastor of Simeon Church. His work as a “founding father” is most impressive.

Isaac Gerhart was born near Sellersville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on 12 February 1788, a son of Abraham Gerhart and Barbara [Detterer] Gerhart. Rev. Gerhart’s great grandfather, Paul Gerhart, was an exile from France. He was compelled to flee his native country about 1680, and went over into the Palatinate where he settled in Gerhartsbrunn. The grandfather of Rev. Gerhart, Peter Gerhart, emigrated to Pennsylvania about 1730, and settled in Montgomery County.

Isaac Gerhart was baptized as an infant, and at the age of sixteen, he was confirmed in the German Reformed Church of Indianfield by the Rev. J. Senn. From early childhood his parents took him along to church, where he was so impressed by the preaching that he was in the habit of imitating the minister at home by preaching from a block or chair. His wish was to become a minister. At the age of eighteen he expressed this desire to his father, who was not in full agreement with the idea, who thought he was too young and should learn to work first. The father approved of a common school education but believed that much of the education for the ministry was useless. Accepting his father’s opposition, he temporarily gave up the idea of the ministry, but hoped that at some time later in life he could fulfill his goal.

In 1808, at the age of twenty, he participated in a cornerstone laying of the Limerick Church, Bucks County. He was asked to help his brother Abraham Gerhart in leading the singing. After listening to the sermon preached by Rev. J. Senn, his desire to become a minister was re-awakened, but waited for months to approach his father with the idea. This time, his father agreed.

Isaac Gerhart began his ministerial studies in 1809 under the guidance of Rev. Samuel Helfenstein in Philadelphia. He preached his first sermon in April 1810 after studying for a year at Wentz’s Church in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Studies were continued for four year and then in 1812, made a missionary journey into central and western Pennsylvania. During this time, he preached in Snyder County, Buffalo Valley, Penn’s Valley, Huntingdon County, Bedford County, Pittsburgh, Westmoreland County, and York County.

In 1813, Isaac was licensed by a synod in Frederick, Maryland. He then took charge of eight congregations in Union County, Pennsylvania, which at the time included Selinsgrove and Freeburg. By this time he had married Sarah Vogel. While he served these congregations, only one other German Reformed minister served northwest of the Blue Mountain. So, he made frequent missionary visits to Northumberland and Columbia Counties. In a five year period, it was said that he traveled more than 2500 miles each year on this circuit.

In addition to preaching, administering the sacraments and conducting catechetical instructions, Rev. Gerhart set about to improve church worship. He found a “great defect” in the singing in those early churches. Since he had musical knowledge and talent, he prepared a music book called Church Harmonia, which he published in 1817. Later the book was improved under Henry C. Eyer.

In 1818, he was forced to cut back on his duties due to ill health and resigned the charge, only being able to preach about one per day, so he began to look for a place which was suited to his “limited strength.” Several congregations in the Lykens Valley, including David’s at Killinger, Peter’s [Hoffman’s] in Lykens Township, Zion [Klinger’s] at Erdman, Stone Valley in Lower Northumberland County, and Fetterhoff’s near Halifax. On 1 January 1819 he arrived to begin his work.

During this time, his health improved and he gradually expanded his duties to eleven congregations including Simeon Church at Gratztown, where he began his service in 1822.

It was said that Rev. Gerhart had an energetic ministry in the Lykens Valley for many years. However, in 1840, he developed a cancerous infection on his lower lip, but that failed to curtail his expanding ministry. In 1843, during one month, he held sixty-six public services with preaching, catechetical instruction, funeral services and prayer meetings.

While not much specific is known about the early ministry at Gratz, it is known that during the period of Rev. Gerhart’s service, the congregation first worshiped in a house owned by Simon Gratz and later in the newly built Simeon Church.

In 1843, Rev. Gerhart received a call from the German Congregation in Frederick, Maryland, and he accepted it. He served there for about six years and six months, after which he was called to the Manheim Charge in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1856, he resigned from that post and moved to Lancaster where he spent his time visiting vacant congregations.

Throughout the days of Rev. Isaac Gerhart, “duty to Christ and His Church was the law of his life.” When ministerial duty called, he never hesitated, despite bad weather or other obstacles. He often left home before dawn and did not return until well after dusk. He was willing to serve in areas where people had very little money to support him. When he put off work it was absolutely for want of time, health or strength. His own words to his wife describe his goal:

I am willing to ride over these valleys and these mountains, during my whole life, and if I am the means of saving but one soul, I have my reward.

Rev. Isaac Gerhard died 11 February 1865 at age 77 years minus one day. He is buried with his wife in the Lancaster Cemetery.
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A brief biography of Rev. Gerhart appeared in a Gratz history published in 1997.
Contributor: Mark Stoner (47258819)