Notes and Links

• m1. Sophia Rudolph (1843-1903), on Mar. 26, 1860, in Preston County WV. Sophia was the daughter of John Rudolph and Anna Marie "Polly" Heckert (b. Jan. 10, 1808). Sophia died on Dec. 21, 1903
• Moses and Sophia had 5 sons and 8 daughters, one of whom was:
  • Saloma Fike
    • m. ___? Slabaugh, and had, at least, a daughter:
      • Sylvia Mae Slabaugh

  • m2. Rebecca Beeghly, on Apr. 19, 1905; Rebecca died on July 13, 1927. Moses and Rebecca had no children together.
  • m3. Betty Corwall Digman, on Oct. 15, 1928. Moses and Betty had no children together.

Brief Biography:

Subsequently, his family moved to Indian Creek, PA (near Chambersburg) in 1838, but his father sold his property there as a result of economic depression and the family moved to Sang Run, in western Garrett County, MD in 1850.

At age 15, in about 1852, Moses joined the Church of the Brethren in Sang Run, MD. Two years later, in 1854, the family finally settled in the growing community of Eglon VA (now WV), where their family became a nucleus for the building of the Maple Spring Church, and gathering its initial congregation. Moses and two of his brothers, and a brother-in-law, ultimately became Ministers of the Church of the Brethren. Moses bought part of his father's farm and spent most of his life in Eglon as a Member of the Maple Spring Church.

In 1865, Moses was 28 years old and was elected a Deacon of the Maple Spring Church. In 1874 he was ordained to serve as its Minister. By 1876, Rev. Moses Fike was advanced to the second degree of ordination as a Minister and served, until the end of his life, a total of 60 years, in the Ministry. He traveled widely, averaging 1200 to 1500 miles a year, by horse and buggy, to spread the faith of the Church of the Brethren. He attended may winter rivivals, and at the age of 90 he would walk to Brookside to preach and walk home, a round trip of 8 miles. He was actively preaching until he was 95 years old. He died on June 10, 1934 in Preston County, WV where he is interred at the Old Cemetery.

References:

• Personal communication with Pat Lowman, great great granddaughter of Moses Fike (1837-1934).
• Amish and Amish Menonite Genealogies by H.F. Gingerich & R.W. Kreider, 1986.
• Genealogy of the family of Johann Caspar Werner (1809-1878) by John Edward Werner.