Rev. J. C. Momeyer, son of John and Katherine Momeyer, was born in Adamsburg, Westmoreland county, Penn., January 26, 1829, and passed away at his home in Petersburg, Ill., July 7, 1915.

When 19 years of age he moved to Carmichaels, Green county, Pa. He was one of a family of twelve children. He learned the carriage-making trade with his father and worked at that until he was twenty-one years old, at which time he entered Greene Academy at Carmichaels, Pa., and on completing the course there entered Waynesburg College, from which he graduated September 23, 1857. Among his classmates were Dr. A. J. Baird, whose memory is so revered by all members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Rev. A. D. Hail, one of its first foreign missionaries and Dr. A. B. Miller, for many years president of his alma mater. It was always a source of gratification to him that although his parents were not able to give him a college education, he was able to secure it through his own efforts and labor during vacation.

He was converted at a meeting of the United Brethren at Barren Run schoolhouse, Westmoreland county, Pa., at thirteen years of age and united with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in December, 1849, having become acquainted with the doctrines and usages of that church.

In 1855 he became a candidate for the ministry and was licensed to preach in 1857 and ordained in 1858.

On December 15, 1857, he was married to Rebecca Conwell Vernon of Waynesburg, Pa., his loving companion and helpmate for over fifty-one years.

The early years of his ministry were spent in the work of building up weak churches and organizing new congregations, often riding on horseback thirty miles to keep an appointment.

He was the pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Greenfield, Pa., now called Coal Center, for nine years, ending in 1868, dividing his time for the next four years between the churches at West Union and Nineveh, In 1872 he moved to Grand Ridge, La-Salle county, Ill., preaching there till his removal to Rock Creek in this county in 1879. He was pastor of the Rock Creek Church for five years, and during that time preached at Tallula Sunday evenings. In order to better educate his children he moved to Petersburg in the fall of 1884, at which place he resided at the time of his death. During his residence in Petersburg he was pastor of the churches at the following places in Illinois: Concord, Lebanon, Otterville, Newburg, Fayette, Providence, Loami, Shiloh and Hopedale; continuing in active work until his health failed. He was a minister for fifty-seven years and in active service for forty-two years, missing only three appointments in that period.

He was active in the promotion of Old Salem Chautauqua and built the first cottage on its grounds. He never missed attending a single one of its sessions and was only absent two days during the entire 17 assemblies.

It was his privilege to attend services in his beloved church almost until the day of his death, he having been in the church June 13th, last, at which time he turned over to the present pastor his bible class of which he had been the teacher to that day.

In death he was reunited with his beloved companion and two daughters, who had preceded him a short while.

His splendid life is his own best eulogy. "How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation."

[Source: Our Senior Soldiers: The Biographies and Autobiographies of Eighty Cumberland Presbyterian Preachers. Compiled by The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication. The Assistance of Revs. J. L. Price and W. P. Kloster is Greatfully Acknowledged. Nashville, Tenn.: The Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1915, pages 227-229]