The little town of Freeburg, Snyder county, Pa., was laid out by Andrew STRAUB in 1796.  Alive to the importance of mental and religious training, he donated four lots -- the equivalent of an acre -- for school purposes and for a Union church.  Some years afterward it was decided that a Lutheran and Reformed church should be erected on these grounds. Christian BOYER and Jacob ROUSH, Lutherans, and Henry STETTLER and John NAGLE, Reformed, were chosen as the building committee.  Subscriptons were slow and time wore away.  It was the 7th of May, 1812, before the corner stone was laid.  Rev. J. Conrad WALTER, Lutheran pastor, officiated.  The collections on this occasion amounted to $87.50, which, added to the subscriptions, footed up a total of $1,844.17.  A fund of $137.46 was raised for a bell, of which Andrew STRAUB gave $20.  The church was dedicated October 17th, 1815.  It was a stone building, cost $2,789.11½, and stood for fifty-five years, when, in 1868, a new brick church was commenced, finished, and dedicated June 19, 1870.  Strange as it may seem, Andrew STRAUB, after what he had done for the congregation, died poor and was buried by the township and sleeps in the cemetery at Freeburg without a tombstone. J.F.M.