John Peter Mahnenschmidt was born in Somerset or Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1783.  He for a time followed the calling of school teacher.  He was instructed in the Heidelberg Catechism by a colleague of Rev. Otterbein.  He often spoke at prayer meetings.  In this nineteenth year he preached a full sermon.  In 1806, at the earnest solicitation of the members, he began to preach to vacant congregations in Washington County.  He was licensed as a catechist in 1811, and to preach in 1812, and ordained in 1817.  He came from Mahoning County, Ohio, and preached at Zion's, seven miles south of Mercer County, Pa., for seventeen years.  He died July 11th, 1857 in Canfield, Ohio, aged about seventy-four years.

The History of the Pittsburgh Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States, page 193.