USA > Arizona > A history of the Church of the Brethren [southern California & Arizona] > Part 11
USA > California > A history of the Church of the Brethren [southern California & Arizona] > Part 11
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He served the District of Middle Iowa as her first Sun- day School Secretary, and for three years was a member of the District Mission Board. Was chosen by the General Mis- sion Board as the first evangelist of his District for two years. He served the District Meetings as writing clerk for fifteen years and reading clerk two years. He held the oversight of the Deep River Church from his ordination to his resignation in 1898, and also the Oak Grove congregation, until he moved to Des Moines to take charge of the Mission by direction of the General Board. He entered the mission field at Channing Street, Los Angeles, and had for his helpers, Sister Kate New- some and Sister Nannie Murray. He resigned as the labors were too severe, and did some work by direction of California Mission Board in the Imperial Valley, and in Northern and Southern California. His home is at 720 E. Villa Street, Pasadena, California.
This brother was born June 30, 1873, of godly Samuel S. Garst. parents in Tennessee. In Washington Creek Church he was reborn or regenerated and was made able to "taste of the good word of God and powers of the world to come and became partaker of the Holy Ghost." At the opening of this century with his family he set- tled in Glendale and became a regular attendant at church services, early aiding in the work. On September 26, 1908, he was chosen to the ministry and has served faithfully ever since in the Divine Minstrations. A few years ago he was made Bishop of the General Church, and, with the writer, is in
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charge of the Tropico Church. He attended the Berean Bible School, Los Angeles, several years.
Traits-Good memory, clearness of view, tact in applica- tion, deep seated courage for Truth.
The kind of associates most valuable to Brother Garst are calm, kind, loving, reposeful, intellectual, judicial. He loves to revel in doctrinal, practical, pictorial, and prophetical subjects. His unfeigned faith and strict obedience to Jesus stands him well in conflicts. He is dependable.
Andrew C. Snowberger Was born March 22, 1857, in Carroll County, Indiana. His parents, John S. and Susan Snowberger, later settled in White County, Indiana. He united with the Church of the Brethren October, 1876, at the age of nineteen years. In 1880 his parents moved to York County, Nebraska. He was chosen to the ministry June 24, 1881, in the Beaver Creek Church, Nebraska. Was married to Mary Jane Zern May 31, 1883. She died May 21, 1884. On January 19, 1896, he was united in marriage to Rachel Fessler.
He was ordained to the office of Bishop in 1900 in the Honey Creek Church, Indiana, by Elders L. W. Teeter and D. F. Hoover.
He had charge of the Des Moines, Iowa, Missions for a while.
He came to California March 17, 1911. At this time he has charge of the Santa Ana congregation.
He has a very pleasant way of passing his sermon over to an assembly and always delivers his discourse in the power of faith. He is very tender hearted and feeds his flock with precious truth.
Was born in Lancaster County, Pa., October
Peter S. 1827, and was married to Sarah Graff by Elder
Myers. John Umsted on February 12, 1851. In 1854 he was immersed in Germany Valley, Pa., and in 1857 called to the deaconship. In 1860 he was set apart to the ministry in the Spring Run Church, Pennsylvania. His
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.
companion died in October 1884. He married Magdalena Frantz of Cerro Gordo, Illinois with whom he lived the rest of his life.
He moved to California in an early day of the Brethren and was identified in the beginning of the colony in Covina. Later he settled in Los Angeles and participated in nearly all the first movements of the Church of the Brethren. His inter- ests in the East Los Angeles Church was paramount, how- ever, and while the city membership was held in the Tropico church, he was largely instrumental in securing the funds for erecting the first house of worship. After erecting it with his own hands, assisted by Andrew Emmert, he preached the dedicatory sermon to a large audience.
For many years he had charge of the congregation and represented the District on the Standing Committee in 1896 and several times served as Moderator of the District Confer- ence.
He was a man of force and strong determination. Once he had fixed his mind on a question it was with difficulty that he yielded. His sermons were strong, clear as a rule and well delivered. A denominational chart created by him had some merit.
He was the youngest son of Joseph and Anna Elder B. F. Masterson, born February 20, 1848, at Master- Masterson. sonville, Lancastor County, Pa. Was married to Elizabeth Engle, September 30, 1867. They were baptized in the Chiques congregation in the spring of 1869. They moved to Sangamon County, Illinois, into the Sugar- creek congregation in the fall of 1876.
They were installed into the Deacon's Office in 1880, and elected to the Ministry in 1884, and advanced to the second degree of the Ministry in 1886. Moved to Lordsburg, Cali- fornia, with their family of nine children in the fall of 1891, and were charter members of the Lordsburg church.
In the year of 1898 they took a trip to Eastern Pennsyl- vania and were engaged in teaching the Bible and in Evange- listic work for about two years, after which he took charge of
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B. F. Masterson.
the Mission at Hanover, York County, Pa., under whose super- vision the church was organized. They returned to California in the year 1901 and located at Inglewood.
In the year 1906 they moved to Long Beach, took up the work there and a church was organized, in the year 1907, of which he was pastor for several years. Was ordained to the Eldership May 20, 1911, and at this writing is permanently located at Long Beach, and is associate Elder with Elder A. C. Root, who has charge and is pastor of the church at that place.
Elder Masterson is kind, sympathetic and measurably magnetic giving charm especially to the lowly and confiding
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He inspires others to do good, for the Lord has done much for him. He has intuitive powers which are not always ex- plainable by him. As to learning he has ever loved mental at- tainments and has put forth efforts to know without much aid from others. God made Brother Masterson so he could get what he needed whether man aided him or not. He is quite methodical in his ways, prepares sermons as near divine order as his auditors need. He delivers the Messages in all confi- dence of their values to mankind, and is quite in sympathy with all who are in distress. He has a good degree of self-control, a good adviser, a pleasant element in associations. He is yet useful to the church and God has spiritual work for him.
Born on March 30, 1844, in Lancaster County, Simon E. Yundt. Pennsylvania. At the age of 12 years in the spring of 1856 he moved with his parents to Naperville, Illinois. On Nov. 6, 1870, he was baptized, uniting with the Church of the Brethren. In the fall of 1873 he was elected by the Naperville congregation to the office of deacon. On the 12th of October, 1878, he was elected to the ministry. On Oct. 15, 1881, he was advanced to the sec- ond degree of the ministry. Oct. 20, 1890, he moved to Mt. Morris, Ill., where he was ordained to the Eldership July 4, 1896. On Oct. 3, 1896, the members at Batavia, Ill., were or- ganized into a separate congregation from the Naperville con- gregation and selected Bro. Yundt as their presiding elder. On Dec. 5, 1896, the Chicago congregation elected Bro. Yundt as their presiding elder. On Sept. 3, 1900, he tendered his resig- nation to the church in Chicago, Ill., and it was accepted. On Sept. 8, 1900, he resigned his charge of the Batavia church. On Sept. 28, 1900, he started for California, arriving at Lords- burg Oct. 10th, and was at once informed that on Oct. 3, 1900, Bro. Wm. Thomas, the presiding elder of the Lordsburg cong- regation, tendered his resignation. Bro. Yundt was chosen as presiding elder, which position he filled until Oct. 7, 1907. In April, 1906, he moved to Pomona, Cal., and on March 17, 1907, the members of Pomona were organized into a separate congre- gation, and elected Bro. Yundt as their presiding elder, which position he filled until Dec. 13, 1915, with the exception of nine
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months in the year 1909, being in the east for that time. Elder J. A. Brubaker filled the place in his absence. Bro. Yundt served on standing committee at Carthage, Mo., in 1904, and at Seattle, Wash., 1914. Was foreman of committee of ar- rangements for annual meeting of 1907 at Los Angeles, Cai. Served as congregational delegate a number of times to annual and district meetings. Was moderator four times at district meetings. Baptized 205 persons. Solemnized 32 marriages. His has been an active life.
He was a delegate at Winona Lake, Indiana, when A. M. first held there and delegate in 1916 to the Southern California District Meeting.
C. H. Yoder.
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C. H. Yoder Was born near Bellefontaine, Ohio, February 12, 1884. At the age of fourteen years he united with the Church of the Brethren. At the age of twenty-one he was chosen to the ministry in his native home church. The following year he was advanced to the second degree. At the age of twenty-six he was ordained to the Eldership at Lordsburg, California. He is giving his time largely to educational work. However, he has found time to do considerable preaching and some pastoral and evangelistic work.
He served as pastor of the Bellefontaine Mission during the summer of 1907.
For the past three years he has lived at Lordsburg and labored in the College as Professor of Biblical literature.
As a student he attended the Ohio State University and Manchester College taking his A. B. and B. S. L. from the latter school.
At this time he is pushing his graduate studies in the University of Southern California.
W. I. T.
Was born March 8, 1869, at Dayton, Ohio, and received into the Church November 4, 1890, at
Hoover. Mt. Morris College. He was chosen to the min- istry March, 1892, in Dayton, Ohio. He has baptized quite a number of persons and assisted in anointing several dozen. He enjoys "religio-philosophical" lines of edu- cation and preaching, which to him determines the fundamental principles of religious thought and social problems wherein are applied the principles determined under the discussion of "re- ligio-philosophical" problems.
He was born near Manchester, Indiana, January Harvey Snell. 7, 1881. Chosen to diaconate in South Los Angeles, April 15, 1906, and called to the min- istry at the same place April 5, 1907. He was put into the second degree May 22, 1908, and ordained at Covina, October 19, 1911. He held the oversight of the
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Covina Church from January 7, 1912, to August 9, 1912. He was chosen District Sunday School Secretary, and Secretary of the Christian Workers and also of the District Mission Board at Covina District Meeting, March 23, 1911. He is a very earnest worker for Christ and when his convictions are rooted, he is pulled away from them with great difficulty.
Given to study and deep thinking, he enjoys cultivation and spiritual. usefulness. He bubbles over with new truths and scatters dejection to the winds. Kind-hearted, noble, mag- netic, sympathetic, vigorous, Brother Snell leads his hearers into great betterments.
Albert W. Vaniman. This Brother came into this world August 25, 1858, near Dayton, Ohio. His parents were Brother and Sister Daniel Vaniman, a distin- guished Elder of the Church. At five years of age Albert, with his father and mother moved to Macoupin County, Illinois. Having trained himself for school teaching, he followed that profession for awhile, then he became a stu- dent at Mount Morris College in 1879. In this institution he more and more realized the values of a well prepared mind for life-work.
At Mount Morris he met Sister Alice Moore and the attachment resulted in marriage, on June 18, 1882, at Lanark, Illinois. Her abilities were so varied that she proved very helpful to his ministry.
At fourteen, Brother Vaniman united with the Church of the Brethren, being baptized by that widely known veteran of the Cross, Elder John Metzger, at St. Louis, Mo. In 1884 he was chosen to the ministry and in 1899 he was ordained to the Eldership. Later the General Mission Board sent him to Cooke County, Texas, as a missionary. During the first year he held over one hundred services, attended four love- feasts, received thirty-six into the church and traveled over two thousand miles. He was the first minister in that State, and was followed later by Henry Brubaker and J. P. Harsh- berger, and assisted in organizing the congregation in Clay and
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Montague Counties. Their traveling was by private con- veyance, camping and cooking by the wayside.
For a few years he served as business manager of McPher- son College. One time his father preached a strong missionary sermon and this aroused Albert to the conclusion to become a life missionary. He and his wife volunteered to go to India. They entered medical college in Topeka, Kansas, and pre- pared for the work. At the conference of 1894, they, along with the names of Brother and Sister Stover and Sister Ryan, were endorsed for the India field, but the Vanimans were not ready to go with the other three. Had they gone they would have become, with the others, the pioneers in that far off land for the Brethren. While in Topeka, he served as Pastor for the Church. After completing his course in the medical college, he located at Saginaw, Texas, and built up a good practice. The General Mission Board asked him to go into Georgia, Florida and Alabama to study conditions among the colored people with the view of opening up missions among them.
The great opening of Denmark as a mission territory by Brother and Sister C. Hope in 1876 needed a preacher, so the Mission Board sent the Vanimans to Malmo, Sweden, in July, 1900. They endeared themselves greatly to the people in Sweden and Denmark. Health failing him, he returned to America in the Autumn of 1905 and came to Inglewood where, in the house of Elder Philip Moore, they found a genial home. Later they located in Pasadena. For two years Albert was able to do quite effective work among the churches. He served as a member of the Committee of Arrangements for the Annual Conference in Los Angeles, in 1907. In Sep- tember of the same year, he moved to Raisin, Fresno County, California. There he labored until that dread disease, con- sumption, called him at the age of nearly forty-nine years.
Brother Vaniman's field of labor had a wide range. He was a thorough reader of good books, a strong pleader for right, sometimes a little ahead of the main body in his thoughts, but yielding to the wishes of others.
These facts were gleaned from "Some Who Led."
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Born near Bristol, Tenn., September 25, 1874. He John M. Wine. has been in California about seventeen years. He was received into the church October 6, 1907, and baptized by Elder J. A. Miller. On April 5, 1908, he was called to the ministry and on June 17, 1911, was advanced to the second degree ministry. He is in his third year as Superintendent of the Sunday School in Santa Ana. He has been delegate to the District Meeting four times.
James. Z. Gilbert. This brother was born in North Manchester, Indiana, January 1st, 1866. His parents were members of the Church of the Brethren, and threw around James excellent influences. And what flowed into his being remained in his welfare. He chose the Lord in December, 1878, and has abided in Him ever since. In the McPherson Church, Kansas, he was elected to the min- istry, and ordained in the East Los Angeles Church in 1914 by the laying on of hands of Elder Geo. F. Chemberlen and S. E. Yundt. He was a pupil at Mount Morris College, Illinois and at McPherson, Kansas, and the University of Kansas at Lawrence.
Brother Gilbert in the pulpit as in the class-room is both clear and forceful. In his themes he often is brilliant and bubbling over with spiritual entities. If in the "blues" he does not remain very long. There is always a lane out. When he takes a position on a good topic, it is difficult to pry him loose if he is assured of its values. He prefers leading to being led. At this writing he is teaching in the Los Angeles High School. He has been there for a number of years.
Biblically, his strongest lines are doctrinal and evangel- istic.
By birth he was a Pennsylvanian, the son of George Hanawalt. Elder Joseph Hanawalt, and had as associates Graybill Myers, John Umsted, James Quinter, John Kline, Henry Davy, B. F. Moomaw, Peter Nead, Wm. Howe, Joseph Rothrock, David Eshelman, D. P. Saylor, John Spanogle and John Fox, a grandson of Alexander Mack.
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George Hanawalt was born April 2, 1821. He was the oldest of sixteen children. He was principal in the High School and had as an associate S. Z. Sharp. He was of a lit- erary and scientific turn of mind. He admired the marvelous and had a longing for the unknowable. He was married Sep- tember, 1856, to Caroline Mckee. She died in May. 1858. He was called to the ministry in the old Lewiston congrega- tion where his father had the oversight. In 1859 he married Barbara Replogle. When she died they had eight children ranging from infancy to twelve years.
While in the Spring Run congregation, Pennsylvania, he filled sixteen appointments in as many places, each appoint- ment being three weeks apart. This was much better than to have sixteen preachers for one appointment.
Brother Hanawalt moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, continuing his activities in the church. He was married to Lucinda Stutsman. He was ordained to the Elder Body while yet in Pennsylvania, then came to California several years before his death and lived to the ripe age of eighty-two years. He died in Lordsburg among the intellectuals. He is the father of W. A. Hanawalt, who was President of the Lords- burg College Several years.
C Born in Hardy County, West Virginia, Septem- P. B. Fitzwater. ber 8, 1871. Educated in public schools of West Virginia, Bridgewater College, Va., Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, Xenia Theological Seminary, Ohio, Princeton Theological Seminary. Elected to the ministry in 1896, at Sheldon, Iowa, ordained to Eldership at West Manchester, Indiana, in 1909. For a short time he was identified with Lordsburg College.
Characteristics: takes on education readily, but it must come orderly, systematically, methodically. His studiousness and love of knowledge bring him great results and he cleverly gives out what he has somewhat improved. As a public speaker, Brother Fitzwater has risen to a commendable height. Hope, vital force, and enthusiasm help him to attain what he desires. He is an instructor in the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago.
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Was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, July Stephen Johnson. 20, 1839, and brought up in the Methodist faith. When in manhood he located in Ohio and there married Elizabeth Harding. In 1865, two years later, he moved to Benton County, Iowa, and in 1868 was elected to the ministry. In 1873 he was ordained to the Bish- opric and became assistant to Elder Peter Forney in church nanagement. At one time he had charge of the Iowa River Church, State Center Church and with S. H. Miller of the Waterloo, Iowa, Church. In 1897, he located at Nez Perce, Idaho. He was then fifty miles from railroad facilities. In the autumn of 1897, Brother C. J. Fike and family arrived. In due time a church was organized and Brother Johnson was put in charge. He is a splendid parliamentarian. At the age of forty-five his eyesight failed and this put a deep missionary spirit into his soul.
During the early settlement of Idaho, the Nez Perce Indians threatened the settlers and Elder Johnson became a very great help in calming them through his fearless demeanor. He resided several years in Lordsburg, California, and gave the church his services and helpful powers.
He contributed ten thousand dollars toward the support of a mission worker in Jerusalem, but owing to the unsettled condition of that place the mission has not materialized.
An excellent counselor and good thinker, with a judgment of clearness, Brother Johnson constructs with the will of the Lord in a faithful manner.
A native of Pennsylvania, born in York S. G. Lehmer. County, December 25, 1857. Graduated at the Millerville State Normal School, and then took a special course in Civil Engineering at Ann Arbor, Mich., University. After this he took a Divinity Course at the Chicago University. He united with the Church of the Breth- ren at the age of twenty-five. Engaged in educational work in the states of Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Kansas and Califor- nia. He taught in the Primary Department of the Los Angeles High School for several years. Chosen to the Ministry at the age of twenty-seven and ordained to the Eldership in 1900
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in Los Angeles. At various times he served as overseer of the Bangor, Oak Grove, Tropico, Santa Ana and East Los Angeles Churches. He has been associated with the Tropico and later Los Angeles Churches for twenty-six years. In company with Elder P. S. Myers he toiled in halls and private houses for
S. G. Lehmer.
years to gather a flock for Christ. In the work of the District he has taken a very active part from its beginning which may be found elsewhere in this work. He has been a close student and admires mind culture.
Samuel J. Miller.
On a farm in the western part of La Grange County, Indiana, December 2, 1863, Samuel J. Miller began to be reckoned among people of this earth. Farm life was his, like many others. He attended the public schools of the times. Things came and staid in his, youthful mind. When the County Superin- tendent of Schools fired the youthful minds in his visits, Sam- uel J. received his share of the impress for onward gains in the
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knowledge that "puffeth not up." He resolved to be some day among the "Worth-whiles." His delights were in gram- mar, geography and history. He delved into them like a honey bee on finding an unusual cup of sweetness in some flower. With nearly all pupils in the '60s and '70s he shared the experiences of sitting on the flat side of a plank with peg legs, and a board resting on pins in the walls for support as a writing desk. I wonder he does not have sections of these in Lordsburg College as relics for display between the Now and the Then.
As to course of study then, there was but one. It was linked together by such means as were at hand. There were instances where the teacher had more hickory withes in the loft as a reserve for discipline than he had knowledge to spell ordinary English words.
A four or five months' term was often interrupted in attendance by husking corn, sawing logs, "doing chores" and running errands. Much of this was called "resting from school labors."
About the time Samuel was ready to do some common teaching his parents moved to Kansas and the family began in a "dug out." It could be said this youth began in the "grass roots" in Kansas. Many others began likewise. Out west his duties consisted in "clerking," teaching and farming, and this continued until March, 1889, when he and Elder J. J. Yoder entered McPherson College for the spring term. His struggles from that time on were numerous, being enlivened by helping to thresh Kansas wheat; then tutoring to make others "ready to tutor; selling views to get cash for more studies. His experiences in college were some of the usual ones, using a wash bowl for a wash tub, and window panes for ironing boards. These gave valuable experiences which are real capital in life.
Post graduate work was taken in the Kansas University in 1897, thus securing the Master's degree. His next move was toward Modena Hutchinson, daughter of Bishop Andrew Hutchinson, making her his wife. He served one year as instructor in Lordsburg College, and one year as superinten- dent of the Redlands Public Schools. In 1899 he did field
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work for McPherson, Kansas, College, after which he entered the faculty of that institution as instructor in English, after "brushing up" at the Kansas University. He remained in McPherson College the next seven years.
S. J. Miller.
His next move was to Lindsay, Cal., where he took les- sons in soil and crop business for health and living. On January, 1915, he delivered several lectures in the Bible Insti- tute, Lordsburg, after which he became President of that College.
In addition to knowledge of the College kind he has given much aid to Sunday School efforts, and Church edification. He has come thus far with well rounded-out mentalities, and enjoys the spiritualities of the Word.
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