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A History of the Church of the Brethren in Southern Iowa
From the library of
Adelle Frank.com
Willis P. Rodabaugh
A. H. Brower at 67
A History of the Church of the Brethren in Southern Iowa
O- -
Compiled by
Willis P. Rodabaugh and A. H. Brower
Brethren Publishing House Elgin, Illinois 1924
Preface
The preparation of this volume is made possible only by the steps taken by the Brethren in former years and by the help of those who have so kindly assisted in gath- ering data for the same.
In the year 1899, at District Meeting of the Southern District of Iowa, Bro. Willis Rodabaugh was chosen to collect and preserve all such history as was available. Also the District Meeting of 1905 chose Brethren H. C. N. Coff- man, W. N. Glotfelty and E. G. Rodabaugh as a commit- tee to collect and care for all available minutes of our Dis- trict Meetings. Later E. G. Rodabaugh moved out of the District, and in 1908 the writer was chosen to fill the vacancy.
After the death of Bro. Willis Rodabaugh the writer was selected in 1918 to fill the vacancy, when he truly wished the task of completing this important work had fallen into hands more able than he for the work. But through the kindness of Sister Rodabaugh I soon received all the history which Bro. Rodabaugh had collected, and at once proceeded to secure such other history as was yet available.
When we remember that some of the churches did not keep a record of their proceedings in the early years of their existence, and portions of this history could be procured only from the memory of some of our mem- bers, we ask the kind reader to remember also that it is the best we could do under existing circumstances. Some to whom we wrote a number of letters, asking for information, kindly complied, while from others we got no reply whatever.
3
4
PREFACE
We hereby wish to thank all who have so kindly as- sisted in this work. We hope it may cause us to remem- ber the labors of our early pioneers, and assist in keep- ing us more closely united in the way of Jesus.
A. H. Brower.
Contents
Chapter Page
I. The Libertyville Church 9
II. Fairview Church
31
III. Monroe County Church
41
IV. English River Church
53
V. Mt. Etna Church
81
VI. The Franklin Church
91
VII. South Keokuk Church
101
VIII.
Middle Creek Church
109
IX.
Crooked Creek Church
111
X. Osceola Church 117
XI. Marion County Church
125
XII. South Ottumwa Mission
131
XIII.
Salem Church, Adams County
137
XIV. Council Bluffs
143
XV. North English Church
147
XVI. Missionary Sentiment and Mission Board
151
XVII.
Minutes of District Meetings of Middle Iowa for the
Years 1867, 1868, and 1869
153
XVIII. Minutes of the District Meetings of the Southern Dis-
trict of Iowa
157
5
Illustrations
Page
Willis P. Rodabaugh Frontispiece
A. H. Brower Frontispiece
Libertyville Church 9
Elder W. N. Glotfelty 12
John H. Filmore
22
Monroe County Church
42
Elders of the English River Church, Nov. 16, 1923 55
Brethren Church Near South English 58
Jacob Henry Brower
62
Elder S. F. Brower and Family 65
Elder Peter Brower and Wife
67
Elder C. M. Brower
71
Elder Samuel Flory
74
Mt. Etna Church 81
Old and New, Franklin Congregation
91
South Keokuk Church
101
Elder John Gable and Wife
106
Charles Wonderlich
Elder John Thomas and Wife 113
Osceola Church 117
Bro. Jacob Keffer and Wife 118
South Ottumwa Mission 132
Elder Wm. E. Thompson 135
Salem Church 137
Council Bluffs Church 143
North English Church 147
Elder D. P. Miller
150
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104
CHAPTER I
The Libertyville Church
The house was located in section 2, Des Moines Town- ship, Jefferson County, Iowa.
In 1838 we find that there were at least two families of members within the bounds of the State of Iowa. They were David Peebler and John Garber. They, with at least two other families, located near Libertyville, Jeffer- son County, before 1844. In common with many of the brethren, these pioneers considered their church relations
Libertyville Church
and growth of prime importance, and in harmony with this sentiment a few members met in 1844 and organized the first Church of the Brethren in Iowa, it being the second one west of the Mississippi River. The number
9
10
HISTORY OF SOUTHERN IOWA
at this organization was eight, and this tallies exactly with the original organization over 200 years ago in Germany.
It was organized by Eld. Geo. Wolf, of Illinois, and consisted of the following members : Michael Peebler, Sr., and wife, Esther; Michael Peebler, Jr., and wife, Fanny ; David Peebler and wife and John Garber and wife, Sarah. Bro. Garber, being a minister, was placed in charge of the work, and was soon afterward ordained to the elder- ship, being the first elder ordained in Iowa. He had charge of the church until his death, in 1853. We cannot help but believe that there were others ready to hand in their letters of membership, or were very soon baptized, among whom were other families of Peeblers, Albaughs, etc. It is said that Daniel Rodabaugh, Sr., and wife were baptized either at the time of organization or at the first love feast. In 1847 a minister, Peter Lutz, and three families of Browns increased their number as well as the influence of the church.
Among the early settlers of members might be men- tioned Michael Glotfelty, Jesse West, and other families of Rodabaughs. These formed the foundation of the church at that time, and many of their descendants are at present among the active, earnest workers in the church in different parts of the Brotherhood.
The church prospered under the care of Bro. Garber, who was a good leader on account of his quiet and con- sistent life, although he was not as efficient in the pulpit as some. The meetings were held in private houses, school- houses, or barns, until the members felt strong enough numerically and financially to build a house of worship, which was accomplished in 1858. This is a rival of one in Dry Creek congregation, Linn County, for the first Brethren's house of worship built in Iowa.
After the death of Bro. Garber the active care of the
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LIBERTYVILLE CHURCH
church fell upon Bro. Peter Lutz, who was an able preacher but not so efficient in leadership. We were unable to tell who had charge of the church as elder after the death of Bro. Garber, but Bro. Lutz was the principal minister, until the time of his death, except for perhaps two or three years in the early sixties, when he quit church work entirely. He was more aggressive and progressive than most of the members, and he is known to have held at least one series of meetings when thirteen applicants were bap- tized. This did not meet the approval of some of the mem- bers.
At this time, because many of the members were dil- atory in their church work, their children were not gen- erally saved to the church, and those that did join did so late in life. In the latter part of this period some mem- bers of the District desired that it make a concerted effort over the District for the preaching of the Gospel. The Libertyville church put herself on record as favoring con- fining her efforts to home mission work. Of course the home mission efforts would be confined to what the preach- ers could do, as it would not do to help the ministers.
During this time a number of ministers were elected, as follows: Joseph Holsinger, D. H. Garber, moved away before 1880; Enoch Prather, elected in 1858, soon moved west; in 1870, A. B. Wallick ; 1851 to 1865, M. Glotfelty was chosen, but did no preaching; Jackson Harmon, elected after 1866, died about 1912, isolated from the church and did not do much church work; J. H. Eshelman, chosen 1873; J. H. Filmore was here sometime in the sixties and then from 1881 to 1889; Benjamin Byerly, a minister for a few years, died in 1867; Daniel Holder and Jas. Glot- felty, called to the ministry about 1883; the latter ordained in 1896, the former, 1905.
The old churchhouse, built in 1858, not being very sub-
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HISTORY OF SOUTHERN IOWA
stantial, it was decided to build a new one, which was ac- complished in 1876. During the latter part of this period the church was under the care of Eld. Daniel Zook, of Unionville, Iowa, until the ordination of Abram Wolf, July 5, 1890. Bro. Wolf was elder in charge until 1903, when he moved to Udell, Iowa, and resigned the charge at Libertyville. In this period the membership of the church increased to about 140, including the members at Pleasant Hill, who were organized into a separate body in 1896 and continued for a number of years. Several young people were now added to the church.
The ministers who served the church at this time were as follows : Joseph Gilchrist, received by letter, stayed some
Elder W. N. Glotfelty At the Door of the Batavia Churchhouse
four or five years; W. N. Glotfelty and Willis Rodabaugh, chosen in 1893. The latter moved in 1895. After Bro. Wolf's departure in 1903 Elder C. M. Brower was given charge of it until his death, in 1906, when Bro. W. N. Glotfelty, who had been ordained, was placed in charge and has remained overseer ever since.
In this period there were two ministers called in as pastors. The first was Bro. Harry Collyer, who preached for them about two years. Then Bro. J. G. Rarick was secured and
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LIBERTYVILLE CHURCH
remained three years. About 1915 Bro. John Price moved there from Unionville. He was a young minister and is doing acceptable service. He still resides there, and with Bro. Glotfelty constitutes the active ministerial force of the church, with a number of deacons and two aged ministers. In the last few years there have been added to the church a number of young and middle-aged mem- bers, with families of children. Some of these members are zealous workers and their children are accepting their Savior, so that the work looks generally bright at the present time. However, this prosperity is not altogether unalloyed, as a wave of worldism has entered, in that some do not want to conform to the order of the church. It is to be hoped this feeling will soon be overcome.
The church did not always confine itself to the one preaching place. Where the Pleasant Hill church was or- ganized there had been a regular monthly appointment since before 1850. There were also two places across the Des Moines River at Douds and Selma, where there were some members, and regular meetings were held until after 1900. Several members moving into Batavia as retired farmers, an old churchhouse was purchased and consider- able work has been done, but because they have not been able to secure the attendance of young people and children, it has not given promise of permanence.
It is thought that as early as 1859 a Sunday-school was conducted in the neighborhood, when some of the members' children attended, and some think that Bro. Lutz engaged in Sunday-school work in the early sixties, but it was perhaps not until 1866 or '68 that the brethren made much headway in the work. We find that Bro. D. H. Garber and his sisters and Bro. J. H. Eshelman were some of the early Sunday-school workers. Later J. H. McCleary conducted a Sunday-school for several years. During this time some of the members were opposed and
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HISTORY OF SOUTHERN IOWA
others were indifferent to the Sunday-school, so that it did not tell strongly for the church. The interest has been increasing since 1890, and it is so strong at the present time that the members deemed it advisable to remodel the house for Sunday-school purposes. They have raised the house, put a basement underneath, added two Sunday- school rooms, and made other improvements at an ex- pense of over $2,000. They have had a successful Sisters' Aid Society for two or three years, and are making progress in carrying on a prosperous Christian Workers' meeting.
Some of the principal deacons are as follows: David Peebler, Michael Peebler, Abram Wagner, Geo. W. Brown, Wm. Roberts, Philip Albaugh, Wm. F. Baker, Jesse West, Joseph Rodabaugh, Alex. Smith, James Dunn, West Horn, Ellis Peebler, Samuel Peebler, Joseph Wagner, Joseph Bur- ger, D. A. Wolf, Wm. Manning, D. E. Rodabaugh, Samuel Burger, Jerry Wolf, S. C. Laughlin, Henry Rodabaugh, Thomas Lawson.
An Old Letter to the Fairview Brethren
South English, Keokuk Co., Iowa, Aug. 28, 1856. Dear Loving and Respected Brethren :
Your kind letter was received this evening and I was truly glad to hear from you; sorry to hear that Bro. Ben- jamin has poor health, but hope and trust that the Lord will bless and comfort him in his affliction. I will inform you that we and the Brethren in this arm of the church are all well as far as I know, praise and thanks to the Most High for the blessings we enjoy.
Now in answer to your loving request for my attend- ance at your love feast I must tell you that I am sorry that I cannot be with you, owing to the fact that the Breth- ren in Blackhawk County have also very warmly requested my attendance at their love feast, which will be on the 6th of September, and I finally agreed, if the Lord will, to be
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LIBERTYVILLE CHURCH
there. So, dear Brethren, you will have me excused for this time. I suppose it would be well if the Brethren in Decatur County were organized. I think the proper way to organize them would be for several ordained Brethren and others to go to where they live and after duly con- sidering their case then and there have a choice if they thought it expedient. But yet, dear Brethren, you all do as you think best. You can counsel or have it counseled at your communion meeting, and I hope and trust that the Lord will be with you and them at your love feast, and also hope and trust that the good Lord will make a way for the Brethren in Decatur County. Remember my love to them and tell them I feel for them, and now, dear Brethren, do try and be with us at our love feast, or at least some of you, and let me know what is done for the above-named Brethren, for I shall be anxious to hear. Dear Brethren, when it goes well with you remember me in your prayers. May the Lord enable you and us to contend for the Faith once delivered to the saints. Yours truly in love. To Brothers Benj. Leavell, Abraham Replogle, Daniel Zook, John Whistler, Israel Hardman. David Brower.
My best love and greetings to you all and all the Brethren in your parts. David Brower.
Pleasant Hill Church
This house was located in section 35, Liberty Township, Jefferson County, Iowa. It was a preaching point of the Libertyville church as early as 1850, and the most of the time regular monthly appointments were kept up. Some of the first members were Daniel and Chris Rodabaugh . and Abram Schwartz, with their wives, and Mrs. Abe Roda- baugh. After 1860 Joseph Rodabaugh's and Thomas Law- son's were added. Some time after the war they succeeded
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HISTORY OF SOUTHERN IOWA
in buying an old schoolhouse, and putting suitable seats in, making it answer their purpose for several years.
There was not much real activity until in the eighties, when, after the death of Bro. Peter Lutz, through the ef- forts of D. E. Rodabaugh and Jas. Glotfelty, Bro. J. H. Fillmore was persuaded to move within the bounds of the Libertyville church in 1881, living most of the time in this arm of the congregation. About 1887 Bro. A. Molsbee, of Tennessee, came and held a series of meetings and several were baptized. This so increased the interest that in a year or two they were able to build a new churchhouse.
In 1889 Bro. Abram Wolf moved into the congrega- tion and did considerable preaching at this place. In 1896, with the assistance of Elders Samuel Flory and John Gable, these members were organized into a separate body, to be known as the Pleasant Hill congregation. There were about forty members. Eld. Daniel Zook was chosen as bishop, with Jas. Glotfelty, who was ordained at that meet- ing, as assistant. Bro. E. G. Rodabaugh also was called to the ministry. There were four or five deacons in the organization. The territory included all that was east of Libertyville. There had been union Sunday-schools in the neighborhood previous to this time, but after the comple- tion of the church there was a Brethren's Sunday-school organized. It continued while there was a churchhouse.
About 1898 Bro. Victor Anderson was called to the ministry and the work prospered for some years. After several of the older ones died, some moved away and some proved unfaithful and the interest lagged. Three of the ministers mentioned were called away, and Bro. E. G. Rodabaugh, who had been ordained, had charge of the work. He continued until his efforts seemed fruitless and not desiring to keep his family in such surroundings, he moved. The house was sold, and where was once a door to heaven is now overgrown with weeds and brush.
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LIBERTYVILLE CHURCH
Eld. Daniel Holder
Daniel Holder was born in Somerset County, Pa., January, 1834. When he was eight years old his parents moved to Maryland, where they remained three years, then moving to West Virginia. After nine years of resi- dence there he moved to Jefferson County, Iowa, where he had since resided except nine years in Ringgold County and three years in the service of his country.
Bro. Holder attended some little subscription school in West Virginia. This, with about one year's instruction after coming to Iowa, was the extent of his schooling. He was united in marriage to Louisa Jane Dunn July 2, 1854. To this union were born five children, three of whom died in infancy. One died in young womanhood and one son still lives, his home being in Montana.
Bro. Holder united with the Church of the Brethren in 1881. He was elected to the ministry about 1883, and ordained to the full ministry Sept. 6, 1905. Bro. Holder was a blacksmith by trade and followed this occupation most of his life, except, perhaps, five or six years when he was on a farm.
As a minister Bro. Holder was both entertaining and instructive. While he was small of stature, in his manner and conduct he was a natural orator. With his strong, orotund voice and his originality of expression, he never failed to gain the attention of his hearers. On account of his application to business in the early part of his ministry, and his poor health in his later years, the church did not get so much benefit of his life service. He did consider- able preaching in the bounds of the home congregation and some in adjoining congregations upon love-feast oc- casions. In his explanation or deductions from the Scrip- tures he would often express conclusions contrary to those
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HISTORY OF SOUTHERN IOWA
reached by his brethren, but his ideas generally commanded admiration.
Bro. Holder almost instantly died of heart disease Oct. 20, 1919, aged 85 years, 9 months and 4 days. In his latter days he often expressed himself as seeing more and more beauty and power in the plan of salvation. His fu- neral was held in the Brethren church in Batavia, Iowa, by Brethren W. N. Glotfelty, J. H. Price and Abram Wolf. He was buried in the Brethren cemetery, three miles south- east of Batavia. His wife survived him only a few months, when she passed away and was laid by his side.
Elder Abraham Wolf
Eld. Abraham Wolf, the son of Jeremiah and Susannah Wolf, was born Sept. 12, 1837, in Logan County, Ohio, and died Oct. 17, 1922, aged eighty-five years, one month and six days.
The family moved to Champaign County in 1842, and in the year 1845 to Clark, Ohio. His mother died in 1848, and his father in 1856.
Abraham took advantage of the school privileges of his young days and received a good education in vocal mu- sic and penmanship, in which he gave lessons for many years.
In 1858 he was received into the Church of the Breth- ren in the Donnels Creek church, Ohio. In the same year, Sept. 12, he came to Keokuk, Iowa, in the bounds of the English River congregation.
Sept. 16, 1860, he was united in marriage to Katie Fritz, Eld. David Brown officiating. To this union were born six sons and five daughters, of whom three sons and five daughters are living. Two sons were called to the ministry. D. A., in the second degree, died October, 1913,
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LIBERTYVILLE CHURCH
and Eld. C. Edward, now of Raisin City, Calif., and one son, Jerry A., to the deacon's office, now of Waterloo.
In the early sixties, Eld. Wolf was called to the dea- con's office in the South Keokuk church and Sept. 2, 1876, he was called to the ministry of the same church and ad- vanced to the second degree of the ministry, Aug. 31, 1878, in the Crooked Creek church, Washington County, Iowa.
March 4, 1889, he moved into the bounds of the Liberty- ville church, Jefferson County, where, July 5, 1890, he was ordained to the full ministry and given charge of the church the same day. He was elder in charge here for thirteen years, and saw the church grow from a few members to more than 140, with a new church built and organized-a part of the Pleasant Hill church.
Eld. Wolf was one of the strong ministers of the church and always contended for her principles and doctrine. He loved his church and did much for her upbuilding. He was a forceful man in doctrinal sermons, having studied his Bible well. In early life, when he had no access to helps or commentaries on the Bible, he carried his Testament with him to the field. When he would rest for a few min- utes, he would be found studying God's Word. His con- versation was much on the Scriptures.
Bro. Wolf was one of the first men to organize a Sun- day-school in Keokuk County, Iowa, and the first Sunday- school superintendent among our people in the State of Iowa, to the writer's knowledge. This school was organized in the spring of 1871, at the brick schoolhouse, one mile west of the South Keokuk church, where it continued for four years. After the fifth year it was held in the church. He was superintendent of Sunday-schools for twenty-seven consecutive years. He always had a great love for the young people, and always looked to their best interests
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HISTORY OF SOUTHERN IOWA
through the Sunday-school and in giving instruction in vocal music and penmanship.
He represented his District twice on Standing Commit- tee and many times as a delegate to the District Meetings. For the two years of 1896-97 and part of the year 1895 he was appointed by the General Mission Board to preach missionary sermons and take collections for home and foreign mission work in the Southern District of Iowa. He served the District often on committee work to churches.
In February, 1903, he moved to the Fairview church, of which he was elder in charge for thirteen years. At one time he had charge of five churches. This was his last church and because of advanced age he resigned in April, 1911.
He traveled in his ministry 61,728 miles by different methods-afoot, horseback, in wagon and by railroads- mostly at his own expense. He preached 3,205 sermons, besides 175 funeral sermons, and gave to his ministerial work 1,875 work days. He held seventy-two series of meetings and baptized 140 into the church, although these are only a small number of those brought into the church through his ministry.
During the last eight years of Sister Wolf's life he. did but little church work, because of her poor health. When he was called away to preach or serve the church, in any capacity, she never complained, but did everything possible to make his going pleasant. She had much responsibility and care. She was one of the sainted women of God and a real mother in Israel to her family and church, and to all whom she met in her path of life. She was given much to prayer at the family altar and at church services.
Much credit for Bro. Wolf's success must be given to her, for her devotion and faithfulness to him and the Lord's
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LIBERTYVILLE CHURCH
work. She accepted Christ as her Savior when but twelve years of age, and served him faithfully for almost fifty- eight years. Brother and Sister Wolf walked and labored in the joys and sorrows of married life for fifty-three years. The summons came to her Aug. 15, 1913, after years of suffering.
Funeral services were conducted by Eld. Orlando Og- den, assisted by Bro. John Price, of the Fairview congre- gation. Interment was made in the Fairview cemetery, near by.
After the departure of his faithful companion Bro. Wolf continued to travel and preach and labor for the Master, as God gave him ability. He made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Lillie Jones, of Fairfield, Iowa, although he visited considerably among his children and others. About one year before his death he spent several months with his son in Denver, Colo. He was visiting with his youngest daughter, Mrs. Emma McCurdy, of Selma, Iowa, when he became unable to travel. He had cancer of the stomach. After being confined to his bed about four weeks God said, " Come up higher," Oct. 17, 1922. Funeral serv- ices were held Oct. 19 at the Fairview church, near Udel, Iowa, by Eld. Orlando Ogden, after which the remains were laid in the beautiful cemetery near by, by the side of those of his wife.
Thus passed out the life of a very useful man. He was the oldest minister in the District, both in age and number of years in the ministry. He was very aggressive, and was ever ready to do all in his power for the advance- ment of the cause, admonishing his brethren to be faithful unto the end. He preached the last time he was able to attend church services. He was anointed according to James 5: 14, Sept. 6, 1922, realizing that the end was nigh. He had full confidence that God was faithful to re- ward those who trust and obey his Word .- A. H. B.
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