USA > Iowa > A history of the Church of the Brethren in southern Iowa > Part 5
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tinued his school work, as opportunity afforded in the schools at South English. As the country was new in that day, and the soil unbroken, with just here and there a small log cabin, the opportu- nities were very meager to obtain an education, com- pared with what our children now have. Under such condi- tions he grew to manhood, with a strong personality, and with high aspirations and a desire to do good in the world.
Feb. 6, 1868, he was mar- ried to Lizzie C. Flory, who proved a great help to him in Elder C. M. Brower his future work for the church. Always willing to bear her share of the burden, she was a true mother at home and in the church. The year after marriage they united with the English River congregation of the Church of the Brethren. One year later the above church called him to the office of deacon, and two years later he was elected to the ministry, in which he labored zealously to the end. His faithful com- panion was called to her reward Oct. 7, 1896, when she seemed to be most needed, to stand by her companion. But God in his great wisdom and power came and touched her, taking her up higher, to enjoy the fruition of her labors. Bro. Brower was again married, this time to Sister Susan Newland, March 23, 1899. She survives him.
The subject of this sketch was ordained to the full ministry in 1897 and was placed elder in charge of the
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English River congregation in 1901. His usefulness be- came more manifest as time passed, and his work en- larged. This was true not only in the home field, where he was zealous and showed much concern for the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made him overseer, but it reached out more and more along the different lines of mission work. His field broadened, as he had the over- sight of four different congregations at the time of his death. He traveled much in the cause he so dearly loved, held a number of series of meetings, and attended most of our Annual Meetings, serving his District a number of times on Standing Committee. We call great those who have accomplished notable deeds in a worldly way ; but the men and women who have stood against sin and the adversary of our souls, have been a benediction to humanity, and have come out victorious, are truly great from every angle.
Bro. Brower reared a family of eight children, all of whom followed in his footsteps, and entered into the church. They are still serving their Master. One son and two sons- in-law are in the ministry. At a time when it seemed we needed him most the Master needed him more. God, who is no Respecter of persons, touched him and said, "It is enough; come up higher," while he was sitting in his chair in his home, surrounded with friends, God having previously given him warning, by failing health. Thus, on Sept. 13, 1906, his spirit quietly took its flight. He was aged a little less than 62 years.
His funeral, largely attended, was held Sept. 15, in the same house where he had so often worshiped. It was con- ducted by Elders John Siebert, C. E. Wolf, and H. C. N. Coffman, and with much sorrowing his body was laid to rest, by the side of those gone before.
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The following lines were composed by a sister in his home church :
A form we all well knew, A face we loved most dear, Has passed beyond our view, His place is vacant here.
We thought we needed him,
But the Master needed more,
So, tho' our eyes with tears are dim, And our hearts are sad and sore,
We'll try to smile through tears,
And say. "Dear . Lord, 'tis well,"
We'll cast our doubts and fears,
And hope we too may dwell
With Christ in the courts above,
Where our brother's gone before, To meet the others that we love,
Who left us in the days of yore.
He was sitting calmly in his chair, When the Master came and touched him, And said, with his smile so rare, " Come," and then his eyes grew dim.
We weep not as those who hope not, For we know our elder brother, friend, Has changed this life for a better lot- Has reached his journey's end.
Peter Brower.
South English, Iowa.
Eld. Samuel Flory
Eld. Samuel Flory was born in Augusta County, Va., Sept. 10, 1826. Although his was an humble country home, and the family large, it was a Christian home, where he was early taught the ways of piety and a reverence for God and his people with their earnest devotions. He grew to manhood as do many other boys, but a boy is a group of undeveloped possibilities. His education was limited.
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He attended the crossroads school some in the winter when he could, assisting on the farm in the summer. Those were not days, more especially in his native country, of rapid, pro- gressive work, such as now see, when farming is done large- ly by machinery, but when the labor re- quired strength and brawn. After reach- ing his majority, and hearing of the possi- bilities of the then far- western plains, he started out to investi- gate for himself. As railroads were scarce and far between, he, Eld. Samuel Flory with others, traveled much on foot. Seeing that the reports he had heard in the East were not un- founded, he resolved some day to make his home in the West.
In August, 1851, he was married to Mary Brower, of the same county where he lived. She proved a great help to him in his earlier ministerial duties. As the vast plains attracted our people, others came from Virginia and Ohio, and he, with his then little family, moved here in 1854, to Keokuk County. Soon it was apparent that an organization should be effected, which was done the fol- lowing year, in the presence of Elders Christian Long and Samuel Garber, from Illinois, at which meeting Bro.
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David Brower was ordained to the full ministry, and the subject of this sketch to the deacon's office. Both were charter members of what is now known as the English River congregation. In 1858 he was chosen to the min- istry in the above congregation, in which he labored faith- fully during his long and useful life.
While on a visit to his native State, his beloved com- panion, who had stood with him so faithfully, both in the home and his church work, was suddenly called to her reward. In 1873 he was married to Sister Bettie Perry, of Virginia, who was a true mother in Israel, always faith- ful in the church and the home, making a true home for the pilgrim as he sojourned among us. Some time pre- vious he had been advanced in the ministry, and in this year he was ordained to the full ministry and placed in charge of the English River church in 1879. Under his care the church grew and increased rapidly. While he was strong in carrying out the distinctive principles of the church, he was progressive, and favored Sunday-schools and series of meetings, and some very successful meetings were held during his care. Eld. Flory was very faithful in his ministerial duties. If he had an appointment you could expect him there, if it was possible to get there. He was truly great in his wise administration, and in his ex- ecutive ability he was sociable and kind, yet firm, so that he was known over the country as " Uncle Sammy." While his main work was centered in his home congregation, his efforts broadened out over the District, and even to other States. He served his District a number of times on Stand- ing Committee, as well as on other committees of various kinds. He truly was a father to those who followed him in official capacities, as the writer can well testify, always giving his colaborers a word of encouragement. He raised several daughters, and one son who is a faithful deacon
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in the same church. In 1901, feeling the weight of the work, and age coming upon him, he resigned his care of the church as elder in charge, having it placed on a younger head, but he was ever ready to give good and wise counsel. His second companion was called to her reward several years previous to this time, but he is still spared with us and gives wise counsel, and worships with us, when the weather is fair, but is only waiting, as a shock fully ripe, to be gathered into the Master's garner, this March. 27, 1914.
Peter Brower.
South English, Iowa.
Conclusion of Biography of Eld. Samuel Flory
Eld. Flory preached his final sermon April 5, 1914. He opened meeting June 7, 1914, and attended meeting last June 14, 1914. Although it rained, and many who were younger did not go, Uncle Samuel was there, but on Friday, the 19th, he took sick with his final illness. He was again anointed, according to the Holy. Scripture, and looked forward with a strong eye of faith, only waiting for the change. God took him home at the ripe age of almost 88 years, July 3, 1914, just as the sun was lowering in the west. Many said, " If ever any one was ready to go Uncle Sam was."
July 5, 1914, in the same house where he had so often admonished us who are living, as well as many who pre- ceded him to the spirit world, his funeral was held, con- ducted by Brethren D. P. Miller and W. D. Grove, as- sisted by A. W. Miller and S. I. Bowman. In the presence of a great number of sorrowing relatives and friends, his body was laid to rest in the cemetery near by, to await the resurrection of the just, but his works still live.
South English, Iowa.
A. H. Brower.
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Eld. Jacob Brower
Eld. Jacob Brower was born in an humble country home in Augusta County, Va., on the 10th of September, 1817. He was the eldest of a family of six children of Christian Brower and Susanah .(Wine) Brower. His mother was called home when he was in his 14th year.
School facilities at that time were not the best, com- pared to our modern conveniences, but he improved the opportunities well, and received his education in a log schoolhouse, with slab benches for seats. As one of the main studies in that day was the Bible he early gained and manifested a deep insight in the Sacred Oracles, which was characteristic throughout his entire long and useful life.
He had such a strong anxiety for education that he obtained some books and took up some of those branches which he did not have in school.
After his school days were over, in company with two other young men and two older men, he made a trip to Ohio on horseback, about 1838 or 1839, when much of that country was yet covered with timber. This trip was made at least partly to see the country. I think one of the older men was a minister and did preaching whenever there was an opportunity.
He was never physically strong, and during these years some said he would not live long, but this was only one of the many times when humanity did not know.
May 24, 1842, he was married to Anna Miller, of Rock- ingham County, of the same State, who proved herself a true helpmeet to him in his later labors in the ministry. It was not then customary for people to unite with the church until they were married and settled down in life. So, soon after marriage, he and his faithful companion
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united with God's people, and were baptized into the Church of the Brethren in the same county where he was born. It was soon manifest that the young man would be useful in the ministry. No doubt he would have been elected sooner, had it not been the custom not to elect to the min- istry until middle life, but in 1847, when he was thirty years old, at the age when Christ entered upon active service, as well as the priests, he was chosen to the ministry. He soon became active and powerful in that office, more es- pecially along expository lines, preaching to edification, with great faithfulness in attending services, going the then usual way, horseback, often with his companion, each tak- ing one or two children.
The church soon saw fit to advance him to the second degree in the ministry, and in 1854 he was ordained to the full ministry in the same congregation where he united with the church.
He had a desire for some years to move west, be- lieving that his efforts might be more fruitful, both spir- itually and temporally. Accordingly, in the fall of 1855, with his companion and six children, he made the long trip by private conveyance from his native State to Keokuk County, Iowa, where they united in membership with the little nucleus of members known as the English River con- gregation. This, then far West, was a vast expanse of prairie, with few inhabitants, but the early settlers soon found the soil very productive, yielding readily to the faith- ful husbandman, and settlers came. The desert began to blossom as the rose, and calls came for preaching, from far and near. As the means of travel were slow and tire- some, compared with what we now enjoy, he used much of his time traveling over the State, as well as other States, doing church work and building up the cause he loved so
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well. Mission work then meant work, indeed; it meant exposure, with long and tedious journeys. Sometimes he would be gone for weeks at a time, doing church work, his faithful companion at home looking after domestic af- fairs.
It was not uncommon for a man to come twenty or thirty miles to get Bro. Brower to preach a funeral, and he would saddle his horse and go with him. Sometimes the caller would arrive about the midnight hour, and very early in the morning the two would start on their journey.
He had the oversight of a number of churches during his time. In 1871 he was chosen as presiding elder of the English River congregation, which position he held until 1879, and during his administration the churches pros- pered and grew in numbers as well as in spiritual strength.
It was not then, as it is now, that people had papers and books to read, but what books he did have were along religious lines. More especially was the Good Bible his constant companion. In it did he meditate much of his time.
I do not remember ever seeing him with sermon notes, but frequently he would say, "Brethren, read some Scrip- ture," and then one of us would open the Book and read. He would begin at the same Scripture and give us a good sermon, and to this day we hear people say, "We never heard others preach as he preached."
He reared a family of eight children, all growing to manhood and womanhood. He lived to see all of them and their companions in the church of his choice, all his sons and his sons-in-law, save one, in the official body; also some of his grandchildren. Three of his sons (all elders) have crossed the river of death ere this.
While his work was mostly in the English language,
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he also preached some sermons in German, when it seemed best to do so. He did not live in the day of Sunday-schools and series of meetings and opportunities such as we now have, but in his later life he did some work in Sunday- school, and held a few short series of meetings.
He served his District on Standing Committee at An- nual Meeting a number of times, likewise acting as mod- erator at our District Meetings.
His companion having passed over a few years pre- viously, he, after much suffering, quietly passed to his re- ward at his home Dec. 6, 1900, at the ripe age of 83 years, 2 months and 26 days. As the wheat is gathered into the garner, so the Lord gathers his own to himself in due time, and their works do follow them.
His funeral was held in the old churchhouse, east of ยท South English (which still stands as a living monument for the work of the pioneer members), conducted by Elders John Gable and H. C. N. Coffman, after which his body was laid to rest in the cemetery near by, to await the resurrec- tion of the just. Peace be to his ashes !
I am indebted to Eld. Peter Brower, deceased, for pre- paring much of this sketch during his lifetime.
A. H. Brower.
South English, Iowa.
CHAPTER V
Mt. Etna Church
The Mt. Etna church is located in the town of Mt. Etna, Adams County, Iowa, twelve miles north of Corn- ing, the county seat.
In 1855 there were two families of members known to have moved from Jefferson County to Adams County, Iowa. They were John Morton's and Jacob Harader's. Others may have located at this point the same year or sooner. In the fall of 1856 Bro. Christian Harader, a min-
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Mt. Etna Church
ister, arrived from Preston County, W. Va. Other mem- bers moved in, so that in that or the following year they had their first love feast, which was held in Bro. John Mor- ton's new barn, north of the old mill. Besides the members already mentioned the following families were among the
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HISTORY OF SOUTHERN IOWA
earliest settlers : Feece's, Mansfield's, Davis', Peterson's, Powell's, Prickett's, Torney's and perhaps others.
At this point the brethren felt that the cause could be better advanced by organizing, and so, after calling to their assistance Eld. Francis Myers, of Monroe County, they were organized into a working body in the spring of 1857. Bro. Howard Miller, in his " Record of the Faith- ful," gives the number at organization as fifty, while others put it at twenty-five or thirty. We are not able to tell who was elder in charge for the first few years, but Bro. Harader was in active charge for several years. They fairly held their own until 1865, when a series of meetings was held by Bro. J. H. Fillmore and others and about thirty members were added to the church by baptism and the church was strengthened. About 1865 an election was held for ministers and deacons. As a result, Daniel and Ammi Harader were installed as ministers and J. M. Mansfield and A. D. Thomas as deacons.
Up to this time the regular services had been held in schoolhouses. A house of worship was built in 1868. It was 32x40 feet, and built mostly of native lumber. The shingles were hauled about eighty or one hundred miles on wagons. For several years the membership of the church ranged from seventy-five to one hundred and the church was fairly prosperous. About 1871 Eld. Chris. Har- ader moved to Missouri, leaving the church in charge of Bro. Ammi Harader as pastor. Some of the ministers serving this church, besides those already mentioned, are as follows :
John Morton, who preached little or none at all; Ed- ward Prickett, Isaiah Feece, Jacob Feece, David Markley, Wm. Davis, Benjamin Wray, Byron Sprague, Philip Thom- as.
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MT. ETNA CHURCH
When Bro. C. Harader left several members went with him, which caused a lull in its work, as they were without a resident elder. In the spring of 1879 Bro. David Sink moved into the congregation. The church saw fit to ordain him to the full ministry in a short time, and the church prospered under his care until his death, May 7, 1885. The church was again without a resident elder, and Brethren Kob, Barto, and M. Myers served as nonresident elders in succession until 1893, when Bro. John P. Bailey moved into the congregation and was given the oversight.
We cannot refrain from mentioning the fact that two deacon brethren, D. F. Kingery and ---. Peterson, were pillars in the church. Had it not been for them the church would have disappeared from the neighborhood. Bro. Kingery is still living, and has witnessed many of the ups and downs of the little band. Under the care of Eld. Bailey the church prospered well for a while, and several were added to their number through their yearly series of meet- ings.
In this time the following ministers were installed into office : About 1878, Bro. J. M. Mansfield was selected, and preached much through his daily life. In 1879 Bro. D. G. Couser accepted the call and is now at Lincoln, Nebr. J. M. Follis was installed in 1885. An election was held about 1893 or 1894, which resulted in three brethren being set apart for the work-D. F. Sink, J. M. Bailey, and A. P. Simpson. J. M. Bailey was soon afterward killed by light- ning. From about 1908 to the present time the church has suffered generally a period of depression. Some moved away, some were called higher, and some left the church fellowship. Not the least factor in this result was that the above-mentioned Bro. Simpson, being a minister of great force and ability, but having filthy lucre and worldly honor
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HISTORY OF SOUTHERN IOWA
more than the cause of the church and detesting authority, he troubled the church until he moved away and also had left the church. Bro. Bailey moved away in 1906 and I think Bro. J. D. Brower was called and acted as pastor for the next two years, in which time a new church build- ing was erected. The old house being quite dilapidated, the members concluded to erect a new one, which was done in 1907 and dedicated at the time of the District Meeting at that place in the fall of the same year.
When Bro. Brower left them they were again without any resident elder or minister for several years. Bro. Fol- lis acted as elder for two years, when Bro. A. L. Sears was chosen and served until the fall of 1916, when a re- quest was sent to District Meeting to have a pastor located among them. The District Meeting put the matter into the hands of the missionary and ministerial committees to do as they would see best. The result was that a series of meetings was held in November by Bro. J. F. Swallow, of Franklin County, resulting in ten or eleven additions by baptism, and Bro. S. L. Cover was located there for one year. They had dwindled down to fewer than one-half dozen active families of members, but the prospects seem to be much better at the present time.
Maple Grove Church
Because the history of this church is closely connected with that of the Mt. Etna church it is appended to the same. There was never a house of worship built in this congregation but the main membership was located in Douglas Township in the northeast corner of Montgomery County. The first family of members was Bro. Silas Mor- ton and wife, and the first preaching was done by Bro. Christian Harader in 1868 or 1869, in Bro. Morton's house.
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MT. ETNA CHURCH
About 1870 a series of meetings was held by Bro. J. H. Fillmore in the Bean schoolhouse.
Soon after this Eld. Levi Workman, of Indiana, held a series at the same place. About this time Bro. Workman's sons, N. C. and David, moved there and from that time they had regular preaching, the cause of the Master began to prosper and precious souls were born into the kingdom. Other members moved in from Illinois, Virginia, and Waterloo, Iowa. They had union Sunday-schools at the different preaching points, one at the Bean schoolhouse, the other at the Robertson schoolhouse. Besides these they had a preaching point about halfway between here and the Mt. Etna church, called Sixteen. At this time the church belonged to the Mt. Etna congregation, and during this time Bro. Silas Morton and Bro. Daniel McDaniel were called to the ministry. Bro. Daniel tried once to preach but was so discouraged with his efforts that he never tried again. Bro. Morton perhaps never made an effort at preaching, but was a very fine brother. A number were baptized at Sixteen, among whom were Bro. Byron C. Sprague, who was afterwards called to the ministry.
About 1876 N. C. Workman was chosen to the elder- ship. After the vote was taken and the choice had fallen on him, he could not be found, so a searching party was sent and he was located in Bro. Abe Thomas' hay barn. He would not go, so the council was dismissed. He was ordained that evening before preaching.
January, 1877, Bro. J. H. Fillmore was called back for a second series of meetings, when a number were bap- tized and a brother, Geo. W. Workman, who had moved from Indiana, was reinstated into the ministry. Soon after this the Maple Grove church was organized and three deacons were chosen; namely, Samuel Plaugher, Joshua
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Jarboe and Christian Stiayer. In February, 1777, J. W. Jarboe and Levi Shafer were called to the ministry, and Bro. H. M. Blue to the deacon's office. In the summer of 1878 a colony was organized here and called the Maple Grove colony. Eld. N. C. Workman, G. W. Workman, Levi Shafer and Columbus Plowman were chosen a locating committee. They selected the northwestern part of Nor- ton County, Kans., for their new home, and in the spring of 1879-1880 practically all of the original members moved to Kansas, taking the name of the organization with them. It was during the spring of 1880 that Bro. Isaac Barto moved there, but the church never prospered, and accord- ing to last report only one family was left.
Eld. John P. Bailey
The subject of this sketch was born in Darke County, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1829. His ancestral religion was Primitive Baptist. On account of Roman Catholic persecution his early education was limited to three weeks in school, his being the only Protestant family in the District, and other schools being too far distant.
He was married to Martha Frye April 5, 1855, and moved the following year from Ohio to Woodford County, Ill., where he was baptized into the Church of the Brethren by Bro. James R. Gish in 1861. He was elected to the deacon's office at the same place the following year.
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