USA > Iowa > A history of the Church of the Brethren in southern Iowa > Part 6
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From here he moved to Champaign County, Ill., where he was elected to the ministry in the Urbana church, Oct. 12, 1874. He moved to Bolivar, Polk County, Mo., in 1889, and was there ordained to the eldership May 19, 1892. He labored here until the spring of 1893, when he moved to Mt. Etna, Iowa. Here he labored for the follow- ing thirteen years, being elder of this church a great part
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of the time. He also assisted in organizing the Salem church, being their bishop for some time. He was also chosen as elder for the Irish Grove church, afterwards known as the Osceola congregation.
While he lived here he attended most of the District Meetings, was chosen some on committee work, and did considerable mission work. He preached considerably at Essex and New Market, where he lived a short time.
He was a rather rapid and forcible speaker, with very little variation in his gestures and tone of voice. His fa- vorite position was standing with one hand clasped around the other. While he was not as attractive a speaker as some, his zeal for the work and his simple life in connec- tion with his ministry told much for good.
From New Market, Iowa, Bro. Bailey moved to Bo- livar, Mo., where, according to last accounts, he was still living with the wife of his youth. Although he was nearly 86 years old, he still preached each Sunday, traveling three miles each alternate Sunday to reach his appointment. His aged wife accompanied him whenever conditions and health permitted.
Later: John P. Bailey died in 1920, at the ripe age of 90 years, having served three times on the Standing Com- mittee.
Eld. Christian Harader
Christian Harader was born in Preston County, W. Va., Aug. 26, 1825. His father was not a professor of re- ligion, but his mother was a true Christian and mother. He often asserted that he owed his honor to the good example of his mother. He undoubtedly had better school privileges than many youth in that early period, as we find that he taught school for some time before his marriage.
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He was married to Mary Ann Cupp in 1845. To this union were born three sons and six daughters, one son and one daughter dying in infancy. The two living sons are in the ministry, one, Daniel, a minister in the Progressive Church. The companion of his youth having died, he was again joined in marriage, June 1, 1868, to Sarah Lewis, of Jefferson County, Iowa. She is still living at this writing.
After his first marriage he purchased a mill at Clifton Mills, Va., and continued to operate it until his emigration to Iowa. While residing in Iowa he became the owner of two mills, in which he combined sawing and building with that of his grist mills. He proved a successful financier and always gave liberally to charity and church needs. As a proof of this, not many years before his death he turned $50,000 over to the endowment fund of the Mission Board of the Church of the Brethren for the propagation of the Gospel.
In his youth Bro. Harader was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, but after marriage, following the stronger light and greater knowledge, he cast his lot with the Church of the Brethren, in which he was called to the ministry about 1847, he being elected and installed on the same day with Bro. P. J. Brown, afterward a prominent elder in Ohio.
In the fall of 1856 he and his family emigrated to Adams County, Iowa, where he and his wife became charter members of the Mt. Etna church. Here he was soon ordained to the full ministry, where he labored with considerable success until shortly after 1871, when he moved to Newtonia, Mo., and later to Cowley County, Kans., where he died in 1905, aged 79 years, 11 months and 23 days. All of his own children were once members of the church. Bro Harader was a close Bible student. He
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studied his Bible, and that was mostly his preaching. He always had a great interest in the young people, in train- ing them to sing. He was a sweet singer, and it seemed he had a good influence. As he at that time was the prin- cipal minister in the Western end of the District, he cer- tainly had a large field to work and was much away from home, preaching the Gospel. Bro. J. W. Jarboe, of Kansas, says thus of him : " I considered Bro. Harader a deep man in the Scriptures While he always seemed rather timid, never trying to push himself ahead, yet he spoke with the demonstration of the Spirit, was always a good entertainer, and I enjoyed listening to him."
These few lines relate some of the incidents in the life of a busy man and leader in the church. While, accord- ing to physical appearance, he was as the prophet spoke of the Savior, "There was no beauty in him that we should desire him," yet his beauty was in his consistent character. I cannot close this account without giving in her own words a few thoughts sent by his daughter, Sister Kate Johnson, to whom we are indebted for nearly all of this biography :
" My father once went with the Progressives. He was correspondent for the Brethren Evangelist while in that church, but in two years he was again reconciled to the Conservatives and died in full faith. He kept up the family altar, no difference how urgent his work was, and I must say he had the most saintly companion. Father was al- ways kind to everybody. He was a man that had very little to say in general conversation, but he did not lack for talk in the pulpit, or on religion. I often feel sorry when I think back to know that he had many sorrows and cares and how often have I seen tears rolling down his cheeks when pleading with unruly church members. Oh, may the good Lord bless the ministers and the work!"
CHAPTER VI
The Franklin Church
This church is located in section 14 of Center Town- ship, Decatur County, Iowa. It was organized in the fall of 1858 at the home of Bro. Christian Heaston. Eld. Abraham Replogle was present and installed three breth-
Old and New, Franklin Congregation
ren into the ministry; namely, Brethren Wm. Stout, Samuel Garber, and Harvey Spurlock. Bro. Spurlock soon moved away. Among the charter members may be found
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the names of Garber, Huff, Hendricks, Heaston, Harsh- barger, Ownsby, Payton, Stout, Spurlock, Chandler, Pace, Guyer and Sears (of whom Eld. A. L. Sears is a descend- ant).
The exact number of members at organization is not known-perhaps about twenty-five. In about the year 1859 or 1860 there were eighteen added to the church, in- cluding Bro. L. M. Kob and wife. He was chosen to the ministry in three or four years.
The first communion meeting was held at the home of Bro. James Ownsby, in Decatur City.
After the organization was completed, there being no house of worship built until 1874 the preaching services were held in schoolhouses once a month or oftener, and social or prayer meetings were held at private houses. By the untiring efforts of the above-named three minis- ters the Gospel of simplicity was being preached in all parts of the county and surrounding community. The work being ably seconded by the lay membership, it grew and prospered to such an extent that at one time the mem- bership reached about 170. They were, however, much scattered, some residing in Lucas and Wayne Counties.
In the early eighties the church began to decline, and Bro. Samuel Garber expressed himself as deploring the lack of unity and consecration in the members of the con- gregation. Just how the sentiment of division originated and what progress it made we are unable to say, but we find that the promoters of division were given opportunity to get in their work.
In 1892 S. H. Bashor came to this place and held a series of meetings at the request of some of the more progressive members of the church. He began the meet- ings at the Franklin churchhouse; then they were trans-
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ferred to the Union schoolhouse, where the Progressive Brethren organization was effected. They then built a house one mile west of the Franklin house and about a dozen members went with them at that time, including one deacon and wife. No minister withdrew at that time. The attendance greatly decreased at the old church, and the work has been greatly hindered ever since on account of the division. The Progressives have three church- houses in this county, all in Center Township. They claim to be "just like the Church of the Brethren," and those who know no better in regard to the matter go to the Progressive churches, because they are nearer home.
The church had declined to such an extent that in 1914 there were only eighteen members in the Franklin church. In the fall of 1915 Bro. J. F. Burton, of Northern Iowa, was called to hold a series of meetings and the visible result was that sixteen were baptized, besides some renewing their covenant. The work took on new life, and there is hope that in spite of all discouragements they may yet be a force in the community.
Bro. Samuel Garber had the oversight of the church from his ordination to the time of his death, in 1888. Then Bro. Wm. Stout was bishop until his death in 1898, being assisted by Bro. L. M. Kob, who was then presiding elder until his death, in 1911, with the exception of 1902-1906, when he resigned and Eld. A. Wolf was chosen as overseer. Since 1911 Bro. A. L. Sears has looked after the spir- itual interests of the flock.
The Sunday-school was organized long before the churchhouse was built, and was first held in a schoolhouse, afterwards in a Methodist churchhouse, and later trans- ferred to the new church building. Large numbers at- tended and a good, interesting Sunday-school was the
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result. - Bro. Jacob Castor was a loyal superintendent for years. After the Progressives built their churchhouse so near, the attendance greatly diminished, and it has not fully revived, but a faithful few have been enjoying the privilege of keeping the Sunday-school alive. One of the sisters said, " It has not been evergreen, although we have attempted to make it such this year, but on account of bad roads and sickness this winter, we were unable to ac- complish our purpose."
Prayer and social meetings were held for a number of years, but on account of the scattered homes of the members only occasional meetings of this kind were held the last few years. In the last year or so there has been a Christian Workers' meeting organized, and a lively in- terest is reported in that as well as in other church ac- tivities.
Besides the ministers already named the following may be mentioned: Samuel Riddle, prior to 1878, moved west and has since died; Jonathan Swihart, a year or so before 1878, was a fluent and entertaining speaker ; Ed- ward Johnson, elected in 1900, died 1903; J. D. Brower, by letter for one year, 1912; A. L. Sears, elected --- , ordained
Some of the deacons are as follows: James Ownsby, died in 1884; Howell Chandler, before 1878, died in 1898; Jacob Castor, prior to 1878, died 1889; S. V. Sears, prior to 1878, moved away, 1886; J. J. Sears, chosen 1894, died 1911 ; L. D. Garber and Hiram Porter, installed 1879; the latter died in 1888; John T. Caster and John Moore, chosen in 1889; Glen Petticord, chosen 1907; Nelson Prowant, in- stalled about 1905; served for a year or so; Abe McVey was chosen in 1894; F. A. Garber, who is one of the min- isters, was installed in 1915 and advanced to the full min- istry Sept. 16, 1921.
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FRANKLIN CHURCH
A new churchhouse was built. It was begun in 1919, and was dedicated June 6, 1920. Bro. M. W. Emmert, of Mount Morris, Ill., preached the dedicatory sermon. He was accompanied by Eld. D. L. Miller (of sacred memory), who gave three of his Bible land talks. The present min- isters (Nov. 19, 1923) are A. L. Sears, F. A. Garber, and Bro. Olaf Caskey, who has lately moved to Leon, but as yet has not presented his letter. This was formerly a part of the Fairview church and when first organized was called the Decatur County church.
Eld. Samuel A. Garber
Samuel A. Garber was born in Cambria County, Pa., Jan. 1, 1832. His parents, John and Sarah Garber, were of German descent and members of the Church of the Brethren. In 1838 they emigrated to Iowa, coming by steamboat down the Ohio River and up the Mississippi. They settled in Jefferson County, near Libertyville, his father, John Garber, being the first elder in the Liberty- ville congregation and the first Brethren preacher ever ordained in Iowa. Samuel grew to manhood and was mar- ried in the spring of 1853 to Nancy A. Peebler, whose ancestors were members of the Brethren church in Switz- erland shortly after the church was organized. They soon fled to Holland and later to America, to escape military duty.
Samuel and his wife united with the Church of the Brethren shortly after they were married, and in the spring of 1855 emigrated to Decatur County, Iowa, settling a few miles north of Leon in Center Township. He after- wards traded this farm for another, also in Center Town- ship, where he lived until his death. He was elected to the ministry when the Decatur County church was or-
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ganized, and ordained a number of years later, being the first elder ordained in the Decatur County church. After being elected to the ministry he entered actively into the work, and during the rest of his life preached almost every Sunday. In addition to his regular appointments he was called to all parts of the Southern District of Iowa and North Missouri. Twenty-five years ago it would have been rare to meet a person in Decatur County who had never heard Sam Garber or Lewis Kob preach. The seed sown still remains, and there are many fruitful fields in this part of the country where they labored, waiting for the harvesters.
Bro. Garber always made a great effort to attend all the District Meetings, and held various offices in the District. It was thought by some that he was favorable to the Progressives when the church was divided. The following circumstance will show how he stood:
While the division was going on among the various congregations a sister from the Decatur County church wrote a letter to the Progressive Christian, complaining about conditions in the church, and a Progressive wrote to Bro. Garber, suggesting that it was about time for a division in Decatur County. His answer was: " The Scrip- ture says, 'Beware of them that cause divisions.'" In a letter still preserved, which he wrote to his son only a few minutes before he was killed, he spoke of the church and deplored the fact that the local congregation was not prospering as it ought to do. On the 14th day of June, 1888, he, with his daughter Fannie, drove to Leon and on account of the threatening weather started for home early. They were overtaken by the storm two miles from town and he was killed by a stroke of lightning. He was 56 years, 6 months and 14 days of age. His wife died in 1910.
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Bro. Garber was a man of genial disposition. His education was limited to what was afforded by the country school in pioneer days of Iowa. He was a lover of music, and taught singing schools at different places. His work was accomplished by tireless energy rather than natural ability, and the joy of having done his duty was a greater reward than "filthy lucre."
F. A. Garber.
Eld. Wm. J. Stout
Wm. J. Stout was born Sept. 22, 1816. He united with the Church of the Brethren in 1844, came to De- catur County, Iowa, in 1854, was chosen to the ministry in 1856, and ordained to the eldership about 1877. With Eld. L. M. Kob he had the oversight of the Decatur County church from the time of the death of Eld. Samuel Garber, in 1888, to the time of his own death, Jan. 23, 1898.
When a young man Bro. Stout married Letitia Sears, and together they traveled life's journey. To them were born seven children-four girls and three boys. One son died in childhood. Eld. Stout engaged in the milling busi- ness at an early day at Leon, Iowa. He was no loud speaker, having a weak voice, but his loudest sermons were his daily life. His earnest desire was always for the en- largement of the borders of Zion. While he never made a great mark as a public speaker, he deserves mention as a pillar in the local congregation of Decatur County.
Eld. L. M. Kob
L. M. Kob, son of Philip and Christena Kob, was born in Dauphin County, Pa., on Christmas day, 1834. His mother, whose maiden name was Christena Rothrock, died when he was about two years old. When he was about six
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HISTORY OF SOUTHERN IOWA
years old, he, with his father, stepmother (whose maiden name was Barbary Horst), one brother and one sister, moved to Henry County, Ind., where he grew to manhood, and in 1857 was joined in marriage to Miss Anna Wimmer, daughter of Abraham and Hannah (Heckman) Wimmer of that locality.
Eld. L. M. Kob and wife were the parents of five children, three daughters and two sons. The sons preceded their father in death, one in youth and the other just two weeks after he was married. Two of the girls are mar- ried, and with their families are living in the county of their birth. The other one, with the mother, resides on the farm on which the parents located in 1858. Thirteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren came to them before the death of Bro. Kob.
As soon as they were married, Brother and Sister Kob started west with ox team to find themselves a home, settling in Decatur County, Iowa, where he resided at the time of his death, June 26, 1911.
There was a Church of the Brethren already estab- lished at this place, although they. had no churchhouse until 1874, when one was built adjoining the Franklin cemetery. Prior to this time meetings were held at members' houses ; also in schoolhouses here and there. After about one and one-half years Eld. Kob and wife, with sixteen others, united with the church. Three or four years later he was called to the ministry and was advanced in a very short time and ever tried to serve the church faithfully. True, Eld. Kob, with joys intermingled, met with many trials and discouragements, and sometimes seemingly lost faith in his fellow-man, but his faith in Christ his Savior never faltered.
In the early days of his ministry he traveled much on
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FRANKLIN CHURCH
foot and horseback ; later by wagon, and then with a single open rig, through heat, rain, mud, snow and cold, seldom failing to fill his appointments. The writer well remem- bers a trip with him in an open buggy to Nodaway County, Mo., when the thermometer registered 20 degrees below zero. On our return trip a heavy snowstorm set in, through which we traveled nearly all day; then stopped with a dear sister in Christ, and family, where we had to remain several days, on account of the deep drifts, still some forty miles from home. So anxious were we to get there that we had the pleasure of breaking the roads much of the way when we did resume our trip.
Another time Bro. Kob went to Mercer County, Mo. A fearful snowstorm overtook him. He left his convey- ance and started for home on his faithful beast, riding through tunnels dug in the snow, over fences, through fields-any way to reach his little family. During this ex- perience his helpmate was struggling to get along with the chores, etc., through the deep snow. What part will she have over there? Let these two instances suffice to show some little of what he underwent for the great cause he loved so well. All his work was done with but little recompense so far as this world goes, but the record was kept up yonder. He often said in late years, when ad- vised by friends to stop and give the work over to younger ones, "Better wear out than rust out." His motto was, " Spend and be spent."
He was called to perform the marriage ceremonies for about one hundred couples and to conduct the funerals of nearly two hundred people. The last service he held away from home was the funeral of a friend, April 10, 1911. He kept the family altar burning bright as long as he was able to exercise in that capacity. His form is gone
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from us, but surely his works do follow him. His power in the pulpit lay in his aptness at illustrating, backed by his personal zeal and consecration, which was devoid of any- thing that was ludicrous. The expositions and illustra- tions that he advanced impressed one with the character, devotion and sincerity behind them.
Most of this article is the words of his daughter, Je- mima Kob.
CHAPTER VII
South Keokuk Church
This church was located in Richland Township, Keo- kuk County, Iowa.
Along about the year 1850 a few families of members moved from the east to the southern part of Keokuk County. Some of them were Chas. Wonderlich, Sr., and wife, Christ Brallier and wife, Adam Wymer and wife, and perhaps others. About 1858 Bro. Thomas Major, the
South Keokuk Church
husband of the noted lady preacher, Sister Sarah Major, did some preaching for them and baptized a number, among whom were Chas. Wonderlich, Jr., Jane Wagner, Joseph Roop, Elizabeth Roop, Margaret Roop, and perhaps some others.
The members of this community were for a while under the care of the Libertyville church, and then by their
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HISTORY OF SOUTHERN IOWA
request were placed under the care of the English River congregation. Just when they were organized into a separate working body seems to be a disputed point, but one of the members gives the date as 1858, with thirty- four members, which will suffice for this account. We are at a loss to know who were the elders in charge of the church for the first years after its organization. We find that Bro. Charles Wonderlich was ordained in 1874 and served the church as elder for several years.
For some years, on account of unpleasant rivalry be- tween the ministers, which was the cause of their being relieved of their office at their request, the church work - lagged until the church called for ministerial help from ad- joining congregations. In 1890 Eld. John Gable was chosen their elder, and in 1894 he moved into the congregation and served as elder and pastor until his death in 1903. During this time the church prospered, both in numbers and spirituality. Since the death of Bro. Gable the follow- ing nonresident elders looked after the affairs of the church in the order named: Eld. C. M. Brower, of South English; Eld. E. G. Rodabaugh, of Birmingham; Eld. Peter Brower, of South English ; Eld. D. P. Miller, of Kin- ross. Bro. S. F. Brower and Bro. J. H. Keller, both min- isters in the second degree, moved into the church in 1901. Bro. Brower moved to Idaho in 1905 and Bro. Keller moved to Cherry Box, Mo., some time previous. Some time be- fore Bro. Brower moved away Bro. H. N. Butler moved into the congregation and in Feb., 1914, he was ordained to the eldership. Since 1915 he has had the oversight.
This was one of the early churches to recognize the value of the Sunday-school. We could not secure the exact date, but perhaps in the year 1871 the first Sunday- school was organized in a schoolhouse west of the church,
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SOUTH KEOKUK CHURCH
where it was conducted until 1875. It was later moved to the churchhouse which was built in 1866, where it has been running almost continuously ever since. Eld. Abraham Wolf, then a deacon, was the leading worker and mostly the superintendent until 1877, when he moved away. While some may have been indifferent to the work, there was not the opposition to the Sunday-school that there was in some congregations. They have a prosperous Sisters' Aid Society and also a Christian Workers' organization, and with a body of strong workers, who seem to be pulling together, they have a bright future.
They have not been able to set apart many of their number to the ministry, as the record shows. This is the list, to the best of our knowledge, besides what has al- ready been mentioned :
Chas. Wonderlich, 1858 to about 1888; John Fritz, by election; Abram Wolf, 1876 to 1877; D. Frank Shelly, by election, 1906; Morris Lough, letter, 1909-1916.
Some of the deacons were as follows: Abram Wolf, 1864-1876; Abram Wagner, 1859 to 1886; Isaac Brown, David Bowerson, 1881 to 1896; Frank Gillam, letter, 1896; Isaac Shelly, letter, 1881. F. H. Heilman.
Eld. John Gable
Eld. John Gable was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 5, 1826, and died May 31, 1903, aged 76 years, 6 months, 26 days.
He was baptized into the Church of the Brethren by Eld. Peter Long in the Perry church, Pa., in June, 1852.
He moved to the Hickory Grove church, Ill., in 1864. In 1867 he moved to the Maquoketa church, Iowa; in 1884 to Mahaska County, Iowa, in the Middle Creek church;
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in 1894 to Keokuk County, in the South Keokuk church.
He was elected to the ministry in 1867; advanced to the second degree in 1872, and ordained in 1879.
He was married to Sister Elizabeth Eby, a cousin of the late Eld. Enoch Eby, Dec. 5, 1851. To this union were born four girls and eight boys. She proved to be a loving wife, a kind and affectionate mother, and in truth was a. real mother in Israel, as any can testify who ever met her.
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