USA > Illinois > Brethren in northern Illinois and Wisconsin > Part 11
USA > Wisconsin > Brethren in northern Illinois and Wisconsin > Part 11
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A council meeting was held on September 4, 1897, in the home of Eli Miller, with D. E. Price and Simon E. Yundt pre- siding. At the council the following business was transacted: The group was organized under the name of Greenwood, taken from the evergreen forest around them; Yundt was chosen as elder; Eli Miller elected deacon; Francis Peden as clerk; J. B. Felix as treasurer; and Henry J. Cripe as correspondent. Ev- erything seemed set for permanent work. But only a year later several asked for their letters and moved elsewhere. Henry C. Baker, who knew Wisconsin and preached for them at times, advised them to seek a better location. Acting on his advice the church was disorganized in the spring of 1899, some moving to Chippewa Valley and others to Stanley. The mission board came to the rescue and helped some of them to locate elsewhere. This last statement tells why it was best not to remain in that locality.
Worden (1904)
In the spring of 1897 several Brethren families settled in Worden Township, Clark County, east of Wolf River. Among these families were those of Joel Cripe, John Stong, Jacob Cripe, Samuel Ulery, James Henderson and Thomas D. Van Buren. They began holding prayer meetings, meeting for the first one in the home of Jacob Cripe. Lennie Cripe and George Van Buren were baptized in the summer of 1898. That fall they built a log schoolhouse in which they also met for worship. Next spring John Patten, a minister from Ash Ridge, settled among them. He at once began preaching for them. In No- vember of 1899 they held their first love feast, and about that time organized their first Sunday school with Samuel Ulery superintendent, and an attendance of about twenty. They soon built a new schoolhouse in which regular services were held. In 1904 they erected a meetinghouse at a cost of about $2,000 including labor, most of which was donated.
During this period the group was a part of the Maple Grove
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congregation. Maple Grove is seven miles southwest of Stanley; Worden is eight miles southeast of Stanley. The topography is such that it was not easy for these two groups to worship to- gether. On November 26, 1904, permission was given to form a separate organization. Henry C. Baker was present at the time of organization and was chosen elder. In 1906 William I. Buck- ingham and wife of Illinois, being missionary minded, moved to Worden, where for two years, at their own expense, he served as pastor. Following Buckingham, W. H. Byer and wife served the church as part-time pastors, receiving partial support from the district board. In recent years Worden belongs to the Stanley-Maple Grove-Worden parish, all being served by Pastor Lewis Hyde. It is quite evident that if the smaller congregations are to have the benefit of a supported pastor the larger parish idea must become more prevalent in the Church of the Brethren.
Worden has experienced a number of revivals. Among the evangelists that have held successful meetings for this congre- gation may be mentioned C. P. Rowland, C. S. Garber, F. A. Myers, John Heckman and J. G. Royer. Ruth Ulery, once mis- sionary to China, lived in this section when a child.
The women began their Aid activities in 1918, meeting in private homes. Much of their service is not recorded in writing, but the neighborhood has benefited greatly because the Aid gave to those in need, visited the sick and fostered a community spirit through banquets and other gatherings.
Elk River (1904?)
In December 1898 John Wallace (a deacon), his wife, Lucinda, and their large family moved from Miami County, Indiana, to Price County, Wisconsin, settling five miles east of Phillips in the Red Cedar slash. Wallace was a great hunter and loved his venison. Many were the antlers strewn about his home. One son, Albert, and wife were also members. About 1904 C. P. Rowland held meetings for them which brought several of the Wallace children and W. D. Stark and wife into the fellowship of the group. The membership now numbering seventeen was organized into a church by Rowland, who served as elder for one year.
During the next two years John Heckman visited and held a few meetings for them. In the summer of 1905 D. A. Rowland,
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pastor at Ash Ridge, held a meeting and conducted a love feast. Things were looking pretty good then as they were planning to build a small meetinghouse, had already laid the foundation, and were asking the mission board for assistance. The mission board thought best to wait for further developments and for greater assurance of permanency. Their fears were well grounded. Stark moved to Illinois, family troubles crept in and the house was never built. Thus what once had looked like a promising field proved unfruitful.
Cloverdale (1909)
Between the years 1905 and 1908 several Brethren families located in the southern part of Rush County, near Corinth, at that time a logging camp. T. D. Van Buren (a minister), his wife and several of his married children were the main ones in the first group. These held their membership in the Barron church. Van Buren held meetings and baptized several. In March 1909 the Barron church granted these members the privilege of or- ganizing into a separate congregation. Ere long the new con- gregation was effected. During the six years following several families from York County, North Dakota, came east and joined in with the new congregation. Leader in this eastward move- ment was the Burns family, the others being related by mar- riage. They were G. W. Burns and wife; Jacob Hoff, wife and daughter; Knute Summers, wife and daughter, Mary; Ezra Gibbs (a minister) and wife; John Burns and wife, Anna.
Van Buren continued the meetings. He was a fair preacher, liberal in his views, limited in schooling and had always lived on the frontier. Some of the membership scattered, some united with other denominations, and the work was closed. Fortu- nately no meetinghouse had been built.
Willard (1909)
Because of failing health and a change in administration Aaron L. Clair resigned his position as teacher and business manager in Mount Morris College, recuperated and in 1906 with his family located at Willard in Clark County. At once he be- gan improving his property. Being in a wooded country he set up a sawmill to provide lumber for himself and others, at the
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same time clearing some of the land for agricultural purposes. A Sister Albright (Mrs. Clair's sister) also settled in the neigh- borhood. Two years later Harvey and Anna Trostle Long lo- cated at Willard but their stay was of short duration. J. G. Royer, whose keen eye was ever looking for a new opportunity to do mission work and with whom Clair had long been associ- ated in college work, preached for the Brethren group at Wil- lard and in 1909 effected a church organization.
It was the hope of the Willard Brethren that many others would settle among them. Their hopes could not be realized. Clair was the only minister among them. Along with his preach- ing he was busy at the mill and with other duties. On March 23, 1913, a serious accident at the mill caused his untimely death, which militated against further progress for the shepherdless congregation. The district meeting of 1913 considered the mat- ter and appointed J. G. Royer and H. C. Baker to disorganize the Willard congregation. Thus ended the nobly conceived ambi- tion of a faithful minister to build a new Brethren church in a new field and help in developing a prosperous community.
Rice Lake (1913)
It was in 1906 that Frank Feldkirchner and family left the prairies of Illinois and took up their abode at Rice Lake, once a prosperous lumbering center. As the forests were cut down the community suffered because of the fading industry. Other Brethren came in after the Feldkirchners, among whom were J. E. Morphew (a minister) and wife, William H. Eiler (a min- ister) and wife, L. H. Root and wife, Nels Prytz and wife, Paul Morphew, Floyd Root, Hazel Root and Esther Prytz. These same parties became charter members when the Rice Lake con- gregation was organized later.
These members held their membership in the Barron church, which was fifteen miles distant. Because of distance they were not privileged to worship with the Barron group. However, they took an active part in a union Sunday school. Occasion- ally visiting Brethren ministers dropped in and gave them serv- ices in the schoolhouse. When church activities came to an end at Barron in 1913 Rice Lake was organized on July 20. In fact, we may consider Rice Lake as a reorganization of Barron. The Rice Lake membership has always been scattered so that the
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working part of the congregation near the meetinghouse is much smaller than the entire membership. At present only about fifty of the 120 members listed live a convenient distance from the church.
With 1915 increased activities were manifest. On November 9 Henry C. Baker was present when, in the home of L. T. Vine, the first love feast was held with seventeen at the tables. The following year a small meetinghouse was erected in Oak Park, an addition to the city of Rice Lake. Though the house was small and cost only $1,200, it was a forward step and has served well to the present. Ralph G. Rarick, a student at Bethany Bible School, delivered the dedicatory sermon on December 2. The Sunday school which had been meeting in the Evangelical church and in the home of Charles Lemler was transferred to the new church. J. E. Morphew, assisted by William H. Eiler, filled the pulpit appointments until 1920. A. S. Brubaker was pastor from 1922 to 1933. The Aid was organized in 1920, the first daily vacation Bible school was held in 1922, and in 1924 the young people's conference was held at Rice Lake.
Handicaps to the work have been the widely-scattered mem- bership and absentee eldership. Wisconsin has always suffered from nonresident eldership. Since 1939 C. A. Bryan has been serving as pastor.
Stanley (1919)
The Maple Grove and Worden congregations are both rural and the membership trades at Stanley. Gradually Brethren families began settling in town. When a boom struck Stanley, members, mostly from Iowa and Minnesota, were attracted and helped swell the Brethren numbers. Here as elsewhere the distance from town to a country church seemed farther than from the country church to town. Ere long the town members began to think of a house of worship within the corporate lim- its. Just at that time two Lutheran congregations united, leav- ing one church house vacant and for sale. The Brethren saw their opportunity and were not slow in grasping it. Three wide- awake deacons, O. W. Henderson, Charles Guyer and Wesley Berry, set themselves to the task of raising the money to pur- chase this Lutheran house. Within one week they had secured
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$1,000 in cash and $2,000 in pledges. With this in sight they felt it was safe to move on further.
On March 29, 1919, the members met in council for the purpose of organizing, with fifty-seven charter members. S. C. Miller, Sunday-school secretary for the district, was present, presided and was chosen elder for one year. On the day of or- ganization the three deacons mentioned above, along with S. C. Miller, were authorized to purchase the Lutheran meetinghouse for $3,000. So far all was rosy. But the boom burst, depression came on and Stanley was hard hit. The pledges given cheer- fully and in good faith while work was plentiful failed to mate- rialize when factories closed and pay rolls vanished. But the church hung on, worked hard and made the best of the situation. Payments were made as money was on hand. The holders of the mortgage understood the situation and did not want to fore- close. They realized that changing conditions called for new adjustments. Through friendly co-operation, in August of 1936 the holders of the notes cheerfully accepted $600 as payment in full for the unpaid balance of $1,074. These $600 dollars came into the hands of the district through the wrecking of the Shan- non meetinghouse, which netted more than twice the amount that could have been had for it had not the men planned and dis- posed of the building. Here is a fine suggestion as to what can be done in the way of financing a church proposition when busi- ness methods are applied.
At the same time the church was organized, O. W. Henderson was appointed superintendent and the Sunday school began to be a vital part of the church activities. In September Walter W. Gibson of Indiana took up the pastoral work and in November the first love feast was held for the new congregation with sev- enty-five at the tables. Ralph G. Rarick was the second pastor. In July 1920 the house and lot adjoining the church were pur- chased for $2,500 to become the residence for the pastor. The young people showed their interest by pledging that when the payment was reduced to $2,300 they would pay the balance. By 1938 they had paid the debt in full. For some time now one pastor has served Stanley, Maple Grove and Worden. By this arrangement this one parsonage in town has become the pastor's residence, the three congregations have pastoral supervision and the expenses of the three congregations have been materially re-
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duced from what they would be otherwise. Lewis Hyde con- tinues to serve as pastor of the three congregations.
White Rapids (1920)
The White Rapids congregation stands apart by itself in Marinette County, the name coming from the rapids of the Menominee River close by, in a section of cut-over white pine timber land. The Brethren first settled here when L. M. and Emma Bontrager with their family came hither from Indiana, followed a year later by H. W. Mclellan and family. Through the Gospel Messenger these two families appealed for a min- ister to give them some meetings. Pastor J. M. Myers of Maple Grove answered the call in May 1919. These families pressed for more meetings so the mission board asked Myers to return. This he did in May, remained ten days and enlarged the membership by baptizing William Kulp and wife, William Anglemyer and wife, Grace and Agnes Anglemyer and Ray Anglemyer and wife, all of whom had come from Indiana four years before when there were neither roads nor schools in that section.
With this increased membership they organized a Sunday school in August, L. M. Bontrager being superintendent and Pearl Kulp assistant. In November Roger Winger held a week's meeting and baptized August and Minnie Werner and their four children, Clara, Ernest, Otto and Anna. From March to Decem- ber of 1920 J. F. Edmister lived among them and preached every two weeks in the schoolhouse. In July Collin C. Price, chair- man of the mission board, visited White Rapids, at which time the church was organized and he was chosen elder for one year.
To promote the church in this new field, at the time of or- ganization Walter Mclellan and Clement Bontrager were elected ministers and William Anglemyer, H. W. Mclellan and George Keim deacons. William Anglemyer and William Kulp were appointed trustees. Feeling the need of a meetinghouse a building committee was appointed. In the spring of 1921 their number was increased by the coming of the families of O. L. Harley (a minister) from Indiana and Noah Heistand from north- eastern Ohio. During the year money and material for the meetinghouse were gathered, building was begun and the base- ment roofed. This enabled them to worship in their own house. On December 17, 1922, the incompleted house was dedicated, the
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sermon being delivered by Ralph G. Rarick, pastor at Stanley. Three years later they were able to make further additions and better equip the plant. Such was their place of meeting when the district came to their assistance in 1938. When the church assembled in district meeting heard of the needs and opportuni- ties at White Rapids the hearts of all were stirred. The mission board spoke of what could be done with the lumber from the old Rock Creek meetinghouse. It was shown that at small ex- pense this house and its furnishings could be transported to White Rapids and rebuilt on the foundation already prepared. In addition the sum of $491.60 was raised as an additional sum. The men of Illinois wrecked the church and the men of White Rapids did much free labor on rebuilding it into their own place of worship.
The members spent more than a year completing the building with their own hands. The fact that they did the work so much themselves made it all the more their own child. Finally the long-looked-for day arrived. On June 23, 1940, they assem- bled with their neighbors and friends for the dedication. Pres- ent with them were D. D. Funderburg, who delivered the dedi- catory sermon, and John Heckman, who gave a historical ac- count of the congregation and the building of their house. An offering was lifted to help complete the heating arrangements for the following winter. As further encouragement and help Paul Hersch with his wife is serving as summer pastor for the district's youngest congregation with its ninety-two members.
Being so far removed from other Brethren congregations, in a new community and at a distance from other church organiza- tions, gives White Rapids a unique opportunity. There is much need of spiritual guidance in this wooded district. That is one reason why the congregation has working with it a number of associate members. Pastor Harley toils with his own hands, is active in educational and community affairs and is supported partly by the congregation and partly by the district.
The church and community women met in the Harley home on April 6, 1921, and organized the Aid, which takes much inter- est in promoting the church program, assisting in benevolences and making substantial contributions to the building fund. White Rapids is the frontier congregation of the Church of the Brethren in Northern Illinois and Wisconsin.
PART THREE
ACTIVITIES
Publishing Interests
The district has had an important part in developing the publishing interests of the church. On the other hand, the pub- lishing interests have played an important part in the history of the district. We begin our story with J. H. Moore of Champaign and M. M. Eshelman of Lanark, Illinois, and J. T. Myers and L. A. Plate of Germantown, Pennsylvania. The first three were ministers. Moore and Eshelman were without practical experi- ence in printing though both had some printing done by others. Myers was a pastor and had some slight knowledge of printing. Plate was a trained German printer.
In 1875 Plate began publishing a German paper called Der Bruderbote (Brethren's Messenger). Myers was publishing an English paper called the Brethren's Messenger. He invited Plate to come to Germantown and together they would print a paper in both English and German. As both publications had a small circulation the invitation was accepted and for awhile the two labored together. In the meantime Eshelman and Moore were planning a church paper. In surveying the field it seemed the part of wisdom to combine their forces. The small plant at Germantown was shipped to Lanark. Moore and Plate took up their abode in Lanark. Eshelman already being there, this lo- cated three of the four as Lanark residents. On September 14, 1876, they sent out the Brethren At Work, Volume I, No. 1. These men were all devoted to the church and their publication was set for the propagation and defense of her faith and prac- tice. At that time James Quinter published the Primitive Chris- tian at Meyersdale and Brumbaugh Brothers the Pilgrim at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. This meant three church papers for the small Church of the Brethren.
Lanark remained as the place of publication until February of 1881 when the plant was moved to Mount Morris through a deep snow by ten sleds and a number of volunteer workers. Here it remained until mid-summer of 1899 when Elgin became the headquarters for the Church of the Brethren with the pub- lishing plant and Boards in one building.
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After the plant was moved to Mount Morris, Moore continued as editor on part time while he remained at Lanark, where he had other publishing interests. Eshelman as owner, manager and editor soon found himself overloaded physically and finan- cially involved. He had advertised for a partner through the columns of the Brethren At Work. The advertisement caught the eye of a farmer-preacher in Indiana. That man was Joseph Amick, who came to Mount Morris, looked over the plant and, without realizing fully the extent of the financial embarrassment, entered into partnership with Eshelman. Four weeks later Eshelman, overwhelmed with debts, discouraged and broken in health, entered a health resort in Missouri.
Creditors were pressing their claims. Something had to be done quickly, if the plant was to be saved. D. L. Miller, then business manager of Mount Morris College, joined with Amick to continue the publication. Amick became business manager and Miller secured J. H. Moore to do the editorial work, he being responsible for Moore's salary. Creditors filed their claims. The property was sold under legal procedure. Amick and Miller purchased the property and satisfied the claims of the creditors.
The period from March 1, 1882, to July 1, 1883, is an epoch- making period in Brethren publication history. Those managing the Brethren At Work won favor by their integrity and business ability. Because of the church rupture many harsh words and bitter articles appeared in the church papers of the three fac- tions. The editors saw the folly of this course and together agreed that they would discontinue all bitter personal and con- troversial material and devote their efforts to the upbuilding of the common good. This promised a more hopeful outlook for the future. This higher tone of the printed page and the addition of more church news won popular favor and increased the circu- lation.
Another favorable factor was the growing sentiment for one instead of two church papers. This involved the men connected with the Brethren At Work and those with the Primitive Chris- tian. Joseph Amick and D. L. Miller were from our district. The Annual Meeting of 1882 went on record as favoring the proposition. By July of 1883 the union was consummated and the name of the united papers became the Gospel Messenger. In this name "Gospel" came from the old Gospel Visitor, and
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from the little paper known as the Brethren's Messenger came the second word. Thus historically a part of the name of each of these early publications was preserved.
Through this new arrangement the main office remained at Mount Morris and an eastern office was maintained at Hunting- don, where the former editors of the Primitive Christian con- tinued their editorial connections. The new paper grew in favor, the circulation increased and the church was united. Those who were awake saw that a church-owned and church-controlled paper could be made a big asset to the church. However, to ed- ucate the membership to this view required time. Fortunately the owners of the plant favored the proposition. Among others who supported it should be mentioned Daniel Vaniman, long on the General Mission Board. D. L. Miller, Joseph Amick and J. H. Moore of our district leaders urged church ownership. Finally in 1897 Annual Meeting approved the plan and the pub- lishing interests came into the possession of the church at large without cost. Since the transfer the profits, which have not been small, have reverted to the church and have gone far in helping to support her projects.
Besides the church paper the House prints the Sunday-school papers and quarterlies, church books, pamphlets and general church literature and also does a large commercial business.
It will not be amiss to record here the names of men and women who, while residing in Illinois, have been active in the editorial and managerial work of the publication interests. The editors are J. H. Moore, D. L. Miller, L. A. Plate, Grant Mahan, I. B. Trout, J. E. Miller, E. G. Hoff, Maud Newcomer and Edith Barnes. To this number should be added Edward Frantz and Harry A. Brandt, both of whom were called from California, but have lived in the district so long that they are an integral part of it. From 1881 to 1940 Joseph Amick and R. E. Arnold were each business manager for a long period. Between their periods of service there was an interregnum of several months. On March 1, 1940, Elmer M. Hersch became business manager.
For a number of years the Missionary Visitor was a chief agent in promoting missions. This monthly publication had a wide circulation as those who contributed a certain amount to missions received it free. The editors were Galen B. Royer, J. H. B. Williams and H. Spenser Minnich, mission secretaries
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