Historical data and life sketches of the deceased ministers of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association, 1835 to 1915, Volume II, Part 1

Author: Evangelical Church. Indiana Conference; Baumgartner, Samuel H; Haist, A. B
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : Indiana Conference
Number of Pages: 346


USA > Indiana > Historical data and life sketches of the deceased ministers of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association, 1835 to 1915, Volume II > Part 1


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35



PUBLIC LIBRARY FORT WAYNE & ALLEN CO., IND.


M. L


Spangler


GEN


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02551 7217


Gc 977.2 Ev142H v.2 EVANGELICAL CHURCH. INDIANA CONFERENCE. HISTORICAL DATA AND LIFE SKETCHES OF THE DECEASED


Historical Sketches


of


CIRCUITS, MISSIONS AND STATIONS


of Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association


1835 to 1922


Also


OTHER IMPORTANT CONFERENCE DATA


Compiled by S. H. BAUMGARTNER, Conference Historian


Edited by A. B. HAIST and E. E. ROBERTS Published by the Indiana Conference 1924


Volume II


Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270


265256


Table of Contents


Page


Frontier Life, Indiana Conference 5


Historical Sketches of Circuits, Missions and Stations of the Indiana Con- ference of the Evangelical Association, 1835-1922. 7


History of the Women's Missionary Society, Indiana Conference Branch 256


W. M. S., Conventions of, and Where Held. 258


W. M. S., Conference Branch, Officers, 1892-1923 258


WV. M. S., General Conventions of, and Delegates from Ind. Conf. Branch 259


W. M. S., General Enterprises that the Conference Branch Supported 260


Y. P. A., Organization of the Conference Branch and Local 261


Record of Oldest Alliances in Indiana Conference. 262


Y. P. A. Statistics Obtained from Conference Journals 263


Mission Help the Conference Branch Y. P. A. Gave 263


Y. P. A., Conference Branch Presidents, 1892-1923 264


Oakwood Park, Brief Sketch of 265


Old People's Home, Haven Hubbard Memorial 271


Ministers-Licensed to Preach, 1915-1922, Cont. from Vol. I, Page 389. 276


Ministers-Ordained as Deacons, 1915-1922, Cont. from Vol. I, Page 392. 276 Ministers-Ordained as Elders, 1915-1922, Cont. from Vol. I, Page 394. 276


Ministers-Received from Other Conferences and Churches, Cont. from Vol. I, Page 391 277


Ministers-Related in the Conference. 277


Presiding Elders and Their Districts.


279


Presiding Elder Districts, Together with the Fields of Labor and the P. E. that Served Them 281


Table of Living Ministers, Data, 1915-1923, Cont. from Vol. I. 285


Table of Deceased Ministers, 1916-1923 286


Credentials Voted Ministers to Other Conferences or Churches 287


Irregularly Withdrawn from the Conference. 287


Delegates to General Conference, Cont. from Vol. I, Page 382 287


Conference Trustee Board, Cont. from Vol. I, Page 381 287


Officers of the Indiana Conference Missionary Society, Cont. from Vol. I, Page 383. 288


Delegates to the Board of Missions, Cont. from Vol. I, Page 383. 288


Trustees to N. W. C. and (U. B. I.) E. T. S. and Years of Service. 288


Lay Delegates to Indiana Conference, 1909-1922


289


Men Who Made Long Records in Office in Length of Years. 290


Ministers and the Fields They Served, Cont, from Vol. I, Page 56.


291


Missions and Appropriations Given Them 295


Some Statistics, in Aggregate, 1852-1922.


297


For Special Purposes for the Church


298


Missionary Money, Whence Obtained Since 1890 and Where Applied Since 1868 300


Largest Missionary Contributions-Their Source.


303


Officers of the Last Year of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical As- sociation


304


Appendix 307


Blunders and Slips of Ministers of the Conference 307


Reminiscences 310


Revival Experiences 318


Errors in Vol. I Corrected. 331


Index to Illustrations


Page


1. Akron, Emmanuel Church .... 7


2. Berne Church 14


3. Brazil Church 21


4. Broadway, South Bend Church 223


5. Dayton, Wayne Ave. Church 59


6. Decatur Church 61


7. Elkhart, First Church 84


8. Elkhart, Oakland Ave. Church 86


9. Fort Wayne, First Church 98


10. Frontispiece, Conference Personnel


3


11. Haven Hubbard Memorial Old People's Home. 272


119


13. Indianapolis, First Church.


133


14. Indianapolis, Second Church


157


15. Louisville, Zion Church.


16. Louisville, Trinity Church. 160


17. Mt. Carmel Church 174 265


18. Oakwood Park Views


19. Rochester Church 203


20. Rockport Church 206


21. Van Wert Church 237


22. West Salem Church 247


-


12. Huntingburg, Emmanuel Church 126


A GOOD WORD


"My very chains and I grew friends So much a long communion lends To make us what we are; even I Regard my freedom with a sigh."-Byron.


Thus might a modern Byron sing of the prisoner, the historian of this vol- ume. To leaf through musty records and periodical volumes, to inquire of the aged ones-gleaning here and there-constantly for ten years of twelve months each, gathering material for a history is a task of long and broad proportions. It finally becomes a part of life itself, and to quit demands a "pound of flesh". Add to this the work of transcribing and revising-for three years, and we feel the toiler surely regards his "freedom with a sigh". The historian has rendered a great service. It cannot be paid by money. But his reward is this, that we examine and regard its worth with profit. The coming years will increase its worth. Our part was a humble one in comparison, and yet not small. We learned to appreciate in a measure the work required. We cheerfully present you Volume II of our Conference History. Many who will read how self-sac- rificing men of God brought the Gospel to the homes of their parents or grand- parents, will be knit the closer with the work of the church and to the Christ their Lord.


We bespeak for this volume a hearty welcome. Its reading will greatly profit the laity and the ministry of our Conference.


A. B. HAIST


E. E. ROBERTS


Editors.


1


THE INDIANA CONFERENCE PERSONNEL OF 1917, MARKLE, INDIANA.


Front row, sitting right to left: B. E. Koenig, L. E. Smith, J. H. Evans, Conf. Sec'y, L., J. Ehrhardt, Ger. Sec'y. E. G. Johnson, C. H. Hirschman, editor, Conf. Journal, J. H. Rilling, Miss, Treas., D, E. Zechiel, M. W. Sunderman, Pres. S. S. B., E. R. Troyer, P. L. Browns, C. E. Boyer, Sec'y Ex. Board, C. W. Schlemmer, B. R. Wiener, Field Sec'y Miss, Society, Bishop S. P. Spreng, F. C. Berger, H. H. Reinochl, M. L. Scheidler, Prof. G. B. Kimmel, B. Schuermeier, J. Rees, Ang. Geist, Vice-Pres., J. L. Buyer, C. W. Spangler, A. F. Wiesjahn, J. W. Metzner, P. E.


Front row, standing right to left: J. O. Mosier, P. E. and Conf. Treas., C. Harms, J. F. Bockman, E. E. Miller, E. C. Bierie, D. A. Kaley, S. H. and Mrs. Baumgartner, P. E., Mrs. A. Snoke, W. M. S. speaker, E. M. Kerlin, D. O. Wise, C. P. Maas, J. W. Feller, F. C. Wacknitz, E. O. Habegger, E. M. Ray, 1. d .* A. B. Haist, Assistant Sec'y, D. D. Spangler, N. F. Platz, I. G. Roederer, W. R. Kimmel, I. Steele, E. F. Kimmel, I. d., C. H. Burgener, G. J. Long, 1. d., C. A. Wright, F. B. Walmer, C. H. Hartman, J. M. Kistler, W. H. Mygrant, J. W. and Mrs. Carter.


Second row, standing right to left: C. E. Geist, R. W. and Mrs. Loose, R. L. Handschu, Ph. Haney, J. H. Arndt, J. H. Heldt, O. O. Lozier, W. E. Snyder. On the steps upward : W. Lutz, 1. d., C. C. Fritsche, 1. d., S. Wise, 1. d., J. Yoos, 1. d., F. H. Hersch, 1. d., A. S. Fisher, and Markle people.


Against church wall and front of steps: G. W. Fredrick, 1. d., W. S. Mills, E. H. Baumgartner, J. E. McCoy, W. H. Freshley, W. H. Flurkey, C. L. Haney, E. E. Roberts, A. B. Aegerter, G. S. Lozier, D. R. Heil, G. F. Zuber, J. W. Thomas, L. A Dewitt, G. C. Pullman, H. E. Eberhardt, E. Q. Landeman, A. H. Doescher, G. A. Weishaar.


Members in active service not in picture: E. W. Praetorius, B. G. Smith, M. O. Herman, I. H. Griesemere, A. A. Knepper, D. D. Speicher, J. S. Kroft, E. E. Greiner, F. Reutepohler, probably others,


* 1. d .- Lay delegate.


1


FOREWORD


Dear Brethren in the Ministry and Laity of the Indiana Conference, Greet- ings. Herewith we present to you Volume II of the History of our Conference. We cannot claim for it perfection. With the best care, errors will occur in a book where many dates are involved, and where the sources of historical facts are either meager, or voluminous; and especially where fields have no records at all, and where boundaries of fields and districts have frequently been changed. We have aimed at conciseness, clearness, and the avoidance of repetitions, and yet to be faithful to the facts. We have chosen to accept the reports of min- isters as found in our church periodicals, rather than to rely upon testimonies de- pendent on memory of things of long ago.


For a decade we have gathered the historical material of all the fields that existed and now exist for this volume. We searched through the Christliche Botschafter and the Evangelical Messenger from 1852 to 1923; the Conference Min- utes for like data, written in German, until 1886; circuit and society records; available diaries of pioneer preachers; and conversed with the older members of church societies from whom we gained some reliable information. The field records, heing largely in German, translations had to be made from them. This we found both interesting and profitable, but withal a stupendous task. The manuscript has been re-written, revised, and condensed three to four times to bring it to its present size.


Much more might have been said about some fields that kept full records, if space had permitted, and of other fields, if records had been made by outgo- ing pastors. From available data, we culled those events and incidents that, we trust, make this volume interesting and inspiring for self-sacrificing service to this and following generations.


In the Supplement one will find "Revival Anecdotes", "This and That", "Personal Experiences", "Breaks and Blunders", etc., that will be helpful in life's activities. These were obtained by correspondence and personal commu- nications. Many declined to contribute personal experiences which is greatly to bc regretted. The record of many valuable experiences thus die that otherwise might be helpful and interesting.


THE HISTORIAN.


%


4


FRONTIER LIFE ON FIELDS, INDIANA CONFERENCES


Herewith, we give a brief account of the frontier life of the pioneer minis- ters of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association, dating from the year 1836. These heroes of the Cross conducted religions services in private houses, barns, groves, schoolhouses, and court houses. The early settlers were as zealous in their faith, and in organizing classes, and perfecting their church life, as they were in their temporal enterprises.


The construction of church edifices was as conscientiously done as the building of their dwellings. Their churches were built of logs, brick, and frame, with only an auditorium. The ceilings were low, and there were one or two doors, and a few small windows. They were lighted first with candles and lanterns, then small oil lamps, then with improved large ones with round burners and tin shades, then with clusters of oil lamps in chandeliers with various forms of reflectors. These were hailed with delight, but were later supplanted by gas and acetylene lights and direct and indirect electric illumination, now in general use.


The pews were made of slabs and planks smoothed down. Then benches were made with straight haeks and narrow seats; then came the pews, better suited for comfort of the body. The present comfortable and sometimes cush- ioned pews next came into vogue. It is no wonder some older folks declared these later pews and other improvements were conducive to pride and sin. Ta- bles and stands first served for pulpits. Then followed pulpits extending clear across the front of a platform and back on each side, from one to three feet, forming a sort of an open box; and behind it, against the wall, was a plain bench for the preachers. On each pulpit corner was placed a light. Sometimes the pulpits were so high that preachers, small in stature, were necessitated to stand on a box for sufficient elevation to see their congregations. At one place of our conference, a short and corpulent pastor provided himself with such a box that he might see and be seen. He had chosen for his text, "A little while, and ye shall not see me." Just then the box broke with a crash, and the preach- er unceremoniously disappeared to the amusement of his congregation. These pulpits gradually gave way to smaller and ornamental ones.


The heating plants consisted of fire-places, then long wood-stoves, then high upright stoves with more or less fancy trimmings, then the hot-air furnaces, and then the steam and hot-water plants came into use. Many of the frame church- es were ceiled. Later plastered walls came into vogue. This offered opportu- nities to the wasps to find convenient habitation, often to the discomfort of worshippers. On an autumn afternoon while your historian was preaching in a certain church infested with wasps, the cold church having been warmed up,


5


INDIANA CONFERENCE


these pesky wasps became enlivened. One dropped from the ceiling to the his- torian's neck, and it used its "spear" with sufficient force to give the speaker some mental and physical disturbance, and diverted the minds of the worship- pers. But they held the ground, though disturbed somewhat, and finished the service.


The congregations in pioneer days were unable to properly support a resi- dent pastor, so circuits were formed. These circuits consisted of as many as six to twenty, or more, appointments, and varying in distance from five to forty miles apart. Many of them were in out-of-the-way settlements amidst deep woods. Ministers would visit these places once in two to six weeks, and daily preach to small groups of gospel-hungry souls, pray with the sick, baptize chil- dren, admonish sinners to repentance, and saints to a faithful service to God, hold "Big Meetings", and administer the Lord's Supper.


The talent and equipment required for the spiritual success of these "pio- neer circuit riders", and city mission preachers, varied greatly; hence caution had to be exercised in stationing them. That mistakes were made goes without saying. For all these appointments needed a pastor with spiritual earnestness, courage, devotion, a constraining love, and a consuming zeal for souls. Also aptness of speech, adaptability to conditions, a vigorous body to endure hard- ships, a consecrated will, and a concentrated mind were essential qualifications to meet successfully the varied conditions incident to pioneer life. The journeys were long, fatiguing and often very perilous. Accommodations for rest and food were meager. Malaria prevailed everywhere. Public roads were often mere winding trails through wild and swampy timbers, infested with blood- thirsty mosquitoes. Surely it took more than ordinary courage, and profound scholarly training, to weather the storms and succeed. It took grit, grace, un- feigned love, passion for souls, and the unction and power of the Holy Ghost. But by these gospel heroes, rough and unchristianized frontier settlements were transformed into refined moral and religious communities. They were the chan- nels of true civilization and Christianity. The good they did can never be meas- ured, or summed up in dollars and cents. Eternity alone can reveal the vast reach of their achievements. All honor to them!


1


6


HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF CIRCUITS, MISSIONS AND STATIONS OF THE INDIANA CONFERENCE OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION FROM 1835-1922.


ABINGTON, WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA


Absolom B. Schafer reported in the Christliche Botschafter, May 1, 1848, that there was a class of three members at Abington, S. E. corner of Wayne County, Indiana, as early as October, 1835. This class then belonged to Miami Circuit of the Western Conference of the Evangelical Association, which em- braced all of the S. W. corner of Ohio. At this time, Schafer was a local preacher of this conference. He made a tour into this part of Indiana. No rec- ord is found when this appointment began, or when it ceased. It evidently was abandoned prior to the organization of the Indiana Conference.


AKRON, EMMANUEL SOCIETY, MIAMI COUNTY, INDIANA, 1850-1922


The recorded name of this society is "Emmanuel", locally known as "Gil- ead", "Barnheisel", and "Smith", the last two representing two prominent fam- ilies here. Later it was called "Akron", designatirg the place where the minister lives. Ministers of the Evangelical As- sociation began preaching here in 1850. The first one was Joseph Fisher of Miami Circuit, then a part of the Illinois Conference. In 1851 Peter Goetz and Mf. Haubert served. The society was, how- ever, not organized until Jacob Keiper became pastor in June, 1852, when the Indiana Conference was organized in - Naperville, Illinois. It included this field, as one of the ten original fields.


Miami Circuit in 1852 embraced the following preaching places; copied from J. Keiper's circuit hook: 1. Young's (Bethel), N. E. of Lagro; 2. Laucnhei- ser's, near Laketon; 3. Barnheisel's; 4. Emmanuel Church, Akron. South Germany, N. W. of Rochester; 5. Carl Schoch's, west of Leiter's Ford: 6. Bechtel's and Zechiel's, south of Culver; 7. Bruce's Lake, (Lake Bruce); 8. Salem, twelve miles south of Rochester: 9. Berlin's schoolhouse, east of Akron;


7


INDIANA CONFERENCE


10. Sharpie's, three miles south of Peru; 11. Braun's and Strobel's, six miles south of Peru; 12. Condo's and White Hall, five miles south of Bunker Hill; 13. Gerhart's, two miles east of Waupecong; 14. Stoetzel's, one mile east of Hunt- ington; 15. Ehrhart's, N. W. of Markle; 16. Dustman's and Meyer's, twelve miles north of Huntington; 17. Weimer's schoolhouse; 18. New Ark (Akron) ; 19. Greenland's schoolhouse, three miles S. E. of Akron; 20. Schupp's; 21. Roth's, near Silver Lake; 22. Albrecht's; 23. Fulton, or Plunk's and Zwingeisen's; 24. Sailer's, six miles S. W. of Logansport; 25. Long's schoolhouse, south of Lo- gansport; Krieg's and Cook's, near Gilead. These appointments were in Hunt- ington, Wabash, Fulton, Miami, Kosciusko, and Cass Counties. At this time there was a church at Salem, the only one 'on the circuit.


The charter members at Barnheisel's werc: Jacob Barnheisel and wi.c, and son Cornelius; father Smith and son Louis; John Alt, and the Hager family. About this time preaching began at Krieg's, Cook's and at Schwoveland's. They 1:ever had a church here. About 1875, this class was merged with the Barnhei- sel Class. In 1899, Cook transferred his membership to Peru, where he gave liberal support until the time of his death.


In 1853, the name Miami Circuit was changed to Fulton, including the "B" class up to September, 1872, when Silver Lake Circuit was formed of Barnhei- sel's, Cook's and Silver Lake Classes. In 1873, this circuit became Gilead Mis- sion, and in 1874, the B. Class was again added to. Fulton Circuit. In 1852, preaching also hegan at "Greenland Schoolhouse", now "Teeter's". Bishop John Seybert, while on a visit here, was asked to preach the funeral sermon of John Ruchsthul (Rookstool), a pious man who had preached several years, then surrendered his license and engaged in carpenter work and in teaching school. At this time Evangelical preachers also preached in the M. E. church in New Ark, and also, two to three miles S. W. from Akron, in houses. In 1874, the surviving members became embodied in the "Arter" Class, or "Pleasant View". In Akron, after several repeated efforts, no substantial foothold could be ob- tained. In 1876 Emmanuel became a part of the newly formed Warsaw Mis- sion, served by D. J. Pontius. Our church work gradually centralized in the Emmanuel Society. A frame church was built here and dedicated, December 9, 1860, by Joseph Fisher, P. E., A. Nicolai, and D. Bartholomew were the pas- tors. This church stood just south of N. Barnheisel's residence. In April, 1885, this class, Silver Lake, Salem, and Neff's were merged to form Rochester Cir- cuit. In 1888 it formed a part of Akron Mission and remained so until 1912. In 1893 L. Newman reported that this society prayed anxiously for a revival. A revival started, resulting in 22 conversions and 27 accessions. In 1913 the work was called Gilead but the next year changed back to Akron, and has been so called ever since. The original appointments have mostly been abandoned. The second church (of brick) was built in 1902, when E. Q. Laudeman was pas- tor. The cornerstone was laid on a June Sunday afternoon by S. H. Baumgart-


8


HISTORICAL SKETCHES


ner, P. E., and the church was dedicated November 27, 1902, by editor S. P. Spreng. The dedication was followed by a revival that resulted in a score of conversions and accessions. In 1922, N. Barnheisel donated to the charge a com- modious parsonage in Akron, which act is greatly appreciated by people, pastors, ard the Conference. It belonged to the P. E. districts, viz .; to St. Joseph, 1852- 64; to Elkhart, 1865-1922. For pastors see Vol. I under Fulton Circuit, to 1888, to Rochester station from 1881-84, to Rochester Circuit 1885-87, J. Wales; 1888, Phil Buehler; 1889, J. Hoffman; 1890. D. J. Pontius; 1891, Wm. Wildermuth; 1892-93, J. M. Rogers. The second year R. was made Oakwood Park Supt., and I .. Newman served 1893-96; J. W. Metzner, 1897-98; J. W. Feller, 1899; E. Q. Laudeman, 1900-02; A. E. Weyrick, 1903; J. M. Lantz, 1904; W. Wildermuth, 1905; A. A. Knepper, 1906-07; I. Steele, 1908; A. Geist, 1909; J. L. Speicher, 1910; E. Q. Laudeman, 1911-12; W. E. Snyder, 1913-14; C. W. Spangler, 1915-19; C. W. Schlemmer, 1920-21; W. J. Dauner, 1922; C. W. Spangler, 1923.


AKRON TOWN APPOINTMENT


Attempts to organize a society in this town were repeatedly made. A. A. Krepper in 1906-07 preached here in the Christian Church, when the P. E., S. H. Baumgartner, also held a communion service here. In 1919 C. W. Spangler tried to find entrance. All previous efforts had failed. In 1920 Evangelical members, who had moved into Akron, agreed to form a Union Sunday School with the Christian Church people, held prayer meetings, and entered into a con- tract with them for the use of their church for fifteen years, agreeing to make an improvement on the building to the amount of $1,500 for this concession. On January 11, 1921, the pastor, C. W. Schlemmer, organized a society at the close of a revival meeting in the home of Mrs. Malissa Schafer, as the Akron Trinity Society, with the following charter members: Harvey and Laura Long, John and Delila Gaerte, Jacob and Martha Madlem, W. E. Smith, David and Nora Brown, Frank and Susan Teeter and daughter Esther, Mrs. Malissa Schafer, Anna E. Arter, Phil Arter, Lucinda Day, G. Woolpert and wile, May Sands, Rebecca Hoffman, Samuel and Mary Bahney and daughter Vernie, Grace Churchill, Pearl, Blanch and Irene Keshing, Evelyn Kreichbaum, Lloyd and Ruth Heilman, Mrs. Thompson, Amanda Gerard, Eva Robinson, Ruth Nye, Mrs. Fredericka Bright, J. J. King. Others soon followed. The first five trus- tees were: J. J. King, H. Long, F. Teeter, D. Brown, Wm. Smith. First class leader, D. Brown; Exhorter, S. Bahney. The report of remodeling the church, above named, showed that $877.17 had been collected, of which $762.75 was ex- pended. This society was incorporated under the articles as found in the Church Discipline.


In 1922, W. J. Dauner was the pastor; 1923, C. W. Spangler.


9


INDIANA CONFERENCE


AKRON, PLEASANT VIEW


J. Keiper and his successors had preached in this community from 1852, but there was no real organization until 1874, when Eli Hochstettler effected one. Sunday Schools were held in the Arter Schoolhouse, and preaching in private houses, and on lawns, both in English and German. Father Fishly was the first class leader. The charter members were: Philip Arter and wife, Philip Hoffman and wife, Peter Miller and wife, John Warner and wife, and Father Fishly and wife. In 1887 J. Wales built a church 30x50 feet, and D. S. Oakes dedicated it August 7th. From lack of community interest the place was aban- doned in 1920. The church still stands at present writing.


ALTAMONT, ILLINOIS


A number of Oliver families and other families of the Evangelical Associa- tion in Pennsylvania, having moved here in 1867, were organized into a class, in 1868, known as "Oliver Class' by Carl Schamo, also a Pennsylvanian, then pastor of Campcreek Circuit. They worshipped in their homes until a church was built by Fred Launer, and dedicated, December 22, 1872, under E. Hoch- stettler, pastor. This was the first church in this village. As M. Mayer, P. E., could not preach English, and the people wanted the dedicatory sermon in Eng- lish, he sent C. Condo to officiate. Pastor C. Stockhowe reported, "that the prosperity of this society was greatly hindered by too much internal strife." Some withdrew from the church. Under the pastorate of W. L. Luehring in 1884, their church building was moved near Edgewood, Illinois. This greatly incensed the Altamont Class, and they tried to stop the moving of it, but fail- ed. In 1888 Fred Theiss again took up the class in Altamont, and in 1889 built a small church, 24 x 36 feet. He was succeeded by M. F. Finkbeiner who dedi- cated the church. In 1902 W. F. Snyder enlarged it with an annex and a tower. The old pews were replaced with opera-chairs and the church was rededicated


by on New life followed dedication; the Sunday School increased in attendance; young folks were gathered in. But, from a lack of unanimity and cooperative work between old and young mem- bers, the society relapsed into decay, and by request to conference the place was abandoned in 1915. The church building was sold for $500.00, and the pro- ceeds applied to the new Brazil Church per Conference instruction. The church bell was sold in 1919 to the Zion's Class, Brownstown Circuit in Illinois, to which field it belonged during most of the time.




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