USA > Indiana > Historical data and life sketches of the deceased ministers of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association, 1835 to 1915, Volume I > Part 17
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HIS CALL TO PREACH AND HIS MINISTERIAL WORK
William soon felt constrained, by the love of God in his heart, to go forth as a herald of the Cross. He now had a family con- sisting of a wife and 3 children, and hesitated to enter the minis- try because he was very poor and could not buy a horse and buggy and other necessaries for ministerial work. But his Presiding Elder, Mel. Mayer, urged him to take up the Gospel work, and offered to advance him the money to buy the necessary outfit. The class at Richmond recommended him, and the Conference licensed him. He served on the following fields: Montgomery Circuit, 1870-1; Fulton, 1871-2; Waupecong, 1872-4; Logansport, 1874-6; Bremen, 1876-8; Wanatah, 1878-81; Celina, 1881-4. Now he changed his Conference relation to the South Indiana Conference, serving various fields from 1884-'93, when this Conference was re-
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incorporated with the Indiana Conference. He served Terre Haute, 1893-4; Bremen again, 1894-7; Brazil, 1897-8. In April, '98, he retired from active service and located in Terre Haute, owing to the rapidly failing health of his wife, who lingered along until March, 1903, having shared together each other's joys and sor- rows for over 45 years. Bro. Koenig, after this, lived most of his time with the children. He, however, served out a year on Elber- feld Circuit, which became vacant during the Conference year of 1905.
In his preaching he disliked sham, or anything that savored of pride. He always aimed to keep close to his text. His preach- ing was earnest, biblical and practical. He was fearless in declar- ing the truth, true to his convictions, conscientious in his pastoral duties and clean in his habits of life. He was an enemy to evils, especially to intemperance of any sort, and the popular sins of modern days. On one of his charges he was called to officiate at a funeral of a young man who died as a drunkard. The father of this young man said to Koenig "that I believe the son died with salvation and is in heaven." In connection with the reading of the obituary Koenig stated that the father of this, his son, "believed he died with salvation and is in heaven." This greatly displeased the father, for he wanted Koenig to say it, as though it were his own personal conviction. Koenig believed at such occasions to preach salvation to the living, and not to eulogize the dead, and ex- alt them to heaven when there was no such evidence at hand.
He took sick at Bremen, where he stayed during the last year of his life. He suffered greatly, but bore it patiently until his de- mise. He was survived by 3 sons, one, Rev. Benj. E., member of the Indiana Conference, who was one of his own converts in Bra- zil, Ind., and 1 daughter. Shortly before his death he said, "Eter- nity and God, how little and insignificant one's work does seem, and how weak and imperfect are all the plans and energies of man. How little does one's own preaching appear in the light of the eter- nal glory of God. But how precious to be a child of God -- a child saved by grace." What a testimony for a departing child of God!
J. O. Mosier, P. E., officiated at Bremen and had general charge of the funeral.
SAMUEL BAUMGARTNER KRING (1827-1893)
This man of God entered this life near Johnstown, Pa., Oct. 6, 1827, and departed very unexpectedly, Decatur, Ind., July 28, 1893. His body was interred in the Hicksville, Ohio, cemetery. His
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parents were farmers, and belonged to the Evangelical Associa- tion. In this church Samuel was reared and was converted in a camp-meeting when but 13 years old. He then also joined his par- ents' church and lived an active and consistent Christian life. His class, called Cambria, recommended him to the Western Pennsyl- vania Conference in the spring of 1849 for license to preach, which was granted. He continued in the active ministry until death, serving in all 43 years-2 years in the Western Pennsylvania Con- ference and 33 in the Pittsburg Conference, of which he was a charter member when organized in 1852, and 8 years he gave ex- cellent service in the Indiana Conference. He was ordained as deacon in 1852 and as elder in 1854. He served 16 years as presid- ing elder in the Pittsburg Conference, and represented this Con- ference 4 or 5 times as a delegate to General Conference, and filled other important positions of trust in that Conference.
FIELDS HE SERVED
In 1850-1 he served Summerset Circuit with Daniel Sill; 1851- 2, Center Circuit with Rev. Dellinger; 1852-3, Warren Station (Pittsburg Conference from now on) ; 1853-4, Allegheny Mission ; 1854-6, Summerset again ; 1856-7, Allegheny Mission again ; 1857-8, Indiana and Cambria Circuits; 1858-9, Cambria Circuit; 1859 he located, due to impaired health; 1860-1, Indiana and Clearfield Cir- cuits ; 1861-2, Cambria again. In 1862 he was newly elected as presiding elder and stationed on Summerset District, and con- tinued in this work 16 years. His service in the Indiana Confer- ence began April, 1886, although he served a work in the Confer- ence in the past year as a supply. He served Hicksville, 2 years ; Watchtower, Elkhart, 1888-90; Kendallville, 1890-2, and Decatur, until his death. While he was reading in the Bible, sitting in a rocking chair, making preparation for his Sunday work, the death messenger, without a warning, called him to rest.
He was a man of excellent judgment and of safe counsel. He often was appointed on important judiciary committees. When the Civil War broke out he was bitterly opposed to slavery, and though he did not feel it his duty to leave the Master's work to vol- unteer for the army, he declared if he were drafted to enter army life he should consider it a call from God, and would go. Once in the early part of his ministry he met with a serious accident that might have proved fatal. He was thrown from his horse, and with one foot caught in the stirrup, he was dragged along for some dis- tance. He always considered this event a miraculous intervention of Providence in his behalf. He also passed through many severe
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trials during his ministry, but none so great as the trial that came during the division in the church. He was of a peace-loving, char- itable and loyal disposition, willing to suffer wrong rather than do wrong. ' He took no active part in the conflict that rent his beloved church, but it greatly grieved him to see his children in the min- istry with their husbands, on account of it, become estranged from his church which he dearly loved and for which he sacrificed his whole life.
He was quite successful in the ministry. Many souls were led to Christ by his ministration. He was, it is said, "more powerful in revival meetings by his personal work than by preaching." His fruit was largely "hand-picked." He strove more for quality than quantity. He was an excellent pastor and comforter to the sick and needy. His sympathy for those in trouble was real, and his intercourse with the people warm and cordial. D. S. Oakes said: "His preaching was sound in doctrine, clear, logical, forceful and practical. His sermons were unctuous and edifying, mostly ex- pository rather than hortatory, and did not fail to reach the hearts of the people."
He was married to Anna Stull, daughter of Rev. John Stull of near Johnstown, Pa., Sept. 12, 1853. To them were born 3 daughters, two of whom married ministers of the Gospel-Rev. C. C. Poling, father of the famous temperance worker, Daniel Pol- ing, and Rev. C. C. Beyrer. Mrs. Poling was for a number of years engaged in evangelistic work, and led many souls to Christ. At the obsequies of Bro. Kring, F. E. Zechiel officiated at Decatur, Sun- day evening, July 30, assisted by M. W. Krueger and H. Steininger. At the services at Hicksville D. S. Oakes officiated, assisted by W. H. Mygrant and S. H. Baumgartner.
REV. J. N. KRONMILLER (1817-1896)
The person of this sketch was born March 15, 1817, in the town of Nassig, Amt Wertheim, Grossherzogtum Baden, Germany. His father's name was Jacob, who was a smith by trade, and with it he also managed the hotel business of his father. J. N. was at this time 6 or 7 years old. His mother's maiden name was Schles- man. He was the youngest of three brothers. In his sixth year he began going to school, and did well in all studies except writing. His parents were Lutherans in faith, and in this faith reared up their children. He wrote in his day-book, "I remember the time when I found grace, about the eleventh year, but owing to the fact
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that I had no Bible instruction and edification in spiritual things, I became quite careless and lived about in the ordinary run of the world." Yet with this manner of living he believed himself to be living in the service of God. After he was out of school he became an apprentice in wagon-making, which trade he continued in until he entered the Gospel ministry.
In 1840, June 20, he, with his betrothed, Appolina Wiesman, em- igrated from Germany to Rotter- dam and then across the Atlantic Ocean to Baltimore, Maryland; thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they were married in August, 1841. Here they lived about one year, and then moved to a small town called Vandalia, in Montgomery County, Ohio. At this place our preachers preached. Like Paul's preaching to the Greeks, so the preaching of these Albright preachers seemed foolishness to him, and on that account, he says, "I opposed them very hard until finally the power of the truth so thoroughly convinced me that I J. N. KRONMILLER had no more rest, day and night, until I found peace and rest in the wounds of a crucified Saviour." His penitential struggle was a hard one. His wife, who was a Catholic, bitterly opposed him, and scolded him for such foolish ideas he now had. But finally she was moved to read up on the new birth, and read out of her own Catho- lic Bible the third chapter of John's Gospel, and was seized with conviction, and convinced of the error of her way, and sought par- don for her sins, and became soundly converted. He speaks of his experience thus : "The Lord gave me victory on the evening of Nov. 1, 1843. Oh, what a joy I received, my pen cannot describe it." He was converted under the labors of Revs. Aaron Jampert and Fred- erick Meyer.
Right from his conversion he felt a strong inward desire for the salvation of his fellow-men. He was soon thereafter elected as class-leader, showing ability in leadership, and continued as such for eight years. In 1851 he took up the work of a colporteur and traveled for 18 months for the "American Tract Union Society."
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On April 24, 1852, he received a license as preacher on probation from the Quarterly Conference of the Vandalia society; A. B. Schafer was presiding elder, and A. E. Dreisbach, pastor. But on account of "fear of men," he says he did not preach much. On June 2, 1853, he entered the active ministry in the Indiana Con- ference. The session was held in East Germantown, Wayne Co., Indiana, and he was assigned to DeKalb Mission in North-eastern Indiana and North-western Ohio.
His first year in the ministry resulted in only one conversion. This greatly discouraged him, but the Lord strengthened and sus- tained him. His salary for this year was the meager sum of $76.68. May 31, 1854, the Conference session was again held in East Ger- mantown, and he was appointed to St. Mary's Circuit with H. Strickler as assistant. This field consisted of 18 to 20 appoint- ments in Allen, Huntington, Wabash, Wells, Adams Counties, In- diana, and east into Ohio. After the session he hurried home and moved his family from Bean Creek near Defiance, Ohio, to Fuhr- man's settlement, 7 miles north-west of Decatur, Ind., arriving there June 16, well preserved. Here he found a frame church and parsonage which at this time were few, and hence much appreci- ated. On this charge he says the Lord's work progressed slowly, the spirit of disunion was prevalent in some places, and being yet inexperienced, he was afraid he could not manage affairs, but he took recourse to God for counsel, and not in vain. On his first round he was seized with chill-fever, so prevalent in those days, which made traveling very hard. He says, "That on his way home, in a forest where no one knew where he was, he could get no fur- ther; he dismounted his horse, had scarcely tied his horse when he became unconscious, but after awhile he regained consciousness, remounted the horse, stopped over night at Schnuerlein, and Nov. 24 resumed his trip home, and met with another serious mishap between Willshire, Ohio, and Decatur, Ind., where his horse slipped, dislocated a hind leg, and had to be killed. This occurrence brought him into a severe temptation. The devil accused him that he was not called of God to preach the Gospel, or else this mishap would not have befallen him. But to his great consolation, Bishop John Seybert came just then into his charge, helped him in a meeting, and through his sermon Kronmiller became so greatly encouraged that suddenly all temptation left him. But what was he now to do to fill his appointments without a horse, and no money to buy one? The Bishop advised him to start a list among his members for financial aid to buy another horse, which he did. But another disappointment met him, when he had traveled with his new horse
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from an appointment (Raudebush's), north of Fort Wayne, over very rough roads to L. Dustman's in Huntington County. He found the next morning, when he saddled his horse, that it was so stiff that it could not walk. So he had to borrow a horse to make his round, and when he came back to Leininger's to preach a few days later, Dustman had his horse there for him. That night he put up his horse in Leininger's stable in which his own horses were. The next morning he found his horse badly kicked and bleeding profusely. Even the preacher's horses had a hard time, and were often mistreated by unfriendly brutes of its like. So he was obliged to walk sixteen miles, leading his horse, weakened by the loss of blood. He says, "Oh, how the enemy tried to drive me from the field." All this occurred on one trip on his field.
March 5, he again was downhearted, having had frequent at- tacks of fever, was very poor and again this year received only $76.00 salary. A barrel of flour cost $10.00, but in spite of pov- erty he kept trusting in the Lord. On March 15, he desired and prayed for more holiness and a better consecration to God, that he might better resist temptations and do more effectual work for God.
At the Conference session held at Ott's settlement, near Syra- cuse, Ind., in 1855, he was assigned to Fulton Circuit. At this ses- sion he was ordained deacon. He says regarding the ordination, "Oh, what an important hour this was for me, I shall never forget it." On Thursday following the Conference session he was already on the way to his new field which extended from five miles west of Plymouth to three miles south of Peru (Sharpee's class), and from Barnheisel's class, near Gilead, west to Rensselaer, Jasper County, over nine counties.
No record was kept of his experience for a while because it seemed to him his preaching was not as successful as that of other brethren, and he was willing to go through this world unnoticed.
At the session of 1856, held in Mt. Carmel, Ill., June 4, he was again returned to Fulton Circuit. A water famine prevailed dur- ing this summer, crops were short, and of course, salary also. This year he had 19 appointments in five counties, preached nearly every day, and met with a bodily rupture. The Conference sessions be- ing changed to fall, it made the year 16 months. On this field he was much hindered with fever among the people, but he won a goodly number of souls for Christ and the church.
At the session held at East Germantown, Ind., Sept. 2, 1857, he was ordained elder, and was assigned to Marshall Circuit in Illinois. This was a large field extending 75 miles westward to
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Vandalia, but was a good year, resulting in many conversions and accessions. No record is made from this time to 1873. From Marshall he was sent to Warrington Circuit in 1858, now Elber- feld. Then to Mt. Carmel in 1859, then back to Marshall in 1860, then to Montgomery Circuit, Ohio, his old home, in 1861. He says, "It went hard to go to my home." Here he stayed two years. September, 1863, he was assigned to Defiance Mission and re- mained two years, then to Clay City Mission in Indiana for two years, then to Olney, Ill., for two years, which proved to be his most successful years in the ministry ; but he had also hard trials and conflicts to combat with. In 1870 he was appointed to Carmi, which also was a very successful year, many being converted in Enterprise and Grayville, then a part of Carmi charge. He re- cords that July 2, 1871, a prayer-meeting was held 3 miles west of Carmi in a farm house, at which time twelve persons were gloriously converted. It was a happy time, and the building of a church in Carmi was a further result of this meeting. In the ses- sion of 1871 he was again stationed to Mt. Carmel. Some persons were converted. In 1872 and 1873 he served Huntingburg Cir- cuit; here he had a few conversions, then in 1874-75 he again served Carmi with good success. In 1876 and 1877 he again served Warrington Circuit and built Tabor Church. In 1878 he was assigned to Cincinnati, which charge he served three years, which were quite successful years with a net gain in membership of 55. At the session held at West Salem in 1881 he was for the third time assigned to Mt. Carmel. February 14, 1882, his dear companion died. But he continued in the ministry, and at the ses- sion of 1882 he was again assigned to Cincinnati. This was a year of sore trials, but the Lord helped to bear the cross. In 1883 he was returned. Success followed his efforts here each year. In 1884 Rockfort Mission was assigned to him. In April of this year he again entered matrimonial life with Mrs. Louisa Spengeman, a widow, whose maiden name was Lohmeier. He found it hard to serve this mission. In 1886, at the Conference session held in Mt. Carmel, he located after serving in the Gospel ministry 33 suc- cessive years. At this time his bodily strength was considerably impaired. He was now 69 years old. He indeed endured the hard- ships of a good soldier of Jesus Christ, incident to a ministerial pioneer's life in the early history of the church. He was faithful to his trust, anxious for souls, fervent in spirit, abounding in per- sonal work, zealous for God and the church. Thoroughly Evangel- ical, he fearlessly exposed sin and its effects.
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He made Carmi his last stopping place on earth and here he spent the evening of life. He died Aug. 22, 1896. For eight years he gradually grew weaker and more helpless, and had to be cared for. But he never murmured, but patiently surrendered himself to God and His will. For seven years this man of God had to be fed as a child by his patient Christian wife. Victoriously he passed over into the promised land of rest. His body awaits the resur- rection of the just in the Carmi Cemetery. G. Koch and I. H. Griesemer spoke at his funeral, and L. J. Ehrhardt, O. Markman, F. Dauner and J. A. Maier also took part, and other ministers served as pall-bearers.
In the Civil War he took a stand for the abolition of slavery, as did the church. He gave one son for the emancipation of the Negro slaves, who was killed in the army. He saw much sorrow in his own family life by reason of sickness and death. Wife and eight children preceded him in death. He is survived by his sec- ond wife, three sons and two daughters.
JACOB KRUMEISEN (1837-1862)
This brother was born in Switzerland, Jan. 1, 1837, and died in the hospital of Holly Spring, Mississippi, Dec. 9, 1862. He came to America with his parents in 1858, and settled near Olney, Ill. In March (probably 1869) he was converted to God and united with the Evangelical Association. He manifested a deep piety and godly conduct, and thus gained the confidence of the people in and out of the church. Realizing the call of God to preach he yielded and was licensed by the Indiana Conference as a preacher on probation in Sept., 1861. He served well as a local preacher. When the Civil War broke out he felt it his duty to enter army life in the interest of the Union and abolishment of slavery. He became a soldier of the 63rd Regiment of the Illinois Volunteers. As a soldier he also acquitted himself nobly to the extent that he was advanced to important hospital services. Here he labored faithfully and untiringly in spiritual and bodily nursing of the wounded soldiers, and "achieved a high order of respect and confi- dence from all." His early departure caused great sorrow and re- gret among the comrades as also at home. In him the church lost a promising young man. No record of his burial could be found, but likely occurred near Holly Spring, Miss.
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FRED LAUNER (1831-1901)
Bro. Launer was born Oct. 4, 1831, in Lauterbrunnen, Switz- erland, and died near Laurel, Jamhill Co., Oregon, April 24, 1901. He came to America with his mother in '46, and located near Ol- ney, Ill. Under the preaching of ministers of the Evangelical Association he was led to repentance. He united with the Evan- gelical Association and served her for nearly 50 years. Soon after conversion he exhibited marked aptness for the Gospel ministry, and, heeding God's call, was recommended by the class and licensed by the Indiana Conference in Sept., '65, as preacher on probation. For 20 years he was an honored member of this Conference, giv- ing excellent and successful service.
He served Mattoon charge in Illinois 2 years; Carmi Circuit, 2 years; Vandalia Circuit, 2 years; Fulton Circuit, 2 years; St. Mary's Circuit, 1 year; Elkhart Circuit, 3 years; St. Mary's Cir- cuit again, 1 year ; Greenville Circuit, 2 years ; Winchester, 2 years ; Mt. Carmel, 1 year; West Salem, 2 years. In '86 he moved to the Oregon Conference and served 1 year as supply on Newbury and Dayton Circuit. On account of failing eyesight he had to lo- cate, which was done with reluctance. He said to Rev. J. E. Smith, "It was only after I could not read at all, and I became tired of threshing out straw that I became willing to locate." He was or- dained as deacon in '68, and as elder in '70.
Launer was an "earnest, conscientious preacher, and sought the conversion of sinners rather than the applause of men." He had many souls for his hire. He bore his affliction with Christian courage, his faith in God remaining strong and steady to the end. During the winter of '91 his health rapidly failed. He had a great desire to attend Conference session once more and meet Bishop Esher, who was to preside; but both died before the session of the Oregon Conference took place, and met in heaven. He died sud- denly while in his barn doing chores.
In '85 he was married to Mary Bushong. To them were born 12 children, 9 of whom survived him. One son, F. W., is a minis- ter of the Oregon Conference, and one in the United Evangelical Church. Rev. J. E. Smith officiated at his funeral, with the breth- ren F. Harder, A. Weinert, E. D. Hornschuch and E. L. Jones assisting.
HENRY MAIER (1831-1864)
This brother was a native of Weisloch, Heidelberg, Germany, born Jan. 1, 1831. He was reared and confirmed in the faith of the Reformed Church. Henry came to America in '52, and first
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located in Tiffin, O., where he married Katherine Umbach in '53, who also had come with him to America. From here they moved to Melbern, in Williams Co., O., where he became acquainted with people of the Evangelical Association, and upon attending their services, was awakened to the need of salvation, and was thor- oughly converted to God in '59. He united with the Jerusalem, now Oak Grove class, of Edgerton Circuit, and remained true to the Evangelical Association until death. For a number of years he served as class-leader, and then, in '62, the Indiana Conference licensed him as preacher on probation.
In the spring of '64 he entered army life in Regiment 68, Ohio Volunteers. He was shot July 22 of this year in the Battle of At- lanta, Ga., by a bullet that penetrated through both of his legs near the body. He was taken to the field hospital. His wounds healed nicely, and he was about to come home when he took seriously ill with camp dysentery and died Sept. 17, 1864. Maier was a loyal follower of God on the battle-field, "holding and attending prayer- meetings in tents." Shortly before death he was asked by a fellow- soldier about his hope of eternal life, to which he replied, "It is clear; I am ready to die." He was survived by his wife and 6 children. His interment was made somewhere in the South.
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