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 23
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of active service in the Ohio Conference, serving each year with a colleague.
In June, 1859, he came to Indiana, settling west of Goshen, Ind. In September of this year he entered the Indiana Confer- ence and served the following fields: 1859-60, Elkhart Circuit; 1860-1, South Bend Circuit; 1861-3, St. Mary's Circuit; 1863-4, Berrien, in Michigan, and when the Michigan Conference was or- ganized, in 1864, he volunteered to join it. He said, "I volunteered to go and help to start the new institution and bring it into run- ning order." He was returned to Berrien Circuit in 1864. In 1865-7 he served St. Joseph Circuit, traveling 4 years in this Con- ference. In 1866, the second year he was in this Conference, he lost his dear companion. She had nobly stood by him in his work, and patiently bore the privations of an itinerant's life. This bereave- ment was a serious loss and severe trial to him. In speaking of this he said, "Had not the Lord been with me in blessings and comforts, my poor heart, and, perhaps, my head, would have gone down under the waves."
RE-ENTERED THE INDIANA CONFERENCE
In Sept., 1868, he returned to the Indiana Conference, and then served Huntington 2 years. In 1870 he was assigned to Cicero charge and Kendallville Circuit from Sept., 1872-3, when he located. He did excellent service.
HIS RE-ENTRANCE INTO THE MICHIGAN CONFERENCE
Bro. Riegel had a very warm heart for the Michigan Confer- ence, and in 1876 reunited with this Conference and was assigned the last 2 years of his active ministry to Fremont and Marcellus Circuits. In the spring of 1878 he was compelled to locate per- manently on account of infirmities he doubtless contracted by ex- posures to wet and cold. Inroads upon his health were gradually made, which caused him great suffering. Speaking of his condi- tion, he said, "I was much afflicted, especially after taking cold, or getting soaked through with drenching rains. So I concluded it would be best to keep near the shore (his home) with my broken boat." Later he again moved within the bounds of the Indiana Conference, locating in Middleport, where he died. During his ministry hundreds of souls were converted and united with the Evangelical Association. Rev. Aug. Geist said of him in the bi- ography, "As a preacher he was well versed in the Scriptures, which he studied day and night. His pulpit ministration partook largely of God's Word. His preaching and manner in the pulpit,
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as in everything else, was precise to a fault. He often preached with great unction and power. As a retired preacher he rarely, if ever, disappointed the preacher-in-charge or the people. He fully exemplified in his life at home and abroad the doctrines he preached to others. He was a good man, and "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost."
After he closed his active ministry he took a retrospective view of his labors and said, "I am glad I could give so many of my best years to Jesus, that I could serve him as a traveling min- ister as long as I did. I do not regret the course I took, and what I suffered in the flesh by day and by night, traveling over bad roads, crossing unbridged creeks, rivers, etc." While he was able to travel he "did not hold his life dear unto himself."
SOME OF HIS SPECIAL EXPERIENCES
On one of his trips he started from Smith's class, north- west of Elkhart, and proceeded to West Bangor, Michigan, when that state was all but a total wilderness. Often the forests were trackless, and at very best had mere Indian trails in which to follow. The people were very poor, living in log cabins, with earthen floors, while the snow had ready access to the beds at night. Nevertheless, they were glad to see the preachers come, and shared with them the very best they had. Hungry hearers for the Gospel made preaching a delight, and glorious times were inevitable. He often said, "Those early times were the best and happiest of my Christian life." During the first year he had the enormous salary of $44.28, and the second year $48!
At one time he held a revival in Ohio, in a neighborhood where most of the people were Lutherans, who were very much op- posed to Methodism. "There were many converted among them. One man, 75 years of age, was happily converted. When he en- tered the service he seemed quite feeble, and a comfortable chair was brought him, but when he received the pardon of his sins he forgot his enfeebled condition and glorified God. As the peo- ple in this place had little or no experience in vital Christianity, when they were powerfully blessed and saved, they made some very odd expressions to describe their feelings. One young woman, when asked how she felt, said: "I am so happy I could fly like a wild goose !"
At one time, in the first year of his ministry, while on his way to an appointment, he tried to find a text from which to preach. It seemed as though there were no texts in the whole Bible that he could make use of. He couldn't even find a suitable
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hymn! Everything seemed a blank! He was tempted to go back home, and had already turned his horse about when the thought came to him, "I will not let the devil whip me like that; I will go to my appointment and will try at least to sing and pray with the people." When the place was reached he found the house filled with people. He lifted his heart in prayer, and with God's help opened the service. The darkness that surrounded his soul began to dispel and give way to the light of heaven, and the meeting ended most gloriously. At another time he was halted upon the street of a certain village, his arrestors claiming that he was rid- ing upon a horse that answers to the description of one that had been stolen. After he finally succeeded in making plain that he was a minister of the Gospel they permitted him to proceed, and he went on his way rejoicing. At another time, when about to cross the Wabash River near Wabash, Ind., his horse became frightened and dashed over the embankment, plunging buggy and occupant into the very jaws of death. It was a miracle that he escaped with his life. Creeks often had to be forded as well as rivers, which, in their swollen and treacherous condition, were a constant peril. Several times he had narrow scapes fiom drowning.
Some amusing things happened to this witty brother, one of which we mention. While going from Benton to Kendallville, as he was riding in his buggy, he fell asleep and toppled out of the rig. His horse started off at a livelier gate, leaving him behind in the dusty road. M. Krueger, who was following with his rig, thought that Riegel's horse was running away, and hurriedly dis- mounted, ran through the woods so as not to frighten Riegel's horse, and caught the animal. When he got back to Riegel, who, by this time, had picked himself up, he discovered that he had fallen out while taking a nap! Riegel was none the worse for his experience.
The obsequies were held in Middleport (Dunlaps), and were conducted by Aug. Geist, assisted by M. W. Steffey, M. Krueger and J. Hoffman.
JOSEPH ROHRER (1801-1884)
Joseph Rohrer was born at Lancaster Co., Pa., Oct. 30. '01, died at Elkhart Co., Indiana, June 5th, '84, and was buried in Elkhart Co. He was married to Maria Forrey of Lancaster Co., Pa., in '27, who lived together in happiness for 57 years. By dili- gence he accumulated considerable property, and, considering his early training, was quite liberal toward benevolences. In '32 he
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moved to Stark Co., Ohio, and in '52 to Elkhart Co., Ind. At the age of 20 he was thoroughly converted and united with the "Old Mennonite Church," in which he later served as a faithful min- ister over the space of 15 years. He was a man of convictions, and spoke them freely.
In the course of time certain views held by the Mennonite Church, together with several practices observed by them, seemed to him to be not only unauthorized by the Scriptures, but con- trary to them. He spoke forth his belief on these matters and was consequently deposed from office as a minister in the Menno- nite Church. Later he began attending the services of the Evan- gelical Association, and, having studied her doctrines and polity, was convinced of the biblical basis upon which she was founded, united with her, and was licensed as a preacher on probation. For a number of years he labored faithfully and successfully as a local preacher in the Indiana Conference.
His preaching was "plain, practical and urgent," and won many souls to Christ. R. Riegel and D. Martz officiated at his funeral.
PETER ROTH (1819-1898)
This servant of God was born in Scharbach, Lothringen, Ger- many, Dec. 31, 1819, and departed this life in South Bend, Ind., Jan. 22, 1898, where he is also buried. He was converted in Greenville, Ohio, and united with the Evangelical Association. In '59 the Greenville society recom- mended him to the Indiana Con- ference, and in September of this year he was licensed as preacher on probation. He was ordained as deacon in '61, and as elder in '63. He was married to Susanna Mary Klein in '41, and was sur- vived by his wife, 1 son and 3 daughters.
Bro. Roth immigrated to America, when a mere lad, with his parents in '31, settling in Greenville, O. His parents were poor, which made it necessary for him to assist in securing a home,
PETER ROTH
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and deprived him of all school privileges. However, he used his spare moments to study reading and writing. Not realizing his coming need of English he studied only in the German language.
He was reared in the Roman Catholic faith, but providential- ly was not to remain a part of that church. He was 20 years old when he first saw a Bible. It was at Greenville, where he came under the influence of the true Gospel of Christ, preached by Isaac Hoffert and Henry Longbrake, and was truly converted to God. He then united with the Evangelical Association. For this he was severely persecuted, even driven from home, which per- secution he patiently endured, considering it was for Jesus' sake. He was a cooper by trade and had his own cooper-shop in Green- ville, furnishing employment to quite a number of men.
HIS CALL TO THE MINISTRY
Soon after his conversion he was elected class-leader, in which capacity he served acceptably for 16 years. Concerning his call to the ministry he said, "For a long time I realized that I should go forth and preach the Gospel, but I did not reveal this convic- tion to any one." After much hesitancy and waiting, on account of inefficiency, he finally yielded to the high and holy calling. He was licensed to preach at the Conference session in '59, also being received into the itinerancy, as was then the custom. As his diary became lost to the family, there can be no detailed sketch written of his life.
FIELDS HE SERVED
In Sept., '59-61, he was assigned with R. Riegel to Elkhart Circuit, which was then almost as extensive as the present north- ern half of Elkhart District. In '61-2 he served on Fulton Cir- cuit with Daniel Bartholomew and Geo. Kloepfer. In '62-4 he served St. Joseph Circuit. This was a glorious year, 100 persons having been converted, most of whom also united with the Evan- gelical Association. In '64-5 he served Greenville Circuit, from whence he started out. In '68-70 he served Waupecong Mission (now Bunker Hill Circuit). In '70-72 he was assigned to St. Mary's Circuit; he was assisted the second year by S. S. Condo. In '72 he had Benton Circuit, with Aug. Geist as colleague. In '73-5 he served Wanatah Circuit with splendid results. In '75-6 he was appointed to Marshall Circuit in Illinois, which, he said, "was his most successful year." In '76-8 he served Ft. Wayne, Bethel Mission, which, on account of sickness, ended his active ministerial life.
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Of his own work he says, "My first 2 years were years of great and severe trials. It was the beginning of the Civil War; provisions at this time were high, and the salary very meager. There were 7 of us in the family to be supported, and we were not immune to sickness and death." His salary the first year reached the munificent sum of $62.46, and the second year $90.62! The people then were poor, and hence great difficulties stared him in the face. He said "it became necessary for him to use up what little he had accumulated in his cooper trade to support his family during these stringent years."
THE CLOSING YEARS OF HIS LIFE
He located in South Bend, Ind., in April, '78. For some time thereafter he was agent for Dr. Fink's Magic Oil, of which he sold a considerable amount, and he had sub-agents in various places. He also sold an excellent remedy for diphtheria. For quite a while before his death he was in feeble health, gradually decreasing and finally his earthly pilgrimage came to an end.
Rev. Aug. Geist, who was a colleague with Bro. Roth for one year, bears testimony to his preaching as follows: "I looked to him as a model of a preacher. I noted his manner of life and the spirit and manner of his preaching. He never impressed me as a strong textual preacher; he usually selected texts that were sim- ple and clear. His sermons were mostly practical and illustrative. For example, on John 2: 10, he illustrated the distinction between the natural human life at its best and the immeasurable superior- ity of the divine life." In his preaching he was not particularly demonstrative, only when under the special inspiration of the Spirit, and then his emotions were manifest by his tears. He further says of his characteristics, "that he was cheerful, tender- hearted and indulgent, perhaps to a fault. His services as preacher were quite acceptable to the people. Souls were saved by his ministry, and the church people were edified and built up."
Rev. F. Schweitzer had charge of the funeral service and preached the sermon. Other ministers were present and partici- pated.
BERNHARD RUH (1827-1910)
Bro. Ruh, a charter member of the Conference, was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, Dec. 27, 1827, and died in the Lord, So. Bend, Ind., Mar. 25, 1910. He came to America in his 21st
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year, and, locating in Chicago, found employment with his brother. Here he became acquainted with the Evangelical Association, to which church his brother belonged, and under the preaching of Rev. Chr. Holl he was convicted of his sins and led to sincere re- pentance, and after 6 months of careful and earnest seeking found the Lord. This was in 1850. He had united with the church 8 days before and was now a happy Evangelical.
Recommended by his class for the ministry in '52, and was licensed as preacher on probation at the session of the Illinois Conference, held at Naperville, Ill., in June. He united with the Indiana Conference at its organization and served in it 111/2 years upon the following charges : '52, Elkhart Circuit, under Jos. Fisher ; '53-5, Marshall Circuit; '55, Olney Mission; '56, Berrien, with John Fuchs; '57, under Chr. Glaus, Miami Circuit, lying in Ohio; '58, Fulton Circuit, assisted by Peter Burgener; '59, Hunting- ton Mission; '60, Berrien Circuit, assisted by J. M. Gomer; '61, Elkhart Circuit, with Phil. Schwartz. In '62 he asked for his cre- dentials, wishing to go West, and they were granted.
In April, '63, he united with the Illinois Conference, and served 16 years as follows: Deer Grove, Rockville, Grand Prairie, Dunkle Grove, Hampshire, Batavia, Henry Mission, Chatsworth and Center Lake, in all 27 years. In '79 he located, owing to bod- ily infirmities, and lived to be the last of the charter members.
Bro. Ruh had a very sensitive nature, which caused him more or less heartache, opposition and unfriendliness. Yet with all this he had a strong social side, loving company, and himself was entertaining. Owing to some local church disturbance in South Bend, Ind., where he resided from the time he located to his demise, he left the Evangelical Association and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. But in the spring of 1902, at the 50th Anniversary of the Indiana Conference, held in South Bend, he was again received as a local elder. He was ordained deacon in '54, and as elder in '58.
He was married to Katherine Laudeman of Bremen, Ind., June 25, 1856. One daughter was born to them. Mrs. Ruh died Aug., 1858. In '59 he was married the second time to Katherine Schafer of South Bend, Ind., who also died in that place. In '94 he was married the third time to Bertha Walters of Chicago, who cared for him until his death. Besides his wife he was survived by one daughter and one nephew. Rev. H. Schleucher and R. J. S. Meyer of the Methodist Episcopal Church officiated at the funeral services. His body was laid to rest in the South Bend Cemetery.
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ABSOLOM B. SCHAFER (1797-1869) -
This herald of the cross was born in Forest, Shenandoah Co., Va., Sept. 12, 1797, and died very suddenly at his home in E. Ger- mantown, Ind., Dec. 20, 1869. His body was also interred in this place. In May, 1830, he was licensed as preacher on probation by the Western Conference and received into the itinerancy. In May, 1851 and 1855, the Ohio Conference elected him to the office of Presiding Elder, and was assigned to Scioto and Sandusky District respectively. He was at this time also elected as delegate to Gen- eral Conference, which met in October in the Stone Church near Flat Rock, Ohio, and again in 1855, when the General Conference met in Lebanon, Pa. When he returned home to Dayton, Ohio, from the General Conference in 1855 he found his wife dangerously ill, and, six days later, June 5, she entered into rest. This was a se- vere loss to him. He, however, gave himself to his work and served the district to the best of his ability. Not willing to give up his work, nor neglect his children, at the close of the year he married Hester Wallick, who became a congenial companion to him. In the spring of 1856 he resigned as Presiding Elder in the Ohio Con- ference, and united with the Indiana Conference, which gladly received him. This Conference was divided into three Presiding Elder districts, and he was elected as Presiding Elder and assigned to Whitewater District, which he served 314 years, Conference being changed from June to September, when he found it neces- sary to resign. In 1859-61 he served Evansville Mission. In 1861-2, South Bend Circuit. In 1862-3, Indianapolis Mission. In 1863-5, South Bend Mission. In 1865-6, Cincinnati Mission. In September, 1866, he reluctantly retired and took a superannuated relation to Conference. He continued to take a deep interest in the work of the church, preaching frequently and attending every Annual Conference session to the very last, participating in the transactions. He was true and devoted to the end. Of him it could truly be said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." No minister of the Conference was held in higher esteem than Father Schafer. He served in the active and local ministry 39 years. He repre- sented the Ohio Conference 4 times as delegate to General Con- ference, the Illinois Conference once, and the Indiana Conference three times. He was ordained deacon in March, 1836, and as elder in 1839. He was appointed General Conference secretary in 1843.
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HIS EDUCATION AND RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
The community in which Schafer was born was composed of European Germans who adhered to their religious creeds, cus- toms and language. As a boy he heard derogatory reports con- cerning Methodists who taught experimental religion. He was taught in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, was catechised from the 9th to 14th year, and then was confirmed and admit- ted to communion. In later years he highly appreciated this train- ing, and later in life said, "If at the time of my confirmation I had been properly instructed, my susceptible heart would have been led to repentance and conversion, but, alas!" Though the law was preached, awakening and convicting men of their sins, they were not taught how to obtain pardon for sin and newness of life in Christ. After his first admission to the communion he resolved to lead a Christian life. He shunned all wicked associations, re- pented bitterly of wrongs he did, but being deprived of proper guidance, his good resolves faded away, and he became calloused, careless, and, neglecting prayer, soon drifted into sin.
HIS MARRIAGE AND REMOVAL TO FAIRFIELD
In 1818 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Zerkle. Four sons and four daughters were born to them. Soon after marriage he moved to Fairfield Co., O., arriving there Oct. 15, and having severed former associations, he hoped to be able to lead a better life. Inquiring about churches in this community, he found that there were Methodists, United Brethren, "Albrights," Bap- tists, Lutherans, etc. He soon made himself known to the Luther- ans as being a Lutheran, and rejoiced to find a religious society that he could call his own. J. M. Steck was the pastor, whom he regarded as eloquent, and many believed him converted. Soon he was appointed as deacon. He felt himself unworthy, and the position was averse to him and burdensome, but he continued in it for four years, after which he resigned. His inclination toward sinful pleasures was fostered. He became wholly indifferent to God and religion. Carnality possessed him. Thus he continued until the summer of 1829, when he was overseer of a section of the Ohio Canal, which was then under construction.
BROUGHT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
In the summer of 1829, Rev. George Schneider of the Evan- gelical Association was sent from Pennsylvania to Lancaster Cir- cuit of the Ohio Conference. He had a relative in Shafer's com- munity and sent a preaching appointment to him for Saturday
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afternoon at the school-house. Shafer was invited and requested to bring others. Only one man besides S. consented to go, and he took a different route to reach the place. While S. went through the woods he reflected upon his past sinful life, hoping that he might yet amend, and he resolved that if he is convinced that the preacher is a man of God he would heed all he said and live a bet- ter life. Coming near the school-house he saw the minister on his knees in a fallen tree-top, praying with sobs. Indescribable feelings possessed S. as he quietly passed by, fully convinced that Schneider was a man of God. At the school-house there were only a few present. Shafer thought so good a man was worthy of a better congregation, and proposed if the services were post- poned till evening he would try to secure a larger hearing. The proposition was accepted, and he, with others, started out, and by night had the house nearly full. While he was inviting the peo- ple the preacher's tears kept speaking to him. Bro. Schneider's text that evening was, "Repent and be converted," etc. (Acts 3: 19, 20.) First he portrayed the state of a sinful man. Shafer applied the remarks to himself, saying, "I am the man," because his life was so well delineated. His sins, his ungodly life, the minister's tears came before him until he wept. This man was indeed a messenger of God to him. In the second part of his dis- course he showed what true repentance means. Shafer caught the meaning, and under the third part of the sermon he firmly re- solved to seek salvation if there was yet mercy for him.
HIS CONVERSION
At the close of the above service Bro. Schneider, seeing Sha- fer's affected condition, invited him to a service the next day, six miles away. This was in June, 1829. He went, arriving late, the house being full. He saw no seat. The minister, seeing his pre- dicament, motioned him to a seat in front. Shafer was known here "as a great sinner." All eyes were fixed on him. The preacher's text was John 8: 12, "I am the light of the world." Again he was moved to tears. The hope of salvation was a new inspiration to him. His work on the canal being finished, he went 8 miles further on. He was prone to dissipation, which gave him severe conflicts. He now often called on God secretly, trying to hide his conviction from men. His penitence still "savored too much of legality, thinking he must pray as long as he had sinned." Having no one to counsel, praying became burdensome. Late one rainy afternoon he went to a village on business. When he started back
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it was dark. He followed the new canal rather than the wagon road. A high hill had been cut down by another company, of which he did not know, and was suddenly precipitated over a twenty-foot embankment. Here he lay unconscious until daylight, and became disabled to continue work on the canal.
A few weeks later a school director requested him to teach a school, to open soon. Feeling able for this, he entered into a con- tract. The above accident and the school engagement he ever re- garded a divine Providence and a most fortunate event in his career. The first severed him from wicked men, and the second brought him under good Christian influence. Two of the direc- tors were members of the Evangelical Association. The above inci- dent revived his conviction of sin, deepened contrition, and aug- mented his burdens, leading him to much earnest prayer and dili- gent reading of the Bible. Sunday morning, Oct. 25, 1829, he read Ezek. 18, which awakened a strong hope within that there was sal- vation for him. He spent the most of the day in the woods in prayer. In the evening he went to the home of his friend Bright, where Rev. Yambert was to preach, but having traveled far, and already preached twice that day, and those present being mostly members, the preacher announced a class-meeting. Schafer was disappointed. He could see no benefit in such a meeting for him, as he was hungry for the Word of God. Yambert and others re- lated their own experiences.
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