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 27
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In 1870 he changed his Conference relation to the Indiana Conference and served E. Germantown Circuit, which had become vacant by the death of Rev. Geo. Wales. In 1871 he was assigned to Louisville Station, serving it two years. Then Olney charge
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from 1873-5. Then Indianapolis, First Church, from 1875-7. Then Indianapolis Mission from 1877-80. In 1880-1 he served Lo- gansport Mission. Then Julietta work from 1881-4. Here his beloved wife died. From 1884-6 he served Mishawaka Circuit. In April, 1885, he married Lena Zimmerman, a young woman to whom were born one son and one daughter. In 1886-7 he served Montgomery Circuit (Phillipsburg), then Richmond from 1887- 8, and closed his active ministry on Phillipsburg charge, which he served 1888-9. Thus he gave a total of 32 years in active minis- terial service.
In these years he underwent many trials of faith and minis- terial and domestic hardships. Owing to age and family conditions he located and moved to Mishawaka, Ind., with his family, where he continued the service of Christ as age allowed and opportuni- ties afforded. He was a true and faithful preacher and pastor, sound in doctrine, insistent on experimental religion, and consist- ent in Christian living. When Mishawaka society passed through a critical crisis he tried hard to bring success out of apparent de- feat, and yielded to entire English services and to the relocation of the church property, although this was hard for him to aban- don the old place of worship so near to his home. He, however, died before the relocation took place. He served this society for some time as German class-leader. During his ministerial career he often contributed very interesting and timely theses to the Christliche Botschafter.
Seven years prior to his demise he suffered a long siege of illness from which he never fully recovered. In his suffering he would say, "The Lord's will be done." In the morning before his departure he called his friends and pastor, W. H. Tracy, and said, "He would soon go." That he had walked by faith, putting his foot- steps in those of his Master's." And then, looking up smilingly, said, "I am happy in Jesus. Oh, praise the Lord," and with a strong voice said to his friend, "Why do you weep? You ought to rejoice that I am soon to be relieved of my suffering." Then grasping the hand of his pastor, he said: "Oh, you praise the Lord. I am too weak." Soon after this he expired. Thus went this man of God into the great beyond to receive his reward. The funeral service was conducted in Mishawaka by his pastor, W. S. Tracy, in the old church, assisted by other brethren, and in Indianapolis by the pas- tor of our First Church, F. Rausch.
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JACOB TROMETER (1809-1895)
Bro. Trometer, having been a pioneer worker in the Master's vineyard in the southern part of Indiana and Illinois, laying a good foundation for Christ's cause, we deem it proper to accord him a place in this volume. His life was an eventful one. He was born in Von Zum Hof, Oberamt Welzheim, Wuerttemberg, Germany, June 12, 1809, and died June 27, 1895, at the home of his son near Hart, Oceana Co., Mich. He attended school at the place of his nativity. A good foundation of Bible knowledge was provi- dentially laid, on which his Christian life could thrive. Before he quit school "the Spirit of the Lord had been working powerfully with him." But, as in many other cases, when teachers and preach- ers of the Old State Church had no real Christian experience, so he, with others, having no one to guide him into the full light, made no experience of regeneration through faith in Christ.
After finishing school he learned the shoemaker trade, which work he followed until he entered the ministry. He immigrated to America in 1834 with a daughter two years old, and settled in Philadelphia, Pa. The journey was long and tedious, full of disappointments and sorrows, as his wife and one child died while crossing the ocean. From Philadelphia he moved to Ohio, where he was married again to Christina Koerner.
HIS CONVERSION
In 1836 he came under the influence of preaching by Rev. Hanky, a local preacher, and became enlightened as to the need of and way unto salvation, and was happily converted to God, and then at once joined the Evangelical Association. The joy of sal- vation was great; he could not keep it to himself, but felt con- strained to tell it to others what a dear Saviour he had found, and earnestly admonished them to seek for the same joy in Christ.
By the Spirit of God he was led to leave Ohio in 1841, and moved to Huntingburg, Dubois Co., Ind. At this time, he said, "this place was a wild wilderness, and the people were godless and had no regard for Sunday and for holy things." Here, as a local preacher, he found ample opportunity to labor for the Lord. He began preaching the pure Gospel on Sundays. The people came to hear him. He was the first preacher that preached in this community. His work was owned and blessed of God, to the conversion of many souls. The first fruit was F. Wiethaup, who, later, entered the ministry. A class of 20 members was organ- ized by him in 1843. He then sent a "Macedonian call" to C. Lint- ner and A. Nicolai at Mt. Carmel, Ill., then missionaries on Mt.
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Carmel Mission of the Ohio Conference of the Evangelical Asso- ciation. They came, inspected T.'s work and took up this place as a part of their work. The work prospered.
Bro. Trometer now concluded to enter the active ministry. Up to this time he had but a local Quarterly Conference license. At the Illinois Conference session, in 1845, he received a Conference license and was received into the itinerancy, and was assigned to Dubois Mission, now detached from Mt. Carmel. In 1846 he was sent to Mt. Carmel charge. In 1847 he had to locate due to bodily infirmities, and stayed out until 1857, when he resumed the active ministry. He served some of the largest fields in the Conference with tact and success, even though he was a crippled man, having but one leg. His deprivations were great, as one of his own re- lated. In these days it took heroic courage to be a true and faith- ful circuit rider. In 1862 the Indiana Conference, having great confidence in his faithfulness and ability to do pioneer work and organize classes, assigned him to Calhoun Mission in Michigan, which extended over five counties. In 1863 he was returned to this field with John Berger as assistant. His work was a great success. But during the second year his health again began to fail, and had to locate in the fall of 1864. This was the year when the Michigan Conference was formed and organized out of the fields of the Indiana Conference lying within the State of Michi- gan, and two appointments in north-eastern Indiana. He now moved on a small farm near Marshall, Michigan. Later into the city, where he again took up his shoemaker trade. In 1882 his wife died, leaving him alone and lonely. His children lived in three different States far from him. But, said he, "I was not forsaken of the Lord." His last 13 years he spent in Woodland, Mich. In all Father Trometer gave 13 years in active service, and upward of 40 years in the local capacity, which were, for the most part, active for God. His biographer, Rev. J. M. Fuchs, of the Michi- gan Conference, said his sermons were practical, unctuous and full of Bible truths. He had a peculiar faculty of impressing the truth upon the hearts of his hearers. He preached the Word as he believed it and experienced it himself. His property, to the amount of a few hundred dollars, he bequeathed to the Michigan Conference.
JACOB K. TROYER (1838-1905)
Brother Troyer began his earthly life in Holmes Co., Ohio, June 18, '38, and departed at Elkhart, Indiana, July 3, 1905, where his body is also interred. He was converted under the labors of
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John Kaufman at Zion class, Bunker Hill Circuit, in '65. He was licensed to preach, Sept., '67, was ordained deacon in '68, and as elder in '71. He served as special collector for the liquidation of the Conference church debt in '80. He was married to Mary Mil- ler, June 8th, '56, and was the father of eleven children, of whom six preceded him in death. L. S. Fisher officiated at the funeral, other brethren assisting.
The first seventeen years of his life were spent in the place of his birth, where the rural school privileges were enjoyed. In '55 his parents moved to Howard Co., Indiana, about 8 miles north-east of Kokomo. As yet this country was new and heavily timbered, and he was obliged to help in establishing a home for the family. The land was low and wet, but of the very best kind. The community was being largely settled by Amish-Mennonites, whose religious life was mostly form, ordinances and outward observances. Wor- ship was conducted among them in private homes, but experimental religion was a total stranger.
About '60 pioneer preachers of the Evangelical Association came into this community and preached experimental religion and conscious deliverance from sin. The Troyer family began to at- tend, and Jacob was the first to be convicted of the error of his way. But not until two of his children had been taken by death, and Rev. John Kaufman began preaching in their school-house, did he finally surrender himself to Christ. He had a severe struggle bringing his will in subjection to God's will, but at last Christ was victor. He now united with the Evangelical Association, which brought upon him considerable persecution from the old church. He was one of the charter members of the Zion class of the Waupecong Circuit.
HIS CALL TO PREACH AND WORK AS A MINISTER
Soon after his conversion the voice of God was heard, call- ing him to go forth as a messenger of the Light, to which voice he was obedient. He had been serving as class-leader, and in the summer of '67 was recommended to the Conference for license, which was duly granted him that same year. He was assigned as assistant to S. Kiplinger to the Kendallville Circuit in '67; Elk- hart Circuit, '68. During this year he, with his family, lived in one side of the four-roomed parsonage at Ott's settlement, D. S. Oakes, with his family, living on the other side. Each family had several children, and so, with their own hands, they added a kitchen apiece to the house. The quarters were crowded, but the sweetest of fellowship existed among them during their stay together. From '69 to '70 he served Montgomery Circuit, in and
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around Greenville. From '71-72, Newville, now Linn Grove. Here he had many conversions and accessions-with considerable trou- ble. From '73 to '75 he served Bremen Circuit, where many were saved, and in '76-77, Dayton, First Church; '78-79, he served Wabash Circuit; '80, was made special collector for Conference debt, in which he was partially successful. In '81 he located in Elkhart Co., Indiana, and engaged in garden trucking. Later on he moved to the city of Elkhart, where he continued until his demise.
Brother Troyer was a fearless preacher, and was not easily embarrassed, yet his self-confidence sometimes got him into the "brushes" when he tried to preach. His preaching was biblical, practical and frequently unctuous and persuasive. He often had the altars full of seekers, and was an effective soul-winner. He was of a social disposition, and was an earnest and faithful worker. In his later days he was a faithful and honored member of the Division Street Church at Elkhart, and labored hard for the merger of Division Street and Watchtower Churches. He was one of the very first to advocate the merger, but was called home to rest before the merger could take place.
PRESENTED TO CONFERENCE AS A MEMORIAL, BY D. S. OAKES
Jacob K. Troyer, my genial, blithesome, Faithful brother, colleague, friend! Is it not meet that I should place A wreath of roses on his tomb? Once so alive and now so dead, And, yet, though he be dead to us (Save in our thoughts and memories), He liveth still for evermore. Though of Helvetian parentage, He 'midst Ohio's hills and glades was born, Near where the turbid waters of the Tuscarawas River roll, he first beheld The light of day.
In early years the family came
To Indiana's bounds, and settled down In Howard County's fertile fields. Reared in the Amish Church, he to her Tenets held with firm tenacity, until In 1865 he came to better life, And through ministrations of Our veteran Kaufman he was led
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Into the fold of Christ and fellowship with us. In 1867 he joined our ministerial ranks; He labored hard and faithful, well, For fourteen years, and then retired. Sanguine in disposition, with pun and wit, And, over all, a kind and loving heart, He carried sunshine where'er he went. But now, alas !
.
Its luster his sparkling eye has lost ; His ready tongue has ceased to speak ;
His throbbing heart has ceased to beat; But, we believe, with eye that never dims, He sees; with tongue that never falters He proclaims the praise of Him by whom He was redeemed.
With heart made pure in Jesus' blood, In garments all immaculate, He, with the multitude untold,
Who through great tribulations have gone up Before the throne, now strikes glad harp, And joins, in joyous harmony, to swell
The song that makes heaven's vaults reverberate,
The song of Moses and the Lamb.
CHRISTIAN UDE (1835-1898)
Bro. Ude was born in Helmsherode, Braunschweig, Germany, April 4, 1835, and died in peace Oct. 16, 1898, in Michigan. The funeral was conducted by Rev. H. Welker. He was reared a Luth- eran. In 1845 his parents came to America and settled in Vander- burgh Co., Ind., near Evansville, Ind. In 1852 he came under the influence of the true Gospel preached by Peter Burgener, and was converted to God and united with the Evangelical Association.
In 1856 he was providentially led to Carmi, Ill., where he fol- lowed his vocation. At this time there were no members of our church at this place, but our preachers began coming in and laid the foundation for our future work. Soon people were converted and united with the Evangelical Association and were organized into a class. He was elected as first class-leader and soon showed unusual fitness for the office. The work of the Lord prospered in his hands. He had a deep desire in his heart to save souls. He was clearly convinced of his divine call to the ministry. He gave up his work and consecrated himself for service in Christ's vineyard.
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Having received his recommendation, he was licensed by the Indiana Conference in Sept., 1857. He was then sent to DeKalb Mission. From now on he wholly devoted his life to the Lord, serv- ing 38 years in the active ranks of the ministry, and, afterwards 31/2 years in the local relation. He served seven years in the Indiana Conference. When the Michigan Conference was organized in Sept., 1864, Ude became a charter member of said Conference and remained an honored member of it until he was called from labor to reward.
On Jan. 8, 1861, he was married to Christina Miller of Wood- land, Michigan. From this union issued nine children, of whom five died in infancy. He suffered the loss of his wife Dec. 2, 1875. He was married a second time to Maria Eilber; to them were born seven children ; one died in infancy.
It was said of him "that he was a kind husband and an af- fectionate and indulgent father, who governed his domestic af- fairs. That he was an able minister and led many souls to Christ." Five years previous to his death his health gave way. In 1897 he retired from active service. The obsequies were conducted by H. Voelker of the Michigan Conference.
BERNHART UPHAUS (1824-1901)
Synopsis : Born in Schalle, Oberamt Tecklenburg, Westphalen, Prussia, Aug. 4, 1824. Died Oct. 18, 1901. Buried at Emmets- ville Church Cemetery. Converted near Chicago, Jan., '46. United with the Evangelical Church. Licensed to preach, May, '48, by the Illinois Conference. Ordained as deacon, '50; elder, '52. Mar- ried to Mary K. Mayer, sister to Melchior Mayer, May 4th, '54. Father of two sons and five daughters. Survived by two sons and two daughters.
His father died when Bernhart was hardly two years old, and his mother, who was a Berkemeyer, broke up housekeeping in or- der to better provide for her children. At the age of 40 she died, and Bernhart was left in the care of his uncle. His sister was reared by another uncle, and this separation, he said, "greatly grieved me, but we were not forsaken, for God led our pilgrimage."
Brother Uphaus' father was reared and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. His mother was catechized and confirmed in the Reformed Church. Her instructions had a blessed effect upon her son's early life, enabling him to realize clearly his need of a personal Saviour. He understood that he could have a definite
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and conscious salvation from sin, and he diligently searched God's Word for it. He often went into secret prayer in order that he might experience, what he believed could be attained, but did not come to the point of definite assurance of salvation while in the old country. During all this he affirmed, "The merciful and saving love of God did not depart from me, but followed me continually. God's eye watched over me, and his hand led me, his goodness accompanied me through my young life."
HIS IMMIGRATION TO AMERICA AND CONVERSION
In 1845 he came to America, arriving at New York, July 4th, and two weeks later he reached Chicago, the entire journey last- ing nine weeks. He said, "God was with me on the way." In Chicago he was met by his uncle Gerhart Miller, who took him to his country home, on the Esher settlement. They were mem- bers of the Evangelical Association, and on Sundays he went to church with them. Chr. Kopp was the pastor. During the week he attended the prayer-meetings which were held in the homes, and it was thus that he came under the Gospel as preached by the Evangelical Association. He determined to seek salvation at once, and in Jan., '46, found peace to his soul. A wonderful quiet filled his soul, and he could truly say, "Ich habe nun den Grund gefun- den, der meinen Anker ewig hält."
During '46-47 he came to a very important epoch in his life. Up to this time he worked on a farm, attending prayer-meeting regularly. Bishop John Seybert came and preached a sermon on 1 Pet. 2: 9. His theme was "Entire sanctification, and uncondi- tional surrender to God of soul, body and spirit, and all earthly store, to experience a higher degree of grace." Uphaus received the entire sermon and prayed and searched for more light. Hope- fully he laid aside all unnecessary things, and took a new interest in all public services. With this consecration he experienced a very special blessing and now strove to wholly live for God. Soon after this he again heard the Bishop preach on Jer. 45: 25. His sermon greatly strengthened and firmly established him, his soul overflowed with joy, and as God led him further, he meekly fol- lowed. Here and there he began to exhort, the Holy Ghost lead- ing him in thought and word.
HIS CALL TO THE MINISTRY
Presently his class recognized his divine call as well as he, and gladly recommended him to preach. He was licensed in 1848, and he was sent with S. Dickover to the extensive Elkhart Cir-
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cuit, with appointments 25-30 miles apart, requiring 300 miles traveling on one round. They traveled entirely on horseback, which was tedious and hard, both on man and beast. In one year Uphaus had four horses. He said, "The first got lame, the second had a leader cut in a hind foot, the third became stiff, and the fourth endured to the end of the first year." Yet he had courage and faith, and God always helped. Victory followed in the wake of his labors, and souls were converted. In '49 he was returned with G. G. Platz as Presiding Elder. In '50 he was sent to Dubois Circuit with Fr. Wiethaup as colleague. These were years of blessing. In '51 he was sent to St. Mary's Circuit with Peter Burgener. This field embraced a territory from Williams Co., O., south of Celina, O., and to Jay Co., Ind., thence into Adams and Wells Cos., and on up to Lima, Ind. He reports, "That in Wells Co., at Gottschalks or Sullens, he preached on a Sunday in a barn of Mr. Sauers, who owned the farm on which the Salem Church now stands. Before preaching Sauer informed him that he could not allow him to preach any more on his place. After preaching Uphaus asked "if any one was present who would open his house for some preaching." A Mr. Krepp, 1/2 mile east of the present Salem Church, offered his place. Here was the beginning of the old Newville, now Linn Grove Circuit, work.
In '52 Uphaus became a charter member of the Indiana Con- ference. He remained 28 years in active work in this Conference, when, by illness of his wife, he was compelled to locate. He served the following fields in the Indiana Conference: '52-3, Marshall Circuit ; '53-4, Dubois Circuit; '54-5, Fulton Circuit; '55-6, Ber- rien ; '56-7, DeKalb; '57-9, Newville; '59-61, St. Mary's; '61-3, De- fiance Mission; '63-4, Fulton again; '64-6, Yellow River; '66-8, Waupecong (now Bunker Hill) ; '68-70, Greenville; '70-1, Celina ; '71-4, Warrenton (now Elberfeld) ; '74-5, W. Salem; '75-6, Green- ville again, when he located.
Uphaus was naturally of a quiet, timid and reserved disposi- tion. He was very conscientious in his dealings with his fellow- men. When he felt called to preach he cheerfully yielded. His humble nature made him keenly sensible of his unworthiness and inability to preach without divine help. He felt the grave respon- sibility of the Gospel ministry, but he bravely took up the work amidst the numerous hardships which he encountered in the fron- tier life. He had a unique delivery, beginning slowly and thought- fully, working the tips of the fingers of his right hand in a semi- circular motion in the palm of his left hand, until he was well started, then, catching the inspiration, he would suddenly burst
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forth with a loud and thrilling tone on a few significant words, then he would come down again, as if to get a new inspiring thought.
His preaching, though sometimes somewhat tedious, was gen- erally unctuous and effective. He was a staunch Christian. To know him was to love him. In his old age his presence in divine service was an inspiration to his pastor and people. He never missed a service unless unavoidable. His kindly and fatherly admonitions came as a benediction. He was a true pillar in the church. His usual posture, while listening to the sermon, was that of leaning forward with bowed head. When the sermon be- came warm and interesting he would straighten up, look directly at the preacher, taking, as it were, the words from his lips as fast as they were spoken.
It was reported of him that at one time he rode to a house to make a pastoral visit. He dismounted, tied the horse to a post and approached the house. Looking at the door he saw a number of women quilting and talking. He excused himself, retreated hastily, mounted his horse and ordered it to go on. The horse could not go, for it was tied. He nervously dismounted to loosen his horse, to the great amusement of the women, and to his great embarrassment.
The brethren J. J. Wise, F. L. Snyder, M. W. Sunderman and J. Wetzel of a sister Church assisted C. W. Spangler, pastor, in the funeral service.
ANSON VAN CAMP (1860-1909)
Anson was born in Allen Co., Ind., Feb. 13th, '60, where he grew to manhood, having received a common school education. He was brought under the power of the Gospel by the labors of J. E. Stoops, while pastor at Decatur, in '86, and was converted and united with the Church of the Evangelical Association. By trade he was a millwright and owned a grist-mill in Decatur, and also, later on, was proprietor of a foundry.
In the church he was active, filling the office of Sunday-school superintendent, class-leader and trustee, and was adapted to lead- ership in the church. In '97 he was licensed by the Indiana Con- ference as a probationer; however, he never took up the active work, preaching only occasionally in his home church. His de- parture took place at Decatur, 1909, where his body also is in- terred.
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GEORGE W. WALES (1844-1870)
As the youngest son of a local preacher, a George Wales, George, Jr., was born October 24th, 1844, in Sandusky Co., Ohio. With his parents he came to Fulton Co., Indiana, in 1848. His parents being Evangelicals, gave him a careful training according to our belief, and at the age of thirteen was converted, united with the church, and earnestly endeavored to live a godly life.
He felt and recognized the call of God to preach, and with this conviction went to the Indiana Conference session, held in Dayton, O., Sept., 1867, when he was licensed as preacher on probation, and, with P. Roth, was assigned to Greenville Cir- cuit. In 1868 he was assigned with A. Parker to DeKalb Circuit, and in 1869 to E. Germantown. Immediately after this Confer- ence session he was married to Mary A. Ackerman, and then went with her upon his new field.
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