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 28
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Soon after this he was overtaken with a severe malady and became very weak, but convalesced sufficiently to resume his work. But the latter part of Jan., 1870, he became so seriously affected that he was necessitated to resign his work. With his wife he came to Kendallville to his father-in-law, where he rapidly de- clined, and died March 10 in great peace. He had a desire to be restored, but when the doctor told him he could not survive he was not afraid, but desired to go home to God. Sunday, the 13th, his funeral service was held by Jos. Fisher. Text, Isa. 60: 20. He was survived by his young wife, mother, brothers and sisters.
WILLIAM WESSELER (1813-1894)
The subject of this sketch was born in Osnabrueck, Hanover, Germany, March 1st, 1813. He obtained catechetical and biblical instruction in the Lutheran Church. A good foundation was thus laid for a religious life, and he was duly confirmed and received into the church. In '35 he came to America, settling first in Bal- timore, Md., where he formed the acquaintance of Katherin E. Ottig, whom he also married. Eighteen months later they moved to Louisville, Ky., where he remained a short time, afterward mov- ing to Huntingburg, Indiana, upon land purchased from the Gov- ernment.
HIS CONVERSION
Rev. Jacob Trometer, having moved to this place from Ohio in '41, began to preach the Gospel, and a wonderful work of grace
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broke out as a result. Brother Wesseler was among the early set- tlers that came under his preaching, was converted and united with the Evangelical Association. He became one of the charter members of the Huntingburg Church, and at the Semi-centennial Jubilee of the society he was present and participated in the festiv- ities. He, with Rev. F. Wiethaup, Father Elendorf and Mother Koch, were the only remaining charter members.
HIS CALL TO PREACH AND HIS MINISTRY
Soon after his conversion the call of God to preach was dis- tinctly heard. He yielded to the call and found great joy in pro- claiming the Gospel message to his fellow-men. He was duly rec- ommended by the Huntingburg society and licensed by the Indiana Conference to preach. He received his license in '55, and was at the same time received into the itinerancy, and gave 13 years to the active work. He served the following fields of labor: '55, Du- bois Circuit; '56, Warrenton; '57-58, Clay Co. Mission; '59-60, Carmi Circuit; '61-62, Olney; '63-64, Vandalia; '65-66, Hunting- burg; '67-68, Cumberland. In Sept., '69, he located, his wife hav- ing died during the year. He was ordained deacon, Sept., '56, and elder, '59.
HIS END
In '81 he moved to Olney, Ill., where he was married a second time to Margaret Bower. In '90 she died also. Then he removed to Evansville, Indiana, to spend his remaining days with his chil- dren. A restful and peaceful home was afforded him by his chil- dren, Christophel and Henry, who cared for him until his end. Following a sunstroke, he became helpless and needed constant at- tention until his release, which came May 6th, '94. Five sons and one daughter survived him. His pastor, Rev. B. Schuermeier, had charge of the funeral, while J. M. Haug, his Presiding Elder, preached the sermon. His text was Luke 2: 29-31.
Brother Wesseler was a highly respected citizen and a loyal member of the church. As a preacher "he was successful, and had special gifts in working with penitent souls. Many downcast pen- itents were lifted by him to hopefulness, and were led to the foun- tain of divine grace and forgiveness. His preaching was instruc- tive and unctuous. He had the ability to illustrate his sermons with parables and object-lessons from nature. He also had the gift of song, which proved a great asset to his work in revival meetings."
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He endured some sore trials. At one time, when appointed to a new charge, he refused to go, and allowed himself utterances concerning the stationing committee that were unbecoming, and for which he was censured. He also endured physical hardships, such as were common to pioneer workers. On one of his itine- raries he was violently thrown from his buggy, which resulted in a life-long injury. At another time, while serving Camp Creek Circuit, he got lost on the prairie during a severe snow-storm, and came very nearly being frozen to death before he found his desti- nation.
FREDERICK WIETHAUP (1813-1897)
Synopsis: Born in Brauerschaft, Krefinghausen, Hanover, Germany, Dec. 15, 1813. Died in Huntingburg, Ind., Feb. 26, 1897. Buried in Huntingburg Cemetery. Converted Nov. 7, 1842. Licensed by Huntingburg Quarterly Conference, Aug., 1846. Re- ceived by Illinois Conference at its next session. Ordained as dea- con in 1849, and as elder in 1851. Married in 1853 to Mrs. Schroe- der, a widow, who preceded him in death.
He was reared and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, receiving along with his general education catechetical instruction. In '37, at the age of 24 years, he came to America, and located in Louis- ville, Ky. In '38 he moved into the wilds near Huntingburg, Ind., where he worked among the farmers, until he entered the active ministry in the Evangelical Association.
HIS CONVERSION
In the spring of '41, Rev. Jacob Trometer, a local preacher, possessed of a great passion for souls, moved into this neighbor- hood from Ohio to look after the spiritual welfare of the people. He was the only minister in this new country. The people had almost totally drifted into Sabbath desecration, and were in sore need of the Gospel. Doors were soon opened to him, and the peo- ple came to hear him who preached in the power of the Holy Ghost. They were awakened and saw the error of their ways and were led to deep repentance and unto salvation. Bro. Wiethaup was the first convert. He said, "I became enlightened and fully realized my sinfulness, and began searching the Scripture for the 'truth.'" Soon he was gloriously converted and experienced what is meant by "being born again." This, then, was the beginning of our work in and around Huntingburg.
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In '43 the Ohio Conference, having heard of the work done here under Trometer, sent Chr. Lintner and A. Nicolai as mission- aries. Upon their arrival the members were organized into a class. Wiethaup was one of the charter members.
HIS CALL TO PREACH, AND MINISTRY
He at once took an active interest in the class and her spir- itual development. The cause of immortal souls was heavily laid upon his heart, and he more clearly recognized the call of God to go forth as a preacher of the Gospel. The class-members also be- came convinced of this fact and, therefore, recommended him as a suitable person to preach. He did not apply for active work at once, but in Nov., '46, A. B. Schafer, P. E., appointed him to Mt. Carmel Circuit in Illinois to aid the preacher-in-charge.
He proved himself a worthy servant. In June, '47, in com- pany with Phil. Bretsch, he attended the Illinois Conference ses- sion, held in Naperville, Ill. Here he was taken into the itine- rancy and assigned to Elkhart Circuit, with G. G. Platz as Pre- siding Elder. In reference to this appointment he said, "It was a pleasure to be a traveling minister, with over 30 appointments in 12 counties." Only a full consecration to God for service and a constraining love for souls could bring pleasure into such ardu- ous pioneer work. He also said, "The Lord was with us and gave us now and then great success."
Wiethaup was a successful frontier worker. He was a master of the Scripture, almost knowing the Bible by heart. He had a splendid memory and could quote Scripture as but few could. He could beautify his sermons and make them more effective by re- citing poetry very appropriately. His sermons consisted largely of Scriptural citations and poetry so aptly and logically put to- gether, that deep and pungent conviction seized and led sinners to repentance and salvation, and greatly strengthened the believers. It was said of him "that his equal in memorizing and quoting Scriptures correctly was scarcely to be found in the church. He was a man full of faith, courage, perseverance and of the Holy Ghost. The committee on memorials said of him, "He was a man of unwavering fidelity and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, always at his post and ready for work."
He served the following fields: In the Illinois Conference : Mt. Carmel, '46-7; Elkhart Circuit, '47-8; St. Mary's Mission, '48-9; DeKalb Circuit, '49-50; Dubois Circuit, 50-2. In the In- diana Conference: Mt. Carmel, '52-3; Evansville, '53-5; Newville, '55-7; Fulton, '57-8; Yellow River, '58-60; E. Germantown, '60-1;
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Dayton Station, '61-3; Huntingburg, '63-5; Warrenton, '65-7; In- dianapolis, '67-8; Evansville again, '68-70; Huntingburg again, '70-2. He now located, due to impaired health. But in '76 he took up work again in the new South Indiana Conference, and was as- signed to Rockport, which he served 11/2 years, and Huntingburg again for 1/2 year.
Having no heirs, he remembered the church in his will, be- queathing $600 to the General Missionary Society ; $100 to benevo- lent work ; $100 for a new church in Huntingburg, Ind., and the rest, after all expenses were paid, was to be given to the mission work in Germany and Japan. He died peacefully. H. Schleucher, pastor, and C. F. Hansing, P. E., officiated at his funeral.
SOLOMON WILDERMUTH (1820-1897)
Father Wildermuth was born in Fairfield Co., O., Dec., 1820, and died Sept. 12, 1897, in Fulton Co., Ind., and his body was in- terred in the Salem Cemetery in the southern part of the county. In 1843 he was married to Emily Miller, with whom he lived over 50 years. In 1864 they moved to Fulton Co., Ind., on a farm, about 12 miles south of Rochester.
At the age of 19 years Solomon came under the special in- fluence of the Gospel of Christ in a Methodist meeting, and was gloriously converted. He then united with the Evangelical Asso- ciation, and remained a true, loyal and faithful member of it for over 57 years. He led a pious and devoted Christian life, always letting his light shine at home and abroad for Christ, everywhere exerting a strong and helpful influence.
Recognizing and heeding the divine call to preach, he was rec- ommended by his class in Fairfield Co., Ohio, to the Ohio Confer- ence of 1859 for license, which the Conference granted him. He never entered the active ministry, yet he was engaged as a local preacher until his eyesight became defective. When he preached he did so with zeal and unction and general satisfaction. It was said of him "that he was a faithful attendant at public serv- ices as often as it was possible. His presence was a source of in- spiration to pastor and people. He had a patriarchal bearing, and was often called "the Bishop" among the local preachers. His prayers and exhortations were attended with power.
On the Sunday morning of his death, while out on the veranda, being ready for Sunday-school, he conversed on religion with his son-in-law, Rev. Bernetty. "He had just expressed himself, in his
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decisive manner, upon the prime and essential duty of Christians to exert a right influence, and to let their lights shine at home." He said "when this was well done it would be more effectual than profuse professions of great attainments, and such could then with grace go out into the world and commend the salvation of God to the world." After a short silence he began to lean back as if to rest, when his spirit took its flight. He often had expressed him- self as being ready to die whenever it was the Lord's will. He was a man of rich experiences and clear and decided convictions.
He was survived by his wife, one brother, four sons, one of whom is William, a minister of the Indiana Conference, and four daughters. Three daughters preceded him in death. D. S. Oakes conducted the funeral and preached the sermon, assisted by Revs. Wales, Metzner and Bernetty.
CHRISTIAN WESSLING (1827-1909)
Rev. John Henry Gottlieb Christian Wessling was born in Ku- tenhausen, Province Westphalen, Germany, July 23, 1827. His father's name was Frederick, and his mother's maiden name, Mary Elizabeth Wiese, of Hallen. Christian, as he was commonly called, was the oldest child. Of his boyhood days he says, "I was very wild, so mischievous that I often was whipped by mother and in school, not for indolence, but for foolish doings." He had to, at first, be driven to school ; learning went very hard, but after awhile became easy, and school life was a delight. His father taught him Sundays to read and work problems. At eleven years he often stood at the head of 300 scholars. He memorized easily. At twelve years he attended a newly established school near home, where he continued to lead his classes. He also received catechetical instruc- tion in Minden, in the Marier society, and on Easter, 1842, he was confirmed with seventy-one others. Rev. Mensing gave him as a remembrance thought, "Through your lifetime keep God before your eyes and in your heart; watch, that you may not consent to any sin, nor transgress any of God's commands."
His parents were farmers. At the age of eleven C. had to work on the farm. His father died in 1842, leaving the work of farming largely to him. His father purposed to educate him for a school teacher, but, owing to his lingering illness and death, the plan failed. Owing to his illness and other expenses, the small farm became encumbered and, moreover, young Christian, becom- ing afraid of having to become pious in order to become a school
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teacher, refrained from fitting himself for this work. Mother rented the land, and, to his delight, hired him to a farmer for one year. After his mother's remarriage he returned home, but left again in the fall of 1843 for Brake, at Dortmus, ninety miles away, and hired out to Geo. Bier. Eighteen months later he returned home to learn the carpenter trade, but his mother objected, owing to his youthfulness, and to the fact that his father ruined his health at this trade. He then became hod-carrier, and the fol- lowing spring an apprentice in stone-cutting, at which he con- tinued one year at 12 cents per day. There being an abundance of work on the Koelner-Mindener Railroad, he worked for this company for three shillings per day. He was now twenty-one years old. Incessant work week days and Sundays made him very sick, that on a Monday he thought he would die. To his sickness was added the anxiety for his soul, believing he would be lost if he should die. He prayed God to spare his life, but toward evening the fear of death reaching its zenith, he vowed to God, if he would spare his life, he would do better. That night he dreamed he was dying ; he felt death begin on his big toes and creep up higher and higher until he felt himself dead. After death he saw himself clad in white, within a big building with a long hallway, in which he walked to a place where, on his right, a door stood ajar about four inches. Inside was a large room with an inconceivablelorious, golden chandelier; but he could not enter. Depressed, he came back, and came to a wide open door, and leaned on the left door- post. The floor of the room, to which this door entered, was six or seven feet below where he stood. The room was thronged with people, encircled with flames of fire, with Satan between them with a big fork mixing up people and fire. Astonished he stood for a good while, looking on this awful scene, then decided to go home and tell his people to repent that they would not come into this place of woe. Arriving at home he met his mother and a neigh- bor woman in the yard, and began narrating his experience, ex- horting them to turn to the Lord that they might escape this ter- rifying place. While telling his experience he awoke from his dream.
Though it was but a dream, it made such a deep impression on his mind that he was constantly disturbed within. His sickness was now under control; he quickly recovered. From now on he prayed daily before sleeping, but lacked strength to sever his con- nection with frivolous men. Evenings he vowed to do better the next day, only to repeat his previous day's sinning. Amidst the worldly pleasures a voice within said : "You, you, what are you do-
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ing again?" This continued until the beginning of February, 1848, when he, with other young men, went to a spinning party to escort the young ladies home. But at 7:30 P. M. the party re- sorted to the threshing floor for a dance, in which he also in- dulged. This occurrence made a deep negative impression on him. He withdrew, seated himself in a dark place of a room, and again a voice said : "What kind of a fool are you? You should know that you need a change of life. You promised your life to God, and here you bring terrible self-accusation upon yourself." A fearful re- bellion arose in him, but he now resolved to become a new man, to disassociate with the ungodly and mingle with the pious. Present- ly the dancers came in where he was. He told them his resolve, saying that they all ought to be ashamed of their doings, and that this was the last time that he would be with them, but they only laughed him to scorn.
Monday, on the way to his work, he saw the stone-cutter, Mr. Krumme, a pious man, whom Wessling previously avoided on ac- count of his piety, but this morning he waited when he saw Mr. Krumme coming towards him. After the usual salutation, Wess- ling was asked by Krumme if he was not willing to be converted. This question smote him deeply; he could not answer. Krumme repeated the question with greater effect, and again a third time, after which W. earnestly answered, "Yes!" Mr. Krumme then told him to pray. From then on Wessling associated with the be- lievers, visited their meetings, made it his rule to kneel and pray before retiring and after rising. In the two and one-half years that he was yet at home he never neglected this duty. He ex- pected God to answer at once and give him a new heart, but the more he prayed the heavier became the load of sin, often almost unbearable. One evening he visited, on the way home from work with Krumme, a sick sister. After arriving at home he found that his parents had retired for the night. Mother had placed his supper on the table for him. He sat down, and, as usual, wanted to pray, when a voice said to him, "You need not pray now, as no one sees you." A great struggle began; his hair seemed to stand on end; the house seemed full of evil spirits, but he prayed. He firmly believed if he had yielded to the voice he would have been crippled in his conversion.
Soon after this he was urged by former society members to meet with them at a specified place to indulge in drinking, eating and smoking. He told them that he served the devil long enough ; "if you want to serve him you can." A few days later a counsel was held; the society resolved that he must pay fifty cents' fine
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and take back his insinuation that they served the devil. He told them if they can prove the contrary with what they do, he would pay his fine. They then expelled him from their society and re- fused to aid him in work. When he left them a voice said to him, "You renounced the devil, the world cast you out, and God has not accepted you, and you are now rejected by everybody." This cost him a great conflict. He became for a while unconscious of himself, but when consciousness returned he was determined, even though God would not accept him, not to serve the devil. Then followed a blessed joy in his heart, and he said, "If I had under- stood it, this would have been the moment of my acceptance." He continued praying. On the last Thursday morning in February, 1848, the matter became very serious; he often knelt, even on the way to work. The last time he wrestled long with God, when he arose something said, "There is no grace for you." Then tears of sorrow and suffering flowed down his cheeks, and, looking in the spirit to the cross, he said, "No one is excluded from grace; why, then, should I be excluded?" Suddenly came a mighty stream of joy, with joyous weeping, and burden gone, and sweet peace in the soul. Ten days later he heard a sermon read on the charac- teristics of a true faith. This reconvinced him that he was born again, and was now God's child, and that ten days previous his sins were pardoned. Such a joy came over him that for awhile he was not conscious of self. This was the witness of the Holy Spirit.
HIS CALL TO THE GOSPEL MINISTRY
Soon after his conversion he had a vision of the moral con- dition of the people of his homeland. Suddenly came an inner voice, "Go and preach to them." He was frightened and thought the voice was of the devil. He could not believe it possible that a poor, uneducated stone-cutter should preach when there were edu- cated and pious pastors. He asked God to deliver him of this de- lusion, but the thought re-echoed in him, "You go and preach to them." He kept praying for deliverance, fearing he might be- come proud, but the more he prayed the mightier the call to preach. On a Saturday afternoon, when he and Krumme parted for home, Krumme said to Wessling, "I have something important to tell you. There are so few that work for the conversion of the world that I believe it is God's will that you should yield yourself for missionary work." Wessling felt hit as by lightning and deeply thought the matter over, then concluded that these thoughts might not be of the devil after all. When he got home his parents were in the harvest field. Having the house alone, he locked the door,
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entered a room upstairs, with the thought not to arise from his knees until God answered whether this impression was from him or of the devil. He renewed his consecration to God, prayed long, finally arose, walked to and fro, considered the struggles and temp- tations he had already passed through, and wondered if he must continue in uncertainties. Again he fell on his knees, a second and then a third time, until suddenly a mighty conviction seized him that the Lord really wanted him to preach. The words of Jeremiah came to him, chapter 1: 6, 7. He now felt right.
What to do next he knew not. He counseled with his friend Krumme, then he went to see his enlightened, if not converted pastor, and told him his experience. He befriended Wessling and applied for him to the Rheine Missionary Society, and later ar- ranged to have Wessling come to him one hour at noon each day for Scriptural instruction. This continued for some time without his parents' knowledge, until they found out through other people. One day his mother wept, saying, "You want to leave me and go into the heathen world; God grant me to die before you go," upon which he tried to comfort her. He had to write a sketch of his life to the missionary society, and all was ready in the fall of 1850 for him to be received into the society for training.
At this time war threatened to break out between Austria and Prussia. He had to enlist as a soldier and was sworn in August 18, 1850. At this time his mother took sick and soon died in peace. About eighteen months after his conversion he discovered a moral weakness (anger), caused by the breaking of a stone when nearly done. He felt the need of more grace, and complete deliverance from worldly affections. He watched over his tendencies, thoughts, desires, feelings and wished to be entirely sanctified. He could not tell just when it was done, but he knew he possessed perfect love.
On the day he was sworn in as a soldier he was encamped with others in the Weingarden of Minden. Most of the soldiers were drunk. At bedtime a voice said, "Kneel at the bed and pray." "No," said another voice, "that would be casting pearls before swine; go down into the yard, where a small house stands, where- in you can pray." To this idea he yielded, tried to pray, but failed. This was the beginning of his first backsliding, though he yet prayed every day. He soon became a leader in jests. Two years and a half had now been spent in army life. He belonged to the first battalion of the National Police recruits, and marched over Herford, Dekenold, etc., then returned, encamping in Bielefeld. Here religious meetings were held in tents which he attended, and
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evidently renewed his covenant with God. Going back to Minden he took seriously sick, remaining so for some time in a hospital, "Lazereth." When he had recovered he was, over his protest, compelled to learn drumming, but never became expert in it. In the spring of 1851, at Muenster, he became a part of the 4th com- pany. Here he attended Y. M. C. A. meetings. As he had no place where he could be alone, he often went into the Catholic cathedral to pray. The Lord helped him through wonderfully. The recruits were drilled by a sergeant who was a drunkard. His associates often treated their officers, but Wessling renounced all strong drink and would not, by treating, seek favors from the offi- cer, if he could not get them by good conduct. The officer soon found that in Wessling he had no pet, and began to oppose him in many ways and abuse him. One day, after having been insulted by him, Wessling's anger was aroused. The thought came to bay- onet the officer. He took the weapon from off his shoulder, when a voice said to him, "Do you not know whose spiritual child you are?" He just had time and grace enough left to avoid murder.
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