Historical data and life sketches of the deceased ministers of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association, 1835 to 1915, Volume I, Part 9

Author: Evangelical Church. Indiana Conference; Baumgartner, Samuel H; Haist, A. B
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : Indiana Conference
Number of Pages: 412


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 9


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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


10 30


S


.


23


31 1857 1859


Baumgartner, C. C. . Feb.


2, 1842, Switzerland.


Sept.


3, 1902, Elkhart, Ind.


20


1


8


29 32 1876 1878 1866 1868 11/2 ++ . . ..


Bockman, Wm.


.. Jan.


Germany.


Aug. 2, 1890,


1852


14 27


1


....


41 1855|1857


Bolander, E.


Condo, J. M.


Jan.


7, 1845, Wayne County, Ind.


Mar.


23, 1870, Greeneastle.


Carmi, Illinois. Naperville, Il1. Bremen, Indiana. Big Creek, Ill.


1859


Indiana


*Fisher, Jos.


May


27, 1821, York County, Pa.


11, 1843, Wooster, Ohio


Oct. 1, 1910,


Dayton, Ohio.


1871


Indiana


8


Indiana


· ..


*Glaus, Chris. .


June


11, 1818,


May


8, 1833, Germany.


1871,


1 20


1885 1887


Indiana 12


Indiana Michigan


West C. Indiana


.


.


.


2


138


1867 1869


Alspach, Mich.


Jan. 13, 1840, East Germantown, Ind. Dee.


14, 1903, Elkhart, Indiana.


Kendallville, Ind. Elkhart, Indiana. 1865


8


17, 1841, Bremen, Indiana.


Beverly, S. E. .


17, 1814, 4, 1850,


Pennsylvania.


1/2


29


1871


1866


1836


Logansport, Ind. Roek Run, 111. Dayton, Ohio.


39 1874 1876


10 6 32 1845 1847 1895 1907


Switzerland.


Salem, Elk. Co. Marion, Ohio.


Noblesville. Ind. 1865 Indianapolis, Ind. Elkhart, Indiana. Olney, Illinois.


in Indiana Conf.


in Indiana Conf.


171% 1880 1882


39 1852 1854


TABLET OF OUR DECEASED MINISTERS-Continued.


Name.


Date and Place of Birth.


Time and Place of Death.


Burial-place.


When Licensed.


By which Conference.


Years in Active Service


Years in Local Service


Years in Service in


Other Conferences.


Total Years in Service.


When Ordained Deacon.


When Ordained Elder.


lIertel, G. A.


May 27, 1821, Germany.


July


12. 1873, Elkhart, Indiana.


Van Wert, Ohio. ,1859


Indiana


14


14


1861|1864


Hochstedtler


Mar. 17, 1840, lloImes County, Ohio.


lune


13, 1914, Rochester, Ind.


Rochester, Indiana. 1870


Indiana


1884


Indiana


5


5


1886 1889


Holdeman, G. B. . . Sept.


4, 1847, Wayne County, Ohio. April


Ang.


17. 1884. Royal Center, Ind. R. C'enter, Ind.


1860


Indiana


Iloffman, Fr.


.


Oct. 3, 1822. Germany.


Feb.


8. 1909.


Huntington, Ind.


1872


Indiana


37


10 21


1879 1881


Iwan, August ...


Aug. 15, 1840, Prussia, Germany.


Aug.


13, 1897,


Galveston, Tex.


Huntington, Ind. Galveston, Texas. Wanatah, Indiana. 1867 Elkhart. Indiana.


1876


Indiana


11


.


2


12


14


.


.


..


Dec. 31, 1824, Reamstown, Pa.


Feb.


8. 1909, Naperville, Ill.


Naperville, Ill.


1849


Illinois


11


18


59


1851 |1853


Kiplinger, J.


April 30, 1801, Pennsylvania.


Nov.


5. 1878,


Fulton, Indiana.


Salem, F. Ind.


1856


Indiana


5


6


23


34


1866 1868


Kiplinger, S.


Aug.


26, 1839, Wayne County, Ohio.


June


8, 1895, Creston, Iowa.


('reston, łowa.


1861


Indiana


19


9


28


1860 1862


Klaiber, M.


Aug. 13, 1831, Hausen, Germany.


Oet.


14, 1885,


Denver, Colorado.


Denver, Colorado. Oakland, Indiana. Cincinnati, Ohio.


1841


Ohio Minnesota


.


...


27


35


.


9


39


1871|1873


Koenig, Wm.


April 24, 1836,


Germany.


Oet.


15, 1909,


Bremen, Indiana.


Greenville, Ohio. 1869


1850


W. Pa.


8


35


43


1852|1854


Kring, Sam. B.


May


8, 1833,


Johnstown, Pa.


July


22, 1896, Carmi, Illinois.


C'armi, Illinois.


1853


Indiana


23


4


26


53


1855 1857


Kronmiller, J.


Mar.


15. 1817,


Germany.


Aug.


9, 1862,


Holly Springs.


1861


Indiana


1


· 16


36


1868 1870


Launer, Fred


Jan.


1, 1831, Germany.


Sept.


17, 1864,


Atlanta, Georgia. C'armi, Illinois.


Carmi, Illinois.


1866


Indiana


10


21


17


48


1868 1870


Maier, Jos. A.


Oct.


23, 1836,


Germany.


Aug.


8, 1888,


Mt. Carmel.


1855


Indiana


21


12


33


1857 1859


Mayer, Melch.


Jan.


26, 1815,


Adams County, Ind.


Oet.


16, 1907,


Decatur, Indiana. Oregon, Missouri.


1887


Indiana


3


2


11


16


1889 ....


Miesse, Sam. K.


Mar.


2, 1806,


Reading, Pa.


AAug. 22, 1883,


Greenville, Ohio.


Noblesville, Ind. Greenville. Ohio. Dayton, Ohio. 1866 1840 1866 ('amp Creek. Ill. Grayville, Illinois. 1872


Indiana Indiana 2


23


2


..


25


1868 1870


Miller, Jac. .


Feb.


1, 1833, Germany.


Oet.


9, 1891, Dayton, Ohio.


Grayville, Ill.


Norwell, Michigan. Norwell, Mich.


1843


Indiana Ohio Indiana


20


1


12


33


1845 1849


Oakes, D. S. ...


Sept. .


5, 1837, Dauphin County, Pa.


May .


1906, Ft. Wayne, Ind.


Kendallville.


1862


42


2


44


1864 1866


Oliver, E. J.


Dec.


16, 1876, Lake County, Indiana. AApril 15, 1901, Peru, Indiana.


Feb.


1. 1895, Noblesville, Ind.


1870


Indiana


19


6


25


1872 1874


Pinkerton, W. ·


Jan.


21, 1836, llohnes County, Ohio.


Dec. 4, 1911, Milford, Ind.


Milford, Indiana.


1875


Indiana


....


.


.. 36


.....


Platz, G. G.


April


9. 1817, France.


April 22, 1904, Marshall, Illinois.


Marshall, Illinois.


|1844


Ohio


18


1


41 60


1846 1848


.


May 20, 1837, Germany.


Feb. 23, 1902.


Wanatah, Ind.


1879, Elkhart, Ind.


1865


Indiana


2


22


22


1862


....


Kloepfer, G.


Mar. 11, 1812, Center County, Pa.


Sept.


21, 1886,


Oakland, Indiana.


C'ineinnati. Ohio.


1873


M. E.


20


10


...


..


9


.


..


9


1900 1904


McConnehey, C.


Feb. May


20, 1864,


Crawford County, O.


Mar.


4. 1902.


Noblesville, Ind.


1840


Western East Pa.


41


1


42


1860


Miesse, Samuel


.


Feb.


4, 1816, Berks County, Pa.


.. .


20


...


26 2


10


14


1876 1879


Mode, Jacob


Sept. Feb.


25, 1836, Germany. 5, 1814, Germany.


....


2


...


.. ..


2


1901


Overmeyer, H.


May


..


*Those marked with an asterisk are charter members of Conference.


#Dotted lines signify that information was not at hand or in some cases of ordination, advancement was never made.


102


Koch, Chas. R.


Sept. 16, 1844, Bloomfield, Ohio.


Dec.


13, 1881,


28, 1897,


Des Moines, Iowa. Des Moines, Iowa. 1862


Laurel, Oregon.


1865


Indiana


· 20 .


2


....


·


·


Maier, Henry


In the South.


1862


Indiana


16


: 13


16


1859


3


45 8


.... 1874 ....


Koehl, Mich.


Jan. 18. 1819, Germany.


May


28, 1893, Decatur, Indiana.


Hicksville.


Krumeisen, J.


Jan. 1, 1837, Switzerland.


Dec.


April 24, 1901, Laurel, Oregon.


Sept. 26, 1914.


Mt. Carmel, Ill. E. Germantown. Oregon, Missouri.


1898


Indiana


Meyers, Ilenry


20


1842 1845


Miller, Phile.


Mar. 17, 1825, Fairfield County, Ohio. April 26. 1894, Altamont, 11I.


28


.


2


*Nicolai, And.


Hebron, Indiana. Noblesville, Ind.


1899


Indiana


in Indiana Conf.


in Indiana Conf.


24


37


....... 1879 ....


lluntsinger, J.


Feb. 11, 1836, Hagerstown, Indiana.


35


1897 .


. ...


Karstetter, J.


* Keiper, Jacob


1857


Indiana


·


.


..


Oct. 4, 1831, Switzerland.


1


INDIANA CONFERENCE


1872 1874


26, 1889, Wakarusa, Ind.


Wakarusa, Ind.


Indiana


Kalwitz, Carl


Indiana


8


·


Germany.


26, 1876,


Sept. 18, 1882,


Oet. 28, 1886,


27, 1836, Sandusky, Ohio.


. 36


TABLET OF OUR DECEASED MINISTERS-Continued.


Name.


Date and Place of Birth.


Time and Place of Death.


Burial-place.


When Licensed.


By which Conference.


Years in Active Service


Years in Local Service


Years in Service in


Other Conferences.


Total Years in Service.


When Ordained Deacon.


When Ordained Elder.


TABLET OF OUR DECEASED MINISTERS-1915


Platz, N. J.


Sept. 25, 1851, Chicago, Illinois.


Dec. July


17, 1913, Olney, Ilinois.


11874] 1850


14


39


[1876|1879


Porr, Philip


1810,


Germany.


Jan.


27, 1894, Emporia, Kansas.


1882


7


5


12


1885 1887


Rainey, S. D. .. Mar.


3, 1880,


Williams County, Ohio. 6, 1808, Pennsylvania.


Jan.


18, 1888, 14, 1890,


Lightsville, Ohio. Middleport, Ind.


1846


13


12


19


44


1850 .... 1849 1852


Rohrer, Jos. . ..


Oct. 30, 1801,


Lancaster County, Pa. June


Jan.


22, 1898, South Bend, Ind.


1852


1830


Western


6


10


20


39


1836 1839


Schafer, A. R.


Oct.


4, 1831, Lancaster County, Pa.


Dee. April


15, 1885, Decatur, Indiana.


1863


11


35


46


1865 1868


Schamo, Chas. April 5, 1824, Lebanon, Pa.


.lune


26, 1911, Hicksville, Ohio. 1908, Dayton, Ohio.


1861


1850


2


4


2


8


Schwartz, Ph.


1819,


1863, Lafayette, Indiana.|


Lafayette, Ind.


1849


4


12


16


1851 |1853


Schweitzer, F.


July


29, 1842, Germany.


Aug.


6, 1911, Dayton, Ohio.


Dayton, Ohio.


1871


14


5


21


40


1873 1875


Speicher, Geo. .. Dee.


3, 1870, Urbana, Indiana.


Nov.


3, 1893, Urbana, Indiana. 1908, Mishawaka, Ind.


Urbana, Indiana. Mishawaka. Ind. South Bend, Ind. Fulton Co., Ind. Cambria, Pa.


1906 1849 1887


41


12


53


1854 1856


April 27, 1821, York County, Pa.


.Iune


2, 1889, E.Germantown, Ind. 28, 1874, Van Wert, Ohio.


1821


1848


1856


19


13


13


45


Tramer, Conr.


Jan.


13, 1824, Germany.


June July


3, 1905,


Elkhart, Indiana. Michigan.


1857


7


34


4


53


|1850 1852


12


Van Camp, A. Wales, G. W.


Oct.


24, 1844, Sandusky County, O.


Mar.


10, 1870, Kendallville, Ind. 6, 1894, Evansville, Ind.


Wesseler, Wm. Mar.


1, 1813, Hanover, Germany.


May


Ang.


Feb.


23. 1909, Henrietta, Texas. 26. 1897, Huntingburg, Ind. 12, 1897, Fulton Co., Ind.


Sept.


1864, Ligonier, Indiana.


Ilinois


14


2


16


Zimmer, Mich.


Nov. 21, 1817, Alsace.


Ang. 21, 1891, Garrett, Indiana.


Indiana


. . .. 38


....


........


.


.


39


1861 1863


*Ruh, Bern.


Dec.


31, 1819, Germany. 19, 1827, Germany. 17, 1797, Forest, Virginia.


Mar. 25. 1910,


20, 1869,


1871


14


·


..


14


1874|1876


Schmoll, Geo.


Dec. 7, 1830, Germany.


.


.


.


.


2


Spencer, Irvin ..


.


30, 1864, Snyder County, Pa. 21, 1797, l'ennsylvania.


July


Mar. 22, 1902, Sept. 6. 1856, Marion Co., Ind. Mishawaka, Ind.


1845


7


43


50


IS57 1859


1868 1871


1859 |1861


Oct. 18, 1901,


Emmetsville, Ind. Decatur, Ind.


1848 1897


Indiana


21/2


13


26


139


|1856 1859


Wessling, Chr. July 23, 1827, Kutenhausen, Germany.


30


22


.


24


4


28


56


1857 |1859 1849 1851


* Wiethaup, Fr. Wildermuth, S. ...


Dec. 15, 1813, Germany.


.


. 33


5


38


Wolf, John F.


.


Mar.


3, 1828, North Warsaw, Ind.


4


·


4


8


1855


.. .


.


.


24


.


B8 41


24


* 25 12 .


·


8


·


.


49


57


Strickler, H.


12, 1809, Germany.


27, 1895, Hart, Michigan.


1867


[14


Indiana Indiana Indiana Illinois Ohio Michigan Indiana Indiana U. B. Indiana East Pa. Illinois Ohio Illinois Indiana Indiana Illinois Indiana


30


13


43


1863 1865


*Schuerman, Fred .


. April 22, 1818, Mifflin County, Pa.


May


22, 1907, Scott, Ohio.


1904


2


49


4


53


Riegel, John . .....


.lulv


17, 1844, Seneca County, Ohio.


lune


10, 1897, Kowana, Indiana.


Blakeslee, Ohio. Blakeslee, Ohio. Lightsville, Ohio. Smiths, Elk.


1835


Indiana Ohio Indiana Indiana Indiana East Pa. Ohio Indiana Indiana Illinois


4


12


17 15


31


Prechtel, Henry .


.lune


11, 1845,


Austria.


Rainey, Rob. ..


. Nov.


2


Ang.


10, 1884, Elkhart Co .. Ind.


Elkhart Co., Ind. South Bend, Ind. South Bend, Ind. South Bend, Ind. E.Germantown, Ind. E. Germantown, Ind. Elkhart Co., Ind. Hicksville, Ohio. Dayton, Ohio.


1859


18


· 21


12


41


5


58


1854 1858


Schafer, A. B.


Sept.


103


..


2


April 12, 1882, North Dakota.


July 25, 1905, Dayton, Ohio.


2


.


2


..


*Steffey, M. W. Steininger, G. . Stoll, John .


Dec. Sept.


Trometer, J. .... .June Troyer, J. K. · June 18, 1838, Ilohnes County, Ohio. Ude, Christian .. .. 4, 1835, Germany. 4, 1824, Prussia, Germany. Apr. Aug. Feb. 13, 1860, Allen County, Indiana.


Oct. 16, 1898,


1909.


21% ....


....


*Those marked with an asterisk are charter members of Conference.


#Dotted lines signify that information was not at hand or in some cases of ordination, advancement was never made.


Emmetsville, Ind. 1855 1867 1855 Decatur, Indiana. 1847 Kendallville, Ind. 1855 Evansville, Ind. llenrietta, Texas. Huntingburg, Ind. 1859 Fulton Co., Ind. Ligonier, Indiana. 1850 Bremen, Indiana.


Indiana Illinois Ohio


in Indiana Conf.


in Indiana Conf.


10


1879 1881


12


·


·


Riegel, Reub. .


Roth, Peter


Dec.


5. 1881, Dayton, Ohio.


Marshall, Illinois. Dayton, Ohio. Winnamac, Ind. 1872


Cicero, Indiana. Indianapolis, Ind. Hart, Michigan . Elkhart, Indiana. Michigan.


1891


2


2


*Uphaus, Bern. .


Indiana


. 132


Dec. .. , 1820, Fairfield County, O.


38


·


INDIANA CONFERENCE


Chronological List of the Deceased Ministers


1856-Henry Strickler.


1862-Jacob Krumeisen.


1863-David Garl, Adolph Dassel, Philip Schwartz.


1864-John F. Wolf, Henry Maier.


1869-A. B. Schafer.


1870-Geo. W. Wales, J. M. Condo.


1871-Levi Grim.


1873-George A. Hertel.


1874-John Stoll.


1875-Christian Glaus.


1878-Adam Hartzler, John Kiplinger.


1879-John Karstetter.


1880-E. E. Condo, H. L. Fisher.


1881-Charles R. Koch, Philip Porr, Gerhardt Franzen.


1882-Peter Goetz, Samuel K. Miesse.


1883-S. Heiss, Samuel Miesse, Samuel Dickover.


1884-Joseph Rohrer, Fred Hoffman.


1885-Adam R. Schafer, Mathias Klaiber.


1886-Michael Alspach, George Kloepfer, Jacob Mode.


1888-John Riegel, Melchior Mayer.


1889-Peter Burgener, George B. Holdeman, John Caufman, G. Steininger.


1890-Reuben Riegel, Wm. Bockman.


1891-John M. Gomer, Michael Zimmer, Jacob Miller, John Ber- ger.


1892-Harry W. Fisher.


1893-Samuel B. Kring, George E. Speicher.


1894-Henry Prechtel, Samuel E. Beverly, Philemon Miller, Tim- othy Carroll, Ernest Bohlander, Wm. Wesseler.


1895-H. E. Overmeyer, Carl F. W. Hansing, Samuel Kiplinger, Jacob Trometer.


1896-John M. Kronmiller.


1897-Fred Wiethaup, Wm. Ackerman, Michael Koehl. Robert Rainey, Joseph Fisher, August Iwan, Solomon Wilder- muth.


104


CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF THE DECEASED MINISTERS


1898-Peter Roth, Christian Ude.


1901-Edward J. Oliver, Fred Launer, Bernard Uphaus.


1902-Carl Kalwitz, Henry E. Meyers, Conrad Tramer, C. C. Baumgartner.


1903-S. S. Albert.


1904-George G. Platz, M. F. Finkbeiner, John M. Haug.


1905-George Frederick, M. W. Steffey, Jacob K. Troyer.


1906-David S. Oakes. 1


1907-Christian Heim, Sch. D. Rainey, Charles McConnehey.


1908-Irvin Spencer, George Schmoll.


1909-Jacob Keiper, Jacob Huntsinger, Wm. Koenig, Ans. Van Camp, Chr. Wessling.


1910-Bernard Ruh, George Freehafer, John Bruckert.


1911-Edwin C. Ewald, Charles Schamo, Frederick G. Schweitzer, Wesley Pinkerton.


1913-Wm. G. Braeckly, Nimrod J. Platz.


1914-Eli T. Hochstettler, Joseph A. Maier.


1915-Henry Gocker.


DATE NOT KNOWN-A. Nicolai, Fr. Schuerman.


105


INDIANA CONFERENCE


In Memory of Our Dead


Rest, weary feet, that slow and halting trod Life's short, rough path; rest till that wondrous day,


When ye upon the eternal hills of God


Shall run, with strong, firm step, your joyful way.


Fold patient hands upon the quiet breast, Faithful ye toiled an humble place to fill; Hereafter called to do His high behest, Ye shall work out your Maker's glorious will.


Close dreamy eyes, out from whose depths there shone, Longings in this poor life unsatisfied :


We shall behold the King upon His throne, And life, and joy, and beauty multiplied.


Peace, throbbing heart, nor pain, nor care, nor grief, Hopeless desires, nor powerless zeal, shall more Trouble thy pulses, pain shall find relief, And hope fulfilment on that deathless shore.


But where soft shadows lie and grasses wave, While summer birds sing around thy lower bed;


Sleep when the snow falls gently on thy grave, And winter winds sigh hoarsely over thy head.


Blessed the dead who, dying in the Lord, Rest from their labors. That sweet rest be thine! Rest in the promise of His gracious Word;


Rest in the likeness of the life divine.


·- Evangelical Messenger.


106


LIFE SKETCHES OF OUR DECEASED MINISTERS


Brief Sketches of the Lives of the Deceased Members of the Conference


The following are the charter members of the Conference: S. Dick- over, Chr. Glaus, A. Nicolai, F. Wiethaup, B. Uphaus, J. Fisher, P. Bur- gener, P. Goetz, F. Schuerman, J. Keiper, M. W. Steffey, G. Franzen, B. Ruh.


WM. ACKERMAN (1851-1897)


Brother Ackerman was born of Evangelical parentage, March 21, 1851, near Kendallville, Indiana. His father was a very use- ful member, and occupied many important positions in our church. William, his son, had set out to become a Doctor of Medicine, but having been defrauded of money to the amount of $300 by the physician that was instructing him, he was compelled to abandon this pursuit. In 1875 he was converted to God and, uniting with the Evangelical Association at Kendallville, became a devoted worker for the Lord. Ere long the call of God was heard, urging him to greater service, and in September, 1876, he received license from the Indiana Conference as preacher on probation.


He was sent with D. S. Oakes to the Mishawaka Circuit, and it was his good fortune to find a home with a family named Wahl- smith. Mrs. Wahlsmith had been a school-teacher, and became a great blessing to him, since he had only a very limited education. She carefully instructed him in grammar, and, as he often humor- ously said, "caused him to read through the dictionary seven dif- ferent times, in order to enrich his language and gain a larger vocabulary." At the close of this year he located for two years, and upon re-entering the work in '79, was sent to St. Mary and Van Wert Circuit, with B. F. Dill as colleague. In 1880 he served Defiance Circuit, and Royal Center in 1881. He was quite suc- cessful on these fields in winning souls to Christ.


In the spring of '82 the Board of Missions appointed him as missionary to Oregon, and after a brief service in this capacity he had to cease work on account of his health. The climate affected his speech adversely. He then engaged in selling Bibles and books as agent for the American Bible Society, traveling in Oregon, Washington and California. After a three years' absence he re- turned to South Bend, Ind., where he engaged in the coal business. Later on he ventured in the same business with a brother in Ten- nessee, but meeting with financial failure, returned to Indiana.


107


INDIANA CONFERENCE


Feeling impressed to re-enter the ministry, he applied in 1891 and was appointed to Huntington Mission. In 1892 he was assigned to Payne Mission. Previous to the reading of the appointments at this session, he felt extra good, and made his horse "Frank" an honorary member of the Missionary Society by paying the re- quired sum for such membership. He surely did appreciate his faithful horse! When the appointments were read, however, he was greatly disappointed in not being returned to Huntington. Since Payne did not appeal very much to him (nor to anybody else) he refused to go. The Bishop said quietly to him, "Then there will be a flock without a shepherd, and you will be responsible for that flock before God." He repented of his action and went to the field, which proved to be a great blessing to him. During the year the health of J. E. Smith, pastor of Van Wert, failed, and he was transferred to Van Wert to succeed Brother Smith. The next year he was returned to Van Wert, and becoming acquainted with a Miss Anna Murphy, an accomplished school-teacher, he married her in April, 1894. She became a great help to him in his work. In '95 and '96 he was sent to Celina Circuit, where illness and death overtook him. On March 6th, 1897, he took his departure, in full assurance of the faith. Interment took place in the Ackerman Cemetery at Kendallville, D. S. Oakes and J. H. Evans conducting the obsequies.


As a minister, he was full of zeal. He was a devoted and suc- cessful soul-winner. As a pastor, he was beloved, unsparing in devotion and sympathetic. His was a social nature, blessed with a jovial and entertaining spirit. He was witty, congenial and pos- sessed of a good bit of humor. "Like Abraham Lincoln, he had a remarkable fund of anecdotes, suited to almost every occasion, al- ways prepared to give apt, spontaneous and striking illustra- tions." In conventions, especially, his wit was helpful.


SALEM S. ALBERT (1840-1903)


Brother Albert was born in E. Germantown, Indiana, June 13, 1840, where he also grew up to manhood and acquired his pri- mary education. He took advanced studies at Dublin, Ind., and in '63 matriculated at Plainfield College. He also learned the trade of broom-making, which he pursued for a while.


Concerning his conversion and consecration to the work of the Lord, he says, "Before my conversion I thought I would be re- ligious, and tried to do the right, but could not do as I thought the Bible required. The reason was that I was not pardoned of my


108


INDIANA CONFERENCE


sins, and as such a person I was under great condemnation. In '56, I firmly resolved to seek Christ for the forgiveness of my sins, and found Him precious to my soul." Later on he dedicated him- self to the Lord, which he expressed in the following lines :


"Since Christ has bought me with His blood, I am, therefore, no more my own. He will wash me in that crimson flood, His death for all my sin atones. As Christ has given all for me, To Him my everything I give;


And in His courts I'll ever be, And to His glory try to live.


"My time is His, I shall improve It to His honor, and to my good.


Not one thing will I hence remove, But dedicate it as I should ; My hands shall be in His employ, And every day work to His praise."


He at once united with the Evangelical Association after his conversion, and in '61 was elected as an exhorter, whose duty it was to give a short exposition of a Scripture passage and urge people to live accordingly. This gave him excellent opportunity to develop his talents in public speaking. In a few years his class heartily recommended him to Conference for the work of a min- ister.


HIS MINISTRY


He received his license as preacher on probation, and was received into the itinerancy, Sept., 1865. Prior to this step in his life, he clerked in a hardware store at Indianapolis. While here, he was convinced of his divine call. He served as follows: 1865-6, DeKalb; 1866-7, Fulton; 1867-8, Huntington; 1868-9, Defiance; 1869-71, Spring Grove; 1871-2, Fulton again; 1872-3, Twin Lakes; 1873-4, Gilead; 1874-6, E. Germantown; 1876-8, St. Mary's; 1878- 9, Van Wert; 1879-81, N. Paris; 1881-3, Edgerton ; 1883-5, Nobles- ville ; 1885-7, Van Wert again ; 1887-8, Kendallville; 1878-91, Mish- awaka ; 1891-2, Bruce Lake; 1892-3, Julietta ; 1893 he located. Sup- plied Wabash 1898-9, six months; 1902, South Side, Elkhart ; 1903, Decatur, until Dec. 14th, when he died "in the harness," as he de- sired it.


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The following rules he adopted for himself when pastor at Spring Grove, near Danville, Ill., 1869:


1. When at all possible, arise at 4 A. M. for prayer, reading of God's Word and meditation. The reading shall be systematic.


2. Visit at least one family or person each day for the pur- pose of conversing with them regarding the salvation of their souls.


3. Never attempt preaching a text which was not studied upon the knees.


4. Daily commit a portion of God's Word.


5. Each day observe some hour for secret devotion.


6. Study to show thyself approved of God unto all men.


How near he realized these rules we are not told ; but they are worthy of general adoption.


Brother Albert was a pious and conscientious servant of God, affable, faithful and indulgent. He was not eloquent or deep in his preaching, rather practical and exhortatory. He labored with average success, and was nobly supported by his wife, who was a Miss M. L. Hudnett, whom he had married in Sept., 1868. He was the father of seven children, of which three survived him.


The funeral services were held in the Watchtower Church at Elkhart, in charge of J. O. Mosier. Aug. Geist, a life-long friend, was to preach the sermon, but failing to arrive in time, on ac- count of a wreck on the road, S. H. Baumgartner gave an address on his life and work in the Conference. A goodly number of the ministers were present. Interment was made at Elkhart, Dec., 1903.


MICHAEL ALSPACH (1812-1886)


Synopsis: Born in Union Co., Pa., Dec. 4, 1812. Died in North Minneapolis, Minn., Aug. 21, 1886. Converted in 1838. Li- censed to preach by the Ohio Conference in 1855. Ordained dea- con in 1857, and as elder in 1859. Buried in the Lac Wood Cems- tery of Minneapolis. Survived by wife and 6 children.


Alspach served in 3 Conferences-Ohio, Indiana and Kansas -until age compelled him to retire. His desire to save souls con- tinued to the end. His last public work was done Aug. 8, '86, offering the closing prayer and pronouncing the benediction with spiritual vigor and unction.


He was received into the Indiana Conference from the Ohio in '56, and moved on Elkhart Circuit near Benton, Ind., onto a farm, 7 miles south-east of Goshen. From this place he traveled


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in Indiana and Michigan. He served one year in Ohio with Aaron Jambert. In the Indiana Conference he served as follows: '56, St. Joseph Circuit in Michigan; in '57, St. Joseph Circuit and Cal- houn Mission in Michigan; in '58, Elkhart Circuit, his home field ; in Sept., '59, DeKalb Mission. He also had supervision of Defiance Mission this year, with Geo. A. Hertel as colleague. In '60 he served St. Mary's Circuit with B. Uphaus; in '61, Berrien Cir- cuit, Mich .; in '62, Fulton Circuit, with D. S. Oakes as colleague. This was a year of great trials and difficulties. This circuit was 300 miles in circumference, requiring 3 weeks to a round, preach- ing daily.


Alspach suffered much from asthma. His oldest son, who worked the farm up to this time, was now in the Civil War. The sympathizers with the Confederates were many. Religious life was at a low ebb. At one time Alspach was so wrought up by an attack on him from an officer of the church that he forgot his evening appointment, and was 12 miles past it before he thought of it. In '63 he was sent to Cicero Circuit, which closed his ministry in the Indiana Conference, having united with the new Michigan Con- ference, organized Sept., '64.


This Conference sent him to Lima Circuit, and he continued work several years, when he moved his family near Plainfield, Ill., and sustained a local relation with the Illinois Conference for 4 or 5 years. After this he moved to Missouri and united with the Kansas Conference, in which he traveled until old age compelled him to locate. He was a good and pious man. It was said of him, "He was not eloquent in his preaching, but unostentatious, ear- nest, sincere and exhortative. He had some good success."




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