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
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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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INDIANA CONFERENCE
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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LIFE SKETCHES OF OUR DECEASED MINISTERS
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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