USA > Indiana > Historical data and life sketches of the deceased ministers of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association, 1835 to 1915, Volume II > Part 15
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Geo. Stump in the Congregational Society, who was in discord with this move, by agitation influenced others against it. These few organized them- selves into a German Congregational Society, and under this name laid claim to the aforesaid property. The original deed was made to the trustees of the Ger- man Congregational Church. Litigation was started and continued for several years before it was finally adjudged in favor of the Indiana Conference.
In June, 1855, the Conference appointed S. Dickover, P. E. of Whiteriver District, G. G. Platz, P. E. of St. Joseph District, and J. Keiper of Hamilton Mission as collectors for funds to liquidate the debt on this church. The first two, who were delegates to the General Conference held in Pennsylvania, were authorized to collect funds from friends in Penn. Conference, and K. was to collect funds in the Ohio Conference. The Conference also ordered that if a parsonage could be built for $400.00 and the money for it could be borrowed at 6%, it should be done. The above named collectors were constituted a build- ing committee. Carl Helwig agreed to build it for said sum. It was erected on
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the rear end of the church lot. The Conference appropriated the $400.00. Ou November 12, '55, the brick parsonage was finished and consisted of two rooms, garret and cellar. After moving in, S. had to go to bed, being ill with typhoid fever, which disabled him for work for five weeks. But all were happy that their preacher had a home. The S. family consisted of the parents and five children. Here other preachers with large families were housed. The children had to play in the cellar from lack of a yard. After 15 years another story was added to the parsonage.
The Conference was yet in its infancy and therefore unable to finance big missionary enterprises. In October, '55, Dickover and Platz collected funds with success in Pennsylvania and received an expression of gratitude from the Conference in June, '56. J. Keiper having been unable to carry out his orders. was instructed to do so in 1856. He secured over $800.00, and he and the Ohio Conference received a vote of thanks. A debt of $325.00 still remained and A. B. Schafer was appointed to promptly collect in the unpaid pledges. Likewise all pastors on the Wabash District were ordered to collect on their respective fields for this same purpose. It was done. In June, 1857, Steffey reported 39 pious and active members. IIe had 21 accessions, six of these were: Mother Keppler, Conrad Gemmer and wife, John Abrams and wife, and Wilhelmina Aldag Kramer. In 1857 Henry Kramer was pastor. Regina Haas Aldag united this year. The society still grew slowly. Few strangers attended the services, due partly to the litigation over the church property. In 1858 M. Hoehn he- came pastor. After his arrival he went to a store to make a purchase, and was robbed of his purse containing $50. Later, while he was preaching in the church. thieves broke into the home, ransacking everything, but finding only a little money. Hoehn had commendable success. Gaslights were installed this year. In Sept., 1859, Conference session was held here. H. was returned and closed this year with a membership of 56. He organized the first missionary auxiliary.
In 1860-61, M. Krueger was the successful pastor. He had 29 new acces- sions. On December 31st, a blessed Watch-night service was held. In 1862 A. B. Schafer served here. He had 29 accessions; '63, G. G. Platz. The church was re-decorated; '64, J. M. Gomer, 15 accessions. '65-66, J. Fuchs, 24 acces- sions; '67, Fr. Wiethanp, nine accessions; '68-69, J. Kaufman, 30 accessions. In his first year a gallery was built, a melodian installed, and a choir organized. In '70 C. Tramer had 15 accessions. The third story was added to the parson- age, costing $500.00. In '71-73, M. Hoehn was again pastor. To date there were 343 accessions to this society, 13 had died, 131 were members at other places, and 155 had moved away, withdrew or were expelled. The present membership was 110. The first year he had a loss due to some members joining the new mission in the N. E. part of the city. In three years he had 96 accessions. A church record was bought. Hoehn, C. Aldag and Wm. Koehler as a committee wrote up the history of the society to date, which was read to the society Feb-
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ruary 9, '74, by the pastor, and was then adopted. On September 4, '74, the society ordered that the pastor should give a regular course of systematic cate- chetical instruction for the children, and to conclude the work with a public ex- amination, and to preach an appropriate sermon for the occasion. In Septem- ber, 1874, H. L. Fisher became pastor. He organized a Young Men's Society. In 1875-77 C. Tramer had 22 accessions. The last conference year was only six months long, time of conference sessions having been changed from fall to spring. In 1878-79, C. F. Hansing was preacher. The second year the first steps were taken for the erection of the present church. A lot was bought on the S. E. corner of East and New York Streets for $4,900.00. He had 32 con- versions, 27 accessions. In 1880-83, Jos. Fisher was appointed here. He began his term with great concern. The Conference ordered that the Mission Church prople be re-incorporated with the First Church, inasmuch as their church was Ladly wrecked by a cyclone, and could not afford to rebuild. This at first dis- pleased the Mission people. However, the First Church people approached them so cordially that the reunion was effected with scarcely any loss of mem- bers from the Mission.
Second Church Built
During Fisher's second year, the erection of the present church began. The first story was ready for dedication, November 5, '82. Bishop J. J. Esher offi- ciated. The society changed its name from "Salem" to "First Church". The design of the building was appropriate to the Capital of Indiana, and in keeping with the ability of the society. The attendance now greatly increased. In 1883 M. Hoehn began his third term here. The second story of the church was now completed and dedicated, free of debt, on December 30, '83, by Bishop R. Dubs. The total cost was $35,000.00, with but little outside help. The model of the pulpit and the altar, Hoehn said, "came from Germany". A pipe organ was also installed. At this time the church was declared to be the most beautiful one in the Evangelical Association, and one of the nicest German churches in Indianapolis. The present parsonage was also built at this time. M. Hoehn and his family were the first to live in it. He was returned in 1884, and had 49 accessions; 1885-87, M. W. Steffey was returned. In the second year he held a nine-week's revival meeting which resulted in 53 conversions, 20 reclaimed and 42 accessions, total membership now, 250. He organized a Young People's So- ciety of 65 single members, and a junior class of boys and girls. All prayed and told their experiences. In 1888-90, C. F. Hansing was pastor. During his term "Christian Science" teaching in the city influenced some members to leave the church. The remaining indebtedness was paid. A mission-house was erected 111 the south part of the city. See Second Church.
1891-92, J. M. Haug. He organized the first Y. P. A. on Aug. 29, '92, with 36 members. First president was F. Goetz; V .- Pres., E. Mehl; Rec. Sec'y, W. Bergman; Treas., F. Krause; Cor. Sec'y, Kath. Haug. In October, 1891, the
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delegates of the General Conference assembled here. This was the time the Evangelical Association was rent in twain. At this General Conference the Young People's Alliance was launched. Here S. C. Breyfogel and Wm. Horn were elected bishops, and S. P. Spreng and G. Heinmiller editors of the Evan- gelica! Messenger and Christliche Botschafter respectively. In 1893, H. Schleucher was pastor. He had Evangelist Grobe to hold a meeting. One hundred persons professed to be sanctified and 35 converted, and 30 joined church. 1894-96 Fr. Schweitzer was pastor. Fifty-one members from the First Church united with the newly established Second Church. His years were fraught with good re- sults. 1897-98, Wm. G. Braeckly was pastor. He was a spiritual son of this society. He had 33 accessions. In 1899-02, Fr. Rausch was stationed here. On February 26, '01, English services were begun for Sunday evenings, by a vote of 45 to 4, and the revised constitution of 1900 was again revised to accord with this change. A new financial plan was adopted. Eight members joined Grace Mission this year, and five a year later. In 1903-06, J. H. Breish was stationed here. In 1904 the church was re-frescoed, electric lights were installed, the floor was recarpeted, and a new furnace was installed. On November 16-19, 1905, the society celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Prof. S. L. Umbach of Union Biblical Institute of Naperville, Illinois, was chief speaker. He gave a lecture on "Observation in the Lands of the Bible", and two sermons on Sun- day. Sunday afternoon old time reminiscences were given. Bishop Thomas Bowman preached on Monday night, and C. F. Hansing on Tuesday night. On January 1, '07, the opening Sunday School exercises were conducted in English, and the English Hymnal was introduced for Sunday evening services.
In 1907-08, S. H. Baumgartner was pastor. The first year he had 18 con- versions and 24 accessions. Evangelist J. Klein of Pennsylvania was called for a ten-day's meeting in 1908. The meeting was preceded for two weeks by group prayer-meetings and by a week of preaching. The results were 30 con- versions and 22 accessions. A church survey of thirty squares was made by S. S. workers for new recruits to Sunday School. Adult Bible classes were or- ganized. The Y. P. A. gave 'for mission work, $443.82. A catechetical class finished a course with a public examination.
In 1909, '13 G. B. Kimmel was pastor. During the time of Conference ses- sion this society held a congregational mecting, and decided that henceforth all public services should be in English. K's revival was preceded by a canvass of 42 squares. Result of meetings, 17 conversions and 28 accessions. The Y. P. A. paid for missions $565.00. $1,200.00 was spent for new furnaces. The second year a much larger missionary policy was adopted at a special rally meeting. A missionary board of ten members was appointed, and an every-member canvass was made in ten days, netting $1,250.00 for foreign missions; for N. W. C. En- dowment Fund $2,600.00 was secured. At the above rally meeting, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Hartman announced that they would assume the support of Dr. F. C.
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Krumling in China. The society supported O. R. Staufacher, missionary in Japan. The second year Kimmel had 26 conversions and 37 accessions. The third year he organized a Brotherhood with 65 members. The revival resulted in 18 conversions and 26 accessions. The fourth year an annex was built to the main S. S. auditorium. The church received a general overhauling at a cost of $6,000.00. In 1913 the German prayer-meeting was discontinued. A Young Women's Missionary Circle, auxiliary to the \V. M. S. was organized, also a chorus class of 30 voices with C. Parker as director. This year K. was appointed as a professor in the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Naperville. He, how- ever, finished his year here with his Seminary work.
In 1914-16 J. H. Breish again served this society. The budget system was introduced. The society's constitution was revised. He had 57 accessions. In the second year Dr. G. Guille of the Moody Institute conducted an eight-day's Bible study. In the third year of his ministry here, a disease lay hold of B. to which he succumbed on July 17, '16, after an operation. This was the first time this society had lost a pastor through death. C. P. Maas, who had planned to begin evangelistic work in the fall, was secured to fill the vacancy. He enter- ed upon his work in September, and continued in service here until May, 1923. The parsonage again was improved. His first revival resulted in 54 conversions and 27 accessions. The general progress was maintained throughout his admin- istration. During his time, the pastor's salary was increased annually until it reached $2,600.00. He closed his work with a membership of 402, with all church organizations in a good working condition. In 1917 the society sent its pastor to Washington, D. C., to attend the National Temperance Convention. In 1918 a new pipe organ was installed as an expression of gratitude to Almighty God for bringing back all soldier boys from the church without injury to any of them. The organ was designed by one of the soldier boys, Leroy Baumgartner. The cost of it was $9,000.00. It was then one of the best in the city. Dr. G. B. Kimmel officiated at its dedication with an appropriate sermon, and the de- signer presided at the organ.
Men that entered the ministry from this society were: Wm. G. Braeckly, 1870; John Abrams, 1871; C. F. Brauer,-1872; C. A. Hirschman, 1906; H. E. Eberhardt, and H. L. Meyer, 1914; and Miss Rose Fecker as deaconess, and later as a missionary to China. Annual Conference sessions were held here Sep- tember, 1859, 1861, 1864, 1870, April 1880, 1894, 1903, 1913, May 1924. One Gen- eral Conference, October, 1891, was held here.
INDIANAPOLIS NORTH SIDE
In 1871 the Conference established a new Mission on Peru Street and Chris- tian Ave. J. Fuchs, J. M. Gomer, M. Hoehn, G. Helwig, and J. Schaub were the committee to select the location. The people of the First Church supported the erection of the church liberally, which, including the lot, cost $7,000.00. By per-
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mission of Conference this mission had the right to collect funds for the build- ing of the church on the Indianapolis District. Rev. Hoehn reported that 22 members of the First Church became charter-members of this new mission. At first the work developed hopefully, but the heavy debt and other circumstances hindered substantial growth. The Conference assumed the parsonage debt of $1,600.00. The mission met with a sudden misfortune. The church was badly wrecked by a cyclone, March 14, '80, at 10:30 p. m. It was moved three feet to one side. The tower fell in. The Conference did not feel able to assume further obligations under existing conditions. It, therefore, urged the Mission people to abandon the place and rennite with the First Church, which they did reluctantly. In 1881 the church was sold, and the proceeds, by order of Con- ference, were entrusted to a committee to secure a new location in the sonth part of the city. In 1890 this instruction was carried out. See Second Church. Pastors here were: 1871-72, J. M. Gomer; '73-74, M. Klaiber; '75-77, C. F. Hansing; '78-79, C. Tramer.
INDIANAPOLIS, WEST SIDE
In 1885, the Conference provided for a Mission in West Indianapolis. A committee of the P. E. and pastors of the First Church, Indianapolis, and of the Dayton Church, with a committee of the First Church, were to choose the site and erect a church, not to cost over $1,500.00 to $2,000.00. The P. E. was to supply the Mission with a missionary. The project was never undertaken.
INDIANAPOLIS, SECOND CHURCH
The proceeds from the sale of the North Side Mission church, as ordered by Conference, were in 1890 used in the purchase of two lots on the N. E. cor- ner of Church and Wilkens Streets. A mission house was built on one lot, and dedicated August 3, '90, by C. F. Hansing, pastor of the First Church. This building cost $1,000.00 and was partly covered by pledges of the First Church people.
A Sunday School was organized and carried on by members of the First Church until in 1896 it was established a mission with Thomas Finkbeiner as missionary. Fifty-one members of the First Church, living in this section of the city, became the charter-members. With it was served Julietta, eight miles S. E. of Indianapolis. The year was closed with 78 members and with a Snn- day School enrollment of 169. F. served this Mission three years; 1899-01, I. H. Griesemer. On April 11, 1900, the pastor called a congregational meeting to consider the feasibility of building a church. It was decided to build. A build- ing committee was elected, consisting of the pastor, I. H. Griesemer; C. F. Hansing, Wm. Keck, R. Botke, and H. Pintzke. The construction of the church began in July, and on October 14, 1900, the church was dedicated by Bishop Wm. Horn as the Second Church of the Evangelical Association, Indianapolis.
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This church with the remodelling of the mission house into a parsonage cost $4,300.00. This amount was all provided prior to dedication. The church has a fine auditorium, two class-rooms, choir loft, basement, electric lights, and fur- nace. G. had 21 accessions.
In 1902-04, J. Kaufman was pastor; '05-06, Fr. Schweitzer; '07, C. Harms; 'OS, C. F. Hansing; '09-10, D. D. Speicher; '11-15, E. J. Nitsche. In '13, a class- room was fixed up in the basement for the men's Bible class, costing $434.00. In 1916-17, L. J. Ehrhardt; '18-23, M. L. Scheidler. With him all public serv-
Second Church, Indianapolis, Ind.
ices became English. The society has an active Y. P. A. and a Ladies' Aid So- ciety, and Young Women's Missionary Circle. This society has become sur- rounded by a foreign people that limit its field and threatens its existence.
INDIANAPOLIS, BEVILLE AVE. CHURCH
In April, 1900, the Conference located an English mission in Indianapolis. This was an important step toward maintaining the future of the Evangelical
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Association in the metropolis of Indiana. G. B. Kimmel became the first mis- sionary. His activities began in September. The first month was devoted to a careful study of the field. In a house to house canvass between Arsenal Ave. and Rural Street, from Washington to 10th Street, calling on 900 families, he found 275 families having no church home. Many of these had not even a church preference. It was then decided to locate the mission in this territory. After some searching for a suitable building in which to worship, the Lord in an unlooked-for way, provided a store-room at 2305 E. Michigan Street. Through the aid of the Second Church, and Wayne Ave., Dayton, Ohio, 100 chairs were obtained. Andrew Kramer gave the organ, and a stand, the other friends con- tributed other necessary furnishings. On October 7, an opening Rally S. S. service was held with an attendance of 142. Brief addresses were given by F. Rausch, First, and I. H. Griesemere, Second Church, and A. Kramer, and G. B. Kimmel, the acting superintendent. G. A. Neerman was appointed Sec'y-Treas -- urer; Flora Kramer, organist; and Wm. Gielow, librarian. The first S. S. teach- ers were: A. Kramer, Mrs. A. Kramer, A. Neerman, Mrs. C. R. Jones, Mary Neerman, Martha Neerman, Anna Sanders, Emma Gilliom, L. E. Brown, Lila Brandt, Mable Canary, Nellie Truelove, Mrs. Wright, P. A. Canary; Primary Department, Mrs. Emma Neerman, and Minnie Sanders.
On Wednesday, October 10th, the first mid-week prayer-meeting was held which became the power-house of this mission. On October 21st (evening) the first sermon was preached. On December. 16, Grace Missionary Society was organized; Pres., A. Kramer; V. Pres., E. G. Eberhardt; Secy., Wm. Gielow; Treas., C. L. Hartman. On January 6, 1901, the first revival began at which 39 were saved. On Feb. 7, at the call of the P. E., the people who had joined the Evangelical Association were now organized into a society, and adopted as their name "Grace Mission". The charter-members were: Gus. A., Martha, Mary, Alfred, Cloe, Walter, and Emma Neerman; Anna and Minnie Sanders; Gco. and Walter Krause; J. R. Parker; Edw. and Mrs. Smith; G. Enderline; F. Trissel; R. Wenner; Anna Thiesing; J. Herman; L. E. and Mrs. Brown. The following united soon after: Mrs. Jesse Night, Nellie Jones, Geo. and Mrs. Snider, Emma Gilliom. On March 12, under the chairmanship of the P. E., the following officers were elected: G. B. Kimmel, class-leader; E. L. Brown, ex- horter; G. A. Neerman, J. A. Parker, and E. H. Smith, trustees. In April, 1902, K. was returned. The Conference gave the society a loan of $1,500, at 5% in- terest for aid on their church. On April 18, it was decided to build. Two lots on Beville Ave. were bought for $1,000.00. The building committee was G. B. Kimmel, G. A. Neerman, J. A. Parker, E. A. Smith, A. Kramer, and F. Hirsch- man. The pastor now solicited funds. Plans for the church were adopted. The cornerstone was laid on June 30, by F. Rausch, aided by pastor and I. H. Griesemer. On September 5, 1902, the church was dedicated by Bishop T. Bow- man, as "Grace Church". The cost, exclusive of lot, was $3,200.00. A Junior
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and a Senior Y. P. A., a Young Men's Prayer Band, and a Young Ladies' Mis- sion Band were organized. He closed the year with 125 members, and 343 S. S. scholars. In April, 1904, J. O. Mosier was appointed pastor. The average at- tendance at S. S. was 300. This made larger accommodations imperative. At a called congregational meeting, plans for enlarging the church were adopted, and a building committee elected, namely, P. W. Soltau, G. A. Neerman, L. Schurr, Emma Gilliom, Carrie Johnson, and the pastor. The cost of enlarge- ment was $4,985.00. Bishop S. C. Breyfogel rededicated the church. The debt was over-subscribed by $500.00. In the three years that M. was there, he had 76 accessions, net membership gain, 40. A Ladies' Aid Society was organized and a circulating library was founded. In 1907-08, D. E. Zechiel was pastor. In two years, he had 29 conversions, and 41 accessions, and paid on debt $2,098, leaving a balance of $100. He left with all departments in good condition. In 1909-10, C. E. Boyer served this charge. On July 9th, the S. S. hour was changed from afternoon to forenoon. The enrollment decreased, but the change, never- theless, proved satisfactory. The balance of the debt was paid, and the surplus in the treasury was set apart as a Parsonage Fund. The church was repainted. A Woman's Missionary Society was organized with 20 members. A vocalion organ was bought, and augmented the interest in song services. The duplex collection envelope system was introduced. In 1911, J. W. Carter was pastor. Prosperity continued, though few were saved and added to the church. In 1912-14, F. Hartman was preacher in charge. A piano was bought the third year. In 1915-20, M. W. Sunderman was pastor. During his time the church was repaired and repainted. A new workers' library was installed. In the fall of 1916, a parsonage lot was bought, costing $800.00. A new heating plant was installed. An orchestra was organized. He had 116 conversions, and 122 acces- sions. In December, 1917, the Brotherhood Society sent him to represent the congregation at the Washington, D. C., National Temperance Convention. This society has always taken an active part in the work of temperance and social reform. In 1918 a modern parsonage was built at a cost of $6,000.00. On Oct. 3, 1920, the 20th anniversary of the organization of the society was celebrated. In 1921-23, D. A. Kaley was pastor. In 1922 the society's name was changed to Beville Avenue Church. Success continued in all departments.
ISLAND, NAPPANEE CIRCUIT
Ministers of the Evangelical Association entered this neighborhood about 1850. This appointment lies in Kosciusko Co., four miles S. W. of Milford, In- diana. For some time the services were held in the Hastings Schoolhouse, and in private homes. A few German families lived here, namely: Rudolph and Christian Ringenberg's and Oster's, and others who joined the Evangelical As- sociation. The preachers came from Elkhart Circuit. In 1857 it became a part of the New Paris Circuit until Nappanee Circuit was formed in 1893. It remain-
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ed a part of this circuit until 1911 when Nappanee became a mission, and the Island, Hepton and Panama Classes became Nappanee Circuit. For ministers sce list under Elkhart Circuit up to 1857, then see those on Yellow River and Bremen Circuit. In 1869-70, Jacob Keiper of Elkhart Circuit served here with S. S. Condo and Eli Hochstettler, the first and second years respectively. K. held a revival in the Lichtenwalter Schoolhouse in the Pinkerton settlement where he organized a class of 18 members. Wesley Pinkerton, who later be- came a local preacher, was elected class-leader. This class was about three miles S. E. of the Island Church, with which it was later merged. 1n 1871 D. S. Oakes and Wm. Wildermuth served here. From '72-92, it was with New Paris. From 1893-10, see Nappanee; 1911-13, A. B. Acgerter; 1914-16, Ed. Greiner; '17-19, W I Weyant; '20, E. E. Miller; '21-22, F. F. McClure; '23, E. E. Miller.
The first church here was built in 1876-77, and was dedicated May 27, '77. D J. Pontius was pastor. It remained unaltered until 1912 when A. B. Aegerter remodeled it by building a corner tower and pulpit recess, and installed circu- lar pews. It was rededicated by L. S. Fisher in the fall of 1912. This society maintains a Sunday School which measures up to the average country S. S. This society recommended three candidates to the ministry: Wesley Pinkerton, 1878, who, however, never took up the active work; Lloyd C. Haney, 1911; and Leroy Geiger, 1922. The last two are in active work.
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