USA > Indiana > History of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana > Part 10
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MAPLE GROVE (1906)
This was formerly known as the Whitehead Church and is located two miles southwest of New Paris. It was formerly part of the Elk- hart Church, later of the Turkey Creek Church, and still later of the Union Center Church. It was organized as a separate congregation in 1906. It was the center of the original Turkey Creek membership, and the second meeting-house in Northern Indiana was built here in 1854. It was used for many years, being remodeled in 1947 with a basement and a modern kitchen and rest-rooms, being rededicated June 1, 1947.
About 1837 six Whitehead brothers and three sisters, Samuel,
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Congregations-Northern Indiana
Peter, Adam, Valentine, John, Lewis, Esther Stutsman, Mary Conrad, and Margaret Lentz located here from Montgomery County, Ohio. Peter and Lewis gave the ground for the meeting-house, Samuel gave the timber, and John gave the ground for the cemetery just across the road from the church, where many of the Whitehead family and others have since been buried. D. J. Whitehead, son of Samuel, was a prom- inent deacon in the congregation, and a member of the District Mission Board for many years. Iverson Mishler, a grandson of Samuel White- head, was a minister in the congregation for a number of years, later moving to New Paris. Besides him, Charles Neff, elected in 1907, and Calvin Cripe, elected in 1908, served in the ministry here; both were ordained here, Charles Neff being presiding elder for ten years, or un- till 1919. Since then, the following have presided : Manly Deeter, Eli Roose, Frank Kreider, John Frederick and William Brubaker. The last named moved to New Paris but served as pastor from 1935 to 1945. Donald Frederick and Burton Metzler each served one summer as pastor. Robert Martin was the pastor 1946-1951. Raymond Hoo- ver is the present pastor.
George Krull has served as deacon here for thirty-two years and Mel Reed for twenty years. Others in the deacon body are : David Krull, Forest Myers, Guy Leatherman and Ralph Brubaker, Charles Rogers, Russell Hoover and Murl Calbeck.
The first Sunday School was organized in 1870 with Cyrus Lentz as superintendent. Those of later years have been : Rollo Neff, James Peters, Frances Krull, Frank Snider, Carl Kleckner, George Roush, Raymond Krull, Forest Myers, Opal Blosser and Dorothy Reed. The church has never had a large membership, but a very active one. At present they number 95.
MICHIGAN CITY (1932)
It was the noble ambition of Elder Eli Roose that in his lifetime he should have the privilege of helping to start and build a church from its beginning into a working congregation. He and his good wife put in many hours in such a project in Michigan City. This was during the years 1927 to 1932, while he was also pastor of the Laporte Church. In fact it was carried on as a mission point of the Laporte Church.
The church building was erected in 1927, being dedicated on Sept. 18 of that year, by Otho Winger. Bro. and Sister Roose lived in an apartment in the basement of this church and it was while he was on his death-bed that the mother church at Laporte granted their petition to become a separate congregation. Bro. Roose's funeral was the first to be held in this church, soon after its organization in 1932.
There were ten charter members in the work here, four more being baptized in 1928. The first communion service was held in 1930.
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History of the Church of the Brethren
Elder William Gordon lived here and worked along with Bro. Roose. The work has been under the care and support of the Mission Board of Northern Indiana up to the present time, one of its members serving as presiding elder. Following Bro. Roose, the following have served as pastors : Charles Zunkle, 1932-35; Paul Lantis, 1935-37; D. W. Schock, 1937-39; W. Glenn McFadden, 1939-42; David Schechter, 1942-46; Paul Noffsinger, 1946-48; Paul Fike. Darrel Fryman is the present pastor.
A Sunday School was organized in 1927 with 35 attending, and with William Kuszmaul as superintendent. Others following him were : Claire Sampson, Emanuel Gordon, Mrs. Miriam Gunns, Israel Gordon, Mrs. Margaret Nickols and Alva Wood.
Israel Gordon and wife were installed as deacons soon after the church was organized. In 1946 two young brethren were licensed to the ministry, William Gordon and Eugene Kuszmaul. They are now in College preparing for their life work. The church has had a healthy growth and has a good outlook. It now has a membership of 106.
MIDDLEBURY (1913)
For years there were members living in Middlebury and at times they found it inconvenient to get to services in the Pleasant Valley Church, their church home. In 191I a good house of worship was built and the congregation was organized in 1913, with J. H. Fike as presiding elder. Others as presiding elder since have been: Cyrus Steele, T. E. George, J. H. Schrock, Galen Bowman, Harold Miller, B. D. Hirt, and Mark Schrock, the present elder. Cyrus Steele was ordained in 1920. I. E. Weaver moved to Illinois for a time but now lives in Middle Indiana. Since then, Paul and Mark Schrock were licensed to the ministry in 1927, and Troy Schrock was licensed in 1934, these three being sons of Elder J. H. Schrock. Mark Schrock has since been ordained and is the present elder of the church. He is also the executive secretary of Northern Indiana. Other ministers who have served here at various times are : Clyde C. Cripe, Martin Hartman and John Mishler. These all have served in the free ministry.
In 1924 Clement Bontrager began serving as pastor. He was followed in 1926 by H. A. Claybaugh, who served until 1933. Other pastors in order were: Burton Metzler, 1933-36; T. G. Weaver, 1936- 37; Ira E. Long, 1937-41 ; Harold Miller, 1941-45; Mark Schrock and B. D. Hirt each served a year since. Hugh Cloppert began pas- toral service in 1948. He came from Southern Ohio, and has done outstanding work in the ministry. In the fall of 1950 the Middlebury and the Pleasant Valley congregations formed a joint program with T. G. Weaver as pastor.
Deacons in this congregation have been: Lewis Cripe, John
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Congregations-Northern Indiana
Zimmerman, John Troyer, George Sherck, A. C. Kindy, Chancey Berkey, Frank Nusbaum, E. S. Kauffman and George Arnold.
Sunday School was organized here in 1913 with Clarence Troyer as superintendent. Others serving since have been : Mel Haines, E. S. Kauffman, Ben Leer, John Steele, Glenn Kindy, Ray Ulrich, Glen Bowman, Alvin Steele, Kenneth Myers and Paul Garber.
The church has had a healthy growth. It numbered 95 when organized and now has 151. It celebrated its thirty-fifth anniversary at the 1946 Harvest Meeting, with Jesse Zeigler of Bethany as speaker.
YELLOW RIVER (1848-1926); MT. PLEASANT (1926)
Originally, this congregation embraced the eastern half of Marshall County, including the present churches of Walnut, Camp Creek and Bremen, as well as that of Mt. Pleasant. The church was organized in 1848 with 21 members. Jacob Shively was the first minister ; George Kring and John Stockman were the first deacons. From 1850 to 1880 the following were called to the ministry : Nathaniel Drake, Jonathan Swihart, John Sellers, William Myers, Fred Loganbaugh, David Shively, George Armentrout, William Clark, and D. S. Hale. Later, William Reed, John Joseph and Edward Ruff moved in. Within thirty years, Walnut, Bremen and Camp Creek had been organized, reducing the membership by 130 members, and greatly diminishing the territory. In 1880 when the first house of worship was built, there were 100 members.
From 1869 to 1872 Salem College at Bourbon was run under the direction of the Brethren. Eld. Jacob Shively was one of the promoters. Its failure brought financial embarrassment to him. He then moved to the Salem Church, west of Plymouth but continued as elder until 1878 when he was succeeded by John Sellers, who had charge until 1899.
In 1900, Emanuel Shively, son of Elder Jacob Shively was called to the ministry at the age of 50 years. For a time he was the only minister here. His son-in-law, N. O. Troyer, was a minister here for a while. Later, S. S. Keller, George Harley and Floyd Leeper were elected. D. W. Hostetler lived here for a while. Since 1900 the church was presided over by nonresident elders much of the time. C. C. Cripe was presiding elder from 1923 to 1935 except for two years when David Metzler was elder.
The church was served by free ministry until 1925 when John Eberly came for a short time. Arthur Miller and John Metzler each served for a short time. Gorman Zook began part time service and continued until 1935. Since then, N. H. Miller has served the Mt. Pleasant and Camp Creek Churches as pastor and elder, giving part time service to each church.
A live Sunday School has been in operation here for many years,
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but we have no record of the superintendents until 1922 when Harley Elliot was elected. Since then these have served: Clarence Stump, Owen Price, Wendall Miller, Willard Sellers, Gilbert Dillingham, Arthur Kitch and Clifford Fish, each serving two to five years.
Quite a number of deacons have served the church during her history, among them being: George Kring, John Stockman, David Stockman, Peter Ganshorn, Isaac Shively, Peter Swoverland, Joseph Perry, Darlin Hale, Daniel Shively, William Rohrer, Herbert Craig, John Devinney, Joseph Studebaker, James Seymore, William Seymore, S. B. Yoder, Isaiah Price, Charles Sellers, Frank Markley, John Mann, Russell Hanawalt, and Charles Price. The present force of deacons are, Willard Sellers, Harley Elliot, Arthur Kitch, Wendall Miller and Clifford Fish.
Phillip Zinn and David Welborn were licensed to the ministry here in 1946, but both have moved away. The church now numbers 135 and is in a good condition.
NAPPANEE (1898)
Originally the Nappanee Church was a part of the Turkey Creek Congregation. The brethren began preaching in the town in 1877, when the town was only two years old. In 1883 it was decided to build a church house in Nappanee, and it was begun at once and dedicated May 24, 1884. The congregation was organized as a sepa- rate church in July, 1898, with a membership of 148. The building has been improved to meet the needs of a growing congregation. Both the church and the parsonage are on East Market St., in the east part of town, on U. S. Road 6.
The following have been elected to the ministry in this congrega- tion : David Metzler, 1899; ordained, 1904; Everett Pippen, and William Overholser, 1907; Burton Metzler, 1917, ordained 1930; John Metzler and Warren Heestand, 1921, John Metzler ordained in 1933; Theodore Miller, 1930; John Metzler Jr. licensed in 1945, in- stalled in 1948. Of these, William Overholser is a pastor at Warsaw, Ind .; Burton Metzler is the head of the Bible Department in Mc- Pherson College, Kans .; John Metzler leads the CROP organization for relief, in Chicago; Theodore Miller lives in Southern California; John Metzler Jr. is a teacher in Puerto Rico.
Elder J. C. Murray was elder in charge at the time of the organ- ization and remained for five years; S. F. Sanger was elder for four years; David Metzler was elder for one year and after an interval of two years when Daniel Wysong was elder in charge, he was in charge for eight years; after another interval of two years while Bro. J. W. Grater and J. F. Appleman were in charge, he was again
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Congregations-Northern Indiana
elected and remained for twenty-five years. In 1944 Bro. Leroy Fisher was elected as elder and remained for four years. Bro. Ray Zook was elder for one year; Eldon Evans is the present elder.
The following men have served as pastor of the congregation : J. C. Murray, David Metzler, Daniel Wysong, J. F. Appleman, William Fisher, Galen Royer Jr., Paul Studebaker, H. D. Emmert, M. J. Weaver, J. O. Winger, Reuben Boomershine, Ray Zook and Samuel Longenecker, the present pastor. The first twelve named have rendered fifty years of pastoral service. The church observed its fiftieth anniversary celebration in 1948.
The following deacons have been installed in office: William Ken- singer and Charles Reed in 1903; Everett Pippen and B. J. Miller in 1907; Paul Longenecker, Frank Lehman and Floyd Klaus in 1921; John Shively, Charles Holderman and Aura Curtis in 1928.
The first Sunday School was organized in 1887 with Lovina Shoemaker as superintendent ; the first Home Department superintend- ent was Amanda Blosser and the first Cradle Roll superintendent was Cora Stahly.
A Ladies' Aid Society was organized at the beginning of the organization of the church and has continued faithfully until the pres- ent time, later being organized with all departments into the Women's Work. Their present officers are Hazel Curtis, president and Almeda Geyer as vice-president.
A Men's Work has been organized in recent years and is being ably directed by Edward Eastland and James Schrock as chief officers.
The Young People organized a Christian Workers' Meeting in the early years of the church in which old and young took part. This later was developed into a C. B. Y. F. organization at the present time.
The church now numbers 243, an increase of 95 members in fifty years. The total number of people holding membership in this con- gregation during the fifty years was over 1100. Only five of the charter members remain : David Stahly and wife, John Adams, Dora Reed and David Metzler.
NEW PARIS (1918)
In 1915 the members of the north end of the Bethany congrega- tion felt a need for a church in New Paris. Sunday School was being held in the High School building. Late in the year consent was given by the Bethany congregation for a new church to be built. In the spring of 1916 sufficient funds were raised and construction was be- gun. After the masonry was completed and the rafters up, the build- ing collapsed. This was a great disappointment to the few who were struggling for a new church. The ruins were left till the next year
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History of the Church of the Brethren
when new interest was aroused and work was begun again. The building was completed and dedicated in December, 1917. After this the New Paris group asked the mother church to be a separate congre- gation and the division was accomplished Sept. 18, 1918. The new organization was begun with about fifty members and Bro. Manly Deeter in charge of the organization. Bro. Charles Arnold was elected as their elder ; Bro. and Sister Jacob Martin and Bro. and Sister Artie Berkey were elected as deacons, a committee being chosen to divide the equipment of the Bethany Church.
The membership grew rapidly, doubling itself the first year. In order to meet the needs of the growing congregation, it became apparent that more room was needed for the Sunday School classes. So in 1935 an addition was built to the church, furnishing six additional class rooms, a mother's room and a kitchen. Various other improvements were made at different times until it has come to be a modern, convenient and adequate building. A recreational building has been built just across the street, which fills the social needs of the church.
A number of young men have been called to the ministry here. Russell Bollinger was called in 1922. He was ordained to the elder- ship here. Later he began service as a College teacher, first at Ashland College in Ohio and later at Manchester College, where he is now Dean of Students. Levi Arnold was called to the ministry here, but is now living and teaching school in Elkhart. Eldon Evans and Ray- mond Hoover were called to the ministry in 1939, advanced in 1940, and Bro. Evans was ordained in 1941. He has been elder in charge since 1943. Donald Keifer was licensed to the ministry in 1940 and advanced in 1942. He has since moved away. Robert Fryman was licensed in 1947. Other ministers who have moved in and serve at the present time are: Virgil Mock, Iverson Mishler, Charles Gump, Arthur Sellers, Noble Bowman and William Brubaker. The church has never had a supported ministry.
This congregation has always been very much interested in mis- sions and has contributed heavily to its support. Bro. and Sister Orville Sherman went in February 1949 under the Brethren Service Commission to administer relief in Venezuela, South America. The church and various Sunday School classes are partially supporting Chalmer Shull in India; and Harold Royer in Africa. They fully supported Edith Bosler and her work in Africa; also furnish one-half maintenance of Marilyn Studebaker, Dr. Studebaker's daughter. Be- sides, and in addition to the above, individuals fully support Dr. Leon- ard Blickenstaff in India.
The church maintains an active Men's Work, Women's Work, and C.B.Y.F., and is active in all lines of church activity. It is in a
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flourishing condition with a present membership of 366, a gain of 316 in thirty-one years.
NEW SALEM (1911)
The New Salem Church was organized as a separate congrega- tion in 1911. It had been a part of the Bethel Church prior to this. The ministers residing here at that time were John Stout, Emeral Jones and Manly Deeter, the first being elder in charge. Emeral Jones was called to the ministry soon after the organization and Russell Stout was elected in 1927. He has since moved to Mishawaka. Orvin Kilmer was licensed to the ministry in 1945. Other elders in charge of the congregation for short periods of time were: J. C. Murray, Henry Wysong, Emeral Jones, C. C. Cripe, William Over- holser, Lee Cory, Manly Deeter and Howard Kreider, who served for 15 years. Lester Young is the present elder.
In 1920 the church called Elder R. M. Lantis from Greenville, Ohio, as their first pastor, who served for two years. William Over- holser followed, also for two years. Russell Sherman served for one year, John Eberly for three years, Russell Weller for two years-all on a part-time basis. Howard Kreider served the church for fifteen years, the last four years as full-time pastor. Paul Lantis, son of the first pastor, began a full-time pastorate in September, 1949.
Charter deacons were Sam Ulery, George Grady and Chester Byerly.
The following have served as deacons in the congregation, to- gether with the date of their election: Fred Byerly, 1911; by letter, Samuel Driver, 1912; Chas. Mathews, 1913; Earl Ulery, 1918; Chauncey Weybright, Irvin Ferverda, and Guy Leatherman, 1920; Edward Smith and Ray Ferverda, 1922; Guy Morehouse, by letter, 1924; Emory T. Cooper, by letter, 1929; Noah Endsley by letter, 1932; Albert Matthews and Herbert Morehouse, 1944.
The congregation has had a good Sunday School all through the years. The following have served as superintendents, most of them for but a year or two at a time: Gertrude Hartman, Fred Byerly, John DeFries, Oliver Replogle, Chester Byerly, William Paul, Guy Leatherman, Earl Ulery, Arch DeFries, Ray Ferverda, Bert Christ- man, who served for five years, Herbert Morehouse, Albert Matthews, Louise Morehouse, Dane Rarick and Edwin Meek.
A parsonage was purchased in 1942. The congregation is in a good working condition, having maintained a steady growth. Its present membership is 168.
NORTH LIBERTY (1917)
This congregation was originally the extreme southwest part of
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History of the Church of the Brethren
what formerly was called the South Bend congregation, later known as the North Liberty Church, which included a large territory, much of St. Joseph County. It was separated from the mother congrega- tion in 1917, and includes only the town of North Liberty and the adjacent community. The rest of the territory became known as the Oak Grove Church after the division of territory.
The church house was purchased from another denomination in 1903, and the two houses were operated as one congregation until the separation in 1917. Ministers living here and preaching at both places under the free ministry plan were Elders Daniel Whitmer, Daniel Hartman, M. I. Whitmer and J. M. Cripe; also ministers, Elmer Heim, C. C. Cripe and H. S. Bowers.
After North Liberty became a separate congregation, Brethren Eli Heestand, Jacob Hildebrand and Howard Dickey each served as elder in charge for one year; J. F. Appleman for four years; Orville Houser for five years; C. C. Cripe for 15 years, Ira Long for five years, and E. Wayne Gerdes since, 1950.
Since its organization North Liberty has had pastoral care, most of the time on part-time basis. J. C. Brumbaugh and Howard Dickey taught school and served the church. I. J. Kreider, T. F. Henry, John Barwick, Guy West and Russell Weller served the church while attending Bethany Biblical Seminary. Other pastors since were Cecil Morningstar, T. G. Weaver, Theodore Miller, Fred Flora, Ervin Weaver, Mark Schrock for a few months and Ira Long 1944-1950, and Homer Shrock since 1950. Orville Houser is a faithful elder who has lived here since the organization of the church and has co- operated in a fine way. Carl Kime is a young man who was licensed to the ministry in 1947. He is a conscientious objector to war, willing to suffer to uphold the principles of peace.
The present deacon body are Grant Steele, Delbert Baughman, Orville Peterson, Jacob Strycker, and Richard Whitmer. The church has had a live Sunday School since its organization. The following have served as superintendents: Jerry Peters, Morvan Clark, Grant Steele, Harmon Summers, Paul Steele, Orville Houser, Richard Whit- mer and Anna Strycker. There is also an active Women's Work organization.
The church house was remodeled in 1923. A parsonage was pur- chased in 1944, which was later remodeled and dedicated. There is an encouraging outlook here with a present membership of 189.
New Paris
New Salem
North Liberty
North Webster
North Winona
Osceola
Pine Creek
Pleasant Chapel
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History of the Church of the Brethren
TIPPECANOE (1852-1929; NORTH WEBSTER 1929)
This congregation is located in the northeastern part of Kosciusko County, south of Lake Wawasee. It was organized in 1852 with thirty-five members. A house of worship was built in 1861 about 21/2 miles north of North Webster. In 1882 the membership was 140. Elder G. P. Rothenberger was bishop here for many years. In later life he was assisted in the ministry by his son, Daniel, who followed him in the care and oversight of the church. I. S. Grady was called to the ministry and advanced to the second degree in 1906. He later moved to Goshen. F. O. Richcreek was called to the ministry in 1899, advanced in 1906, and ordained in 1911. He was elder in charge for a number of years. Virgil Mock was called to the ministry here. He later moved to New Paris. John Eberly was installed in the min- istry here in 1923, and Willis Kurtz in 1944.
Among the earlier deacons serving the church here were: Josiah Garber, E. Hess, H. Schrock, Daniel Shock, Henry Kolburg, Ira Mock, Elmer Shock, Josiah Kline and Levi Eberly.
The church gradually lost in numbers until it was struggling for existence. Finally in 1922, with the help of the District Mission Board, the church and property belonging to the Evangelical denomination on South Main St. in North Webster was purchased and the old loca- tion in the country was abandoned. Since that time the work has been under the support and supervision of the Mission Board. In 1929 the name of the congregation was changed from Tippecanoe to North Webster. The following have been pastors: John Eberly, William Overholser, Otho Warstler, Hugh Warstler (summer of 1934), Emeral Jones, Robert Knechel (summer of 1942), Lester Young, Willis Kurtz, I. James Eshleman 1946-1950, and Otto Larsen, 1950-I. Bill Gordon is the present pastor. Since the work was revived in town the following have been installed as deacons : William Tully and David Stull in 1931; Royal Kline, 1939; Ancil Likens and Millard Tom in 1947.
Since the work has been reorganized a good Sunday School has been maintained. These have been superintendent at various times : J. L. Kline, Ancil Likens, Viola Whitehead, Granville Deaton, Clar- ence Mock, John Reasoner, Millard Tom and Fred Blosser. The mem- bership at present is 67.
WASHINGTON (1860-1919); NORTH WINONA (1919)
This congregation was organized in the early sixties from terri- tory that belonged to both Northern and Middle Indiana. Brethren Jeremiah Gump, Ephraim Brumbaugh, Norman Workman and Levi Workman were the ministers preaching in this section. The last two lived in this congregation. They were old, and George Workman was
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called to the ministry to assist them. During the early seventies, George Cripe was a resident elder here. It was during this time that Levi Workman was called to the ministry. Bro. A. H. Puterbaugh, a young minister moved here in 1874, and Jesse Calvert came in 1877. The latter was soon ordained and given charge of the church. During his service a large commodious house of worship was built three miles east of Warsaw, where the present house is located. The dedication service was held on New Years Day, 1880, Elder Calvert preaching the sermon. Later Bro. Puterbaugh was ordained and given charge of the church. He remained here until 1895 when he returned to Elk- hart Valley. For some years there was a second preaching point in the congregation, known as Oak Grove.
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