USA > Indiana > History of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana > Part 12
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Some of the early deacons were Samuel Stutsman, John Stude- baker, Jacob Stutsman, Daniel Perry, David Evans and Jonathan Myers. Josiah Rensberger was a deacon and the church clerk for years. Levi Weaver moved into the congregation from Smithville, Ohio, shortly after the death of Elder Tracy. He was the father of John Weaver, later elder of the congregation. David Hostettler was
Pleasant H.Il
Pleasant Valley
Plymouth
Rock Run
Salem
First South Bend
Second South Bend
Syracuse
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elected in the congregation, but died in a few years. In 1868 I. L. Berkey and Joseph Hoover were elected. The former was the son of Jacob Berkey and was the successor of his able father. Bro. Hoover belonged to the Pleasant Valley congregation and was its elder for years.
In the meantime Elder Jacob Berkey had been busy preaching in the territory to the north and east as far as Ft. Wayne. His strong appeals to sinners resulted in the conversion of many scattered over this territory. He did not leave them without care, but made fre- quent visits himself. He was very careful with the deacon's visit. David Evans, one of these brethren, said that Elder Berkey would first carefully counsel the deacon brethren and send them forth. The work generally consumed a week.
One reason for the rapid growth of the church was the protracted meetings in which Elder Berkey was a believer. Perhaps the first such meeting in Northern Indiana was held at Rock Run, by Daniel Sturgis and Jesse Calvert in the early sixties. They were at Council Meeting when one man asked for baptism. By the time they reached the water there were six applicants. Meeting was announced for that night, and continued until there were more than forty. In a second meeting, held by Jacob S. Cripe, of South Bend, sixty-four united with the church. At another time forty united with the church under one week's preaching by Jesse Calvert. The general division of the church in the early eighties did not affect the Rock Run Church much, though for some years, little was done. Then through the able assist- ance of Elder I. D. Parker a splendid revival was held, resulting in thirty-eight additions.
Rock Run was one of the earliest churches to engage in Sunday School. As early as 1865 a number of brethren took interest in a Sunday School that was being conducted by some Methodists in a school house. In 1868, I. L. Berkey became superintendent and the school was moved into the church. Simon Burket was superintend- ent of the first evergreen Sunday School.
Later elections resulted in the calling to the ministry, B. F. Stuts- man in 1880, who died in 1897; John E. Weaver and Melvin Rens- berger, 1893; George Phillips, J. Fred Ulery, George Weybright who was in the ministry but a short time, and last of all, Mervin Cripe. George Phillips was pastor of the Elkhart City Church, and Mervin Cripe is pastor in Ohio. N. B. Heeter moved into the congregation in 1897. Charles C. Cripe, a young minister, married Amanda Pletcher, granddaughter of Levi Weaver. He was advanced here in 1908 and lived here for several years. Walter Gibson moved here in 1914 and lived here for some years.
The congregation was under the leadership of free ministry until
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1920. Then George Phillips became a summer pastor. Following him, Ervin Weaver came as the first regular pastor in 1923; Ira Long was pastor four years; J. S. Zigler followed him and remained for thirteen years. He was followed by Howard H. Keim Jr. The pres- ent pastor, Ralph Petry, came in 1946 from North Dakota.
The land on which the first church was built was bought from Jacob and Sarah Berkey in 1859 for $25. The second house was built in 1876 at a cost of $2675. This house burned in 1928, and the present house was built at a cost of $16,000, being dedicated Dec. 2, 1928. The District Meeting of Northern Indiana was held here in 1893, 1903 and 1913. The Annual Meeting was held in the barn of Elder Jacob Berkey in 1868.
The congregation has always been well supplied with deacons, among the earlier ones being : Simon Burket, John Myers and Jonathan Myers. Others elected later: Samuel Culler and Chancey Myers, 1886; John A. Miller and Robert Davenport, 1895; Melvin Schrock, 1903; Frank Phillips, 1907; Jacob Cripe and Thomas Cripe, 1895; Clarence Cripe, 1917; O. W. Stine, 1922; Paul Phillips and George Weybright, 1946.
Among the earlier superintendents of the Sunday School were: Simon Burket, Robert Davenport, Allen Cripe, Charles Myers and Ira Myers. Those serving later were; Clarence Cripe, Henry Cripe, Mel- vin Swartz, William Pletcher, Frank Phillips, Artie Berkey, O. W. Stine, Paul Phillips, Otis Larimer, Ernest Hartsough, Donald Cripe, George Weybright, Warren Charlton and William Cable.
In 1925 the church purchased the parsonage farm, which was for- merly the I. L. Berkey home, and will be kept as a memorial for him. The church numbers 179 at present and continues in a healthy condi- tion under the able leadership of their pastor, Ralph Petry and his fine corps of officials.
In Sept. 1950, the church observed the centennial of its organiza- tion with appropriate services. Bro. Kenneth Morse, present editor of the Gospel Messenger, was the guest speaker.
SALEM (1880)
The Salem congregation was formerly a part of the Union Church, ' being organized as a separate congregation in 1880. Prior to this a house had been built on the Marshall-Starke County line. It is said that all the rough lumber used in the building was donated by a Mr. Vor- his, not a member, who owned a saw mill near by, the lumber being hauled by ox-team. The church was built by donation labor and the acre of ground on which the church stands was donated also.
Jacob Shively was the first elder. Daniel Shock, Solomon Yoder, Obediah Deen, John Hosiman, Eli Mock, Eli Bottorff and James
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Lerch were the first deacons. Ministers elected since then were: A. J. Ferrel, John Hartsough, James Lerch, 1898, and Clyde Joseph, 1916. Deacons elected were : Jacob Hapner, Riley Ransbottom, William Fer- rel, Harry Myers and Eli Mock.
For many years the church has been under the partial support and supervision of the District Mission Board. Jacob Hildebrand, Frank Hendricks, H. M. Schwalm, John Markley, Galen Bowman, Charles Cripe and Arthur Keim have been elders in charge through the years. The following have served as pastors at various times : Chester Poff, H. B. Dickey, Clyde Joseph and Ben Cross. Bro. Joseph was born near the church and lived in the vicinity most of his life. Bro. Ben Cross, the present pastor, lives in Laporte, and has served the church for a number of years.
The congregation has never had a large membership. At present there are 25 members. An evergreen Sunday School has been main- tained for many years. While the records are not complete, the follow- ing are among those who have served as superintendent : Samuel Os- born, Alonzo Hagle, Myrtle Bickel, Mrs. Fred Wolfe, Richard Rans- bottom and Jesse Long.
FIRST SOUTH BEND (1840's)
The South Bend Church formerly included all the southern and eastern parts of St. Joseph County. Elders Abraham Whitmer, Jacob Bowman and George Shively were among the early resident preachers. The Millers from Portage Prairie were frequent visitors to this neigh- boring church. The church was organized early in the 1840's. Some twenty years later the territory was divided, that to the south and west retaining the name South Bend; and that to the southeast and northeast took the name of St. Joseph.
Services were held in the houses. Later, when a school house was built on the corner of Jacob Bowman's farm, that was used as a place of worship. A meeting-house was built two miles north of South Bend, and was known as the Ulery Church. In 1877 a house was built on the corner of Miami Street and Indiana Avenue. (At that time it was on the Martin Wenger farm). This was known as the Wenger Church. It was remodeled in 1900 and a second time a few years later. Later still, it was removed and a large, modern, brick church was built and dedicated in 1922.
Two of the early ministers here who served this church were David Miller and Christian Wenger. In 1882 there were reported 140 mem- bers, with D. B. Sturgis, elder, William C. Miller, D. C. Ulery and J. B. Wrightsman assistants in the ministry. This report also included St. Joseph Valley, which had just been organized from the territory north and east of South Bend, and sometimes known as the
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Ulery Church. However this congregation, St. Joseph Valley, con- tinued only until 1921 when it was disorganized and the territory go- ing back to the mother church.
Some of the early deacons of the South Bend Church were Henry Kring, Peter Metzger, Martin Wenger, Jacob Gross, George Moyer, Christley Lindemann, Peter Cripe and Thomas Lingley. During these years the church enjoyed the services of two able men who were not only good preachers, but were good physicians as well. They were D. B. Sturgis and Peter Wrightsman. Both were born in Tennessee. Elder D. B. Sturgis had been brought into the church though the influence of Elder Isham Gibson, in Greene County, Ill. He was ordained by Elders Isham Gibson and George Wolfe in 1841. He became a strong preacher, debater and committeeman. In 1863 he located in South Bend, where he built up a good medical practice. For twenty years he did the church good service in the ministry, part of the time as their elder. In his later years he returned to Illinois where he died at Mulberry Grove in 1897. Elder Wrightsman had endured many hardships and persecutions in the South during the war on account of his nonresistant principles. In 1870 he moved to South Bend, where he spent ten years. He was ordained in 1875 by Elder James Miller. He moved from South Bend to Kansas, and later on to Georgia.
In 1882 the church called to the ministry H. W. Krieghbaum, a son-in-law of Martin Wenger, one of the pioneer settlers. He was the first superintendent of the Sunday School when it was organized in 1878. He was ordained, and for years was the presiding elder until his death in 1912. During his oversight the name of the church was changed to that of First South Bend.
E. C. Miller was elected to the ministry here in 1900. Later on, M. D. Earley, Jacob Bowers and Samuel Borough were also called. A number of ministers moved into the congregation and were received by letter : John Brumbaugh, Robert Burger, Eli Gable, George Roop, Russell Stout and N. O. Troyer. Charles M. Yoder was called to the ministry in 1918.
The congregation was served by free ministry until 1907, when M. Clyde Horst became pastor. He was followed in 1915 by T. E. George. H. H. Helman began in 1919, and in 1925, J. Clyde Forney began a nine year term of service. He was followed in 1934 by H. F. Richards. Glen Weimer served from 1943 till 1950, when Ivan Fry supplied part of a year, and was followed, 1951, by Harper Will.
There has always been a large force of deacons in the congrega- tion, many of them received by letter and a number being called into service at various times. Those being elected were : Charles Steele, 1911; George Keim, 1912; H. D. Holloway and I. W. Jackson, 1916; P. G. Stahly, C. M. Yoder, Glen Purkey, Jess Dickey, George Hay
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and Samuel Hildebrand in 1918; Noble Frederick and Paul Weddle, 1941. Those received by letter at various times were; Samuel Bates, E. M. Butterbaugh, Clinton Callendar, M. A. Harbaugh, James Kelly, Grant Miller, John Mohler, James Newcomer, Jerry Peters, John Smith, Jacob Strycker and Roy Roesch.
The congregation has always had a good Sunday School, though the names of many of the superintendents are lacking. Among them are: Charles Yoder, P. G. Stahly, N. O. Troyer, George Roop and C. C. Hawbaker. Though the church has faced numerous problems dur- ing her history, she has continued to grow and make progress until today the membership stands at 307.
SECOND SOUTH BEND (1907)
The Second South Bend congregation was organized in 1907. It was originally part of the old Portage Church, the second organized church in Northern Indiana. The brethren had built a house of wor- ship in 1903, at the corner of Cushing and VanBuren Sts., in South Bend. The first officials were George D. Zollers, S. F. Sanger and J. W. Grater, with George Senseman and Jonas Showalter as deacons. Elder Zollers came here from Illinois and remained here until he met with a fatal accident in 1911. Bro. Sanger came from Virginia and was an able administrator, being moderator of both District and An- nual Conferences. These two brethren were joint elders in charge for several years. Bro. Sanger moved to California in 1910, remaining there until his death. Bro. Grater was son-in-law to Elder Zollers. He was ordained and given charge of the church in 1912. The church later called R. O. Roose to the ministry. Brethren Daniel Hartman and Claude Ullery, elders, moved in later on. In later years Cecil Morn- ingstar and Glen Welborn were called to the ministry. Both of these have since moved from the congregation.
For the first few years the church was served by free ministry. Later J. W. Grater served on part-time as pastor at two different times. R. O. Roose, Bert Pontius, Frank Rupel and Lester Fike each served short terms as pastor. Finally, Edward Stump became pastor and re- mained for 18 years, the last three years on full-time work. Since then Francis Litton from Pennsylvania came and served for a short time. resigning because of ill health. Harry Eshelman, also from Pennsyl- vania, came as pastor in June, 1949.
The presiding eldership has shifted considerably across the years. Bro. J. W. Grater has had charge at different times; Hiram Kriegh- baum, Bert Pontius, R. O. Roose, and David Cripe each served for short periods of time. Edward Stump was elder at two different times. Ira Long and Howard Kreider each served for a few years. E. Wayne Gerdes is the present elder.
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The church has a good working body of deacons, Among them are : John Austin, John Egbert, Claude Roose, Raymond Kessler, Harold E. Yoder, Louis Stroup, Edgar Carswell, Kenneth Hawblitzel, Blaine Carbiener, Roy Metzler, George Worthen, and Wayne Mc- Kinney.
For a number of years the church did not make rapid growth due to many moving in and out because of industrial conditions; but later on the membership increased so rapidly in numbers that it became necessary in 1932 to remodel the church, enlarging it and providing for better Sunday School facilities. Again, two years later, six more Sun- day School rooms were added. In 1945 the church purchased a par- sonage and began full-time pastoral service. The present membership is 355. Two young people, Nylita Stillwell and Clarence Snyder, have gone out in missionary service under another denomination.
SYRACUSE (1907)
The Syracuse congregation was formerly a part of the Solomon's Creek Church (now Bethany). The house was built in 1887, and ded- icated by A. H. Puterbaugh. The congregation was organized in April, 1907. J. W. Kitson, A. L. Neff and J. C. Stout were the first minis- ters; John Neff was the first deacon. A Sunday School was organized with Otho Warstler as superintendent. He was chosen deacon in 1907, and in 1908 was called to the ministry.
For a time the work flourished under the direction of Otho Warst- ler and William Jones as ministers, and John S. Neff, Jonathan Cripe, Albert Warstler, Irvin Neff and Hugh Warstler as deacons. Then the conditions changed and the work declined until but a few workers remained and there was talk of disorganization. However in 1930 the District Mission Board took over and secured J. Edwin Jarboe to hold a revival there with good results. He continued there as pastor for seven years and many were added to the church. Improvements were made on the church by adding a full basement, installing a balcony and class rooms; finally, in 1947, improvements were made again by add- ing rooms at the back of the church for a parsonage.
Following J. Edwin Jarboe, Ralph Rarick served the church as pastor for two years. Following this, Lee Cory, Russell Sherman and others supplied the pulpit. Later Charles Stouder, Noble Bowman and Otto Laursen served the church as pastor for short periods of time. In 1948 Bro. Clayton Mock came from Wisconsin and serves since as pastor. At present there is a very hopeful outlook for the church with a membership of 100.
During the time the District Mission Board had supervision of the work, they served as elder. Following that, Lee Cory served until 1946. Charles Cripe presided as elder, 1946-1950. Since the work has re-
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History of the Church of the Brethren
vived, the following have acted as superintendent of the flourish- ing Sunday School : Leonard Barnhart, Guy Symmensma, Ralph Coy and Lavon Symmensma. In 1949 two fine young men, Roy Stiffler and Lavon Symmensma were licensed to the ministry and or- dained to the full ministry in March, 1950. Sister Ethel Denton was also licensed to the ministry in 1949. Nov. 12, 1950, the pastor, Clay- ton Mock, was ordained to the eldership.
TURKEY CREEK (1838)
Turkey Creek is the name of the third oldest organization of the brethren in Northern Indiana. But its boundaries are quite different now than when organized. At that time it included the southern tier of townships in Elkhart County and all of Kosciusko County that was oc- cupied. Out of her territory a number of congregations have been formed-Nappanee, Union Center, Maple Grove, New Paris, Beth- any, Bethel, Syracuse, New Salem and North Winona. In 1855 Solomon's Creek (now Bethany) was organized which included all the territory to the east and south. In 1859 Union Center was organized from the territory on the north. This left Turkey Creek only the southwest part of her original territory.
The work at Turkey Creek was begun by Elder John Leatherman, who held services in the home of Jacob Brumbaugh. For years, meet- ings were held in private homes. In 1854 they began to use the school house. John Leatherman was elder until his death in 1867. Then Ste- phen Miller was ordained and had charge until his death in 1873. Soon after this, his son, J. H. Miller was ordained and placed in charge.
The original Turkey Creek Church had built a house of worship in 1851. When the congregation was divided, this house was retained by Union Center. It is now the Maple Grove house. It was not until 1878 that the present large house was built at Gravelton, four miles east of Nappanee.
This church has called but five men to the ministry : J. H. Miller, 1868; Daniel Wysong, about 1872; Peter Stuckman, 1879; Henry Wy- song, 1898; and Leroy Fisher, Oct. 5, 1913. Peter Stuckman engaged actively in the ministry for a number of years. He was one of our most successful evangelists.
The following have served this church as deacons: Robert Wy- song, Daniel Ulery, L. D. Ulery, John Whitehead, Conrad Leatherman, Henry Johnson, Edward Ulery, Joseph Keck, Levi Mishler, John Pef- fley, William Leatherman, William Paul, H. Miller, Milton Wysong, Daniel Stouder, Moses Mishler, George Crull, Henry Moneyheffer, Mervin Mishler, George Fisher, Henry Pletcher, Melvin Reed, and Lloyd Hurst ; Dale Atkinson and Clyde Rogers were elected in 1948.
In 1890 Elder J. C. Murray of North Manchester moved into the
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congregation. His strong direction was needed at a time when the Pro- gressive movement threatened to take a good part of the church. In 1899 Nappanee was organized separately and Elder Murray took charge there. Elder Daniel Wysong then had the oversight until he moved to Nappanee in 1906. Henry Wysong was elder in charge until 1925. Edward Stump had charge a year ; since 1926, Leroy Fisher has been in charge of the church, and much of the time the only minister. The church has always been served by a free ministry.
The churchhouse was remodeled in 1919 by adding a small base- ment and installing a furnace. In 1940 it was again remodeled by en- larging the basement. On each occasion a rededication service was held with Otho Winger as speaker. On Oct. 4, 1938, centennial services were held with Otho Winger as speaker. The same day marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the election of Leroy Fisher to the minis- try. On April 9, 1942 Bro. Fisher baptized Eugene Sensibaugh who was 96 years of age at that time.
There seems to be no records of Sunday School in this church prior to 1919, at which time George Fisher was superintendent. However it is known that John Felkner and Jess Eisenhour (now of Bethany Church) were superintendents before this date. Since then George Fisher, Henry Pletcher, Oscar Roose, Ada Fisher, William Ferverda, Clarence Herr, Roy Blosser, Alice Atkinson, Joe Bontrager and An- cil Ferverda have served at different times. The present membership of the church is 122 and the general outlook of the church is encouraging.
UNION (1946)
The Union Church was organized about 1858 with forty members. This territory had been a part of Pine Creek, and early preaching had been done by Abram Whitmer. The first preachers here were John Knisely, Howard Hoover and Marvin Hamilton. By 1881 the mem- bership had increased to 175, with John Knisely as the presiding bishop, Jacob G. Shively as associate; M. A. Eisenhour, W. G. Cook, Jacob Appleman, Jacob Seiders and Aaron Krieghbaum, assistant ministers. There were two meeting houses at that time, one built in 1871, four miles west and one-half mile south of Plymouth, known now as the Union house, the other one farther west on the Starke County line, later known as the Salem Church. The first service held in the Union house was the funeral of Sister John Knisely, wife of the elder of the church. This was before the church was finished inside.
Since 1881 the congregation has been divided twice. In 1895 the Salem congregation was organized. In 1916 the Plymouth Church was organized taking about one-half of the membership at that time, and a large part of the territory.
Under the able and aggressive leadership of Elder John Knisely,
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Union was one of the most active churches in Indiana. As early as 1875 her people were taking an active interest in the Sunday School. Though it was not evergreen, yet a prayer meeting took its place in the winter time. Harvest meetings were held as early as 1879. The year 188I was marked by a large ingathering of members.
There was a council meeting held Dec. 7, 1883 that was long re- membered. Jesse Calvert and W. R. Deeter were visiting elders. W. G. Cook was ordained to the eldership; Jacob Seiders and Aaron Krieghbaum were advanced to the second degree of the ministry ; John Hallem and John F. Appleman were called to the ministry; Ed- ward Bottorff, A. Rarigh, James Jones, Frank Hendricks, O. Dean, Noah Replogle and John Hoover were elected deacons. It was a day of general rejoicing.
Since 1883 the Union Church has called to the ministry James Norris, Harry V. Carger and Cecil Reed, 1914. S. F. Hendricks moved into the congregation. The church has had as presiding bishops, John Knisely, Jacob Shively, Jacob Appleman, W. G. Cook, J. F. Ap- pleman, and S. F. Hendricks. Bro. Hendricks served until 1920, pass- ing away in 1921. Elder Eli Roose then served the church as elder for a number of years. Cecil Reed moved to Plymouth in 1921. Bro. Jesse Brown and family moved in from North Dakota and did most of the preaching for a number of years.
A number of members moved away till finally in 1929 the church was disorganized. However the churchhouse was kept in repair and opened at different times for services. In 1946 it was formally organ- ized again as a separate congregation. Elder Herbert Zook of Laporte has been pastor and Edward Stump has been elder since then. Wesley Brubaker began pastoral service here in 1949. A good Sunday School is maintained and the present membership is 50.
UNION CENTER (1859)
Union Center was organized in 1859. It was formerly a part of Turkey Creek, that in turn, had been cut off from Elkhart (now West Goshen) in 1838. At that time Elder Henry Neff Sr. had charge, with John Anglemyer and John Burkholder, ministers. These breth- ren were both ordained in 1876. That same year Alexander Miller was elected; he was later ordained, and for years was presiding elder. He died in October, 1905, having been blind for several years. In speaking of his affliction he used to remark, "God had to strike me blind so I could see."
The Union Center House was built in 1867, three miles east and and two miles north of Nappanee. It was a large brick structure and has served the church well until this day. Elder George W. Cripe was contractor. Elder Henry Neff Sr. died in this church after preaching
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a sermon. His son, Daniel Neff was elected to the ministry in 1867. Another son, Henry, was elected later.
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