USA > Indiana > History of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana > Part 13
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In 1879 John R. Miller was called to the ministry. He was a cousin of Alexander Miller, both of them being grand-children of Elder John Miller, one of the first preachers of Elkhart County. Vernon Miller, a deacon, lived for many years in this congregation. His son, Harold, was called to the ministry here and is now pastor of Yellow; Creek church. David H. Anglemyer, a son of John Anglemyer, was called to the ministry in 1899. He was ordained in 1906 and had charge of the church for many years. Jesse Anglemyer, a nephew of David, was called to the ministry here. After some years spent in Manchester College, he married Miss Amanda Rodabaugh, instrumental teacher in the College, and then moved to her home in the Eagle Creek Church, Ohio, where he has been pastor of the church for 45 years. Elder Eli Roose lived here for a number of years following 1902. I. C. Eisenhour made this his home church for some years. John Frederick, elected in the Yellow Creek Church, has lived here since 1908. H. L. Hartsough was elected to the ministry here in 1907. He later became a prominent pastor in Middle Indiana and Northern Illinois, and later was general secretary of the General Ministerial Board. He is now District Field Man for Middle Indiana.
Among those called to the ministry later in this congregation were David Miller, Charles Stouder Jr., Daniel Snyder, Charles Goss and Donald Frederick, son of John Frederick, now head of the Music De- partment in McPherson College.
Elders in charge after John Anglemyer were Daniel Neff, Henry Neff, David Anglemyer, John Frederick and David Miller. Eldon Evans of New Paris has been elder since 1945. The church was always served by free ministry until 1945 when they called Arthur C. Keim as pastor, serving till the coming of Herbert Fisher, 1950.
This church has always had a large body of deacons. Among those serving earlier were Joseph Pippenger, Franklin Anglemyer, Jonas Frederick, Joseph Stump, Leander Bigler, Charles Frederick, John Bollman, and Amos Sheets. Jesse Eisenhour was elected here but soon after moved to the Bethany Church. The present deacons are: Jess Frederick, Milt Mishler, Jesse Mishler, Curtis Sheets, William Stouder, Homer Weldy, Everett Whitehead, Harry Bigler, Everett Mishler, and Howard Slabaugh. Those last elected were Charles Stouder, Sr., an 1 Emmert Miller, who has since moved to New Paris.
Union Center has always maintained a fine Sunday School, though the record of names of superintendents is lacking. Those serv- ing for the past four years are, Harry Bigler, Harold Umbaugh and Amos Sheets. At one time there were four Sunday Schools in the con- gregation-two of them being in school houses. A Sunday School is
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still being held in the South Union House, a union church two miles north and a mile west of Nappanee. While the property is owned jointly by the Mennonites, the Evangelical United Brethren and the Church of the Brethren, our people have always maintained regular preaching services there. The church was built in 1905. Charles Goss, one of our ministers of Union Center, does most of the preaching. John R. Miller, mentioned above, lived near this place and was one of the main supporters. From here Sister Ella Miller Brubaker, daughter of John R. Miller, went out as a missionary to India. It was in this part of the congregation that E. C. Miller, son of John R. Miller, and Harold Miller, mentioned above, went out as ministers. There have been all told about 130 converts in this part of the congregation.
Union Center began Intermediate Department services, morning and evening. The church built a parsonage on the church property in 1948-49. They held the first Home and Family Life local church conference in the Brotherhood, Dec. 8-12, 1948. This church, num- bering 335, is one of the two largest, strictly rural, churches in North- ern Indiana. It has a most hopeful outlook.
WAKARUSA (1915)
The early history of the Wakarusa congregation is recorded in that of the Baugo Church. They were one congregation until Dec. 22, 1915 when the territory was divided and the membership in and around Wakarusa became a separate congregation. Members had be- gun settling here for many years, a house of worship having been built in 1895. The membership of 150 was about equally divided be- tween the two congregations.
Christian Metzler was elder in charge here until 1934, having his son-in-law, T. G. Weaver, as his helper. Bro. Weaver was elected to the ministry in 1916. For some years he was a leading elder in Mil- dle Indiana, until in September, 1949, when he began as pastor of the Blue River Church and is now pastor at Middlebury. Otho Warstler moved in from Syracuse later on and remained here until his death in 1949.
Beginning in 1935 Wakarusa has had part time pastoral serv- ice. Lee R. Cory, Burton Metzler, H. A. Claybaugh, Harold Myers and William Smith each serving a short time. Later, Lee Cory served three years more, 1943-46. Raymond Hoover was pastor a year and Samuel Longenecker from 1947-49. Stanley Bittenger, a Manchester student gave part time service for two years. C. V. Coppock is present pastor.
Since Christian Metzler retired as presiding elder in 1934, the following have served: Edward Stump, two years. Burton Metzler, one year; Lee Cory, eight years, Theodore Miller, two years; Eldon Evans, three years; Ralph Petry is the present elder.
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The congregation has maintained an active Sunday School all along, superintended by the following: T. G. Weaver, Bertha Mover. John Searer, Roy Metzler, H. O. Metzler, Roy Summer, Grace Summer and Howard Rogers.
Edward Nusbaum, Charles Pletcher, Eli Wise, Clifford Flora, Roy Summer and Howard Rogers make up the present body of deacons. The church has 92 members now.
WALNUT (1864)
The Walnut Church, located in the southern part of Marshall County, was organized in 1864 with 35 charter members. This terri- tory had been a part of the Yellow River (now Mt. Pleasant ) Church, to the north. Ministers from this church did the first preaching. Abram Miller was the first resident elder. Associated with him were Henry Deardorf, Aaron Huffman and Aaron Swihart. Abram Miller moved to Middle Indiana and finally went with the Old Order Breth- ren. Later Aaron Swihart was ordained and had charge of the church for a number of years.
During its early days the Walnut Church had no building. The members met in homes and later, in the Forest Schoolhouse, one mile north of the present church site. Communion services were held in five different barns in the surrounding neighborhood. (These five barns still stand.) Finally a house of worship was completed and dedicated in 1883, at a cost of $1400.
Soon after this, Daniel West, a minister, moved in and George Swihart was elected. The latter was a cousin to Aaron Swihart, and a brother to Neri Swihart, who later was elected to the ministry in the Beaver Dam Church, but did most of his work in the Walnut Church. Aaron Mow (father of Anetta and Baxter Mow, mission- aries in India for a period of years) was called to the ministry in the Camp Creek Church, and moved to Walnut in 1889. He spent thirteen years here. Edward Ruff and Edward Beckner were ministers here for some time. Other ministers who moved in included Noah Ritchey, James Thomas, John Christian, John Markley, D. W. Hostetler and N. O. Troyer. These all served the church a few years and then moved on except John Christian who remained here until his death in 1941. Other ministers elected here were John Huffman, John Dickey, Levi Puterbaugh, Howard Dickey and Medford Neher.
Presiding elders have been John Sellers, Aaron Swihart, J. L. Thomas, S. F. Sanger, John Dickey, J. F. Appleman, W. R. Deeter, David Metzler, John Markley, John Metzler, T. G. Weaver, C. C. Cripe, J. O. Winger, Howard Kreider and T. G. Weaver. Harper Will is the present elder.
In 1922 the Walnut Church began a full-time pastoral program.
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H. A. Claybaugh, a former teacher in Bethany Biblical Seminary and street mission worker in Chicago, was secured and remained for five years. Following him came T. G. Weaver, who was principal of the Tippecanoe School and served the church on part-time for five years. Grant T. McGuire served the church for three years and then left to complete his course in the Seminary. C. C. Cripe came in 1935 and remained for ten years. Kenneth Long was pastor from 1945 to 1949. Rhett Petcher of Wisconsin became pastor in the summer of 1950.
Deacons who served here during the early years were: Jacob Miller, Jonathan Hoover, Jonathan Dickey, Henry Strycker, John McGriff, Richard Curtis, Henry Haines, Samuel Beckner, Daniel Markley, Peter Swoverland, James Dickey, Jacob Rohrer and Daniel Rohrer. Others who served later were Fred Rohrer, Tobias Heltsel, Emanuel Rohrer, Moses Beckner, William Rohrer, George Neher, Albert Huffman, Ben Jontz, David Burroughs, Noah Johnsenbaugh, Jesse Rohrer, Frank Mowiser, Walter Swihart, and more recently, Ernest Fanning, Russell Rohrer and O. E. Bollinger. The last six with the exception of Ernest Fanning who recently died, comprise the present board of deacons.
The first Sunday School was started soon after the first church was built in 1883, with James Dickey as superintendent. Others who followed him were Lewis Miller, Fred Rohrer, Howard Dickey, Al- bert Huffman, Fred Humbarger, Russell Rohrer, Hubert Latham and Elmer Fletcher. Russell Rohrer continued as superintendent for twenty-five years, from 1913 to 1938. Hubert Latham served for four years and Elmer Fletcher for two years. Since 1944 Russell Rohrer has served again. In the early part of the century several of the brethren carried on a summer Sunday School in three of the outlying schoolhouses. About 1900 a number of brethren asked permission to build a church in Tippecanoe. This was granted by the mother church. This was done and for a number of years Sunday School and church services were conducted here with good results. However since a number of members moved away, and some died, interest waned and the house was finally sold. In 1917 the Sunday School decided to support a missionary on the foreign field. Bro. A. T. Hoffert was assigned them and he was supported for five years.
In 1913 the old house was moved aside and a fine brick structure was built on the old site. This continued to serve the congregation well until Jan. 2, 1944 when it burned completely. But a large number
Turkey Creek
Union
Union Center
Wakarusa
Walnut
Wawaka
West Goshen
Little Pine
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of members met at the parsonage the same afternoon and unanimously decided to rebuild. Because of scarcity of materials due to the war, the building could not be finished at once, but a contract was let, and the fine new, fire-proof structure was dedicated March 18, 1945, with President Schwalm of Manchester College as the speaker.
A parsonage farm of twenty acres, one-half mile south of the church was purchased in 1928. This was a fine venture for it not only furnishes a home for the pastor, but the cultivation of the farm makes a fine project for the Men's Work organization, and brings in a good income besides. A very active Women's Work organization has been carried on here for many years. The membership of the church at present numbers 213 and they have a large open field to work.
WAWAKA (1854)
This is the only Church of the Brethren in Noble County. Among the first Brethren preachers were James Tracy, Jacob Berkey, and Jeremiah Gump. Among the first members were Abram Huff, Joseph Weaver, Adam Smith, Christian Weaver, and Bryan Stein- berger. Christian Weaver was elected to the ministry on the same day that the church was organized in 1854. He lived until March 15, 1907. For years he and David Baer served the church together as best they could. Often during the service they would take turn about preaching as first one and then the other would think of something to say. Joseph Weaver, George Domer, George Swihart, John Sturgis, Joseph Eby, and Benjamin Fryfogle were ministers prior to 1882.
The Wawaka Church house was built in 1874, one mile south- east of Wawaka. Later a house was built three miles east in the Weaver neighborhood. At one time there were two congregations, the east part retaining the old name of Springfield, the west part being known as Pleasant Mound. For some time it was a custom to have Sun- day School at one of the houses, then a half hour after it closed church services were begun in the other house. Most of the attend- ants drove from the one house to the other during the half hour period. The two churches are now united under the name of Wawaka.
About 1895 Adam Eby, son of Cornelius Eby, a deacon, and a grandson of Adam and Sophia Huff, pioneer settlers, was called to the ministry. He later attended Manchester College several years and married Alice King of North Manchester. They spent 31 years in India as Missionaries. Calvin Huber was elected to the ministry at the same time with Adam Eby. He later moved to West Goshen Church where he died.
In 1903 J. H. Elson moved here from the Cedar Lake congrega- tion. He was a son-in-law of Adam and Sophia Huff. Grandma
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Huff died at his home in 1911 at the age of 91. Her husband had died in 1892. Brother Elson was for many years the only minister at Wawaka. He died in 1922 at the age of 92. J. A. Miller was elected to the ministry in 1904. A. I. Mow lived here in 1902 and then moved to Idaho. Walter Gibson and Joseph Miller were later called to the ministry, and John Eberly in 1922. Joseph Miller later went to the Dunkard Brethren and Walter Gibson lives in the Pleasant Valley congregation.
In 1922 Buryl E. Hoover moved in and became pastor of the church, and still serves in that capacity. He was ordained in 1929 and has been elder in charge since then. I. L. Berkey served as elder here for a time, 1910 to 1913. William Hess was elder for a number of years and Milo Geyer was elder from 1919 to 1929.
Early deacons here were Abram Huff, Cornelius Eby, Thomas F. Franks, Harrison Boyd, F. F. Franks, H. L. Shafer, C. A. Huber, G. G. Grady, Edward Frick, and William Weaver. Deacons elected later were Jesse Swank, Lee Franks and Harry Frick. Also Ed. Resler. In 1942 Floyd Jett, Roy Stahly, William Miller, and Russell Shipe were elected deacons. Again on December 10, 1950, Paul Becker, Joseph Bontrager, Donald Castetter, and Robert Fought were installed in the deacon's office.
Sunday School was started about the time that the church was built. Sunday schools were not common then. Later S. S. Superin- tendents have been Harry Frick, Gordon Warstler, Chester Pepple, Donald Castetter, Floyd Jett, Paul Becker, Laurel Kendall, and Joseph Bontrager.
The church purchased a parsonage in the village of Wawaka in 1930, and it has since been remodeled and made thoroughly modern and convenient. The Women's work is very active here. They pur- chased a concrete block building next to the parsonage several years ago; it is used for various church functions. The church is in a healthy and growing condition with 130 members. An extensive project of remodeling and enlarging the church building is now in progress. Judged by the interest of the members and the steady growth in size of the congregation, the church has a very promising future.
ELKHART (1830-1915); WEST GOSHEN (1915)
The West Goshen Church, formerly known as the Elkhart Church, was organized in 1830. It was the first organization in Northern Indiana and with a membership of 562 today, it is the second largest congregation in the district. It retained its original name, Elkhart, until 1915, when because of the confusion it caused, and because of its location, it was given its present name. It formerly embraced all of Elkhart County.
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The leader in building these churches was Elder Daniel Cripe, who led a company of brethren from Montgomery county, Ohio, to seek homes in a new land. With him came Martin Weybright and Jacob Studebaker with their families. They arrived in the spring. Rude buildings were erected, some of the prairie broken and the first crops raised.
The next year Elder Cripe made a trip to the Ohio home and re- turned with a new company, including his son Samuel. In the same year Susannah Cripe was born to John Cripe. She was the first child born in any brethren home in this section. There were now sixteen members scattered here and there. These Elder Cripe assembled and preached to them the first sermon ever delivered by a minister of the Church of the Brethren in Elkhart County. The same year, 1830, a church was organized with Daniel Cripe, elder and minister. A love feast was held at Elder Cripe's house. As no beef could be secured, Elder Cripe furnished one of his ewe lambs for the feast. Love and union prevailed and the work prospered.
In 1832 Elder Cripe called for assistants in the ministry. The membership after careful meditation cast their lots for Jacob Stude- baker and Martin Weybright. Each took up his duties and rendered good service. John Miller and John Leatherman came from Ohio in 1835 and Henry Neff came from Virginia about the same time. The ministerial force was then strong. The territory was large and the membership scattered.
The first separate organization was that of Turkey Creek, 1838, including the southern tier of townships in Elkhart County and the territory south in Kosciusko County. In the new organization were John Leatherman, Henry Neff and Martin Weybright. In 1853 the Elkhart Church was reduced to practically its present size. Rock Run was organized on the east, taking in the east part of Elkhart County. Yellow Creek was organized on the west to include the western part of the county. This left for the Elkhart Church a narrow strip four miles wide, running north and south through the county into Michigan. Eighteen churches now are organized in Elkhart County-formerly the Elkhart congregation, comprising a total of 4134 members, or well toward one-half of the membership of the district. Elder Cripe located well when he settled in Elkhart County and the labors of the years have been blessed.
In the bounds of the Elkhart Church Elder Daniel Cripe con- tinued to reside until his death in 1859. Jacob Studebaker lived here until his death in 1878. Daniel B. Stutsman came in 1831. He served the church as deacon, minister and presiding elder, passing to the great beyond in 1887. Andrew Bigler was elder here during the last years of Elder Stutsman. They were followed by Elder Daniel C.
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Riggle and George Swihart, assisted by Abraham L. Neff. Elder Swihart resigned in 1899. He was followed by Elder Levi Hoke. John Stafford moved here in the fall of 1905 and soon took up the duties of presiding elder. He died in 1908. He was followed by J. H. Miller. Elder Lemuel Hillery spent his last years in this church. Elder A. L. Neff lived here sixteen years. Elder Calvin Huber followed J. H. Miller as presiding elder. He was followed by M. D. Stutsman who has been presiding elder most of the time since, being the present elder. Hiram Roose was elder from 1925-28 and Foster Berkey from 1936-41.
William Hess, L. P. Kurtz, M. D. Stutsman, Hiram Forney, John Cripe, Clarence Swihart and Isaac Grady all spent many years of active service in the ministry here. Foster Berkey and Samuel Miller were licensed to the ministry in 1928 and both were ordained to the eldership in 1932. James Hay and Arthur Shultz were installed in the ministry here in 1917 but neither remained here long. Devon Martin was the last one licensed to the ministry, which was in 1936, being installed in 1940. Lewis Overholser has served in the ministry here for many years, but gives his service mostly at an out-station eight miles north of the West Goshen house, which became a separate congregation in 1950.
West Goshen had always been served by free ministry. However, Elder D. G. Berkebile moved here from Southern Ohio in Sept. 1949, to become their first full-time pastor. This will be a new epoch for West Goshen.
Some of the earlier deacons were Jacob Ulery, Peter Eby, Isaac Beckner, Isaac Hoke, George Smith, Amos Bigler, Aaron Bigler, Cyrus Frame, Alva Hoke, G. G. Grady, Reuben Trimmer, John Cripe, D. Stouder, I. S. Beckner, Charles Troup, James Hay, Clem Neterer, Arthur Shultz and Aaron Treesh. Among the present deacons are Chester Edwards, Ezra Warstler, Kenneth Michael, Ira Shidler, Harold Berkey, Gerald Sherman, Claire Kauffman, Floyd Kime, and Raymond Younce.
The first house of worship was built in 1859. In 1882 the mem- bership was 275. In 1886 the present large brick house was built, though it has since been remodeled by building a balcony and putting in a full basement. It stands on the site of the original house, one mile from the center of Goshen.
Sunday School was first organized in 1890 and has been continued since. Names of the earlier superintendents are not available. Those since 1917 have been Foster Berkey, Samuel Miller, Ira J. Shidler, Osie Brumbaugh, Roy Meyers, Faye Miller, Paul Kurtz, Glenn Cripe, J. Claire Kauffman and Gerald Sherman.
Anna Warstler went out from this church in 1931 as a mission-
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ary to India and still serves in that field, having all these years been supported by her home church. She has rendered splendid service.
On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 1930, the West Goshen Church met in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of our church in Northern Indiana. That morning chanced to bring the first snow of the season and prevented many from attending. Elder Otho Winger, now of sacred memory, was the speaker for the occasion. He gave a very interesting account of the history of the church in America and in Elkhart County. It was a day well spent.
The West Goshen Church has completed a cabin designed to ac- commodate most of the social functions of the church. This will be of special interest to the young people. The church also recently pur- chased a very comfortable, modern parsonage a few doors west of the church house. The congregation holds great promise for the future.
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YELLOW CREEK (1856)
The Yellow Creek Church formerly was the western part of the Elkhart congregation (now West Goshen). It was organized sepa- rately in 1856. The first brethren minister here was John Miller, one of the first ministers in Elkhart County. He settled here in an early day and raised a large family. Sebastian Frame was one of the first elders and presided many years. He was followed by his son, Gabriel, and by John Eversole, also a preacher and elder. The Frames lived in the northern part of the congregation where later on was organ- ized the Elkhart Valley Church. Other of the earlier ministers were Jacob Eversole and John Anglemyer; J. H. Miller lived at Gravelton but served as elder. The first deacons in Yellow Creek were Paul Kurtz, Henry Sala, Daniel Leer and David Miller.
In 1881 when the division came this church passed through sore
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trials. The elder, Samuel Leer, Benjamin Burket, minister in the sec- ond degree and eleven others went with the Old Order Brethren. This left only one official, John Nusbaum, a deacon. The adjoining elders looked after the appointments for awhile. Help was not long wanting. John Nusbaum was called to the ministry in 1883. Hiram Roose, in 1884, and Eli Roose in 1887. Later deacons were Jacob Domer, Abe Hoover, John Ganger and Isaiah Miller.
The house of worship was built in 1867. It is about seven miles west of Goshen and is still in use. Before this they had worshiped in the homes. Henry Culp was in charge of the building of the church. Levi Miller hauled the first load of lumber. In 1921 the house was remodeled, being turned one-fourth way around and having a full base- ment added. Five class rooms were made at this time.
Later ministers elected have been I. S. Burns and John Frederick, in 1904; Harvey Schwalm, 1910. The latter was a son of Elder H. M. Schwalm. He died of typhoid fever in 1922. Others elected later were, Irvin Miller, Earl Nusbaum and Charles Herr. H. A. Claybaugh lived here for some years.
In the later years the church has been served by part-time pastoral service. Samuel Miller of Goshen served for several years, and Charles Light since early in 1946. The presiding elders in turn have been : John Miller, Sebastian Frame, Daniel Y. Miller, Jacob Eversole, Samuel Leer, John Anglemyer, J. H. Miller, Hiram Roose, Harvey Schwalm. Harold Miller began full time pastoral services Septem- ber, 1950.
Among the deacons. who have served here in the later years have been Levi Mishler, Josiah Miller, and Daniel Miller. The present deacons are: William Wagner, Joe Hygema, Sam Wallace, Henry Hoover, Amos Hoover, Frank Huber, Walter Steffin and Chester Detweiler.
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