USA > Indiana > History of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana > Part 15
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George W. Bowser served as the next elder. Elder Bowser was a farmer and owned the farm where Roscoe Shaffer now lives. Nine years before his death he resigned the eldership of the church and was succeeded by Elias Smeltzer. Elder Smeltzer was born on the farm owned by Roy Ehman, west of Atlanta. He lived near Arcadia all his life. During that time he visited the Holy Land, comparing the land and the Bible.
Elders following in order were Nathan Cripe, 1911; Elias Smeltzer again in 1912, followed by Fred Fair, Grant Wagoner and Wm. Hatcher. A number of preachers were called to the ministry dur- ing these years: Daniel Achenbach, John Caylor, Newton Perry. James H. Hill, Walter Mosbaugh.
In the year 1923 the church called I. B. Wike of Huntington to serve as pastor and elder. I. B. Wike was the first paid pastor to serve
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the church. He served faithfully until 1931, adding many to the church.
Among the men who served as deacons when the church was first organized were George Heimlich, George Cornelius, David Bright, and Andrew Eller. Others called later were Peter Eller and James Hill, Elias Smeltzer, J. P. Kinder. In 1908 the church called John Eller, Henry Martin and W. V. Barnhizer. In 1912, Clarence Mosbaugh and Will Eller. In 1925, Frank Landes, C. H. Smeltzer, Ivan Smeltzer, and Dallas Barnhizer. Daniel Smeltzer was elected deacon in the Stony Creek Church and later moved to Arcadia. In 1937 the church called Clifton Hartley, Gerald Landes, Elsworth Lockwood and James Smeltzer. When elected to the office of deacon in the Breth- ren church it means a lifetime of service.
The first Sunday School in the Arcadia Church was organized in 1899 with Elias Smeltzer as Supt., Peter Eller, Asst. Supt., Nora Cornelius Groves as Secretary and Sarah Kinder, Treas. The first teachers were Elias Smeltzer, J. H. Hill, Sarah Kinder, Elizabeth Kinder and Zeruiah Hill. At first the school was open only during the summer. It became an evergreen S. S. in 1899. Zuruiah Hill succeeded Elias Smeltzer as Supt. and remained in that office for 18 years. Later Supts. were Joe Stout, Clifton Hartley, Dallas Barnhizer and Adrian Sexton, who is serving at the present time.
At first the care and management of the cemetery was in the hands of the deacons. In 1893 a trustee board was elected and consisted of G. W. Bowser, J. W. Keck, Squire Newby, Peter Eller and Elias Smeltzer. Squire Newby as manager took charge of the grounds for several years.
The first Supt. of the cemetery elected by the trustees was Ellis Young. Later followed by Enock Landis, J. P. Kinder, T. A. Davis and Lora Belzar. George Simmons is now caring for the cemetery. J. P. Kinder served as Supt. for 21 years and cared for about 1,000 burials.
Among some of the early members of the church not previously mentioned was Daniel Whetstone from Ripley Co. The Eilars from Wayne County, David Brights from Ohio and Samuel Miller, grand- father of John and Joe Miller who are now members of the church.
In 1931 R. L. Showalter became elder and pastor of the church. He served the church as pastor for 12 years and is still the presiding elder, having served more than 18 years. During Showalters pastorate he had a six months leave. Glen Baird then a student at Bethany Bible Seminary at Chicago, served our church.
Stanley Keller, also a student pastor from Bethany Seminary, served as pastor until 1944. He was followed by Alfred Replogle (1944-46), W. E. Hamilton (1946-48) and Arthur Dodge, since 1948.
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The original church which was erected in 1866 has never been dismantled. In 1907 it was remodeled. Rev. Burcham of Noblesville giving the dedicatory sermon. Again in 1919 the church was re- modeled. A large basement was added. A furnace and new seats, were purchased. Otho Winger of North Manchester delivered the address. Many minor improvements have been added since.
In the spring of 1945 the church purchased their first parsonage and it was occupied by Rev. Replogle and family. In 1948 the church sold that parsonage to Rev. Hamilton and purchased a property on East Main Street.
Down through the years our ministers and elders have worked faithfully. Sharing the joys and sorrows with their members. The church has grown under the untiring efforts of these people. The pres- ent membership is 136.
BEECH GROVE ( Formerly the Stony Creek Church)
The old Stony Creek Church was organized about 1850 by Brother Elias Caylor. He and Brother Joseph McCarty saw the church grow rapidly having almost unlimited boundaries with the larger mem- bership being in Hamilton County. In eleven years the first house was built about three miles east of Noblesville and long known as the "Old Stony Creek House."
In 1860 a church was formed in the north part of Hamilton County which took about forty members and was called Cicero Church. In 1878 the territory in the eastern part of Hamilton County and the western part of Madison County was organized as the Beech Grove Church with fifty members. There was also an organization in Nobles- ville. Some internal troubles arose and Elder Elias Caylor moved to Arcadia and the Cicero church became the Arcadia church. John H. Caylor and Joseph McCarty continued to labor faithfully until death. Brother Enoch Fry was the only minister in the Beech Grove church when it was organized.
Through the preaching of Elder John H. Caylor, David R. Rich- ards was baptized in 1872. In 1881 he was elected to the ministry and ordained in 1895. The same day he became Elder of the Beech Grove church. He remained its faithful shepherd for seventeen years. He was a zealous supporter of the Sunday School and Prayer meetings. He spent much time on the mission field of Southern Indiana.
In 1902, Edward O. Norris, a son-in-law of D. R. Richards, was called to the ministry. He was ordained Nov. 4, 1906. Since then Brother Norris has been a most faithful and devoted leader. At the present he is pastor of the Richmond Church. Brethren Paul Hiatt and Claudius Pyle were also ordained.
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The southern part of this church was organized into a separate body known as Sugar Creek. The work did not prosper and the mem- bers became a part of the Beech Grove Church. At this time the Nobles- ville church has been closed and Beech Grove with Arcadia are the re- maining churches of the original "Old Stony Creek."
The Presiding Elders have been; Enoch Fry, D. R. Richards, E. O. Norris, Joseph Shepherd, A. B. Roof, Clarence Hoover and E. L. McCullough. Those who have served in the free ministry are Harvey Haskell, Carlos Savage, Jake Swoveland, Walt Gustin, E. O. Norris, Joseph Shepherd, Marion Norris, and Jonathan Greenhalgh.
The part time pastors are; Brethren Clarence Hoover, Joseph Shepherd, Paul Hiatt, and Estel Mccullough.
The Deacons who have served and those now serving are; Jim Byers, Jonah Michael, Billy Stinson, Nathan Stinson, David Pettigrew, Alva Pettigrew, Joseph Fuqua, Isom Denny, David Thomas, Jim Roe Cook, George Shull, James Landig, Charley Schuler, Alfred Spall, Jonas Michael, William Beaver, George Fair, Leonard Reeves, Owen Chappell, Albert Whelchel, Even Fuqua, Joseph Killey, Frank Mills, George Beery, Lester Fuqua, Stewart Hiday, Francis Young, Elire Mills.
The Superintendents of the Sunday School: Linnie Landig, Alva Pettigrew, Emma Foust, Hattie Shull, Vernie Beaver, Amos Spall, Even Fuqua, Max Jones, Ralph Hunt, Stewart Hiday and Frances Young.
Brother Estel Mccullough is the present pastor serving since June 1942. The membership is one hundred thirty-two. The present church house has been remodeled and is very commodious. The District meet- ing of 1949 was held here. A large tent was put up under the shade of the one remaining beech tree. This beautiful tree still shades the sacred ground of the Beech Grove Church.
BUCK CREEK
The Buck Creek Church was originally a branch of the Nettle Creek Church. It was organized as a separate congregation in 1845 and located in the northern part of the Nettle Creek territory.
Prior to its organization Elder John Bowman of Hagerstown preached for them, and when organized. The elders in charge were Benjamin Bowman, David Hardman, Zachariah Albaugh, and John Bowman. The charter members were Samuel Bechtelheimer and wife, Samuel Brewer and wife, and David Priddy and wife. Samuel Brewer was the first minister elected, and Samuel Bechtelheimer and his son, Simeon, were the first deacons.
The early meetings were held in homes and barns. The first com- munion was held in the home of Jacob Houser, September 17, 1846.
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Some of the communion meetings were held in the David Priddy barn where Jacob Houser was elected to the ministry.
Jacob Houser was elected minister June 18, 1852 ; David Priddy, 1860; Levi Himes and Jacob Priddy, 1864; John Kirklin, 1866, and John Bowman, 1869.
The church house was built about 1867. It was located two miles west of Blountsville and five miles northwest of Mooreland. It was orginally a two-gable building built on a low rock foundation, and with the entrance door on the south side. The entrance door was later put in the west end. In 1898 the building was remodeled, raised, and a basement put under it. It was dedicated in November of that year,Lewis W. Teeter giving the dedicatory sermon. The communion meeting for that fall was held in December. It was again remodeled in 1922 and an annex built on the south side. It was rededicated on No- vember 5 of that year and Evangelist S. J. Smith, who was beginning a revival meeting there, preached the dedicatory sermon. There was an all-day meeting, and it was the greatest day in the history of the Buck Creek Church. At the time of this writing a further remodeling of the church house is being planned.
David H. Replogle was elected to the ministry in 1871. Levi T. Holsinger came back from Nebraska in 1881. Those two ministers were both ordained to the eldership on the same day in 1888, and Levi T. Holsinger was elected presiding elder. Soon after their ordination Levi T. Holsinger moved to Ladoga, Indiana, and David H. Re- plogle was elected presiding elder to succeed him. He served as presid- ing elder for twenty years, then resigned in 1908.
Isaac B. Wike was elected to the ministry in 1889 and ordained to the eldership in 1900. Lewis W. Teeter was in charge of the ordination. He moved to Huntington County, Indiana in the spring of 1902.
Lewis L. Teeter was elected to the ministry in the Upper Fall Creek Church on June 22, 1895. His letter of membership was granted on the same day to be presented to the Buck Creek Church where he was then residing. He was advanced to the second degree of the ministry on October 8, 1897. He was ordained to the eldership November 2, 1902, and was elected presiding elder of the Buck Creek Church on December 26, 1908 to succeed David H. Replogle. He served as presiding elder until his death on March 6, 1934, a period of more than twenty-five years.
Anson C. Priddy was elected to the ministry in 1901, and ordained to the eldership about ten years later.
Sherman Cross was elected to the ministry on March 7, 1914, after having been a minister in the United Brethren Church, and later moved to Muncie. A. J. Replogle and E. C. Teeter were elected deacons on the same day.
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Lewis L. Paul and E. C. Teeter were elected to the ministry in two council meetings in the fall of 1918, and were installed together on November 17, 1918. About five years later Lewis L. Paul was ordained to the eldership. He moved to Camden, Indiana twice there- after where he was pastor of the Lower Deer Creek Church. He re- turned in March 1934 and was elected presiding elder of the Buck Creek Church on April 4, 1934 to succeed Lewis L. Teeter, and he served as presiding elder until his death on Jan. 8, 1940.
Lewis Deardorff was licensed to preach in 1932, and was elected to the ministry the following year. He graduated from Manchester College in 1936. The next year he moved to Ladoga, Indiana, where he was part time pastor of the Ladoga Church and a teacher in the high school for six years. He was ordained to the eldership while at Ladoga.
D. W. Bowman of the Anderson Church was elected presid- ing elder of the Buck Creek Church in March 1940 to succeed Lewis L. Paul and served as presiding elder eight years to March 14, 1948, when he resigned.
E. C. Teeter was ordained to the eldership on September 8, 1934, and elected presiding elder of the Buck Creek Church on March 14, 1948, to succeed D. W. Bowman, and is the present presiding elder.
The presiding elders of the Buck Creek Church from its organiza- tion were Christian Holler, Daniel Bowman, Levi Himes, Levi T. Hol- singer, David H. Replogle, Lewis L. Teeter, Lewis L. Paul, D. W. Bowman, and E. C. Teeter.
Other ministers in the Buck Creek Church were Jacob Holder in 1881, Jacob Swoveland from 1908 until his death in 1910, S. G. Bur- nett in 1922, B. F. Summer 1927-1928 and Perry R. Hoover 1934- 1940.
The first Sunday School was organized in 1872, and Levi Himes was the first superintendent. Later Sunday school superintendents were Isaac B. Wike, Lewis L. Teeter, Charles E. Stauble, Phoebe (Teeter) Good, Nettie (Brown) Summer, E. N. Cross, A. J. Replogle, Perry R. Hoover, Neva Cross, Clara Sheets. Ernest Rodeffer is the present superintendent.
At one time in the early history of the church about one third of the congregation migrated to Kansas. Included in those were some of the leading families, deacons, and two ministers, one of whom was the presiding elder. They founded the Osage Church in Southeastern Kansas.
The district conferences that have been held in the Buck Creek church were in 1899, 1910, 1918, 1926, 1935 and 1943.
Nettie (Brown) Summer from the Buck Creek Church was a mis- sionary to India 1919-1927.
The Sunday school was originally held only during the spring and
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summer quarters, but later it was held during the entire year. Small testaments were originally used, but later the quarterlies were used. Many township Sunday school conventions and one county Sunday school convention was held in the Buck Creek Church.
The ministerial service of the Buck Creek Church was by the local ministers until 1940, John R. Peters of California was the first full time pastor and he began his service on October 20, 1940. He continued un- til the spring of 1944 when he resigned and went back west. Charles Kenneth Fisher of Illinois became the second full time pastor, on Feb- ruary 17, 1945 and served until 1950, when Howard Breneman came.
The present deacons of the Buck Creek Church are E. N. Cross, A. J. Replogle, Marion Current, John E. Oxley and Frank Cross. The membership is 138.
FAIRVIEW
Fairview was originally a part of the Pyrmont or North Fork Church which was organized in 1852. In 1872 the church was divided, the western part to be a separate church in Tippecanoe County. The first and only church building still stands. The timber for this church stood on the land owned by Peter Saltzman. Samuel Wagoner hauled the logs to the Jacob Felix saw mill and to the church site with oxen. Most of the labor and building material was donated. When the church was ready Elder R. H. Miller, Sr., preached the dedicatory sermon. Before and while the church was being erected, meetings were held in the barn which until recently was owned by Elder John W. and Lulu Root. The barn is still in use.
The new organization had sixty-six members with Elder John Shively, the first presiding officer. Brethren George Cripe from Warsaw, Indiana, and Isaac Billheimer from Tennessee, moved into the congregation. In order that Brother Cripe have a home, the church purchased four acres one mile southeast of the church, equipped with good buildings and gave it, with its proceeds, to Brother Cripe as long as he would live there and give his service to the church free. After several years Brother Billheimer moved to Middle Fork and Brother Cripe moved to Cerro Gordo, Illinois. He deeded the property to the Church Trustees.
Brethren Isaiah Quinn from Kansas and Samuel Ulery from Pyr- mont moved into the church and served as leaders. Brother Ulery died and Brother Quinn retired. Brother Solomon Blickenstaff was Elder three years, Brother John Diehl one year, Brother David Dill- ing six years; then it was that Brother Levi T. Holsinger and son, Merton, ably filled the pulpit. Elder Benjamin Wray served seven years.
November 11, 1906, Brethren Jeremiah Barnhart and John W. Root were called with an almost unanimous vote into the minis-
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try. Brethren Barnhart and Root served together until 1909, when Brother Barnhart moved to Pyrmont. In 1934 Brother Albert Harshbarger was ordained. Brother Ellis Wagoner was elected to the ministry at Fairview and Brother John Robert Wagoner was chosen August 14, 1938, Brother Ellis Wagoner moved away and Brother John Robert is a practicing physician living at Colburn, Ind. In January 1924 Elder John W. Root was given charge of the Fairview Church and continued pastor until March 1948, with the exception of two years (1934-1936) when Brother Albert Harshbarger was pastor. From 1907 until 1948, Brother and Sister Root lived and served in the Fairview church. They have given loyal devoted service. The failing health of Sister Root made it necessary to move into town. They live in Rossville and Brother Root's service is now lovingly given to his wife who has stood by him through all the years of his ministry. (Sister Root died in November, 1950.)
Brother Delmar Moyer and wife served as summer pastor in 1948. Brother and Sister Charles Bieber served from 1948 to June 1949 when they were commissioned to Africa. Brother Waldo Kinsel and family came in 1949. A parsonage has been purchased about one- fourth mile east of the church. In 1946, the Lafayette church was organized and eleven members were transferred.
At the organization of the church, Brethren Adam Sensenbaugh, Daniel Wagoner, Philip Drall, Isaac Wagoner and Thomas Welch were deacons. Since then the following have been deacons. Noah Ulery, Eli Miller, David Wagoner, and William Stewart. In 1920, Brethren Roy Brandt and Arthur Kirkwood were elected. In 1924, the church called Brethren Thomas Laprad, Joseph Fisher and Clarence Idle. In 1940, Brethren Lowell Brooks, Clyde Dick, Russel Miller, John E. Wagoner and Edgar Oaks were chosen to be deacons. Brother David Wagoner gave a lifetime of faithful service. The deacons now residing in the church are: Lowell Brooks, Joseph Fisher, and Edger Oaks.
During the past seventy years Brother Root tells us there have been twelve ministers, seven moved in and five were elected. With the exception of the last few years the church has been served by the free ministry. The present membership is ninety-six. Brother Albert Harshbarger and family reside in the congregation, he being the pre- siding Elder. Brother Waldo Kinsel and wife, graduates of Bethany Biblical Seminary live in the parsonage and serve as Pastors of the Fairview Church. (The Harshbargers have moved to Bainbridge. )
FOUR MILE CHURCH
The Four Mile church is the oldest Church of the Brethren in the State of Indiana. From her membership have gone many of the first
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members of other churches so she may well be called the mother con- gregation for the state.
The first members came from Pennsylvania and Virginia, from 1804 to 1809. There were fourteen in all who settled near the waters of the Four Mile Creek, in what was then called the Twelve Mile Purchase of Indiana, but is now Union County, Indiana. The names of these pioneers are worth recording ;- Christopher Witter, John Witter, John Moyer, Daniel Miller, Abraham Miller, James Huston, and their wives, and sisters Ann Lybrook and Phoebe Miller. Elder Jacob Miller, the pioneer preacher of the Bear Creek congregation, Ohio, having heard of these frontier members, came and preached for them occasionally. In 1809 he and Elder John Hart organized the church, which took the name of Four Mile, from the creek near by. John Moyer and Daniel Miller were chosen to the ministry in this new church, while Christopher Witter and Joseph Kingery were chosen deacons.
ยท The church increased rapidly, both by migration and conver- sion. In 1813 Baltzer Lybrook was called to the ministry. He lived in the northern part on the farm now owned by Daniel Brower. He secured this land from the government and gave the ground for the Lybrook cemetery which is located on the farm. The other two min- isters, Brethren Moyer and Miller lived more to the south. The membership being widely scattered, it was thought best to divide the territory into two congregations. That to the south took the name of Lower Four Mile, while that to the north was called Upper Four Mile.
At first Lower Four Mile church was strong and quite active. They built the first house of worship erected by the Brethren in Indiana. This was a frame structure, built during the forties, and stood near Four Mile Creek, two miles north of College Corner. It was about 40 x 50, and had a raised floor that gave the audience elevated seats. It was used until 1873. This was on what is known as the Kaufmann farm.
This congregation called a number of men to the ministry, many of whom moved away later. John Whiteneck was elected in 1842, moved to Wabash County in 1847, and founded the work of the Som- erset Church. He had come to Union County from Virginia in 1825. In 1828 he married Lucy Kingery. Joseph McCarty resided at Four Mile a short time but moved to Hamilton County where he helped to build up the Stony Creek Church. John Hansel moved to Iowa. John Moyer, one of the first two ministers called also moved west. Daniel Miller was the last one of these early ministers to leave. He moved to South Bend about 1864, taking with him about twenty members. This so weakened the Lower Four Mile church that it
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asked for, and secured, reunion with the Upper Four Mile church, hereafter known simply as Four Mile.
The Upper Four Mile had called a number of able men into serv- ice. Baltzer Lybrook served from 1813 until his death in 1830. About this time William Moss and his son Abraham Moss, were called to the ministry. In 1838 William Moss moved to Miami County, Indiana, and became the pioneer preacher and elder of the Mexico congregation. He had three sons who were ministers in the church of the Brethren, Abraham, William Jr. and Philip. Abraham was the only one of these sons to be elected at Four Mile. He was a very able preacher and served the church for twenty-five years. His preaching not only attracted the attention of his brethren, but he was widely known and highly respected by those outside the church. He served once on Standing Committee and often on other important committees. He died in August 1860, having been elder of the Four Mile church for twenty-five years.
Daniel Brower was elected in 1842 and served this congregation until his death, February 3, 1891, in his 87th year. Hiel Hamilton was elected November 1, 1845, but soon moved to Howard County, Indiana, where he became a great power for the church. Isaac Lawshe was elected to the ministry probably in New Jersey, from where he moved to Four Mile sometime in the thirties. In 1850 he was granted a letter to be presented to the Somerset church, which Elder John Whiteneck had been instrumental in founding. The copy of this letter is interesting and also the names which are signed to it. It reads as follows: "State of Indiana, Union County, April 6, 1850. We, your unworthy brethren and sisters on the Four Mile and White Water, do send our love to the brethren on Mississinewa or whereso- ever these lines may come in the church of Christ. This is to inform you that Brother Isaac Lawshe and Sister Nancy Lawshe, his wife, are in full fellowship with the church here and he is a minister of the Gospel and is authorized to receive and exclude members by the council of the church, and we wish you to receive them as such. Signed by Abraham Moss, Daniel Brower, David Rinehart, Henry D. Lawshe, Daniel Dillman, Jacob Lybrook, James Toney, Philip Lybrook, Peter Eikenberry, Stephen Petry, Israel Brower, Barbara Kingery, Daniel Fiant, Jonas Fiant." We presume that not all of these were ministers and deacons but that some of the laymen must have signed the letter as well.
Up until this time these northern members must have been meet- ing in their homes for services or perhaps in the log school house on the old Squire Moss farm, which is now the Johnson farm. It was all timber then and located several rods south and east of the present Four Mile church. Miss Ollie Hart says that she remembers hearing
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her mother, Maria Lybrook Hart, tell of going to the old log school house to church. Maria Hart was baptized November 16, 1849 by Abraham Moss. So from this it is likely that the log school house was also used for Church services. Another minister who was connected with the church was Peter Smith. It was he that baptized Philip Ly- brook and his sons Jacob and John.
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