USA > Indiana > History of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana > Part 21
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. A. E. Harshbarger, J. A. Miller
1949-Beech Grove
.G. L. Wine
. Carl Hilbert
. Paul Kendall
.E. L. Mccullough, G. L. Wine
1950-Arcadia
. Carl Hilbert
.Edward Angeny .
. Paul Kendall
. Carl Hilbert, E. L. Mccullough
1951-Nettle Creek
.A. E. Harshbarger
. L. S. Shively
. William Tinkle
1952-Four Mile
. Eldon Petry
.L. S. Shively
. William Tinkle
.A. E. Harshbarger, Eldon Petry . Eldon Petry, G. L. Wine
.
.D. W. Bowman
.James R. Hunter .
. Carl Hilbert
.R. L. Sink
1946-Union Grove
. Roy Richey
. Carl Hilbert
.O. D. Werking
1947-Rossville
.I. E. Oberholtzer
R. L. Sink
1943-Buck Creek
.
216
History of the Church of the Brethren
The Churches in 1881
In 1881 the District was composed of the following churches, with the number of members of each church : Buck Creek, 90; Beech Grove, 75; Bethel (Ladoga), 130; Cicero (Arcadia), 100; Fair View, 130; Four Mile, 150; Greentown, 75; Howard, 164; Killbuck, 41; Lower Fall, 70; Lick Creek, 80; Middle Fork, 217; Mississinewa, 200; Nettle Creek, 407 ; Pyrmont, 161 ; Potato Creek, 35; Retreat, Jackson County, 32 ; Summit, 54; Stony Creek, 50; Sampson Hill, 21 ; Upper Fall, 110.
Mission Work
Considering the large field and scattered membership, one should ex- pect that the cause of missions would attract a great deal of attention. Southern Indiana early had men of great missionary zeal. John Metz- ger, George Hoover, George W. Studebaker, Hiel Hamilton and others, "went everywhere preaching the Gospel." Much of the early work in Middle and Northern Indiana was begun by these pioneers.
In 1881 a committee, consisting of Hiel Hamilton, Jacob Rife and Geo. W. Cripe, recommended the following plan for doing definite work in the District : "We, your committee, recommend that the three follow- ing named brethren, John Caylor, Hiel Hamilton and Lewis Kinsey, be appointed to constitute a Board of Missions, whose duty it shall be to appoint a treasurer to receive all funds donated by the congregations for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the missionaries. The board shall set the time and designate the place or places where the work is to be done, and make such calls on the churches as they may deem neces- sary to secure means to carry on the mission to the best of their abil- ity. We further recommend that the board appoint four brethren as missionaries, whose duties it shall be to preach at such times and places as the board may designate, the missionaries to serve for one year ; and we further decide that the board shall have power to fill all vacancies."
This report was passed and the following named brethren were chosen and accepted as the first brethren appointed by the District : Hiram Branson, John W. Metzger, Lewis W. Teeter and Daniel Bock.
The following year, for some reasons, the Mission Board was suspended, but missionaries were appointed by the conference and paid direct by the District Treasurer. There were already mission points in Harrison, Jackson, Martin and other counties. From year to year the District elected men to look after these places. Some of the mission- aries of these places, besides the above named, were Lewis Kinsey, William Harshbarger, John H. Caylor, Jacob Rife, L. T. Holsinger, Daniel Bock and Isaac Cripe.
In 1885 the Nettle Creek church asked the District Meeting "to cause to be inaugurated a special fund for the purpose of erecting, or assisting in the erection of, churchhouses within the territory, formu-
217
Districts-Data and Activities
lating a plan in harmony with Article 5 of the General Church Erection and Missionary Committee adopted in 1883." Lewis Kinsey, Daniel Bock and D. F. Hoover prepared a plan and certain regulations. These were accepted and Samuel Mohler, of Middle Fork, David Peffly, of Ladoga, and David Richards, of Sugar Creek, were appointed a com- mittee to be known as the Church Extension Committee of Southern Indiana. This was the beginning of the Mission Board which has con- tinued to the present time. Its membership has been as follows: Sam- uel Mohler, 1885 to 1902; David Peffly, 1885 to 1898; David Rich- ards, 1885 to 1890;Lewis Hooke, 1890 to 1901; William Hicks, 1899 to 1902 ; John F. Shoemaker, 1901 to 1916; E. M. Cobb, 1902 to 1903 ; J. S. Alldredge, 1904 to 1908; D. E. Bowman, 1911 to 1914; E. P. Dunbar, 1912 to 1913; J. W. Root, 1913; John Herr, 1914. In 1916 the board was enlarged and the following brethren became the com- mittee : E. O. Norris, Jeremiah Barnhart, J. A. Miller, John Root and John Herr.
During these thirty years the board has been doing what it could with the means at hand to carry the Gospel to needy fields. At the mis- sion points already mentioned the work was continued, churches were established in Harrison County, Sampson Hill in Martin County, New Hope in Jackson County, Fountain in Ripley County, Redwood near Williamsport. This work was largely placed in the hands of District elders, two being selected each year, one for the southern and one for the western part of the field. Some of the faithful shep- herds of the work were W. R. Harshbarger, J. W. Rarick, G. L. Studebaker, Isaac Branson, D. F. Hoover, A. C. Young and Peter Houk.
The board has also helped to establish churches in the cities of Muncie, Anderson, Kokomo and Indianapolis. While some of the work seemed either to fail, or to accomplish but little, yet when one contem- plates that through the preaching done under the direction of the board more than 600 have been brought into the kingdom, many members have been fed with spiritual food, and much faithful witnessing for Christ done by the church, the results abundantly pay for the efforts put forth.
Ministerial Meetings
Annual Ministerial Meetings have been held since 1891. That year the following brethren were named as a program committee to ar- range a suitable program for the coming year : L. T. Holsinger, L. W. Teeter, Daniel Bock, D. F. Hoover and D. C. Campbell. These meet- ings have been helpful in giving inspiration to those who must carry on the great work of the District.
218
History of the Church of the Brethren
Sunday Schools
Sunday schools have been held in the District about as early as anywhere in the West. L. W. Teeter and others were pioneers in the work. Brother Teeter was secretary of the first Sunday-school organ- ized at Nettle Creek in 1868, and was one of the pioneer editors of our Sunday-school literature. Annual Sunday-school meetings have been held since 1901. The first program committee for these meetings were E. M. Cobb, A. C. Young and Sister Zeruih Hill. In 1909 the District meeting appointed as District Sunday-school and Christian Workers' Secretary, Sister Emma Miller, of the Nettle Creek congregation. For nine years she ably performed her duties, going from school to school, giving encouragement and helpful suggestions. Her report of 1916 shows that there were in the District thirty-six Sunday-schools with 2,525 students enrolled and an average attendance of 1,692.
From 1917-1951 the following Brethren have carried much of the load of the work of the church in Southern Indiana :
L. W. Teeter, L. L. Teeter, D. L. Barnhart, Jeremiah Barnhart, J. S. Alldredge, O. D. Werking, John W. Root, Levi Wise, D. W. Bowman, R. L. Showalter, L. S. Shively, J. Andrew Miller, Estel McCullough, Wilbur Barnhart, Albert Harshbarger, Carl Hilbert and Mahlon Rinehart.
The present (1951) administration board consists of the follow- ing members :
Albert Harshbarger, Chairman; L. S. Shively, Sec. ; Mahlon Rine- hart, Treas .; E. K. Norris; Estel Mccullough; Wilbur S. Barnhart ; Carl Hilbert ; G. L. Wine; Mrs. Letha Burnett and Eldon M. Petry.
There are 25 congregations and 3,539 members.
SOUTHERN INDIANA ELDERS AND MINISTERS
(E) Elders, (M) Ministers, (L) Licentiates
(E) Angeny, Edward, moved to Dayton, Ohio
(E) Barnhart, Jeremiah, Delphi, R. 4, Ind.
(E) Bowman, A. D., Hagerstown, Ind.
(E) Bowman, D. E., R. 2, Hagerstown, Ind.
(E) Bowman, D. W., 908 Washington Blvd., Anderson, Ind.
(M) Breneman, Howard, R. 1, Mooreland, Ind.
(M) Breneman, Floyd, Box 6, New Lisbon, Ind.
(M) Brinson, M. L., R. 9, Frankfort, Ky.
(E) Browning, V. B., R. 3, Muncie.
(L) Buckley, Raymond, R. 2, Richmond, Ind.
(E) Byerly, Robert, moved to Elizabethtown, Pa.
219
Districts-Data and Activities
(E) Campbell, Alfred, Centerpoint, Ind.
(M) Carpenter, Carnie, 207 Randolph Ave., Jeffersonville, Ind.
(E) Coblentz, P. E., R. I, Bunker Hill, Ind.
(M) Copeland, Denzil, R. I, Sharpsville, Ind.
(E) Culler, Farrel, Clay City, Ind.
(E) Davis, Thomas, Windfall, Ind.
(M) Detrick, Ernest, R. I, Muncie, Ind.
(E) Dodge, Arthur, Arcadia, Ind.
(M) Dunbar, Joseph, Colfax, Ind.
(M) Gibble, Pius, R., Liberty, Ind.
(M) Fisher, Kenneth, Seymour, Ind.
(E) Groff, Forrest, Noblesville, Ind.
(E) Hamilton, William, 1397 Locust St., Middletown, Ind.
(E) Harshbarger, Albert, Bainbridge, Ind.
(E) Hartman, Kenneth, 1729 Shortridge Drive, Lafayette, Ind. (M) Heeter, Robert, Ladoga, Ind.
(E) Hewitt, Alva, Windfall, Ind.
(M) Hiatt, Paul, 2212 George St., Fortville, Ind.
(E) Hilbert, Carl, R. 2, Hagerstown, Ind.
(M) Hilbert, Lloyd, R. 2, Hagerstown, Ind.
(E) Hoover, Clarence, Chesterfield, Ind.
(E) Hoover, M. M., Hagerstown, Ind.
(E) Hylton, Charles, R. I, Mulberry, Ind.
(E) Hylton, Samuel, 3840 Kenwood, Indianapolis, Ind.
(E) Kendall Paul, Box 176, Sharpsville, Ind.
(M) Kinsel, Waldo, R. 4, Lafayette, Ind.
(L) Leckrone, Paul, North Manchester (College), Ind.
(E) Long, Daniel, 3165 Kenwood Ave., Indianapolis, Ind.
(M) Lyons, Edward, 3435 West VanBuren, Chicago, Ill.
(E) Mccullough, Estel, 227 West St., Pendleton, Ind.
(E) Miller, Clessie, R. I, Straughn, Ind.
(E) Miller, Daniel, Ladoga, Ind.
(E) Miller, J. A., 1507 W. Eighth St., Muncie, Ind.
(E) Mitchell, John, Clay City, Ind.
(E) Norris, E. O., 217 N. W. Fourth St., Richmond, Ind.
(M) Norris, Marion, 1232 E. Twenty-second St., Anderson, Ind.
(E) Petry, Elden, 3705 Columbia Ave., Anderson, Ind.
(M) Phipps, Elmer, Sharpsville, Ind.
(M) Pyles, Claudius, Middletown, Ind. (E) Replogle, Frank, Rossville, Ind.
(E) Roof, A. B., 1697 Jefferson St., Anderson, Ind.
(E) Root, John, Rossville, Ind.
(E) Shively, L. S., 2025 West Jackson St., Muncie, Ind.
(E) Showalter, R. L., 1810 West Mulberry, Kokomo, Ind.
220
History of the Church of the Brethren
(E) Sollenberger, C. C., 319 Glenwood Ave., Muncie, Ind.
(M) Stoner, John E., Ph.D., 820 South Park, Bloomington, Ind.
(M) Shull, Arthur, 311I Forty-Eighth St., Indianapolis, Ind.
(E) Teeter, E. C., 2209 Cherrywood, New Castle, Ind.
(E) Tinkle, William, R. I, Albany, Ind.
(E) Wagoner, G. F.,R 4, Delphi, Ind.
(M) Wagoner, John Robert, M.D., Delphi, Ind.
(M) Wagoner, Ralph, 3435 Van Buren St., Chicago, Ill.
(E) Werking, O. D., R. 2, Hagerstown, Ind.
(E) Wine, G. L., Rossville, Ind.
(E) Zirkle, O. H., 405 North Eighth St., Middletown, Ind.
MIDDLE INDIANA
The division of the State into Districts in 1868 gave to Middle Indiana the following churches: White County, Mexico, Squirrel Creek (Roann), Manchester, Clear Creek, Blue River, Beaverdam, Eight Mile (Markle), Salimony, Antioch (Andrews), Eel River, Santa Fe, Pipe Creek, Upper Deer Creek, Lower Deer Creek, Wabash, Prairie Creek, Bachelor Run. Somerset was later added from Southern Indiana, and Winamac from Northern Indiana.
Churches in 1882
The "Record of the Faithful" shows the following church mem- bership in 1882: Antioch, 110; Bachelor Run, 350; Beaverdam 140; Clear Creek, 150; Eel River, 259; Eight Mile, 72; Lower Deer Creek, 124; Marion, 55; Manchester, 300; Mexico, 350; Monticello, 150; Ogans Creek, 125; Pipe Creek, 200; Prairie Creek, 75; Palestine, 108; Spring Creek, 100; Somerset, 110; Salimony, 244; Sugar Creek, 100; Squirrel Creek, 150; Upper Deer Creek, 150; Winamac, 32; Adams- boro, 15; Wabash, 120; Walnut Level, 60.
Taking these figures as correct the District then numbered over 3,500. Since then some of the strong churches, like Beaverdam, have ceased to exist. In their places new organizations have sprung up, especially in the cities. In 1882 scarcely any members were to be found in the towns and cities.
Early Leaders
Under the account of local churches the leaders of the early days are given due prominence. Such men as William Moss, John White- neck, David Shoemaker, Isaac C. Lawshe, Joseph Leedy, John Shively, John Bowman, Samuel Murray and others were active in spreading the Gospel of Christ. The District did not have many men prominent in the work of the General Brotherhead. From 1867 to 1877 the District was represented on the Standing Committee by the following brethren : Jacob Flora, 1869, 1874, 1876; Jacob Metzger, 1867, 1870, 1872;
MIDDLE INDIANA
33. Columbus city
27
135
Sidney 32.
24
138.9.
Whitley
Rochester
14
1.
North Manchester
13.
.34.
Fort wayne
30
Akron
K
39.
17 .
05
119
29
30.
27
5.
Roann 5
Huntington 3
16
224
Decatur
22.0
6.
14.
24.
E
123. Peru
" Monticello Logansport
25.
37.
29
S
35
31
7.
13
Delphi
18
Marion
10.
3.
2) Kokomo
421
4.
21
Hartford city
11.
Portland
Lafayette
1 Akron
11 Hickory Grove
21 Monticello Pike Creek
31 Salamonie
2 Andrews
12 Huntington
22 Monticello Guernsey
32 So. Whitley
3 Bachelor Run
13 Liberty Mills
23 Peru
33 Spring Creek
4 Bethel Center
14 Logansport
24 Bloomfield
34 Sugar Creek
5 Buffalo
15 Loon Creek
25 Pipe Creek
35 Upper Deer Creek
6 Burnettsville
16 Lower Deer Creek
26 Pittsburg
36 Wabash City
7 Cart Creek
17 Manchester
27 PI. Dale
37 Wabash Country
8 Clear Creek
18 Marion
28 PI. View
38 West Eel River
9 Eel River
19 Markle
29 Portland
39 West Manchester
10 Flora
20 Mexico
30 Roann
15.
19.
69 21.
31.
27- [22]
243
- 1 Wabash 36.
2.
20.
19
3
35.
16.
26.
67
29
8.
120
25
Winamac
:
District Meetings of Middle Indiana, 1877 to 1916
Year Where Held
Moderator
Reading Clerk
Writing Clerk
On Standing Committee
1877-Monticello
Jesse Myers
Daniel Bowser
.Abram Leedy
.J. S. Snowberger
1878-Santa Fe
.Jacob Flory
Abram Miller
W. S. Toney .
.David Neff
1879-Sugar Creek
.David Neff
Abram Miller
.John P. Wolfe
.Joseph Amick
1880-Ogans Creek
.David Bechtelheimer
.John P. Wolfe
.Joseph Amick
.John P. Wolfe
1881-Upper Deer Creek
. Abram Miller
. . John P. Wolfe
.Joseph Amick
. . John P. Wolfe
1882-Manchester
.Joseph Leedy
. . J. S. Snell
.J. G. Royer
. . Joseph Leedy
1883-Bachelor Run
.R. H. Miller
.. J. S. Snell
.J. G. Royer
.R. H. Miller
1884-Clear Creek
.R. H. Miller
.John P. Wolfe
.J. G. Royer
.R. H. Miller
1885-Mexico
.R. H. Miller
.. J. S. Snell
.J. H. Wright
.Isaac Fisher
1886-Prairie Creek
.R. H. Miller
. J. S. Snell
.J. H. Wright
.David Neff
1887-Eel River
.. R. H. Miller
.. J. S. Snell
.J. H. Wright
.R. H. Miller
1888-Pipe Creek
.R. H. Miller
. D. P. Shively
. . A. S. Culp
.J. S. Snell
1889-Salimony
. David Neff
.. J. S. Snell
.J. H. Wright
.J. H. Wright
1890-Somerset
. David Neff
.. D. P. Shively
. . J. H. Wright
.R. H. Miller
1893-Monticello
.D. P. Shively
.J. S. Snell
.J. H. Wright
.D. P. Shively
1894-Manchester
.D. P. Shively
.. J. S. Snell
.J. H. Wright
.David Bechtelheimer
1895-Landess
. D. P. Shively
.J. S. Snell
. J. H. Wright
.Samuel Leckrone
1896-Mexico
. D. P. Shively
. . J. S. Snell
.J. H. Wright
.S. S. Ulrey
1897-Bear Creek
. L. T. Holsinger
Daniel Snell
.W. S. Toney
.Dorsey Hodgden
1898-Pipe Creek
. L. T. Holsinger
„.David Dilling
. . Frank Fisher
.. J. H. Wright
1899-Bachelor Run
. D. P. Shively
.A. L. Wright
.Frank Fisher
.L. T. Holsinger
1899-Eel River
. Dorsey Hodgden
.A. L. Wright
W. S. Toney
.J. H. Wright
1900-Eel River
Daniel Snell
.Frank Fisher
.J. H. Wright
Dorsey Hodgden
1901-Pleasant Dale
.S. S. Ulrey
. . A. L. Wright
W. S. Toney
.Daniel Snell
1902-Mexico
. Samuel Leckrone
.David Dilling
.E. M. Crouch
David Dilling
1903-Monticello
.J. H. Wright
.L. H. Eby
.Frank Fisher
A. G. Crosswhite
1906-Pleasant Dale
Daniel Snell
.D. B. Garber
. . E. M. Crouch
1907-Eel River
.Frank Fisher
.J. H. Wright
.A. L. Wright
.S. S. Ulrey-A. G. Crosswhite
1909-Monticello
.A. L. Wright
J. D. Mishler
. J. G. Stinebaugh
. A. L. Wright-G. E. Swihart
1910-Manchester
.D. B. Garber
.David Dilling
.J. C. Murray
.D. B. Garber-David Dilling
1911-Huntington
.Frank Fisher
.A. G. Crosswhite
.. Otho Winger
Frank Fisher-A. L. Wright
1912-Flora
.J. H. Wright .
.G. E. Swihart
. I. B. Wike
. .J. H. Wright-David Dilling
1913-Pennville
.Frank Fisher
.S. S. Blough
. . I. B. Book
.S. S. Blough-Frank Fisher
1914-W. Manchester
. J. H. Wright .
. . Otho Winger
. D. B. Garber
.. Otho Winger-J. H. Wright
1915-Mexico
.J. C. Murray
Chas. Oberlin
. I. B. Book
.J. C. Murray-S. S. Blough
1916-Markle
.Frank Fisher
.Otho Winger
I. C. Snavely
,Frank Fisher-Otho Winger
. .
.J. H. Wright
. . J. S: Snell
1892-
.J. S. Snell
.. D. P. Shively
.J. H. Wright
.David Neff
1891-Bachelor Run
.R. H. Miller
. .
.I. D. Parker-L. H. Eby
1904-Manchester
.A. G. Crosswhite
.Daniel Snell
.E. M. Crouch
1905-Bachelor Run
.Frank Fisher
.W. S. Toney
.J. H. Wright
.Frank Fisher .Daniel Snell
.Frank Fisher-J. H. Wright
1908-Mexico
.S. S. UIrey
A. G. Crosswhite
. D. B. Garber
.. D. P. Shively
District Meetings of Middle Indiana, 1917 to 1951
Year Place Held Moderator
Reading Clerk
Writing Clerk
Standing Committee
1917-Manchester .J. H. Wright
.I. B. Book
.S. S. Blough
.Frank Fisher, Otho Winger J. H. Wright, S. S. Blough
1918-Meeting recalled because of flu epidemic
1919 (April 3)-Manchester ... Frank Fisher
Otho Winger
. Ira Long
.Frank Fisher, Otho Winger
1919 (October) Salamonie
.... I. B. Book
.F. D. Butterbaugh
. Edward Kintner
.I. B. Book, J. C. Murray
1920-Eel River
. Otho Winger
.Ira Long
.L. W. Shultz
. Otho Winger, Ira Long
1921-Pleasant Dale
.I. B. Book
.C. C. Kindy
. V. F. Schwalm
. Otho Winger, Ira Long
1922-Flora
. Otho Winger
.Edward Kintner
. L. W. Shultz
.I. B. Book, C. C. Kindy
1923-Spring Creek
.I. B. Book
. V. F. Schwalm
. C. C. Kindy
. Otho Winger, L. W. Shultz
1924-Mexico
. Otho Winger
. Edward Kintner
. L. W. Shultz
.I. B. Book, C. C. Kindy .Edward Kintner, V. F. Schwalm
1926-Burnettsville
. Otho Winger
.R. C. Wenger
. Edward Kintner
1927-West Manchester
.I. B. Book
. Charles Oberlin
.T. A. Shively
1928-Spring Creek
.Edward Kintner
. R. C. Wenger
. H. H. Helman
1929-Flora
Otho Winger
T. A. Shively
. H. H. Helman
.I. B. Book, R. H. Miller
1930-Huntington
.Edward Kintner
. Charles Oberlin
. H. H. Helman
. Edward Kintner, T. A. Shively
1931-Eel River
.H. L. Hartsough
. Ray Shank
.R. C. Wenger
Charles Oberlin, H. L. Hartsough
1932-Mexico
. Otho Winger .
. Charles Oberlin
.R. C. Wenger
. Edward Kintner, Ray Shank
1933-Pike Creek
.Edward Kintner
.T. A. Shively
C. Wenger
1934-Salamonie
.J. O. Winger
. Moyne Landis
. W. C. Stinebaugh
1935-Manchester
. Edward Kintner
. Charles Oberlin
.W. C. Stinebaugh
1936-Flora
J. O. Winger
. T. A. Shively
.W. C. Stinebaugh
1937-Huntington
.Edward Kintner
. Charles Oberlin
. L. W. Shultz
1938-Peru
J. O. Winger
. Moyne Landis
. L. W. Shultz
. Edward Kintner, Charles Oberlin
1939-West Manchester
Edward Kintner
Charles Oberlin
. L. W. Shultz
. Moyne Landis, J. O. Winger
1940-Mexico
.T. A. Shively .
.J. O. Winger ..
. W. C. Stinebaugh
1942-Salamonie
T. A. Shively .
. C. Ray Keim
.L. W. Shultz
1944-Flora
Edward Kintner
Ray Zook
. L. W. Shultz
. R. Boaz, M. Landis, V. Schwalm
1945-Huntington
.V. F. Schwalm
. Charles Oberlin
W. Shultz
1946-Manchester
T. G. Weaver
. Galen Lehman
.L. W. Shultz
1947-West Manchester
. Clarence Sink
. Charles Oberlin
.L. W. Shultz
1948-Mexico
.T. G. Weaver . .
. Galen Lehman
. L. W. Shultz
J. Johnson, A. F. Morris, R. Sink
1949-Manchester
. Russell Bollinger
. Charles Oberlin
. L. W. Shultz
1950-Spring Creek
Charles Oberlin
.E. Paul Weaver
C. Ray Keim
1951-Flora
.E. Paul Weaver
. William Eberly
.Jay Johnson
1952-Manchester
Leonard Custer
. Earl Hostetter . Jay Johnson
.L. Custer, R. Bollinger, R. Weller . C. Oberlin, W. Stinebaugh, E.Weaver . W. Stinebaugh, A. Morris, C. Oberlin
.
. V. F. Schwalm .
.R. H. Miller
1925-Upper Deer Creek
.I. B. Book
Otho Winger, R. H. Miller
. Otho Winger, Edward Kintner
.I. B. Book, Charles Oberlin
. R.
Otho Winger, Charles Oberlin
.J. O. Winger, T. A. Shively . Moyne Landis, Edward Kintner
.J. O. Winger, Charles Oberlin .W. C. Stinebaugh, T. A. Shively
1941-Monticello
. Edward Kintner
. Moyne Landis .
. W. C. Stinebaugh
Charles Oberlin
. W. C. Stinebaugh
.Moyne Landis, W. C. Stinebaugh . C. Oberlin, T. Shively, J. Winger .E.Kintner, W. Stinebaugh, T.Shively . T. Weaver, R. Zook, C. Oberlin
1943-Manchester
. Moyne Landis
R. Boaz, V. Schwalm, C. Sink T. Weaver, Ray Zook, G. Lehman .C. Oberlin, G. Lehman, C. Sink
.R. Bollinger, J. Johnson, E. Weaver
224
History of the Church of the Brethren
Jesse Myers, 1867, 1875; David Bechtelheimer, 1868; Jacob Karns, 1871 ; John Baker, 1873.
Missions
The District did not begin organized mission work as early as some Districts. Having a smaller territory than either Southern or Northern Indiana, the great need of District mission work did not seem so apparent. And yet there were those who saw much to be done.
In 1879 there was a good missionary meeting held at Spring Creek. Of this meeting J. S. Snoeberger was moderator, Jacob Crum- rine reading clerk, W. S. Toney, writing clerk. It was shown that three brethren had 2,400 square miles of territory to look after. Five western counties were practically untouched. A plan for missionary work was formulated to be presented to the District Meeting. At this time the District gave its consent to the work, but did not in itself take up the work until 1881.
In 1881 the District took up the work definitely by adopting a plan of its own and appointing its own Mission Board. The members of the first board were S. M. Aukerman, John Snoeberger, Solomon Eiken- berry, Christian Lesh and Artemus Smith. The following have served on this board in the first thirty-five years of its history: S. M. Auker- man, 1881-1895; John Snoeberger, 1881-1896; Solomon Eikenberry, 1881-1887; Christian Lesh, 1881-1882; Artemus Smith, 1881-1890; Abraham Rinehart, 1882-1887 ; D. P. Shively, 1887-1891 ; Daniel Horn- ing, 1887-1899; Jacob Crumrine, 1889-1890; W. S. Toney, 1890-1897; Frank Fisher, 1891-1893; E. M. Grossnickle, 1891-1898; Daniel Snell, 1893-1898; Aaron Mishler, 1895-1900; S. S. Ulery, 1896-1901 ; A. L. Wright, 1897-1902; Leander Pottenger, 1898-1903; Samuel France, 1898-1903 ; A. G. Crosswhite, 1899-1904; John Neff, 1902-1907, and 1908-1913; David Dilling, 1903-1908; Geo. E. Swihart, 1904-1909 and 1916-1921; D. B. Garber, 1905-1910; J. L. Cunningham, 1906- 19II ; S. S. Gump, 1907-1912; D. M. Byerly, 1909-1919; J. W. Norris, 1910-1915; J. B. Baily, 1911-1916; J. G. Stinebaugh, 1912-1922; Emery Miller, 1913-1921 ; S. S. Blough, 1915-1919.
During these years these brethren and others did much work in some of the western counties. Beaver Creek, in Pulaski County, Pales- tine, in White County, and Kewanna, in Fulton County, received much aid and attention. In late years the board gave much attention to city work. Churches were organized in Logansport, Marion, Wabash, Peru, South Whitley and Walton. Churchhouses were built in Marion and Peru. Local pastors were provided for some of the places. Constructive and permanent work was the ideal the board had in mind.
Sunday-Schools
Perhaps the first Sunday-school in the District was in the Salimony
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Districts-Data and Activities
congregation in 1866. Other schools were organized from time to time, though there was considerable opposition for years.
The first District Sunday-School Convention was held at the Spring Creek church in April, 1879. Elder Frederick P. Loehr was present at this meeting and addressed the young people. The meeting was organized with David Bechtelheimer, moderator, Abram Leedy, reading clerk, and Joseph Amick, writing clerk. Those who attended say it was a most inspiring meeting. One paper presented by Joseph Amick shows that in Indiana during 1878 the M. E. Sunday-schools received over five hundred children from Brethren homes into the church. A regular committee was appointed to conduct such a meeting the following year. This committee was composed of Joseph Amick, Solomon Aukerman, W. S. Toney, Emma Bowman and Martha Con- nell.
The outlook for the future of the Sunday-school seemed bright. But the influence of Old Order Brethren was such that these meetings were discontinued after a few years and were not revived until 1899.
Frank Fisher was appointed District Sunday-school Secretary in 1901. In 1902 he made his first report. It showed thirty-six Sunday- schools with a total enrollment of 1,207. The offerings for the year were $625.67. There was given for missionary purposes $146.95. Fifty-three pupils had been received into the church during the year. Fifteen years later the secretary reported the following: Forty-nine Sunday schools with a total enrollment of 5,498. The offerings of the year were $5,612.63 ; amount given to missions, $1,859.92; 191 were brought into the church through the Sunday-school. Every one of the schools was evergreen. The Sunday-schools are supporting one mis- sionary on the foreign field.
The Sunday School Secretaries of the district have been Frank Fisher, Otho Winger, G. L. Wine, Catherine Neher (now Mrs. Oren Eikenberry), Mrs. Cora Pettit, and Lawrence W. Shultz. Brother Shultz served as Sunday School Secretary, secretary of the Board of Christian Education, and field man during the thirty years, 1916-1946. For most of those years he edited a District News Letter.
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