USA > Indiana > History of the Church of the Brethren in Indiana > Part 28
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There were but few members in this section when the Ber- keys moved in. They belonged to the Elkhart congregation, the center of which was south and west of Goshen where Elder Daniel Cripe was the leader. During 1850 the Rock Run church was organized. On the same day Jacob Berkey was elected to the ministry. He was soon ad- vanced, ordained and placed in charge of the congregation. He became active at once. He was a natural orator and could preach either in Dutch or English. He was a good evangelist for those days. He was fearless in his appeal to sinners. He spent much time preaching in the country east of Goshen, at Middlebury, Pleasant Valley, Topeka, Ship- shewana, English Prairie and in Southern Michigan. He would spend many days on these trips, going through all kinds of weather. Through these efforts began the work which later resulted in organized churches at these places.
He did some of his best preaching to members. They were in- doctrinated. He was a good counsellor and very successful in settling difficulties. He was sent on many Annual Meeting committees. He was strong in his opposition to tobacco and whiskey. He was one of the early temperance lecturers. He was considered a little advanced for those days, and early advocated the single mode of feet-washing. At his church was held the first protracted meeting in Northern Indiana. Under his oversight the Rock Run church grew in numbers and spir-
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itual life. He was a man of strong personal character. He had great power in preserving order. On one occasion a ruffian started to "clean up" a crowd. Elder Berkey went to him, took him by the arm, and set him down, telling him to sit still-and he did. Elder Berkey was a man without fear.
Brother Berkey built up a good homestead. In his barn the Annual meeting of 1868 was held. But his great sacrifice for the church, both in time spent away from home and in generosity at home, occasioned financial embarrassment. He moved to Northeastern Texas in De- cember, 1882. He intended to start a church and started preaching at once. He baptized some but was not permitted to work long. He was called to go some distance to anoint a sister. He made the trip as far as possible by rail and hired a horse to make the rest of the journey. At Gainsville he found the creek swollen by recent rains. A stranger on the other side warned him not to cross. But Brother Berkey was a man who knew no fears. He evidently believed that the Lord had work for him, and so he rode into the stream. The horse rolled in the swift cur- rent and the aged veteran was swept down the stream. The body was recovered the next day and identified. The judge and lawyers of the county, who had heard him preach in the courtyard, purchased the burial outfit. Hundreds attended the funeral out of respect they bore him from their short acquaintance. His wife lived until October 26, 1888.
Isaac L. Berkey was seven years old when his parents moved to Indiana. He grew to young manhood amidst the pioneer conditions of Indiana. June 21, 1863, he was married to Cornelia Andrews, of New York. Her people were Baptists, but she united with the church before their marriage.
In 1885 Brother Berkey was called to the ministry. About the same time he became superintendent of the Sunday School. He was perhaps the first Sunday School superintendent among the brethren in Northern Indiana. In the years of his ministry that followed he was always ready to give the Sunday-school and mission work what help he could.
In 1891 Brother Berkey was ordained. The same day he was placed in charge of the Rock Run church and continued as presiding elder there for twenty years. His services were in great demand else- where. Four times he served on Standing Committee. While not so widely known as a speaker, his sermons were interesting. He had an individuality all his own and a keenness of wit and expression that gave interest to all he said.
Brother and Sister Berkey were the parents of five sons. They lived for most of their married life on a farm just across the road from the Rock Run church, adjoining the place where Elder Jacob Berkey.
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his father, first settled. Elder Berkey passed away in 1921, surviving Sister Berkey but a short time.
S. S. BLOUGH
Brother Blough was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania on April 27, 1868, to Emanuel J. and Sally Brandt Blough. He united with the church in 1886 and was married to Mary Alice Wertz on June 17, 1894. They have three sons and one daughter.
Brother Blough took his educational training over a rather long period. After some work at Juniata he took his A. B. degree at Man- chester when he was forty-seven and his B. D. at Bethany when just under fifty. His teaching experience included seven years at Man- chester in the field of Bible. Since then he has been a pastor till his re- tirement about three years ago (1948). That is a long time of service. In fact Brother Blough has been a minister about fifty-seven years, since 1894, and an elder since 1902.
Among the several pastorates he has held was Fort Wayne. While teaching at Manchester College, he served the Manchester Church as pastor two years. He is well known throughout the Brother- hood. He is a brother of Brother J. M. Blough, veteran missionary to India. Brother Blough has had many administrative responsibilities and has appeared on many programs through the years of his ministry.
DANIEL BOCK
Elder Samuel Bock, father of Daniel, was a native of Penn- sylvania. He moved to Montgomery County, Ohio and later to Howard County, Indiana, 1874. He died there fifteen years later.
Daniel was born in Pennsylvania, 1834, was called to the min- istry in Ohio, 1869, and five years later moved with his parents to Ho- ward County. He was ordained to the eldership by J. W. Metzger and Isaac Cripe. For more than forty years he lived within the original bounds of the Howard church; for some twenty years he lived in Ko- komo. He had the oversight of Howard, Greentown, and Windfall congregations at different times. He did mission work in Southern Indiana, being one of the organizers of New Hope church in Jackson County. His wife's name was Susannah Erbaugh. Brother Bock was a brother of S. Bock, prominent in connection with our early publish- ing interests. Bro. Daniel lost his eyesight about 1904. He died in 1922.
RUSSELL V. BOLLINGER
Brother Bollinger was born October 5, 1901, in Lagrange County to John and Nora Cripe Bollinger. He united with the church at twelve. In 1924 he married Martha Cripe. They are the parents of nine children.
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In spite of the fact that Russell was one of a large family of mod- erate means, he has secured a rather extensive educational training. After finishing high school at Shipshewana, he attended Manchester, receiving his A. B. degree in 1926. He spent a summer in Bethany, 1933. Between teaching periods, he attended the University of Wis- consin and received both his A. M. (1934) and his Ph. D. (1939) de- grees in Education.
He taught in the schools of Lagrange County from 1927 to 1938, in Ashland College (Dean of the College) 1939-1946, and at Man- chester since 1946, where he is Professor of Psychology and Dean of Students.
While at Ashland College, Brother Bollinger was very active in the churches of Northeastern Ohio, where he did much preaching, lec- turing, occasional speaking and served three congregations there as elder. He was chairman of their district Board of Christian Education. He has represented both Northeastern Ohio and Middle Indiana on the Standing Committee, once for each district. In 1949 he was Moderator of the District Conference of Middle Indiana and is on the Board of Christian Education for the district. He has been a Camp Mack Di- rector, on the Central Regional Council, member of Fraternal Rela- tions Committee of the Annual Conference, and numerous other re- sponsibilities for the church. Brother Bollinger has been a leading educator and an outstanding churchman. He delivers many lectures for clubs, churches, commencements, and other occasions.
RALPH BOYER
Ralph Boyer was born in 1901 at the Boyer homestead, now owned by Elder Leonard Custer. He received a careful training in the teachings of the church from his parents. After his elementary school- ing in a one-room school (Acme Hall, today) he attended and grad- uated from the Laketon High School.
Bro. Boyer has been a very faithful member of the church and has been most active in music work, having been chorister for a number of years. He has been Church Clerk, Trustee, and held other responsible positions. In the District he has served five years on the Board of Christian Education and six years on the Men's Work Cabinet. He also served his district for a year or more as Mission Secretary.
BOWERS
The Bowers family, along with the Dunbars, have been identified with the White church for many years.
The first ministers elected there were Martin Bowers, Sr., and Abner Bowers, second cousins. The former was a justice of the peace,
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a man of high standing and wide acquaintance. Abner was outstand- ing as a very interesting conversationalist.
Adonijab, son of Abner was born in 1837 and died in 1912, in Montgomery County. He married Ruth Raper in 1859. He was called to the ministry in 1863 and ordained in 1882. He had a large library, was very well read, and could speak intelligently on many sub- jects.
His daughter married L. M. Dunbar, who was called to the min- istry in 1863 and served the church nearly fifty years in the ministry. His nephew, E. P. Dunbar, was called to the ministry in 1890 and or- dained in 1915. They had eight children several of whom attended Manchester College. They celebrated their Golden Wedding in 1940. Bro. Dunbar passed away in 1941.
HARVEY S. BOWERS
Harvey S. Bowers, son of Enos and Mary Jane (Bushong) Bow- ers, was born in Hancock County, Ohio, in 1879. At the age of fifteen he was baptized into the church by Daniel D. Thomas. After complet- ing the elementary grades and the equivalent of High School, he at- tended Manchester College, receiving the B. E. degree in 1904 and the A. B. degree in 1927.
After teaching school three years in Ohio, he came to St. Joseph County, Indiana where he continued to teach, and in 1906, he
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was called to the ministry. For the next forty years Brother Bowers served in St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties in the joint capacity of teacher and minister. He retired from teaching in 1946, but is still active in the ministry.
The first five years of his religious teaching and preaching min- istry were spent at Eagle Creek, Ohio, and at Oak Grove and Portage churches, Indiana. His ministry with the Baugo congregation began in 1909 and has continued until the present time. He was ordained to the eldership in 1917 and has served the Baugo congregation as presiding elder all but a few years since 1922.
He has served the district on the Board of Christian Education for nine years, on the Ministerial Board for three years, one term as trus- tee of Manchester College, as a member of the committee on compiling District Meeting Minutes, and also as a member of the Historical Com- mittee to prepare this History of the Church of the Brethren in North- ern Indiana.
Brother Bowers married Rhoda Wineland in 1904, and later, fol- lowing her decease, he married Mrs. Leta Weaver of Middlebury, In- diana. By the first marriage there were three daughters, Vinna, Floy and Ruth; by the second marriage there were three daughters and two sons, Grace, Walter, Martha, Elma and James. He has been modest and unassuming, yet an excellent speaker, a wise administrator and a loving father.
THE BENJAMIN BOWMAN FAMILY
The founder of this family, so prolific in able ministers and laymen in the Church of the Brethren, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, but moved to the Nettle Creek church shortly after its organiza- tion about 1820. Benjamin Bowman became elder of the church in 1830 when David Miller moved to Northern Indiana. An able preacher, he spoke in either English or German equally well. He served on the Standing Committee and other Annual Meeting Committees. Late in life he married the widowed mother of Elder George W. Stude- baker and moved to her home in the Mississinewa church where he died in 1856. He was buried in the Eaton cemetery.
Four of Benjamin's sons were ministers. John Bowman was elected in the Nettle Creek congregation. He was small in stature and of a likeable disposition. He preached many funerals. Moving to Hunt- ington County, he became the first elder of the Antioch (Andrews) church. During the Civil War he preached many funerals for soldiers killed in that conflict.
Another son, Jacob, was also an able preacher. He died in 1896 at the age of 90.
A third son, Daniel, succeeded David Hardman to the oversight of
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the Nettle Creek congregation, 1863. He died at 86 in 1894. In 1885 L. W. Teeter was ordained as a helper to Bro. Bowman who was then well advanced in years. His son, Abraham, and his grandson, Daniel E., were both ministers at Nettle Creek. Another grandson, A. D. Bow- man, preached in Idaho.
A fourth son, David, became a minister late in life. He was known as "Squire" Bowman because he was a justice of the peace. He was a clear thinker, forceful speaker, and a fine character. He served as writ- ing clerk of his district. His daughter, Nancy, married Elder Lewis W. Teeter. Bro. Bowman died in 1893.
Another son was Benjamin, Jr., the grandfather of Elder D. W. Bowman (born 1870), for some years presiding elder at Anderson. He married Sarah, daughter of John A. Replogle.
EMMA BOWMAN
Emma Studebaker (born 1853) was the daughter of Henry Studebaker, one of the famous wagon-makers of South Bend. Her grandparents were members of the church but not her parents. She united with the church in 1869 and, like her grandparents, took a great interest in its work. Her grandfather died in 1877 and did not see the new churchhouse in which he was so greatly interested.
In 1875, she married Amos Bowman of Kosciusko County. They moved into the Spring Creek, and then into the Manchester church. She was a great leader in Sunday school work and in the temperance cause. For many years she was president of the local W. C. T. U. at North Manchester. She lived to a good age, dying a few years ago.
GALEN BOWMAN
William and Nora (Rhinesmith) Bowman lived in Lagrange County, Indiana at the time a son, Galen, was born to them on Feb- ruary 10, 1893. Both parents were born in Elkhart County. For much of their lives they were members of the Mennonite Church. Galen re- ceived his grade and High School training at Topeka, Indiana, and at- tended Bethany Biblical Seminary Training School five terms.
On April 27, 1921, Galen was married to Velma Yoder, whose home was also at Topeka. Two daughters, Esther and Ruth were born to them; Esther is now married to James Buchanan and lives in Elkhart and Ruth married Ray Rowe, son of Dewey Rowe, and lives in Seattle, Washington. Galen owns a small farm near Middlebury and has spent part of his life as a farmer. He has also spent much time work- ing for the Kreider's Nursery, doing landscaping.
He was called to the ministry in March, 1919, in the Pleasant Val- ley Church near Middlebury, where he lived continuously until 1942, when he became pastor of the Bethany Church, near New Paris, He
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Galen Bowman
was ordained to the eldership in 1923. He was part-time minister at the Pleasant Valley Church for the first ten years of his ministerial labors, and again, part-time pastor and elder there, 1936-41. From 1930-35 he was part-time pastor at the Pleasant Chapel, Indiana, and Mottsville, Michigan churches.
Brother Bowman has been one of the leading figures among the Northern Indiana ministers for many years. He has been a member of the Mission and Ministerial Boards of the district for eighteen years. And since the Mission Board is elder in charge of the churches they support, he has been elder in charge of eighteen churches at various times. He has served Northern Indiana on the Standing Committee four times. In 1945 he made a voyage on a cattle boat to Greece, Italy and North Africa. He is a good preacher and a wise ad- ministrator.
BRALLIER
Henry Harrison Brallier was born in Carroll County. He at- tended high school at Pierceton and taught school eleven years. He united with the church in 1868, was called to the ministry in 1879 and advanced in 1880. He ministered to the Washington church for nearly thirty years. He was ordained to the eldership in 1900. His wife,
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Catherine Baer, was a sister of the wife of Elder J. C. Murray. Bro. Brallier died in 1907.
His son, Chester, was called to the ministry in the Washington church in 1901. He later moved into the Spring Creek congregation where he was ordained in 1909, and where he is still living.
BRANSON
Hiram Branson was born in Highland County, Ohio in 1825 and moved to Henry County, Indiana, in 1831. In 1848, he married Char- lotte Jackson and settled in Delaware County. The Killbuck church, organized 1860, called Hiram to the ministry in 1864. He was soon ordained and placed in charge of the church. For thirty-five years he presided as a successful and devoted shepherd. He was well-known in the district. He left a family of ten children, having been married three times.
His son, Isaac, was born in 1851 and died in 1912. He united with the church at 19, was called to the ministry in 1873, and was or- dained in 1883. A man of good personality, he revealed strong Chris- tian characteristics. His simple, earnest Christian life won a high re- spect for him in his community. He was elder of his church for many years and was active in district affairs.
Rufus, another son of Hiram, was called to the ministry but was not as active in the office as his brother, Isaac.
Letha Bowman Burnette
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LETHA BOWMAN BURNETT
Letha Bowman was reared in the Nettle Creek congregation. She married Samuel G. Burnett, a minister, in 1917. Both she and Brother Burnett were students in Bethany, she for two and he for three years. He was called to the ministry in Oklahoma in 1908 and to the eldership in 1921. They lived at Anderson mostly from 1923 to 1947. the time of Brother Burnett's death. Their three sons are Howard J., Herman B., and Paul E.
Sister Burnett has been a member of the District Women's Work Cabinet. At present she is a member of the Board of Administration for Southern Indiana and is Secretary of the Commission on Christian Education for the district. She has been an active worker in the Ander- son Church.
T. D. BUTTERBAUGH
Born to George W. and Lydia Butterbaugh, 1872, Theron D. Butterbaugh married Etta Wright, daughter of Elder John H. Wright. His grandparents, Abraham and Hannah Miller, were as devoted to the church (Manchester congregation) as any members the church ever had.
In 1907 he was called to the ministry in the Eel River church. With the division of territory, he resided in West Eel River where he was ordained in December, 1913.
He attended Manchester College three years, 1908-1911. He was a ready and forceful speaker who often engaged in evangelistic ser- vices. Brother and Sister Butterbaugh were the parents of seven chil- dren. Bro. Butterbaugh died in 1931. Sister Butterbaugh lives in North Manchester.
BYERLY
The Byerlys of Indiana are members of a large and influential family of the Sugar Creek church in Allen County, Ohio.
Jesse, son of George Byerly, was called to the ministry in the Pleasant Dale church in 1903. He married Armitta Early, daughter of Samuel Early of Lima, Ohio. He spent several years in Manchester College and then returned to the Pleasant Dale church. He died in 1929 or 1930. He was a member of the District Mission Board for several years and did preaching in many churches.
Daniel, another of the seven sons of George Byerly, was born in 1866. He married Dora Husson. He taught school for several years. After the death of his first wife he married Lulu Pauling of Huntington. When the Pleasant Dale church was organized, he was called to the ministry, 1889. He served his church for many years, passing away in 1935 or 1936. He was ordained in 1899 and had the oversight of his
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church for many years. He served a number of years on the District Mission Board since 1909. He was the father of nine children.
Several other members of this family have resided in Indiana.
D. C. CAMPBELL
The subject of this sketch was born in Buchanan County, Iowa, 1855. His father, Martin, was one of the charter members of White church, in Montgomery County, Indiana. D. C., or Charles, was mar- ried to Margaret Ann Oglevary, 1876. They had eleven children, of whom nine grew to maturity. Except for four years in Kansas, the family always lived in the White church.
Bro. Campbell was called to the ministry in 1881, was ordained in 1890, and had the oversight of the church from 1890 to 1903 and 19II to 1923. He also was elder of several other churches. He served twice on Standing Committee and on several other committees.
In 1902 Bro. Campbell and E. M. Cobb took a trip to Europe and the Holy Land. Bro. Campbell baptized Edward Loveless in the Jordan River. The latter lived in the White church for several years. Bro. Campbell lectured widely on topics relating to his trip and other themes, having been called to speak to many groups. Bro. Camp- bell passed away on July 17, 1936.
CAYLOR
The Caylor family migrated from Germany in the person of John Caylor, 1763. He was an indentured servant, having to work three years to pay his passage to America. He married, moved West around 1805, the year a son, Elias, was born near Dayton, Ohio. The coun- try was still a frontier, but Elias managed to learn to read and write. He married Sarah Umberger in 1825. They had ten children. Both united with the church in 1827, moved to Nettle Creek ten years later, and five years later to Upper Fall Creek. Here he was elected deacon and then minister, 1844. He did much preaching. In 1849 he moved to Hamilton County where there was a nucleus of members who were organized into Stony Creek church. He was ordained there 1859.
Bro. Caylor preached far and near, travelling on horseback. In Montgomery County he baptized R. H. Miller, the distinguished preacher of later days. Bro. Caylor spent his last days in the Arcadia congregation.
His son, David Samuel Caylor, was born in 1829. He farmed and operated a mill on White River. He hauled flour from Cincinnati. He received some training in a small college near Cincinnati, beyond the elementary schools. After his first wife died in 1854, he studied medicine at Rush, in Chicago. He was a successful physician, practic- ing at Independence, Greentown, and Petroleum.
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He united with the church in 1861 and was called to the ministry in 1864. He was a man of great zeal, strong convictions, and earnest prayer. He studied his Bible much. Being both a minister and physic- ian, he had many opportunities of service. His church responsibilities came first with him.
He was married four times. By his third marriage he had a son, Charles, physician at Pennville and later Bluffton where he and his two sons operated a clinic and hospital till Charles was killed in an ac- cident about 1946.
D. C. Caylor married a widow residing in the Wabash church as his fourth wife. He, therefore, spent his last years in Middle Indiana. He practiced medicine and continued his church work till a stroke dis- abled him in 1897. He lived six more years. Under his eldership of the Somerset church, Otho Winger came into the church at the age of ten. Bro. Winger gave this good man much credit for his own con- secration of his life to the work of the church.
John H. Caylor, son of Abraham, a brother of Elias, was married 1849, entered the church, with his wife, 1850, was called to the minis- try, 1857, and was ordained, 1870. He was a pillar in the Stony Creek church. He was well known to his district and did much mission work in the southern part of the district. He died in 1899.
Abraham Caylor, cousin of John, also lived in the Stony Creek church where he was called to the ministry. He later moved to the Greentown church and died in Kokomo, 1905, at the age of sixty.
CHARLES C. CRIPE
Charles C. Cripe, son of Elder Jonathan M. and Mary El- len (Rupel) Cripe, was born in St. Joseph County, Indiana, July 20, 1882. He attended grade school in St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties. His later schooling consisted of one year at Roann High School and three years at Manchester College and four years at Bethany Biblical Seminary, where he received the B. S. L. degree in 1917. Before enter- ing Seminary he taught school in St. Joseph County four years and Elkhart County four years. On December 24, 1907 he married Amanda Pletcher of Goshen, Indiana. They are the parents of one son, Paul A. Cripe, who lives in Bremen, Indiana. He was elected to the ministry in the Oak Grove congregation in 1905, advanced in the Rock Run Church in 1908 and ordained to the eldership at Lewiston, Minne- sota, in 1916. He served in the free ministry in the Oak Grove and Rock Run Churches. During his years in the Seminary he taught two years in the Chinese Sunday School, preached at Douglas Park Mis- sion one year, taught in Jewish Night School one year, and Home Bible Classes at the Hastings Street Mission one year. After his grad- uation from the Seminary he served as pastor at Lewiston, Minnesota,
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